Israeli attack on farmers threats life of sick boy

extracts from PCHR weekly report 18/2-23/2/10

Saturday, 20 February 2010  

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Safa village, north of Hebron. They fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs and chased Palestinian farmers to prevent them from accessing their agricultural lands. Israeli troops fired tear gas canisters at a number of houses, which threatened the life of 8-year-old Nasser Bassam 'Aadi, who suffers from several chronic diseases. According to his mother, a tear gas canister was fired at the house, which forced her to take him from the house to his uncle's house, as he faced extreme difficulties breathing.  

Philippines: Farmer killed by soldiers in Maguindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY: A government soldier was wounded after a farmer whom he tried to arrest for carrying a sickle near a checkpoint attacked him in the southern Philippines.
Other soldiers also manning the checkpoint fatally shot the farmer in Maguindanao’s Datu Piang town. The military blamed the country’s largest Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, in the weekend attack. It said the man was a member of the MILF, an accusation strongly denied by the rebel group.

“The MILF has nothing to do with the attack. The reports we have received said the soldier was trying to arrest the farmer and confiscate his sickle, which he was using in his farm. Apparently an altercation ensued and for a still unknown reason, the farmer attacked and wounded the soldier. The farmer was later killed by soldiers,” said Eid Kabalu, a senior MILF leader.

Military officials could not be immediately reached to comment on the reports.

Maguindanao, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region, is under a state of emergency after the brutal murder of 57 people, including at least 31 journalists on November 23 in Ampatuan town.

Al Jacinto

source: Manila Times

Zapatista Communities Evicted For ‘Ecotourism’ Centres

February 2, 2010 by glasgowchiapassolidaritygroup 

Zapatistas denounce the eviction and destruction of an indigenous

community and accuse the government of aiming to set up ecotourism

centres.

'Reforestation' is the pretext used by the authorities to perform the

operation against the EZLN support bases.

Hermann Bellinghausen, La Jornada Sunday 31 January 2010, p. 7, originally

published in Spanish.

San Cristobal de las Casas, Jan 30. The Good Government Council (JBG) 'the

way ahead' (el camino del futuro), based in the Caracol of La Garrucha, on

Friday denounced the eviction and destruction of the indigenous community

of Laguna San Pedro, in the autonomous municipality of Ricardo Flores

Magon, which took place on 22nd January. The government's explicit

intention is to "reforest" the area and establish private ecotourism

centres in the Montes Azules, within the area of the biosphere reserve.

While they were burning the houses of the indigenous people, the JBG

relates, the Zapatistas were forced to board official helicopters to be

transferred to the city of Palenque, where they endured "hunger and cold"

in a hostel until they received attention from independent civil

organizations.

As has happened before, the raid was preceded by an opportune

"application" on behalf of the Lacandon authorities based in Lacanjá

Chansayab, the legal owners of six hundred thousand hectares of the

forest, who are habitually pressing for the expulsion of the inhabitants

of Montes Azules.

Before the eviction, forces sent by "the bad federal and state (PRD)

Government of Juan Sabines Guerrero, and the municipal president of

Ocosingo, (PAN), Carlos Leonel Solórzano, conducted an operation using

federal police, accompanied by officials of the Federal Procurator of the

Environment (Profepa)" who with four helicopters flew over the village of

Laguna San Pedro "to terrify the population", said the JBG.

They state that state and federal police, army troops, government

officials, cameramen and journalists participated in the action. Once

arrived, the officials "talked with the men and women while the police

took the opportunity to burn the houses of the Zapatista support bases".

How is it possible that "the bad government speaks of dialogue while their

police and army burned the belongings of the compas," questions the JBG

from the Caracol of 'Resistance towards a new dawn' (Resistencia hacia un

nuevo amanecer). "How is it possible that the bad government evicts

indigenous people of Chiapas and Mexico while occupying their land for the

construction of ecotourism centres for the use of people from other

nations."

It should be mentioned that, after the eviction, the state government

announced that in coming days they were going to evict the population of

six more villages, including 6 de Octubre, another Zapatista community, as

well as Nuevo San Gregorio, Rancheria Corozal and Salvador Allende, among

others. They will join el Suspiro, Buen Samaratino, Nuevo Salvador Allende

and the aforementioned Laguna San Pedro, which the government call San

Pedro Guanil.

