9.0 Earthquake and Consequent Tsunamis hit Asia hard

Discussion Open Forum
181

Now, back to the thread at hand:

A letter to a newspaper in Bangkok by an expat there, sounds just like he is talking about Taiwan business greed, no? Pave over the island and build a better concrete tub…

The letter reads in part:

QUOTE: That expat’s plan to preserve Patong beach was brilliant and deserves applause. But it will never happen. Greed is the wind in the sails of Thai businessmen, and their personal desires far outweigh the beauty of nature.

The slate is now clean and a new beginning is at hand. Thailand has an opportunity to do the right thing and preserve Patong beach as the marvel nature intended it to be. Phuket will attract far more tourists in the future if the Patong beach zone is kept open to the panoramic views of white sand beaches and blue seas working together in a magical poetry.

Tourists do not like the patchwork compilation of bars and shops and cars and motorcycles which are the hallmark of modern Thai society. They do not travel thousands of miles to visit southern Thailand to go shopping or to get drunk. They come seeking the tranquillity of natural beauty and to swim in the warmth of the Andaman sea. If they wanted to go shopping or to get drunk, they would go to Bangkok or Pattaya, and not to Phuket or Koh Lanta or Koh Phi Phi or Krabi. …But…That is not going to happen because the way of Thai businessmen is the greedy way filled with instant gratification and bars and shops and women for sale. Patong beach desperately needs to become a nature preserve open to tourists and not a monument to Thai greed open for exploitation.

A FARANG WHO LOVES THAILAND

UNQUOTE

182

Actually, many English didn’t fare that well either. There were many people stranded in Thailand whom the government couldn’t be bothered to help.

They had to pay for and organise their own flights home.
What’s more, families in the UK who had relatives killed by the tsunami had to pay for their relatives to be flown back and there is a waiting list of about two or three weeks.
Strange how there are umpteen cargo flights a day to the areas affected from the UK with aid on board which fly back completely empty.

183

Now comes the God stuff:

Divining a Reason for Devastation, sys one headline

Followers of Various Faiths Differ on Natural, Supernatural Explanations for Tsunami, says the subheadline

Catastrophes often leave religious leaders fumbling for explanations. But there has been no shortage of reasons given for the South Asian tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people, many of them children.

The one I love the best, I saw it on local TV last night and in the papers today, the Islamic brothers are now saying that God wrote his name in Arabic on the tidal wave on a Sri Lanka beach. It looks like an “e” and somehow this is said to the name of ALLAH in Arabo, sure babes!

Can someone find a clear Arabic script for Allah’s name and provide a link to the photo today? The best i can find so far are these links: don’t laugh. these people might be our masters someday!

islamcan.com/miracles/allahinarabic.jpg

dr-umar-azam.com/index.html

islamcan.com/miracles/africa.shtml

Maybe the “e” really means everyone using e-mail and playing in the e-world should stop using the Internet to muck up the world.

see that little “e” in the waves? amazing poppycockubamboozleshite!

globalsecurity.org/eye/andaman-sri-lanka.htm

184

Now the truth emerges! :unamused: I wonder what kind of effect reports like this will have in Indonesia.

[quote]
Egyptian paper: Israel-India nuke test caused tsunami

The earthquake that struck the Indian Ocean on December 26, triggering a series of huge waves called tsunami, “was possibly” caused by an Indian nuclear experiment in which “Israeli and American nuclear experts participated,” an Egyptian weekly magazine reported Thursday.

According to Al-Osboa’, India, in its heated nuclear race with Pakistan, has lately received sophisticated nuclear know-how from the United States and Israel, both of which “showed readiness to cooperate with India in experiments to exterminate humankind.”

Since 1992, the magazine argued, leading geological centers in Britain, Turkey and other countries, warned of the need "not to hold nuclear experiments in the region of the Indian Ocean known as ‘the Fire Belt,’ in which the epicenter of the earthquake lies.

