Fresh violence pushes Thailand deeper into crisis

Bangkok, Dec 2 (AP/UNB) – The United Nations closed its main office in Bangkok, dozens of schools were shut and civil servants skipped work as stone-throwing protesters battled through clouds of tear gas in renewed assaults on key government buildings in the Thai capital on Monday.

The protests aimed at toppling the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have renewed fears of prolonged instability in one of Southeast Asia’s biggest economies and come just ahead of the peak holiday tourist season.

After a weekend of chaos in pockets of Bangkok, protesters regrouped outside the heavily-barricaded prime minister’s office Monday and repeatedly clashed with the police who fired tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets. Emboldened by their leader’s vow to topple Yingluck by Wednesday, they threw rocks at police and tore away sections of barbed wire and concrete barriers.

In a nationally televised appeal, Yingluck’s deputy, Surapong Tovichakchaikul, called on protesters to stop hurting Thailand’s image and the economy. Yingluck has not appeared in public since Saturday, but on Monday posted a picture of herself on Facebook in a meeting with senior government and police officers.

Using a conciliatory tone, Surapong said “the government will exercise utmost patience and adhere to nonviolent principles.”

“The government would like to insist that it will lead Thailand back to peace soon,” he said.

The protesters, who are mostly middle-class Bangkok supporters of the opposition Democrat Party, want Yingluck to step down, claiming she is a proxy for her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He was deposed in a 2006 military coup but remains central to Thailand’s political crisis, and is a focal point for the protester’s hatred.

The protesters, who call themselves the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, say their goal is to uproot the political machine of Thaksin, who is accused of widespread corruption and winning elections by buying voters from poor rural folk.

In an e-mailed statement to its staff, the United Nations’ security department said “there could be violence (Monday) on a large scale .. staff should avoid government offices” and other protest locations.

Many of the offices and schools closed Monday were located near the Government House, in the historic quarter of the capital, where police over the weekend fought off mobs of rock-throwing protesters armed with petrol bombs. At least three people were killed and 103 injured in skirmishes over the weekend.

Many of the protesters wore raincoats and plastic bags over their heads, to protect against the sting of tear gas.

The violence has mainly been around key institutions — the Parliament, at the Government House and Metropolitan Police Headquarters in the historic quarter of the capital. The area has some of Bangkok’s main tourist attractions such as the Grand Palace, Wat Pho temple, the Bangkok zoo, and the backpacker area of Khao San Road. Most of Bangkok, a city of 10 million, has been normal.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister, says his aim is to install an unelected “people’s council” to select a new prime minister.

Suthep’s demand has been criticized by many as undemocratic, and is unlikely to be accepted by a government that was elected with an overwhelming majority.

However, his sustained campaign has led to suggestions that he may have the backing of the military, which has long had a powerful influence over Thai politics. The army has often stepped in during times of crisis, carrying out 18 successful or attempted coups since the 1930s.

Suthep met with Yingluck late Sunday in the presence of top military officials even though he has an arrest warrant against him. He later told cheering supporters that he told Yingluck that the only way to end the protests was for her to step down. The military has said it is neutral in the conflict but army commander Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha has urged the police not to use force.

“There was no negotiation during this meeting,” Suthep said. If Yingluck “listens to the people’s voices and returns the power to the people obediently, we will treat Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra with politeness because we all are good citizens.”

The French Embassy issued one of the strongest warnings of dozens of foreign governments, urging citizens to “stay inside” to avoid the conflict on Bangkok’s streets. The French School is located in a northeastern Bangkok neighborhood where gunshots rang out over the weekend during clashes between Yingluck’s supporters and opponents.

NLD Party Proposing Talks With The Goverment,Parliament And Military For Amending Constiution

Yangon, Nov 23 (IANS) A Myanmar opposition party, the National League for Democracy, Saturday proposed talks with the government, parliament and military for amending the 2008 constitution, the party said.

The decision came at the party's central executive committee meeting here to send a request for talks to President U Thein Sein, the party said.

The party has been collecting public opinion on the constitutional amendment region-wise and state-wise since mid-October.

According to earlier announcement by the party, the majority of the public prefer the amendment of the constitution, while few people prefer re-drawing.

The 109-member constitution review joint committee set up by Myanmar's Parliament in July, has extended the deadline for submission of such advice and assessment till Dec 31.

The National League for Democracy also formed a constitution amendment committee.

The 194-page, 15-chapter Republic of the Union of Myanmar Constitution 2008, drafted in accordance with the detailed basic principles laid down by the national convention, was promulgated in May 2008 after a nationwide referendum.

Under that constitution, a multi-party democratic general election was held in November 2010, in which the Union Solidarity and Development Party won the majority of the seats with its then chairman U Thein Sein being elected as president of the new government who took office in March 2011.

In 2012, the government amended the party registration law, re-legalising the opposition, the National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

The National League for Democracy took part in the by-elections in April, winning 43 out of 45 open parliamentary seats.

Myanmar rebels shun peace initiative

Ta Phone Kwaw, a leader of the rebel Ta'ang National Liberation Army, said Wednesday his group rejected a peace deal drafted by Myanmar's government.

Myanmar's government called on the various ethnic groups fighting for more autonomy in the country to form political parties and disarm before moving any further with a national reconciliation agenda.

"It will be difficult for our ethnic groups to agree to disarm," the rebel leader told Thai newspaper The Irrawaddy. "For our group, we totally reject this draft."

