By the company that they keep

Throughout the tribal uprising in Peru's Department of Amazonas this last week, rumors of ALBA House (the Bolivarian Socialist International) being money behind the movement have circulated.

Well... with the Peruvian Army having moved in on Saturday after the local police were overwhelmed, taken hostage (and in the case of nine of the officers, reportedly killed), and with charges being filed against indigenous leader Alberto Pizango of sedition, conspiracy and rebellion...

A. Pizango has fled to the protection of the Nicaraguan Embassy.

If "You shall know them by the company that they keep" applies here, that pretty much answers the rumors.

Omar Bongo's replacement

After two days of public denials, the Government of the Gabonese Republic has admitted that President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba is actually dead.

So, anyone care to venture a guess as to... no, not as to who *will* take over in Gabon now that one of the original Big Men has passed away... that is likely a lock already.

The open question is: Will anyone try to run against Ali-Ben Bongo if and when there is an "election"? If so, who?

Extra credit if you can name anyone in Gabon *not* a member of the Bongo family that has made even half as much money from the kleptocracy over the decades.

T.I.A.

One al-Khazali let go

Aw, hell.

Baghdad; last Sunday:

Laith al-Khazali got sprung... and promptly upon arrival in the Sadr City district did the fade-into-the-woodwork move.

The official reason for his release is

“As part of a reconciliation effort between the government of Iraq and Asa’ib al-Haq, the decision has been made to release Layth Khazali,” said Lt. Col. Brian Maka, a spokesman for the American military commander here, in an e-mailed response to questions from The New York Times.

Unofficially, this is step one of an exchange to get back five British nationals who were kidnapped, likely by other members of the same Iranian-backed group run by the al-Khazalis... or their bosses.

The al-Maliki government (Iraq) is claiming to not know about this release.

This better work.

Real IRA leaders liable for Omagh bombing

It is a civil action, but likely the best that can be gained at this point: Four Real IRA leaders found liable for Omagh bombing.

29 people were killed in the attack.

No convictions ever stood up against the accused terrorists, in either the North or the Republic.

The civil damages awarded in this suit come to Pounds 1.6 million, but it really isn't about the money.

The Northern Ireland lord chief justice, Declan Morgan, said in his ruling that there was "overwhelming evidence" the four were connected to the explosion.

Five men were named in the suit, and fairness demands that it be noted that the fifth man, Seamus McKenna, was cleared of any involvement.

Karen refugees flee to Thailand

Lieutenant General Thanongsak Aphirakyothin, a Royal Thai Army commander on the western frontier, has reported that at least 1,700 ethnic Karen refugees have flooded across the border from Myanmar (Burma) following a Myanmar Army offensive against the Karen National Union (KNU) on June 3 and fighting continued on Monday according to KNU sources. Karen exile groups put the number of refugees much higher... they cite a figure in excess of 3,200. Again, citing Lt. Gen. Thanongsak:

"They fled because of danger and fear of capture and forced labour by the Myanmar army," Thanongsak told reporters. "Most of the refugees are women and children."

Background on this issue was discussed *here* at CompHyp back in February.

The tip was dead-on right

Mexican authorities received a tip about "about the presence of armed men at a house in the hotel zone" in Acapulco.

The tip was right. dead right. 15 gunmen and one Mexican soldier were killed in a two-hour gun battle in which the gunmen used assault rifles and ~50 grenades.

After the fight four Guerrero State Police officers said to be being held captive by the gunmen were found alive. If that story holds up to investigation, it would be a most fortunate rescue indeed.

Impose

It ran in the al-Hayat newspaper (Saudi Arabia) today...

"We want from you a serious participation to solve the Palestinian issue and impose the solution if necessary," the Saudi monarch told Obama, according to the paper, which is owned by a nephew of the monarch. It did not elaborate.

--source: Reuters

Which begs any number of questions, but first and foremost comes to mind "Exactly by what legal means of doing so do you imagine such an imposition would exempt Saudi Arabia's theocratic monarchy from a similar 'imposition' of a 'solution' as defined by outsiders?"