The Egyptian weekly magazine concludes in its report that “the exchange of nuclear experts between Israel and India, and US pressure on Pakistan which is exerted by supplying India with state-of-the-art nuclear technology and preventing Islamabad from cooperating with Asian and Islamic states in the nuclear field, pose a big question mark on the causes behind the violent Asian earthquake.” [/quote]

jpost.com/servlet/Satellite? … 4981578311

185

[quote=“lane119”]
Can someone find a clear Arabic script for Allah’s name and provide a link to the photo today? [/quote]

At your service!

186

I cannot see the connection…

chinapost.com.tw/asiapacific … C&id=56746

Tsunami bore God’s name: Muslims

God signed His name in the tsunami that battered Sri Lanka and other countries on December 26, and sent it as punishment because humans have been ignoring His laws, Sri Lankan Muslims say.

Proof, according to Mohamed Faizeen, manager of the Center for Islamic Studies in Colombo, is a satellite picture taken seconds after the tsunami smashed into Sri Lanka’s west coast near the town of Kalutara and as it was receding.

“This clearly spells out the name ‘Allah’ in Arabic,” Faizeen said, pointing to the shape of the waves – a gigantic “E” complete with whorls and sidewaves that do indeed appear to combine to resemble the Arabic script for the name “Allah”.

“Allah signed His name,” Faizeen said. “He sent it as punishment. This comes from ignoring His laws.”

187

I don’t know about God’s will or divine messages, but circumstances once again show that good intentions without good planning don’t produce good results. Now we reap the whirlwind

[quote] SHAMEFUL WASTE

By MARSHA KRANES

January 12, 2005 – Hundreds of tons of desperately needed tsunami relief supplies are sitting unprotected on the tarmac of an Indonesian airport, where they’re being pummeled by torrential tropical downpours.
“The airport is basically overloaded,” said Brian Grogan, of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

“And there’s a big problem getting the stuff off the airport grounds because its tough to reach the people most in need” in the devastated stretch around Meulaboh, 180 miles south of Banda Aceh.

The sleepy airport in Banda Aceh

188

More Indonesian pararoia and xenophobia. And they don’t want any witness to their military operations.

[quote]
Foreign aid workers must register: TNI

The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Jakarta

The government on Tuesday slapped tough restrictions on foreign aid workers currently in Aceh, citing security fears, and creating yet another setback in relief operations.

Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said security forces could not guarantee the safety of more than 2,000 civilian foreigner aid workers presently involved in the massive international aid effort, from separatist rebels in Aceh.

Foreign aid workers outside the provincial capital of Banda Aceh must register with and get permission from the TNI so the soldiers could ensure their safety, he added.

Further measures would see Indonesian military liaison officers posted on all foreign planes and ships delivering aid, and all would have to obtain clearance permits.

Sidney Jones, from the International Crisis Group, told AFP that claims of a rebel threat were unfounded and an attempt to reassert TNI control in Aceh.

“What they (rebels) want more than anything else is for an international presence to be there and stay there for a long time. It would go completely against the grain for them to mount attacks (against foreigners).” [/quote]

thejakartapost.com/detailhea … @01&irec=0

And…

[quote]
Foreign troops told to leave Aceh by the end of March

JAKARTA (Antara): Foreign troops helping with aid relief efforts in Indonesia’s tsunami-stricken Aceh province should leave by the end of March, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Wednesday.

Three months are enough. The sooner (they leave) the better," said Kalla, when asked how long should foreign troops should stay in Aceh.

When asked about long-term relief efforts, he said: “We don’t need foreign troops.” [/quote]

thejakartapost.com/detaillat … 956&irec=1

189

HAHAHAHAHA! Good one! I wonder if he managed to say it with a straight face. “Now son, this is going to hurt me more than it is you…”

Not much point in sending aid to Aceh. As soon as the foreigners are gone the Indonesian army will shoot everyone and take the aid back. That’s if they let any of it actually get there. Well, the soldiers protecting the Mobil oil installation will be well fed for a few years, that’s for sure…

190

And if they aren’t paid off (and well), KOPASSUS will simply murder a few of the Western employees like they did in Irian Jaya, in 2002.

smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/02/1 … click=true
au.geocities.com/awpab/kopassus.htm
equinoxpublishing.com/kopassus/default.htm

191

[Off topic post: Reposting in IP forum as new topic; sorry.]