The former PAN governor of Yucatan, Patricio Patron Laviada, head of

Profepa, visited Chiapas in recent days and agreed to these actions with

the Secretary of Government of the state, Noe Castanon Leon, who on

Tuesday, 26th published the agreement to "reforest" and establish an

ecotourism centre within the Montes Azules biosphere reserve, presumably

to be undertaken by settlers from Nueva Palestina, secondary members of

the so-called "Lacandon community" and unpunished perpetrators of the

massacre at Viejo Velasco Suarez in 2006, also in Montes Azules.

The "ecotourism development" is part of the investment projects of the

businessman Moises Saba, who died weeks ago in a helicopter crash outside

Mexico City. Another project of his was the production of biodiesel on a

thousand hectares of rainforest. It appears that his projects are going

ahead, at least through the agency of the state and federal government.

According to Castanon Leon, they will promote the "sustainable uses" of

natural resources with projects of "community development" (for the

Lacandon and their partners), "environmental education and tourist

circuits of the Mayan route (la ruta maya)".

The JBG accuses the government of "lying and cheating, while Indian homes

burn," while the newspapers talk about the relocation of the Zapatistas of

Laguna San Pedro, they have their homes destroyed, their cooperative store

looted, and suffered the loss of their fruit trees, corn, beans, clothing

and tools of work. The material damage amounted to 585 thousand pesos, in

addition to the loss of their land, which, as the Zapatistas usually say,

is priceless.

Killing civilians triggers demonstration in S Afghan province

Xinhua

An Afghan man accompanies a dead Afghan boy as the vehicle heads to Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Villagers in southern Afghanistan claimed an overnight air strike by international forces killed several civilians, including children. (AP Photo/Abdul Khaleq) November 5, 2009 KABUL, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- A crowd of Afghans came to the streets of Helmand's provincial capital Lashkargah in south Afghanistan Thursday and denounced what they described arbitrary killing of civilians. "Around 100 people carrying some dead bodies in Lashkargah Thursday morning accused NATO-led forces of killing nine civilians and calling on the government to investigate and punish those responsible," a protestor and demonstrator Hajji Hafizullah Khan told Xinhua. He added that a NATO plane dropped a bomb on a family who were busy harvesting corn in their land in Babaji area outside Lashkargah, killing nine persons, including three children. Meantime, spokesman of provincial administration Daud Ahmadi in talks with Xinhua confirmed the incident but said that all those killed were Taliban insurgents. Taliban purported spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi in talks with media via telephone from undisclosed location claimed that all those killed in the bombardment were not Taliban fighters. A similar incident, which claimed the life of a civilian in the eastern Khost province, also took hundreds of people to the street on Thursday.

:: Article nr. 59766 sent on 05-nov-2009 15:31 ECT
www.uruknet.info?p=59766

NATO strike kills nine civilians in Helmand (Photogallery)

AP

LASHKARGAH , Nov 5, 2009 : The body of a teenager killed by a rocket attack of the NATO-led soldiers lies in a vehicle after the residents of Babaji brought the body to the provincial capital, Lashkargah, as a protest against the killing of nine civilians. PAJHWOK/Zainullah Astanakzai LASHKARGAH , Nov 5, 2009 : Two civilians killed by foreign troops in southern Helmand province late Wednesday night. Relatives of the victims brought the dead to provincial capital as a protest. PAJHWOK/Zainullah Astanakzai The dead body of a local civilian lies in a civilian vehicle after he was killed in a rocket attack in the southern Helmand province late Wednesday nigh. PAJHWOK/Zainullah Astanakzai An Afghan man accompanies a dead Afghan boy as the vehicle heads to Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. Villagers in southern Afghanistan claimed an overnight air strike by international forces killed several civilians, including children. (AP Photo/Abdul Khaleq) Afghan men peer into a car carrying a dead Afghan man in Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Abdul Khaleq)

www.uruknet.info?p=59762 

West Papua Photo News Shocking images Indonesian military burnt down Papuan Village in Bogolame.

By WPNews Bolgolame
Sep 8, 2009, 22:59

Intervew by WPNews
WPNews Good morning Mr. Yugum could you tell us about situation in Bogolame?

Yugum Tabuni : thank you very much situation in Bogolame today my peoples are all hiding in the juggles mostly Children, woman, elderly and man all hiding in the juggles because military burnt down our village.

WPNews Can you tell us how many houses burnt down by Indonesia Military?

Yugum: I need to tell you today that 25 houses burn down and 5 pig kill by indoensia Military.

WPNes : How important your house and pig

Yugum : as you know we all Papuan house and Pig is part of the our live. Because Pig is very important value in West Papuan Economic and House is were we live time to time year to year we don’t have any thing else here in the village but the house is most important then any other.

WPNews: can you tell us how many peoples been kill by Indonesia military?

