The 5 Craziest Conspiracy Theories in the History of The Simpsons

Full article and pics - HERE -     Cool !

14 Incredibly Creepy Surveillance Technologies That Big Brother Will Be Using To Spy On You

Full article and links - HERE -

The 18 Most Suppressed Inventions Ever

Just to show that it's money that talks - HERE -     Sad !

French Police Raid Home of Former President Nicolas Sarkozy

Read the full article - HERE -

Pimp Control of Russian Prostitutes at Grace Hotel

I don't have any problem with freelance working girls who ply their trade without the help of pimps or gang members who demand monthly payments for "protection." A woman owns her body, and if she wants to rent it out to pay the bills, I think that is her privilege and responsibility.

The one thing I hate are the pimps, mobsters, police officers, and political types who suck into the prostitution racket to thicken their wallets by exploiting the freelance workers of Patpong, Nana and Cowboy.

A new breed is working on the foreign prostitutes (mostly Russian, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan) who operate off Sukumvit Soi 3 near the infamous Grace Hotel. Tis a pity that the cops look the other way. Could they possibly be on the take?

Bangkok Post has yet another story on this ongoing problem.

Extortion is also a big business and an entrenched part of the trade in sleaze that is flourishing in the Sukhumvit area of Bangkok late at night. The main targets of the gangs are the many foreign prostitutes who ply their trade on the street and in the hotels around the lower end of Sukhumvit Road.

One particular gang specialising in extorting money from the foreign prostitutes is based in the discotheque of a medium-sized hotel in Soi 3. [Grace Hotel] The disco is frequented mainly by Iranian and Arab men and about 50 foreign prostitutes, mostly from Russia and Uzbekistan, who go there every night looking for customers.

This was revealed to Spectrum during a recent interview with a woman known only as Vazira, a freelance prostitute from Uzbekistan, and collaborated by her Russian friends. Several Thai prostitutes working in the area also confirmed the existence of the gang as well as other gangs.

They said most of the gang members come from Iran, Pakistan and Africa and are involved in a variety of crimes.

According to Ms Vazira, one of these gangs extorting money from the foreign prostitutes is led by a Syrian man who calls himself Basm. His accomplice and countryman Mahmood also works in the disco. The other members of his gang are from Iran and Pakistan. They target the foreign prostitutes working at the disco.

Ms Vazira said that prostitutes who have Thai pimps, who give them protection and assistance if they are arrested, are not targetted by the extortionists.

"The gang will do some background checking of a potential target before making an approach. They are very careful not to get into trouble with Thai people," Ms Vazira said before going on to describe what happened to her and many of the other girls who work at the disco and are forced to pay protection money to Basm.

"I had been going to that particular discotheque almost every night for several years and never had any problems until a few days ago when I was walking back to my apartment in Soi 5 at around 4am - after having one customer and returning to the club.

"Basm followed me, grabbed my arm outside the hotel and said: 'Hey, look at me. Sometimes when I see you in the club, I want to put you in jail,' he said in bad English. I answered: 'Why? Anyone can come to the disco. What is the problem? I don't understand you.'

"He replied: 'I want some money from you. If you refuse then you cannot work there anymore.'

"I said I don't have money to pay you. I am sending almost everything I make to my parents and children back home every morning, and he said: 'I don't care what you say, I want money.' Then I left, frightened of what will happen," Ms Vazira said.

"I told my friends about this incident and they said they also heard about Basm from other girls. They told me to pay, otherwise I wouldn't be able to work and he could cause me some trouble as well.

"The first time he didn't say how much money he wanted me to pay, but two days later he approached me again, this time at the entrance to the disco. He told me to pay him 20,000 baht every month, otherwise I couldn't enter. I would then lose my main income because I can make money there from the Iranians because I speak their language. They usually pay well and don't cause trouble. There is no other place like it in the area.

"I am sure that before Basm approached me he knew I had no pimp and I was making good money, otherwise he wouldn't ask for so much. That's why he picked on me. Maybe someone else was watching me all the time."

Ms Vazira said Basm is about 23, slim and dark. She had seen him in the disco for a couple of months, but didn't talk to him. "Sometimes when he passed by, he only said to me 'how are you', as he did with the other girls. "He is very friendly with Mr Kew, who is the Thai owner. I saw them often talking to each other. "My friend told me that Kew pays Basm a salary and rent for his apartment in Soi 1, which he shares with Mahmood. Basm usually walks back home.

"When I saw Basm the first time, I knew he is not a good person. Why did I know? I was a nurse and used to work at the police hospital in Tashkent in Uzbekistan. We treated many drug addicts there, so I know everything about them, like what the symptoms are, what they look like and how they behave.

"Basm has all the symptoms. He also drinks whiskey and tequila. My friends told me Basm is indeed a drug addict and they are all afraid of him. He is a dangerous man.

"I saw Kew sitting and drinking with four to five Thai men in his club. The Thais were not looking for girls, only drinking, and then they left. I have been coming and going here for four years, so I know they must be policemen or Thai officials. Some wore safari jackets and black boots. I see Basm talking to them some time, but not for too long.

"I am afraid of him, especially when I walk back home. Maybe someone will hit me. I would like to call the police to check his room. Maybe he has some drugs there. I told my friends about this and asked them if they know some policemen who could search his apartment for drugs."

Ms Vazira did not say if she had paid Basm or intended to pay him, but her friends have now raised fears for her safety. Her mobile has now been switched off for days and searching for her proved fruitless.

Her friends haven't seen her for many days since she spoke to Spectrum. They are worried about her.

On Getting Arrested in the Philippines

Mindanao Bob at Live in the Philippines has a few warnings about getting arrested in The Philippines. Don't.

The thing is, as a foreigner here, you basically have no rights. A lot of Americans living here will tell me that he has this Constitutional right, or another, referring to the United States Constitution. Hey, Joe… sorry, but you left the US Constitution behind when you stepped off that plane in Manila! Sorry, but you are no longer covered by the US Constitution when you are not in the USA. Sure, the Philippine Constitution has many rights too… but in practice, you may or may not get those benefits!

I was reading an article online a few days ago. It was about a Japanese man who got accused of the crime of Illegal Recruiting here in the Philippines. According to the article, he had offered some Filipinos the ability to get a Visa to go to Japan, in exchange for money. Apparently, according to the article, he had friends at the Japanese Embassy who could help get these Visas.

He was charged with this crime in 2003, and had been held in the Bureau of Immigration Prison ever since. That is more than 6 years that he was imprisoned. Guess what? In 2008, they dropped the charges. Apparently, there must not have been enough evidence to take him to trial. So, he was held from 2003 until 2008 in prison, but had never been convicted of any crime, and eventually he was not even accused of any crime.

But, there is more. In 2008 when the charges against this man were dropped, he was not released from Prison. Why? Because now he was an “overstaying and undesirable alien.” In other words, his Visa had expired. Well, of course it had expired, he had been held in jail for more than 6 years! So, in the past week or so, this fellow was deported because he had overstayed his visa.

Maybe this man committed a crime, maybe not. I can’t say for sure. What I can say, though, is that he was never convicted of committing any crime, and eventually was not even accused of having done so. Yet, he was imprisoned for more than 6 years. It could happen to you or me too.

Many foreigners think that if they were to be accused, their Embassy will get them out of trouble. Sorry, Jack, it ain’t gonna happen. Your Embassy is there to come and check on you. They will make sure you are not being mistreated (in other words, they aren’t torturing you and that kind of thing), and if you are mistreated they will probably file a complaint. But, they certainly won’t make the Philippines change their laws to let you off. They won’t be able to speed up the system. They certainly won’t be able to insert American Constitutional rights into your case. No, none of that is going to happen, so don’t count on it.

So, do I lose any sleep over the possibility of being accused of some crime? Nope, none at all. But, when I think about the possibility of something like that happening, I certainly don’t feel all warm and fuzzy either.

This is one of the reasons why you want to behave in a respectful way here. Don’t make people lose face. Don’t embarrass people. Doing these kinds of things is only inviting people to falsely accuse you. Or, if you get mad and do something to project your anger, you may actually commit a crime that you don’t even know about. For example, did you know that a foreigner insulting a Filipino is a crime, and you can be deported for that? It is.

Be careful!

Report on Phuket Prison

Phuket Wan received a rather shocking letter from a farang recently held at the prison in Phuket. Gads! Sounds like a place you definately don't want to visit.

Simon Burrowes, a British citizen who was forced to spend time in the jail earlier this year for swearing at an Immigration officer as he tried to leave the country, recently wrote to Phuketwan in response to a favorable report about the jail.

