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Showing posts from May, 2014

Genocide in Chittagong Hill Tracts

This Chakma man was shot on the left thigh by the Bangladesh Army in May of 1986. He and his family were heading to the Indian border to escape attacks from the Bangladeshi security forces. They were intercepted by the Bangladesh Army and shot at. This man together with his family took refuge in Tripura state of India. There have been massive and systematic human rights violations in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), committed by the Bangladeshi security forces and the Bangladeshi settlers. The Jumma people have been murdered, crippled, raped, tortured, imprisoned and deprived of their homes and means of livelihood. They have been denied civil and political rights. Netherlands based Organizing Committee for CHT Campaign reported 278 cases of Human Rights violations committed between July 1985 to December 1985. The human rights abuses incl

Massacres in the CHT

Chittipudi Chakma, 6 months, daughter of Manek Kumar Chakma was killed by the Bengali Muslim settlers on 2 February 1992 at Malya massacre. Two bombs exploded on a passenger boat. The explosion killed a passenger and seriously injured the driver of the boat. The survivors swam ashore, but the armed Bengali Muslim settlers were awaiting for them and attacked the indigenous passengers - men, women and children. About 30 indigenous people were killed.       Since 1980, the Bangladesh army and the Bengali Muslim settlers had committed 13 major massacres in the Chittgong Hill Tracts (hereafter CHT). Even then massacres were not new in the CHT by then. During the Bangladesh's liberation war against Pakistan, in 1971 the Mukti Bahini (freedom fighters of Bangladesh) perpetrated 3 massacres against the Jumma civilians in the CHT. But it was during the war against Shanti Bahini (the armed resistance of the Jumma people), the Bangladesh Army

Bangladesh, Myanmar border clash over missing soldier

May 30 DHAKA (AFP) - Gunfire erupted Friday between troops along the Myanmar-Bangladeshi border over a soldier Bangladesh alleges was shot by its neighbour's security forces and dragged over the frontier. The clash broke out Friday afternoon after the man's body was not delivered back to Bangladesh's border police as expected, said Devdash Bhattacharya, police chief in the southeastern district of Bandarban. "The Myanmar Border Police was supposed to return the body today (Friday), but we've just received reports that gunfire has erupted at the border," he said. Mr Bhattacharya alleged the Myanmar Border Police took away the Bangladeshi soldier's bullet-riddled body after they opened fire on his patrol team along the border on May 28. ____ http://www.straitstimes.com/

Flash-point: Nakhyangchari Bangladesh-Myanmar Border Post 52

Flash-point: Nakhyangchari Bangladesh-Myanmar Border Post 52 This border post has become the flash-point of cross-border firing between Bangladesh border security forces (Border Guard Bangladesh=BGB) and Myanmar border security forces (Border Guard Police=BGP). Background to the Firing On 17 May 2014: a patrol of BGP led by Captain Nwe Oo Maung came under the attacks allegedly carried out by a group of some 60 militants belonging to Rohingiya Solidarity Organization (RSO) at the 52 border post between Bangladesh and Myanmar at Nakhyangchari, CHT. It was reported four BGP personnel were killed, one was seriously injured and two were missing in these attacks. BGP personnel killed: Thiha Aung, Hla Min Htat, Min Htway and Nay Lin Soe. BGP personnel injured: Captain Nwe Oo Maung. BGP personnel missing: Wai Lin Soe and Arrar Maung. 21 May 2014: a meeting was held between BGB and BGP representatives at Nakhyangchari border. BGP representatives warned their counter

Provocative Islamic sign that says 'Do not walk your dog here! Muslims don't like dogs' investigated by police

Park sign may have been put there by Islamists or EDL, says local MP A sign declaring a London park an “Islamic area” and ordering dog walkers to stay away because “Muslims do not like dogs” is being investigated by police. The warning, branded “alarming and divisive” by the local council, appeared in Bartlett Park in east London’s Poplar. It read: "Do not walk your dog here! Muslims do not like dogs. This is an Islamic area now." Local Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick alerted police to the sign after a dog walker complained. "The question is whether it was put up by the EDL to be provocative or by religious zealots to be racist," he told the Evening Standard . "It's another facet of intolerance, or, because there's no guarantee it was done by Islamists, it could be those in society who are trying to polarise and divide us." He called on the culprit responsible for the sign to “pack it in”. Police hav