Yugum : until today peoples still hiding in the juggles so very difficult to tell you military still patrol the area. but we found lot of bullet from Indonesia Military when they shooting to the peoples.
I will tell you how many peoples are been kill because all the road blocked by military very difficult we are dangerous.

WPNews : How the peoples in the juggles could survive especially children, woman and elderly peoples.

Yugum: we need help because there is no food, no medicine, and our garden already been destroy by military. we can not go back to our house or garden peoples are hiding.

WPNews: what you expecting peoples outside world specially international community.

Yugum: only one We want Independence from Indonesia. If we still with indoenesia they destroyed our rice from this planet so before to late peoples help us. Tell peoples in Europe, United Kingdom , America, Australia and Pacifica we need support put pressure to Indonesia to stop operation in Bogolame and Tinginambut.

This is my message to you to tell them we need help.

WPNes Thank you very much for your time speaking to us Mr. Yugum.

© Copyright by w@tchPAPUA

West Papua Bogolame Interview Exclusive and Photo News Before the Indonesia Military and Police Attack.

WPNews: Can you tell us what happening in your village

Yugum Tabuni : I need to tell you that today Indonesia Military and Police about 400 Personnel from Wamena and tolikara come to our Village with heavy weapon Attack our Villager.

WPNews: who are the come to your village

Yugum Tabuni: this Military and Police are come from two direction Wamena and Tolikara about 400 personnel they bourn our Village we still hiding in the Juggles.

WPNews : why the Military and Police attack your Village

Yugum Tabuni: they attack our Village because we rising morning star flag in Our village peacefully and we not disturb Indonesia Militari and Police we rising in Our village not Indonesia Land.

WPNews How many Peoples been kill and how many village are bourn

Yugum Tabuni : today I can report to you but because Military still surrounding us I will report latter but I sow from mountain that one Village call Munak already bourn down on the ground. We still hiding so I don’t know how many peoples are kill.

WPNews: why you rise morning star flag in the Village

Yugum Tabuni: we raise the morning star Flag in the Village because this is our identity and our national Flag. So we could raise any were we like we not go to Indonesia land and raise but this our land to raise the morning star but now Military and Police attach. We need international community to help us because they if not they will continue to kill many of us like what happen in 1977 here some district hundred thousand kill.

We need now very urgently need help put pressure to Indonesia Government please.

Thank you for your time Mr. Yugum Tabuni
Interview directly from WPNews United Kingdom
================================================

© Copyright by w@tchPAPUA

2 farmers killed so far by Honduras' dictatorship

Ramon Garcia was member of the National Confederation of Agricultural Workers (Central Nacional de Trabajadores del Campo). He was assassinated in Callejones, Macuelizo, Santa Bárbara on Saturday evening the 11 of July 2009, by military forces who boarded a bus he was riding in Santa Barbara and forced him off, subsequently shooting him and wounding his sister.

sources: HablaHonduras, Monthly Review

On August 2, Pedro Pablo Hernández , farmer was shot by the Honduran military while driving after reportedly not responding to a signal to stop at a military checkpoint.

sources: HablaHonduras, YVKE mundial , La Prensa Grafica , Monthly Review , La Haine

Farmers Under Fire Worldwide

COLOMBIA: Combats and heavy bombings in countryside of Tame (Araucan)

by the Farmer Association of Arauca Friday, Jul. 31, 2009 AT 11:08 p.m.

Towards the noon of Thursday 30 of July, in the village Philippine, jurisdiction of the municipality of Tame, department of Arauca, combats between the guerrilla and the National army occured for about two hours, approximately. As a result of the confrontations, the public force carried out heavy bombings and strafings from helicopters and airplanes KFIR, which hit on several farmers' properties . Particularly the estate of Mrs. Maria Camila Benavides Durán was affected, since ten animals of their property died because of the bombings. In a public official notice released in recent days, the Farmer Association of Arauca denounced that from the 25th of June the National army occupied the Philippine small village and held the civil population as human shield, since the soldiers were located in the houses without the consent of their inhabitants. This attitude puts in risk the life of the settlers of the Philippines and represents an infraction of the International Humanitarian Law, that forces the combatants to exclude the civil population of the armed conflict.

www.prensarural.org

Indonesian military attacks PNG villages. Jakarta forced to apologise to PNG government

posted on infoPapua By The National PNG Jul 30, 2008, 16:45

1) Indons give word of no repetitions (The National PNG)
2) Students protest border incursions (The National PNG)
3) PNG to Formally Protest Indonesia Border Incursions (Pacific Magazine)
4) Indonesia to apologise for PNG border incursions: report (ABC)
5) Indonesians promise to apologise (The National PNG)
6) Indonesians raid village (The National PNG)
7) Border post in bad shape (The National PNG)

--------------
1) Indons give word of no repetitions

The National PNG 28/7/08

THE Indonesian government has assured PNG that there would be no repeat border incursions into PNG by its soldiers.

