[Onthebarricades] Pro-democracy protests, Southeast Asia, November 2008

Wed Sep 16 08:18:13 PDT 2009

* BURMA: Lone protester demands Suu Kyi release
* INDONESIA: Various protests
* INDONESIA: Makassar - Journalists protest for press freedom
* INDONESIA: Event to commemorate massacre of students
* INDONESIA: Protest after Islamists shut down film
* INDONESIA: Bekasi - protest over sacking of veiled woman
* INDONESIA: Makassar - protesters demand return of funds
* INDONESIA: Protests over Bali execution plan; Islamists, clergy, human 
rights activists condemn death penalty
* INDONESIA: Executions spark protests, clashes
* INDONESIA: Bali - Protests against "porn"/indecency law
* KOREA: Conscript refuses repression service, jailed for 2 years as 
conscientious objector
* NORTH KOREA: Activists send protest balloons over border
* TAIWAN: Supporters protest arrest of ex-PM Chen
* TAIWAN: Chen on hunger strike over detention
* TAIWAN: Hunger strike, vigil for referendum law reform
* NEPAL: Kathmandu - shutdown over alleged abduction, murder by Maoists
* Protesters win concessions from government
* PHILIPPINES: Mayor supporters launch recall caravan
* PHILIPPINES: Balas crisis continues
* PHILIPPINES: Bataan - sit-down strike over corruption claims
* PHILIPPINES: March commemorating repression repressed
* PHILIPPINES: Anti-Arroyo and charter change protests continue
* MALAYSIA: Candlelight vigil against repressive law attacked by police

http://www.burmanet.org/news/2008/11/24/associated-press-sole-myanmar-protester-demands-activists-release/

Associated Press: Sole Myanmar protester demands activists’ release
Mon 24 Nov 2008
Filed under: News, Inside Burma
A lone demonstrator staged a silent protest in front of detained 
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party headquarters Saturday 
demanding the military government free all student activists as the 
country celebrated its National Day.
The holiday commemorates a boycott by Yangon University students 88 
years ago in defiance of British colonial rule, a protest that inspired 
Myanmar’s independence movement.
Although the government does not hold any public events to mark the day, 
Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy regularly celebrates with a party.
Before the celebration, party member Min Thein walked into the middle of 
the street in front of the party headquarters and stood silently with a 
placard reading, “Release Min Ko Naing and other political prisoners.”
Min Ko Naing is a member of the 88 Generation Students group, which 
participated in a brutally suppressed 1988 democratic uprising. Along 
with many of his fellow former students he was sentenced to 65 years in 
prison this month for taking part in an Aug. 21, 2007, street protest 
against a massive fuel price hike by the government.
Plainclothes police took videos and photos of Min Thein’s lone protest 
but did not arrest him during the minutes he stood silently.
“I am expressing my feelings and I am ready to face all consequences,” 
Min Thein told reporters after the protest.
The party marked the anniversary by calling for the release of all 
political prisoners, including student activists and Buddhist monks who 
were arrested during anti-government demonstrations in September last year.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi has spent more than 13 of the past 19 
years under house arrest.

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Four demos planned for Tuesday

Tempo Interactive - November 11, 2008

Fery Firmansyah/TMC, Jakarta -- Jakarta Police
informed four demonstrations planned for Monday in
the capital, the first at 9 AM outside the State
Palace. The second at 10 AM will be staged at the
Health Ministry office and the Corruption
Eradication Commission office.

At 10:30 AM one group of protester to hold a demo
at the National Police Headquarters in Jl.
Trunojoyo South Jakarta and the parliament building
in Central Jakarta.

The fourth group will stage two demos starting at
11 AM at the Corruption Eradication Commission
office in South Jakarta and the Jakarta Police
Headquarters.

Police said the demos are potential of disrupting
the traffic without informing the number of people
to join the protests or the issues that prompt the
protests. However Tempo received information that
the second demo at the Health Ministry will be
stage by hundreds of malpractice victims and poor
residents to demand better allocation and
monitoring of the health budget.

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I N D O L E F T - News service > >
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At least six protest actions in Jakarta and Bekasi
Friday

Detik.com - November 14, 2008

Rachmadin Ismail, Jakarta -- In the lead up to the
weekend be prepared to face traffic jams as a result
of protest actions. Today, Friday November 14, at
least six groups of demonstrators will be protesting
on the streets of the capital city and nearby
Bekasi.

As reported by the Metro Jaya regional police
Traffic Management Centre (TMC), the first
demonstration will take place at 9am at offices of
the Corruption Eradication Commission. The second
protest will be held at 11.30am in front of the
House of Representatives building on Jl. Gatot
Subroto in Central Jakarta.

Following on from this, a group of protesters will
organise an action at the Food and Drug Monitoring
Agency (BPOM) between 9-11am. Next, there will be a
demonstration at the UNAIDS representative office in
Jakarta at 10am.

A group of demonstrators will also be protesting at
the State Palace in Central Jakarta at 3pm. Finally,
protesters are scheduled to demonstrate at the
Bekasi Mayorâ€™s office at 11am. So avoid the roads
mentioned above when protest actions are taking
place. (mad/ndr)

[Translated by James Balowski.]

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I N D O L E F T - News service > >
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Nine demonstrations to open the first day of the
working week

Detik.com - November 24, 2008

Taufiqqurrahman, Jakarta -- Demonstrations are again
set to enliven Jakarta and the nearby satellite city
of Tangerang today. Not being half-hearted, nine
separate protest actions will open the first working
day of the week with traffic congestion along roads
being used by residents to travel to work being a
real possibility.

As reported on the Metro Jaya regional police
Traffic Management Center website on Monday November
24, for the Jakarta area the demonstrations will
start at 8am in the Cakung Clincing area of North
Jakarta at the entrance to the Nusantara Bonded Zone
(KBN).

Also at 8am, three separate demonstrations will take
place at the central office of the General Elections
Commission (KPU) on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Central
Jakarta, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights on
Jl. Rasuna Said in South Jakarta and the House of
Representatives building in Senayan, South Jakarta.

Following this at 10am, a protest action will take
place at the State Place, the Hotel Indonesia
roundabout and the KPU offices. The Capital Market
Supervisory Agency on Jl. Dr Wahidin in Central
Jakarta will also be the target of a demonstration.

The final protest will take place at 10am at the
Jakarta Regional House of Representatives building
on Jl. Kebon Sirih and the Jakarta City Hall on Jl.
Medan Merdeka Selatan.

Tangerang meanwhile will face two protest actions at
9am at the Tangerang District Attorney's Office on
Jl. TMP Taruna and in front of Tangerang regentâ€™s
office. (mad/mad)

[Translated by James Balowski.]

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I N D O L E F T - News service > >
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Five protests to colour Jakarta today, watch out for
traffic jams

Detik.com - November 6, 2008

E. Mei Amelia R, Jakarta -- Five protest actins will
be held today in various parts of Central and South
Jakarta. Those passing through these areas should be
on guard for traffic jams.

â€œWe donâ€™t yet know the total number of protesters,
but we ask [the public] to be on the look out for
traffic jamsâ€, said Briptu Heri from the Metro Jaya
regional police Traffic Management Centre when
contacted by Detik.com on Thursday November 6.

The first demonstration will be held at 10am in
front of the Department of Labour and Transmigration
and is being organised by the Workers Challenge
Alliance (ABM) and the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation.

At the same time, the Solidarity Forum for North
Sumatra will also be holding a protest action in the
vicinity of the Hotel Indonesia roundabout.

Also at 10am, Bureaucracy Supervisory Social
Movement (GMPB) will be demonstrating front of the
Vietnamese Embassy on Jl. Teuku Umar.