He described it like this:

''I was in Phuket Provincial for three weeks. My bed space was 55x60cm next to a man unwashed in two years. At least two prisoners have unsightly sores that people avoid them for in spite of intimidatingly administered assembly rules. The guards empathise. One I was told 'cuts onions'.

''At least half of my 126 man cell wear bandanas all night because the open toilets are in the cell. Masturbation and unallowed smoking take place there, generally accepted. The katoeys [lady boy transsexuals] use a bucket in theirs that they empty daily. In the open sewage moats there is, granted seldom, human faeces.

''The birds and the flies in abundance gorge your generally nutritionless food before you get to it. I had an embarrassing but scary sore within days of being there. The 'doctor', speculatively unqualified, gawped at it with his lazing around mates in the waiting room as opposed to the surgery. He winced and walked away from me.

''A lackey of his told me 45 minutes later that it was doubtful that he'd tend to me. Doubtless the media saw prisoners in uniforms as they wore on the 'Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand' doco. The ones we had to wear when visitors came or we went to court or any time the outside world could see us.

'' I was even sent back to shave on my first visit, that was officially 10 minutes but routinely cut short with impunity. Myself and another farang [westerner] complained that farang always got a humiliating deal, even to a mound of facaes in uniform shorts to wear on visits. We were ridiculed by the top officer.

''When dignitaries visited, we were locked, squashed up indoors while a select few in uniform walked around pretending all was well and earned brownie points.

''As an officer told me, any of our vetted post will be stopped if anything negative about the prison is written to the outside.''

Mr Burrowes sent Phuketwan his commentary from Britain. What he wrote clearly has no bearing on the guilt or innocence of the inmates, some of whom are awaiting court hearings, only on the conditions at the jail.

Controversy over British Video Series on Thailand

The Bangkok Post had a story last week that the Thai police are furious about the British Bravo TV series called Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand. Yeah, blame the messenger but don't fix the problem is the mai pen rai way to do things in that country. Before it disappears into the internet netherlands, I'll post the entire story here for your reading pleasure and great amusement.

Oh, the British film producer fled the country yesterday, since he's not interested in spending a year in jail and a hefty fine.

Widely distributed video recordings of foreign tourists reputedly being ripped off over damage to jet skis on Phuket and other incidents have been made to damage Thailand's tourism reputation, authorities say.

The producers of the video clips - shown on British cable television and YouTube - and the victims of the alleged scams have denied the accusation.

Pol Lt Gen Santhan Chayanont, chief of Provincial Police Region 8 which covers the upper South, yesterday said efforts to tarnish Thailand's image might be coordinated.

The video clips show a female British tourist being arrested for marijuana possession at a full moon party on Koh Phangan and a British marine and a US marine being threatened to pay exorbitant compensation for damage to rented jet skis on Phuket in separate incidents.

The footage, in which Thai police appear, were broadcast as part of the series Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand on Britain's Bravo cable TV station and then spread to the internet.

Pol Lt Gen Santhan said the arrest of the British woman was real. She was found with marijuana in her possession. In her testimony through a translator, she confessed.

In the video clip she claimed she had to pay 80,000 baht to local police to be released on bail.

The other clips feature a Phuket jet ski operator, Vinai Naiman, also known as "JJ", demanding compensation from British and American clients, both marines on rest and recreation leave.

In the clip of the British marine, Mr Vinai was seen to go to a storeroom and return with a gun which he dangled by his side. Pol Lt Gen Santhan said the way clips had been made suggested a set up.

They had been edited to tarnish the image of both Thai tourism and the police force and presented only the negative side of the story through narrators, he said.

Pol Lt Gen Santhan ordered police investigators to find out if any Thai individuals were involved in the making of the footage.They could face criminal charges.

He also ordered his subordinates to run a check on the production of the clips and report the findings to him as soon as possible.

The producer of the video clips, Gavin Hill, and some of those involved told British freelance journalist Andrew Drummond the footage was not faked or stage-managed and there was no intention to damage Thailand.

They insisted they were prepared, if necessary, to make the incidents a diplomatic issue.

Phuket governor Wichai Praisa-ngob yesterday said the clips might have been produced by someone who stood to benefit from Thailand tourism losing its competitive edge.

Mr Vinai said he had demanded compensation for damaged jet skis from his foreign clients. But the compensation had been settled before the filming.

He said he had been tricked into appearing in the clip as the producers claimed they wanted to do a positive documentary about tourism in Phuket.

The gun he was seen holding was only an air gun, he insisted.

Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa said he did not think the controversy would have a far-reaching effect on the tourism industry.

Anusorn Salay, head of a club of jet ski operators on Phuket, yesterday said the club would establish procedures to prevent disputes over jet skis.

It would set rates for compensation based on where and how bad the damage was to a ski.

Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport: A Den of Thieves

A rather amazing story a few days ago in The Bangkok Post, suggesting that four organized gangs are openly operating at the Bangkok International Airport, with the tactic support of officials from the Airports of Thailand (AoT). If this is true, no wonder the airport can't get rid of the thieves who control the illegal taxis and tourist guides...too much money is making it's way to airport officials who don't want to see the gravy train end.

More investigative reports have been promised by The Bangkok Post. Do read the comments for more outrage.

Despite the government's recent campaign to keep the international gateway to Thailand clear of thugs and cheats, it seems to be business as usual for illegal taxi operators and tour guides at Suvarnabhumi airport.

WELCOME TO THAILAND: A group of tourists is given the hard sell at Suvarnabhumi on Saturday. The airport’s image has been tarnished by accusations of illegal operators taking advantage of travellers.

The Airports of Thailand (AoT) Plc recently reported to the cabinet that more than 600 people had been caught at the airport in the past two months for various offences.

In the past two months, 395 unlicensed taxi drivers and 210 illegal tour guides who exploited travellers at Suvarnabhumi airport have been arrested after a campaign was launched to crack down on crime at the airport, the AoT reported to cabinet last week.

However, airport authorities with a trained eye still see unauthorised taxi operators and tour guides preying on victims, but claim they get intimidated when they approach these people, who then claim they have connections in high places.

"Often these people claim they know AoT executives to scare away authorities and keep their businesses going. Some just say bluntly that they need money to pass on to their bosses, which is understood to mean AoT executives," said one inside source.

The source added that there are more than 20 powerful groups operating in the airport which come under the command of major gangs - Kamnan Samruay, Boonruang Srisang, Sak Pakphanang and Pirap.

The Kamnan Samruay camp used to operate at Don Mueang airport, where they provided underground foreign exchange services.

At the new airport, the gang has extended its business to cover ticketing and illegal taxi and tour guide services. It also collects "protection fees" from smaller gangs.

The Boonruang Srisang gang also runs an illegal taxi and tour guide service network. It has a small number of members and is independent.

The Sak Pakphanang gang is a break-away from the Boonruang Srisang gang, while the Pirap group is believed to have strong connections as its leader has the same last name as an AoT executive.

There are also two prominent groups known as the Pattaya Mafia gang and the Phuyai Daeng gang. The Pattaya Mafia gang, whose leaders are known as Steve and Montri and who are neatly dressed and can easily pass as passengers, is stationed on the fourth floor of the passenger terminal. The Phuyai Daeng gang, with good connections with influential figures in Samut Prakan, works more like a lobbyist for fraudsters who want to gain entry to the airport.

According to the source, unauthorised tour guides are engaged in various scams ranging from providing transportation and accommodation to selling air tickets. "Some even 'steal' the tourists from the TAT [Tourism Authority of Thailand] information counter. They feed the tourists information and then press on with hard sales," said the source.

The illegal tour guides hang around the arrivals hall and approach foreign passengers. They introduce themselves as airport workers and lead tourists to illegal taxi queues when a deal is made."They are scattered on every floor in the terminal and stay among passengers and officials. It is hard to pick them out from the crowd because they are well dressed," the source said, adding the gangs have carved the airport into zones.

AoT president Serirat Prasutanond conceded that there are some criminal gangs operating in the airport, but said the AoT has stepped up efforts to crack down on unlicensed taxi drivers and tour guides.

One measure has been to transfer some officials who were thought to be involved with the gangs. A reshuffle of officials will be made this month, he said. Mr Serirat said the AoT will spend 15 million baht starting on Oct 1 to try and end the illegal operations.

Death Penalty Returns to Thailand

A letter today in The Nation sums up my feelings:

Why is Thailand executing death-row felons again?

I was saddened to read that Thailand's six-year moratorium on executions, or the death penalty, has finished. Recently two inmates were executed by lethal injection in Bang Kwang prison after being sentenced to death for smuggling drugs.