The assurance was conveyed to Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration Minister Samuel Abal by his Indonesian counterpart, Hassan Wirajudi, in Singapore last week.

There had been a number of alleged border incursions by the Indonesians in the last three months. PNG had protested through a diplomatic note conveyed through the Indonesian embassy in Port Moresby.

The apologies from the Indonesians blamed the incursions on “new recruits deployed to the border region”.

Reports said appropriate instructions had been issued to commanding officers in the border areas to deal with those responsible and ensure such incidents do not occur again.

Mr Wirajudi was also grateful that the PNG Government “exercised restraints” although these incidents do cause serious concerns.

Mr Abal told his counterpart that should occurrences of border incursions persist, PNG would seek to raise them in other forums such as Asean, Pacific Islands Forum and the United Nations.

“With our border areas developed and properly managed and secured, we can expect people from either side to live and enjoy normal lives,” Mr Abal told his Indonesian counterpart, referring to his recent statement in Parliament on the creation of a border development and management authority.

---------------------

2) Students protest border incursions

The National PNG 28/7/08

By JEFFREY ELAPA

A PEACEFUL protest march was held in Madang on Saturday by Divine Word University students over the alleged border incursions by Indonesian soldiers.

More than 500 students and Madang residents walked with placards through the town to the Bates oval where speeches were made.

The march was organised by international relations students at the university.

Protesters chanted and carried placards expressing concerns that the incursions were a violation of territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

They accused the Government of being silent, slow and indecisive over the incursions.

Speakers said the continuous incursions by the Indonesian soldiers and terrorising of PNG citizens was a threat to national security and an abuse of human rights.

Student leaders said the act of unprovoked aggression by the Indonesians should be totally condemned and shamed. No more apologies and excuses must be accepted.

They said monies like the US$40 million in an MP’s account in Singapore should be used to improve PNG’s security and surveillance along the border.

The students also called on the Government to immediately sack PNG Defence Force commander, Peter Ilau, for not advising Cabinet well on national security issues affecting the country.

They said that the Defence White Paper policy of downsizing the force was of poor judgment and must be abolished. Instead, PNGDF numbers must be increased so that enough men are stationed at the border.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PACIFIC Magazine


3)PNG to Formally Protest Indonesia Border Incursions

By Tereni Kens in Port Moresby

Friday: July 25, 2008


The Papua New Guinea government will be making a formal protest to the Indonesian government over the recent border incursions made by members of the Indonesian armed forces.


That’s the word from PNG Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration Samuel Abal, who spoke with Pacific Magazine before departing for Singapore yesterday to attend the annual ASEAN ministerial meeting and regional forum.

Abal said PNG-Indonesia bilateral relations in recent years had been cordial and he was concerned that the incursions could undermine relations between the two countries.


Whilst in Singapore Abal said he will take this up with his Indonesian counterpart Dr N. Hassan Wirajuda to express his concern and seek an explanation.

A joint ministerial commission meeting at the foreign minister level will be convened later this year as a means to maintaining closure dialogue between the governments of the two countries.


The National reports a confidential PNG Defense Force report on the incursions provided to the government last week highlighted seven instances of incursions by Indonesian soldiers into PNG territory in May, June and July.


On May 27, eight Indonesian Army soldiers who were inside PNG were ordered back by police, the report said.


On June 9, eight soldiers crossed into Wutung and defaced monument marker 1.

On June 13 two patrols (18 armed men) crossed over. Two TNI (Indonesian Army) soldiers crossed again on June 23.


His report further revealed that on June 28, company strength of armed TNI soldiers was intercepted by PNG Defense Force soldiers, who ordered them to retreat.

On July 5, six TNI crossed over and intimidated a retired policeman while, on July 6, four TNI soldiers crossed 7 km into PNG and fired shots at Bungon village, Skotchiau.


Concerned about the incursions, Forest Minister Belden Namah and Housing Minister Andrew Kumbakor visited the border area, and learnt of the incursions first hand on July 13.


The report said after they flew out in the Kumul aircraft that evening, an Indonesian military aircraft flew over Vanimo at about 7 p.m., violating PNG airspace.