192

[quote=“Chewycorns”][quote=“braxtonhicks”][quote=“lane119”]
Wonder how the Great Tsunami Disaster of 2004, which killed over 200,000 in 20 minutes will impact writers, artists, film directors, musicians worldwide…
[/quote]

Is this another of your predictions?

I’ve been sympathetic to you in the past but am I really the first one who is going to ask you to zip it? (I’d say Shut Up! but that would be too rude.) Please.[/quote]

His numbers are a long-shot, but they could be accurate. The death toll is already exceding 100,000 with 500,000 injured. I don’t think pondering how this will affect the arts community is so outrageous or in poor taste. Whether we like it or not, natural catastrophes fascinate people. The death toll, so unexpected and in such great proportions, is a terrible tradgedy. Yet, how many movies have been made about earthquakes, environmental disasters, nuclear war etc. People are fascinated by death, especially on the big screen. I even think cracking jokes about it is ok. When my grandfather was dying of brain cancer, he thought the doctor was trying to circumcise him. He said some outrageous, funny shit during those days. We had to laugh, even though we knew he was dying and it was a sad situation indeed. If you really want to help, donate money, better yet fly to Thailand, Indonesia, etc, but please spare us your moral judgements

news.BBC.co.uk/1/hi/world/Asia-p … 132725.stm[/quote]

Sadly we have the latest, but not the last, update. Even more sad, lane119 was not wrong except in being too optimistic.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7370905

[quote]BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (Reuters) - The global death toll from the Asian tsunami shot above 226,000 Wednesday after Indonesia’s Health Ministry confirmed the deaths of tens of thousands of people previously listed as missing.

The ministry raised the country’s death toll to 166,320. It had previously given a figure of 95,450 while Indonesia’s Ministry of Social Affairs had put the death toll at around 115,000 before it stopped counting.
[/quote]

OOC

193

[quote=“braxtonhicks”][quote=“lane119”]
Wonder how the Great Tsunami Disaster of 2004, which killed over 200,000 in 20 minutes will impact writers, artists, film directors, musicians worldwide… POSTED ON DECEMBER 27, 2004…
[/quote]

Is this another of your predictions?

I’ve been sympathetic to you in the past… but am I really the first one who is going to ask you to …zip it? …(I’d say Shut Up! …but that would be too rude.) Please.[/quote]

POSTED ON JANUARY 20, 2005

‘‘Wave Death Toll Tops 226,000’’… the newspapers are reporting today, sadly.

194

Indonesian priorities. :unamused:

[quote]
Soldiers kill 120 Aceh rebels over past two weeks

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (Antara): The military has killed 120 members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) over the past two weeks in Aceh, Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu said on Thursday.

“Over the past two weeks we have been forced to kill 120 GAM members and seize their weapons,” Ryamizard said on a visit to the province.

He said 20,000 soldiers were involved in security operations in Aceh, and another 15,000 had been dispatched from outside the province to help with the relief effort.[/quote]

thejakartapost.com/detaillat … 748&irec=3

195

And more bullshit from the murderers in Jakarta:

[quote]
Indonesian military chief claims rebels shot by soldiers were trying to disrupt tsunami relief

(BANDA ACEH, Aceh (AP): Indonesia

196

And more:

[quote]
Political pressure discouraging grassroots aid in Indonesia: Activists

KOBE, Japan (AFP): Political constraints in Indonesia are discouraging international non-governmental organizations from assisting victims of Asia’s tsunamis, activists at a global conference on disasters said on Saturday.

“We are considering working in Sri Lanka… but it is very difficult to do so in Indonesia,” said Masakiyo Murai, director of Citizens Toward Overseas Disaster Emergency.

A number of international humanitarian groups have been operating in Indonesia after the killer tsunami, but Jakarta has said that foreign aid workers and journalists in worst-hit Aceh province must register and be accompanied by the military if they travel outside the main towns.

“Political interference is a big concern,” said Murai, whose group has sent members to more than 30 countries hit by national disasters including Turkey, Taiwan and Papua New Guinea.

