SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013 INTERNATIONAL Foreigners fighting in Nigeria Islamic uprising

MAIDUGURI: Extremists from neighboring Chad, for comment, but on Thursday night, for the first preached Islam to us.” He said the name of Allah was and politicians to attacks on soft targets such as Niger and Cameroon are fighting in Nigeria’s north- time, presented an alleged Boko Haram detainee to invoked only when “we are running out of food sup- school students, villagers and travelers because of the eastern Islamic uprising, according to a man present- journalists at a news conference in the northern city ply in the bush. Our leaders will assemble us and formation of vigilante groups “who now reveal our ed by Nigeria’s military as a captured member of the of Maiduguri. The 22-year-old, walking on crutches declare that we would be embarking on a mission for identities and even arrest us.” Boko Haram terrorist network. His account tallies because of a bullet wound suffered when he was God and Islam. Analysts see a more nuanced evolution. The latest with reports from politicians and survivors of attacks, captured in a recent attack, said he was forced to join “I did not see any act of religion in there. We are brutal attacks on mainly Muslim civilians “offer vital and it reinforces fears that Boko Haram, once a Boko Haram but that the movement has many will- just killing people, stealing and suffering in the bush,” and disturbing insights” that “not only confirm many machete-wielding gang, now poses the greatest ing and educated members. he added. The movement has been blamed for the of the group’s earlier developments but also al-Qaida security threat to Nigeria’s unity and may be growing “We have qualified doctors who are active mem- killings of hundreds of civilians, mainly Muslims, in in the Islamic Maghreb’s, or AQIM’s, growing influence closer to Al-Qaeda affiliates in Africa. bers. they were not forced to be in the group, they recent months. The prisoner, who wore military over it,” Jonathan Hill, senior lecturer at the Defence It comes the same week Justice Minister are more elderly than us,” the 22-year-old told fatigue pants exactly like those of his captors - many Studies Department of King’s College, London, wrote Mohammed Adoke charged that Boko Haram is reporters at a news conference Friday night in recent Boko Haram attacks have been perpetrated by in an analysis published online this month at africa- being influenced from abroad. “Nigeria is experienc- Maiduguri, the Borno state capital that is the birth- fighters wearing Nigerian army uniforms - said for- narguments.org. “These atrocities bear many striking ing the impact of externally-induced internal security place of Boko Haram. “We have mechanics, we have eigners fight in his group of 150 but did not say how similarities to those carried out by AQIM and its vari- challenges, manifesting in the activities of militant welders, we have carpenters, we have professional many. “We have no members from Mali or Libya that I ous forbears in Algeria,” wrote Hill, who is the author insurgents and organized crime groups which has led drivers, we have butchers, security experts, gun know of ... But we do have members from Chad, of “Nigeria Since Independence: Forever Fragile?” to the violation of the human rights of many instructors and so on,” he said, displaying his lack of Niger and Cameroon who actively participate in most Nigeria’s security forces claim to have won the Nigerians,” he said, defending the country’s record at education by his poor use of Hausa, the local lan- of our attacks.” upper hand in the northeast, saying they have driven a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights guage most common in Maiduguri, where he used to He said he and many other fighters would like to Boko Haram out of most of the region’s cities and Council in Geneva. An Associated Press report last live with his parents. surrender but are scared to do so. “Each time they towns since a May 14 military crackdown on three week, based on mortuary records from Maiduguri’s He refused to give his name because he was afraid declare an attack, I feel sick and terrified, so were most northeastern states covering one-sixth of the sprawl- main hospital, supported Amnesty International his former colleagues would target his family. The of my younger colleagues, but we dare not resist our ing West African country that is Africa’s largest oil pro- charges that hundreds of detainees are dying in mili- young man shed an interesting light on life as a leaders: They are deadly, our punishment for betrayal ducer. But Hill noted that “despite the extraordinary tary detention, many taken out of their cells and shot. Nigerian Islamic warrior, saying religion had little to is slaughtering of our necks.” According to him, Boko efforts of the security forces, Boko Haram appears The government has failed to respond to requests do with it and that his leaders “had never once Haram had moved on from targeting security forces unbowed and its campaign undimmed.” — AP

Results trickle in from Madagascar Czech Centre-left leads historic election ANTANANARIVO: Results trickled in from Madagascar’s in parliamentary vote presidential election yesterday, though it was too early to identify a dominant candidate in the vote that many hope will save a cash-starved economy left crippled by a coup. A credible poll would be an important step towards luring Anti-graft ANO party takes second place, Communists third back tourists and investors who were scared off when PRAGUE: Czech Social Democrats won mutinous troops swept former disc jockey Andry most votes in a parliamentary election, par- Rajoelina to power in the Indian Ocean island in 2009. tial results showed yesterday, but their Around 18 hours after voting ended, the electoral leader predicted tough talks on forming a commission (CENIT) had released provisional results from new coalition government after new just 117 out of more than 20,000 