Japanese Media Report: Journalist Shot Dead at Close Range by Authority in Burma
By bluegal Friday Sep 28, 2007 3:16pmWarning: video contains graphic content
I don't have a translation for this but you don't really need it. A Japanese journalist recording on camera the carnage in Burma was shot at point blank range by a uniformed gunman.
Times Online (UK): Footage capturing the last, terrible seconds of Kenji Nagai’s life has been aired on Japanese television – horrifying a nation and raising official suspicion that the 50-year old photo-journalist was murdered by Burmese troops (writes Leo Lewis in Tokyo).
The shaky, indistinct moments of footage appear to show Nagai, who was on the edge of a crowd of panic-stricken demonstrators, shoved violently to the ground by a soldier and shot dead at point-blank range.
The crowd flees, leaving behind a visibly agonised figure believed to be Nagai – dressed casually in shorts and flip-flops – on his back in the street. In his right hand is a video camera, held above the ground to protect it from the fall.
A loud crack is audible as a soldier points his rifle at the prone figure before launching himself at the dispersing crowd of protesters. Read more....
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jesus fucking christ !!
A true journalistic Hero. He tried to save his camera so others can see the brutality against the people
Ongoing constantly updated coverage with links to the Burma blogs and news
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/2007/09/burma_protests_friday.html
and this flash interactive is really good for explaining the background to what's going on.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/flash/page/0,,2176689,00.html
and this blog/magazine is really good for the latest news and video.
http://www.burmadigest.info/
If Nagai was laying in the street on his back, face up, and holding his camera up in the air, then he was NOT prone (which means face down) as the article states, he was supine (face up). This grammatical error is made far too often by journalists and bloggers/posters who should know better. sUPine mean face UP. Easy to remember. Seems like too many writers use "prone" because they think it sounds like a fancy word an educated person would use without ever bothering to find out what it actually means.
Nevertheless, what a horrifying story.
Look around, kids. How long before you think this starts happening here???? WAKE THE FUCK UP.
petersjo @ 4:
Learn something new everyday on the internets
It looks like real terror to me, not some fakery the US decided to created and chase in Iraq.
But what is USofA anyway.
1 Elites:
Politicians, CEOs, financiers, DAs, corporatists, millionaires, billionaires (those who have stolen the first million, been donated one or inherited one, such as Murdoch, Bush, Chaney, Romney or Trump, who this very week recommended Clinton OR Gulliani as “the next presidents since they are good friends of his”, wow, (even though such ridiculous, anti-American, repentant judgment would get any person fired, no pun intended, from any office, anytime, anywhere in the world, there you have it, some of them simply can afford to be brainless and ignorant no matter how dim they look to the public), government scientists and engineers, elite doctors and pharma inventors, think tanks and yes THE MEDIA, both “the elites through association ONLY”, but let them be what they think they are, even though they are the worst kind of them all.
2. The Middle Men:
Policemen, FBI, CIA, Army, lawyers, elite professors and thinker, doctors, commentators and foreign secret agents.
3. Commoners:
95% of Americans, the people, yes here are we.
A few words on how the system works.
Sector 1 uses 2 to keep 3 as 3, let some of 3 be 2 so 3 stays 3 and never endangers 1 through reforms, revolutions or simple exercising of their influence as drawn in the Constitution, but thanks to cooperation of 1 and 2, the rights written in the Constitution get twisted, hidden or gradually destroyed so 3 can focus on the daily Headlines, Breaking News, “Just In” feeds and other distracters, and elect “Clinton or Gulliani”, while 1 continues feeding off of 3 and totally giving shit about 2 in the process.
