.

From Mizzima News – Eyewitnesses report seeing a team of Japanese police in Rangoon, believed to be looking into the death of a Japanese journalist.

The team is thought to be investigating the death of Japanese photo-journalist Kenji Nagai, who was killed by security forces during the brutal crackdown on protestors in September of last year.

“I saw a team of Japanese police in uniform near Sule Pagoda,” an eyewitness told Mizzima.

The eyewitness said the Japanese police were traveling in a truck at about 10 a.m. (local time).

A TV reporter for the Japanese News Agency APF, Kenji Nagai, 50, was covering a public protest in Rangoon and was among the many shot to death by authorities who used automatic rifles to crackdown on demonstrators. The United Nations estimates at least 31 people lost their lives in the protests.

The four-member Japanese police team is scheduled to meet with officials of the Burmese Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday to discuss the progress of investigations by Burmese authorities, according to an Associated Press report.

An official at the Japanese embassy in Rangoon told Mizzima that the visiting police delegates, along with other embassy officials, are currently in a meeting, declining to comment further on the delegation’s visit.

While video footage of a Burmese soldier shooting Nagai at point-blank range was televised around the world, the Burmese authorities said Nagai’s death was accidental and he was not deliberately targeted.

Commentaries and opinions run in the state-owned press imply that Nagai, who entered Burma under the false pretense of being a tourist, was responsible for his own fate.

編輯您好,

貴報網上版題為「仰光民眾熄電視無聲抗議　聯國特使晤軍頭素姬　燃斡旋希望 」的報道內

(http://www.mingpaonews.com/20071003/taa1.htm),

其中一張相片的標題為「法新社總編山路透（音譯）昨到達日本記者長井健司遭槍殺的緬甸街頭，向他拜祭致敬。（法新社）」。雖然本人不能確定圖片是否來自法新社 (Agence-France Press), 但因為長井先生是日本APF通信社的記者，而該社長名字是山路徹，故推想相中人應是日本 APF通信社長山路徹。(參考http://www.apfnews.com/ 的「會社概要」 頁)。

希望上述的資料對您們有用。

一長期讀者

XXX

2007年10月3日

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我們讀明報多年了。多年來我們自己在成長，從真心相信明報自稱「公信力第一」，到漸漸發覺不對勁。這一次把APF搞錯成AFP，我們是徹底地覺得不能再沉默了。

先說這次我們注意到的問題。在仰光採訪軍政府鎮壓民主運動殉職的日本記者長井先生，來自總部設於東京的APF通信社。這一點幾乎在長井遇害的首幾宗報道已有提及。

持平說句，APF是一家小通訊社，不太有名，名字卻跟通訊社巨擘之一的法國法新社 (AFP, Agence France-Presse) 極相似。普通人一時搞錯，也情有可願。

然而我們對自稱公信力第一報章的要求，恐怕不能降得那麼低。 該報處理外電的記者以至編輯就算真的從未聽聞APF，若看不到幾日以來的外電寫的都是APF ，就是粗心大意得令人咋舌；若看得到卻認為人家寫錯 （何況此相片正是來自法新社，法新社自己該不會搞錯吧 [1])，那是太自作聰明；若自作聰明卻不去查證，就未免是太狂傲了。

然而這粗心大意、自作聰明或狂傲， 也不及失去記者的觸覺令人難過。試想，AFP作為歷史悠久的通訊社，僱有日籍記者確沒有甚麼特別，但若這家法國通訊社連總編輯都是日本人，就有點趣味了。只要捕捉到這一點「趣味」，再隨手Google一下，真相便水落石出。

這不是記者的基本功嗎？

至於把山路徹寫成山路透，我們只好乾笑兩聲，只能猜想是有關編採接觸「太多」通訊社的名字，一時錯亂。

如此「差不多」的材料處理，如此低落的求真精神，如此公信力。

不幸地這不過是明報自毁自己公信力長城至輕至微的一例。我們想過，大不了就自己不再付錢買報就是了。然而，每當我們看到報頭，那幾個「公信力第一」字字刺眼，當我們想到不少家長老師帶孩子看明報，當我們聽到樓下六嬸說「報紙都有賣啦」來支持自己的觀點時，我們覺得不能沉默。

我們相信你－－願意把這篇文章讀到最後的－－也不應沉默。歡迎你以各種形式就明報的報道水平發表意見。如果你也想在這裡發表文章，請電郵聯絡我們。

我們希望，在市民及讀者的鞭策下，香港人能重得一份真正具公信力的報紙，或至少，一份誠實的報紙－－能誠實地承認自己已放棄維護作為傳媒的公信力。 那時候我們便無話可說了。

註：

[1] 有關相片來自法新社。我們礙於資源所限，未能拿到原文。歡迎提供，以便查證。

F R E E ___ B U R M A ! ! ! Updated 11-OCT

Inserito originariamente da uva98

Tribute to all the flickr community…

www.amnesty.it/appelli/azioni_urgenti/Myanmar
Apoya a los manifestantes en Birmania
www.avaaz.org/es/stand_with_burma/

see about the journalist who was shot dead
Mr Kenji Nagai, the Japanese journalist who was shot dead in Rangoon on Flickr – Photo Sharing!

