INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2016 Remote Amazon tribe kills illegal gold miners: Officials

RIO DE JANEIRO: Members of a remote the frontier with Venezuela. “The deaths of the Amazon’s largest relatively isolat- rivers and forest. The Yanomami are also “We don’t know the motive for the Amazon rainforest indigenous tribe have were reported to us by the Yanomami ed tribes, with an estimated population under pressure from cattle ranchers on conflict because the tribes people from shot dead six illegal gold miners with people’s association and a team from of about 35,000, according to advocacy the fringes of their rainforest territory. the village where the deaths occurred arrows, Brazilian officials said Friday. Funai is preparing to travel there,” a group Survival International. Police said they would accompany told us by radio that they will not Brazil’s Funai agency, which handles spokesman told AFP. Their pristine ancestral lands have Funai to the area, probably next week, explain what happened until we person- indigenous affairs, said that the killings A police spokesman for Roraima state been steadily encroached upon by illegal and that the killings occurred at the start ally go there,” Junior Hekuari, chairman were carried out by the Yanomami tribe told AFP that “the causes of the conflict gold miners who are blamed for intro- of the month but had only been con- of the Yanomami association, told G1 in the Amazonian state of Roraima on are not known.” The Yanomami are one ducing new diseases and polluting the firmed now. news site. —AFP After IS kidnap and oppression, Iraqi girls eager to get lives back NEAR BASHIQA, Iraq: The first thing they’d beat you as punishment,” Afrah Iraqi teenager Afrah did when she said. “I hardly went out, I slept, ate, that escaped Islamic State captivity near was it. A few months ago they cut off the Mosul was to remove her face veil and internet, too. It was boring. I didn’t want throw it defiantly to the ground. to go to one of their schools where they The ultra-hardline militants kidnapped teach you only about weapons and reli- and used Afrah, 16, her older sister Asil gion,” she said. and 14 other family members and rela- tives as human shields when they with- Nearly an isis bride drew from the Iraqi city of Tikrit, her Afrah wore a long brown coat and hometown around 200 km (125 miles) bright woolly hat. She said she would south, early last year. For a year and a half continue to wear the Muslim headscarf the family was trapped in the village of but was relieved to show her face again. Bawiza just north of the jihadists’ Iraqi Asil had also shed her niqab. The elder stronghold. The girls tried to keep a low sister narrowly avoided being married off profile and barely ventured outdoors. to an Islamic State fighter while they lived When Iraqi forces pushed into the vil- in Bawiza, she said. lage a few days ago, part of the U.S.- “Dad refused to give the guy my hand backed campaign to oust Islamic State in marriage,” she explained - a dangerous from Mosul, they were determined not to act of defiance that nearly got her father be taken hostage again, and rushed Saeed killed. “The fighter who wanted to towards the military’s armoured vehicles. marry Asil accused Dad of being a spy, Having survived the militants’ oppres- and they took him for trial,” Afrah said. sive rule, Afrah and Asil, 19, want to put “The fighter was gross, old with a big the harrowing experience behind them, beard,” she added. return to Tikrit, resume studies, work and Afrah, who speaks some English and get their lives back. “I’ve lost two years of who the family say is their technical whiz, my education. had the presence of mind to delete all I want to get back to school, complete Saeed’s contacts from his phone, starting my studies and then qualify to become a with relatives or friends who had served BASHIQA, Iraq: Christians march carrying a cross during a ceremony in the Saint George’s church yesterday. —AP dentist,” Afrah said. in Iraq’s security forces. Asil, for her part, wanted to go back to Without enough evidence and her job issuing food hygiene certificates because the IS fighter was not high-rank- Iraqi troops face resistance to restaurants and cafes. “I loved that job, ing, Saeed was let go. “They’d have cut I can’t wait to start again,” she said. The my head off,” he said. A few months later two sisters spoke as they waited in the they learned the fighter had been killed desert alongside hundreds of other dis- in battle. “That dog is dead,” Saeed said, from IS in eastern Mosul placed Iraqis trying to cross into Kurdish- standing next to Asil. controlled areas a few kilometres north- A relative had not been so lucky, they east of Mosul. said, pointing to a woman sitting nearby Aerial support from US-led international coalition Explosions could be heard coming on a tarpaulin sheet with the rest of the from the city, as the campaign to drive IS family. IS, often referred to by the Arabic MOSUL: Iraqi troops faced stiff resistance yester- media. To the west of Mosul, government-sanc- officials sang hymns and played band music as out continues with fierce street battles acronym Daesh, had executed her hus- day from Islamic State militants as they pushed tioned Shiite militias took full control of the Tal they walked in procession into the church, between the militants and Iraqi forces. band because he was a former police- deeper into eastern Mosul, backed by aerial sup- Afar military airfield Friday night, said Jaafar al- which was heavily vandalized by IS fighters. Men Islamic State has taken civilians hostage man. The family stocked up on blankets port from the US-led international coalition, a Husseini, spokesman for the influential prepared a large cross to mount on the rooftop, to avoid being targeted by air strikes, has and warm clothes for winter, anticipating senior military commander