A protest will also be held by the Friends of Falun
Gong Indonesia in front of the Chinese Embassy in
the Mega Kuningan area of South Jakarta.

Finally, a protest action will be held in front of
the State Palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara by the
Solidarity Network for the Families of Victims of
Human Rights Violations (JSKKP-HAM). (mei/nwk)

[Translated by James Balowski.]

****************************************************

http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/11/21/three-protest-rallies-to-happen-in-jakarta-friday/

11/21/08 13:37
Three protest rallies to happen in Jakarta Friday

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Three protest rallies are expected to take place 
at different locations in Jakarta on Friday with the potential of 
causing traffic jam on a number of main roads in the capital city.

According to the Jakarta Police`s Traffic Management Center (TMC), the 
first rally would be staged in front of Corruption Eradication 
Commission (KPK) office at Rasuna Said street in South Jakarta at about 
10 in the morning.

The second group of protesters would stage a similar rally in front of 
PT Nokia Indonesia at Mulia Building on Gatot Subroto street, South 
Jakarta at 2 in the afternoon.

An hour later at 3 p.m., the last group of protesters would stage the 
third rally in front of Merdeka Palace on Merdeka Utara street, Central 
Jakarta, and would probably be continued at the Hotel Indonesia traffic 
circle on Thamrin street.

However, the TMC did not mention the name of the three groups of 
protesters and the number of people who would take part in the rallies.

Friday`s rallies were the second this week after three similar ones on 
Tuesday at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, at the Supreme Court (MA) 
office on Merdeka Utara street, and at the Merdeka Palace on Merdeka 
Utara street.
(*)

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I N D O L E F T - News service > >
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Journalists protest criminalisation of the press

Detik.com - November 13, 2008

Makassar -- At least 50 journalists demonstrated at
the South and West Sulawesi (Sulselbar) regional
police headquarters in Makassar on November 13 over
a case involving Upi, who has been declared a
suspect in a case of defamation against Sulselbar
police chief Sisno Adiwinoto.

The journalists, who came from a number of media
organisations and wore black clothing, gave speeches
in front of the police headquarters condemning the
criminalisation of the press. Independent Journalist
Alliance (AJI) chairperson Andi Fadli said that
parties that have problems with the press should
seek redress through the press law. â€œThe regional
police chief should be impartial and not use his
authority to manipulate the law and coerce
journalistsâ€, said Fadli.

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

Reporters protest naming of suspect

Jakarta Post - November 14, 2008

Makassar, South Sulawesi -- Around 50 journalists
staged a rally Thursday in front of the South
Sulawesi Provincial Police headquarters over a
police decision to name a reporter as a suspect in
a defamation case against provincial police chief
Insp. Gen. Sisno Adiwinoto.

The police named Jupriadi, alias Upi Asmaradana,
coordinator of the Journalist Coalition Against
Press Criminalization, as a suspect after Sisno
filed a report against him.

Upi was questioned by detectives for over six hours
Thursday, while the rally took place outside.

Sisno, previously the National Police chief
spokesman, accused Upi of defaming him in news
articles challenging a recent statement made by
Sisno in August.

Sisno granted parties accusing news publishers of
slander to directly file police reports instead of
requesting a right to respond to the allegations as
formally took place.

The coalition believes the changes are a threat to
press freedom and a form of press criminalization.
Led by Upi, the coalition have staged various
rallies and filed reports to the National Police
Commission, Press Council, and the Press Legal Aid
Institute.

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Semanggi tragedy to be commemorated with flowers,
prayer

Jakarta -- Coinciding with the 10th anniversary of
the Semanggi tragedy in which more than 10 students
were shot dead by security forces, a number of
activities will be held on Thursday November 13 to
commemorate the incident.

The first event will be a visit to the grave of one
of the victims, Sigit, at the Tanah Kusir public
ceremony in South Jakarta where a group of visitors
will scatter flowers on the grave.

Following this, a public discussion on the Semanggi
tragedy will be organised at the Atmajaya University
in Jakarta at 10am, followed by the screening of the
film â€œA Struggle Without Endâ€. â€œA ceremony placing
flowers on their graves will also be at 12 noonâ€,
said one of the activity committee members in an SMS
message sent to Detik.com.

Joint prayers will also be held at the Maria Kusuma
Karmel Church in South Meruya at 7pm. In addition to
these events, a photographic exhibition has been
organised at the Atmajaya University.

Indonesian artists protest after Islamists shut

down film

Agence France Presse - November 18, 2008

Surakarta -- Indonesian artists protested here

Tuesday after police bowed to pressure from Islamic

hardliners and shut down production of a film about

the 1965-66 massacres of communists.

Protesters rallying outside police headquarters in

Surakarta, Central Java, said police should protect

the filmmakers from religious fanatics rather than

shut down the film.

"We have deep concerns that police failed to stop

intimidation by militant groups that accused the

film of disseminating communist ideology," protest

coordinator Kelik Ismunandar told reporters.

He said Islamic militants had threatened the crew

three or four times and ordered them to halt

production of the film, which focuses on events

surrounding an alleged coup in 1965 blamed on the

outlawed Communist Party.

The communist plot has never been proven but then-

major general Suharto used the coup allegations to

launch a massive pogrom against Communist Party

members which killed up to 500,000 people.

Islamic groups were tasked with doing much of the

killing and Suharto went on to become the country's

military dictator for 32 years. The slaughter

remains a highly sensitive episode in Indonesian

history.

Surakarta police chief Taufik Ansorie, quoted by

local newspaper Solo Pos, suggested the filmmakers

avoid sensitive topics like the mass slaughter of

communists in the 1960s.

"As it is about public wounds, the film has faced

lots of resistance. We urge the production to be

reviewed," the police chief said, adding: "We are

responsible for maintaining security."

Eros Djarot, the director of the film entitled

"Lastri" after a female communist activist, said

the police were backing militant Islamic extremists

over artists whose rights are protected under the

constitution.

"I can't understand why the security apparatus

bowed to those who want to set up Islamic law. They

should have respected our laws. Our laws ensure the

freedom of expression of the Indonesian people," he

told AFP. "I'll fight this and finish the film.

I'll never stop. This is tyranny from minority

groups that are threatening our nation."

The Attorney General last year banned schoolbooks

that failed to comply with the official version of

history by explicitly blaming the Communist Party

for the alleged coup.

Debate about the coup was banned under Suharto, who

ruled from 1966 until 1998 and died earlier this

year.

Historians have suggested the US-backed military

orchestrated the alleged coup to tighten its grip

on power and wipe out the Communist Party, which

had been thriving in mainly Muslim Indonesia.

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

Women activists demand reinstatement of worker

sacked for wearing veil

Bekasi -- Around 5,000 women activists demonstrated

at the West Bekasi Mitra Keluarga public hospital on

November 14 in protest over the dismissal of an

employ for wearing a jilbab (veil).

During the action, the protesters called on the

hospital to reinstate Wine, a physiotherapy nurse,

who was dismissed for wearing a jilbab while

working. They also urged the hospital to revise its

regulations on official uniforms.

Â“The dismissal was a violation of human rights. We

are calling for Wine to be reinstatedÂ”, said Women's

Social Concern (MPP) chairperson Sri Widianti.

Student protesters demand return of state funds

Makassar -- The arrival of Bima Regent Ferry

Zulkarnain in the South Sulawesi regional capital of

Makassar to take part in the Nusantara Royal

Festival (FKN) on November 15 was greed by a protest

by around 20 students.