In your newspaper there was little attention on that event, only a short report.

The results of numerous studies have shown already that imposing the death penalty is not effective in preventing more crime. Trouble is the justice system cannot guarantee that innocent people will not be found guilty, and the death penalty is an irreversible act. Due to the use of DNA tests, US authorities later found that about a third of prisoners on death row were innocent.

Moreover, people who are financial vulnerable, who cannot afford teams of expensive lawyers, and who have no (political) connections often end up on death row.

The only reason why people favour the death penalty is for revenge, instead of responding with compassion or hope for rehabilitation.

The UN General Assembly urged a moratorium on state executions six years ago and I was happy to see Thailand followed that call up until now.

What was the reason that Thailand decided to execute offenders on death row again? To try out lethal injections as a new "more humane" method of finishing people off? Or is it a new "achievements" for the Abhisit administration? I wondered why there was so little attention in Thailand to these executions. Al Jazeera aired a reaction from Amnesty International, but I saw no reports on the BBC, CNN, or Thai channels.

Maybe the reason is that we, in Thailand, are so accustomed to people not being punished for extrajudicial killings and mass murder by security forces (mainly in the South and during Thaksin's 'War on drugs') that we don't care if two more people are "legally" murdered by the State. But there are still more than 800 prisoners on death row!

I did not read any reaction of the (powerless) Human Rights Commission of Thailand, freshly installed by Abhisit.

I hope this event will start a new |discussion about abolishing the death penalty in Thailand and that the country will follow the example of EU nations and many others who abolished the death penalty, except of course the United States and China and some less developed |countries

Richard Barrow at Thai-Blogs also opposes the death penalty.

Two drug traffickers on death row at Bang Kwang Prison were executed by lethal injections this evening in Thailand. They were Bundit Charoenwanich, 45, and Jirawat Phumpruek, 52. Both were arrested on March 29, 2001 for having 114,219 methamphetamine tablets in their possession. Convicted of drug trafficking, they were given the capital punishment. Although the death sentence is often commuted to life imprisonment, the Director of the Department of Corrections received a directive from the Prime Ministers office for this sentence to be carried out.

According to Thai newspapers, the execution happened this evening at 5.30 p.m. at Bang Kwang Prison. No-one knew it was going to happen as it was kept a secret from everyone. Lockdown was at 3 p.m. as normal. Then the two prisoners were taken out of their cells on Death Row to be prepared for the execution. This preparation took one hour. They were allowed one call to relatives but they were only given one minute to talk. One of the prisoners rang his home but there was no answer. His mother had just been to visit him that afternoon and probably hadn't reached home. The prisoner then asked for a favour to call her mobile phone which was granted. Finally he was able to get through to her to let her know that he was about to be executed. The other prisoner spoke briefly to his wife and young son.

The prisoners were also instructed to write a will. The records of the prisoners were brought to the prison from the police station. Their fingerprints were then checked to make sure they had the right prisoner. The execution order from the Prime Minister's office was then read out to them. They were then given flowers and incense sticks and given an opportunity to say a prayer. They faced towards Wat Bang Praek which is next door and where the cremation will take place. There is a small death door in the wall here. Before the execution, they were offered a last meal. This was a curry and fried asparagus. They were also given an apple and a packet of cigarettes. Obviously they weren't very hungry. They were then led into the execution chamber where they were given a final blessing and sermon by a monk.

The governor of Nonthaburi and other government officials attended the execution together with reporters. The relatives weren't present but they will go the prison in the morning to take part in religious rites for the prisoners. The last execution by machine gun was carried out on 11th December 2002. This was then changed to lethal injection. The first and last time this was carried out was 12th December 2003 when four prisoners were executed. This is now the second occasion that lethal injection was used. According to the Department of Corrections, a prisoner is injected with three kinds of drugs consisting of sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride. The first drug is a barbiturate which makes the prisoner unconscious. The second one is a muscle relaxant which can paralyze the entire muscle and stop breathing. The last one stops the heart and causes cardiac arrest.

This is a sad day for Thailand. I am sorry but I don't believe in the death penalty and I certainly don't believe in the lethal injection as the method.

For more information about Thai Prison Life, please visit our www.ThaiPrisonLife.com website.

The death penalty is barbaric, outdated, prone to abuse, doesn't deter crime, discriminates against the poor, and sometimes kills innocent victims. The order for the murder of these two drug dealers came from the office of the Prime Minister. The blood is on his hands.

Suvarnabhumi Airport Duty Free Scam Started at Don Muang Airport

Travel Trade Weekly has a very disturbing story today about the ongoing King Power Duty Free scandal at the Bangkok international airport. Not only are Indian citizens a favorite target of the scammers, the scam was going on at the old Don Muang airport for many years, before it moved over to Suvarnabhumi.

Allegations of scams at Suvarnabhumi Airport go much deeper than the few incidents involving Europeans that were reported widely in the media.

Information has now emerged that indicates at least 40 Indian tourists were treated in an identical fashion, according to a reliable source in the Indian community here in Bangkok.

Interviewed on the condition that his identity would be projected, the highly reliable source said there was clear evidence that of the 200 or so cases relating to shoplifting scams, 40 involved Indians and most of them preceded reports on Europeans being set up by law enforcement officers and expatriate “volunteers.”

he details of the operation were identical to what was described by Irish, Danish and British tourists, who claimed they were falsely accused of shoplifting at King Power Duty-Free shops at the airport.

The scam came to light, last May, when the Sunday Times reported that a British couple allegedly paid bribes to gain their release.

In an interview with TTR Weekly, the source said the problem had been going on much earlier and that statements, by approximately 40 Indian tourists, outlined the same pattern as exposed in the UK newspaper.

“They were falsely accused usually after additional items were placed in their bag by shop attendants,” the source explained.

A familiar pattern emerged when investigations were carried out on all the complaints.

“We discovered the accused persons were not allowed to contact anyone, including their consular service or a lawyer.

“The police handcuffed them and took them to the Rachatewa Police Station branch at Suvarnabhumi Airport, where they were threatened and humiliated with strong and impolite language.

“They were then forced to sign a document, written in Thai, but with the promise that if they signed they would be released.”

However, instead of releasing they were taken off the airport to the Rachatewa police station.

A so-called interpreter, wearing a tourist police volunteer badge, was introduced at the station.

The source identified the same Sri Lankan citizen, Sunil “Tony” Rathnayaka, who was implicated in cases involving Europeans, but there were also other interpreters — Pakistani, Indian and Burmese — involved in many of the Indian cases.

“These guys are middle men, who broker a deal to free the accused, but at a stiff price. The first sum, usually about Bt400,000, was extracted to ensure the case did not go to court, but in some instances the fee was as low as Bt250,000 depending on the value of the stolen item.

“After the deal was concluded, the interpreter took the accused to an ATM machine to withdraw cash. In many instances, they were detained in a motel until the money was transferred. In some instances they had to pay a bail of around Bt100,000 to Bt200,000, which they were unable to retrieve.”

What is more disturbing is the revelation that the same scam was operating out of Don Mueang Airport before the move to the new airport, but on a smaller scale.

“There is plenty of evidence to show that this scam was around at Don Mueang, but then the allegations focused on police taking Bt30,000 to Bt50,000. It was more relaxed and sometimes police were lenient allowing the accused to leave the country without paying a fine at all,” said the source.

Identifying one particular case, the source said an Indian lady identified as, Gazal Kapur, was accused of stealing an Ipod. During her detention at Rachatewa police station she was eventually able to call the embassy using Tony’s mobile phone, under the pretext she wanted to call a relative. However, an embassy official was refused access when they arrived at the police station.

She eventually secured bail and the case was read to the court last June. She has been in a Thai jail for six months.

By its own admission the Royal Thai police state that a foreign suspect has the right to consular contact within 24 hours. The police can delay a case for up to 90 days, before it must be presented to a court. For shoplifting it could take up to one year to go through the courts.

There are also allegations that immigration officers discriminate against Indian visitors by standing at the air bridge and identify passengers at random for detailed questioning.

They are usually sent back to India on the next available flight but in the meantime they are questioned and subject to verbal harassment.

Airlines know this problem exists, but have not complained to the authorities.

The source confirmed that 20 people in a 40-strong Tata Motor Company incentive group were denied for questioning by immigration officials, who challenged their ability to pay their way in Thailand. They were on a fully hosted tour, with legitimate visas, as is always the case with paid company incentive holidays.

There is speculation that travel agents, who work with the Indian market, know about these hassles and are prepared to pay to smooth passage through airports.