Meanwhile, Abal will also be speaking with Australian foreign minister over the recent criticisms raised against PNG ministers by AusAid Minister Counsellor, Margareth Thomas.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News July 21, 2008


4)Indonesia to apologise for PNG border incursions: report


Pacific correspondent Campbell Cooney


The Indonesian Government has reportedly agreed to make an official apology to Papua New Guinea for a least a dozen border incursions in the past three months.


Media outlets in Papua New Guinea are reporting claims that in the past three months there has been a number of incursions by Indonesia's military - based in its province of Papua - burning down at least 10 houses in one village and physically attacking locals in the region.


Last week Indonesia's Ambassador to Papua New Guinea was summoned before the acting Foreign Affairs Secretary, Kila Karo, and the national newspaper is reporting he has acknowledged PNG's concerns.


It is reported the ambassador has claimed the incursions were made by new recruits from Central Java unfamiliar with the PNG-Indonesian border boundaries and that any future incursions will be dealt with under Indonesian military law.

------------------------------------------

The National PNG 21//08

5) Indonesians promise to apologise


By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK


THE Indonesian government will make an official apology on 12 border incursions between May 27 and July 13 next week.

Indonesian Ambassador to PNG Bom Soejanto was summoned before the acting Foreign Affairs Secretary, Kila Karo, in Port Moresby last Thursday and conveyed his government’s position on the issue.

Foreign Affairs officials yesterday said PNG’s serious concerns on the alleged border crossings by Indonesian troops into Vanimo, Sandaun province, will be conveyed to his superiors in Jakarta this week.

Mr Soejanto said the incursions were made by new recruits from Central Java who were not familiar with the PNG-Indonesian border boundaries.

He said any future border incursions will be dealt with under Indonesian military rules.

Government officers said they would act on reports about the burning down of 10 houses, affecting about 100 Kwara villagers in Western province once official reports are received.

South Fly police commander Insp Peter Philip claimed last Thursday that Indonesians soldiers at Sota had crossed over into PNG territory on July 9 while in pursuit of a Papua New Guinean working at the Weam station.

They did not find the man and allegedly set some houses on fire, and gun-butted three Medapor villagers.

A joint border meeting will be held in Jayapura next week. Security issues are among matters for discussions.


The National PNG 18 July 2008

6) Indonesians raid village


By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
ABOUT 100 villagers in Western province are displaced and homeless after Indonesian soldiers allegedly raided their village and burnt houses, police in the province said yesterday.
The raid was staged by a platoon-sized group of Indonesian soldiers, and police described it as an act of unprovoked aggression on PNG citizens living in Kwara village close to the PNG-Indonesian border last Tuesday.
South Fly police commander Insp Peter Philip said yesterday a platoon strength (about 25) of armed Indonesian soldiers crossed the border in search of an officer attached to the Weam district administration and burnt down 10 houses.
“The next day (July 9), a section strength (about 10) of armed Indonesian soldiers met three Medapor villagers in PNG territory and assaulted them with gun butts.
“The villagers, with traditional border crossing permits, were on their way to the Indonesian border station at Sota when they were assaulted,” Mr Philip said.
He said the officer the Indonesians were after was based at the PNG border station of Weam.
He had allegedly gone across to Sota early this month, got drunk with Indonesian officers, and behaved unruly.
Indonesian border security officers locked him up at their police station. However, he was released from the station with the help of some Indonesian friends but without the Sota’s Indonesian military commander’s permission.
“When the commander discovered what had happened, he sent soldiers across the border searching for the officer, and destroyed houses in the village,” Mr Philip said.
There is only one policeman at the Weam station, but he has no communication with Daru or Port Moresby.
Mr Philip said that the Indonesian soldiers’ action is uncalled for as the villagers were not involved with that officer.
“There was a similar situation early this year when Indonesians soldiers raided a village and killed a pig.
“During the border liaison meeting in Jayapura last May 26 -27, I had raised this issue about Indonesian soldiers’ unruly behaviours along the border.
“Indonesian officials had assured me that no such incidents will happen again. But the recent incidents showed that the Indonesians still have a long way to go in controlling their soldiers,” Mr Philip said.
Meanwhile, the National Executive Council has instructed the Foreign Affairs Minister to protest strongly to the Indonesian government over incursions into PNG by its troops.
Deputy Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu, during question time in Parliament, said Cabinet had been fully briefed on the matter and was very concerned.
“The Government has directed Foreign Affairs Minister and Secretary to send a diplomatic note on the continuous border incursions.”
Dr Temu said Defence Force commanders from both PNG and Indonesia have met over the issue.
He said the issue will also be raised at the joint PNG-Indonesia border liaison meeting scheduled for either August or September.
He said the PNG Government had moved to upscale its activities along the border with the Prime Minister giving directions for Treasurer and Finance Minister Patrick Pruaitch to take charge of the border programme.
He said Mr Pruaitch had put together a border development package to be brought before Cabinet for endorsement and implementation, which include improving monitoring and surveillance along the border.
---------------------

