Latest update January 27th, 2025 4:30 AM
Sep 30, 2012 News
By Lin-Jay Harry-Voglezon in New York
While the General Assembly of the United Nations was in its Thursday session here in New York, individuals, protest and advocacy groups turned up to expose the conditions of survival within their countries and implore the United Nations to act.
A number of Guyanese were expected to protest or advocate their case against the Guyana government but only one person, who gave her name as Asha, turned up and picketed for a few hours, alternating her several placards. Later, another person arrived looking for company.
Other loners were: a Palestinian with two placards which itemized “facts”, “truth” and “solutions” pertaining to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; a Paraguayan woman who apparently meant to be sarcastic with her placard which read “I am the First Lady of Paraguay, I want $1,500,000 for my summer closet”; and an American, whose siblings were in the wars with Iraq and now in Afghanistan. His placard read: “They lied about Iraq, they’re lying about Iran.”
The African groups from Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo seemed to have been handicapped by the language barriers, but they brought attention to themselves and placards through songs and African protest dance. The most active and passionate group was the Tibetans, who like the Congolese, and the Jumna People of Bangladesh, displayed graphic images of bodies mutilated by the armed forces, and of those whose self-immolation were acts of resistance to the state.
The Tibetans continuously chanted anti-China messages for hours, including “We are humans too”, “China lies Tibetans die”, “Five-Nations Security Council Must Act Honestly and Fairly”, and “United Nations Speak for Tibetans”. They said that since their occupation by China in 1959, 1.2 million people of their 9 million population were killed by the Chinese state, and from 2009, 52 Tibetans committed self-immolation in resistance. They want resumption of their independence.
The other impacting anti-China group was the Falun Gong practitioners, who like others, distributed newspapers, fliers, etc. on their plight in China. They put up a large banner which stated that: “Falun Gong practitioners killed in CCP concentration camp for their organs and cremated to hide evidence.” They explained that their persecution began on July 20, 1999, when former President Jiang Zemin realized that their 100 million membership and practitioners were larger than the communist party which is about 60 million.
Even though there is no evidence that they were ever political or subversive, but an organization which promoted morality, meditation, and healthy life styles, they are continuously arrested, isolated, forced to give up their beliefs and killed in concentration camps to harvest their organs for the local and international markets.
According to the Volunteer Coordinator, Jianten Zhou, the organization which started in 1993, spread to 100 countries, and is practiced in 30 languages, is the target for organ harvesting because of the healthy lifestyles. She added, the state media is used to malign the organization while state operatives which forced prostitutes into self-immolation, for example, pin that to organization to label it destructive. Another member, Chun Xia Ma, is worried about her older sister Chun Ling Ma who was kidnapped in the street about a month ago by the “so-called police”. No family member has heard from, or seen her since. According to the organization, when their members are arrested or kidnapped medical tests are done to determine their blood type, etc. At the moment, members are on a signature campaign in New York.
The Jumna People, who are the indigenous people of Bangladesh with their language (Chakma) and identity but 0.7 of the population, have grievances similar to the Tibetans. They are located mainly in the hills, but claim that since Bangladesh obtained independence in 1971, they lost their freedom, have no constitutional rights and are not recognized.
Instead, the government is violent towards them and pursuing a policy of assimilation. As they exhibit graphic images of persons killed a few days ago by the army, they are demanding that the peace agreement signed between their party, the PCJSS and the government in 1997 be implemented and be constitutionally recognized as an indigenous people.
The group from Equatorial Guinea was the only pro-government group. In September 2011 the French government seized 15 cars, including a Maserati, Aston Martin and Rolls Royce, belonging to the President’s son and Vice President, Teodorin Nguema Obiang Mangue. Later they also seized his luxury mansion in Avenue Foch, France, worth 100m-150m euros. In October 2011, the US government went after him to recover assets greater than $70m. Earlier this year, he paid the national football team $1m for winning the opening game of the African Cup of Nations.
In July this year, the French government issued an arrest warrant for him on money laundering charges. French judges are also investigating his father, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo on embezzlement charges. His government asked the International Court of Justice to stop France from investigating the ruling family. The protest group is arguing that the matters are for ‘Guinea’s jurisdiction not France’s. Equatorial Guinea is one of Africa largest oil exporters and most of its 720,000 people are impoverished.
Jan 27, 2025
By Rawle Toney in Suriname (Compliments of National Sports Commission) Kaieteur Sports – Suriname emerged victorious in the 2025 Nations Cup basketball tournament, defeating Guyana 79-61 in an...Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- When the Cold War ended, western liberalism declared its victory over communism. It immediately... more
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]