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Showing posts from March 23, 2014

FARC-EP Advocate for Redefinition of Counter-Drug Policy

Prensa Latina News Agency -  Havana, Mar 28 (Prensa Latina) The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People''s Army (FARC-EP) advocated here today for a counter-drug policy with a humanized approach in the context of the Integral Rural Reform. Through a statement, insurgents highlighted the recent completion of the National Agrarian Summit, held in Bogota, from March 15 to 17, where besides the demans concerning the rural theme, and mining and energy explotation, Colombian peasants expressed their opinions on coca, marijuana and poppy crops. In view of the peasants, the forced eradication and air fumigations which poison fields will not solve the problem, affirmed the guerillas which considered as failed and repressive the Government's counter-narcotic policy, and recognized the rural sector as the main victim of this problem and its impacts. Therefore, in the context of the XXII cicle of peace dialogues cary out since November, 2012 in this capital, the FARC-EP considere

How the FARC Gave Birth to the State in the Colombian Jungle

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This  piece by Lorenzo Morales at La Silla Vacía  shows, with concise and beautiful prose, the process through which the FARC impose themselves on local peoples in Colombia, becoming the  de facto  rulers of an incipient state. Morales tells us about life in Araracuara, a small, isolated town within the  Caquetá Department , deep within the Amazon. During the last couple of years, the town has been going through an illegal gold-mining boom. The town is so hard to reach that it used to house a penal colony in 1939, and today “…remains a confined place: there’s no road, a ticket to board the weekly 19-seat plane that arrives from Bogotá costs more than minimum wage. A beer costs 5000 pesos, a gallon of gas 16,000, twice as much as in Bogotá.” Furthermore, “There, reality is inmune to the announcements of the Ministry of Environment, to the statements of the Defense Ministry, the plans of the one in charge of housing, to the governmental promises of infrastructure or healthcare. There, li

100 Basque exiles will return to Spain from France: ETA

Bayonne - Around 100 fugitives from ETA said Saturday they will return to the Spanish Basque country from southwestern France as the considerably weakened separatist group moves towards a historic disarmament. Earlier this month western Europe's last major violent separatist movement said it would put its arsenal of weapons "out of operational use," more than two years after announcing a definitive end to armed activity. "To continue the process of resolution, it is necessary to bring all prisoners and exiles back home," said a statement from ETA read out Saturday in the French Basque village of Arcangues. "We will begin to walk the streets of our hometowns. You will see us back in the streets and squares of our villages of origin." ETA said last year that it counted 500 to 600 exiles around the world, including about 150 in France. The group has also called for the release of some 500 of its members who are held in French and Spanish prisons, which h

Is 'secret immunity' for IRA suspects really to blame for new N. Ireland controversy?

Testing the assumptions behind the headlines. Northern Irish politics has again been thrown into turmoil, after the bombing trial of an alleged  Irish Republican Army  militant collapsed in  London when it transpired the suspect had been given official assurances that he would not be tried. But while both  British Prime Minister David Cameron  and  Northern Ireland First Minister  Peter Robinson  have decried the letter – one of many sent by the British government to IRA suspects since the 1998  Good Friday peace agreement – is the existence of these letters really a surprise to Mr. Cameron and Mr. Robinson? Or rather, is it another instance of contemporary Northern Ireland touching the third rail of its historical politics: the unsolved violent crimes of the "Troubles," and the near impossibility of addressing them to the satisfaction of both republicans and unionists? THE DOWNEY LETTER The case against John Downey, a man accused of killing four soldiers in the 1982 IRA bomb

Somalia: al-Shabab Executes three men for ‘Spying’

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File photo Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked militant group has said that it has killed three Somali men for spying allegations. The execution was carried out in the port town of Barawe on Friday evening, which is some 180km (110 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu. It’s one of the few strongholds still under the control of al-Shabab. This is the latest in a spate of public executions carried out by the terrorist group. A multitude was summoned to witness the pronouncement of the guilty verdict and the gunning down of the three men. According to the judges from the Islamist group, all the men were convicted of spying for the Somali Federal Government Intelligence agency. Earlier this month, it executed three men which were also accused of spying for the Intelligence agencies of the Somali government and Puntland. The Officials threatened that ‘’anyone’’ found of involved in similar cases will face same punishment. Al-Shabab is under pressure from African Union forces and Somali troops, havin