He said there was still "heavy fighting" with the government forces under way in the mountains of the northern part of Shan state, where its estimated 1,500 fighters are based.

"We could not meet again with [mediators] to negotiate because there is more fighting in our area," he said.

Myanmar since 2012 has brokered peace agreements with more than a dozen armed ethnic groups in the country.

Myanmar earned international praise for the series of political reforms that began with general elections in 2010. National security challenges have overshadowed some of those reforms.

Buddhists celebrate Prabarana Purnima

. BSS, Chittagong
Buddhists here yesterday celebrated their second largest festival Prabarana Purnima, in the city as elsewhere in the district with traditional enthusiasm and due solemnity.
The festival is also known as Ashvini Purnima that marks conclusion of the three months long seclusion of the monks inside their monasteries for self edification and atonement of their defilement.
The Purnima follows a month-long preaching of sermons by the Buddhist monks for the welfare of every beings and whole humankind through a month-long yellow robes offering ceremony that begins from tomorrow.
According to the legend, Buddha once clipped some strands of hair from his head and said that if he were qualified to attain supreme wisdom and enlightenment, the hairs would not fall down but go up instead, in the long run which they did. To mark this event, the Buddhists released candle lit air balloons made of coloured paper and set free to flow towards the sky in the evening which is the chief attraction of the festival.
The Purnima was celebrated in all monasteries, respective offices of the religious organizations and educational institutions through day-long programmes.
The day's programmes heralded with hoisting of the national and religious flags atop all monasteries in the dawn and chanting of the sacred verses from the Tripitaka.
Breaking of fasting of the monks, mass prayer, blood donation, sangadana, discussions, panchashila and pradip puja were other highlights of the programmes.
In the city, the main religious congregations were held at Nandankanan Buddhist temple, Katalganj Nabapandit Vihar, Shakkymuni Buddha Vihar at Agrabad. Purnachar International Buddhists Monastery at Devpahar and Sarbajanin Bouddha Vihar at Momin road. In Nandankanon Buddhist temple, its chief priest Dr Ganasree Mohathero led the mass congregation while Venerable Pragyanbongsha Mohathero, founder of Shakkymuni Buddha Vihar conducted prayer and part time meditation among the devotees.
To mark the day, local dailies brought out some articles while Chittagong centres of Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television also aired special programme highlighting importance of the festival.
Besides, a number of periodicals were brought out on the occasion.
Special prayers were also held in all monasteries seeking peace and prosperity of the nation as well as global peace.
Members of the law enforcing agencies have been deployed in and around all temples in the city and district.

Right now, competition for political power has started again in Myanmar by bombing at the public places

Today many Arakans find themselves caught in position at the cost of their lives when they cannot do livelihood and getting persecutions and arrest at the hands of police in their home land. They were leaving for neighbouring nations like Thai and Malaysia cos of unemployment and persecution in Arakan.

At the same time, the total disregard for the safety of Arakanese people in Arakan State ,western Myanmar,
is the worst because Army and Armed Police in so-called power lose all their balance of mind and become much brutal while dealing with Buddhist Arakanese people.

The brutalities of the police froces are becoming more and more subjects for discussion among the Arakan
because the face of police is absolutely different with what people wanna be and without proving fact, people are being arrested by them. Moreover, Arakan people are being extorted money to get free during custody period of baseless cases, created by police.

Right now, competition for political power has started again in myanmar by bombing at the public places.
This is to say that Army is creating condition to coup power while things in Myanmar become
complicated. History of Myanmar is replete with examples of such situations and
Burmese nationlists serve in Army and notorious political party backed up by Army has made up not to let devolution to other nationals in myanmar ever but they believe that they deserve power to persecute and colonize others.

The BCIM quandary

Subir Bhaumik,  bdnews24.com

Published: 2013-10-17 10:07:19.0 BdST Updated: 2013-10-17 14:44:45.0 BdST

During Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to China next week, the Chinese will push for acceptance of modalities to take forward the BCIM economic corridor plan.

BCIM stands for Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar, a regional group now considered high priority by Beijing, which sees much future in a strong regional trading bloc boosted by all-round connectivity, physical and virtual.

China has already been in discussion with Myanmar and Bangladesh to take this plan forward.

During Premier Li Keqiang's Delhi visit in May this year, India and China agreed to 'explore' the possibility of a BCIM economic corridor.

During Singh's Beijing visit, China will also offer to declare Kunming and Kolkata as 'sister cities' to carry forward the K2K (Kunming to Kolkata) process that complements efforts to create a BCIM land corridor that can then be converted into an economic corridor.

Because Kunming and Kolkata are two defining end-points of the land corridor that would hold together the BCIM grouping.

