INTERNATIONAL WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 Radical Ism breeds in deprived corner of Serbia

NOVI PAZAR: In a country proud of its 50 percent, according to Serbia’s statistics participated in their activities, their con- Orthodox Christianity, the Serbian city of institute, making the Sandzak region the ferences. I think that... they are still work- Novi Pazar is a place apart: young beard- most deprived area of the Balkan country. ing on silent radicalization of some ed men in ankle-length trousers stroll the A centre of textiles and commerce, it did youngsters.” streets, the restaurants don’t serve alco- not withstand the bloody breakup of hol, and the call of the muezzin punctu- Yugoslavia in the 1990s. A large number ‘Double standards’ ates the daily routine. Faced with massive of the warehouses which employed thou- In his pizzeria close to the city’s foot- unemployment and a feeling of exclusion sands of workers fell into disuse. ball stadium, 44-year-old Admir, who against the backdrop of the Syrian war, declined to give his last name, acknowl- this Muslim majority area of southwest ‘Silent radicalization’ edged that “penniless students” receive Serbia has become a breeding ground for Serbia estimates around 40 of its citi- aid from his religious association “Put Islamist extremists. zens have left to join the jihad in and Sredine” (The Middle Way). He denied “Death in the way of Allah in Syria, 14 Iraq, some of whom have since returned any foreign financing, claiming his associ- May 2013, aged 27” was a notice once or died there. They were mostly either ation ran on money from its members. posted on the concrete walls of Novi youths from the Sandzak region or mem- He also rejects violence, but expressed Pazar, which lies in the region of Sandzak. bers of the ethnic Albanian community in disgust towards Shiites, “a sect”, and Killed in , Eldar Kundakovic used to the neighboring Presevo valley. Those Israel, “the world’s biggest terrorist”. be one of the young men aimlessly who return are monitored by powerful But what Novi Pazar needs most is strolling the town, where around half of intelligence services that date back to the development, says Kladnicanin of the 100,000 residents are jobless and a Yugoslav era. Eastward departures have NOVI PAZAR: Esad Kundakovic (3rd right) prays at the central mosque in Novi Forum10. “In last 10 years there has been third of the population is under the age of dropped off since the Islamic State group Pazar in southern Serbia. Esad, father of late Eldar Kundakovic, who died in no investment in Sandzak, not a single 19, according to the latest census. has begun to retreat. 2013 while fighting in Aleppo on the side of the Islamic State (IS) group, says factory was opened,” he said. City Mayor Kundakovic, who belonged to the But the presence of Salafist “humani- that he couldn’t stop his son from going to war but now spends most of his time Nihat Bisevac says it was more realistic to ultra-conservative Salafist movement, tarian organizations”, ostensibly helping explaining to other Muslim youth how pointless was his son’s death. —AFP rely on financial support from Sandzak’s divided his time between prayer rooms the needy in Sandzak, have become a meanwhile become weaker after splitting Sarajevo in October 2011. In 2014, the diaspora, which remains deeply involved and the tailor shop run by his father, who cause of concern. In an April 2015 report, into two rival structures. association disappeared after the dis- in Novi Pazar-as is clear from the large since the death of his son has spent time DamaD, a local cultural centre, said these According to Serbian media, youths mantling of a jihadist network whose number of foreign car registration plates. at mosques trying to dissuade youngsters groups had “completely isolated them- who left for Syria frequented in particular members were also part of Furkan. “But Still, another hope for the future is a from becoming violent radicals. Novi selves from the rest of society” and were an association called Furkan, whose fol- where are the people who were part of planned highway between the Pazar is a city without an airport or train “committed to very conservative views on lowers are linked to a hardline Wahhabi it?” asked Fahrudin Kladnicanin of Montenegrin port of Bar and the Serbian station, served by bad roads and enclosed religion which support jihadist fights”. The community in northeastern Bosnia. One Forum10, an initiative dealing with inte- capital Belgrade, which is likely to pass by mountains, where the poverty rate is region’s official Islamic authorities have of them fired shots at the US embassy in gration issues. “A lot of young people near Novi Pazar. — AFP