“We have to provide support equally for victims because it’s a natural disaster, but we cannot provide support that only benefits the government and ruling parties,” Murai said.[/quote]

thejakartapost.com/detaillat … 032&irec=0

197

[quote]
Foreigners could be spying: BIN head

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

State Intelligence Agency (BIN) head Syamsir Siregar has called on the government to be alert to possible spying from foreign forces deployed in tsunami-devastated Aceh for relief aid operations.

Syamsir said BIN had obtained the identity and data of all foreign volunteers working on humanitarian activities in Aceh, including U.S. journalist William Nessen.

The BIN chief blamed immigration officials for allowing Nessen to enter Indonesia, although he was banned from entering the country after allegedly committing an immigration offense in 2003.[/quote]

thejakartapost.com/detailnat … C03&irec=2

Note: Nessen has expelled from Indonesia because he was reporting on the Indonesian military (TNI) occupation of Aceh.

rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=7417

198

And more about Nessen in this report just up at The Jakarta Post:

[quote]
U.S. journalist to be deported after trip to tsunami-hit area

JAKARTA (AP): An American journalist will be deported from Indonesia on Monday after immigration officers said he entered the country illegally, despite granting him a visa when he arrived three weeks ago, the immigration department said.

William Nessen was detained Sunday after visiting the tsunami-ravaged Aceh region. In 2003, the freelance journalist was imprisoned in Indonesia after he spent three weeks on the run with separatist rebels in the province.

Nessen told The Associated Press he was not aware that he had been barred from visiting the country.

Immigration spokesman Muhammad Indra said airport officials issued a visa because they were not aware that a ban on Nessen had been extended from August 2004 until August 2005.

Nessen, whose wife is Acehnese, spent 40 days in jail in Aceh in 2003 for violating his visa by spending three weeks with separatist rebels from the Free Aceh Movement. During his time on the run with the guerrillas, he contacted international media and accused the military of wanting to kill him.[/quote]

thejakartapost.com/detaillat … 329&irec=3

199

That’s all very interesting, thanks for the heads up there, Comrade S.

This Nessen guy, yeh, I remember his date with history a few years ago, made headlines around the world. He probably saw a chance to back to his wife’s country and jumped in, although looks like he was still on the blacklist. Interesting chap.

I wonder, did his wife’s family lose people in the tsunamis there?

200

What’s wrong with America? Read it and weep!

reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtm … ID=7440350

This is sad, pathetic, telling.

The entire staff of a New York radio show was taken off the air on Wednesday after broadcasting a song that ridiculed victims of the tsunami in South Asia, the radio station said.

The piece used racial slurs to describe people swept away in the disaster, made jokes about child slavery and people watching their mothers die.

“You can hear God laughing, 'Swim you bitches swim,”’ was one line in the song, sung by staff of the show to the melody of the 1985 famine relief song “We Are the World.”

On Monday, the hip-hop and R&B radio station and the deejay apologized and the seven-member morning show crew agreed to donate one week’s pay to relief efforts. The tsunami struck on Dec. 26, leaving nearly 300,000 dead or missing around the Indian Ocean from Somalia to Thailand.

What’s wrong with America? Read it and weep!

newkerala.com/news-daily/new … s&id=65326

==============

The song, a parody of the star-studded USA for Africa famine relief effort, “We Are the World,” contained racially charged lyrics like,

“Go find your mommy/I just saw her float by/ a tree went through her head/and now the children will be sold to child slavery.”

Chinese American hip hop rapper Jin has expressed his disgust in a recent freestyle rap.

“Since when was hip-hop about being racist [and] ignorant? You know I was going to have to say something about this whole situation,” Jin said. “For some odd reason, whenever some s**t like this happens in regards to my people in this society and the media, it gets swept under the rug. Keep those emails coming through, keep the complaint letters going out, keep the phone calls going out to the radio station and the sponsors and telling them how you feel."

Miss Info, a Korean-American member of the team, was berated by Miss Jones and comic Todd Lynn after she expressed opposition to the “We Are The World” parody.

Lynn said, “I’m going to start shooting Asians.”

Bring em on.