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Now you can see it larger!!!!

posts anteriores: [1] [2] [3]

Por coerência continuo a chamar-lhe revolução, mas o regime parece manter o controlo. Hoje, entre as 19 e as 21h no Marquês do Pombal, decorre uma vigília de solidariedade com o povo Birmanês. A iniciativa foi da União Budista Portuguesa e conta com o apoio da Amnistia Internacional, vindo no seguimento acções semelhantes em várias cidades. Dificilmente há de resolver alguma coisa, mas pelo menos é simpático. Pode ser que ajude o tema a não sair dos media tão facilmente. Na imagem, o jornal oficial do governo Birmanês. Quanto à situação em si, não há muito de novo: [P.S.: Notícia do times sobre corpos estarem a ser cremados para esconder o número de mortos]

A junta militar nomeou um ministro para conversar com Aung San Suu Kyi (BBC), mas é bem possível que seja só um pequeno golpe de relações públicas.

Kate McGeown da BBC voltou da Birmânia e oferece o seu relato. Foi para lá como turista visto a imprensa estrangeira estar banida do país. É bom saber que o jornalismo não morreu e que há quem continue a correr riscos (o jornal do governo na imagem é bastante sugestivo: “RFA, VOA and BBC saboteurs, watch your step!”).

«The overriding impression these people gave me was that they were very frightened about the future, but they were also determined to push for change. (….) I have now left the people of Rangoon to a still uncertain future, but I know that, whatever happens, these people are not ready to give up on their fight for a better life.» (Kate McGeown, BBC)

O jornalista Kenji Nagai, assassinado por militares birmaneses, foi hoje a enterrar em Tokyo (Guardian). A palavra mártir, gasta por uso indevido por parte de fundamentalistas islâmicos, ganha aqui o seu significado original.

Ainda no Guardian: Drugs and astrology: how ‘Bulldog’ wields power. Fala de Than Shwe, líder da junta militar desde a revolução falhada de 88, as suas ligações com barões do ópio e os chorudos negócios de armamento que mantém com a Rússia. Também é feita referência ao casamento da sua filha, cujo vídeo caseiro está disponível no YouTube. Uma breve viagem ao mundo paralelo do regime:

As the voices of resistance continue, and challenges are being made for the international community to take action, today was another day of mourning for the murder of a Japanese freelance journalist, Kenji Nagai who was shot by troops in Myanmar on September 27 while covering a mass pro-democracy demonstration.  Myanmar is insisting this was an “accident”, and continuing investigations are underway.

In the meantime there are many additional resources and means to stay involved, informed, and continue to support the “Free Burma” movement-  Burmese Blogger w/o Borders * Free Burma * Myanmar news * Netzen Pelous * Myanmar War & Genocide * Waterflows * Ko-htike* Global Day of Burma

Burmese Bloggers w/o Borders also has posted the following to remember:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

-Article 19

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

A revolução parece ter sido adiada por tempo indefinido.

Olhando para página da BBC com a cronologia da Birmânia, a entrada de Outubro revela a mudança em relação ao espírito de Setembro:

«2007 October – Normality returns to Rangoon amid heavy military presence. Monks are absent, after thousands are reportedly rounded up.»

O mesmo tom por todos os media. Tudo indica que a revolução perdeu o momento. Revolução falhada. Um artigo fala de uma ‘tensão de cortar à faca’ em Yongon, mas a leitura revela que é só o medo. Com milhares já encarcerados, as forças militares continuam a fazer rusgas nocturnas para levar quem quer que suspeitem de animosidade contra o regime. Muitos monges abandonam a cidade rumo às zonas rurais.

Tentam tirar-se conclusões, descobrir as razões do fracasso, e surge a receita para uma revolução bem sucedida. Só tiro uma conclusão: uma revolução pacífica pressupõe um certo respeito por um ser humano. Quebrado este elo de empatia entre as forças do regime e os súbditos acossados, só uma pressão externa capaz de ameaçar o centro de poder pode dar esperança. Não parece ser o caso.