News closes in in brief on key Aleppo district Moscow and Washington trade barbs

ALEPPO: Syrian regime forces were on the the conflict, most recently a string of areas verge yesterday of seizing a major rebel dis- near . trict of Aleppo as Moscow and Washington traded barbs over stalled efforts to end Key battleground fighting in the battle-worn city. After retak- In many cases, they have reached deals ing control of about two-thirds of east with the government after months of siege Aleppo in recent days, forces loyal to and fierce fighting, agreeing to lay down President Bashar Al-Assad were advancing their arms in return for safe passage to Tuesday on the large residential district of rebel territory elsewhere. But the loss of Shaar. The Syrian Observatory for Human Aleppo would be the biggest blow yet to PATTANI: Rescue workers search for two missing boys Rights, a monitoring group, said if the dis- opposition forces in Syria’s civil war, which who went missing during a flash flood in the southern trict is retaken rebel forces will be reduced erupted in 2011 with popular protests call- Thai province of Pattani yesterday. — AFP to a “war of attrition” with the army. “It is the ing for Assad’s ouster. More than 300,000 most important neighborhood in the heart people have since died and millions forced Severe flooding kills of east Aleppo, and is on the brink of falling,” from their homes. Aleppo, once Syria’s cele- 14 in south Thailand Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said, brated commercial and cultural hub, has BANGKOK: Severe flooding due to heavy rain in southern adding that regime forces were already in been a key battleground of the war and Thailand has killed 14 people, including five students, the control of about a third of the district. With : A picture taken from a rebel-held area shows smoke billowing from buildings suffered some of its worst violence. The interior ministry said yesterday. Six days of floods have the capture of Shaar, the army would hold in the pro-regime Shiite town of Foua, in northwestern Idlib province yesterday fol- most recent offensive has left more than affected 582,345 people in 11 of Thailand’s 76 provinces, 70 percent of east Aleppo, four years after lowing a reported rebel shelling. — AFP 341 people dead in east Aleppo, including the ministry said in a statement. One person is reportedly rebels first seized it and divided the city. 44 children, the Observatory says. missing, while three others suffered injuries. Trains have The regime’s rapid gains have left oppo- backed rebel groups against Assad, of back- to the United Nations, Michele Sison, sug- Rebel fire into the government-held also been halted in one province off the Gulf of Thailand as sition fighters scrambling to defend the tracking. “It looks like an attempt to buy gested there was no deal, accusing west of the city has killed 81 people, includ- the rails there were submerged under rising floodwaters. shrinking enclave they still control in time for the rebels to have a breather, take a Moscow of using a “made-up alibi” to block ing 31 children, in the same period, the Southern Thailand is a popular destination for visitors due Aleppo’s southeastern districts. The interna- pause and replenish their reserves,” Lavrov the resolution. “We will not let Russia string monitor says. Tens of thousands of east to its scenic islands and beaches, and the floods are tional community has also struggled over told journalists, adding that Moscow had along the Security Council,” she said. “We Aleppo residents have also fled to different expected to put a dent in the area’s tourist industry, with how to respond, despite widespread con- the impression that “a serious discussion will continue bilateral negotiations (with parts of the city, including to government- the high season running from November to February. cern over the fate of tens of thousands of with our American partners isn’t working Russia) to relieve the suffering in Aleppo, held areas and other rebel neighborhoods. However, the waters are receding, with three of the 11 civilians still in rebel-held areas. Russia, a out.” Washington for its part accused but we have not reached a breakthrough Escalating bombardment of the neighbor- provinces now off the list of flooded provinces. A fourth key Assad ally, had announced talks with Moscow of stalling for time after Russia and because Russia wants to keep its military ing rebel-held province of Idlib has also left province is expected to be declared clear as well, an official the United States in Geneva for Tuesday or China blocked a UN Security Council resolu- gains.” The rebels have so far rejected any