Spying Charge Brought Against Geographic Reporter in Sudan

On assignment for National Geographic magazine in Africa, U.S. journalist Paul Salopek was charged with espionage and other crimes today by a Sudanese court—charges that could land him in prison for years.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent had been reporting on the Sahel—the semi-arid southern fringe of the Sahara that stretches nearly the width of Africa. Three weeks ago Sudanese forces in Darfur Province captured him and his driver and interpreter, who are both from neighboring Chad.

At the time of his arrest, Salopek, who is on leave from the Chicago Tribune, had been carrying publicly available maps of Darfur and two United States passports, which Sudanese officials consider indications that he was spying, according to sources close to the investigation.

Traveling with multiple passports is legal and even common among reporters looking to shuttle among several countries without arousing suspicion.

"As one who has worked in Africa for more than 15 years, I have two passports," said Chris Johns, Editor in Chief and photographer for National Geographic magazine.

"There are many reasons for that. For example, during apartheid days, if I needed to cover South Africa, it was not in my best interest [when entering black-controlled African countries] to have a South Africa stamp in my passport," said Johns, speaking from his home in Virginia.

He added that the charges against Salopek are "false."

Repeatedly extolling the 44-year-old reporter's integrity, skill, and professionalism, Johns said Salopek "would never in any circumstances be involved in espionage. He is not a spy."

Similar sentiments came today from Tribune Editor Ann Marie Lipinski. "Our colleague and dear friend, Paul Salopek, is one of the most accomplished and admired journalists of our time. He is not a spy," she said in a statement.
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Uganda Truce Signed

Life in northern Uganda implies living within what essentially amounts to genocide. Since 1987, the Lords Resistance Army has been engaging in activities to overthrow the Ugandan government, with innocent civilians bearing the brunt of their brutal tactics, often via the forced kidnapping and recruitment of child soldiers. The Video piece below documents how one organization, Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR) has been training those released from captivity to use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to rebuild their livelihoods.

KAMPALA, Uganda -- The Ugandan government and Lord's Resistance Army rebels agreed yesterday to end a 19-year conflict that has left thousands dead in one of Africa's longest wars, government officials said.
The agreement, reached during peace talks in southern Sudan, calls for both sides to end all military action at 2 a.m. EDT on Tuesday.

``We have agreed on the issues and put our signatures on the document," government spokesman Paddy Ankunda said by telephone from Juba, southern Sudan.

``We are happy, and now we will continue working for a comprehensive peace agreement," Ankunda said. The Ugandan army will continue operations until the deadline, he said.

Rebel negotiators could not immediately be reached for comment.

The rebels have three weeks from the start of the cease-fire to gather at two points in southern Sudan, where they will be given food and monitored by southern Sudanese forces, government officials said. They also will have a guarantee of safe passage from Uganda to southern Sudan.

The government of Sudan's autonomous southern region is mediating the peace process.

In a news conference with the Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, after the closed-door meeting Saturday, south Sudan's president, Salva Kiir, said that both Ugandan and south Sudanese forces would fight the rebels if the peace process failed.

Thailand Travel Alert

Media reports issued on 25 August 2006 continue to draw speculation to the events surrounding the alleged plot to assassinate caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra near his residence in Bangkok on 24 August. Reports clarify that the car that police officers seized near the Bang Phlat overpass contained TNT, C-4 explosives, fertilizer, detonating cords, fuses and a remote control set. The items were not, however, assembled into a bomb. Thaksin continues to assert that his opponents were plotting to assassinate him and accused several military officers of being behind the plot. The National Intelligence Agency stated its certainty that the 24 August incident was indeed a plot to assassinate Thaksin. Government critics claim, however, that Thaksin's supporters or the ruling Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party may have staged the alleged plot in a political ruse to gain sympathy votes for Thaksin; 24 August was the first day of campaigning for the 15 October general election. Other theories suggest that Thaksin's supporters staged the plot to discredit General Panlop Pinmanee, the deputy director of the Internal Security Operations Command who was dismissed from his post on 24 August for his alleged role in the plot, due to his close ties to a key leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the anti-government group that coordinated large-scale protests in Bangkok in March.