7) Border post in bad shape

By HARLYNE JOKU in Vanimo
GOVERNMENT officers including PNG Defence Force personnel and police manning the PNG-Indonesian border post in Vanimo, Sandaun province, are facing chronic systematic problems.
Only two weeks after reports of an incursion by Indonesian military and the defacing of a PNG border monument, Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc and Sandaun administrator Joseph Sungi visited the border post on Wednesday.
They conducted interviews with government officials on site who revealed that they were faced with a chronic shortage of manpower. Defence, police and government officials manning the Wutung border post and Customs office all expressed similar sentiments.
There is no constant power and fuel supply.
A government official said PNG Defence Force soldiers at Wutung had to sell raffle tickets occasionally to raise enough money to pay for fuel.
Others said they had to wait for up to between two weeks and a month for cheques to be processed at the Waigani and Lae offices, resulting in delays and inconsistent supply of logistics.
In the nights when the Indonesian side of the border lights up like a city, the PNG border is in total darkness.
Seven people work at the Customs office at Wutung processing and checking about 200 people travelling to and from Indonesia a day. The Indonesian station is manned by more than 100 officials a shift.
“Ours is incompatible to the Indonesian side.
“They are serious about their presence at the border.
“Ours is more like a rural outpost.
“It is no surprise that their soldiers can wander onto our side of the border and do anything at will,” a PNG official said.
“The Indonesians are indirectly telling us that they can walk into our country anytime,” he said.
The Wutung post is serviced by one vehicle and, at most times, there is no fuel to run it. Officers had to catch PMVs to make a 50km trip into Vanimo town.
The Defence Force personnel on the ground number 18 instead of the required 32 soldiers. They have no vehicle.
Mr Zurenuoc said it was time the Government seriously considered decentralising funding and administrative powers.
He said the current system was handicapped where IRC, provincial affairs, quarantine, and police personnel and soldiers on the ground depend on their own offices for direction and funding.
Mr Zurenuoc wants to see that officials on the ground are authorised to make decisions regarding access to funding and logistics.
__________________________________________________________

Afghan farmers complain 'Canadians' shooting at them while they work

posted on Yahoo News Canada

Wed Jun 3, 9:47 AM

By The Canadian Press

PANJWAII DISTRICT, Afghanistan - Some Afghan farmers are complaining Canadians soldiers are shooting at them while they work their fields after dark.

They say unless the shooting stops, they will be forced to leave their village homes nestled in the heart of the insurgent badlands of southern Afghanistan. But the Canadians are adamant the firing isn't coming from them.

They believe soldiers from Afghanistan's army may be firing at people suspected of planting roadside bombs.

In one recent case, Canadian solders did kill a man relaying their movements to insurgents.

The incidents highlight the difficulty Canadian forces face dealing with an enemy that blends with the local population, and villages caught in the middle.

Bangladesh: Farmer shot by BSF in Chuadanga

Financial Express

CHUADANGA, Feb 17 (UNB): A Bangladeshi farmer received bullet wound as Indian Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire on him along the Jagannathpur border in Damurhuda Upazila Monday.

The injured was identified as Engrej Ali, son of Bokhs Ali of Jaypur village of Mujibnagar Upazila of neighbouring Meherpur district.

STOP THE STATE CRIMES AGAINST FARMERS MEMBERS OF FENSUAGRO-CUT

THE FEDERATION OF THE UNITED NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL AND

AQUACULTURAL UNION (FEDERACIÓN NACIONAL SINDICAL

UNITARIA AGROPECUARIA) FENSUAGRO-CUT (COLOMBIA)

denounces the vile assassinations that have victimized various

campesino compañeros who are members of organizations affiliated

with FENSUAGRO-CUT, from the departments of Cauca, Tolima, and

Santander, committed by paramilitary groups and the military.

