Ban deplores fresh clashes between Cambodia and Thailand, urges restraint
April 25, 2011
ARAKANLAND
The Temple of Preah Vihear
23 April 2011 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said he is troubled by reports of renewed fighting over the past two days between Cambodian and Thai troops along the two countries' border, which has reportedly claimed the lives of many people on both sides.
He said he had been encouraged by the initial signs of progress in regional efforts to strengthen bilateral mechanisms for dealing with the dispute between the two neighbours and called on both sides to exercise maximum restraint.
He urged Cambodia and Thailand to take immediate measures for an effective and verifiable ceasefire.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban said he also believes that the dispute cannot be resolved by military means and urged the two countries to engage in serious dialogue to find a lasting solution.
Tensions first escalated in July 2008 following the build-up of troops near the Preah Vihear temple, which dates back to the 11th century and is located on the Cambodian side of the border. The Hindu temple was inscribed on the World Heritage List of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that same month.
Considered an outstanding example of Khmer architecture, the temple consists of a complex of sanctuaries linked by pavements and staircases on an 800-metre-long axis.
Early last month, representatives from both sides agreed to a United Nations-sponsored meeting to discuss ways to safeguard the temple, which was damaged in previous border clashes between the South-East Asian neighbours earlier this year.
The two sides had agreed to meet again at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 25 May, the agency reported in March.
The agreement followed a mission to Cambodia and Thailand by Koïchiro Matsuura, who served as UNESCO's Special Envoy for Preah Vihear.
WAO-USA: Letter To Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh
April 22, 2011
ARAKANLAND
World Arakanese Organization (U.S.A) wrote a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, The Awami League government, regarding massive communal arson attack upon Indigenous Jumma Peoples by Bengali settlers with the direct boost of local authorities in Ramgarh and Manikchari in Khagrachari District (Falan Hthaung) of Chittagong Hill Tracts. As the International Organization, WAO (U.S.A) publicly express concern about the situation of Indigenous Land dispute turns deadly in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh. This letter sent to Prime Minister of Bangladesh on April 21, 2011 accordence with decision of Emergency Teleconference was held by WAO-USA's Executive Committee on April 18,2011.
Massive Communal Arson Attack upon Indigenous Jumma Peoples by Bengali Settlers in Ramgarh & Manikchari
April 19, 2011
ARAKANLAND
PCJSS (Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti)
On 17 April 2011 Bengali settlers with the direct support of local administration committed massive communal arson attack on five indigenous Jumma villages of Hafchari union of Ramgarh upazila and two villages in Manikchari upazila under Khagrachari district of Chittagong Hill Tracts. In this attack around 100 houses belonging to indigenous Jumma villagers including two Buddhist temples were completely burnt to ashes. At least 20 Jummas including three women were injured while 4 Bengali settlers died. Many Jummas remain still missing. The Jummas have fled in to the jungle in the face of the settler attack. Till 19 April 2011, no relief has been provided to the victims who have been living under open sky in the jungle.
Background of the attack:
Bengali settlers led by Md. Joynal pc of VDP have been trying to occupy 15 acres of land belonging to one Jumma villager named Ruihla Aung Marma s/o Pija Aung Marma at Hatimura area of Hafchari union under Ramgarh upazila in Khagrachari district.
While most of indigenous Jumma people were engaged in enjoying the traditional Bizu or Sangrai or Boisu festival, the Bengali Muslim settlers led by Md. Joynal pc started occupying said lands of the local Jumma people. The local Jumma people, who are owners of the lands, demanded to stop it. The local Jumma people informed of the matter to the local authorities including army authority. But it resulted in vain.
Summary of attack:
On 17 April 2011 in the morning around 10 a.m. the Bengali settlers started clearing bushes and making temporary makeshifts and at the same time, attacked on the Jumma people, who finding no other alternatives were compelled to resist them. Consequently about 10 Jumma persons including a woman were injured and 5 Bengali settlers were precariously injured among whom 3 died on the way to hospital. They were identified as Ayub Ali (38) of Kochubhante area, Noab Ali (60) and Sunil Sarker of Boro Pilak village.