Six Arakanese detained in Thandwe

( Thandwe, 3 October 2013):  Day after the latest sectarian clashes broke out in Arakan State between the Buddhists and Muslim residents killing at least 5 people, the police have detained six Arakanese Buddhists last night from their residences in Thandwe town.
According to the local source, a police team rounded up them from their localities in-between 10 to 11 pm yesterday.
Maung Pru, the Thandwe township RNDP secretary, had confirmed the arrest over phone. He also added that the RNDP Thandwe township president U Maung Pu (alias U Saw Hlaing) had also been detained by the police.
Other detained leaders include  U Thein Win, U Thein Zan, Ko Myint Moe Aung, Ko Win Ko Lay and Ko Kyaw Kyaw. All the detainees are from Thandwe locality.
U Khaing Pray Soe, the secretary board member of RNDP central committee informed that he was also arrested by the police yesterday night with the suspicion of his involvement with the violence in Thandwe, but authority has not yet declared about his detention.
He also telephoned to district chairman of Thandwe and in charge of Thandwe police station to enquire about the arrest, but the authority had not replied in details about it.
On Wednesday, the sectarian violence hit  Shwe Lay (Thapyu Chai) of Thandwe township, where five people got killed and 70 houses were set on fire. In another incident, four people were injured where as one person is reportedly missing.
The local residents informed that the authority has beefed- up the security arrangement across Thandwe township with engaging additional forces. Meanwhile  the authority is also looking for the agitators to book them such that the  tension can be reduced in the locality.

US is 'determined' to hunt al-Qaida leaders around world, John Kerry says

Reuters | Oct 6, 2013, 07.00 PM IST

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"We hope this makes clear that the United States of America will never stop in its effort to hold those accountable who conduct acts of terror," Kerry said.

 

TRIPOLI/MOGADISHU: US raids in Libya and Somalia that captured an Islamist wanted for bombing its Nairobi embassy 15 years ago show Washington's determination to hunt down al-Qaida leaders around the globe, secretary of state John Kerry said on Sunday.

Libyan Nazih al-Ragye, better known by the cover name Abu Anas al-Liby, was seized by US forces in Tripoli on Saturday, the Pentagon said. A seaborne raid on the Somali port of Barawe, a stronghold of the al-Shabaab movement behind last month's attack on a Kenyan mall, failed to take or kill its target.

"We hope this makes clear that the United States of America will never stop in its effort to hold those accountable who conduct acts of terror," Kerry said during a visit to Bali.

"Those members of al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations literally can run but they can't hide," Kerry said. "We will continue to try to bring people to justice."

The twin raids, two years after a US Navy SEAL team killed al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, demonstrated American reach at a time when Islamist militants have been expanding their presence in Africa - not least in Libya following the Western-backed overthrow of Gaddafi.

Libya's government, wary of an Islamist backlash, demanded an explanation for the "kidnapping" of one of its citizens.

The target of the Somali operation was unclear but a US official was quoted as saying it was planned in response to the Nairobi mall attack two weeks ago in which at least 67 were killed. That highlighted the risk of Somalia's rumbling civil conflict destabilizing a resource-rich continent where Islamists have been on the rise from west to east in recent years.

Launched in the early hours of Saturday, the Somali raid appears to have featured a beach landing in hostile territory that was followed by an extended firefight. US officials said SEALs conducted the raid and had killed al-Qaida-allied al-Shabaab fighters while taking no casualties themselves. Somali police said seven people were killed during the operation.

Somalia's Western-backed government, still trying to establish its authority after two decades of civil war, holds little sway in Barawe, 110 miles south of Mogadishu.

Asked of his involvement in the US operation, Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon said: "We have collaboration with the world and with neighboring countries in the battle against al-Shabaab."

LIBYA RAID

In Tripoli, the seemingly bloodless operation to snatch Liby as he returned home from dawn prayers at a mosque in the capital may have involved some cooperation with the friendly but weak Libyan administration - though the government, facing anger from Islamist militias, issued a public denial.

"The Libyan government is following the news of the kidnapping of a Libyan citizen who is wanted by US authorities," read a statement from the office of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan. "The Libyan government has contacted US authorities to ask them to provide an explanation."

Liby, who the FBI says is 49, has been under US indictment since 2000 for his alleged role in bombing the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, which killed 224 people. Of more pressing concern for Washington, however, may have been that al-Qaida appears to be establishing itself in Libya today.

With President Barack Obama wrestling with the legal and political difficulties posed by trying al-Qaida suspects held at the US base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, Liby may be more likely to face trial in New York, where the indictment was filed.

Liby, who had once been granted political asylum from Gaddafi in Britain, was charged with 20 other people including bin Laden and current al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri. The US government offered a $5 million reward for helping capture Liby.

Charges relating to him personally accuse him of discussing the bombing of the Nairobi embassy in retaliation for the US intervention in the Somali civil war in 1992-93 and of helping reconnoiter and plan the attack in the years before 1998.

"As the result of a US counterterrorism operation, Abu Anas al-Liby is currently lawfully detained by the US military in a secure location outside of Libya," Pentagon spokesman George Little said without elaborating.

US naval forces in the Mediterranean, as well as bases in Italy and Germany, would provide ample facilities within a short flight time from the coastal city to mount an arrest operation.

Neighbors and Libyan Islamist militia sources said the capture of Liby appeared to go smoothly: "As I was opening my house door, I saw a group of cars coming quickly from the direction of the house where al-Ragye lives. I was shocked by this movement in the early morning," said one neighbor in the residential district in southern Tripoli.

"They kidnapped him. We do not know who they are."

Abdul Bassit Haroun, a former Islamist militia commander who works with the Libyan government on security, said the US raid would show Libya was no refuge for "international terrorists".

"But it is also very bad that no state institutions had the slightest information about this process, nor do they have a force which was able to capture him," he told Reuters.

"This means the Libyan state simply does not exist."

He warned that Islamist militants, like those blamed for the fatal attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi a year ago, would hit back violently: "This won't just pass," Haroun said.