Taliban attack Afghan election office in Kabul

Taliban militants attacked the headquarters of the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan on Saturday in Kabul, opening fire on the compound with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns from a house outside its perimeter wall, according to police. It’s the latest in a series of high-profile attacks that come as the Islamic militant movement steps up a campaign of violence to disrupt presidential elections, which are due to be held in a week. A spokesman for the Independent Election Commission said security had already been increased around the compound because an attack had been widely expected, and no casualties have been reported. Explosions were heard when the attack started, according to the spokesman Noor Mohammed Noor, but he did not know what caused them. Kabul police chief Mohammad Zahir Zahir said three or four attackers were holed up in a neighbouring house that had been empty when they occupied it. He said the house is about 800 meters away from the headquar

'Non-combatant' Taliban: scrutiny of list begins

The federal government has started the scrutiny of a list of 'non-combatant' Taliban detainees provided by the Taliban and sought further details for their possible release as a step forward towards further confidence-building measures to ensure the continuation of the peace process with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), it is learnt.  The month-long cease-fire unilaterally announced by the TTP is going to expire on Monday (March 31) with the second direct interaction between the government-nominated team and the Taliban shura expected to be held a day later on April 01, 2014. Taliban shura in its recent interaction with the government committee had handed over a list comprising 300 to 400 'non-combatant' detainees including women and children to be exchanged for some non-combatants from the government side, including vice chancellor Islamia College University, Peshawar Ajmal Khan.  Sources, however, revealed that the Taliban rejected the release of Ali Hai

Top Naga groups sign agreement for unity

Top Naga political groups on Saturday signed an agreement recognizing the need for all Nagas to come together for achieving their political aspirations . “Having reconciled on the basis of the historical and political rights of the Nagas, we recognize that all Nagas must unite in the common purpose towards achieving our Naga political aspirations,” the participating groups including NSCN-M and GPRN/NSCN (Khole Kitovi) said in a statement in Kohima. The groups in principle agreed to the formation of Naga national government, but until such time it resolved to work together, it said. The Naga groups also requested the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) to work out the modalities to expedite the process and while the task was being carried out, they called for maintaining status quo by refraining from any unwarranted activities. The agreement was signed by NSCN-M Chairman Isak Chishi Swu and General Secretary Th Muivah, GPRN/NSCN Chairman Khole Konyak and General Secretary Kitovi Zhimomi

Nato oil tanker torched by terrorists in Pakistan, driver killed

Armed terrorists have torched a NATO oil tanker and killed its driver in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province. The militants opened fire at the NATO container in Dhadar area late last night, according to a levies official."The driver was killed in the firing while the cleaner was wounded in the attack," he said. The official said the militants later set on fire the Nato container carrying oil."Roaring flames of fire could be seen from quite far away," he said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. NATO transports 70 to 80 per cent of its supplies to war-stricken Afghanistan via the northeastern Torkham and southwestern Chaman borders, after they were stopped from passing through the Khyber Pakthunkhawa route by the Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf government. Since then militants have been targeting the NATO tankers in the province, rife with a separatist insurgency and sectarian violence. Dozens of containers have been charred and looted, an

Pinterest users reporting hacked accounts with spam Pins

Spamming and phishing on social-media isn't new anymore. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now even Pinterest users are often at risk. Multiple Pinterest users are now reporting their accounts have been hacked, filling boards with obvious spam posts (or Pins). According to a  report  by Techcrunch, several users said their Pinterest accounts on Friday were hacked and flooded with spam posts. These included weight loss ads and 'butt pics'. Techcrunch also says its co-editor's account had been hacked, and the company is trying to reach out to Pinterest for comment. In other  reports , the scam takes root by sending a phishing-style Pinterest email claiming that a friend or a popular personality has shared a link. Clicking on the image in the email could compromise user information to the hackers. It hasn't been too long since Pinterest users were said to be danger of scams. Earlier this month, the Better Business Bureau  sent out a scam alert warning to users, telling