What should worry the travel industry is that India is one of a few markets that generate a substantial growth in tourism to Thailand.

Actions of unscrupulous officials damage the country’s image and also the livelihood of literally thousands of Thai citizens who rely on tourism.

Unfortunately, there is clear evidence that whether individuals are guilty of shoplifting, or not, they could be hassled and treated unfairly by law enforcement officers.

What is more damning is that the problem had been going on for a considerable time but only came to light when a British couple blew the whistle.

It suggests a double standard, perhaps discrimination. Only when the problem impacted on Europeans, who were prepared to take their story to the media, did the country’s Prime Minster step in and demand action.

TTR Weekly contacted the Indian Embassy for a comment. An official said he was not at liberty to make statements on issues regarding citizens.

However, travel companies that have a stake in the Indian inbound tourism market independently confirmed the details outlined in this report saying they were aware of both shoplifting scams and unfair immigration scrutiny of Indian travellers on arrival at the airport.

Technically, Indian travellers supposed to demonstrate that they have US$500 in cash or they could be denied entry. This rule applies even if they have credit cards, or are on hosted trips.

The police continue to deny that they employ the services of foreigners as interpreters, which would clearly violate labour laws. However, the weight of evidence suggests that basic rights that should be afforded to visitors are sadly not applied.

A police officer told TTR Weekly there have been no shoplifting cases since the Prime Minister visited the airport.

Until there is evidence of transparency, travellers should shop with extreme caution at the airport.

Alien Baby Discovered in Mexico: Experts Stumped

Yes, it's true that an Alien baby was discovered in Mexico, and the experts are stumped. Watch the video! It's all true!

"Mexican TV announced in 2007 that an alien baby was found alive by a farmer in Mexico. Now, it has been two years since it was found, and scientists finally announced the results of their tests on the alien baby: the creature indeed resembles nothing like humans.

According to the scientists' report, the alien baby can stay underwater for a long time, has the skeleton of a lizard, and has rootless teeth which are totally unlike humans' teeth. However, it does have some similar joints to human. The brain of the alien baby is huge, particularly the rear section, which makes the scientists believe that the creature had very high intelligence.

Mexican farmer Marao Lopez first spotted the sinister-looking carcass two years ago, and he said that it took him three attempts to drown the creature before ditching it out of fear. Adding to the suspense, Lopez has mysteriously died upon the discovery."

Why has the Amerikan government covered this up? And who really killed Kennedy? And who really took down the Towers? I sense a conspiracy of sorts, but I'm too paranoid to think about it. What about you? Paranoid? Delusional? Remember: if you think somebody's out to get you, THEY PROBABLY ARE!!!

And did I tell you about the Illuminati? Just ask Dan Brown...

Bangkok Ladyboy Hustles Afghan Judo Coach

When in Thailand, beware of Ladyboys, almost 100% conartists and thieves. Phuket Gazette has this story under their "Queer News" section.

Afghan judo coach loses to ladyboy

BANGKOK: The coach of the Afghan judo squad attending the Asian Martial Arts Games in the Thai capital was robbed of hundreds of thousands of baht after falling for a ladyboy he met in the notorious Nana Plaza adult entertainment complex.

Assaladee Sakala, 43, told police he and his team checked into the Grand Ayudhaya Hotel Bangkok in the Ratchada area and went looking for some female company. He said he made some new ‘female’ friends and took one of them back to his hotel room.

He poured two beers and left the room briefly to talk to a team mate. When he returned, Mr Sakala and his ‘girlfriend’ drank the beer at which point he started to feel sleepy. The next thing he knew, it was 2pm the following day and his companion had vanished, along with all his valuables.

Mr Sakala told police the ‘woman’ had stolen $US5,000 and 1,500 euros in cash, a gold ring, a gold wrist watch, a digital camera, and a digital voice recorder worth a combined total of more than 300,000 baht.

Metropolitan Police Commander Lt Gen Saroj Phromcharoen said the thief had been identified as 21-year-old ladyboy, Phongphichit Prasertsuk.

Mr Sakala said he had no idea his ‘lady friend’ was actually a man.

Police believe Mr Phong-phichit slipped tranquillizers into Mr Sakala’s beer before stealing his valuables. An arrest warrant has been issued for Mr Phongphichit.

Mr Sakala was the second high-profile foreign victim to be drugged and robbed by a ladyboy in less than a month. Last month, a Lieutenant Commander from the Australian navy reportedly lost a laptop belonging to the Department of Defence after being drugged and robbed by a ladyboy he met in Nana Plaza. It is not known what steps the Australian government has taken to stop the security breach from resulting in a 'Down Under' invasion by Thai ladyboys

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Why Does the U.S. Want Viktor Bout?

Viktor Bout by Chris Coles

The U.S. Department of Justice issued this press release in Oct. 2008 to explain why they want to try Viktor Bout in an American court.

U.S. Announces Indictment Of International Arms Dealer for Conspiracy to Kill Americans and Related Terrorism Charges

NEW YORK—Michael J. Garcia, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michele M. Leonhart, the Acting Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced today the unsealing of an indictment against international arms dealer Viktor Bout, a/k/a Boris, a/k/a Victor Anatoliyevich Bout, a/k/a Victor But, a/k/a Viktor Budd, a/k/a Viktor Butt, a/k/a Viktor Bulakin, a/k/a Vadim Markovich Aminov, for, among other things, conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (the FARC) -- a designated foreign terrorist organization based in Colombia -- to be used to kill Americans in Colombia.

Bout was arrested by Thai authorities on a provisional arrest warrant on April 9, 2008, based on a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, charging conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Bout has been in custody in Thailand since March 6, 2008. According to the indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:

Bout, an international weapons trafficker since the 1990s, has carried out his weapons-trafficking business by assembling a fleet of cargo airplanes capable of transporting weapons and military equipment to various parts of the world, including Africa, South America and the Middle East. In 2004, as a result of his weapons trafficking activities in Liberia, the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control within the Department of Treasury placed Bout on the Specially Designated Nationals list, which prohibits any transactions between Bout and any U.S. nationals, and freezes any of Bout’s assets that are within the jurisdiction of the United States.

Between November 2007 and March 2008, Bout agreed to sell to the FARC millions of dollars’ worth of weapons -- including surface-to-air missile systems (SAMs), armor piercing rocket launchers, AK-47 firearms, millions of rounds of ammunition, Russian spare parts for rifles, anti-personnel land mines, C-4 plastic explosives, night-vision equipment, “ultralight” airplanes that could be outfitted with grenade launchers and missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Bout agreed to sell the weapons to two confidential sources working with the DEA (the CSs), who represented that they were acquiring these weapons for the FARC, with the specific understanding that the weapons were to be used to attack United States helicopters in Colombia.

As described in the Indictment, during a covertly recorded meeting in Thailand on March 6, 2008, Bout stated to the CSs that he could arrange to airdrop the arms to the FARC in Colombia, and offered to sell two cargo planes to the FARC that could be used for arms deliveries. Bout also provided a map of South America, and asked the CSs to show him American radar locations in Colombia. Bout said that he understood that the CSs wanted the arms for use against American personnel in Colombia, and advised that the United States was also his enemy, stating that the FARC’s fight against the United States was also his fight. During the meeting, Bout also offered to provide people to train the FARC in the use of the arms.

The Indictment unsealed today charges Bout with four separate terrorism offenses:

Count One: Conspiracy to kill United States nationals;

Count Two: Conspiracy to kill United States officers or employees;

Count Three: Conspiracy to acquire and use an anti-aircraft missile; and

Count Four: Conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

If convicted, Bout faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment on each of Counts One through Three, including a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment for Count Three. Bout faces a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment on Count Four. The case is assigned to United States District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin.

The United States is actively pursuing Bout’s extradition from Thailand. Mr. Garcia praised the investigative work of the DEA and thanked the Royal Thai Police, Office of the Attorney General for Thailand, and the Royal Thai government for their assistance. Mr. Garcia also thanked the Romanian Border Police, the Romanian Prosecutor's Office Attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the Korps Politie Curacao of the Netherlands Antilles, and the Danish National Police Security Services, for their cooperation, and thanked the U.S. Department of Justice Office of International Affairs.

"Viktor Bout has long been considered by the international community as one of the world's most prolific arms traffickers," said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Garcia. "Today, Bout is in Thai custody facing extradition to the United States, where he will be prosecuted for agreeing to arm a terrorist organization, an aim of which was to kill American citizens."