"There will be a strong reaction in order to take revenge because this is one of the most important al-Qaida figures."

Since Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011 in an uprising backed by Washington and its allies, well armed warlords have contested control of the thinly populated desert state and its vast oil resources. Fighters - and weapons - from Libya played a part in an Islamist revolt in Mali last year and in the related al-Qaida assault on a gas plant in the Algerian desert in January.

SOMALIA RAID

The Pentagon confirmed US military personnel had been involved in an operation against what it called "a known al Shabaab terrorist," in Somalia, but gave no more details.

Local people in Barawe and Somali security officials said troops came ashore from the Indian Ocean to attack a house near the shore used by al-Shabaab fighters.

One US official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the al-Shabaab leader targeted in the operation was neither captured nor killed.

US officials said troops, to avoid civilian casualties, disengaged after inflicting casualties on al-Shabaab. They said no US personnel were wounded or killed in the operation, which one US source said was carried out by a Navy SEAL team.

A Somali intelligence official said the target of the raid at Barawe, about 110 miles south of Mogadishu, was a Chechen commander, who had been wounded and his guard killed.

Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters that foreign forces had landed on the beach and launched an assault at dawn that drew gunfire from rebel fighters in one of the militia's coastal bases.

Britain and Turkey denied his suggestion that their forces had been involved in the attack and taken casualties.

The New York Times quoted an unnamed US security official as saying that the Barawe raid was planned a week and a half ago in response to the al-Shabaab assault in neighboring Kenya: "It was prompted by the Westgate attack,: the official said.

Barawe residents said fighting erupted at about 3am on Saturday (midnight GMT).

"We were awoken by heavy gunfire last night, we thought an al Shabaab base at the beach was captured," Sumira Nur told Reuters from Barawe by telephone. "We also heard sounds of shells, but we do not know where they landed," she added.

Temples rebuilt, but trust not

A Buddha idol in the remains of a Ramu temple burned down in a communal violence last year. Photo: File

Remember the Buddhist youth Uttam Barua, the deed writer whose Facebook profile image had been doctored to make a fake post that provoked an unprecedented attack on the Buddhist community of Ramu exactly a year ago?
Islamist fanatics vandalised and torched Buddhist temples and houses in Ramu and Ukhia of Cox’s Bazar in a wave of attacks, using the fake Facebook post that demeaned the holy Quran.
Uttam, 28,  has been untraced since the day. Even his family does not know of his whereabouts.
Their crumbling thatched hut at Haitupi village in Ramu is proof that good days have come to an end for the family.
Uttam’s mother, his wife Rita Barua, four-year-old son Aditya and physically challenged sister Jinia huddle together in the dilapidated house, weary of the wait for his comeback.

Uttam Barua

His father Sudeepta Barua now works at a shop in Chittagong to sustain the family. He sends home half of his Tk 4,000 monthly salary.
He too does not visit the family in Ramu or disclose where he works in Chittagong, fearing further trouble descending on the family.
An investigation by The Daily Star exposed the forged Facebook profile that was used to instigate the hate attacks, as well as the inaction of the local administration and intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
The government has rebuilt and renovated several of the 19 temples and 65 houses vandalised and burnt down during the mayhem, but could do little to allay the fears of the Buddhist community.
“If it returns my son, the government may hang me. But please give my son back,” said a weeping Madhu Barua, the 55-year-old mother when this correspondent visited their cottage.
With a face as gloomy as it can be, Rita, 26, tried to calm her mother-in-law, but in vain.
“I have not heard his voice even once since the attack. We do not know whether he is dead or alive.” Now she breaks down in tears.
After the rampage began on the evening of September 29, the fanatics vandalised the house of Uttam and beat his wife up.
In a worse turn of events, his mother and aunt Aadi Barua were arrested the next day following a case filed by the police. The two were later released on a High Court order.
Of the 19 cases filed in connection with the attacks, the law enforcers have already submitted charge-sheets in seven cases and are going to do so in six more cases in the first week of October.
But many local politicians, who led the procession of fanatics before the vandalism, are at large, a sight that still makes the Buddhists panicky.
On August 12, Uttam’s wife wrote to the prime minister seeking her intervention in finding her husband, but to no avail.
The family has received no government assistance so far, said Rita, adding that she had tried but failed to meet the PM when the latter visited Ramu to inaugurate the renovated temples on September 3.
Many would say a few words of sympathy, but no one, including the leaders of the community, dared to speak for the family out of fear that they might come under attack again.
“We are facing various kinds of dangers. Why invite some more?” said Tarun Barua, a leader of the community.
Its abject poverty did not allow the family to send Uttam’s son to school this year.
“Haunted by the attack, Aditya, the son, becomes hysterical every day when darkness falls. He screams, asking us to close the door and window,” said Rita.
The child forgets the family can no longer afford to fix the door or the window vandalised by the fanatics.

Muhammad Ali Zinnat with Shamim Ashraf

Five Myanmar police hospitalised after clash with villagers

Deutsche Presse Agentur September 20, 2013 1:58 pm

Yangon - Five police officers were hospitalised in Naypyitaw after a night raid on a town near the capital turned into a clash with the villagers, sources said Friday.

About 60 police entered Wegyi town, 350 kilometres north ofYangon, early Thursday in an attempt to arrest four village leaders who had opposed the government’s acquisition of their land, said a Naypyitaw police officer who participated in the raid.