As a repercussion to it, the Bengali settlers under the protection of security forces started attack upon Jumma people of Shankhola Para, Toikarma Para, Reemaram Para, Suludong Para and Pathachara villages of Hafchari union under Ramgarh upazila. The houses of the Jumma people have been looted and set ablaze. Though military forces were patrolling through out areas but they did not oppose Bengali settlers from setting fire to Jumma houses. The army kept patrolling along the road sides, on the other, Bengali settlers started setting fire entering the Jumma villages. In this attack, 32 houses including one Buddhist temple at Shankhola Para were completely burnt to ashes, 15 houses at Toikarma (Kachu Bhante) Para, 15 houses at Reemaram Para, 25 houses at Suludong Para and 16 houses at Pathachara were set fire.
On the other, Bengali settlers made attack on Jumma passengers getting them down from public buses including Shanti Paribahan who were coming from Chittagong and Feni to Khagrachari. At least 10 Jummas including 2 women were wounded in this attack. The victims were identified as Ms. Mithu Marma (13) d/o Mehla Prue Marma of Battali village of Guimara area and Ms. Paikra Marma (50) w/o Mongsa Marma of Bazaar Chowdhury Para of Joutha Khamar area of Ramgarh. Mithu Marma was admitted with serous condition at Manikchari hospital.
Around 6.00 pm Bengali settlers brought out a procession at Manikchari bazaar under Manikchari upazila shouting slogans against the Jumma people along with dead body of a Bengali settler. It is alleged that administration did not oppose Bengali settler while they were bringing out procession with dead body. No sooner of ending the procession, Bengali settlers set fire on Jumma houses at Mahamani areas of Manikchari upazila headquarters. At least 15 houses of Jumma villagers of Kyajai Karbari Para were completely burnt to ashes in this attack and 5 shops and 10 houses belonging to Jumma people were looted and ransacked. The Jummas, whose shops were looted, were identified as Mr. Mongsajai Marma, Mr. Ranghla Aung Marma, Mr. Uzzal Rakhaine and Mr. Chaihla Prue Marma. Besides, almost all the houses of the Jumma people situating on both sides of the Chittagong-Khagrachari roads from Manikchari sadar to Jalia Para covering about 7-8 kms and Jalia Para to Gacchabil another 10 kms have been looted and many houses ransacked.
It is also reported that many Jummas still remain missing. Among others, two Marma women from Thana Para who went to jungle to collect vegetables remain missing. Ashish Chakma son of Bigya Chakma of Rupakari under Baghaichari who was coming from Chittagong to Khagrachari remains missing.
It is learnt that a dead body of Bengali settler was recovered on 18 April 2011. In this regard, in the evening Bengali settlers gathered at Pathachara, Amtali and Chiuli Para areas and shouted slogans against Jumma people. Though rumour spread that a few dead bodies of Jumma people were recovered in Guimara, but no body confirmed the fact. However, it is reported dozen of Jummas remain still missing.
Intention of the attack:
Due to non-implementation of CHT Accord and non-resolution of land disputes in CHT as per CHT Accord, the Bengali settlers with the help of local administration and army authorities have been continuing to occupy Jumma people’s land through out the CHT. For this purpose, time to time Bengali settlers have been conducting communal attack on indigenous Jumma peoples by creating lame excuse for making attack on Jumma villagers. It is apprehended that it has been a planned attack patronized by the Islamic fundamentalist elements with the intention to capture the remaining lands that still in the hands of the Marma people.
At the same time, anti-CHT Accord terrorist group UPDF have been instigating communal tension in order to hinder implementation process of CHT Accord by making CHT situation unstable. Reliable sources confirmed that a few armed cadres of UPDF fired few rounds of bullets while clash between Bengali settlers and Jumma villagers continued at Shankhola Para area. It is also reported that local Jumma people get agitated against UPDF armed cadres due to their continuous repressive activities on Jumma villagers. In addition, UPDF tried to collect tolls from Bengali settlers by allowing them cultivation of grove land belonging to Jumma villagers, but failed to collect. Hence, it is to be believed that in order to drive local Jumma villagers into unwieldy situation and to get revenge on Bengali settlers, UPDF took the opportunity to create communal tension by opening fire few rounds.
Government action:
The local administration banned gathering, rallies and carrying firearms by imposing Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for 24 hours in these places beginning 8:00 p.m. on 17 April as the violence was spreading.