Scenario (Ping Pong America)
The army is acting as intravenous drip for Sector 1 as it always does – the center. A commoner wants to protest. A politician/president sends the policemen. A commoner wants to conspire to protest more radically and effectively. The elites send the FBI. A commoner managed to conspire to the extent that his message - simple, true and honest - found a group of listeners, the group gets stronger, starts talking and making other groups that think the same, find the common cause that everyone understands to be the good one. The elite sends CIA, CIA sends surveillance experts, CIA asks AT&T and Verizon to join the team to protect 1 of which they are the members, 1 manages to keep 3 where its place is, utilizing as much 2 as possible in the process. The message got stronger, it got out, 1 is in real danger now, 1 sends lawyers, IRS agents, doctors like psychiatrists to take out as many system endangering “psychos” as possible from 3 and put out of the system completely. The message is way too strong now. There are 3 “extraordinary” bombings in Iraq, Iranian IEDs are found, Israel bombs a Syrian convoy, Israel assassinates Hamas leader, a school shooting, small plane down, missing boy is found, a new girl is missing, all happening in 1 day? Holy shit!! Somebody’s been doing real drilling!! Philosophers, thinkers, professors, Bollingers, now it’s your turn so don’t even dare to f**k a thing. Red alert! Red alert! 3 is getting close to revolution (meaning, USA can soon be on the path to look like the normal nations such as Canada, Japan, France or Sweden where people are not commonly poisoned and there IS federal supervision over food, toys, meds, budget (without 9 trillion debt limit) that protects elderly, jobless, uneducated, sick, poor and so on). Who do we call now? Of course, THE MEDIA comes to the rescue, self-proclaimed “1” but not really 1, utilizing as many “commentators” as it can find in Sector 2 and the Elites and “Establishment” from the Sector 1 can now only sit back, relax and wait to see what happens next. Gulliani wins??!!! Oh shit!! Hm, the democratic barometer doesn’t handle the downward pressure and inevitably explodes. The system remains intact. Sector 3 is thermally closed and sealed. Or is it?
The United States of 3 Sectors. America in short.
So let me ask a simple question. WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE? Still not enough, still disbelieving? Will a story like this help? http://cosmicpenguin.com/Lindauer/ Can a story like this help and make one angry in a nation of this kind and condition? Let’s hope it can. Let’s f******g hope it can. Here is another example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww and the media rescue effort http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQKNvPn3V-8 (without even daring to ask the question again, because this girl still has no analytical skills, still the narrowest horizons imaginable, still no judgment skill and no knowledge whatsoever, as was the case the day before and the hosts know it, fear it and simply let her talk English, all she does is look pretty and is prepared for an entertainment job OR service, “phone job” that is to sustain and vegetate the US economy in this century with one of the dumbest population on the planet: 2 examples that every American should see because these two examples are freaking bloody shocking!! So when you watch Sicko and one thing strikes you most, the fact that all these US employees, all these Americans being asked a question either “don’t know”, “can’t tell”, appear lost, confused, even though they work for someone, are employed because they must know something, ask yourself where is this nation going. One thing is certain. When a German grandpa tells you that the pre-WWII propaganda in Germany was nothing compared to what America is doing today, ladies and gentlemen, we have a problem. Hannity, Beck, Coulter, Limbaugh and the likes ARE defined and considered “retarded” by any normal person living outside the US boarders who accidentally happens to hear them. Been there, seen the reaction. Their victims, our targets, the victims of our crime, the Iraqis are frightened and dying because they have been hit by the evil in the most twisted, unknown, depraved, mixed, publicly bred, forcefully imposed, unheard of form ever, that has the roots in all of us. America is our collective responsibility and we let the evil loose.
That's horrible!
will the un step in and stop this insanity?
methinks not
lots more sanctions that only hurt the people and not the ruling class
NOW MULTIPLY THAT BY ONE MILLION AND YOU MIGHT HAVE A CLUE WHAT'S GOING ON IRAQ
SO GOES THE UNITED STATES AND THEIR BARBARISTIC COLONIZATION OF THE WORLD.
HOLY SHIT
From one of the blogs:
Dirty List:
Here is a list from the Burma Campaign of companies that still trade with Burma or encourage tourism there (last update April 2007).
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/dirty_list/dirty_list.html
I note the list includes Rolls-Royce, the publishers of Let's Go, Lonely Planet, Fodor's, Insight, Trailblazers travel guides, Swift (Bank transfers), Bamboo Travel, Chevron, D.A. Watts & Sons, Aquatic (Scotland), James Latham, Kircodan Furniture, Britannic Garden Furniture, Noble Caledonia, Road to Mandalay, Utopia Tours,
Siemens (who used slave labour in Nazi Germany incidentally), Steppes Travel/Steppes East etc, etc.
Britannic Garden Furniture (based in Uk West Country) has said: "As for Aung San Suu Kyi, admitted her party had won the election on a very small turnout. We note that she seems to be very comfortable and well looked after in her bungalow and seems easily to communicate with the outside world. Burma's human rights, admitted, are not very good and probably fifty percent of the rest of the world are not either."
Swift is a company which all UK high street banks deal with.
"Swift is a financial services co-operative company owned and controlled by many of the world's largest banks, including Citibank, HSBC and ABN Amro. Swift hosts an electronic network that banks use to make transfers to each other. Following the imposition of financial sanctions by the United States government in August 2003 the regime faced a crisis, unable to use dollars in financial transactions. Swift came to their aid, making four Burmese banks part of its network. The regime is now able to avoid US financial sanctions by making financial transfers in Euros using Swift's network."