WHAT HAS OCCURRED

1. THE FIRST OF JANUARY, 2009, at four in the morning, while he was

talking with friends and family, the Communist leader of the district of

Montoso, Municipality of Prado, Tolima, ADOLFO TIQUE, 55 years of age,

father of six children, member of the union of farm workers in Tolima,

SINTRAGRITOL, and of the Polo Democrático Alternativa, PDA (Translators

Note: the PDA is a broad Center-Left coalition political party), was attacked

with a short, sharp weapon. With three stab wounds located in the upper

area of the chest, he was taken to the local Prado hospital, ceasing to live at

six in the morning. The hired assassin, José Vicente Acosta, alias

“Pacheco”, was detained by military units assigned to the mobile brigade

number 2 and immediately put free. The campesino was being constantly

accused by the militaries of being a supporter of the insurgency, including

being held prisoner by these slanderers in the year 2004.

2. THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, JANUARY, 2009, around 8:30 in the evening, in

the moments that they were moving from the urban center of the district of

El Palo to the village of El Alto de El Palo, JULIAN SANCHEZ, the

President of the Pro Constitution Association of the Reserva Campesina

Zone of the Municipality of Caloto, GERARDO BARON AVIRAMA Human

Rights Director for the Pro Constitution Association and member of the

South East Colombian Human Rights Network “Francisco Isaías Cifuentes”,

and JAMES BARON AVIRAMA, member of the Pro Constitution

Association, member of FENSUAGRO-CUT, were arbitrarily detained by a

military group of the Colombian state belonging to the Infantry Battalion

Number 8 “Pichincha Battalion” (under the command of Lieutenant Moreno)

who were in a high grade of drunkenness. In the place where this was

happening, a soldier addressed himself to compañero JULIAN SANCHEZ,

and demanded that he direct himself to a dark place remote from the main

road, to which JULIAN refused to walk. Subsequently, the soldier physically

and verbally attacked him, while the rest of the Colombian State military

unlatched and loaded the arms they were commissioned. Seeing the

situation of brutal aggression on the part of these soldiers, GERARDO

BARON AVIRAMA identified himself as a human rights defender and made

known that, as members of the state forces, they must have the training and

knowledge of the Human Rights material, as much the Military Forces as the

Police. He asked them where they were taking him [JULIAN] and he

demanded that they cease attacking him physically. The soldiers

proceeded to hit him repeatedly in the arms and chests and verbally

attacked GERARDO BARONA AVIRAMA and to say that they were taking

JAMES BARONA AVIRAMA. But finally, after so much verbal and physical

aggression, they let the three arbitrarily detained persons go.

3. SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009, compañero DIEGO RICARDO RASEDO

GUEVARA, member of the Agrarian Association of Santander—ASOGRAS,

was disappeared from the urban center of Sabana de Torres and found

murdered the 7th

day of January, 2009, in a farm near the Municipality of

Sabana de Torres with a death shot to the head.

4. THE DAY OF JANUARY 8TH, 2009, the woman, GLORIA RASEDO

GUEVARA, mother of DIEGO RICARDO RASEDO GUEVARA, was the

object of various verbal threats from unknown persons, where they made it

know that she must abandon her town unless she wanted to run into the

same luck as her son.

5. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2009, La Cominera village, La Dominga

farm, Municipality of Palmira, Department of Cauca, around 5:30 in the

afternoon, FRANCISCO JAVIER CAPERA REMISO, with the identity

number of 5.972.550 from Ortega Tolima, member of the Pro Constitution

Association of Reserva Campesina Zone of the Municipality of Corinto,

member of FENSUAGRO-CUT, found himself in the company of his son,

ANDRES CAPERA PRADA, a minor of 10 years of age, undertaking

outdoor work clearing and sowing blackberries. He [FRANCISCO] was hit

by shards from an explosive artifact. Subsequently he was carried to the

municipal hospital and there was remitted to the Valle de Lili Foundation

Clinic, in the city of Cali. He was diagnosed with multiple traumas from the

explosives, with fractures, hematomas, and damage to the facial skin tissue.

He was incapacitated for 30 days. It is fitting to note that in the zone where

these incidents occurred, there is the permanent presence of the National

Army belonging to the Engineers Battalion No. 3 “Augustín Codazzi” and of

a provisional military detachment of the Infantry Battalion No. 8, “Pichincha

Battalion”. The Military groups carry out constant operations.