The students were demanding that Zulkarnain return

Rp1.6 billion in funds used for the royal festival

and a development project in Belo sub-district that

they say will cause environmental damage.

According to action coordinator Nurdin, Zulkarnain

has been incompetent in holding office and his

administration is ridden with corruption, collusion

and nepotism. Â“Ferry goes fishing more often that

taking care of Bima residents' interestsÂ”, said

Nurdin.

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Bashir in the thick of it as radicals gather in
villages

Sydney Morning Herald - November 5, 2008

Tom Allard, Tenggulun, East Java -- The radical
cleric and co-founder of Jemaah Islamiah, Abu Bakar
Bashir, said he expected to attend the funerals of
Amrozi and Mukhlas in Tenggulun as his followers
yesterday began descending on the men's village.

A large turnout at the funeral of the brothers is
just one of many security issues facing Indonesian
authorities before the executions of the Bali
bombers. The executions have been repeatedly
delayed, giving hardliners more chance to mobilise
and make threats.

Yesterday, Indonesian police revealed that the US
and Australian embassies in Jakarta received a bomb
threat via SMS, prompting a security sweep outside
the diplomatic missions.

In an interview with the Herald, Bashir said that
ideally he would attend both funerals. "If the
murder takes place, most probably I'll go to
Lamongan [the regency in which Tenggulun is
situated] because I live in Solo. Lamongan is the
closer."

Imam Samudra -- the other Jemaah Islamiah member on
death row for orchestrating the bombings on Kuta
Beach that killed 202 people, including 88
Australians -- comes from Serang, West Java.

Bashir, who was released from prison in 2006 after
serving a short sentence for his alleged role in
inspiring the bombings, said Muslims would be angry
if the men were executed.

"But what I [fear] the most is if God is angry. If
Muslims are angry, it will be only words. But if
God is, it will be real problem." Asked if he would
give a speech after the funeral, he said:
"Preaching is my job. If I am asked, of course I
will."

Bashir recently formed a new group, Jamaah Anshorut
Tauhid, and about 30 members of the organisation
arrived at Tenggulun yesterday. Abdul Rahim, a key
figure in the group, said: "Hundreds of us are
waiting in Solo to come ... but on the day of the
execution there could be 1000 here."

Another Jamaah Anshorut Tauhid member, Mujaziin
Muzakir, repeated the mantra that infidel countries
such as Australia were behind the executions and
were paying for them.

Bashir's followers believe that the CIA planted a
small nuclear device that was responsible for the
larger explosion that levelled Bali's Sari Club in
October, 2002.

Supporters of the bombers maintain the executions
are unjust and must be stopped but Nusakambangan
prison chief Bambang Winahyo said the bombers
appeared calm and ready to die, in line with their
claims that they were looking forward to becoming
"martyrs".

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Islamist militants protest execution of Bali
bombers

Agence France Presse - November 6, 2008

Jakarta -- Islamic extremists rallied in the
Indonesian capital Thursday against the imminent
execution of three Bali bombers, as defence lawyers
demanded the families be allowed a final visit.

Chanting "Allahu Akbar" (God is greater), some 100
militants descended on the offices of the national
human rights body as the bombers' lawyers met
officials inside to demand access for the families.

The radicals condemned the executions, believed to
be hours or days away, and praised bombers Amrozi,
47, his brother Mukhlas, 48, and Imam Samudra, 38,
as "holy warriors."

They carried banners pledging to follow the
bombers' path of jihad or "holy war" and warning
that "hell" awaits the executioners.

Defence lawyer Mahendradatta urged the human rights
body, Komnas Ham, to back the families' demand for
visiting rights. Komnas Ham chairman Ifdhal Kasim
said the prisoners had a right to meet their
families before they faced the firing squad.

"A prisoner awaiting execution must be given a
chance to meet their families," he said, promising
to take up the matter with the prosecutors office
which handles executions.

Meanwhile the families wrote to President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono pleading for a delay in the
executions, defence lawyer Fahmi Bachmid said.

He said however that the letter was not a request
for clemency. The bombers have said they want to
die to become "martyrs" for their dream of creating
an Islamic utopia across Southeast Asia.

"We don't know the contents of the letter. The
families only told me that they hope the execution
will be postponed until the president gives an
answer to the letter," he said.

The bombings on the resort island of Bali in 2002
killed more than 200 people, mostly foreign
tourists.

The government has said the condemned men will be
executed by firing squad in "early November" after
they exhausted the appeals process.

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

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NGOs, priest urge abolition of death sentence

Jakarta Post - November 8, 2008

Ruslan Sangadji and Indra Harsaputra, Palu,
Surabaya -- Three organizations held a peace rally
at the Hasanuddin traffic circle in East Palu,
Central Sulawesi, on Thursday evening to call for
the abolition of death sentence in Indonesia,
saying it is not an effective deterrent.

The Sulawesi office of the Commission for Missing
Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), the
Students League for Democracy (LMND) and the
Central Sulawesi branch of the Indonesian Forum of
Environment (Walhi) said their opposition to the
death sentence did not mean they supported the
actions of the Bali bombers.

"We are fighting for their right to live,"
coordinator of the Sulawesi Kontras, Edmond
Leonardo, said.

Other rally participants expressed their opinions
one by one coming to similar conclusions that the
death sentence fails to deter potential criminals.
The group also accused the government of being
tendentious for not sending corruptors to the
firing squad.

Security personnel tightly guarded the event, which
ended at 11 p.m. local time (10 p.m. Jakarta time)

Meanwhile, Reverend Renaldy Damanik, former leader
of the Central Sulawesi Christian Church synod,
opposed the death sentence for the Bali bombers,
saying it would not solve the problem of terrorism
in Indonesia.

"Will terrorism and violence in Indonesia stop
after Amrozi and friends are executed?" he asked.
"I think life sentences could be the solution."

Bali bombers Imam Samudra and brothers Amrozi and
Muklas have been placed in isolation at the Batu
penitentiary on Nusakambangan prison island,
Central Java, a hint that their executions are
imminent.

Anticipating the executions, police officers from
Poso Police and the Central Sulawesi Police Mobile
Brigade have established checkpoints along the
Trans Sulawesi highway in Tagolu subdistrict, as
well as at the Tentena Main Market in North Pamona
district.

Officers are not only checking vehicle documents
and motorists' identities, but also inspecting
goods carried by vehicles. Luggage is also being
scanned with metal detectors.

"We are focusing the operation on the search for
explosives and other dangerous goods," said Poso
Police operations chief, Comr. Baitul Manaf.

Residents in Poso voiced fears that the executions
will reignite sectarian conflict between Christians
and Muslims in the region. Residents are avoiding
crowds, while vendors are selling their goods along
religious lines.

Christian vendors are afraid to conduct their
business at the Poso Central Market and feel safer
selling their merchandise at Tentena Market, a
Christian dominant area. Tentena is located some 50
kilometers from Poso.

The vendors come from Christian villages such as
Maliwuko, Sepe, Silanca, Tangkura and Malei in
Malei district.

Meanwhile in Lamongan, East Java, prosecutors have
conveyed the last wishes of Amrozi and Muklas to
their mother, Tariyem, and their wives.

On behalf of the Attorney General's Office,
Lamongan's chief prosecutor, Irnensif, passed on
Amrozi's last wishes to his older brother, Khozin,
and younger brother Ali Fauzin, in a closed-door
meeting at the former's house in Tenggulun village,
Solokuro district.

"I was assigned to convey the last wishes of Amrozi
and Muklas before they are executed," Irnensif
said. Irnensif, however, said he was still in the
dark on when the executions would be carried out.