On 18 April 2011 in the morning local Member of Parliament of ruling party Awami League Mr. Jatindra Lal Tripura visited the spot under strict military control. Chairman of Khagrachari Hill District Council Mr. Kujendra Lal Tripura and Deputy Inspector General of Police of Chittagong Range Md Nawsher Ali accompanied Mr. Tripura. They held a public meeting at Jalia Para Government Primary School premises in the afternoon. Mainly the Bengali settlers attended the meeting while a few Marma leaders also attended the programme.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Chittagong division Maj General Ashab Uddin, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Khagrachhari district Anisul Haque Bhuiyan, Superintendent of Police Abu Kalam Siddique, local leader Konjuri Marma, Ramgarh upazila chairman Belayed Hossain Bhuiyan also took part in the meeting.
In the meeting, Jatindra Lal Tripura MP assured the victims to provide sufficient compensation. Kujendra Lal Tripura announced three bundles of corrugated iron sheets and necessary financial assistance to each of them from Khagrachari Hill District Council while district administration also declared to distribute rice and corrugated iron sheet among the victims.
GOC Maj General Ashab Uddin said that the incident was occurred due to land dispute. He said Bengali settlers were asked not to go disputed land, but they went. This incident were not happened if settlers heard army instruction. He also declared Tk 25,000 each among families of the deceased and Tk 5,000 each among other victims.
It is alleged that a delegation of leaders of Marma Unnoyon Sangsad was not allowed to visit the affected areas. They were halted at Guimara area in the name security.
Meanwhile, the DC formed a three-member committee with Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Mohammad Salahuddin as the chief. Other members of the committee are: Additional Superintendent of Police in Khagrachhari Delwar Hossain Sayedee and Ramgarh Upazila Nirbahi Officer Gopal Chandra Das. The committee has been asked to submit its report in two working days.
On 18 April 2011 Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of military forces issued a press release on this incident which mentioned Bengali settlers as ‘innocent’ saying that the incident was started due to attack on innocent/unarmed Bengalis by terrorist Hill people equipped with sharp weapons. Even ISPR also mentioned that a number of houses of both Bengalis and Jummas were burnt down in this attack. But no single word was mentioned about the setting fire by Bengali settlers on Jumma houses in the press release.
Protest:
PCJSS and PCP condemned this heinous communal attack on Jumma people and demanded that the culprits be brought to justice. On 18 April 2011 in the morning PCP brought out a procession at Dhaka University campus. PCP demanded to the government to provide adequate compensation, treatment and rehabilitation to the affected Jumma villagers and to withdraw all temporary camps including de facto military rule ‘Operation Uttoron’ from CHT.
Case filed
It is learnt a case was filed with Manikchari Police Station on charges of arson and looting of Jumma houses while Sub-Inspector Manjurul Afsar of Guimara police station filed two separate cases with Guimara police station in connection with killing of Bengali settlers and setting fire on houses. No body has been arrested so far.
Appeal to the Humanitarian Community
The PCJSS appeals to the national and international humanitarian community to write to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and send a copy thereof to the Home Minister of Bangladesh and the State Minister for the CHT Affairs, Bangladesh asking for the following redress with an aim to stop such heinous arson attack on Jumma people and to ensure permanent solution of CHT problem:
1. To provide adequate compensation, treatment and rehabilitation to the affected Jumma villagers;
2. To arrest and make examplary punishment to the persons involved with this arson attack;
To take necessary steps to stop repetition of this kind of incident in the CHT;
To resolve CHT land disputes by amending the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act 2001 as per recommendation of CHT Regional Council;
To ban terrorist group UPDF and take necessary action against its terrorist armed activities;
To rehabilitate the Bengali settlers outside CHT with dignity;
7. To ensure speedy implementation of CHT Accord.
– PCJSS (Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti) Kalyanpur, Rangamati-4500, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh Tel+Fax: +880-351-61248 E-mail: pcjss.org@gmail.com, pcjss@hotmail.com
ONE day after the arson attack in Ramgarh, the government has yet to provide any relief to the victims who have been living under open sky in the jungle.
Khagrachari MP Jotindra Lal Tripura made a brief visit today to the area under strict military control. However, he provided no relief to the victims.
A team of journalists also visited the place of occurrence.