said. Hezbollah Brigades. Al-Husseini said the clashes replacing one destroyed by the extremists. executed people in Mosul, used women time displaced in a camp somewhere. At dawn, troops moved into the Muharabeen almost destroyed the airport and that it will be “The first thing they did was break the cross, from religious minorities as sex slaves They do not know when they will be and Ulama neighborhoods after fully liberating an important launching pad for the troops in we want to replace it and tell Daesh that the and enforced its conservative rules on allowed into Kurdish-held territory, and the adjacent Tahrir neighborhood on Friday, said their advance. cross is still here and we are not leaving at all,” others using female religious police. how long it will take after that to get Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces. The extremist group captured Mosul, Iraq’s said Rev. Afram al-Khoury Benyamen, using the “If you dared not to wear a niqab (face home. “Hopefully we can return soon,” Al-Aridi said IS militants were fighting back with second largest city, in the summer of 2014. Arabic acronym to refer to the group. veil), you’d get a fine on the first occasion, Asil said. “Girls who lived under Daesh snipers, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar The offensive to retake the city, which was Bullet holes marked the walls inside the around 50,000 dinars ($40). After that, just want to resume their lives.”—Reuters rounds. launched on Oct. 17, is the biggest military oper- church courtyard, strewn with garbage and Thick black columns of smoke were seen bil- ation in Iraq since American troops left in 2011. If graffiti left by the extremists, including some of lowing from the two areas, while dozens of civil- successful, the retaking of Mosul would be the their names. Much of the church’s inside had ians were seen fleeing to government-controlled strongest blow dealt to IS’ self-styled caliphate been smashed, with rubble strewn across the Sisi says don’t ‘jump to areas. Shortly before noon, a suicide bomber stretching into Syria. The Shiite militias are lead- ground and holy inscriptions covered with emerged from a house in the Tahrir neighbor- ing an assault to drive IS from Tal Afar, which had black paint. In an upper level, pews had been conclusions’ on Trump hood and attacked security forces, wounding a majority Shiite population before it fell to the pushed back to make room for cushions and four troops. Another suicide car bomber hit the militants in the summer of 2014, and to cut IS carpet beneath a broken window that had CAIRO: Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah Al- leading the military ouster of Islamist troops in Aden neighborhood afternoon, killing supply lines linking Mosul to Syria. been used as a sniper’s nest, marked out by Sisi has praised US President-elect Donald President Mohammed Morsi, has painted a soldier and wounding three others. According to the United Nations, more than scattered spent bullet casings. Broken brass J. Trump, saying that his inflammatory himself as a regional leader in the fight Attack on the village of Imam Gharbi 56,000 civilians have been forced from their instruments and a torn bagpipe from the statements from the campaign trail do not against Islamic militancy - a stance that Late on Friday, a group of IS militants homes since the operation began out of nearly church’s boy scout band lay scattered across necessarily reflect the actions he will take echoes Trump’s priorities. attacked the village of Imam Gharbi south of 1.5 million civilians living in and around Mosul. the site, with pills and syringes on the floor in as president. The prospect of warmer relations with Mosul, controlling most of it for hours before In the heavily damaged town of Bashiqa, one area. The church graveyard was desecrated, Al-Sisi, in an interview with Portuguese Trump comes after years of relative chill airstrikes from the US-led international coalition about 13 kilometers northeast of Mosul’s out- with graves broken into and tombstones news agency LUSA released on Saturday, between Al-Sisi and outgoing US President were called in, an officer said. The clashes and skirts, Christians rang the bells of Saint George’s smashed and painted over. said, “let’s not jump into conclusions or Barack Obama. After the ouster of Morsi multiple suicide bombings left three policemen church for the first time to celebrate its libera- “It’s good they’re gone but how happy can worry” about future US actions or policies and the subsequent lethal crackdown on dead, including an officer, and four others tion from IS, which was driven out earlier this we be - look at this mess,” said 22-year old in the Middle East. The army chief-turned- Islamist supporters, the Obama administra- wounded, he said. Nine IS fighters were killed, he month. Much of the town has been reduced to Youssef Ragheed, a drummer from the band president was interviewed prior to his tion voiced criticism and briefly suspended added. The officer spoke on condition of rubble from artillery strikes and air raids. who had fled the town when IS controlled it, but upcoming Nov. 21 visit to Portugal. part of the Egypt’s robust American aid anonymity as he was not authorized to brief Parishioners, peshmerga fighters and Kurdish returned for yesterday’s ceremony. —AP Al-Sisi was among the very first foreign package. leaders to congratulate Trump’s on his pres- Egypt’s pro-government media have idential victory. “We have to distinguish often railed against Obama, accusing the between the rhetoric that takes place with- US of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood Political risks come with the in presidential campaigns and the real and and other dissident groups. Many of those actual administration of a country after the pro-government media outlets are now inauguration,” he said. “There will be a cheering