Suicide bombers attack foreigners in Kabul

Kabul:   Four suicide bombers armed with assault rifles and hand grenades today attacked an "office of foreigners" in a southwestern neighborhood of the Afghan capital of Kabul, according to a government official. Deputy Interior Minister Mohammed Ayub Salangi could not say whether there were any casualties in the afternoon attack. One foreign national fled the area as gunfire rang out, but he another six foreigners were still trapped inside, he said. Three of the suicide bombers were believed to have died but a fourth was still resisting, according to the official. Ongoing gunfire could be heard in the area. Heavily armed members of the Afghan National Police rapid action force, wearing helmets and bulletproof vests, cordoned off the area. The assault began with a powerful blast caused when one of the suicide bombers detonated his vehicle at the entrance, Salangi said. Mohammed Sadi, a resident in the area, said the force of the blast rattled buildings several blocks away. &

One killed as journalist's car attacked in Pakistan

Lahore:   Two unidentified gunmen today opened fire on the car of a prominent journalist in Lahore, leaving his driver dead and guard injured. TV anchor and editor Raza Rumi's car was fired at near Raja Market area of the city. Rumi, who is associated with express media group escaped unhurt. His driver, who was injured in the attack, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. This is the fourth incident the Express media group came under attack by militants. In the previous attacks, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan had claimed the responsibility, saying the group especially its English publication - Express Tribune - is criticising it. Source  http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/one-killed-as-journalist-s-car-attacked-in-pakistan-501656

Japan’s New Alert System Will Warn Mobile Users Of Incoming Missiles, Terror Attacks

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It’s hard to imagine a more terrifying text message than one that reads “Incoming ballistic missile detected. Please find shelter.” Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency announced this morning that their alert system — similar to the one you might’ve seen lately for broadcasting AMBER alerts to your phone in the U.S. — will now automatically warn local mobile users of ballistic missile launches and major terror attacks. This system was first built to warn of earthquakes and potential tsunamis. The messages will automatically be sent to mobile users in effected areas, with one caveat: the system is currently only up-and-running on Japan’s three largest mobile networks, NTT Docomo, Softbank, and KDDI. With over 115 million subscribers across these three networks, that means it’ll reach around 90% of Japan’s population. For those without mobile phones, local governments will continue to broadcast warnings through traditional systems (like loudspeakers, or sirens) [Source:  Japan'

Empowering the Community to Deal with Extremism in Our Mosques

When  Adam Yahiye Gadahn  was kicked out of an Orange County mosque in 2004, it was for good reason. He was a troublemaker who only meant more trouble for that mosque. Gadahn was kicked out for creating firestorms of controversies for his actions and was remembered as being “angry, rigidly pious, and hypercritical of any Muslim who adopted Western clothes or manners,” according to the  Washington Post . Then there is  Tamerlan Tsarnaev . He was kicked out of a Boston mosque after  verbal altercations  with Muslim leaders there. Tsarnaev didn’t believe talks about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his civil rights work belonged in mosques. Sadly, both Gadahn and Tsarnaev later became involved in terrorism: Gadahn became al-Qaeda’s spokesman, and Tsarnaev was killed in a shootout with police after being implicated for the Boston Marathon bombing. What Gadahn and Tsarnaev exemplified through their actions in their local mosques weren’t necessarily indicators of pre-operational terrorist plannin

Azerbaijan condemns extremism, radicalism and separatism

This was stated by Deputy Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the UN Tofig Musayev . According to the website of the UN , during a speech in connection with the adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine, T.Musayev pointed to Azerbaijan's commitment to the fundamental principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders, noting that they are the basis for international relations and international law . Yesterday the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution by a majority vote, in which the recent referendum in the Crimea was named unenforceable. The document says that the General Assembly “emphasizes that the referendum held in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol city on March 16, 2014, having no legal force, cannot be the basis for any change in the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol”. The UN General Assembly called upon all