"One of the suspects shouted for help as if they were being robbed and nearly 100 villagers surrounded us and told us to disarm eventhough they knew we were police," said the officer who asked to remain anonymous. The villagers beat up the police and tied some up with rope.

Bin Laden doctor`s 33 years jail sentence overturned

A judicial official on Thursday overturned the 33-year jail sentence of Shakil Afridi, the doctor who helped the CIA track down former al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Judicial official Commissioner Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) Sahibzada Mohammad Anees ruled that the previous judge in the case exceeded his authority when handing down last year’s sentence and ordered a new trial.

Afridi’s sentence angered the United States, which withheld $33 million in aid for Pakistan in retaliation.

Afridi remains in custody and is believed to be held at the Peshawar central jail, reports dawn.com.

Australia settles 5 Bangladeshis in PNG

 
 

Australia has settled in Papua New Guinea five Bangladeshi citizens who travelled by boat to the country without visa under its new regional arrangement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.

Its spokesperson M Shameem Ahsan told bdnews24.com they were among a group of people of different nationalities in the boat that had been spotted on Aug 23.

“Particulars (Bangladeshis) are yet to be obtained,” he added.

The ministry confirmed it on Wednesday a month after Australian High Commissioner in Dhaka Greg Wilcock said some people claiming to be Bangladeshi nationals seeking asylums were detected while entering his country by a boat without visa.

He at a press briefing on July 29 had said they had been verifying their claims.

Australia came to an agreement with the Papua New Guinea (PNG) on July 19 under which all those who arrive in Australia by ‘dangerous’ boat without visas will have the validity of their refugee status assessed according to the laws of the PNG government.

The envoy said the decision had been taken in the wake of continuous inflow of people with ‘dangerous boat journey’ and to stop human traffickers ‘exploiting’ asylum seekers.

The foreign ministry spokesperson said they were in touch with the Australian High Commission in Dhaka and the Bangladesh mission in Australia had been asked “to get in touch with the relevant authorities and take appropriate actions”.

( www.bdnews24.com )

US embassy closure linked to terror fear

US intelligence has picked up signs of al Qaeda plot against US posts
DHAKA : The US embassy’s announcement earlier today that it will remain closed on Sunday, August 4, is linked to a perceived terror threat from Al Qaeda, it’s been learned, reports UNB.
The State Department is in fact keeping several consulates and embassies around the world closed on the date, due to the security threat.
Leading American cable network CBS reported earlier this morning that U.S. intelligence has picked up signs of an al Qaeda plot against American diplomatic posts in the Middle East and other Muslim countries.
The intelligence does not mention a specific location, which is why all embassies that would normally be open on Sunday have been ordered to close. That includes embassies and consulates in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, where Sunday is the start of the work week. In line with this, Embassy Dhaka’s announcement to that effect was communicated in the early hours of Friday. Missing key pieces of intelligence means the security net has to be cast very wide – in this case, almost all Muslim-majority countries with a Sunday start to their week. As of 5:35am on Friday, CBS reported some 14 embassies and consulates had announced closures on August 4.
CBS further reported that officials say this appears to be “a real plot in the making” and not just the “normal chatter among terrorists” talking about attacks they’d like to carry out.
Marie Harf, the deputy spokeswoman for the State Department, told reporters the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution.” She also said that it is “possible” some facilities would remain closed for more than a day, depending on the results of a security analysis.

The Open Letter To Ms. Hannah Beech- TIME Magazine - From Ven. Wirathu

Ms. Hannah Beech- TIME

Dear Sister Ms. Hannah Beech, I nationalist Buddhist Monk U Wira Thu is writing this letter to you. When you came to us, we had treated you and your photographer with hospitability. You know we had done our best to help you and your photographer to get what you want. We had helped you only with the good volition that we want the media and correspondents get the true facts. We helped you because we respect western liberal media like Times and we expected you wouldn’t make lies to the people of the world. And we did not think you wouldn’t break ethic and responsibility of media. Now I know that you are the worst visitors we have ever had. I could not see the hatred behind your smiles. I could not see your ruthlessness under your tender actions. I could not see your deceit under your sweet words it is like blade covered by honey. I did not think that a gentle and beautiful girl like you have the ruthless heart of performing savages attack on us to be heard all over the world. I could not think that because of my background may be as you said I was a vagabond. I had told you that those names such as Shaved Head Nazi, Neo Nazi, Burmese Bin Laden were given by Muslims on Facebook. And then liberal media like you dare use the word like “The Buddhist Monk, The Title "Burmese Binladen" I believe (think) you admit your dirty mind by deliberately using the word “The Buddhist Monk” then followed by the word “With the man in burgundy robes.” You are not a lady with high moral ground and you are same as dirty minded as extremists all over the world. Muslims are also like you want me to strip of the robe. They do not revere me as a Monk and call me “the man in the robe.” My preaching is not burning with hatred as you say. Only your writing is full of hate speech. We can forgive the misunderstanding. We can forgive wrong conclusion. But will you deny that your hatred words targeted me to tarnish my reputation. Please recheck your words and the words that I preached. “Now is not the time for calm.” “Now is the time to rise up to make your blood boil.” These are your words. Now I show my words. 969 is for peace, We should preserve these noble reputations of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. For our National cause, our Culture and our Faith, We will avoid terror act. Upholding three gems (Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha) We will perform with honesty, diligence and determined attempts. For our national cause, We will carry out it warmly without ignorance.” These are my words. It is clear that you made savage attack against me by comparing my words and your words.