However, a team of Marma Unnoyon Sangsad, a pro-government organisation, was barred from visiting the affected areas. They were stopped at Guimara.
A Relief Management Committee for the victims has been formed in Khagrachari with Binod Bihari Chakma and Monang Dewan as its convener and member secretary respectively.
Meanwhile, reports said the army and police have increased their patrol in Khagrachari town instilling a sense of fear among the Jumma inhabitants.
THE United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF) has rejected the 3-member inquiry committee headed by Khagrachari ADC Salauddin and demanded that the government constitutes an independent and impartial judicial inquiry committee to probe yesterday’s arson attacks on Jumma villages in Ramgarh.
Pradipan Khisha, chief organiser of UPDF Khagrachari district unit, in a statement also said the present inquiry committee members are not impartial.
“It is because of their biased policies that such unpleasant incidents centering on land grabbing continue to happen in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Therefore, an impartial inquiry cannot be expected from them.” he added.
He said many Jummas including Ashish Chakma son of Debo Priyo Chakma of village Balukhali, Rangamati were still missing.
He also said that the number of houses burnt in six villages stands at 93 while about 30 Jummas were injured in the attack.
The six villages that came under attack are Soludong Para, Remrong Para, Manikchari, Toikarma Para, Podachara and Shonkhola Para.
Protest in Chittagong The DYF, PCP and HWF held a protest rally in Chittagong. However, the police prevented them to begin a protest march at the end of the rally that was held at Shaheed Minar.
Chaired by Ziko Marma, president of DYF Chittagong Metropolitan city unit, the rally was addressed by Amir Abbas, general secretary of Jatio Mukti Council, Chittagong-Chittagong Hill Tracts branch; Israt Jahan Choton of Jatio Ganotanric Gano Manch; distinguished story writter Ahmed Joshim; Md. Mamun of Jatio Ganotantric Front; Supreme Chakma, assistant general secretary, DYF central committee; Bakul Chakma, member of DYF; Konika Dewan, general secretary of HWF; Simon Chakma, member of PCP central committee; and Palash Chakma, member, PCP.
The speakers condemned the arson attacks on Jumma villages in Ramgarh and demanded that the culprits be brought to justice.
They also urged the government to provide compensation to the victims and take an urgent and effective measure to stop land grabbing in the CHT.
They said as a result of unbridled land grabbing once overwhelmingly Jumma dominated areas of Ramgarh, Manikchari and Matiranga have already turned into Bengali-majority areas.
Yet, land grabbing still continues unabated and the settlers continue to make desperate attempts to capture the remaining lands that still in the hands of the Marma people.
Ziko Marma said members of the inquiry committed constituted by the government to probe the incident are not impartial; they are biased. “Therefore, we reject this committee and demand that the government instead forms an independent and impartial judicial committee.”
Some of injured 1. Mitu Marma, 12, son of Kyojai Marma of village Chollyabil, Manikcahri. 2. Ulha Prue Marma, 8, son of Kyojai Marma of village Chollyabil, Manikcahri. 3. Kalindra Chakma, 65, of village Porchuram Ghat, Ramgarh. 4. Aina Chakma, 22, wife of Thoba Chakma of village Pokki Muro, Sindukchari, Mahalchari. 5. Bulu Chakma, 17, son of Bokkya Chakma of village Joutha Khamar, Mahalchari. 6. Usha Marma, 23, son of Ugyo Marma of village Nakapa; 7. Anu Marma, 16, son of Momong Marma of village Baro Pilak, Hafchari Union, Ramgarh; 8. Mongshe Prue Marma, 30, of village Raikhali, Mirsorai, Chittagong; 9. Ugyo Marma, 11, son of Mongshe Prue Marma of village Raikhali, Mirsorai, Chittagong; 10. Joti Ranjan Chakma son of Subhash Chakma of village Modhupur, Khagrachari; 11. Chajai Mong Marma, 45, of village Manikchari; 12. Sanio Marma wife of Chajai Mong Marma; 13. Polen Chakma son of Milon Kanti Chakma of village Nuo Para, Dighinala; 14. Sonamuni Chakma, 25, son of Sudar Kumar Chakma of village Joy Kumar Karbari Para, Kobakhali, Dighinala; 15. Chitra Chakma, 21, wife of Sonamuni Chakma.
