South Asia
See Page 19
Tribune Year 1
Issue 14
Thursday, 20.10.11
www.satribune.co.uk
See Page 24
Price: 90p
Anti-Capitalist Protests
Occupy London Stock Exchange Begins, Where will it end? At Wednesday’s assembly of over 500 people on the steps of St Paul’s, #occupylsx collectively agreed the initial statement below. Please note, like all forms of direct democracy, the statement will always be a work in progress. 1 The current system is unsustainable. It is undemocratic and unjust. We need alternatives; this is where we work towards them. 2 We are of all ethnicities, backgrounds, genders, generations, sexualities dis/ abilities and faiths. We stand together with occupations all over the world. 3 We refuse to pay for the banks’ crisis. 4 We do not accept the cuts as either necessary or inevitable. We demand an end to global tax injustice and our democracy representing corporations instead of the people. 5 We want regulators to be genuinely independent of the industries they regulate. 6 We support the strike on the 30th November and the student action on the 9thNovember, and actions to defend our health services, welfare, education and employment, and to stop wars and arms dealing. 7 We want structural change towards authentic global equality. The world’s resources must go towards caring for
people and the planet, not the military, corporate profits or the rich. 8 We stand in solidarity with the global oppressed and we call for an end to the actions of our government and others in causing this oppression. 9 This is what democracy looks like. Anti-Capitalist Protests Protesters attend demonstrations over the global financial system near St Paul’s Cathedral in London as the protests spread around the world. On Saturday 15th October, around 4000 5000 people earnestly took to the streets, speaking out against corporate greed and economic equality. The police were quick to issue sanctions against the occupation of Paternoster Square, but an unlikely sanctuary was provided by St Paul’s Cathedral. The steps of this iconic London landmark received a host of peaceful protesters as they began their general assemblies and planned a course of action in the same vein as Occupy Wall Street. Purportedly, the police tried to disperse protesters from St. Paul’s, but this was against the wishes of Canon Chancellor Giles Fraser. Dr Fraser, welcoming of the people who occupied the steps, asked the police to move on. A sublime and Continued on page 02 >>
NEWS
2
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
Britain’s economic recovery is off the track : Mervy King
G
overnor of the Bank of England Mervy King has warned that Britain’s economic recovery is off the track, accusing the government of not taking correct measures to handle the country’s economic crisis. In a speech addressed to the Institute of Directors in Liverpool, King also insisted that Britain is threatened by the global economic calamity and “time is running out” to resolve it. Despite taking emergency steps including low interest rates and printing new money, the governments could not yet tackle the fundamental problem of overspending which is the underlying cause of the economic crisis, King said. He pointed out that some of the
employed steps could aggravate the financial problems, exacerbate the debt crisis and leave taxpayers with larger bill, adding that these inadequate measures had only “bought time” for the world economy, leading markets to question the sustainability of banks and governments. “So far, that time has not been used to deal with the underlying imbalances, or the weaknesses in bank and sovereign balance sheets. Time is running out,” he added. While confirming that inflation was “close to its peak” and the “medium term outlook was weak,” King considered the international problems as “a threat to our strategy of rebalancing and recovery of the UK economy.”
“Our objective must be to steer the UK economy slowly back to a position of more normal interest rates and lower budget deficits. With a lower level of sterling and
a credible plan to reduce the fiscal deficit over the medium term, we were on track. But the problems in the euro area and the marked slowing in the world economy have lengthened the period over which a return to normality is likely,” King suggested. The governor declared that creditor governments including Germany and Japan must increase their domestic request in order that debtor states like Britain could export more. “Each country can put itself in a position to rebalance, as we have done in the UK. But in the absence of rebalancing, globally and especially in the euro area, we could be facing a recovery that is not merely reluctant but recalcitrant.”