Tom White, adido cultural do Reino Unido na Birmânia em 1988, fala da estranha batalha numerológica entre a junta e a oposição (BBC). A ditadura vê no 9 o seu número da sorte, a oposição crê no 8. As datas escolhidas por cada lado parecem corroborar a teoria. Quanto ao que se passa na cabeça da junta:

«Their perceived duty is to suppress the democracy movement, whatever the cost in human suffering, for the greater good of the nation. In their own eyes, and encouraged by their astrologers, this is a virtuous action. »

Longe de ajudar a resolver o conflito pacificamente, como tinha sido avançado inicialmente, a religião pode agravar o distanciamento entre governantes e o povo. Isabel Arriaga e Cunha também fala (no Eurotalk) da sua experiência em 1988, durante apenas uma semana por imposição do regime, com fim no dia em que a repressão começou. Uma visão mais próxima do povo e das baixas patentes, que também é importante.

Com forte presença militar nas ruas, as pessoas parecem retomar as suas vidas. A repressão aparenta ter sido bem sucedida. Um oficial birmanês desertou para a Tailândia por não querer matar monges, e revela em entrevistas as ordens explícitas para espancar e matar. Mas esta deserção é um caso isolado e não há sinais de vir a ser repetida num futuro próximo. Números oficiais fecham a contagem de mortos em pouco mais de dez, embora fontes independentes digam que o número real poderá ser bem superior. A Democratic Voice of Burma fala em 183. Vendo as imagens de Kenji Nagai, o jornalista japonês abatido por militares birmaneses, transparece a casualidade com que uma morte pode ocorrer quando os protestantes são dispersados:

O Japão juntou-se ao coro dos protestos, e há quem afirme que tem poder negocial enquanto principal fornecedor de ajuda humanitária para a Birmânia. As autoridades ameaçam retirar o apoio mas a junta militar não deve estar minimamente preocupada.

A China é que parece ter feito a escolha acertada. Esperaram, empataram, saem por cima. ‘Estabilidade’ não parece ser um problema para já. Sobra apenas um pequeno receio de boicotes nos jogos Olímpicos, mas até lá é bem provável que a coisa passe.

UE reforça sanções, mas com China, Índia e ASEAN a alimentar o regime a eficácia desta medida é duvidosa. A tentativa do Conselho para os Direitos Humanos da ONU de condenar a junta perdeu o tom de condenação, perante a pressão da China e da Índia. No Conselho de Segurança, China e Rússia barram qualquer resolução com significado. Quanto ao enviado da ONU, de volta com o relato do que se passa, a fotografia do aperto de mão com a líder da Liga Nacional para a Democracia não deixa prever grandes desenvolvimentos. A expressão de Aung San Suu Kyi é mais grave que o costume, contrastando com o leve sorriso de Gambari. Voltando a Tom White:

«the world’s democracies should mobilise the resources of their intelligence agencies, rather than soothing their consciences by imposing further useless economic sanctions (unless these can be extended to China, India and Asean, when they really would have an effect). »

Não, na China ninguém toca. Mesmo que existisse alguma vontade real de impor sanções à China, a situação actual da economia seria mais do que suficiente para impedir essas aventuras. O Rocketboom (em baixo) também se debruça sobre a Birmânia, com um bom resumo dos acontecimentos. Mais curioso é ver que o Jim Carrey acredita que inundando a caixa de correio das Nações Unidas se consegue uma acção por parte do Conselho de Segurança. Eu até sorria com tanta ingenuidade se não tivesse ficado deprimido. Mas é bom saber que abundam maneiras de apaziguar a consciência com a ideia do poder popular. Pequenos gestos reconfortantes que vão obrigar os ‘world leaders’ a mudar o mundo. Enfim, ilusões da democracia que não se aplicam para lá das suas fronteiras.

Relembrando a batalha entre o 8 e o 9 na numerologia das duas facções, 2007 soma 9 e é o ano do regime. Para o ano pode ser diferente. Talvez por Agosto o povo Birmanês decida que é altura de arriscar-se a um novo massacre. Talvez três 8 sejam o equilíbrio. Mas para mim, que já não consigo aderir a superstições, é complicado manter alguma esperança.

Kenji Nagai ,50 , a video journalist was working for Japanese news agency APF News was killed during a crackdown on protesters when he was trying to take photographs in Yangon on Thursday.

There were conflicting reports that Nagai was struck by stray bullets fired by Myanmar soldiers according to Myanmar government. But others said he was shot directly from the front.

Japan was upset with the killing and demands answer from Myanmar government. If you are a photographer especially working in Newspaper , or even a photography enthusiast, how do you feel about this shooting ?

Check it out the footage of the killing of Nagai here.

Than when I saw this image of Kenji Nagai. Shot to death indescriminately by a Burmese soldier. So far, no one is intervening. Is this going to be another “never again”?

I want to become a professional photojournalist. I don’t know how or where or anything. I just know that I want to document the injustices of the world and perhaps like Nagai-Sama, capture them so others may know the truth.