Khozin acknowledged the prosecutors information,
saying the wishes were conveyed verbally and not in
writing.

"Our mother and their wives have been prepared to
receive their bodies after being executed," Ali
Fauzi said.

"They also want to meet Amrozi and Muklas before
the execution. The Lamongan prosecutor's office
will help them enter Nusakambangan."

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http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuId=29&ContentID=106735

Islamic militants protest execution of Bali bombers
6th November 2008, 14:30 WST

Islamic extremists rallied in the Indonesian capital today against the 
imminent execution of three Bali bombers, as defence lawyers demanded 
the families be allowed a final visit.
Chanting “God is great”, some 100 militants descended on the offices of 
the national human rights body as the bombers’ lawyers met officials 
inside to demand access for the families.
The radicals condemned the executions, believed to be hours or days 
away, and praised bombers Amrozi, 47, his brother Mukhlas, 48, and Imam 
Samudra, 38, as “holy warriors”.
They carried banners pledging to follow the bombers’ path of jihad or 
“holy war” and warning that “hell” awaits the executioners.
Defence lawyer Mahendradatta urged the human rights body, Komnas Ham, to 
back the families’ demand for visiting rights.
Komnas Ham chairman Ifdhal Kasim said the prisoners had a right to meet 
their families before they faced the firing squad.
“A prisoner awaiting execution must be given a chance to meet their 
families,” he said, promising to take up the matter with the prosecutors 
office which handles executions.
Meanwhile the families wrote to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono 
pleading for a delay in the executions, defence lawyer Fahmi Bachmid said.
He said however that the letter was not a request for clemency. The 
bombers have said they want to die to become “martyrs” for their dream 
of creating an Islamic utopia across South-East Asia.
“We don’t know the contents of the letter. The families only told me 
that they hope the execution will be postponed until the president gives 
an answer to the letter,” he said.
The bombings on the resort island of Bali in 2002 killed more than 200 
people, including 88 Australians.
The government has said the condemned men will be executed by firing 
squad in “early November” after they exhausted the appeals process.
JAKARTA
AFP

http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/america/Protesters_clash_after_Indonesia_executes_three_Bali_bombers_74613.shtml

November 10, 2008
Protesters clash after Indonesia executes three Bali bombers
Abdijan
Thousands of people including some hardliners gathered for the funerals 
of three Indonesians executed on Sunday for the 2002 Bali bombings, 
sparking clashes between police and emotional supporters.
The three men from the militant group Jemaah Islamiah -- Imam Samudra, 
38, Mukhlas, 48, and Amrozi, 46 -- were executed by firing squad on 
Nusakambangan island in central Java shortly after midnight, the 
attorney-general’s office said.
The two explosions on Bali’s Kuta strip on October 12, 2002 killed 202 
people including 88 Australians and 38 Indonesians.
The bombers’ bodies were flown from the prison by helicopter to their 
hometowns -- brothers Mukhlas and Amrozi to Tenggulun in Lamongan, East 
Java, and Imam Samudra to Serang in West Java.
“Looking at this, I feel sad, but then I am also proud that he is a 
Mujahid,” said Nuranda, a woman who came to offer her condolences to 
Imam Samudra’s family.
About 3,000 people from West Java cities gathered amid tight security as 
Samudra’s body was carried to a mosque for prayers, with some jostling 
to touch the body.
Security has been tight in Indonesia and some analysts have said they 
feared a backlash if the executions went ahead.
Although there have been no major bomb attacks since 2005, Indonesia is 
considered still at risk.
In Tenggulun, thousands of militant Islamists from groups such as the 
Islamic Defenders’ Front, some wearing white skull caps, had gathered, 
shadowed by armed police and many reporters.
SOURCE: Reuters

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Protests over Indonesian 'anti-porn' law

Agence France Presse - November 15, 2008

Hundreds of people rallied in the Hindu-majority
holiday island of Bali against a tough anti-
pornography law branded by critics as a threat to
religious freedom.

About 400 people marched through the Balinese
capital Denpasar in defiance of the law passed by
mainly Muslim lawmakers in Jakarta last month.

Protesters denounced as too broad the law's
definition of pornography, saying it was a threat
to Indonesia's diverse non-Muslim minorities and
could shatter national unity.

High-spirited protesters in traditional sarongs and
translucent temple blouses marched toward the
provincial governor's office, cheering wildly at
traditional dances and performances by local pop
singers in curve-hugging pants. The chair of the
West Papua provincial parliament, Jimmy Demianus
Ijie, said the law passed after years of
deliberation in Jakarta criminalised Papuan
culture, where many people go semi-naked.

"I've taken part in many Papuan performances in
many places and I've only worn traditional clothes,
but you could see my arse and I was swaying my
hips, I was being sexy. Are they going to arrest me
for that too?" he told reporters.

A challenge to the law would be launched in
Indonesia's Constitutional Court next week,
activist Ngurah Harta told the protest. "We have to
win this judicial review or we will hold a massive
civil disobedience campaign," he said.

Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika pledged last
month that his government would not enforce the
pornography bill, but he did not turn up to
Saturday's protest.

Muslims make up roughly 90 per cent of Indonesia's
234 million population, which also contains
sizeable Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and Confucian
minorities.

---------------------------------------------------
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=666289&rss=yes

Hundreds protest against anti-porn law
16:52 AEST Sat Nov 15 2008
132 days 3 minutes ago
AFP

Hundreds of people have rallied in the Hindu-majority holiday island of 
Bali against a tough anti-pornography law branded by critics a threat to 
religious freedom.
About 400 people marched through the Balinese capital Denpasar in 
defiance of the law passed by mainly Muslim lawmakers in Jakarta last month.
Protesters denounced as too broad the law's definition of pornography, 
saying it was a threat to Indonesia's diverse non-Muslim minorities and 
could shatter national unity.
High-spirited protesters in traditional sarongs and translucent temple 
blouses marched toward the provincial governor's office, cheering wildly 
at traditional dances and performances by local pop singers in 
curve-hugging pants.
The chair of the West Papua provincial parliament, Jimmy Demianus Ijie, 
said the law passed after years of deliberation in Jakarta criminalised 
Papuan culture, where many people go semi-naked.
"I've taken part in many Papuan performances in many places and I've 
only worn traditional clothes, but you could see my arse and I was 
swaying my hips, I was being sexy. Are they going to arrest me for that 
too?" he told reporters.
A challenge to the law would be launched in Indonesia's Constitutional 
Court next week, activist Ngurah Harta told the protest.
"We have to win this judicial review or we will hold a massive civil 
disobedience campaign," he said.
Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika pledged last month that his 
government would not enforce the pornography bill, but he did not turn 
up to Saturday's protest.
Muslims make up roughly 90 percent of Indonesia's 234 million 
population, which also contains sizeable Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and 
Confucian minorities.

http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp081115190048.wyg41xfip0&show_article=1

Indonesians attend a protest

Indonesians attend a protest against the new pornography bill in 
Denpasar. Hundreds of people rallied Saturday in the Hindu-majority 
holiday island of Bali against a tough anti-pornography law branded by 
critics a threat to religious freedom.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/11/113_33732.html

11-02-2008 17:39

3-Yr Jail Term Sought for Riot Policeman

Lee Gil-jun
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

The prosecution has demanded a three-year prison term for a riot police 
officer who refused to return to his unit in protest of a police 
crackdown on a candlelit rally against the import of American beef.

Prosecutors Friday asked the Seoul Northern District Court to hand down 
the jail term to officer Lee Gil-jun, who was indicted in August on 
charges of deserting his squad, not responding to senior officers' 
orders, and defaming his seniors.