Pro-Hijacking, Pro-Terrorism

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Facebook BY: Washington Free Beacon Staff March 28, 2014 2:15 pm A member of J Street’s student organization, J Street U,  wore  a t-shirt endorsing terrorism and airplane hijacking to a J Street event at Washington University in St. Louis. The J Street U member posted a picture of himself to Facebook wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with a picture of a notorious Palestinian airplane hijacker Leila Khaled, who was convicted of participation in two plane hijackings, and the slogan “resistance is not terrorism,” according to an initial report by Brandeis undergraduate Daniel Mael for the website  TruthRevolt . Palestinian terrorists and their western supporters, now including members of J Street U, employ the phrase in the hope of counteracting the commonly held belief that murdering Israeli men, women, and children in suicide bombings and shootings constitutes terrorism. A spokeswoman for J Street did not respond to a  Washington Free Beacon  request for comment on the matter. Source  http:

Katy man arrested in terrorism case

Federal authorities have arrested a Katy man on charges that he plotted to blow up government buildings, rob banks and kill law enforcement officers. Robert James Talbot Jr, 42, was arrested following an eight-month undercover investigation that took Joint Terrorism Task Force agents to the streets as well as the Web, according to an affidavit filed in federal court. Talbot, originally of Batavia, N.Y., is due to appear before a federal magistrate Friday to be formally advised of the charges. According to the affidavit, Talbot wanted to recruit five to six "like-minded individuals" to collaborate in his plots. Talbot allegedly created Facebook page entitled "American Insurgent Movement," described as "a pre-constitutionalist community that offers those who seek true patriotism and are looking for absolute freedom by doing the will of God. Who want to restore America Pre-Constitutionally and look forward to stopping the regime with action by bloodshed." In

Saudi Arabia's Comic Book Fatwa

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The president should confront Saudi leaders over the ludicrous fatwa against ‘The 99’ a ground-breaking Muslim superhero comic President Obama did not go to Saudi Arabia this Friday to talk about comic books, but he should, because a new fatwa against them—specifically those showing right-thinking Muslim superheroes—underscores just how hard it is to sustain a positive relationship with Riyadh. Obama himself once singled out the remarkable comic book series in question, called  The 99 , for special praise. The superheroes have the attributes associated with the 99 names of Allah—words like “strength” and “light” and “wisdom”—and these characters team up to fight evil. Kuwaiti psychologist Naif al-Mutawa created them after the 9/11 attacks because he wanted Muslim children, including his own, to have Muslim heroes who were not suicide bombers and jihadists. Since then the comics have been the subject of a  PBS documentary , and they’ve inspired the creation of Muslim heroes in mai

U.N. rights forum calls for use of armed drones to comply with law

The  United Nations  called on all states on Friday to ensure that the use of armed drones complies with international law, backing a proposal from  Pakistan  seen as taking aim at the United States. A resolution presented by  Pakistan  on behalf of co-sponsors including  Yemen  and Switzerland did not single out any state. The United States is the biggest drone user in conflicts including those in Pakistan, Yemen,  Afghanistan  and Somalia. "The purpose of this resolution is not to shame or name anyone, as we are against this approach," Pakistan's ambassador Zamir Akram told the U.N. Human Rights Council. "It is about supporting a principle." The United States prizes drones for their accuracy against al Qaeda and Taliban militants. Pakistan says they kill civilians and infringe its sovereignty. "The United States is committed to ensuring that our actions, including those involving remotely piloted aircraft, are undertaken in accordance with all

Pakistani judge sentences Christian to death for blasphemy

Lahore:  A Pakistani judge has sentenced a Christian to death for blasphemy, lawyers said, in the latest of a rising tide of such legal cases. Judge Ghulam Murtaza Chaudhry sentenced Sawan Masih to hang after a Muslim said he had insulted the prophet Mohammed in the eastern city of Lahore a year ago.  The accusation against Masih sparked a riot in which Muslims burned more than 100 Christian homes. "Today [the judge] announced his verdict that says that Sawan must be hanged and fined," said  Masih's lawyer Naeem Shakir on Thursday. Masih planned to appeal, he said. At least 16 people are on death row in Pakistan for blasphemy and at least 20 others are serving life sentences. Pakistan has not yet executed anyone for blasphemy. Members of religious minorities say they are often threatened with such accusations. The law does not require evidence to be presented in court and there are no penalties for false allegations. Courts often hesitate to hear evidence, f