polling stations, indicat- protest parties performed well. The centre- ing the huge logistical task it faces on one of the world’s left, pro-European Union Social Democrats largest islands. “Things will start moving faster,” said Jean led by ex-finance minister Bohuslav Victor Rasolonjatovo, executive secretary of the CENIT, Sobotka won about 22 percent of the vote, which has until Nov. 8 to release complete provisional based on the results of two thirds of Czech results. polling stations, well below the 30 percent Madagascar’s ‘L’Express’ newspaper ran the headline they had been targeting. “Indecisive Battle”. The numbers showed early leads for A newly formed anti-graft protest move- two of the most fancied candidates, Jean Louis Robinson, ment ANO (Yes) led by a business tycoon a close political ally of the president ousted in 2009, Marc took second spot with about 19 percent, Ravalomanana, and Hery Rajaonarimampianina, a former ahead of the Communists on 16 percent, finance minister under Rajoelina. But it was too early to the partial results showed. Four other par- draw any concrete trends from the partial results, which ties - including the two centre-right parties accounted for less than 1 percent of total registered vot- whose scandal-tainted coalition collapsed ers on the island, famed for its lemurs and eyed by foreign in June - also seemed set to cross the 5 per- firms for its minerals. cent threshold to enter parliament. “If the The real test will be if the results are challenged by any lower house of parliament is fragmented, of the 33 candidates. Rajoelina, 39, whose power grab we will face tough negotiations on forming prompted donors to suspend budget support funds and government,” Sobotka told Czech television. African powers to impose sanctions, urged all presidential “The Social Democrats are prepared to hopefuls to accept the result. Most voters and foreign take on this tough negotiation and we will diplomats did not expect Friday’s election to produce an try to form a reasonable, stable cabinet,” he outright winner, who would need to secure more than said, adding he was ready to talk to all par- half of the votes. “At the very least we are sure to make it ties except the centre-right parties who led through to a second round but we don’t exclude winning the last government. But ANO’s billionaire PRAGUE: Czech billionaire, Andrej Babis, leader of ‘ANO’ movement (‘YES’) addresses the media in Prague, after polling stations in the first round,” Robinson told Reuters by phone. His leader Andrej Babis said he did not want his officially closed yesterday. — AFP rival’s camp was equally buoyant. “We’re confident of party joining any new coalition and at pres- going through to a second round,” Rajaonarimampianina’s ent could not envisage supporting a Social Financial markets have mostly ignored the European country of 10.5 million people ing prime minister will hinge not only on the campaign manager, Joabarison Randrianarivony said. Democrat cabinet. A Social Democrat gov- election thanks to the Czech Republic’s eco- gave a big boost to ANO and other protest smaller parties entering parliament. It could be more than a week before the election result ernment would be expected to slap new nomic stability, underpinned by low public parties in the final weeks of the election President Milos Zeman, himself a for- is clear. Some polling stations were so remote it could taxes on banks, utilities and high earners to debt load and the lowest borrowing costs in campaign, raising the prospect of pro- mer Social Democrat prime minister, has take two or three days to motorbike the results to the pay for social programs and help keep the emerging Europe, but they may be rattled longed haggling over a new coalition gov- made clear he expects to have a say in the nearest point where they can be electronically relayed to budget deficit below the EU’s prescribed by an uncertain outcome and the risk of ernment. post-election negotiations. Zeman’s posi- the CENIT in the capital. Helicopters were being drafted in level of 3 percent of national output. drawn-out coalition talks. ANO struck a chord among many voters tion will be all the stronger if the margin of to collect ballot papers from the most far-flung voting The Social Democrats, out of power The snap election was called after cen- who had grown weary of the old parties and the Social Democrats’ victory proves nar- centers, one electoral official familiar with the logistics since 2006, have previously said they want tre-right Prime Minister Petr Necas resigned seemed willing to overlook Babis’s pre-1989 row. But he may be weakened by the fail- said. International election observers said the vote was to form a minority government backed in in June in a scandal over alleged illegal sur- membership of the Communist Party and ure of a leftist grouping of his allies to generally calm with no sign of voter intimidation, though parliament by the Communists, heirs to the veillance and bribery. His Civic Democrats links to the then-secret police. “The current make it into parliament, as indicated by numerous eligible voters complained they had been totalitarian party that lost power in the won only about 7 percent and its former parties have messed it up. They all lie just to the partial results. Zeman has long disliked unable to vote after apparent glitches in the registration 1989 “Velvet Revolution”. It would be the coalition partner, the conservative TOP09, protect each other,” said voter Vilem Zajicek, Sobotka and may try to negotiate a coali- process. — Reuters first time the far-left party has had any share about 11 percent, the partial results 50, making clear he was backing one of the tion headed by another Social Democrat, in power in the post-communist era. showed. Anger over sleaze in the central new groupings. Sobotka’s hopes of becom- analysts say. — Reuters Serbia buries Tito’s widow, last symbol of Yugoslavia