On July 27, Lee, a 25-year-old riot policeman of six months, held a 
media briefing after a three-day leave to announce his resolution not to 
rejoin his Jungnang Police Station unit in northeastern Seoul. He said 
he was forced to suppress protesters, which he said was against his 
conscience, and called for the abolishment of the riot police system. A 
few days later, he presented himself to police for questioning.

Lee said in court, ``Everything has happened in a flash since I decided 
not to return to the unit. I listened to my conscience and acted on it.''

In South Korea, a man can be dispatched to an ordinary military camp or 
the riot police on a random basis after being drafted.

``If officer Lee had the faith to keep democracy and a law-abiding 
society, he should not have refused the order to crack down on 
demonstrators. Lee also disparaged riot police, who exercise public 
power fairly, by calling them a means of violence,'' a prosecutor said.

A member of civic coalition Korea Solidarity for Conscientious Objection 
said, ``Lee can be considered a conscientious objector, and such people 
usually get an 18-month jail term. His seems too harsh.''

Lee was not the only riot police officer to protest the rally crackdown. 
In June, another riot policeman (Lee Gye-deok) requested a transfer to 
military camp, claiming police work was against his political beliefs 
and conscience. He was confined in the guardhouse for a month.

http://ecoworldly.com/2009/05/03/korean-policeman-jailed-for-refusing-to-use-excessive-force/

Police Officer Ordered to Use Excessive Force Jailed as Conscientious 
Objector
Written by Gavin Hudson
Published on May 3rd, 2009
Posted in About Politics, In Asia
Korean police officer Lee Gil-jun is in prison on a 2 year sentence for 
not returning to work after commanding officers ordered him to fire a 
water cannon into a crowd of peaceful protesters last May.
Last may, South Koreans took to the streets by the tens of thousands to 
protest US beef imports, mainly over concerns about mad cow disease in 
US beef. For several months on any given Saturday night, you could see 
protesters with white candles in the downtown centers of many cities, 
especially Seoul. As the candlelight vigils grew, they became more 
political. President Lee’s entire cabinet offered to resign and the 
newly elected leader was caught between Koreans, who wanted to scrap the 
beef import deal, and the US government, which wanted more access to 
Korean markets. It was then that police officers called in to monitor 
the demonstrations began using water cannons and physical force to push 
protesters back from the Korean capital building.
Lee Gil-jun had been drafted into the military like every young Korean 
man and was serving as a police officer when the candlelight vigils 
started. From May 31 to June 1, Lee’s commanding officers ordered his 
unit to use a water cannon to push demonstrators back. Lee recalls 
sitting down on the ground afterwards and feeling sick with guilt.
Lee says he became determined that he would no longer be used as a tool 
of suppression.
Afterwards, Lee took a leave of absence to see his parents and decided 
not to go back. He wanted to tell the media about the situation, but his 
parents were against the idea. So the 25 year-old filed as a 
conscientious objector and went alone to a police station to turn 
himself in.
At his court case, the judge asked “How do you think the treatment of 
illegal gatherings should change?”
“Peace protesters, marchers and the weak who represent social rights 
must be respected as much as possible. The government should keep within 
its principles and show maximum self-control,” answered Lee.
The judge continued, “If every person who has a complaint about their 
government can assemble in front of the Blue House [the South Korean 
equivalent of the White House], this society could become chaos.”
“Shouldn’t the government do more than to treat people like gang members 
or children? If they respect people’s decisions, democracy and peaceful 
gatherings will grow,” Lee replied.
Lee is currently in the 10th month of his sentence. He will be kept at 
Anyang Prison until his release date in 2010.
Readers can advocate for Lee’s freedom:
• via this Facebook group
• by filing a petition with the Korean government
• by emailing the Korean police agency
• by filing a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of 
Korea or
• by writing words of support to Lee via a Korean web chat page set up 
to relay the messages

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuId=29&ContentID=106538

Activists send protest leaflets into North Korea
5th November 2008, 17:00 WST
South Korean activists have launched tens of thousands of anti-Pyongyang 
leaflets into North Korea, despite appeals from the South and threats 
from the North.
The Fighters for Free North Korea and a group of relatives of kidnapped 
South Koreans each launched 50,000 leaflets by balloon from Imjingak 
village near the western part of the border, the activists said.
They said 10 large plastic balloons, inscribed with slogans such as 
“Down with Kim Jong-il’s dictatorship”, were carried northward by the wind.
“The winds were blowing right and the weather was very fine,” Choi 
Sung-yong, who chairs the relatives’ group, said by phone.
He said the balloons were expected to reach both North and South 
Hwanghae provinces across the border.
The Fighters for Free North Korea, a group of North Korean defectors, 
released 100,000 leaflets from fishing boats on October 27.
Some leaflets released today urged North Koreans to rise against the 
communist regime and repeated claims that leader Kim Jong-il is sick.
The 66-year-old leader is widely thought to have suffered a stroke in 
mid-August.
Others contained appeals from South Koreans whose relatives have been 
kidnapped by the North.
Seoul says North Korea has abducted more than 480 South Koreans - mostly 
fishermen - since the end of the Korean War in 1953.
It says some 540 prisoners of war were never sent home.
South Korea’s Unification Minister Kim Ha-joong last week appealed to 
the activists to stop the leaflet launches, saying they were impeding 
hopes of reconciliation.
The North’s military has threatened “resolute practical action” to stop 
the leafleting.
The hardline communist state has threatened to evict South Koreans from 
a joint industrial complex in protest.
SEOUL
AFP

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/390611/1/.html

Supporters protest Taiwanese ex-president's detention
Posted: 18 November 2008 1553 hrs

Supporters of former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian protest outside the 
prosecutor's office in Taipei (file picture).

TAIPEI - Around 100 supporters of Taiwan's former president Chen 
Shui-bian protested outside the hospital where he is on hunger strike 
Tuesday, criticising his ongoing detention as political persecution.

Chen was rushed to hospital on Sunday suffering from dehydration, four 
days after refusing to eat in protest at what he says are 
politically-motivated corruption allegations against him.

The protesters, who came from the former leader's hometown in the south 
of the island, shouted "unfair justice" and "political persecution."

Doctors said Tuesday that Chen's condition had improved but it was not 
clear if doctors would discharge him and return the former leader to the 
detention centre where a judge ordered him to be locked up last week.

Chen, who stepped down earlier this year after eight years, still has a 
large following despite a string of scandals implicating him, his family 
and former top officials from his administration.

Chen, whose pro-independence stance in office set him against Beijing, 
has repeatedly accused the island's China-friendly government of being 
behind allegations of embezzlement, money laundering, taking bribes and 
forgery.

He is the first former Taiwanese leader to be arrested, and could be 
held for up to four months before prosecutors have to charge him.

Chen's lawyer has lodged an appeal with the Taipei District Court 
against the former president's detention.

His office is planning to stage a mass night rally in Taipei on Saturday 
in a show of support.