Of them, Mitu Marma and Ula Prue Marma are now undergoing treatment in Matiranga hospital.
THE settlers have burnt down at least 30 Jumma houses in Uttor Shonkhola Adam and Reyo Morong Para under Hafchari Union of Ramgarh Upazila in an attempt to capture 50 acres of land belonging to Marma community, reports say.
Sources said a group of about 30 settlers from Baro Pilak in Jaliapara went to Shonkhola Para, cleared jungle and planted banana saplings.
When the Jumma villagers protested, the settlers attacked them, resulting in chase and counter-chase.
Later, more settlers were reinforced and the Jumma houses were burnt down.
The Jummas have fled in to the jungle in the face of the settler attack.
The settlers have already captured half of the land belonging to the Jummas in the area. Now they are trying to capture the remainder.
On 14 April, on the day of Boisabi festival, the settlers made another attempt to capture the same land. They cleared jungle in the said land.
The Jummas duly complained to the authorities including Ramgarh Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Superintendent of Police, Khagrachari, but to no avail.
Attack on Water Development Board officials - coastal embankment project construction stopped
Hundreds of thousands of people of Kutubdia in fear
Abdul Kuddus, "Cox's Bazaar
The island subdistrict Kutubdia is surrounded by a 40 km long coastal embankment of the Water Development Board (http://edepot.wur.nl/121307), 17 km stretch of which has been broken for the last few years. The WDB called tender (worth taka 290 million) for reconstruction of a 3.3 km long coastal embankment at Ali Akbar Dail union (a group of villages) that was perished in previous floods. Meanwhile 50% of the construction has been done, it is said. But a few days ago the construction has been stopped as a result of the ruling Awami League Party leaders and workers physically assaulted 5 of the WDB officials. If the unfinished construction of coastal embankment is not completed before the monsoon sets in thousands of houses are in danger of washing out into the sea if disaster, tornado and tidal waves strike.
Attack on the WDB officials
according to WDB sources, last Tuesday a 20 member parliamentary sub-committee led by the MP of Manikgunj-1 seat, Mr A B M Anwarul Huq. In the team there were other MPs including A K M Fazlul Huq of Sherpur-3 seat, A HM Hamidur Rahman of Cox's Bazaar - 2, and other officials from the WDB. At about 2 in the afternoon the visiting team members left for Cox's Bazaar. Afterwards the leaders and workers of the local Awami League came to the bungalow and demanded food and raised voices. Later on charges of late serving of dinner they started attacking officials of the WDB. In the attack severely injured were the Subdivisional Engineer Kyaw Thwai Wai, Sub Assistant Engineer Abdus Sattar, Shamsul Arefin, Technician Shariful Islam, representative of Asian Development Bank Tajul Islam, employee Abu Siddique and Anwarul Islam.
Complaints against 11 leaders and workers of the Awami League:
On the same day a complaint was lodged accusing 11 leaders and workers of the Awami League led by Aurangzeb Matbar, the organizational secretary of Kutubdia Upazila (subdistrict). In the complaint 35 unnamed people were also included. Subdivisional Engineer Kyaw Thwai Wai lodged the complaint on behalf of the WDB.
The accused Awrangzeb could not be reached though he was contacted several times for his comments on the incidence. The Upazilla Awami League President Syed Ahmed said that there was heated exchange of words between the officials of the WDB and members of the Awami League, and there was no physical assault. He did not know if anybody was wounded because of the incidence, he said.
the officer in charge of Kutubdia police station Mahbubul Huq said, a case has been lodged accusing 11 persons for physically assaulting WDB officials.
Coastal embankment construction - stopped
An official of the WDB declining to be named said that though the WDB officials lodged the complaint in the evening, for reasons unknown the police officer in charge declined to accept the complaint. The following evening under pressure he was forced to accept the complaint. the executive engineer of the WDB said that there are no employees or officials in Kutubdia right now. For this reason the related contractors have been asked to stop construction work.
If the construction work is carried out in absence of the WDB officials, the quality of construction will not be ensured and complications arise later, We are not going to accept any work put to question. The matter has been informed in writing to the higher authority.