"Viktor Bout no doubt faces some of the most extraordinarily serious conspiracy charges possible for his crimes against Americans," said DEA Acting Administrator Michele M. Loenhart. "With the unsealing of this indictment, we are one step closer to ensuring Bout has delivered his last load of high-powered weaponry and armed his final terrorist."

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anjan Sahni and Brendan R. McGuire are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Thailand Frees World's Most Notorious Illegal Arms Dealer

Congrats to the Thai legal system, which has once again sided with international terrorists and refused to extradite the world's most notorious smuggler of arms to the U.S. for prosecution. Instead, they will send Viktor Bout back to his homeland, Russia, where he faces no charges and soon will be a free man to sell surface to air missles to insurgent movements around the world, including the Islamic revolt in southern Thailand. As long as they can raise the money from Islamic governments and wealthy Islamic individuals who agree with their fight for an independent Pattani nation. That shouldn't be too hard.

Congrats, Thai government. I predict this legal action to free Viktor Bout will someday return to bite you in the ass. I wonder who got the big, big, big payoff?

Washington Post has some background.

THE WIFE OF Viktor Bout, the international arms merchant nabbed last year by undercover American drug agents posing as weapons-hungry Colombian rebels, insists that her husband's interest in South America extends only to "tango lessons." Like his wife, Mr. Bout, a former Russian air force officer, has also taken the international community for fools while, U.S. officials say, he went about ferrying millions of dollars worth of military equipment to rogue nations, terrorist groups and rebels of every ideological stripe on four continents while insisting that he was an honest businessman. Now, despite evidence that he planned a huge sale of arms to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a Thai court has handed Mr. Bout a victory by rejecting his extradition to stand trial in the United States. Will Thailand allow Mr. Bout to continue playing the world for fools?

In the view of U.S. and international officials, Mr. Bout, dubbed "the Merchant of Death" by journalists Douglas Farah and Stephen Braun in their book of the same name, has probably done more to bust international sanctions and fuel bloody conflicts around the world than any man alive. Operating from his home in Moscow, where his close ties with military and intelligence circles apparently afforded him protection, he built what was believed to be the world's most formidable one-stop shop for black-market weaponry, up to and including tanks, helicopters and surface-to-air missiles. He controlled a large fleet of former Soviet aircraft, which he used to ferry goods anywhere and everywhere -- including into Baghdad on behalf of the United States following the invasion of Iraq. In a hugely profitable, two-decade-long career, his customers are believed to have included outlaw governments, armed factions and terrorists in the Philippines, Lebanon, Afghanistan and, especially, some of the more violent and lawless countries in Africa.


The noose started to tighten on Mr. Bout a few years ago, when his movements were cramped by an arrest warrant issued by Belgium, a travel ban imposed by the United Nations and sanctions levied by Washington. Possibly, it was a tougher business climate that led Mr. Bout to drop his guard and agree to travel to Thailand in March last year to meet with agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration posing as FARC rebels. Shortly after arriving at his hotel in Bangkok, Mr. Bout was arrested by Thai authorities working with the DEA.

Since then, the Kremlin, which has expressed its contempt for international law by tolerating or approving of Mr. Bout's arms enterprise, has pressed hard for his release, selling the Thais cheap oil, talking about selling them fighter jets and, as has been hinted by U.S. officials, offering bribes. Not long ago, one of the Thai judges hearing Mr. Bout's case mused publicly that the court's decision on his extradition would anger either Washington or Moscow. In a decision rendered Tuesday, the court handed Mr. Bout a victory, arguing that the FARC, notorious for its kidnapping and cocaine trafficking, was a political group, not a terrorist one, and in any event, no affair of Thailand's.

Thai prosecutors were expected to file an immediate appeal in order to block Mr. Bout's release. Moscow, which shudders to think of Mr. Bout telling American authorities what he may know of the Kremlin's possible ties to illegal arms trafficking, rejoiced. And it remained undecided whether Thai courts will help bring one of the world's most dangerous men to justice, or allow him to go free to pursue his passion for tango.

Jotman cuts to the chase and uncovers why Thailand is so happy to release international criminals:

The internationally-renowned arms dealer Viktor Bout has just been acquitted in the Thai court. The Russian state broadcaster ITAR-TASS reports:

Russian Foreign Ministry learned with much satisfaction the reports on Thai Criminal Court’s decision to free the Russian citizen Viktor Bout, who was suspected of planning a sale of weaponry to the Revolutionary Armed Force in Colombia (FARC), the ministry’ s deputy official spokesman, Igor Lyakin-Frolov said Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the Thai Criminal Court issued a non-guilty verdict to Viktor Bout, thus denying a request from the U.S. to extradite him. The court ruled the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was a political organization and not a terrorist one, as the U.S. had claimed.

JOTMAN.COM Russian contributor Sanjuro, who translated a rare interview with Victor Bout from his prison cell in Thailand, summarizes an article from the Russian media pertaining to Bout's release:

A more detailed article in the Kommersant said that Thai court considered the case "politically motivated", and that the prosecution failed to provide trustworthy evidence of Bout's dealings, and of the fact that FARC, indeed, is a terrorist organization. It also briefly quoted an unnamed Russian diplomat in Thailand saying that Thailand simply didn't want to taint relationship with Russia, as in case with Iran (there was a similar case with an Iranian military officer caught in Thailand). The reason was described as Russia and Iran are seen by Thailand as "unpredictable" and hence it is better to please them, while the US has been a reliable partner and shall not be too angry with Bout's acquittal, especially as Obama administration has no vested interest in it.

But according to an article on the acquittal by Douglas Farah in Foreign Policy, "His extradition has become a top priority for an Obama administration seeking to prevent him from being released and further fanning conflicts around the world, particularly in his old stomping grounds of Afghanistan."

It should be noted that the Americans were only too happy to work with Bout when he served their purposes: in the first years of the Iraq war Bout flew "hundreds of missions for the U.S. military and civilian contractors, raking in millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars." Back then, it seems that Bout was too useful to the United States to get arrested.

While the Bush Administration was spending hundreds of thousands of US taxpayer dollars to hunt down Victor Bout, it was funneling hundreds of millions to military contractor Blackwater USA and its CEO Erik Prince. According to Wikipedia:

On August 3, 2009, two anonymous former Blackwater employees swore under oath that Prince may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company. In addition, they said that Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life."

If such allegations are found to be true, perhaps it would be unfair to Victor Bout to compare him to Erik Prince. An amoral arms merchant is not quite in the same league as a hate-inspired holy warrior.

American citizens might have been far better served had their government focused on keeping its own house in order rather than chasing one semi-retired Russian arms dealer halfway around the world.

Jotman on the Release of Viktor Bout

King Power Duty Free Scandal at Bangkok International Airport

All is not well in the Land of Smiles, especially if you dare to enter a King Power Duty Free shop at the Bangkok International Airport. Over 100 foreign visitors were arrested last year on trumped up shoplifting charges, hustled away to nearby police stations, then forced to pay outrageous bribes to free them up to leave the country and avoid a long wait in jail for a trial.

It's an outrage. Nobody in their right mind should go into any duty free shop in Thailand, unless they want to be set up by the Thai police, or wish to overpay for luxury items. You have been warned.

The Bangkok Post finally reports on the scandalous outrage at Suvarnabhumi, or Swampy Airport.

Scandal at Suvarnabhumi
Several recent cases of alleged extortion at the new airport are in danger of subverting the entire legal system, and scaring tourists away
Writer: Amornrat Mahitthirook and Piyaporn Wongruang
Published: 2/08/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Spectrum

Amid embarrassing allegations that police extorted money from a British couple in connection with an alleged shoplifting offence at Suvarnabhumi airport, similar cases are coming to light. Legal consultants and experts believe that if proved true, such scams could subvert the justice system and are no less important than other major corruption cases.

The impact of the allegations has sent ripples around the world, with media organisations in the UK and Ireland highlighting the "scams" that target foreign tourists shopping at the airport. King Power duty-free, which denies any impropriety and has posted video online which it says proves customers were shoplifting, has been identified in two cases by foreign media. Some websites, and at least one European travel advisory, are now warning tourists against the shops at the airport.

Official records show a sharp rise in criminal offences at the airport, especially those involving shoplifting, but it is not easy to get a clear picture of the number of cases involving extortion, as legal experts point out.

Sak Korsaengruang, an honorary lawyer from the Lawyers' Council of Thailand, points out that investigating extortion cases is compromised by collusion between the offenders and police officers.

Records at the Ratchathewa police station, which oversees the airport area, show that since 2008 there have been 207 theft cases at the airport. Of these, 78 resulted in convictions, 66 are under police investigation, 10 have been dropped and most of the rest are being handled by prosecutors.

