News Briefs (October 2007)

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

10 Indonesians Recovering after Contracting Anthrax

Indonesia was distributing anthrax vaccines across a remote island on Tuesday after 10 villagers contracted the disease from an infected buffalo, an agriculture official said. Livestock movement in areas close to where the villagers lived on Flores island in the far east of the country has also been banned, said Musni Suatmojo, director of animal health at the Agriculture Ministry. The 10 villagers were diagnosed with the disease last week, he said, adding that officials suspected they contracted it after cutting up and eating an infected buffalo. They were diagnosed as having cutaneous anthrax, the most common form, which enters through a cut or abrasion and can cause skin rashes and swelling, he said. They were treated with antibiotics and are now recovering, Suatmojo said.

Anthrax commonly occurs in cows, sheep and goats, and can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animals. The disease is endemic across much of Indonesia. Some 20,000 doses of livestock vaccine were being distributed across the island, Suatmojo said. Flores is 1,700 kilometers (1056 miles) east of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. (AP)

Cambodia's Hun Sen Severs Ties with Adopted Gay Daughter

Cambodia's prime minister said Tuesday that his adopted daugther is a lesbian and he was severing ties with her, but he urged the country not to discriminate against gays. "My adopted daughter now has a wife. I'm quite disappointed," Hun Sen said. He made the rare revelation about his closely guarded family life during a speech at a university graduation ceremony. Hun Sen said he plans to file a civil court case to disown his adopted daughter, whom he did not name, so that she cannot claim any inheritance from his family.

The prime minister and his wife Bun Rany have five children, three sons and two daughters. He said they adopted their third daughter when she was 18 days old. She has carried his family name "Hun" just like his biological children. Hun Sen, meanwhile, told the graduating class at the National Institute of Education that it is wrong to discriminate against homosexuals. "I'd like to take this opportunity to appeal to parents and society not to discriminate against them (gays)," Hun Sen said. Sam Vuthy, coordinator of Women's Agenda for Change, a nonprofit Cambodian group advocating gay rights, hailed Hun Sen's appeal, saying she hoped it would reduce discrimination against homosexuals in Cambodia. (AP)

Crackdown Exercises Held in Burma 

Eyewitnesses have reported to The Irrawaddy that the Burmese junta has been training riot police in case of more mass protests.

On Monday at Kyaikkasan Stadium in Rangoon, security forces were seen practicing scenarios of putting down protests. About 300 soldiers police, including paramilitary personnel, in full riot gear took part, said the sources.

According to a member of the Ward Peace and Development Council, this practice session included instruction on how to systematically beat back crowds using bamboo sticks, special anti-riot batons and shields.

Members of paramilitary groups, such as the Union Solidarity and Development Association and Swan Ah Shin, have reportedly been given anti-riot training throughout Burma for years.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Cambodia's Retired King Says No Birthday Gifts

Cambodia's retired but still revered King Norodom Sihanouk said he wants no gifts, correspondence or other fanfare for his 85th birthday, his royal office announced Wednesday. In a statement posted on Sihanouk's official Web site, Royal Secretariat Director Srey Nory gave no reason for the former monarch's request for a low-key birthday, which falls on October 31. The secretariat director said Sihanouk has in the past issued statements asking admirers and dignitaries to stop deluging him with congratulatory messages and gifts. Sihanouk is again asking people, including members of the royal family, to heed his words "to not call on him, to not dispatch to him messages of greetings and congratulations, even on the occasion of his birthday," the statement said. Sihanouk hopes to avoid "gifts, fruits, cakes, culinary dishes and other things." Sihanouk's request also applies to Christmas, the international January 1 New Year and Cambodia's traditional Khmer New Year, celebrated in April, the statement said.