Hundreds of thousands of people in fear
'Disasters and tidal waves may strike this area in May. The monsoons will follow in June. At that time tidal water will wash away villages in the area. If the embankment is done, we will at least survive in the coming monsoons. Now there is no more time to complete the construction and we have forgotten sleep in fear of the coming rainy season.' Anwar Husein (55), a salt harvester of Tablerchar village said out of frustration. he said, if a tornado of the intensity of the last one of the 29th April 1991 strikes, hundreds of thousands of people of the island will just perish.
A T M Nurul Bashar Chowdhury, the Upazilla chairman testifying to the words said, 'the attack on the officials of the WDB and stopping of construction work has already increased the fear among the people.
Wave of enforced disappearances in China sparks concern from UN rights experts
April 9, 2011
ARAKANLAND
Jeremy Sarkin, chairman of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances [file photo]
8 April 2011 – A group of United Nations human rights experts today voiced serious concern about the recent wave of enforced disappearances reported to have taken place in China, calling on authorities in the Asian nation to release all those who have been forcibly disappeared.
The five-member UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has received multiple reports from China of “a number of persons” being subject to enforced disappearances including the lawyers Teng Biao, Tang Jitian, Jiang Tianyong and Tang Jingling.
In a press statement issued in Geneva, the working group said that human rights activists, lawyers and students appear to be the targets of the recent disappearances.
“According to the allegations received, there is a pattern of enforced disappearances in China, where persons suspected of dissent are taken to secret detention facilities, and are then often tortured and intimidated, before being released or put into ‘soft detention’ and barred from contacting the outside world,” the working group said.
The experts stressed that an enforced disappearance represents a crime under international law.
“Even short-term secret detentions can qualify as enforced disappearances. There can never be an excuse to disappear people, especially when those persons are peacefully expressing their dissent with the Government of their country.”
The working group added it is also concerned by several long-running cases of reported disappearances, including a case from 1995 involving six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, also known as the 11th Panchen Lama.
“While the Chinese authorities have admitted taking him, they have continually refused to divulge any information about him or his whereabouts, making his case an enforced disappearance,” today’s statement noted.
The experts called on China to release all those who have been forcibly disappeared and to provide information on the fate and whereabouts of people who have allegedly disappeared.
The working group’s chair-rapporteur is Jeremy Sarkin of South Africa. Its other members are: Ariel Dulitkzy (Argentina), Jasminka Dzumhur (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Osman El-Hajjé (Lebanon) and Olivier de Frouville (France).
Created in 1980, the working group’s members are independent and they report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
UN atomic agency reports no change at Japan’s stricken nuclear plant after quake
April 9, 2011
ARAKANLAND
International Atomic Energy Agency headquarters
7 April 2011 – The United Nations atomic agency reported that the 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Japan today did not change the status of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, but the temblor caused interruption of the power supply to a different nuclear plant and a uranium enrichment facility.
“NISA [Japan Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency] confirms that no changes have been observed at the on-site radiation monitoring posts” at Fukushima Daiichi, the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in an update following today’s quake.
“The injection of [cooling] water into the reactor pressure vessels of Units 1, 2 and 3 was not interrupted,” the agency added.
The epicentre of the earthquake was 20 kilometres from the Onagawa nuclear power plant and about 120 kilometres from the Fukushima Daiichi and Daini nuclear power plants, according to IAEA.
Today’s temblor caused power loss on two of three lines supplying off-site power to the Onagawa nuclear power site. “Cooling of the spent fuel pool was temporarily lost, but has subsequently been restored,” the agency reported, adding that no change was observed in the readings from the on-site radiation monitoring post. The status of the plant is currently being checked.
At the time of today’s earthquake, unit 1 and 2 at the Tomari nuclear power plant in Hokkaido were in operation. The Hokkaido Electric Power Company reduced the generating power to 90 per cent of the generation capacity.
IAEA also quoted NISA as confirming that the earthquake caused Rokkasho reprocessing plant and uranium enrichment facility to lose off-site power, but emergency power supply kicked in.
The situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant remains “very serious,” according to IAEA. The plant suffered major damage from the earthquake and tsunami that struck the country on 11 March and has been spewing radioactive contamination into the environment ever since.