A source who provided help to an Indian woman in April said the offender was accused of stealing an item worth 1,780 baht. However, after intensive negotiations, the tourist had to pay no less than 250,000 baht "under the table" in order for the legal proceedings to be completed quickly so she could return home.

Normally, anyone arrested at the airport is taken to Ratchathewa police station. But the Indian woman was taken to a station on Kingkaew Road outside the airport. They tried to negotiate to reduce her offence by paying back the value of the stolen goods, but the police officer disagreed and said that the case had to go to trial - a procedure that would take several months.

The woman then asked about other possible ways of handling the case. The officer in charge of the bail procedure demanded she pay 250,000 baht (with no chance to bargain the price down because the money had to be paid to several people). She finally paid part of the money demanded before transferring the rest to the officer's account the next day. After the payment, the officer then proceeded with the case, which went to court, where she was fined 4,000 baht. She then returned to the airport and was allowed to fly home.

Other cases during the same period, both at the airport and at other tourist spots, have been handled by a lawyer registered with the Lawyers' Council of Thailand, who responds to calls for help from the embassies.

One case at the airport involved a Western couple, with the husband accused of stealing a mobile phone and some make-up from a cleaner's bag.

After learning that she had been robbed, the cleaner alerted the police, who arrested the man in the airport. But instead of expediting the case, the police detained the man for the maximum period allowed under the criminal code - 84 days.

"The police told me they were waiting for proof of the evidence. So, I asked what the problem was, and they said the brakes had been put on the case, and to remove them would cost 30,000 baht," said the lawyer.

However, the money was not paid and at the end of the detention period the case went to court, where the man was granted probation after he confessed.

But money was paid in the case involving a visiting couple who were arrested in the Thong Lor area for overstaying their visas earlier this year, the lawyer said.

After being arrested, and about to be taken to the police station, the couple tried to contact their embassy for help. Meanwhile, "negotiations for their release" were being conducted, and eventually the couple had to pay the police 10,000 baht in exchange of their freedom before reaching the police station, the lawyer said.

"You will see that such practices don't only take place at the airport, but anywhere in this country," said the lawyer. "It seems minor compared to major corruption cases, but if it doesn't adhere to the course of justice, justice will never be delivered as those committing crimes will never get punished," said the lawyer.

An officer at the airport's Tourist Police unit said these are frightening situations for tourists.

They are taken to court far from home, where they have no relatives or family to help them or give them advice. Because of this there needs to be someone to mediate and speed up the process.

Someone is needed to help with interpretations and who can help at a tourist's trial. The problems that tourists face without such help are what cause them to be willing to pay under the table for help so they can return home quickly.

The tourist police officer also explained that sometimes the goods involved have very little value, and added that tourists should be aware of scammers and avoid touching goods to avoid being entrapped.

Klanarong Chantuek, a member of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), established to probe corruption-related cases involving state officials, said money extorted by officials in exchange for legal compromises to help offenders are just as important as major cases. The country's reputation has already been damaged by publicity from the recent cases, he said. Mr Klanarong said the NACC had recently received complaints of similar allegations, and was now gathering evidence to prepare investigations.

Noordin Top and Jemaah Islamiah Now has a Blogspot

Looks like the Malaysian nutcase responsible for the recent hotel bombings in Jakarta, and the nightclub bombings on Bali, has discovered Blogspot and just posted his twisted explantion for his sick deeds. The Google Translation of the original Bahasa Indonesian is as follows:

DETAIL TANDZIM THE OFFICIAL QO'IDAH INDONESIA

ATAS AMALIYAT JIHADIYAH ISTISYHADIYAH FOR THE AMALIYAT JIHADIYAH ISTISYHADIYAH

DI HOTEL JW. IN HOTEL JW. MARRIOT JAKARTA MARRIOT VE

اَلْحَمْدُ ِللهِ مُعِزِّ اْلإِسْلاَمِ بِنَصْرِه، وَمُذِلِّ الشِّرْكِ بِقَهْرِه، وَمُصَرِّف اْلأُمُور بِأَمْرِه، وَمُسْتَدْرِجِ اْلكَافِرِيْنَ بِمَكْرِه، اَلَّذِي قَدّرَ اْلأَيَّامَ دُولاً بِعَدْلِه، وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى مَنْ أَعْلَى اللهَُ مَنَارَ اْلإِسْلاَمِ بِسَيْفِه. الحمد لله معز الإسلام بنصره, ومذل الشرك بقهره, ومصرف الأمور بأمره, ومستدرج الكافرين بمكره, الذي قدر الأيام دولا بعدله, والصلاة والسلام على من أعلى الله منار الإسلام بسيفه.

أمَّا بعد أما بعد

Ini adalah keterangan resmi dari Tandzim Al Qo'idah Indonesia untuk ummat Islam dengan Amaliyat Jihadiyah Istisyhadiyah di Hotel JW. This is the official description of Tandzim Al Qo'idah Indonesia to Islam with the human Amaliyat Jihadiyah Istisyhadiyah at Hotel JW. MARRIOT Jakarta, pada hari Jum'at pagi, tanggal 17 juli 2009 M./24 Rojab 1430 H. MARRIOT Jakarta, on Friday morning, on 17 July 2009 M./24 Rojab 1430 H. yang dilakukan oleh salah satu ikhwah mujahidin terhadap "KADIN Amerika" di Hotel tersebut. conducted by one of the mujahidin against ikhwah "KADIN America" at the hotel.

Sesungguhnya telah sempurna pelaksanaan Amaliyat Istisyhadiyah dengan karunia Allah dan karomah-Nya setelah melakukan survey yang serius dan pengintaian yang mendalam terhadap orang-orang kafir sebelumnya. Indeed, implementation has been perfect Amaliyat Istisyhadiyah with the grace of God and His karomah after a serious survey and reconnaissance of the depth of the unbelievers before.

Dan sungguh benar firman Allah : Indeed correct and the word of God:

"Maka (yang sebenarnya) bukan kamu yang membunuh mereka, akan tetapi Allahlah yang membunuh mereka, dan bukan kamu yang melempar ketika kamu melempar, tetapi Allah-lah yang melempar. (Allah berbuat demikian untuk membinasakan mereka) dan untuk memberi kemenangan kepada orang-orang mukmin, dengan kemenangan yang baik. Sesungguhnya Allah Maha mendengar lagi Maha mengetahui". (QS. Al Anfal : 17). "But (the fact) that you not kill them, but Allahlah that killed them, and not throw you that when you throw, but Allah is the throw. (God do so to destroy them) and to give victory to the people - believers, with the victory of good. Allah is Forgiving hear to know. "(QS. Al-Anfal: 17).

Ini juga sesuai dengan firman Allah Ta'ala : This is also in accordance with Allah Ta'ala says:

"Perangilah mereka, niscaya Allah akan menghancurkan mereka dengan (perantaraan) tangan-tanganmu dan Allah akan menghinakan mereka dan menolong kamu terhadap mereka, serta melegakan hati orang-orang yang beriman". (QS. Attaubah : 14). "Fight them, Allah will destroy them with the (medium) hand-hand, and God will humiliate them and help you against them, and relieve the hearts of the believers." (QS. Attaubah: 14).

Agar ummat ini mengetahui bahwasanya Amerika, khususnya orang-orang yang yang berkumpul dalam majlis itu, mereka adalah para Pentolan Bisnisman dan Inteljen di dalam bagian ekonomi Amerika. To be human is to know that the United States, especially those who gathered in the Majlis, they are Pentolan Bisnisman and Inteljen in the United States economy. Dan mereka mempunyai kepentingan yang besar dalam mengeruk harta negeri Indonesia dan pembiyaan tentara kafir (Amerika) yang memerangi Islam dan kaum muslimin. And they have a great interest in the property plow the land and the army pembiyaan heathen (United States) who fight against Islam and Muslims. Dan kami akan menyampaikan kabar gembira kepada kalian wahai ummat Islam, bi idznillahi Ta'ala dengan mengeluarkan cuplikan-cuplikan film dari Amaliyat Istisyhadiyah ini insya Allah. And we will deliver the glad tidings to you O people of Islam, bi idznillahi Ta'ala with snippets-issued trailers for films of this Amaliyat Istisyhadiyah Allah.

Dan kami beri nama Amaliyat Istisyhadiyah ini dengan : "SARIYAH DR. AZHARI". And we give the name Amaliyat Istisyhadiyah with this: "SARIYAH DR. Azhari."

