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.