At least his terrible and unnecessary death was captured on film–a fitting tribute in itself–so that even in his death, he is fighting to help others.

Kenji Nagai of APF was shot while trying to take photographs as police and military officials fired upon and then charged at protesters in Yangon’s city centre September 27, 2007. Kenji, 52, a Japanese photographer, later died. The video comes from YouTube. Although disturbing, it is not graphic in nature. This is Japanese TV news station video.

The Myanmar protests against raised oil prices continue on. At this time, the latest update is that government soldiers have responded with violent and fatal retaliation (just like one expect from a Communist dictatorship).

Michelle Malkin has a collection of updates, including on the shot dead Japanese reporter Kenji Nagai. Video of that, small photos.

But that’s not what this post is mainly about. It just serves as a stark contrast and a reminder of another ongoing protest marred by violence in South East Asia.

Religious followers in Myanmar protest the government’s policies that they disagree with by holding peace marches. The government army responds with a violent crackdown, which is met with non-violence and utter pacifism.

Meanwhile, religious followers in Southern Thailand protest the government’s policies that they disagree with by launching a brutal campaign of terror, extortion, torture, murder and mutilation. The government army responds with both retribution and reconciliation, which is met with even more, ever-escalating violence.

We in Malaysia occasionally read/hear about the troubles in Pattani in our local mainstream news. A schoolteacher maimed here, a few soldiers killed there, a couple of monks and a mosque preacher murdered…

But it is so different when you actually see what the Pattani ‘insurgents’ actually do to their victims. There is a very good reason why such people are called ‘terrorists’ – their methods are intentionally designed to cause as much fear, horror and panic as possible.

Anyone who does not support or comply with the terrorists is brutally murdered – perhaps tortured first, and the body hatefully disfigured after death. Through such intimidation, the local populace are cowed into submission – whether or not they agree with the goals and secession demands of the terror-mongers.

School teachers, pacifist Buddhist monks, local ulamas, mothers going to the market – it doesn;t matter who the victims are to these monsters. Their lust for evil and power far overwhelm their shallow facade and excuse of religious righteousness and government unfairness.

The Pattani rebels are nothing more than the usual gangsters, criminals and serial murderers. Nothing justifies their hateful, sadistic, despicable actions. They would likely kill their own families in their depravity. And then gleefully record their evil on their handphones.

Below follow several photos of the South Thailand insurgency terrorism victims. Be warned, although I have censored the most gory parts, they are still very extreme.

Scroll down to view the horrors perpatrated just beyond our very borders. How long before they export this barbaric madness to Malaysia, such a short hop away?

The following photos are sourced from Zombietime.com. The uncensored versions and more photos can be found there. The photos were apparently sent in by a Malaysian – perhaps a news team member, which would explain how he/she got the photos that we consumers never see.

Zombietime is much respected as a truthful source by bloggers worldwide. I mention and reference his journalistic efforts several times in my own blog, in All Your Fakes Are Belong to Us, Flat Fatima will Make Your News Stories Become The Truth!, and especially Malaysiakini: Are US News Agencies Biased Against Palestine?.

But if you think the Pattani murderers are horrifying and filled with the blackest of all evil… Then you haven’t seen The Jawa Report’s photos of a young Taliban child dressed in battle gear cutting off someone’s head.

Just the same as what was done to Nick Berg and Jack Hensley and Shosei Koda and Kenneth Bigley and Paul Marshall Johnson Jr and Seif Adnan Kanaan and Eugene Armstrong and Kim Sun-il and Thomas Tucker and Kristian Menchaca, Theo van Gogh, and of course, Daniel Pearl.

EVIL.

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WARNING! CENSORED BUT STILL VERY GORY PHOTOS ARE BELOW!

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YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! HERE THEY COME!

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A beheaded motorcyclist. A threatening warning note was found on the body, you can see it and the translation at Zombietime.

The removed head left near the body. Gruesome…

A soldier after the terrorists had their way with him. I forget, which is the merciless, inhuman organization of oppression again? The Thai government?

Brutalized dead body, probably of a monk, found in a house in a very unnatural position.

A tiny censor box to blot out the gore from a victim left on the train tracks to be run over… But that doesn’t stop you from realizing “Oh **** where’s the rest of the body?!”

Worst of the lot – the viciously defiled body of a monk, so gory and heartless that basically the entire photo had to be censored to post it on my blog.

Again, go to Zombietime.com for the uncensored versions and a few other pics. And again, if you think the above is really bad, you need to see the uncensored photo proof at The Jawa Report of jihadis leading a young boy to hack off a victim’s head.

There has to be a stronger word of condemnation for such than EVIL.