In Afghanistan, UN staff remember the ‘quiet heroes’ killed in mob attack
April 7, 2011
ARAKANLAND
UN Mission holds memorial ceremony for staff killed in the 1 April 2011 attack in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan
5 April 2011 – In a solemn ceremony held in Kabul and repeated at each of the 22 regional and provincial United Nations offices across Afghanistan, UN staff paid tribute today to the colleagues who lost their lives on Friday when they were killed by a mob of protesters that had stormed an operations centre.
Three UN international staff and four international security guards were slain in Mazar-i-Sharif when a crowd of around 3,000 people protesting against the burning of a Koran in the United States unleashed their anger. It was the third direct attack against UN personnel in Afghanistan in the past 18 months.
Hundreds of UN staff, diplomats and Afghan Government representatives gathered in Kabul for the main ceremony, where Vijay Nambiar, the Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet, lauded the “dedication to reduce the suffering of our fellow global citizens” shown by the seven who were killed.
“This is a steady aspiration,” he said. “It breeds in us a long-term commitment to provide hope when there is despair [and] some measure of comfort when there is none. Sometimes we are overwhelmed but our cause is not just a future cause but a present one. Humanity depends on it today more than ever.”
Mr. Nambiar said senior UN officials would look again at how to strengthen and improve the conditions for the Organization’s staff, particularly in dangerous locations.
“We cannot allow the situation to endure where we are either so open that we are vulnerable to those who target us or so secure that we cannot be effective.”
The three UN staff killed – described by colleagues as “our quiet heroes” – all worked for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA): Joakim Dungel, a human rights officer from Sweden; Filaret Motco, a political affairs officer from Romania; and Lieutenant Colonel Siri Skare, a military adviser from Norway.
Four Nepalese Gurkhas who were guarding the UN centre were also killed – Dil Prasad Gurung, Chhabi Lal Purja Pun, Narayan Bahadur Thapa Magar and Min Bahadur Thapa.
Staffan de Mistura, the head of UNAMA and the Secretary-General’s Special Representative to Afghanistan, paid special tribute to the guards during his remarks to the memorial ceremony.
“Some people call them contractors. For us they are colleagues. They’ve been risking their lives for us… And they’ve been dying with us, and for us,” he said.
Rangin Spanta, a security adviser for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, told the ceremony that “even for those of us who have known decades of suffering, what happened in Mazar-i-Sharif is beyond comprehension.”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sent a letter to staff expressing his shock and sadness at the killings in Afghanistan, as well as yesterday’s fatal plane crash in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and incidents in Côte d’Ivoire and Haiti that also resulted in the deaths of UN staff in the past week.
“Our fallen colleagues were working in the best tradition of the United Nations, far from home in dangerous places,” he wrote. “They gave their lives in the service of humanity; their dedication will continue to inspire us.”
Mr. Ban will lead a wreath-laying ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York tomorrow, and UN offices worldwide will fly the UN flag at half-mast.
Ban sends condolences to countries whose citizens died in Afghan attack
April 7, 2011
ARAKANLAND
Flag-draped coffin of staff member killed in attack on UN compound in northern Afghanistan arrives in Kabul
2 April 2011 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today spoke by telephone to senior officials of the governments of Nepal, Norway, Sweden and Romania to express his deep condolences following the deaths of their citizens in the attack on the United Nations compound in northern Afghanistan yesterday.
Mr. Ban thanked the Prime Minister of Nepal, Jhala Nath Khanal, and the foreign ministers of the three European countries for their citizens' sacrifice in the service of the UN and humanity.
He said the thoughts of all at the United Nations were with the families of those killed and wounded in the “appalling attack on those seeking to help the Afghan people.”
Earlier the Secretary-General spoke by telephone with the President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai and expressed his sadness and shock to the head of State at the attack on the UN offices in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif that resulted in the death of three UN staff and four Nepalese security guards.
Mr. Ban thanked Mr. Karzai for his expression of condolence and for the support he is extending to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, and to the UN family in Afghanistan to ensure the safety and security of UN staff.
The Secretary-General said he had dispatched his Chef de Cabinet Vijay Nambiar and Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security Gregory Starr to Afghanistan to review the security situation.
Mr. Ban told Mr. Karzai that he would continue to work with the Alliance of Civilizations to promote tolerance for all faiths.