dozens dead in recent days. At least 85 at the interior ministry said. But Thailand’s Meteorological Wednesday on organizing a full rebel with- tion on Monday calling for a seven-day talk of leaving the city, with Yasser Al- civilians, including 18 children, have been Department forecasts more heavy rains next week for drawal from Aleppo leading to a ceasefire. ceasefire. Youssef of the leading Nureddin Al-Zinki killed in air strikes on Idlib city and sur- southern Thailand. Russia said the resolution should have faction describing the proposal as “unac- rounding towns since late Saturday, ‘Attempt to buy time’ been postponed until after the Geneva ceptable”. “It is for the Russians to leave,” he according to the Observatory. It said both But on Tuesday Foreign Minister Sergei talks, saying an agreement on organizing a said. Rebels have been forced to evacuate Russian and Syrian government warplanes Indonesian authorities Lavrov accused Washington, which has withdrawal was close. The deputy US envoy several of their strongholds in Syria during took part in the bombing raids. —AFP burn massive drug haul JAKARTA: Police began torching about a ton of illegal drugs in Jakarta yesterday, as Indonesian President Joko Philippines’ police Widodo defended his tough war on narcotics. Aleppo ‘Twitter girl’ Authorities wheeled out giant furnaces to incinerate some of the massive haul on display, including nearly murdered mayor half a ton of methamphetamine, 190,000 ecstasy tablets MANILA: Philippine police murdered a town mayor safe as family flees and 420 kilograms of marijuana. Widodo and other top while he was helpless in a jail cell, justice department officials, wearing protective gloves and masks, inspect- investigators said yesterday, contradicting claims by ed the drugs before tossing bags of pills into the incin- the accused and President Rodrigo Duterte that he was ALEPPO: A seven-year-old Syrian girl erator. Indonesia has tough drugs laws but Widodo has killed in a gun battle. The accusations by the National whose Twitter account from Aleppo made combating narcotics a top priority since taking Bureau of Investigation deepened concerns that police gained international attention has office in late 2014, resuming the execution of traffickers were carrying out summary executions as part of fled her home amid heavy fighting, after an unofficial hiatus. Eighteen convicted drug Duterte’s controversial war on crime, which has but she and her family are safe for smugglers-including 15 foreigners-have been sent to claimed more than 5,100 lives in just over five months. now, her father said yesterday. With the firing squad in Indonesia under his administration. The NBI, equivalent to the Federal Bureau of her mother’s help, Bana Al-Abed had Widodo has defended his hardline stance, claiming Investigation in the United States, said police shot dead been posting heart-rending tweets in Indonesia faces a “drugs emergency” and must act to mayor Rolando Espinosa and his cellmate Raul Yap, as English on life in the besieged eastern protect the next generation. “Every year 15,000 they were defenseless in a provincial jail cell last districts of Syria’s Aleppo. But as Indonesian youth die because of drugs. How many drug month. “After conducting an exhaustive investigation Syrian government forces edged clos- dealers and traffickers die every year?” he said. of the incidents surrounding the killing of Mayor er to their home in recent days, the Espinosa and Yap, the NBI concluded that the testi- Abed family fled and the Twitter monies of several witnesses had disputed the claim of updates slowed. “Our house was Cambodia upholds drug an alleged shootout between the (police) operatives damaged in bombardment,” her sentences for foreigners and inmates Mayor Espinosa and Raul Yap but (was) a father Ghassan said by phone from PHNOM PENH: A Cambodian appeals court yesterday ‘rub out’,” the NBI said in a statement. east Aleppo, two-thirds of which has upheld the prison terms of a Frenchwoman, an Australian “Rub out” is a local expression, referring to the been seized by advancing govern- woman and a Nigerian man for trying to smuggle heroin to police killing a suspect and then saying he died in a ment forces. Australia. Judge Pol Sam Ouen said the sentences given by gun battle. “The pieces of evidence, both testimonial “The army got really close to our the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in May 2014 to then-19- and the forensic evidence all agree. We believe we have neighborhood. We fled to another year-old Frenchwoman Charlene Savarino, 41-year-old Ann a very strong case,” NBI deputy director Ferdinand Lavin part of east Aleppo and the family is Yoshe