BELGRADE: The widow of former ment in World War II. A simple wood- Many among the mourners, mostly Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito was en coffin without a state flag was put elderly former partisans who proudly buried in Belgrade yesterday with full under the white marble lid engraved carried their World War II decorations, state honors as the last symbol of the with “Jovanka Broz, 1924-2013” in dismissed such charges, solemnly communist federation that broke up golden letters. waving red, white and blue flags of in the 1990s. Once described as the Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic the former Yugoslav federation that most elegant first lady of the Eastern bid an official farewell to “the first lady broke apart in a series of bloody con- bloc, Jovanka Broz, who died of heart of Yugoslavia... the woman we have flicts in the 1990s. “I wanted to say failure at the age of 88 last Sunday, committed the sin against.” “Rest in goodbye to her as I did for Tito, was buried in the mausoleum House peace, next to the man you dedicated because for me, they were like a fami- of Flowers in Belgrade, where the your life to,” said Dacic, whose party ly,” said 84-year old Minka Jovanovic, communist strongman was laid to traces its roots to Tito’s communist who could hardly hide her tears. Broz’s rest in 1980. party, while many shouted “Long live last public appearance was at Tito’s In a somber atmosphere on a sun- Yugoslavia”. Once a symbol of ele- state funeral in May 1980, which was ny autumn day, some 4,000 people gance and adored in the former attended by more than 200 world attended the ceremony held with no Yugoslavia, Broz lived the last three leaders, including Margaret Thatcher, religious service in a vast green com- decades of her life as an outcast. Saddam Hussein and Leonid MAIDUGURI: Nigerian soldiers patrol in Maiduguri. Nigeria’s army said it had killed 95 suspected Boko Haram fighters plex of the mausoleum. A military Blamed by Tito’s political allies of plot- Brezhnev. in a raid on insurgent camps in restive Borno state, the latest operation in the military’s bid to crush a four-year guard fired honorary shots as Broz ting a coup, she was placed under vir- After Tito’s death, she was forced to Islamist uprising. —AFP was a decorated member of the tual house arrest a few years before leave the former Serbian royal palace Yugoslav anti-fascist partisan move- her husband’s death. where the couple lived in splendor, and spent the following years in isola- Nigeria troops kill 95 tion and poverty. “They chased me out ... in my nightgown, without any- thing, not allowing me even to take a Boko Haram fighters photo of the two of us, or a letter, a book,” Broz said in a rare interview in 2009. Since that time, “I was in isola- MAIDUGURI: Nigeria’s army said yesterday ed raids on Thursday, burning at least four four months ago had put Boko Haram on tion and treated like a criminal,” she it had killed 95 suspected Boko Haram police buildings, said a senior police officer the defensive and left it incapable of told the Politika daily. Her identity fighters in raids in the country’s northeast, who requested anonymity. attacking major urban centers like papers were confiscated and only as gunmen from the Islamist group battled Army spokesman General Ibrahim Damaturu. Figures released earlier this year returned by Serbian authorities in security forces in a neighboring area. The Attahiru said in a statement published late said the conflict had cost more than 3,600 2009, when she was given a pension. army, which is battling to crush a four-year Friday that 70 suspected Islamists were lives, including killings by the security Broz, who was Tito’s third wife, met Islamist uprising in Nigeria, said it deployed killed in Borno state and others fled forces. The current toll is certainly much the charismatic communist leader bombs and ground troops to destroy insur- towards Damaturu where 25 of them were higher. after she had joined the partisans at gent camps in Borno on Thursday. killed by the army. “The insurgents fleeing Damaturu is the capital of Yobe state, the age of 17. She remained in the Army spokesman Mohammed Dole from the earlier clashes .. regrouped to car- another area repeatedly targeted by Boko trenches until the end of World War II, said that “74 suspected militants” were ry out attacks on Damaturu,” said the state- Haram in an insurgency aimed at creating attaining the rank of captain. As killed in the assault outside the Borno capi- ment. “Our command post ... and other an Islamic state in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim Yugoslavia began turning its back on tal Maiduguri, where Boko Haram was sites around Damaturu were attacked and north. “They invaded the city in large num- its wartime ally Russia, then under founded more than a decade ago. The ... 25 insurgents were killed.” bers in vehicles and on foot from different Stalin’s rule, Broz was hired as Tito’s operation followed an assault Monday on The army did not mention any possible directions,” the officer said. They then BELGRADE: Members of a military honor guard stand next to the casket secretary in 1948. The date of their Boko Haram camps in another part of civilian casualties. The officer said there opened fire “on police facilities with guns containing the remains of Jovanka Broz, the late widow of former Yugoslav marriage remains unclear, as are most Borno, which the military said left 37 were casualties from the attack, which will and explosives and engaged soldiers and communist leader Josip Broz Tito, during a funeral ceremony at a Tito details of Tito’s private life. Some biog- Islamists dead. In a separate outbreak of be seen as a setback in the campaign to policemen in a fierce gunfire exchange memorial complex in Belgrade yesterday. — AFP raphers set it in 1952. — AFP violence, suspected Islamist fighters end the insurgency. The military had that continued deep into the night,” he stormed the city of Damaturu in coordinat- claimed an offensive launched more than added. — AFP