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WORLD NEWS A11
Tuesday 19 January 2016

Philippine plane warned by ‘Chinese navy’ in disputed sea

A China Southern Airlines jetliner lands at the airfield on Fiery sonnel of the Civil Aviation have completed the island threatens regional stability
Cross Reef, known as Yongshu Reef in Chinese, in the Sprat- Authority of the Philippines building and are now con- and could violate freedom
ly Islands, known as Nansha Islands in Chinese, of the South flew to a Philippine-occu- structing buildings and run- of navigation and over-
China Sea. Philippine officials said Monday they received two pied island for an engineer- ways to ensure safe civilian flight.
intimidating radio warnings identified as from the Chinese navy ing survey for the installa- sea travel. They have ac- As their Cessna ap-
when they flew close to a Chinese-constructed island in the tion of civil aviation safety knowledged, though, that proached Pag-asa to land,
South China Sea. equipment on the island. the islands could also be Apolonio said a message
The island, which the Phil- used militarily, adding that was received over an
(Cha Chunming/Xinhua via AP) ippines calls Pag-asa and they have the right to build emergency radio channel
is home to a small fishing on what they say is Chinese warning: “Foreign military
community and Filipino territory. aircraft, this is the Chinese
troops, is close to Subi The United States and gov- navy. You are threatening
Reef, one of seven reefs in ernments with rival claims the security of our station.”
the disputed Spratly archi- with China in the disputed The Filipino pilots ignored
pelago which China has region, including the Philip- the warning and contin-
transformed into islands pines and Vietnam, have ued with the trip since they
in the last two years using expressed alarm over the were flying a civilian plane
dredged sand. Chinese construction, say- over what Apolonio said
Chinese officials say they ing it raises tensions and was Philippine territory. q

JIM GOMEZ nese navy when they flew
Associated Press a Cessna plane close to a
MANILA, Philippines (AP) Chinese-constructed island
— Philippine officials said in the South China Sea.
Monday they received two Eric Apolonio said the in-
intimidating radio warnings cident happened Jan. 7
identified as from the Chi- when he and other per-

Five radical Islamists jailed in
Bangladesh over 2005 blasts

NEW DELHI (AP) — A court for Shariah law in a coun-
in Bangladesh sentenced try where the legal system
five alleged radical Is- is based on British com-
lamists to 10 years in jail on mon law. Later in 2005, the
Monday after finding them group launched attacks
guilty of carrying out a se- on police, courts and indi-
ries of explosions in 2005 to viduals that left more than
demand Shariah law in the two dozen people dead.
Muslim-majority nation. Six leaders of the group
Police Inspector Mominul accused of involvement in
Islam said the court in Ran- the attacks were hanged
gamati district in south- in 2007.
eastern Bangladesh deliv- Authorities say the group
ered the sentences to the has regrouped in recent
members of the banned months after a number of
Jumatul Mujahedeen Ban- attacks left several people,
gladesh group. One de- including two foreigners,
fendant was acquitted be- dead in 2015.
cause the charges against The group has also been
were not proven, he said. accused of attacking mi-
The group is accused of nority Shiite and Ahmadiya
exploding hundreds of groups. Dozens of alleged
homemade bombs across members have been ar-
the country almost simul- rested in recent months in
taneously in August 2005 connection with the 2015
to press their campaign attacks. q