I preach people not to react with lawlessness, but you accused me of terrorist. You tried to draw a picture of me as a person who aggravate the situation by hate speech and fuelling to make offensive attack, where I am preaching people to perform with honesty, diligence and determined attempts to preserve our value. I preach people to carry out national cause warmly without ignorance, than you gave the world bad impression of me who is trying to boil the blood of people.

You dare do that. With sustained loving-kindness, Ven. Wira Thu

UK minister pays visit to Arakan 's refugee camps

( Sittwe, 20 June 2013) : British minister Alan Duncan arrived in Arakan on Tuesday to observe the latest situation of refugees, taking shelter in various camps of the western State of Burma.

The UK minister of state for international development visited several refugee camps in Sittwe and Mray Bon during his two day visit,  informed a lawmaker, U Aung Mra Kyaw.
“As far as I know, during his visit from 18 to 19 June, the UK minister visited many refugee camps in Sittwe located at Thet Kay Byin, Thae Chaung, Dapai, Aung Mingalar and Set Rokya. Alan Duncan also flew to Mray Bon by a government chopper to understand the situation of Muslim refugees there,” added the Arakanese lawmaker.
The UK minister also held a meeting with Arakan State government representatives on Wednesday in Sittwe town hall where the envoys of local UN body and a British NGO, Department for International Development were present.
The meeting lasted for around 20 minutes.
U Aung Than Tin, the Arakanese mining minister, who attended the meeting expressed his dismay that the meeting with the UK minister ‘was very short and lasted for only 20 minutes’.
Alan Duncan raised few questions relating to the rehabilitation plan for the refugees. But he was very brief, added the State mining minister.
Narinjara tracked the development but could not get the details about the said meeting with the UK minister due to technical difficulties. In fact, the Arakan State minister U Aung Than Tin disconnected the phone line citing some problems.
Soon after the meeting, the UK minister left Sittwe for Yangon.

Tallest Man Of The World Is In Myanmar

( Yangon, 22 June 2013) : Probably the tallest man of the world is living in Burma. The exciting news is generated by   Myanmar News Now that a Burmese citizen with the height of 8 feet 4 inches is found in a remote village of central Burma.
Ko Win Zaw Oo, now aged 36, hails from Hton Pauk Chai village of Netmauk township in Magwe division is reported to be the tallest man of the country. The son of U Aung Hla and Daw Mauk Tin may even get the status of tallest man in the  Guinness Book of World Records as the present record is with Sultan Kösen (date of birth: 10 December 1982) of Turkey whose height was recorded 8 feet 2 inches in 2011.
Till the media found Ko Win Zaw Oo as a tallest young man of Burma, he was not known outside his remote village.
Ko Win Zaw Oo had however the normal height till he attained the age of 15. Later he started growing in a faster way to reach the present height.
A drop out from school, Ko Win Zaw Oo left his village to Yangon in 1988 for some works. For few years he was there and worked in a milk-curd shop.
The media report says that he likes milk and curd very much.  And working in a milk-curd shop, Ko Win Zaw Oo got the opportunity to have the milk products frequently. He returned back home at the age of 18 and since then his height started growing fast.
Now Ko Win Zaw Oo wants to get his name included in the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest man of the globe.
 

Birth of Arakan National Party: RNDP and ALD emerge as a single entity

( Yangon, 17 June 201): Rakhine National Development Party (RNDP) and Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) have finally combined into a single party named Arakan National Party (ANP) in the unification meeting held in Yangon.

The delegates representing both the Arakan based political parties agreed to unify and emerge the new political party for the benefit of Arakanese, said party officials.
The combination meeting between RNDP and ALD delegates was organized in the office of Rakhine Thahaya Association of Yangon that is going on since June 15.
The final accord is going to be signed today by the delegates. The meeting is attended by six delegates from each party and also been graced by some prominent monks and citizens.
Mentionable is that both RNDP and ALD are the biggest political parties of Arakan. The RNDP won 35 Parliamentary seats in 2010 general election and the ALD won 11 Parliamentary seats in 1990 election. The ALD did not participate in the last general election of Burma.
The delegates from both the parties also discussed about their future strategy and activities in the unification meeting.

Islamic extremists arrested

Dhaka, 14 June, Abnews : Police in a drive last night arrested 21 alleged Islamic extremists from a hotel at city’s Kaptan Bazar area. Acting on a tip off, a team of Wari police along with Detective Branch (DB) of Police raided Hotel Star at Kaptan Bazar under Wari police station and detained 72 youths mostly students of various educational institutions at about 11.30pm, police said. Talking to Abnews Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Lalbagh zone) Ilias Sharif said some 72 students mostly belonging to BUET, Salimullah Medical College, BRAC University and Stamford University were holding a secret meeting inside the hotel last night.
The arrestees are yet to confess their involvement with any specific Islamic organisation, but it is certain they are active members of any Islamic militant organisation, as they were holding meeting with a large number of students in the hotel at late night, The DC said. He said, members of law enforcement agencies later arrested 21 students including 10 of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) from there and released others.
Sharif said police and DB team released 51 youths who are first year students of BUET and handed them over to varsity authorities at about 4.30am today. The arrested persons are now under DB and Wari police custody for interrogation, the DC said.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Wari Police Station Tapan Chandra Saha said 11 arrestees are now under interrogation, as they were discussing various topics during the meeting at the hotel. But the students claimed they were discussing on Islamic cleric Zakir Naik and his thoughts, the OC said.