The Secretary-General and the Security Council strongly condemned yesterday''s attack in which a large crowd of demonstrators angry at the burning of a copy of the Koran by a United States group stormed a the UN compound and killed the UN staff and the Nepalese Gurkha soldiers serving as guards at the operations centre.
The attack took place about 4:30 p.m. at an operations centre for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in Mazar-i-Sharif.
An unconfirmed number of Afghan demonstrators were killed. Many staff were also wounded, including the head of UNAMA's office in Mazar-i-Sharif.
Alain Le Roy, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, told reporters yesterday that the demonstration was one of several held across Afghanistan today in protest at last month's burning of a Koran by a Christian group based in the state of Florida.
He said many of the demonstrators in Mazar-i-Sharif were armed and, while the security guards tried their best, the crowd was so large that they were soon outnumbered.
Mr. Ban described the attack as “outrageous and cowardly” and said it “cannot be justified under any circumstances.”
In a statement the Secretary-General said those killed “were dedicated to the cause of peace in Afghanistan and to a better life for all Afghans. These brave men and women were working in the best tradition of the United Nations and gave their lives in the service of humanity.”
The Security Council issued a press statement in the wake of the attack, with its 15 members condemning “all incitement to and acts of violence” and expressing their deep condolences to the families of the victims.
The Council called on Afghan authorities to take “all possible steps” to protect UN personnel and premises, and to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice, according to the statement, read out by Ambassador Nestor Osorio of Colombia, which holds the rotating monthly presidency.
The President of the General Assembly, Joseph Deiss, said he had learned of the attack in Afghanistan and the killing earlier this week of a volunteer working for the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (ONUCI) with shock and deep sadness.
“The President of the General Assembly condemns in the strongest terms these attacks, during which staff members and nationals were killed and injured,” said a statement issued by his spokesperson.
Mr. Deiss reaffirmed the support of the General Assembly to UNAMA and the people and Government of Afghanistan, as well to ONUCI and the people and Government of Côte d'Ivoire. He expressed his heartfelt condolences and sent his prayers to the families of the victims.
Mr. McNorton told the UN News Centre that the attack would not deter UNAMA from carrying out its work.
“We remain committed to supporting the Afghan people and to ensuring that they are able to obtain a better life. We remain committed to the cause of peace,” he said.
Mr. McNorton said the brutal nature of the attack was nevertheless being felt across the UN community in Afghanistan, where UNAMA and many UN agencies operate.
Wounded members of staff were evacuated from Mazar-i-Sharif, but Mr. Le Roy stressed that the UN would continue to have a presence in the city.
Ban calls for genuine transition to democracy in Myanmar
April 1, 2011
ARAKANLAND
30 March 2011 – Myanmar’s authorities have a duty to show that their announced transfer of power from the long-ruling State Peace and Development Council to a new Government is more than a change in name and a genuine move away from military rule, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.
“Responding to the long-standing aspirations of the Myanmar people for national reconciliation, democratization and respect for human rights remains essential to laying the foundations for durable peace and development in the country,” he said in a statement issued by his spokesperson.
“The Myanmar authorities now have an opportunity and, indeed, an obligation to their people, to demonstrate that this change is one of substance and that it is the start of a genuine move away from almost 50 years of direct military rule,” he added.
Mr. Ban called on the authorities to engage in an inclusive dialogue “with all relevant parties on broad reforms necessary for the development of a credible system of government that can effectively address the political and socio-economic challenges facing Myanmar.”
He pledged the UN’s continued commitment to work with all relevant actors toward building a “stable and fully democratic future in which all the people of Myanmar can contribute.”
Last month Mr. Ban took note of the newly-convened Parliament’s election of a new president and vice-presidents and voiced hope that the move marked the beginning of a change from the status quo.
Mr. Ban has long been involved in seeking to ease the South-East Asian country’s transition to democracy. At the time of elections last year, he warned that the vote was unsatisfactory because of the exclusion of some parties, including that of Nobel Peace Prize laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Her National League for Democracy (NLD) won the last elections, later invalidated by the country’s rulers, two decades ago but was barred from participating this time. For much of the past 20 years she was held under house arrest before being released in November last year. At that time Mr. Ban called for the release of all remaining political prisoners and highlighted the need to include in the transition al those who were excluded from the elections.
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