Neighbourly NEWS

17092013

 

Dozens of Thai police injured in rioting over rubber price

 

The Thai government said Tuesday it would declare a security emergency in a district of southern Thailand to end violent protests over low rubber prices. Some 77 policemen and at least 10 protesters were injured when protesters demanding higher subsidies for rubber farmers clashed with riot police in the Cha-uat district of Nakhon Si Thammarat province on Monday. Demonstrators hurled rocks and bricks at police and set fire to several police vehicles. Officials say the violence was mainly caused by teenagers who had joined the protests.

 

 

Bangladesh court sentences senior Islamist Molla to hang

 

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court Tuesday sentenced to death a senior Islamist opposition official for murder during the 1971 liberation war against Pakistan. Abdul Quader Molla, 65, is the fourth-highest leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party. “The court enhanced his life sentence to the death penalty,” prosecutor Ziad Al Malum told AFP. Thousands of secularists earlier this year demanded the execution of Molla, describing him as the Butcher of Mirpur, responsible for the murder of hundreds of innocent villagers. Islamists also held rival demonstrations across the country.

 

 

Philippines troops retake most rebel-held villages, free 116 hostages

 

Filipino troops have recaptured 70 percent of the coastal areas of a southern city that were occupied by Muslim rebels. About 64 civilians held hostage in a nine-day standoff were freed or escaped during military operations early Tuesday, followed by another 14 who freed in separate batches. The total number of those rescued in the last 18 hours was brought to 116, said military spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala. More than 100 Moro National Liberation Front rebels were still holding other hostages in areas in five coastal villages in Zamboanga city.