Gov’t reports border clashes with RSO militants

Gov’t reports border clashes with RSO militants Published on Thursday, 29 May 2014 20:32 1 A view of Myanmar-Bangladesh border seen as of early 2014 (Photo-EMG) The government has reported more clashes between Myanmar border guard police and insurgents they say come from the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO). The clashes occurred when RSO rebels reportedly tried to enter Myanmar territory on the morning of May 28 at post 52 on the Myanmar-Bangladeshi border. An army section led by Lieutenant Zaw Moe Aung in charge of border security was on patrol when two insurgents crossed the border and approached within 80 feet of the barbed-wire border fence. A man wearing yellow camouflage was killed and his M22 rifle, four magazines, 98 bullets were confiscated while the others fled back into Bangladesh. Myanmar has long accused Bangladesh for

Thailand’s cybercoup

By Aim Sinpeng May 27 at 5:34 pm Thai police and army soldiers stand guard outside a military compound before former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives to report to Thailand’s ruling military on May 23, 2014 in Bangkok, Thailand . (Photo by Rufus Cox/Getty Images) The following is a guest post from University of British Columbia political scientist Aim Sinpeng . ***** It was the most social-media savvy coup in Thailand. And for a country with one of the largest number of coup attempts in the world, 19 in total, since 1932, it was quite a feat. The men in uniform are trying to get with the times. Perhaps they learned from Turkey’s Erdogan that they could block social media sites like Twitter and YouTube and still win an election . Or perhaps they underestimated how shutting down Twitter had backfired on Tunisia’s Ben Ali and helped fuel more protests.  Either way, the Thai military thought the coup had to be carried out properly: on t

Pakistan woman stoned to death by family for marrying man she loved

(Reuters) - A 25-year-old woman was stoned to death by her family outside one of Pakistan's top courts on Tuesday in a so-called "honor" killing for marrying the man she loved, police said. Farzana Iqbal was waiting for the High Court in the eastern city of Lahore to open when a group of around dozen men began attacking her with bricks, said Umer Cheema, a senior police officer. Her father, two brothers and former fiance were among the attackers, he said. Iqbal suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead in hospital, police said. All the suspects except her father escaped. He admitted killing his daughter, Cheema said, and explained it was a matter of honor. Many Pakistani families think a woman marrying her own choice of man brings dishonor on the family. Iqbal had been engaged to her cousin but married another man, Cheema said. Her family registered a kidnapping case against him but Iqbal had come to court to argue that she had married

Pakistan woman stoned by family outside Lahore court

Pakistan woman stoned by family outside Lahore court Police said Farzana Bibi's family members killed her in broad daylight as she arrived at Lahore High Court Continue reading the main story Related Stories The Pakistani woman who survived 'honour' killing Pakistan 'honour killers' convicted Acid attack girl 'looked at boy' A Pakistani woman has been killed by her relatives outside Lahore High Court for marrying against their wishes. Police said 30-year old Farzana Bibi died on the spot after being attacked with bricks and sticks. Her father handed himself in, but police say her brothers and former fiancee, who also took part in the attack, were still free. Correspondents say hundreds of girls and women in Pakistan are killed every year by family members. However, many more killings are believed to go unreported. Farzana Bibi's parents accused her husband, Muh

Vietnam: Fishing Boat Attacked, Sunk By Chinese Vessel

SAIGON: A Chinese vessel attacked and sank a Vietnamese fishing boat in disputed waters off Vietnam’s coast, Vietnam’s foreign ministry said. “It sank,” ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh said of the Vietnamese vessel. “It was rammed by a Chinese boat.” The 10 fishermen on board were rescued by other Vietnamese boats after the sinking yesterday around 17 nautical miles from a Chinese oil rig located near the contested Paracel Islands, Vietnam News reported. Vietnamese ship DNa 90152 operating out of Danang was encircled by 40 Chinese fishing vessels in what Vietnam regards as its exclusive economic zone, the newspaper said. China’s placement of the rig off the coast of Vietnam set off violent anti-China protests in Vietnam this month, as well as clashes between the two nations’ coast guard, with water cannons used and accusations of boats being rammed. China says the rig is in its own territory and that it has long carried out exploration work in the area.