Taliban insurgents attack Kabul guest house

A guest house in Kabul, close to the Afghan parliament, is under attack by Taliban insurgents. Gunmen entered the building after a powerful explosion and officials that fighting is still going on. The guest house is sometimes used by foreigners, but Kabul's police chief says no foreign nationals were thought to have been inside at the time. Security has been tight in the Afghan capital, just one week ahead of a presidential election. This attack also comes one week after nine people were killed when gunmen broke into an upmarket hotel in Kabul. The Taliban on Friday put out a statement saying they had attacked a guest house and a church - but there are not known to be any churches in the area. Afghan special forces have surrounded the area, officials say. Witnesses described how the initial explosion shattered windows and said gunfire was still continuing. Source:  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26789091

2 killed, 3 injured in LeT attack in Kathua

Jammu, Mar 28 (PTI)  In daring twin attacks, suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants in combat uniform struck terror on the outskirts of Jammu in Kathua district and killed a civilian and a soldier guarding an Army camp gate, leaving three others injured. In the first attack, three heavily-armed terrorists killed one civilian and injured three others and the same group which was later intercepted by Army personnel killed one Army jawan. Source:  http://www.ptinews.com/news/4550472_2-killed--3-injured-in-LeT-attack-in-Kathua.html

‘Unbelievable’ US pressure led to UN resolution: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka on Friday blamed “unbelievable” US pressure on member states that led to the UN adopting a resolution censuring Colombo on its human rights record after a vote at the UNHRC session. “The intensity of the pressure was unbelievable. Countries were told that Heads of State of countries, which sponsored there solution would be making official visits. Those visits will be in danger unless they supported the US,” Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister, G.L. Peiris said. Mr. Peiris claimed the US was using the defence agreements the member countries had signed with them for protection against attacks from other countries. “There were financial arrangements (between US and them).They were even asked, are you a friend or not?” he said. The US-moved resolution, which called for an international probe into alleged war crimes during the civil war that ended in 2009, was adopted with a 23-12 vote with 12 abstentions,I ncluding India, in the 47-member UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thu

2 BSF jawans injured in IED blast in Odisha

Two personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) were injured in an IED blast triggered by Maoists in Malkangiri district of south Odisha on Friday morning. The injured jawans were rushed to Malkangiri district hospital and efforts are on to airlift them to Visakhapatnam for treatment. According to police sources, the BSF personnel, involved in anti-Maoist operations in Kalimela police station area, came under the attack, when trying to remove some anti-poll posters and banners put up by Naxalites in Telarai. After the pressure bomb was detonated, an exchange of fire between the BSF personnel and Maoists took place, Inspector-General of Police, south-western range, Yashwant Jethwa said. Extra forces have been rushed to the area and intense search operation has been launched to track down the ultras. Source  http://thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/2-bsf-jawans-injured-in-ied-blast-in-odisha/article5843837.ece/

Large mass grave discovered in Bosnia

SARAJEVO: Bosnian forensic experts discovered a mass grave which might hide the remains of more than 100 Muslim civilians killed at the start of the country's 1990s war, an official said on Thursday. "According to indications we have, this mass grave could contain the remains of between 100 and 147 victims," said Lejla Cengic, spokeswoman of Bosnia's Institute for Missing People, quoted by the Fena news agency. The grave is located in the region of Donji Vakuf, in central Bosnia, she added. "We believe that the remains (in the grave) are of Muslim civilians killed at the start of the (1992-1995) war in the region of Prijedor," Cengic said. Exhumation work was to start soon. Some 10,000 people are still reported missing from the war. Discoveries of new mass graves in the Balkan country have become rare as time passes. But in late 2013 forensic experts discovered a large grave at a former mine near Prijedor, in northwestern Bosnia. The remains of about 430 vic