Kami ber-Husnu Dhon kepada Allah bahwa Allah akan menolong kami dan menolong kaum muslimin dalam waktu dekat ini. We pro-Husnu Dhon to God that God will help us and help Muslims in the near future.

الله أكبر ولله العزة ولرسوله والمؤمنون الله أكبر ولله العزة ولرسوله والمؤمنون


Amir Tandzim Al Qo'idah Indonesia Tandzim Amir Al Qo'idah Indonesia

Abu Muawwidz Nur Din bin Muhammad Top Abu Nur Muawwidz Din bin Muhammad Top

Hafidzohullah Hafidzohullah

KETERANGAN RESMI DARI TANDZIM AL QO'IDAH INDONESIA DETAIL OF OFFICIAL TANDZIM AL QO'IDAH INDONESIA

ATAS AMALIYAT JIHADIYAH ISTISYHADIYAH FOR THE AMALIYAT JIHADIYAH ISTISYHADIYAH

DI HOTEL RIZT CALRTON JAKARTA RIZT CALRTON HOTEL IN JAKARTA

اَلْحَمْدُ ِللهِ مُعِزِّ اْلإِسْلاَمِ بِنَصْرِه، وَمُذِلِّ الشِّرْكِ بِقَهْرِه، وَمُصَرِّف اْلأُمُور بِأَمْرِه، وَمُسْتَدْرِجِ اْلكَافِرِيْنَ بِمَكْرِه، اَلَّذِي قَدّرَ اْلأَيَّامَ دُولاً بِعَدْلِه، وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى مَنْ أَعْلَى اللهَُ مَنَارَ اْلإِسْلاَمِ بِسَيْفِه. الحمد لله معز الإسلام بنصره, ومذل الشرك بقهره, ومصرف الأمور بأمره, ومستدرج الكافرين بمكره, الذي قدر الأيام دولا بعدله, والصلاة والسلام على من أعلى الله منار الإسلام بسيفه.

أمَّا بعد أما بعد

Ini adalah keterangan resmi dari Tandzim Al Qo'idah Indonesia untuk ummat Islam dengan Amaliyat Jihadiyah Istisyhadiyah di Hotel Rizt Calrton Jakarta, pada hari Jum'at pagi, tanggal 17 juli 2009 M./24 Rojab 1430 H. This is the official description of Tandzim Al Qo'idah Indonesia to Islam with the human Amaliyat Jihadiyah Istisyhadiyah Hotel in Rizt Calrton Jakarta, on Friday morning, on 17 July 2009 M./24 Rojab 1430 H. yang dilakukan oleh salah satu ikhwah mujahidin terhadap antek-antek Amerika yang berkunjung di Hotel tersebut. conducted by one of ikhwah mujahidin against lacquey-American stooge who came in the hotel.

Sesungguhnya Allah menganugerahkan kepada kami jalan untuk menyerang Hotel termegah yang dimiliki oleh Amerika di Ibukota Indonesia di Jakarta, yaitu Rizt Calrton. Indeed, God present to us the way to attack termegah Hotel owned by United States in the capital city of Indonesia in Jakarta, namely Rizt Calrton. Yang mana penjagaan dan pengamanan di sana sungguh sangatlah ketat untuk dapat melakukan serangan seperti yang kami lakukan pada kali ini. Which is a security guard and there really is very tight to be able to attack like we do at this time.

"Mereka membuat Makar dan Allah pun membuat Makar. Dan Allah itu Maha Pembuat Makar". (QS. Ali Imron : 54). "They make God and the trick is to make trick. And God is Almighty Creator trick". (QS. Ali Imron: 54).

Adapun sasaran yang kami inginkan dari amaliyat ini adalah : The goals that we want from amaliyat this is:

1. 1. Sebagai Qishoh (pembalasan yang setimpal) atas perbuatan yang dilakukan oleh Amerika dan antek-anteknya terhadap saudara kami kaum muslimin dan mujahidin di penjuru dunia As Qishoh (a retaliation in kind) for the deeds done by the United States and minion-anteknya against our brother Muslims and mujahidin in the world

2. 2. Menghancurkan kekuatan mereka di negeri ini, yang mana mereka adalan pencuri dan perampok barang-barang berharga kaum muslimin di negeri ini Destroy their power in this country, which they adalan thief and plunderer valuables Muslims in this country

3. 3. Mengeluarkan mereka dari negeri-negeri kaum muslimin. Remove them from the lands of Muslims. Terutama dari negeri Indonesia Particularly from Indonesia

4. 4. Menjadi pelajaran buat ummat Islam akan hakikat Wala' (Loyalitas) dan Baro' (Permusuhan), terkhusus menghadapi datangnya Klub Bola MANCESTER UNITED (MU) ke Hotel tersebut. A lesson for humanity Islam akan fact Wala '(Loyalty), and Baro' (hostility), the arrival terkhusus Club Bola MANCESTER UNITED (MU) to the hotel. Para pemain itu terdiri dari para salibis. The players that consists of salibis. Maka tidak pantas ummat ini memberikan Wala'nya dan penghormatannya kepada musuh-musuh Allah ini But this is not worth the human and penghormatannya give Wala'nya to the enemies of God

5. 5. Amaliyat Istisyhadiyah ini sebagai penyejuk dan obat hati buat kaum muslimin yang terdholimi dan tersiksa di seluruh penjuru dunia Amaliyat Istisyhadiyah this as a High and a heart medicine that terdholimi Muslims and tortured all over the world

Yang terakhir ….. The last one ... .. bahwasanya Amaliyat Jihadiyah ini akan menjadi pendorong semangat untuk ummat ini dan untuk menghidupkan kewajiban Jihad yang menjadi satu-satunya jalan untuk menegakkan Khilafah Rosyidah yang telah lalu, bi idznillah. Amaliyat Jihadiyah that this will be the stimulus for the human spirit and to the obligation of Jihad the only way to establish Khilafah Rosyidah past, bi idznillah.

Dan kami beri nama Amaliyat Jihadiyah ini dengan : "SARIYAH JABIR" And we give the name Amaliyat Jihadiyah with this: "SARIYAH JABIR"

الله أكبر ولله العزة ولرسوله والمؤمنون الله أكبر ولله العزة ولرسوله والمؤمنون


Amir Tandzim Al Qo'idah Indonesia Tandzim Amir Al Qo'idah Indonesia

Abu Mu'awwidz Nur Din bin Muhammad Top Abu Nur Mu'awwidz Din bin Muhammad Top

Hafidzohullah Hafidzohullah

Diposkan oleh mediaislam di 22:05 Posted by mediaislam at 22:05 926 komentar 926 comments
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MEDIA TANDZIM AL QO'IDAH INDONESIA TANDZIM AL QO'IDAH MEDIA INDONESIA

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Noordin Top Blogspot

Note: You can also go to the comments and do a Google Translation.

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

Patung at Indonesia Matters provides a cleaner translation:

Noordin M Top discovers blogspot and complains of American plunderers and soccer Crusaders.

The newly created blog website mediaislam-bushro.blogspot.com on July 26th published a message apparently from Malaysian terrorist Noordin M Top claiming responsibility for the JW Marriott & Ritz Carlton suicide bombings in Jakarta on July 17th.

Speaking as the head of his Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) split off organisation “Tandzim Al Qo’idah Indonesia” Noordin, or as written on the blog, Nur Din bin Muhammad Top, said that the bombings were targeted at kafir – non-Muslims – and specifically American businessmen, and he explained why they were carried out:

1. to avenge the attacks on Muslims around the world by America and its allies

2. to destroy the power of American business in Indonesia, to prevent Americans stealing the resources of Indonesia and using the wealth gained to wage war on Muslims

3. to expel Americans from Indonesia

4. to prevent Indonesian Muslims from going to watch Manchester United football club in Jakarta, because some of the MU players are crusaders [Christian]

5. to give strength to persecuted Muslims around the world

The attacks were justified by the quotation of the following verse from Sura 8: Al-Anfal of the Quran:

So you did not slay them, but in fact Allah slew them; and O dear Prophet (Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) you did not throw (the sand) when you did throw, but in fact Allah threw; and in order to bestow an excellent reward upon the Muslims; indeed Allah is the All Hearing, the All Knowing. [Yusuf Ali]

And from Attaubah: 14:

Fight them, and Allah will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you (to victory) over them, heal the breasts of Believers.