- AFP/ir

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/11/22/worldupdates/2008-11-22T190906Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-366421-1&sec=Worldupdates

Saturday November 22, 2008
Thousands in Taiwan protest ex-president's arrest
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Thousands of Taiwanese on Saturday protested the 
arrest of former president Chen Shui-bian, an anti-China firebrand who 
says his detention as part of a graft probe was politically motivated.
About 6,000 people waved flags at an evening rally in a Taipei park in 
support of Chen, who has gone on a hunger strike for much of the time 
since his arrest on Nov. 12. He was hospitalised for almost three days 
after refusing to eat for 108 hours, his lawyer said.
Supporters of former Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian gather during a 
night rally in Taipei November 22, 2008. (REUTERS/Nicky Loh)
Chen's fate is likely to affect public opinion of Taiwan's opposition 
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which backed Chen in office and 
faces tough local elections next year, experts say.
The 57-year-old ex-president, who upset Beijing and Taiwan's key ally 
the United States while in office from 2000 to 2008, was arrested on 
suspicion of graft, forgery, money laundering and other crimes.
Chen has denied wrongdoing and called the probe against him and other 
senior opposition leaders a political plot.
A probe into the ex-president's suspected role in several money-related 
crimes will be finished by year end, possibly leading to an indictment, 
a special prosecutor's spokesman said.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/11/16/2003428749

Group protests former president’s detention

STAFF WRITER, WITH CNA
Sunday, Nov 16, 2008, Page 3

People mobilized by independent Kaohsiung City Councilor Cheng Hsin-chu 
show their support for former president Chen Shui-bian outside the 
Taipei Detention Center in Tucheng City, Taipei County, yesterday.
PHOTO: CNA
Supporters of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Chiayi County 
Commissioner Chen Ming-wen (陳明文) yesterday rallied outside detention 
centers in Taipei and Chiayi counties to show their support.
Chen Shui-bian was sent to the Taipei Detention Center in Tucheng (土 
城), Taipei County, on Wednesday on charges of embezzlement, 
bribe-taking, money laundering and illegally removing classified 
documents from the Presidential Office.

For his part, Chen Ming-wen, of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), 
was detained at the Chiayi Detention Center for alleged acts of corruption.

About 100 Kaohsiung residents mobilized by independent Kaohsiung City 
Councilor Cheng Hsin-chu (鄭新助) boarded buses to Taipei Detention 
Center yesterday to show their support for Chen Shui-bian.

Holding up banners, the supporters shouted “A Bian innocent” and “unfair 
justice” to protest against his detention.

Police were deployed to the site to control the crowd. No incidents were 
reported.

Meanwhile, DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday visited Chen 
Ming-wen at the Chiayi Detention Center.

Outside the detention center, a sit-in was staged by demonstrators as a 
show of support for Chen Ming-wen.

Deploring the fact that Chen Ming-wen was being held incommunicado 
without formal charges being made, Tsai said to the crowd: “This is a 
violation against human rights.”

“It should not happen in a democratic country,” she said.

Tsai also visited Yunlin County Commissioner Su Chih-fen (蘇治芬) at 
hospital yesterday where the county chief is recovering after an 11-day 
hunger strike.

Tsai said the party would nominate Su to run for re-election next year 
in Yunlin County despite her indictment on Friday on corruption charges.

After going on a hunger strike for 11 days to protest her detainment, Su 
was set free by the Yunlin District Court late on Friday night after she 
was indicted on corruption charges earlier the same day.

The court, finding there was no reason to keep Su in custody after the 
indictment was filed, allowed her to eb released, but required that she 
report any change in residence and barred her from leaving the country.

Su was charged with taking a total of NT$21 million (US$635,000) in 
bribes in two separate cases involving the operation of a county 
landfill and the expansion of the Yunlin branch of Chang Gung Memorial 
Hospital.

Prosecutors recommended she be sentenced to prison for 15 years, 
deprived of her civil rights for eight years and fined NT$21 million.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JIMMY CHUANG

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/11/14/2003428578

Chen Shui-bian fasts in detention protest
ACTION: It was not clear if the former president intends to go on a 
hunger strike, but his lawyer said he had not eaten since being 
detained, and has only taken water
By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, Nov 14, 2008, Page 1

Police stand outside the Taipei Detention Center in Tucheng, Taipei 
County, yesterday after the Democratic Progressive Party caucus of the 
Taipei County Council called on supporters to protest the detention of 
former president Chen Shui-bian. Chen is being held in the center.
PHOTO: CNA
Former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has stopped eating to protest 
against what he called the “death of the judiciary,” his lawyer Cheng 
Wen-long (鄭文龍) said yesterday.
In a statement issued by Chen’s office, Cheng said his client had not 
eaten since he was detained on Wednesday morning in connection with 
corruption allegations, although he was drinking water.

Cheng did not use the term “hunger strike” in describing Chen’s action, 
and at press time it was not clear if Chen’s fast was intended to be a 
hunger strike.

Cheng said he had visited Chen at the Taipei Detention Center yesterday 
morning.

Officials at the center said they would keep a close eye on Chen’s 
condition, the lawyer said.

Chen is suspected of embezzling about NT$15 million (US$450,000) during 
his two terms in office. He is also suspected of money laundering, 
taking bribes and forgery.

The court’s decision to detain him capped a six-month investigation into 
the graft allegations against the former president. Chen has denied any 
wrongdoing.
Chen’s fast manifesto
‧ The judiciary is dead.

‧ Democracy has regressed.

‧ He is willing to go to jail for the Taiwanese.

‧ He is willing to sacrifice his life for a Republic of Taiwan.

‧ He is opposed to authoritarianism, communism and dictatorship.

‧ He wants sovereignty, freedom and democracy for Taiwan.

‧ Taiwan must be protected from China’s bullying.

‧ Taiwan and China are “one state on each side of the Taiwan Strait.”

‧ Taiwanese must rise and make an all-out effort for the cause.

‧ Persistence will prevail.

His detention came five days after Association for Relations Across the 
Taiwan Strait Chairman Chen Yunlin (陳雲林) ended a controversial visit 
to Taipei.

Chen has criticized the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) administration 
for “political persecution” and waging a “political vendetta” against 
him to curry favor with Beijing.

Cheng said he tried to talk Chen into eating something during their 
meeting yesterday, but Chen refused and asked him to make public the 10 
reasons why he stopped eating.

 From reasons were: The judiciary is dead; democracy has regressed; he 
is willing to go to jail for the Taiwanese; he is willing to sacrifice 
his life for a Republic of Taiwan; he is opposed to authoritarianism, 
communism and dictatorship; he wants sovereignty, freedom and democracy 
for Taiwan; Taiwan must be protected from China’ bullying; Taiwan and 
China are “one state on each side of the Taiwan Strait”; Taiwanese must 
rise and make an all-out effort for the cause; and persistence will prevail.

Cheng said Chen wanted him to relay his appreciation to those who cared 
about him, especially the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has 
issued a five-point statement, and DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).

Tsai has called Chen’s detention “shoddily administered and an abuse of 
power.”

She also urged authorities to show more respect for the rights of a 
former president and not to incite people and cause division.

Chen also thanked former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), DPP 
legislators, human rights groups and other private institutions for 
their support.

Meanwhile, Chen’s office said it was helping plan a nighttime event on 
Nov. 22 in Yuanshan Park to back Chen. The event would be organized by 
the Ketagalan Institute, which Chen founded.

Chen’s office said it had asked the DPP’s Taipei chapter to apply for 
police permission for the event and Tsai has promised to offer any 
necessary assistance.

Executive Yuan Spokeswoman Vanessa Shih (史亞平) refused to comment on 
Chen’s detention, saying his case had not been discussed at the weekly 
Cabinet meeting.

“The government’s position on cases under judicial investigation has 
been ‘no comment and no interference,’” Shih said.

She urged those planning to take to the streets in support of Chen to 
respect prosecutorial independence, keep faith in the judicial system 
and remain rational.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SHIH HSIU-CHUAN

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/10/31/2003427407

Youth to join Referendum Law protest
DEMOCRATIC DRIVE: Student organizations heeded the call of a professor 
staging a hunger strike outside the legislature to demand the Referendum 
Law be changed
By Shih Hsiu-Chuan
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, Oct 31, 2008, Page 3
A group of young people plan to stage a vigil tonight in support of Tsai 
Ting-kuei (蔡丁貴), chairman of the Taiwan Association of University 
Professors, and other localization activists who are staging a seven-day 
hunger strike to back demands for amending the Referendum Law (公投法).
Fifty students representing 10 groups will join the hunger strike 
outside the legislature starting tonight, said Chen Ya-lin (陳亞麟), a 
rally organizer.