Taylor of Australia and 23-year-old Precious Chneme told reporters. Lavin said the NBI was recommending doing well,” he said, adding that “the Nwoko of Nigeria were correct and accorded with the law. murder and perjury charges against 24 officers for their internet connection is very weak here.” The lower court had sentenced Savarino to 25 years in alleged role in the killing and subsequent lies. Since late September, Bana and her prison, Taylor to 23 years and Nwoko to 27 years. Savarino The accused police had claimed they fired in self mother Fatemah have garnered more and Taylor were arrested in September 2013 at Phnom defense at the pair when they went into the jail cell than 211,000 followers by tweeting Penh International Airport after police found 2.2 kilograms before dawn to execute a search warrant. The police regular updates on battered Aleppo. (4.8 pounds) of heroin in Taylor’s luggage as they prepared alleged Espinosa, who was in jail after being arrested in Pictures of massive white columns of to fly together to Australia. Nwoko, Savarino’s boyfriend, October on drug and gun possession charges, had a smoke, captioned “Aleppo right now. was believed to have masterminded the smuggling and firearm and methamphetamines in the cell. Lawmakers, We (are) so scared,” are interspersed asked Savarino to make the arrangements. Cambodia is media groups and human rights advocates had with shots of Bana reading or scrawl- not a major producer of illegal drugs but has increasingly ing in a notebook. ALEPPO: Syrian Bana Al-Abed, who with the help of her mother had been ridiculed that version of events, asking why police had posting heart-rending tweets in English on life in the besieged eastern dis- become a smuggling transit route. to execute a search warrant in a jail cell at night and The account captured the atten- tion of novelist JK Rowling, who tricts of Syria’s Aleppo, uses a smart-phone to check her Twitter account in why CCTV footage of the event had disappeared. her home in east Aleppo. — AFP However Duterte, who has pledged never to let a responded to a picture of Bana poring Hair today, gone tomorrow: policeman go to jail for prosecuting his war on crime, over an electronic copy of the “Harry messages grew increasingly desper- Bashar Al-Assad have bashed the Serial snipper strikes Japan repeatedly defended the officers involved. Duterte’s Potter” series. On November 29, ate at the weekend. On Sunday night, account and sent Bana and her moth- TOKYO: A suspected serial hair-snipper has been police chief stood down the police officer in charge Bana’s account tweeted a photograph Fatemah posted: “We are sure the er death threats. And in an October arrested in Japan after being accused of stealing tress- pending an investigation, but the president immedi- of a heavily damaged building, with army is capturing us now. We will see interview with Danish broadcaster es from unsuspecting women on rush-hour trains. ately reinstalled him. the caption: “This is our house, My each other another day dear world. TV2, Assad alleged that footage post- Police charged the 23-year-old graduate student with Duterte had accused Espinosa, mayor of Albuera beloved dolls died in the bombing of Bye.” The account fell silent for 24 ed by Bana was “promoted by the ter- assault on Monday after he admitted cutting the hair of town in the eastern province of Leyte, of being a drug our house. I am very sad but happy to hours, prompting concerned follow- rorists or their supporters.” “It’s a game a woman on a packed morning train in Nagoya, a city lord. In a speech late Monday, the president again be alive.” Several days later, Bana ers to launch a #WhereisBana hashtag. now, a game of propaganda, it’s a west of Tokyo. Akiya Yoshida is also being investigated defended the police in the Espinosa case. Duterte, 71, wrote that she was sick: “I have no An update followed on Monday night, game of media. You can see anything, for possible involvement in about 30 other cases over won May elections in a landslide on a promise to kill medicine, no home, no clean water. reading: “Under attack. Nowhere to and you can be sympathetic with the past several years. Yoshida said he had planned on tens of thousands of criminals to prevent the This will make me die even before go, every minute feels like death. Pray every picture and every video you see. selling his ill-gotten merchandise online, according to Philippines from becoming a narco-state.— AFP a bomb kill me.” Many of the tweets for us. Goodbye - Fatemah.” But our mission as a government is to the top-selling Yomiuri newspaper. have included cries for help, but the Online supporters of President deal with the reality,” he said.— AFP