Trump’s victory. control of Washington for GOP chance for more thorough readings.” Observers believe that Trump is less like- Al-Sisi’s remarks echoed sentiments that ly to take Egypt to task over human rights. WASHINGTON: For Republicans, ly said that they want to go a differ- that’s well short of the 60-vote have born severe political conse- have been circulating on local and regional Instead, he could offer Al-Sisi international there will be no one left to blame. As ent direction,” said Republican Rep. supermajority needed to advance quences for pushing through the media, with columnists speculating that political support as the Egyptian leader they prepare to take control of the Ken Buck of Colorado. “And if we are most major initiatives, including Affordable Care Act in 2010. They Trump campaign rhetoric - such as his call battles Islamic State group-linked militants White House and both chambers of not effective in moving in that dif- Supreme Court nominees. So lost control of the House in that for a ban on Muslims entering the US - will in the Sinai peninsula and in neighboring Congress next year, Republicans are ferent direction, they will take the although Republicans would be year’s midterm elections, and be watered down. Libya. celebrating the opportunity to opportunity away from us, and they able to use a legislative maneuver to Republicans have used the health “I believe that President Trump will be enact a new agenda for the country, will return it to the Democrats.” Said send a health care repeal to Trump’s care issue ever since to rally their Certain bond vigorously engaged with the issues in the including lowering taxes, securing Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, speaking desk with just a simple majority, oth- base and attack Democrats. the border and repealing President Friday at the Federalist Society: “It’s er major objectives, including immi- But if Republicans repeal it, as Trump and Al-Sisi have already shown a region,” Al-Sisi said. “As a matter of fact, Barack Obama’s health care law. time to put up or shut up. There are gration and border enforcement, they are determined to do, they will certain bond. Trump said there was “good Trump has shown deep and great under- But with that opportunity comes no excuses.” would require some degree of coop- be the ones responsible for whatev- chemistry” when they met on the sidelines standing of what is taking place in the massive political risk: If President- eration from minority Democrats. er comes next. And given the enor- of the UN General Assembly in September. region as a whole and Egypt in particular. I elect Donald Trump and congres- Sobering reality That could give Senate mous complexity of the US health Al-Sisi said Trump would “without a doubt” am looking forward and expecting more sional Republicans don’t deliver, That sobering reality has been Democrats’ new leader, Chuck care system, which accounts for fully make a strong leader. support and reinforcement of our bilateral they will face a serious reckoning sinking in for GOP members of the Schumer of New York, veto power one-sixth of the US economy, the Al-Sisi, who was elected in 2014 after relations.”—AP with voters. That could begin with House and Senate as they begin the over major chunks of Trump’s agen- potential for complications looks the 2018 midterm elections, when early stages of planning an agenda da. And it’s led to a call from some immense. Even after six years, every House member and one-third for next year. Republicans point out House Republicans for their Senate Republicans have failed to unite of the Senate will be up for re-elec- that although they will control a colleagues to try to push through a around a single alternative to tion. “The American public has clear- majority in the Senate with 52 votes, rules change to eliminate the 60- Obamacare, or a solution to ensure vote filibuster barrier. “They’re either that the 20 million Americans who going to have to modify that rule, or gained health coverage under the they’re going to have to face the law don’t suddenly lose it. wrath of the voters,” said Rep. Matt Schumer warned in an interview Salmon, R-Ariz., who is retiring at the Friday that repealing the health care end of this year. law would turn into “a political Senate Majority Leader Mitch nightmare” for Republicans. And McConnell, R-Ky., is an institutional- even while cheering the opportuni- ist who has shown no enthusiasm ty to undo the health law, House for such a move. But Republicans Speaker Paul Ryan acknowledged in fret that a shortage of votes in the a news conference this past week Senate is not likely to be a winning that, “It’s too early to know the political excuse to most voters who answer to, ‘How fast can Obamacare picked an outsider in Trump to bring relief occur?’” wholesale change to Washington, Many Republicans believe and now want to see that happen. Democrats overreached in the early “We can talk about not having 60 in years of the Obama administration, the Senate, but I think that our time when they controlled the White to show that we can govern is now,” House and both chambers of WASHINGTON: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, and Sen. Marco Rubio, R- said GOP Rep. Tom Rooney of Congress. Voters took Democrats’ Fla., followed by Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., Florida. The Republican role on majorities away, and now walk to their caucus organizing meeting to elect their leadership for health care seems particularly risky Republicans are mindful of making CAIRO: In this Sept. 20, 2014 file photo, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi lis- the 115th Congress, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, on Capitol Hill. —AP to some in the party. Democrats the same mistake themselves. — AP tens during an interview with The Associated Press at the presidential palace. —AP