Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Let's Deal with 'Militants' Again

I found two types of "militants" here in this story, the first being:-

Palestinian militants on Sunday attacked a United Nations school festival in southern Gaza, killing the bodyguard of a Fatah lawmaker, according to Palestinian security and medical sources.

Six others were wounded in the incident at the al-Umariya School in Rafah, near the Gaza-Egypt border, the sources said.

The gun and homemade bomb attack on the school began with a protest by Muslim extremists in long robes, who said a festival the school was hosting was un-Islamic, according to The Associated Press.

One protester's sign said the U.N. "is turning schools into nightclubs," AP reported.

Protesters also accused the top U.N. official in Gaza, John Ging, who was in the school, of leading a movement to weaken people's Islamic faith, AP said.


You noticed that creeping in of "extremists" as well, right? Well they were the second type of "militants":-

An hour before the attack, about 50 Salafist militants had been prevented by security guards from entering the school and distributing fliers protesting the festival, security sources said.


Shooting. Flyer distribution. Dizzy? Confused?

Let me add to your distress. Here's another group of "militants":-

A militant group active in oil-rich southern Nigeria says it has bombed three major oil pipelines. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said it had attacked pipelines in Bayelsa State. The group has led several attacks on oil facilities and has abducted foreign workers in its campaign to win a larger share of the region's oil wealth.


Bomb detonation. Abductions.

Or this:-

Iraq militants killed in US raid

The US military says that two men killed during an operation north of Baghdad on Tuesday have been identified as senior leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq.


Or these Hamas "militants":-

Israel kills Hamas militants

Militants ended a truce and launched rockets on Tuesday. Israeli troops have shot dead at least three members of Hamas' armed wing in a clash on the Gaza-Israel border, Hamas and the Israeli army have said.


And let's go over to Algeria:-

Algeria militants urged to disarm
The attacks in Algiers were the worst in the capital for years

The founder of the Algerian militant group which said it was behind last week's bomb attacks, has called on its members to lay down their weapons.
Hassan Hattab, who is no longer with the GSPC, made his plea in an open letter to the Algerian president.

Thirty-three people died and more than 200 were injured in bomb blasts in the capital, Algiers.


And India:-

The Indian army says it has killed eight separatist militants on the borders of the north-eastern states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. It said the rebels were from the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa).

The attack was part of continuing operations against the Ulfa since it refused an Indian government offer to resume peace talks.

After one year of negotiations with the Indian government through a group of mediators, the Ulfa broke off talks last September and started attacking Hindi-speaking settlers across Assam.

More than 80 Hindi speakers were killed in the violence.


The rebels also continued to target oil and gas installations as well as crowded markets with explosives.


Militancy or terrorism?

Can't make up your mind?

That's the point. Media monolithism has done it for you.

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