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WORLD NEWS Saturday 19 January 2019
Zimbabwe in 'total internet shutdown' amid violent crackdown

By FARAI MUTSAKA now the world's most ex-
Associated Press pensive. Zimbabweans
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — heeded a nationwide
Zimbabwe on Friday faced stay-at-home call earlier
a "total internet shutdown," this week in protest. Rights
a media group said, after groups and others have
a days-long violent crack- accused security forces
down on people protest- of targeting activists and
ing a dramatic fuel price labor leaders in response,
increase. Badly injured with the United States ex-
people streamed into a pressing alarm.
hospital in the capital after The U.N. human rights office
alleged assaults by security on Friday urged Zimbabwe
forces. to stop the crackdown,
"Our country is going noting reports of intimidat-
through one of the most ing door-to-door searches
trying periods in its history," by security forces.
the Zimbabwe Catholic The Zimbabwe Association
Bishops' Conference said in of Doctors for Human Rights
a sweeping statement la- has said it had treated 68
menting the government's cases of gunshot wounds
"intolerant handling of dis- In this Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 photo, an injured man is helped at a private hospital after an al- and 100-plus other cases of
sent" and its failure to halt leged assault by a group of uniformed soldiers in Harare, Zimbabwe. "assaults with sharp objects,
economic collapse. Associated Press booted feet, baton sticks"
Media group MISA-Zimba- and more.
bwe shared a text mes- sible 20 years in prison on a online. "It's a shame what's while Mnangagwa pre- Injured people streamed
sage from the country's subversion charge arrived happening," the pastor pares to plead for more into a private hospital in the
largest telecom company, at court, one of more than said. A magistrate said investment at the World capital, Harare, on Thurs-
Econet, calling the gov- 600 people arrested this there was reasonable sus- Economic Forum in Davos, day. Some had broken
ernment's internet order week. Evan Mawarire has picion he had committed Switzerland. He announced legs. A nurse attended to a
"beyond our reasonable called it "heartbreaking" to an offense and set a Jan. the fuel price increase on man with a broken spine.
control." The High Court will see the new government of 31 hearing, while Mawarire the eve of his overseas trip, Albert Taurai told The As-
hear a challenge to the President Emmerson Mnan- remains in detention until leaving hardline former mili- sociated Press he had ven-
shutdown on Monday, the gagwa acting like that his lawyer on Monday can tary commander and Vice tured out to look for bread
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Hu- of former leader Robert seek bail. President Constantino Chi- when plainclothes officers
man Rights said. Mugabe. International calls for re- wenga as acting president. wearing masks beat him
A prominent pastor and Mawarire is accused of in- straint by Zimbabwe's se- Gasoline in the economi- up, accusing him of barri-
activist who faces a pos- citing civil disobedience curity forces are growing, cally shattered country is cading roads.q

Myanmar army ordered to take offensive against Arakan Army

Associated Press on Jan. 4. The moves to this year. The guerrillas are
NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) counter the rebels were known to have trained in
— Myanmar's military an- decided at a Jan. 7 meet- areas controlled by other
nounced Friday that the ing at Myanmar's presiden- ethnic rebel forces, espe-
Arakan Army, a Buddhist tial offices, the officers said. cially in Kachin state.
rebel group in Rakhine Suu Kyi "said the Arakan The Arakan Army, found-
state, has been classified a Army is just a terrorist group ed in 2009, is estimated
terrorist organization after and instructed us to defeat to have several thousand
mounting a flurry of recent them effectively, quickly well-armed and organized
attacks. and clearly," Maj. Gen. Nyi uniformed members, in
The state earlier was the Nyi Tun, vice chairman of contrast to the ragtag and
site of a brutal counterin- the Myanmar Military In- virtually dormant Rohingya
surgency campaign by the formation Committee, told guerrillas.
military against the Muslim reporters. A terrorist desig- Myanmar's military in De-
Rohingya minority, caus- nation criminalizes a group cember announced
ing more than 700,000 to and bans all communica- cease-fires in five areas
flee to neighboring Bangla- tion with them. Maj. Gen. Soe Naing Oo, chairman of the Myanmar's military where ethnic rebellions are
desh. He said Suu Kyi suggested information committee, talks to journalists during a press con- active, but did not include
ference at the Military Museum in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday,
Military officers said at a that if she did not order the Jan. 18, 2019. Rakhine state because it
news conference in the military to attack the Ara- Associated Press had information that the
capital, Naypyitaw, that kan Army, the international Arakan Rohingya Salvation
leader Aung San Suu Kyi community would accuse jority Myanmar has been The officers said the mili- Army planned attacks, the
ordered security forces her of religious prejudice for accused of ethnic cleans- tary clashed with the Ara- officers said.
to launch the offensive attacking the Muslim guer- ing, and even genocide, kan Army 15 times in 2015, Brig. Gen. Zaw Min Tun
against the Arakan Army. rillas of the Arakan Rohing- against the Muslim Rohing- 26 times in 2016, 56 times in said he believed that the
The insurgent group, which ya Salvation Army but not ya. Its counterinsurgency 2017 and 61 times in 2018, fighting with the Arakan
seeks autonomy from the Buddhist rebels who com- campaign was triggered while the rebels also plant- Army would not interfere
central government, killed mitted similar actions with when a group of Rohingya ed some mines. They said with plans to repatriate
13 police officers and similar goals. guerrillas attacked security there have been at least Rohingya refugees from
wounded nine in attacks The military in Buddhist-ma- outposts in August 2017. eight armed encounters Bangladesh.q