Tsai said he wished to see more young people join him in response to an 
appeal by some students that he should stop his strike to retain his 
strength for further protests.

In a message he left on the association’s Web site on Monday, Tsai 
expressed regret that no young people had joined the hunger strike.

Tsai says the law is undemocratic because it sets unreasonably high 
thresholds for a referendum to be initiated and to be passed.

“Professor Tsai has said that he wished young people would join him, and 
we also think that we are obliged to play a role in the fight for a 
better democracy,” Chen said.

Chen said the student groups launched a drive on the Internet, asking 
for 1,000 young people to participate in the hunger strike.

“We hope young people planning to join the vigil will bring flashlights 
so that they can shine them on the legislature to dispel its darkness,” 
Chen said.

The Taiwan Association of University Professors said in a statement on 
its Web site that Tsai would end his hunger strike if young people would 
take over the protest, because that would mean young people are also 
concerned about issues related to the public interest and that he was 
not alone in his concern.

Whether he receives support or not, Tsai would continue to push for 
amending the law, the statement said.

http://story.irishsun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/2411cd3571b4f088/id/432128/cs/1/

Kathmandu shutdown called to protest 'Maoist murders'
Irish Sun
Wednesday 19th November, 2008
(IANS)
Enraged family members and members of the public have announced a 
shutdown of Kathmandu valley Thursday after the discovery of the bodies 
of two cadres of a ruling party who were allegedly abducted by Maoists a 
month ago.

Angry protests Wednesday paralysed the capital city as people went on 
the warpath following the recovery of the bodies of Nirmal Pant and 
Pushkar Dhangol, residents of Kathmandu, buried near the bank of a 
stream in Dhading district.

Both Pant and Dhangol were members of the Youth Force, the militant 
youth wing formed by the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist 
Leninist (UML), which is the second largest party in the Maoist-led 
government.

The Youth Force, formed this year to combat the Young Communist League 
(YCL), the strong arm of the Maoists, has been frequently engaged in 
violent combats with the latter.

The two young men had disappeared a month ago while travelling to 
Dhading. A third youth who was with them at the time they were marched 
off but managed to escape alleges that the YCL was behind the abduction.

The discovery of the bodies Tuesday caused public outrage in Kathmandu 
Wednesday with people attacking a YCL office and vandalising nearly half 
a dozen vehicles.

Traffic was disrupted at three major junctions of the city as Youth 
Force cadres fought pitched battles with the YCL.

The murders are reminiscent of the slaying of a local businessman Ram 
Hari Shrestha, who was abducted by the Maoists despite his proximity to 
them. Shrestha was beaten to death inside a UN-monitored camp of the 
Maoists' guerrilla army after which his body was tossed in a river.

The Maoists at first denied they were behind the killing but had to 
admit to it after growing public pressure and outrage.

However, the People's Liberation Army combatant responsible for 
Shrestha's murder is still at large and there are allegations that he is 
being sheltered by the Maoist top brass.

The new murders show that the Maoist top leaders are losing their grip 
on the party ranks and files, who are running amok.

Maoist Prime Minister and chairman of the party Pushpa Kamal Dahal 
'Prachanda' himself faces a growing challenge to his leadership Thursday 
when his party holds its national convention after over a decade to 
decide the future policies of the party.

The murders also raise fresh doubts about the former guerrilla party's 
intention and ability to return to non-violent mainstream politics.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=64076

Published On: 2008-11-20
International
Protests in Nepal over Maoist murders
Afp, Kathmandu

A Nepalese student (C) walks past policemen deployed to control protests 
in Kathmandu yesterday. Protesters in Kathmandu burned tyres and smashed 
car windows to protest the deaths of two young men who were allegedly 
abducted by the youth wing of Nepal's ruling Maoists. Photo: AFP
Protesters in Kathmandu burned tyres and smashed car windows yesterday 
to protest the deaths of two young men who were allegedly abducted by 
the youth wing of Nepal's ruling Maoists.

Nepal's former rebel Maoists now run the country after winning elections 
in May, but their youth wing, the Young Communist League (YCL), has been 
accused of using mafia-like tactics to extort money and threaten opponents.

"There were protests in at least five places where students and young 
people burned tyres and vandalised vehicles," police officer Mohan Man 
Singh Bohara told AFP.

"They were protesting against the YCL after the deaths of the two people 
were reported in today's newspapers," said the police officer from 
Kathmandu.

The decomposing bodies of Nirmal Panta, 22, and Pushkar Dangol, 24, were 
found in a shallow grave in a district neighbouring Kathmandu on 
Tuesday, a month after they were allegedly taken by the YCL, local media 
reported.

"Relatives identified the two victims and their bodies have been taken 
back to Kathmandu for further investigation," said Shyam Prasad Poudel, 
a police officer from Dhading district, 30 kilometres (18 miles) west of 
Kathmandu.

"We do not know the cause of death or who killed them," Poudel said.

The head of the Maoist youth wing, Ganesh Man Pun, denied his 
organisation had anything to do with the deaths.

http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/11/19/0811191942_kathmandu_shutdown_called_to_protest_maoist_murders.html

Kathmandu shutdown to protest Maoist murders Wednesday, November 19, 
2008 19:41 [IST]
Kathmandu: Enraged family members and members of the public have 
announced a shutdown of Kathmandu valley Thursday after the discovery of 
the bodies of two cadres of a ruling party who were allegedly abducted 
by Maoists a month ago.
Angry protests Wednesday paralysed the capital city as people went on 
the warpath following the recovery of the bodies of Nirmal Pant and 
Pushkar Dhangol, residents of Kathmandu, buried near the bank of a 
stream in Dhading district.
Both Pant and Dhangol were members of the Youth Force, the militant 
youth wing formed by the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist 
Leninist (UML), which is the second largest party in the Maoist-led 
government.
The Youth Force, formed this year to combat the Young Communist League 
(YCL), the strong arm of the Maoists, has been frequently engaged in 
violent combats with the latter.
The two young men had disappeared a month ago while travelling to 
Dhading. A third youth who was with them at the time they were marched 
off but managed to escape alleges that the YCL was behind the abduction.
The discovery of the bodies Tuesday caused public outrage in Kathmandu 
Wednesday with people attacking a YCL office and vandalising nearly half 
a dozen vehicles.
Traffic was disrupted at three major junctions of the city as Youth 
Force cadres fought pitched battles with the YCL.
The murders are reminiscent of the slaying of a local businessman Ram 
Hari Shrestha, who was abducted by the Maoists despite his proximity to 
them. Shrestha was beaten to death inside a UN-monitored camp of the 
Maoists' guerrilla army after which his body was tossed in a river.
The Maoists at first denied they were behind the killing but had to 
admit to it after growing public pressure and outrage.
However, the People's Liberation Army combatant responsible for 
Shrestha's murder is still at large and there are allegations that he is 
being sheltered by the Maoist top brass.
The new murders show that the Maoist top leaders are losing their grip 
on the party ranks and files, who are running amok.
Maoist Prime Minister and chairman of the party Pushpa Kamal Dahal 
'Prachanda' himself faces a growing challenge to his leadership Thursday 
when his party holds its national convention after over a decade to 
decide the future policies of the party.
The murders also raise fresh doubts about the former guerrilla party's 
intention and ability to return to non-violent mainstream politics.