6. Friday, January 16, 2008, Barrio el Mirador, around 5:30 in the afternoon,

in the moments that the Compañero ARLED SAMBONI GUACA,

identification number 16.932.895 from Popayán, member of the Campesino

Workers Association de Argelia, ASCAMTA, affiliate of FENSUAGRO-CUT,

in the moment that he was receiving a visit from his father, JOSE RODRIGO

SAMBONI, ARLED SAMBONI GUACE went out of his house in the

company of his six year old son to go to a commercial establishment to

make a phone call. ARLED noticed two individuals were following him. He

accelerated his pace and tried to return to his residence, but was

intercepted by the two subjects who were following him, and they shot him

repeatedly with a firearm, hitting him with seven bullets in various parts of

his body. Three shots were to the side of his head, killing him instantly. The

cruelest of all is the drama and the psychological trauma caused to his six

year old son who saw his father brutally murdered. It should be noted that

ARLED, in the month of September, 2008, had been threatened and forcibly

displaced with his immediate family by the Narco-paramilitaries calling

themselves the “Rastrojos” (Translators Note: Weeds). The father of

ARLED, JOSE RODRIGO SAMBONI, who is presently the Financial Officer

of the Campesino Workers Association of the Municipality of Argelia,

ACAMTA, also in the month of September, 2008, was threatened and

forcibly displaced with his immediate family by the Rastrojos. The same day

that ARLED was murdered, in the evening hours, his wife, SANDRA

JIMENA BASTIDAS, received a telephone call in which unknown persons

told her, “It is better that you keep quiet, if you do not want the same thing to

happen to you.”

7. SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2008, Barrio el Mirador, in the morning hours,

the citizen SANDRA JIMENA BASTIDAS, identification number

34.315.769, from Popayán, received anew a telephone call in which

unknown persons said to her, “It is better that you keep quiet, if you do not

want the same thing to happen to you.” In the month of September, 2008,

she had been forcibly displaced by Narco-paramilitaries calling themselves

the Rastrojos, along with her husband ARLED SAMBONI GUACA and their

two young sons of six and eight years respectively. Now she must confront

this situation alone and see the absurd psychological trauma that they made

for her son to see how he was ripped out of the hands of his father,

murdered in cold blood by criminals who openly parade about in the

presence of the military in this zone.

WE DEMAND THAT THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

1. Immediately initiate the process of investigation of the assassinations of the

compañeros ADOLFO TIQUE, DIEGO RICARDO RASEDO GUEVARA,

ARLED SAMBONI GUACA, who were murdered by unknown persons.

2. Investigate concerning the threats to the victims’ families.

3. Investigate concerning the deeds that have generated displacement,

persecution, threats, and murders of our affiliates, leaders, and directors of

FENSUAGRO.

WE ASK OF THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

1. Call on the national government to guarantee the life, physical and

psychological integrity, and the right to stay in their territory for our leaders and

affiliates, and to freely exercise union and organizational activity.

2. Reject these types of actions that cause the mourning of the social, labor, and

popular organizations, since their goal is to sow terror in the campesino

communities, that are victims of the development and implementation of

“Democratic Security” (“Segurdiad Democratica”)*.

3. Continue following and monitoring the grave situation of human rights violations

that cross through the Departments of Cauca, Tolima, and Santander.

AIDEE MORENO IBAGUE

SERCRETARIA NACIONAL DE DERECHOS HUMANOS

FENSUAGRO – CUT

COLOMBIA

*: “Seguridad Democrática” or “Democratic Security” is the policy being pursued by the

administration of Colombian Pres. Alvaro Uribe to achieve “security” in Colombia through

aggressive military action and repression rather than through good faith negotiations to end the civil

war. The process has led to widespread abuses, including the displacement of millions of farming,

indigenous, and Afro-Colombian communities, an increase in the murders of these populations and

of union members (the hardest hit being the FENSUAGRO union of farmers and farm workers), and

the widespread scandal of “false positives”, wherein Colombian military personnel frequently

commit arbitrary arrests (there are over 7,200 political prisoners in Colombian jails) and murders of

innocent persons, and then dress the cadavers in guerrilla uniforms or otherwise “identify” them as

insurgents, seeking to fill quotas demanded by the government to give the impression of progress in

the war. Especially during the past year, such scandals have resulted in the excavation of a mass

grave of “false positives” in Soaca, Colombia as well as several other cases of extra-judicial killings

that have led to the firing and the arrests of some military personnel. Unaffected, however, are

those highest up on the chain of command, including Pres. Uribe, who is known to have extensive

ties to paramilitaries and narco-traffickers. During these years of the Uribe Administration and the

policy of “Democratic Security”, murders of unionists have increased by 70% and forced

displacements by 40%. For those of us in the US, it is important to note that our government

maintains a close alliance with Pres. Uribe and gives over $600 million a year to the Colombian

military. Pres. Obama has spoken out publicly against the abuses committed against unionists in

Colombia. However, he has also said that the close relationship of the US and Colombia, including

its military support, will continue along the same path as before under his administration.