Citizenship for Rohingya impractical and impossible

Local residents march to support the 1982 Citizenship Law in Sittwe, Rakhine State (Photo - Than Hlaing/EMG) The government has responded to the speech of Vijay Nambiar, UN Secretary General's Special Advisor to Myanmar requesting citizenship rights be granted to Rohingya muslims in Myanmar saying such suggestions were impractical and impossible. Vijay Nambiar recently said at the International Peace Institute of the United States of America: “The country's Rohingya Muslims must have a path to citizenship, otherwise their security will remain under threat,” and “if such a step were not taken, it will affect the international reputation of the country.” The government pointed out that Vijay Nambiar’s suggestion was only instigating the conflicts between two communities after tensions had almost returned to normal.  Nambiar said the status of Rakhine's

Thaksin calls on NCOP to return happiness to Thais

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra Sunday wrote on his Twitter micro-blogging page that the National Council for Peace and Order must return happiness to Thais. He said he was sad that another coup happened in the kingdom and added that conflicts in the country stemmed from divisiveness and lacking of fair rules and framing. Thaksin said he would like to see Thais turn to one another and smile happily like what happened a decade ago. He urged the NCPO to treat all sides fairly and respect the human rights as well as basing its actions on the international practice and rule of law. _____The Nation

Prayuth says transfers made for suitability of current situation

Coup leader Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha asked for public understanding for three transferred senior officials, saying they have done nothing wrong but their transfers were made for the sake of suitability under the current situation, Army deputy spokesman Col Winthai Suwaree said. The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Saturday ordered the removal of national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew, Department of Special Investigation director-general Tarit Pengdit, and Defence Ministry permanent secretary Nipat Thonglek from their positions. They will be transferred to the PM's Office. Winthai quoted NCPO chief and Army chief Prayuth as saying the transfers did not lessen the honour of the officials and their agencies. Prayuth will assign the most senior deputy Police chief to be the acting national police chief, the spokesman said. "All will be done to create trust among members of the society. And [Prayuth] would like the people to have sympathy for the transf

Summoned figures to be detained no more than seven days: Army spokesman

Prominent figures who have been summoned by the coup makers have not been tortured and will not be detained longer than seven days, Army deputy spokesman Col Winthai Suwaree announced Sunday. Winthai said the National Council for Peace and Order has summoned prominent figures from each side to find out more facts about the current situations. The summoned figures have been detained at proper places. "They are not chained or tortured. We treat all of them with honour," Winthai said. "We have informed them the need to cooperation to help solve the country's problems." Winthai said many of the summoned persons have been released and some were freed on the first day. He added that each of the detained persons could not be detained longer than seven days. The period for detention depends on the degree of importance of the figures. He said if the summoned figures are wanted on arrest warrants, they will be handed over to police for further prose

NMG's editor in chief calls on junta to respect freedom of expression

Nation Multimedia Group's Editor-in-Chief Thepchai Yong called on the military junta to respect Thai people's freedom of expression and their right to know. "Especially in time of crisis like this, people’s access to information is very important. And the media have a crucial role to play in keeping the public informed through free and independent reporting," he said. Thepchai said he strongly supports the call by Thailand’s major media organizations for the junta to repeal all the orders issued in the aftermath of the coup that are restricting media freedom. He also urged the military to refrain from actions that are seen as intimidating the media. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/NMGs-editor-in-chief-calls-on-junta-to-respect-fre-30234576.html

'Terror plot' suspects arrested

Twenty-one men and one woman, who were arrested over the past two days with a cache of weapons, have confessed that they were planning a terrorist attack in Khon Kaen on the orders of red-shirt hardliners, the military said yesterday. Maj-General Thawat Plangsuk, Second Army Region deputy commander, said the authorities were further questioning the suspects and red-shirt leaders in Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima and Kalasin to find out if they were planning a coordinated attack across the northeastern region. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of civilian, police and military raided the Chonlapruek apartment at tambon Ban Ped in Khon Kaen's Muang district. The officers found the suspects holding a meeting in two units. Ten people were arrested in room 406 and nine were arrested in room 407. Two people were arrested in room 411. Authorities found explosives, three hand grenades, one smoke grenade, two boxes of 202 9mm bullets and 145 11mm bullets, two gas tanks, m