Write to your bank and ask them to sever ties with this company that helps the appalling Junta to keep their stanglehold on the people of Burma.
Contact Swift and tell them to stop supporting the Burmese junta here: http://www.swift.com/feedback/
It is disgraceful that these companies profit from the appalling human rights abuses in Burma. Please consider boycotting them in support of the brave unarmed citizens of Burma who are dying while these companies count their profits.
justabill @ 3:
I could only stomach so much of the clip from your third link. ( thank you for your contribution ) Where the hell is the WESTERN WORLD ? Why are we not there, to help people who actually seek democracy ??
If Burma had oil...
PRFRYL @ 11:
While I agree, I'm not sure that asking the companies to pull out is going to help. I tend to agree with what Chris at Americablog wrote:
I would think these companies are our best hope for putting pressure on the junta regime first, and if they don't, then by all means boycott them. No?
I think the US should send their troops and spread democracy in Burma. I believe that the civilians there would greet us with open arms and flowers with or without UN consent.
The cliche is "women and children are the biggest victims of war", add reporters.
I don't speak japanese. I hope they were saying he was a hero.
I can't help but notice that president bush sent Laura to TV-Land to give a message to the neighbors of Myanmar to use their influence.
I guess he figures he's lost so much credibility that him saying anything would be useless.
uncle joe mccarthy @ 8:
The us of a tells the un what to do. If you have'nt realized that by now, you should do some research.
justabill @ 13:
While I agree some of what you highlighted, I would like to use the sentences that followed the one you bolded:
So far there are no overt signs of China or India using any of their influence and they are the two countries who have the most interaction with the reclusive government. As for Chevron and Total, when was the last time we saw an oil company stand up for human rights? Yea, I can’t recall such an event either.
crazy train @ 12:
That last link, BURMA DIGEST Magazine is by far the best source of info I've been able to find about what's going on. I can't urge people enough to please go check it out, and by all means please register there to post a comment offering them your support. They really need all the reassurance they can get that the outside world is paying attention.
That's a conservative's wet dream.
This is what a nation does when it wants democracy...its people take to the streets and demand it, fight for it, die for it. Where is the U.S. intervention on behalf of people who *truely* want democracy? Sorry, no oil, we aren't interested...
[...] Kietzmann wrote an interesting post today on Japanese Media Report: Journalist Shot Dead at Close Range by …Here’s a quick [...]
Not Required @ 21:
Burma has oil, and huge untapped natural gas, it's just that (just like Sudan/Darfur, which is ALL about oil too) China has dibs on most of it, and the US won't dare interfere with our relations with China.
The Carpenter @ 5:
hey why dont u calm down, fool...it doesnt follow that what happens there will happen here...thats sheer idiocy and youre clearly a reactionary who would more likely be an inciter of a riot than anyone else...so shut the heck up, dolt...
This has been going on for over a decade now. The international community is totally impotent when any of the big powers dont make a chunk of money invading. Too bad Burma has no oil.
BTW does anyone how often Rumsfelt was in Burma making arms deals?
It's times like this that I'm reminded how much I respect journalists. Real journalists, that is. To be a real journalist is a noble and dangerous profession. Sometimes it means being smeared and discredited, stalked, monitored... and that's the best case scenario. That cameraman was a hero.
And when we demand real Democracy here? I don't mean CorpCo's media mediated faux bought-off single party invertebrate "mockracy".....
...
Ignore human rights in the rest of the world, you might as well lose your own.
I speak Japanese. They say that his family still haven't responded, and from what I understand of what the governmental guy says, Japan's gonna do jack shit about it. The guy was 50 years old and had covered news in dangerous areas of the world several times. He worked for a Tokyo news agency.
working in a country with a brutal government known for executing journalists on the spot?
not brave. just exceedingly stupid.
Kald @ 24:
Burma has oil. That's the problem.
coming soon to a street near YOU.
Thank you for properly using the name Burma. :)
This same thing will be happening in the streets of the US - assuming Americans have the courage the Burmese are showing.
What is or WORLD turning out to BE? A Life gone as quickly as a flick of a lite switch.
May God forgive us all.........................
Proud American @ 33:
The nazis who were tried after the war said they were following orders - which is a translation of I was doing my job. I have heard too many americans saying they are just doing their job all too easily - police in the US to military in Iraq. Expect all of them that say that to put bullets in your heads.
