Vol. 1: A Picture Says a Thousand Words
Pretty self-explanatory. Some images may be graphic or triggering. Some words provided by me for some context. Sometimes videos. No real theme, or maybe you’ll see something I don’t.
West Papua
Indonesian military forces doing a little photoshoot around two detained West Papuans (teenagers), one visibly tortured. Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua, Indonesia. Source
Indonesian military standing around Okniel Giban, a 23-year-old freedom fighter they killed. Source
There’s a decades-long West Papuan insurgency and movements seeking independence for Indonesia, that Jakarta does not want you to know about.
Read more here:
Indonesia during the Bosnian War
Soeripto (center), an official at Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry, who was smuggling weapons to Bosnia during the war in the early 1990s. He did not act alone, Indonesia’s then government supported the Bosnian Muslims, not openly though. This was a covert op. Source
His story, with fascinating details:
Narcosubs from Latin America to Australia
A narco-sub caught with 4 tons of coke in international waters off the Colombian coast, headed to Australia, which googlemaps says is around 13,835 km away. Source
It’s a low-profile vessel with outboard motors, length 18 meters. More specs/details here: http://www.hisutton.com/Narco-Submarine-To-Australia.html
This is apparently the first narco submarine caught on the way to Australia; there could have been other cases that were not reported, or other cases in which the subs got through. It is hard to smuggle to Australia though, so street prices are mad high, which is the best incentive. Let’s assume 300 AUD a grammy, that’s at least 1.2 billion AUD. But the Aussie coast guard and navy has had plenty of practice stopping boats of Afghan and other refugees from Indonesia, who were stuck in limbo there, without a means to live, who would risk going on a crowded smugglers boat on rough seas just to get out. So maybe this is the first.
The Pacific Islands have become a major drug smuggling (and growing production) route for international cartels in the last few years. They include Chinese and Asian syndicates, Mexican and South American cartels, and Australian and New Zealand organized crime groups. It is causing drug epidemics.
Indian Farmers Standing Up to Security Forces
A tractor fitted with a fan to blow tear gas back towards security forces. Source
A video on farmers using firecrackers to mess with drones shooting tear gas:
https://twitter.com/VibhuGroverr/status/1760547613693108709
A video of farmers using kites to mess with drones. The kites used, the string usually has glass shards stuck along it, its used in festivals, there’s games where you try to take down someone else’s kite. People also get seriously injured:
https://twitter.com/gurshamshir/status/1757998483292950698
A young protestor, got 10 steel pellets to the face. One went in his eye. Source
Creative methods Indian farmers are countering security forces armed with tear gas drones and shells fired at them, pellets that can cause serious injuries, including blindness, sonic weapons, and more. Forces have killed one person, a kid barely 20 years old if I remember correctly. Injured countless others, some gravely.
Indian farmers are protesting against policies, and promises by the government not delivered. The government is trying to say that this is a foreign-funded movement by Khalistanis (who want an independent Punjab state). If you believe that, also believe that I can sell honey to a bee. Or burn up fire and drown drops of water. Elections coming up. Sikhs are being demonized. But we still don’t want Khalistan and will punch anyone in the diaspora saying so. And we (India) don’t need hollow promises and lies and a state which makes its own people the enemy. Anyway, that’s a story for another day. If you would be interested, let me know.
Security forces, in large numbers, have blocked roads to Delhi, with iron barricades, concrete blocks, barbed wire, other barriers. There’s more security along these internal state borders than there is with the border with China in Arunachal Pradesh. Where China has pushed the border back and encroached on Indian territory. The Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has not said much about that. Also let me know if you want to read more about this.
That one Tom Delonge gif with a wig and he’s mouthing wtf.
There’s no context I could ever provide for this. I have more questions every time I look at it. Which hasn’t been a lot, it hurts my eyes and head. Source
GOLD RUSH
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape at the Porgera Mine, with the first gold bar produced after nearly four years. Source
The mine is massive, lots of gold and silver. Closed down in 2020 over politics. Before that, the mine and operations gained controversy for severely contaminating the ecosystem and rivers. Before that controversy flared over mine security killing people, using sexual violence, arson of houses, assaults, et cetera. A Canadian mining company paid 119 survivors of sexual violence nearly USD 6000, to not sue the company. A dollar goes a long way in places. The company is also looking to restart operations at a large mine in Pakistan, in an area where locals don’t want miners, or foreigners.
Papua New Guinea has been plagued with violence and super messy politics, especially recently; I hope to do a little write-up on it soon (and I hope there is interest).