Another theory suggests that the alleged plot was an attempt to draw public attention away from a renewed investigation into the controversial sale of Shin Corp., which in part prompted a series of protests demanding Thaksin's resignation, as his family owned the company.

Approximately 150 people gathered in front of the Bangkok residence of the Privy Council President on 25 August to demand protection of Thaksin, while approximately 300 PAD members rallied in front of the Royal Thai Police headquarters to protest violence against its members by pro-government supporters. As a result of the alleged assassination plot, security has been increased at Thaksin's private residence in Bangkok and around Government House.

Significant traffic congestion was reported on 25 August along Ratchadamnoen Avenue and Phitsanulok Road as traffic on Ratchadamnoen Road is restricted. There are rumors that Thaksin's government is planning to issue a state of emergency in response to the alleged assassination plot, and opposition and human rights groups warn that such a decree would only be instated to prevent anti-government protests. Several groups fear that the latest developments may prompt pre-election violence between pro- and anti-government groups.

Tour of Lebanon- Before the Bombings

Lebanon is perhaps the most beautiful and diverse nation in the Middle East. From its mountains, to its beaches, this gorgeous nation has something to offer for everyone.
Unfortunately, it also harbors terrorism in Hezzbollah.
The video below include pictures of Byblos, Lak Louk, Baalbek, The Cedars and Beirut. Music featured on the video are by famous Lebanese artists Nancy Ajram, Nawal Al Zoughbi, Najwa Karam and of course, the legend Fairouz.

Lost City of Petra

Check out the famous "lost" city of Petra, where ancient buildings are carved into the rose-red sandstone. Very cool video!

India's War In The Woods

The 78-kilometer road between Sukma and Konta is nearly deserted. Scores of villages, once bustling with tribal life, are now vacant. Across the rough orange and green terrain of the nearby forests, hundreds of other villages similarly have been abandoned. Tens of thousands of tribal people are simply gone.

This is not war-torn Afghanistan or Sudan. This is central India, where super sleek call centers and software factories have brought millions of poor into the modern middle class.

But the country's drive to become a first world power has left many of its most vulnerable behind and frozen economic development across swaths of this vast country. At its most extreme and most dangerous — in remote forested areas — a four-decade-long rebellion has erupted into violent intimidation, exploitation of the young and dozens of murders.

American Relations Strained in Venezuela

Venezuelan troops seized several bags belonging to the U.S. Embassy at Simon Bolivar International Airport (SVMI/CCS) in Caracas on 24 August 2006. Reports indicate that the embassy had notified Venezuelan officials about the bags, but that more than the number reported had arrived on the aircraft, prompting the confiscations.

The bags were taken from four U.S. Embassy vehicles parked outside of the airport after they had been unloaded from a U.S. military aircraft. U.S. officials have stated that their government will lodge a protest regarding Venezuela’s actions, which they claim “violated diplomatic and international laws." The contents of the bags have not been confirmed; Venezuelan officials claim that they contained supplies for the Venezuelan military, while U.S. officials have stated that they were carrying the personal possessions of embassy personnel. The incident is expected to increase already heightened tensions between the two countries.

U.S. Identifies Trouble Spots

The U.S. State Department provides different levels of international travel information to citizens. Find them at www.travel.state.gov.

Travel Warnings:
These are issued when Americans are urged to avoid travel to a particular country or region. Currently on the list are:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, East Timor, Eritrea, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zimbabwe.

Public Announcements:

These involve short-term, specific threats, such as Islamic unrest in Bangladesh, political protests in the Mexican city of Oaxaca and a bridge collapse in Venezuela.

Consular Information Sheets:

These fact sheets often highlight conditions that officials don't believe rise to the travel-warning level. An example would be the cautionary note about a ``growing'' problem of crime against tourists in Belize.