Dont assume that because you are an american that 'we' wont behave like the burmese. Human is (in)human all over the world. Americans will kill americans citing - I'm just doing my job.
Myanmar ... #2 supplier of Opium (heroin) in the world.
#1 ... ? ... Afghanistan.
His parents were not aware of him being in Burma, the last time they spoke to him was about a month ago. Nagai was a pretty famous figure of Free reporting on Japanese TV (esp TV Asahi..) for having covered Gaza, the West bank, Afganisthan and so on....
Rest in Peace......true reporter.
Cunning-Linguist @ 35:
huh? I didn't know that. Do you have a link to that?
Let's not get too sanctimonious. Our tax dollars pay for the same thing:
[...] Kietzmann wrote an interesting post today on Japanese Media Report: Journalist Shot Dead at Close Range by …Here’s a quick [...]
Mitch @ 38:
Mitch @ 38:
Do you have a link for this ?
and this blog/magazine is really good for the latest news and video.
http://www.burmadigest.info/
I could only stomach so much of the clip from your third link. ( thank you for your contribution ) Where the hell is the WESTERN WORLD ? Why are we not there, to help people who actually seek democracy ??
That last link, BURMA DIGEST Magazine is by far the best source of info I've been able to find about what's going on. I can't urge people enough to please go check it out, and by all means please register there to post a comment offering them your support. They really need all the reassurance they can get that the outside world is paying attention.
Done ! Though it wasn't easy. ( my fault though )
OK folks...this whole scene in Myanmar should remind us that unless we do something about this police state that is GROWING in our OWN COUNTRY...we will be next to be shot in the back with nothing but a camera or bricks to defend ourselves with.
I have another video from YouTube of this same incident on THIS POST. (NSFW, disturbing.)
See post above as proof. :{
justabill @ 13:
Ha. Bwhahahahaha...do you really think the oil companies are going to use their influence to change the government? Not unless the current one is bad for their bottom line, and apparently this govt. is just peachy for the corporations. I remember that argument being used in South Africa to stop apartheid. It didn't work then...what worked was a worldwide boycott against corporations that did business there until so few of them were willing to go or stay in South Africa that the government caved. I can't believe ANYONE would expect oil companies to work for social change, unless it be ot install dictators who are friendly to their interests!
justabill @ 37:
Golden Triangle of SE Asia has been known for opium for a long time ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Triangle_%28Southeast_Asia%29
... it was even featured in the movie (I hate quoting movies) "Year of the Dragon" by Michael Cimino. (Deer Slayer, Heavens Gate etc).
Too bad for the Burmese that they have no oil. Otherwise GWB would say "this is unacceptable."
Capabilty Jones @ 46:
Ah, but they do.
http://multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1992/10/mm1092_06.html
... its just a different angle.
There is a worldwide initiative by blogs, forums and any Internet pages to show support for the
peaceful Burmese protesters Oct 4, 2007 and beyond:
International bloggers are preparing an action to support the peaceful revolution in Burma. We want to set a sign for freedom and show our sympathy for these people who are fighting their cruel regime without weapons. These Bloggers are planning to refrain from posting to their blogs on October 4 and just put up one Banner then, underlined with the words „Free Burma!“.
Go here for links and banners: http://freeburma.stots.de/doku.php
Please spread the word !
Capabilty Jones @ 46:
Why do people make comments like this when 1. they don't know what they are talking about and 2. they don't even give a cursory look at comments already on the thread?
justabill @ 30: [...]
Burma has oil. That's the problem.
anon @ 34:
speculation 101.
The vicitm appears to be gut shot, based on his inability to move the lower part of his body, understanding the mechanism of injury of a high powered weapon at close range and the movement he demonstrated from the waste up , he suffered additional spinal injuries and he presumably bled to death.
Why is that important?
Provided the bullet did not hit any major organs in the abdominal cavity, and a government medical team that should have been in the area had accessed him, he'd have survived...
Where was that team or did the Burmese government essentialy say "so long sucks to be you, and here is the bill for the bullet."
China is a big supplier of arms to Burma and plays a huge roll in its politics, it hinders any move to democracy. It is much a problem there as it is in Darfur. A worldwide boycott of the Beijing Olympics would teach China a valuable lesson on human rights abuse.
jim @ 6:
Indeed!
Good post!!
Still As horrible as they are. China is looking the other way...
The US actively seeks to kill people of colour BY INSRIBING RASCISM RIGHT INTO THEIR INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES.
This is the difference.
EJG @ 50:
Every American supporting the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan should enjoy a trial at the Hague for Warcrimes. I wanna see "I'm just following orders when I killed those children and parents. I was just following orders when I burned peoples homes. I was just following orders...."