Mission possible: RNDP and ALD agree to unify

( Yangon, 15 June 2013) : Two major political parties of Arakan region in western Burma have today agreed to unify for a single party.

It was decided in a meeting held in Rangoon, the former capital of Burma, to merge the Rakhine National Development Party (RNDP) and the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) into one party with an aim to fight for the cause of Arakanese people.
“The delegates representing both the parties have agreed to emerge both RNDP and ALD into a single political party in today’s meeting,” informed Dr Aye Maung, the president of RNDP.
The unification meeting on Saturday have arrived in three important agreements including 1) to combine two parties as a solo party to lead Arakanese people effectively,  2) to emerge accordance with Burma election commission rules and principals  and 3) to form an unification committee by the delegates representing both parties.
“We will continue our meeting tomorrow to discuss about the unification process between the two parties. We will also discuss and resolve the policy, strategy and tactic in the meeting. Need not to be mentioned that we are interested  to carry out the unification process effectively and without any delay,” added Dr Maung.
The unification meeting started at 9 in the morning in the office Rakhine Thahaya Association, where six delegates from each party attended. The meeting was also graced by over 20 prominent Arakanese senior citizens representing various social groups as observers.
U Aye Tha Aung, the president of ALD, while speaking to Narinjara over phone expressed happiness at the outcome. He personally welcomes the decision related to the unification of RNDP and ALD.
“Our final aim is to unify all Arakanese political parties into a single entity. We are struggling hard for long time to achieve the goal of  unification among all Arakanese groups. I must say all the Arakanese people living inside Burma and abroad would welcome the outcome of today’s meeting,” revealed Tha Aung

Solider`s murder in London Prompts UK to set up task froce to target radicial preachers

AP | May 26, 2013, 06.11 PM

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READ MORE Theresa May|Radical Islamic Preachers in Britain|Omar Bakri Muhammad|Michael Adebowale|Michael Adebolajo

Michael Adebolajo (front) shouts slogans as Muslims march in London in a protest against the arrest of 6 people in anti-terror raids, in this April 27, 2007 file photo. Adebolajo has been identified as one of the two men who attacked and killed a British soldier on a street in south London on May 22 2013. (AP photo)

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LONDON: Britain's government is setting up a new terrorism task force to tackle radical preachers and extremism, officials said on Sunday, days after suspects apparently linked to extremist Islamist activists brutally killed a British soldier in a London street.

Home secretary Theresa May said the group will look at whether new powers and laws are needed to clamp down on religious leaders and organizations who promote extremist messages and who target potential recruits in jails, schools and mosques.

Thousands of people are potentially at risk of being radicalized in Britain, May told the BBC.

"We need to look across institutions like universities, whether there is more work we can be doing in prisons," she said in the television interview.

The force will include senior ministers, London's police chief and the head of the MI5 domestic security service, and is expected to meet within the next few weeks.

The move came after 25-year-old British soldier Lee Rigby was run over and stabbed with knives in the Woolwich area in southeast London on Wednesday afternoon as he was walking near his barracks.

The two men suspected of killing the soldier, Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, remained under armed guard in separate London hospitals after police shot them at the scene.

The gruesome scene was captured by witnesses' cellphones, and a video picked up by British media showed one of the suspects, with bloodied hands, making political statements and warning of more violence as the soldier lay on the ground behind him.

Hardline Muslim leaders have identified the man in the video as Adebolajo, an Islam convert who allegedly used to take part in London demonstrations organized by British radical group al-Muhajiroun. The group catapulted to notoriety after the September 11 attacks by organizing an event to celebrate the airplane hijackers, and was banned in Britain in 2010.

Omar Bakri Muhammad, a former al-Muhajiroun leader and radical Muslim preacher, has told Associated Press that Adebolajo is a Nigerian who was born and raised in Britain. He said Adebolajo attended his London lectures in the early 2000s, but added he had not stayed in touch with the suspect since then. Bakri fled London and resettled in Lebanon in 2005.

Suspect was arrested in Kenya

British media reported Sunday that Adebolajo was arrested in 2010 in Kenya, where he was accused of leading a group of youths trying to join al-Shabab, a terrorist group in neighboring Somalia linked to al-Qaida.

UK's Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph both reported that Adebolajo appeared in a court in Kenya in late 2010 alongside other young alleged radical Islamists. He was remanded at a local police station and eventually deported to Britain, the reports said.

' Mahasen ' hits Patuakhali, Bhola

16 May 2013   11:57:37 AM   Thursday BdST

Ctg, Cox’s Bazar signal 7, Mongla 5

---

Staff Correspondent
banglanews24.com

DHAKA: The cyclonic storm ‘Mahasen’ hits Khepupara of Patuakhali district around 8:00am Thursday with wind speed 80-100 kph, says Bangladesh met office.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department director Shah Alam, in the morning, said Mahasen is approaching towards coastline with 400 kilometers width.

Mentioning heavy rainfall were recorded in the areas, he added that 232 mm rain lashed Khepupara, 122mm Patuakhali, 95mm Barisal, 78mm Bhola, 75mm Feni, 54mm Hatia, 37mm Chittagong and 17mm Cox’s Bazar.

Meanwhile, an elderly person was killed as a tree fall upon him when cyclonic storm ‘Mahasen’ hit Lalmohan upazila of the district on Thursday morning.

