Strong Earthquake Shakes Indonesia

A huge earthquake has struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra, triggering blackouts, widespread panic and tsunami warnings.

The 7.8 magnitude quake, the second major temblor to hit the island in six months struck at 5.15 am local time (2215 GMT) 125 miles off the city of Sibolga, on Sumatra's north west coast, which was devastated in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Buildings shook and residents of coastal cities fled to higher ground, and there were blackouts in Medan and Banda Acheh. However there were no reports of major damage or casualties and the tsunami warnings issed by the Indonesian Government and Thailand were lifted two hours later.'

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Thailand Admits Abandoning 1000 Muslims At Sea

A Thai naval officer has confirmed claims that ethnic Rohingya boat people from Myanmar, detained along Thailand's south-western coast, have been taken back out to sea and set adrift.The naval officer, who declined to be identified, told Al Jazeera:

"We have to take the engines off the boats or they will come back.

"The wind will carry them to India or somewhere."

Humanitarian groups have accused Thailand of systematically abusing migrants from the Muslim minority Rohingya.

The allegations of abuse came after accounts emerged of a group of Rohingya being beaten before being towed back out to sea after being intercepted off Indonesia.

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Indonesia: Another UFO Seen Rising From Lake

Recently we reported a UFO sighting in Argentina involving a number of UFOs seen rising from a lake in the province of Entre Rios on January 2 2009 by numerous witnesses. Now we have received reports of a very similar sighting in Indonesia. The parallels are striking and raise many questions.

A group of eight friends planned to go to a concert in the centre of the regional city of Jember in East Java on December 20 2008. Tickets to the concert were sold out so the group headed back to one of their homes in two cars. Heavy traffic in the centre of the city forced the group to go an alternative route past a lake on the outskirts of the town. One of the cars halted as the driver spotted a remarkable sight above the small lake that they were passing.

Two large lights rose from the lake, one white and one red. Two beams were then shot from the lights towards the lake and at that point the lights appeared to change formation; this lasted no less than ten minutes before the strange lights shot off upward into the night sky.

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Obama's New Intelligence Chief Ran Interference for Indonesia's Butchers

The presumptive appointment by President-elect Barack Obama of retired Admiral Dennis C. Blair as his new Director of National Intelligence is being greeted with cheers by the national media, which hail his experience, bureaucratic infighting skills and comparatively moderate views on national security issues.

But human rights supporters are right to be worried that Dennis Blair will hardly lead the charge for reform in the nation’s intelligence community after the Bush Administration’s embrace of torture, rendition and other crimes. For in the period leading up to and following East Timor’s August 1999 referendum on independence from Indonesia Blair, from his perch as US Commander in Chief of the Pacific (CINCPAC) from February 1999 to May 2000, ran interference for the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) as they and their militia proxies committed crimes against humanity on an awesome scale.

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HIV Carriers Face Microchip Implants in Indonesia's Papua Province

Some carriers of HIV would be implanted with microchips under a bill backed by legislators in the Indonesian province of Papua.
John Manangsang, a Papua MP, said that by implanting computer chips beneath the skin of "sexually aggressive" patients authorities would be in a better position to identify, track and punish anyone who deliberately infected others. Those convicted could face up to six months in jail or a £3,340 fine.
The proposed legislation has received backing from the provincial parliament and a majority vote is expected. If approved it would be enacted next month, Manangsang said.

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21 Dead In Indonesia Stampede

At least 21 people have been killed and many others injured in a stampede in Indonesia's East Java province, local media reported. They were waiting for a charity handout, a tradition during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, when the crush happened in the town of Pasuruan. Most of the dead are women and children. According to local police officials, about 10,000 people were lined up in an alley to receive cash handouts, of $3.30 per person, from a wealthy family. Some people were trampled and some others collapsed because of a lack of oxygen. Some of the injured people are in critical condion

Press TV

21 Dead for $3.30 each. And the HSBC boss earned a £1.75 million bonus. Criminal!