My moral orders require me to put you on trial for warcrimes and your nation has become one of WARCRIMINALS.
My someone haver mercy on the US, cause God certainly won't for all the blood of his children you use to print your money with, and get your next big fancy car and your next huge ass home. The Elites of America deserve everything they get.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g-zT8WvZY-uYK3d-CARtfDJgnR-w
crazy train @ 43:
Neil @ 55:
Be specific. Americans have a government standing on its neck. Sounds like you hate americans - ok. The culprits are from all over the world. The Saudi's own about 10% of the US GDP. An Australian owns a major portion of the US media, etc etc. Its a long list. This is an international criminal endevor. In case you hadnt been paying attention, the US industrial base has been relocated outside the US. The workers in the US are currently paying (and will be for generations) for the wars of these international 'elite' (nothing really elite about them).
The people of the US are being spyed on, robbed, killed etc (camps have even been constructed).
I suspect your hate of Americans is an expression of self hate. This is beyond the traditions of the US and at the expense of the people of the US.
the Myanmar junta's criminality knows no bounds
The Carpenter @ 5:
We have seen what the kids will do - NOTHING. they will chant "tase him, tase him!!!
Thats what all those school drills since Columbine of SWAT team raids have been for - conditioning for surrender and acquiescence.
The Carpenter @ 5:
Exactlly, 100% correct. Wake up, people.
The junta, like all dictatorships like that, is a bunch of cowards generals with flea-sized testicles who hide behind their money and their guns. This kind of thing disgusts me beyond belief. I am always shocked that the biggest cowards and dumbest of men always get to positions of power and DESTROY the lives of others. Though, I guess I wouldn't be shocked given our own dear leader in this country.
I really want to see as much international pressure on these little, pitiful men behind guns. Hack their freaking websites, send money to the reistance, boycott the companies who do business with them. Don't rest until Than Shwe's head and those of his followers are hanging on a spike in downtown Yangon like it should be. Yes this is advocating violence for the sake of saving the oppressed.
breakspear @ 26:
Ever hear of Kent State? Perhaps a bit of education is in order.
woodguy @ 65:
Also, 2 days after the kent state massacre, two black students were killed by the National Guard at a university in Mississippi for protesting the war. Though -- not much press was wasted on that.
my bad. ten days after
Professor Farnsworth @ 67:
Well done, Professor. I was a senior in college when Kent State occured, i.e. the Massacre at Kent State, and it certainly opened my eyes. I'd like to think I've been awake ever since.
Inside Story -Myanmar protests - 27 Sept 07 - Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwYYF8moRmI
Inside Story -Myanmar protests - 27 Sept 07 - Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nova5xUsfeU
Kudos for those brave Burmese citizens!
Local residents thwart monastery raids
Sep 28, 2007 (DVB)–Army troops attempting to raid monasteries in Mandalay and Rangoon last night were forced to withdraw by local residents.
Troops approaching the monasteries backed off after seeing people from the surrounding areas armed with sticks and slingshots preparing to stop them.
...
Residents had heard rumours of impending raids and made preparations to thwart the security forces’ approach.
“We set up an alert system of banging pots and pans when anyone saw soldiers approaching the monastery, and we prepared ourselves with any available weapons to stop these unholy people from harassing the monks,” said a Mandalay resident.
...
In Rangoon, troops encountered resistance from local residents as they approached Sasana Alin Yaung, Sanana Wuntha and Min Nanda monasteries in Daw Pon and Tharkayta townships.
At Min Nanda monastery, which backs on to Pazuntaung creek, troops tried to approach from both land and water but retreated when they saw the strength of local resistance.
“There were not only Buddhist people but also Muslims, Christians and Hindus defending the monasteries,” said a resident of Tharkayta township.
A similar story has been played out in other townships in Burma, as residents take action to resist government raids on monasteries.
At Myin Chan monastery in New Dagon (South), residents prepared to guard the monastery with the support of the abbot.
The monastery was visited last night by government officials who told the abbot to send all novice monks back to their townships outside Rangoon. The order was refused by the abbot.
Reporting by Maung Too
read on: Democratic Voice of Burma (Oslo, Norway)
http://www.dvb.no/english/news.php?id=484
Where did this occur? What was the name of that place again? Oh, yah....
"the carnage in Burma". Damn. That even sounds like some of that preseadential speakage.
Friggin eh. You can't have a rant one day about someone misstating a countries name then expect credence the next when you do the same the next.