Finally Nurdin hoped that the attack would encourage other Indonesian Muslims to take up the cause of jihad. [1]

Malaysian Muslim Women to be Flogged for Beer

Malaysia has become more and more Islamic fundamentalist over the years, as various states vote to incorporate Islamic Sharia law into their legislation. That means issues of morality and values are judged not by a nondenominational regional judgeship, but by the Islamic board which follows Islamic law. Woe be to those who break the law, such as having a beer. You will be flogged.

An Islamic court in Malaysia has sentenced a Muslim woman to be flogged with a rattan cane for having a beer in a nightclub, a court official said Tuesday. It is rare for a woman in Malaysia to be sentenced to caning — a punishment usually reserved for men in various crimes ranging from rape to bribery.

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno was sentenced Monday to six lashes and a fine of 5,000 ringgit ($1,400) for consuming alcohol, said a Shariah High Court official who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to make public statements.

Shukarno, a 32-year-old model, pleaded guilty in the court in eastern Pahang state to a charge of drinking beer when Islamic authorities raided a hotel nightclub in August 2008.

Consuming alcohol is a religious offense in Malaysia only for Muslims, who make up nearly two-thirds of the population. Offenders are prosecuted in Shariah courts, which handle cases mainly related to family and moral issues for Muslims. Most offenders are fined, but the law also provides for a three-year prison term and caning. Shukarno was the only Muslim caught in the raid at the Pahang nightclub.

Malaysian clubs and lounges typically serve alcohol but are not legally required to check if customers are Muslim before serving them, so the hotel nightclub operators were not charged with any offense. Shukarno plans to appeal the sentence, the New Straits Times daily reported. The punishment "is aimed at making the accused repent and serves as a lesson to Muslims," the newspaper quoted Judge Abdul Rahman Yunus as saying.

The judge did not elaborate on why he imposed a relatively severe sentence, but local media noted that he had a history of being tough on alcohol offenders. Rattan canes used in the punishment are made from palm plants common in tropical parts of Asia. They have been used for decades for corporal punishments in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. The caning sentence is generally carried out by specially trained officials at prisons.

The Cannibal from Java

He looks like such a nice Muslim man, but this fellow is a convicted cannibal who just spent several years in a mental institution and is now back in his home town in Java, rejected by everyone as a man possessed of the devil. Raw Story Reports:

Indonesian cannibal Sumanto loves meat so much he dug up an old woman’s body for a cheap and “tasty” meal. “She was delicious,” he told AFP from his room at a Muslim mental rehabilitation centre in rural Central Java. “I love meat… all types of meat as long as it’s cooked. But I don’t eat people anymore. Now I eat spinach,” he added.

In many countries, the 37-year-old farmer from Palumutan village would be receiving specialised psychiatric care in a secure facility. Not in Indonesia. Here, he spent five years behind bars in a regular prison for theft (of the body) and causing distress to the community, and was released straight back into his remote village with no follow-up care.

His neighbours were horrified and rejected him, so he was taken in by the nearby centre for religious guidance, one of many privately-run community services which fill the yawning gap for mental health care in Indonesia. “Nobody wanted him. Villagers called him ‘The Cannibal’ and were absolutely terrified of him,” centre director Supono Mustajab said.

Indonesian Medical Association former chairman Kartono Mohammad said there were no government institutions for the criminally insane in Indonesia despite appeals from mental health experts. “At this point the health minister (Siti Fadilah Supari) doesn’t care. She’s not interested… It’s a very, very low priority,” he said. “I’m very concerned. In some other countries, people like Sumanto would have been placed in an asylum, not in prison. What if he has a relapse? That will be a social problem. He needs counselling and medication,” he added.

Back at the religious centre in Purbalingga, which is next to Sumanto’s home village of Palumutan, staff said Sumanto was violent and depressed after his release from prison in 2006. “Prison life was not good for him. He wouldn’t eat or drink and he was bad-tempered. We had to guard his room night and day so he wouldn’t disturb others,” Mustajab said. Like other “stressed minds and broken hearts” at the centre, he was taught to recite the Koran and encouraged to play sport, farm and fish to relieve stress.

“Now he’s better. Tenants pay to stay here but I fork out my own money to support poor ones like Sumanto. They’re human beings too,” Mustajab said.

A short drive away through the Javanese rice paddies, residents of Palumutan still swap blood-curdling tales about the cannibal’s fang-like teeth, forked tongue and diet of cats, cockroaches and lizards. His next-door neighbour, 43-year-old Ngadiah, said she would never forget the stench of death and the sight of a bowl of whitish-yellow human flesh drenched in soy sauce.

“Sumanto? That corpse-eater. He was a bad-tempered man who often stole our rice and chickens,” she said. “There’ll be chaos if he ever comes back. I don’t want him to kill me and have me for dinner.” Sumanto’s family was ostracised and forced to move to the outskirts of the village. His father, 65-year-old farmer Nuryadikarta, said he missed his son but could never take him back.

“No matter how bad he is, he’s my son and I’m willing to take him back. But the neighbours despise him and they’ll kick him out of the village, so what am I to do?” he asked. Mustajab said Sumanto was ready to go home but the centre’s caretaker, Ahmad Sugimin, thought otherwise.

In a single sitting, Sumanto can polish off two big plates of rice, 60 sticks of mutton satay, 16 fist-sized chunks of beef and eight pieces of chicken, he said. “How could he afford such lavish food if he went back to doing odd jobs? I worry he may revert to eating corpses,” Sugimin said.

Sumanto denies this. Pointing to a pile of empty water bottles on his bed, he said he could survive on “water, vitamins and minerals” alone. “Meat is definitely nicer than vegetables, but if there’s no meat I can make do with grass. It’s healthy and I could braise or stir-fry it to make it taste good,” he said.

These days, the bachelor said he craved love and freedom more than meat.

“I’m sad. People said so many bad things about me. I will strive to get the villagers to open their hearts and accept me again,” he said. “What is love? How can I describe it when I’ve never experienced it, never tasted it?”

Psychiatrist Prianto Djatmiko said Sumanto needed professional counselling and medication. “Ill people don’t know they’re ill. He should be professionally assessed. What he needed was therapy, not jail, as his mental condition could worsen,” he said

.

Bangkok International Airport Scam

This scam at King Power Duty Free at the Bangkok Airport has been going on for several years, but the most recent case has made international headlines. When in Bangkok, do not enter the King Power duty free shop; these people are conartists who snare and then extort foreign visitors. Besides, their prices are too high and you'll find better deals in town.

John Head at BBC reports.

Now new allegations have been made that a number of passengers are being detained every month in the duty free area on suspicion of shoplifting, and then held by the police until they pay large sums of money to buy their freedom.

That is what happened to Stephen Ingram and Xi Lin, two IT experts from Cambridge, as they were about to board their flight to London on the night of 25 April this year.

They had been browsing in the duty free shop at the airport, and were later approached by security guards, who twice asked to search their bags.

Mr Ingram and Ms Xi were told they had to pay £7,500. They were told a wallet had gone missing, and that Ms Lin had been seen on a security camera taking it out of the shop.

The company that owns the duty free shop, King Power, has since put the CCTV video on its website, which does appear to show her putting something in her bag. However the security guards found no wallet on either of them.

Despite that, they were both taken from the departure gate, back through immigration, and held in an airport police office. That is when their ordeal started to become frightening.

"We were questioned in separate rooms," Mr Ingram said. "We felt really intimidated. They went through our bags and demanded that we tell them where the wallet was."

The two were then put in what Mr Ingram describes as a "hot, humid, smelly cell with graffiti and blood on the walls".

Mr Ingram managed to phone a Foreign Office helpline he found in a travel guide, and was told someone in the Bangkok embassy would try to help them.

The next morning the two were given an interpreter, a Sri Lankan national called Tony, who works part-time for the police.

They were taken by Tony to meet the local police commander - but, says Mr Ingram, for three hours all they discussed was how much money they would have to pay to get out.

Mr Ingram and Ms Xi were taken to meet the local police commander. They were told the charge was very serious. If they did not pay, they would be transferred to the infamous Bangkok Hilton prison, and would have to wait two months for their case to be processed.

Mr Ingram says they wanted £7,500 ($12,250) - for that the police would try to get him back to the UK in time for his mother's funeral on 28 April.

But he could not arrange to get that much money transferred in time.

'Zig-zag' scheme

Tony then took them to an ATM machine at the police station, and told Ms Lin to withdraw as much as she could from her own account - £600 - and Mr Ingram then withdrew the equivalent of £3,400 from his account.

This was apparently handed over to the police as "bail", and they were both made to sign a number of papers.

Later they were allowed to move to a squalid hotel within the airport perimeter, but their passports were held and they were warned not to leave or try to contact a lawyer or their embassy.