The deceased was identified as Kashem, 65 of Dhaligour area of the upazila.

Besides, the storm is progressing towards Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar gradually. It is likely to hit the coasts of the two districts by 2:30pm to 3:00pm, Shah Alam added.

Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar sea ports have been advised to keep hoisted danger signal number seven while danger signal number five for Mongla port.

Besides, Bangladesh weather office bulletin at 11am Thursday said it was centered about 150 kms southwest of Chittagong port, 140 kms west of Cox’s bazar port and 140 kms southeast of Mongla port (near lat 21.50 n and long 90.60 e).
It is likely to move northeasterly direction further and may take 3-5 hours to complete crossing Chittagong-Noakhali coast near Meghna estuary.

The cyclone started crossing the coast near Patuakhali (Khapupara). The coast grazing cyclone is likely to move northeasterly direction further and may cross Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar coast by noon.

Maximum sustained wind speed within 54 kms of the storm centre is about 62 kph rising to 90 kph in gusts/ squalls.

Accuweather.com, however, said it is likely to reach its maximum wind speed between 85kph and 95kph in gusts/squalls at 3:00pm.

Mahasen may weaken somewhat prior to making landfall Thursday afternoon or evening. Heavy rainfall associated with stormy wind Mahasen fell across parts of Bangladesh.

As per accuweather.com, the wind speed of the cyclone will be 51 kilometer per hour (kph) around 10:00am, 58kph at 11:00am,  66kph at 12:00pm,  74-77kph at 1:00pm,  80-87kph at 2:00pm, 85-95kph at 3:00pm, 89-93kph at 4:00pm, 72-82kph at 5:00pm, 61-72kph at 6:00pm 50-61kph at 7:00pm, 30-50kph at 8:00pm, 27-39kph at 9:00pm and 24-37kph at 10:00pm.

Sea will remain very rough near the storm centre.

The coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Bhola, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barisal and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal number seven.

The coastal districts of Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal number five.

Under the influence of the storm the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur,  Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barisal,  Pirozpur, Jhalokathi, Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by storm surge of 8-10 feet height above normal astronomical tide.

The coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Borguna, Patuakhali, Barisal, Bhola, Pirozpur, and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 90-100 kph in gusts/ squalls with heavy to very falls during the passage of the storm.

The coastal districts of Jhalokathi, Bagerhat, Khulna, Satkhira and their offshore islands and chars are likely to experience wind speed up to 80-90 kph in gusts/ squalls with heavy to very falls during the passage of the storm.

Due to very heavy rainfall, landslide may occur at places over the hilly regions of Chittagong division.

All fishing boats, trawlers and marine vessels over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice.

BDST: 1150 HRS, MAY 16, 2013
Edited by: Rubaiat Saky, Newsroom Editor/M. Mahbub Alam, Asst Output Editor/ SM Salahuddin, Output Editor- eic@banglanews24.com

Is Aung San Suu Kyi the real enemy?

By Mark Farmaner   |   Monday, 06 May 2013

There is an old saying that love can easily turn into hate but it has been surprising to see how quickly this has happened regarding Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
It was always going to be impossible for her to meet expectations. First, because of the sheer scale of the problems Myanmar faces, and second because after spending so many years under house arrest, she became all things to all people. In the absence of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi being able to comment and act herself, expectations were based on hope, not reality.
Successive dictatorships in Myanmar ruthlessly pursued divide and rule policies. Unity was essential to counter this. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, though, has now chosen the path of party politics rather than leading a whole movement. In the 2012 by-elections, the National League for Democracy stood alone, not as part of a coalition of pro-democracy parties and organisations. As such, the situation has changed. Criticism of political parties and their policies is an essential part of any democracy. It would be dangerous and unhealthy if people were not criticising Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
However, the level of vitriol and hatred being directed at her by some people in Myanmar, and some external observers, is worrying. Her picture has been burned during protests, and she has even been compared to Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe. These attacks are all the more worrying because the level of criticism exceeds that directed at President U Thein Sein.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has made compromises that many people are unhappy with. She has been silent on key human rights issues where her intervention could have made a real difference. Her role in the Letpadaung commission has been controversial. There are many decisions she has made that are worthy of comment and debate. In doing so, however, it is important to keep things in perspective.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi does not keep hundreds of political prisoners in jail. She does not have an army which is committing war crimes by targeting civilians in Kachin State, with soldiers who rape ethnic Kachin women, and even children. But President U Thein Sein does.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi doesn’t control a government budget which allocates around five times as much to the military as health, or have security forces committing horrendous abuses against the Rohingya. President U Thein Sein does.
There has not been a single repressive law completely repealed that is not already covered by another law, or has not been replaced by another law that does not meet international standards. Myanmar is violating multiple international humanitarian and human rights laws. As head of state it is U Thein Sein who is responsible for this, not Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Aung San Suu Kyi used to be the one winning peace awards but now faces criticism that crosses the line into personal attacks. Now it is President U Thein Sein who is winning the peace awards – and avoiding criticism.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would be among the first to admit she isn’t perfect. Her actions and decisions should be scrutinised and questioned. But let’s not forget it is the head of state who has ultimate responsibility for human rights abuses. U Thein Sein rules a country that two years into the reform process still has one of the worst human rights records in the world – and he is getting a free ride.
(Mark Farmaner is Director of Burma Campaign UK.)