Source : ians

http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/11/20/0811201352_nepal-protest.html

Kathmandu shuts down in protest of youth's killing Thursday, November 
20, 2008 13:50 [IST]
Kathmandu: An Indian diplomat escaped unhurt when a mob pelted stones on 
his car as anti-Maoist protests paralysed life in Nepal's capital today, 
pushing vehicles off roads and forcing schools and major markets to 
remain closed.

Agitators attacked the car of First Secretary S K Joshi near the Indian 
embassy here this morning.

Joshi, who was inside the vehicle was unhurt, but his car was badly 
damaged in the incident, Indian Embassy sources said.

Protests against the killing of two youths allegedly by the Maoists 
youth wing cadres intensified across the capital today.

All private and public vehicles remained off roads, schools and colleges 
were closed and major markets were shut down as the youth wings of main 
opposition Nepali Congress and coalition partner CPN-UML called a 
valley-wide strike.

At least two motorcycles, a passenger bus and an army jeep were 
vandalised in different parts of the capital this morning for defying 
the shut down, police said.

A group of students also attacked the National Institute of Science and 
Technology, which was holding classes during the strike.

Demonstrators had vandalised vehicles and blocked roads yesterday, 
following the recovery of bodies of two youths who were allegedly 
abducted by the Young Communist League cadres last month.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Gagan Thapa and CPN-UML's Pradip Gyawali, who 
addressed a gathering here, held Prime Minister Prachanda morally 
responsible for the killing and condemned the Maoists "anarchist 
activities".

Source : PTI

http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/nov/nov19/news01.php

Two youths abducted by YCL found killed; protests in Kathmandu
Two youths from Kathmandu – Nirmal Panta and Pushkar Dangol – who were 
abducted by Maoist-affiliated Youth Communist League (YCL) cadres a 
month ago on October 20, have been found killed.
The relatives, rights activists and police found their dead bodies in 
Bhorlephant Bagar of Dhading district. The bodies of the two youths who 
hail from Syuchatar of Kathmandu were exhumed from a place where they 
had been buried.
“We could identify them only because of jackets and socks they were 
wearing,” said Kishore KC, a coordinator of local struggle committee 
formed to locate them.
The bodies were exhumed from the place after a local farmer complained 
of strong stench coming from the place.
According to reports, the two had been abducted by YCL cadres from 
Malekhu a month ago. The two were returning from a trip to Gorkha with 
their friends. In Malekhu, they were attacked by YCL cadres who were 
protesting the killing of their local activist. While their other 
friends returned home later, the two went on missing.
According to Krishna Gautam, central region coordinator of rights 
organisation INSEC, the YCL did abduct them but it is still unclear who 
killed them.
Maoists have denied the involvement of YCL in the incident. “It is only 
accusation. The party does not have information regarding those youths,” 
said Akansha, Maoists’ Dhading district secretary.
Meanwhile, local residents in Kalanki, Chabahil and other areas in 
Kathmandu obstructed transportation from early morning Wednesday 
protesting the death of the two youths.
The agitators have demanded action against those involved in murder of 
the two youths.
Transportation in various parts of Katmandu has been disrupted. Long 
routes buses from east and west entering Kathmandu valley have been 
stranded in Thankot.
The dead bodies have been taken to TU Teaching Hospital for post mortem. 
nepalnews.com sd/ia Nov 19 08

http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/nov/nov20/news01.php

Demo continues protesting killing of two youths; YCL denies its hand
Students have continued demonstrations, Thursday, condemning the killing 
of two youths allegedly by cadres of Maoist-affiliated Young Communist 
League (YCL).

Students of Amrit Science Campus at Lainchour,...

Students have demonstrated in Kalanki, Chabahel and Sorhakhutte, among 
other places, from Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, the Kathmandu district committee of Unified Marxist Leninist 
(UML) has called valley bandh on Thursday to protest the killings of its 
‘two cadres.’
Two youths from Kathmandu – Nirmal Panta and Pushkar Dangol – who were 
abducted by Maoist-affiliated Youth Communist League (YCL) cadres a 
month ago on October 20, were found killed.
The relatives, rights activists and police found their dead bodies in 
Bhorlephant Bagar of Dhading district. The bodies of the two youths who 
hail from Syuchatar of Kathmandu were exhumed from a place where they 
had been buried.
This incident has sparked protest demonstrations in Kathmandu since 
Wednesday.
On the other hand, the YCL has flatly denied its hand in the killing. 
YCL chief Ganesh Man Pun said that he has no idea who abducted or who 
killed the two youths.
“Just because some people abduct by claiming themselves as YCL, does not 
mean they belong to us,” he said, disowning the people who abducted the 
two youths from Malekhu. nepalnews.com sd Nov 20 08

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Kathmandu_shutdown_in_protest_of_youths_killing_paralyses_life/rssarticleshow/3736397.cms

Kathmandu shutdown in protest of youths' killing paralyses life
20 Nov 2008, 1339 hrs IST, PTI

KATHMANDU: An Indian diplomat escaped unhurt when a mob pelted stones on 
his car as anti-Maoist protests paralysed life in Nepal's capital on

Thursday, pushing vehicles off roads and forcing schools and major 
markets to remain closed.

Agitators attacked the car of First Secretary S K Joshi near the Indian 
embassy on Thursday morning.

Joshi, who was inside the vehicle was unhurt, but his car was badly 
damaged in the incident, Indian Embassy sources said.

Protests against the killing of two youths allegedly by the Maoists' 
youth wing cadres intensified across the capital on Thursday.

All private and public vehicles remained off roads, schools and colleges 
were closed and major markets were shut down as the youth wings of main 
opposition Nepali Congress and coalition partner CPN-UML called a 
valley-wide strike.

At least two motorcycles, a passenger bus and an army jeep were 
vandalised in different parts of the capital this morning for defying 
the shut down, police said.

A group of students also attacked the National Institute of Science and 
Technology, which was holding classes during the strike.

Demonstrators had vandalised vehicles and blocked roads yesterday, 
following the recovery of bodies of two youths who were allegedly 
abducted by the Young Communist League cadres last month.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Gagan Thapa and CPN-UML's Pradip Gyawali, who 
addressed a gathering here, held Prime Minister Prachanda morally 
responsible for the killing and condemned the Maoists' "anarchist 
activities".

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_World&set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=nw20081120092556279C296739

Protest shuts down Nepal's capital

November 20 2008 at 09:57AM

By Binaj Gurubacharya

Katmandu, Nepal - Activists chanted slogans and halted traffic by 
burning tires in Nepal's capital in a general strike on Thursday 
protesting alleged killings by former communist rebels who head the 
country's coalition government.

Schools and markets were closed in Katmandu and several vehicles that 
tried to defy the strike were attacked and vandalised.

Strikers accuse members of the Young Communist League, the youth wing of 
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) which leads the coalition government, 
of killing two supporters of the Communist Party of Nepal (United 
Marxist-Leninist), the second largest communist party in the Himalayan 
nation.

Although the two communist parties are partners in the government, there 
have been several clashes between their members over influence and 
control of voters and trade unions.

The Young Communist League has denied involvement in the deaths.

Its chief, Ganesh Pun, told reporters on Thursday that it did not kill 
the two men and was also investigating the incident.

The two men were abducted last month and their bodies were found on 
Tuesday buried in a river bank.

Witnesses said they saw the men being taken from a restaurant by people 
identified as Maoists.

Police and the National Human Rights Commission are investigating the 
killings. - Sapa-AP

http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/11/20/0811201352_nepal-protest.html