Occupy London Stock Exchange Begins, Where will it end? Continued from page 01 >> symbolic symphony of goodwill democracy, Dr Fraser said; The UK mainstream media have been fairly affable towards the Publisher Salah Bu Khamas (UAE) Sabha Khan (UK) UK Office 10 Courtenay Road, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 7ND UK Phone: +44 20 8904 0617 Fax: +44 20 8181 7575 info@satribune.co.uk India Office Satya Infomedia Pvt. Ltd. C/O Satya Group. 1st Floor, Avenue Appt., Near Sheth. R. J. J. High School, Tithal Road, Valsad - 396001 Gujarat, India Phone +91 2632 222209 / 222211 Fax: +91 2632 222212 Post Box No. 98 /108 United Arab Emirates Office S.K. Group of Companies P.O. Box 9021, Karama Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tel: +971 4 2659970, 3359929; Fax: +971 4 2659971, 3341609 www.sk-groupofcompanies.com Managing Editor & CEO Mohammad Shahid Khan Group Editorial Managers Gulzar Khan (India) Abdul Khalique (Pakistan) Editorial Board UK Frances Brunner FYI Tribune team Adrian Fellar Misbah Khan Reema Shah Rohma Khan Keziah-Ann Abakah Art Department UK Ali Ansar (Art Director) Md. Reazul Islam
movement by granting airtime and ink; the antipodal of Occupy Wall Street where the U.S media largely ignored the protests for an exorbitant amount of time. On the other side of the Atlantic, the UK press have followed the Occupy London Stock Exchange, but there are those who hopelessly miss the point , the slogan
of “We Are The 99%” which has become the symbolic strap-line of Occupy. The 99% banner represents the loose notion that 1% of the population hold the world’s wealth, and the 99% are now dangerously disengaged and left with complete social disparity. At no point do the occupiers claim they represent
anyone but themselves, they do not represent 99% of us as Mr Andrew Gilligan suggested; they are part of 99% - included and inclusive. This is the point that mainstream reporters need to remember, and those in the mainstream media would know this if they had a finger on social issues as well as corporate. The global Occupy
protests are an organic democratic procedure that has been born out of pure frustration for the current political, media and economic climate. It’s more than possible that we are in uncharted territory with history giving us no lessons on how this global movement will conclude.
Bank of England voted 9-0 to pump £75bn more into UK economy B
ank policymakers discussed injecting up to £100bn in new round of quantitative easing as they predicted growth would stall Bank of England policymakers are bracing for the UK economy to grind to a virtual halt and discussed pumping even more
electronic money into the economy than the £75bn they agreed on this month. Minutes from the Bank’s meeting earlier this month revealed the monetary policy committee (MPC) was united over keeping interest ratesat their record low of 0.5%, despite
inflation being well above its government-set target. Policymakers discussed injecting as much as £100bn of fresh money as they considered the threats to growth from the global economy, sovereign debt problems and stalled household spending.
The minutes said: “In the United Kingdom, the path of output had been affected by a number of temporary factors, but the available indicators suggested that the underlying rate of growth had moderated and would be close to zero in the fourth quarter.”
Ken Livingstone’s five-point plan to create 11,500 jobs for the young
K
en joined Ed Miliband and Ed Balls in Camden on Monday to launch Labour’s plan for jobs and growth in London. Labour’s five-point plan pledges to: 1. Create up to 11,500 jobs for young people and build 5,000 new homes 2. Bring forward investment projects like new school buildings 3. Temporarily reverse the Tory-led Government’s VAT rise - a £450 boost for families with children 4. Cut VAT on home improvements to 5% for a year 5. Give up to 334,000 small firms a tax break to take on extra workers ”Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Labour Party, said: “These are dangerous times for Britain’s economy and worrying times for millions of London families. “Week-by-week, day-by-day, with every downgrade in growth with every new set of unemployment figures, we can see the
government’s plan is failing Londoners. ‘Only a government which is badly out of touch with what is happening in Britain’s high streets, homes and workplaces would fail to realise that. ‘Today we are calling for an emergency Budget now and a clear five-point plan to create jobs, help struggling families and support small businesses in London.”
Ken Livingstone said, ‘In a city where, disgracefully, one in ten is out of work thanks to the Conservative party’s failed policies we need the plan for jobs and growth that Ed Miliband and Ed Balls are proposing. ‘Labour’s plan to cut VAT and invest in new jobs would make a real difference, putting the interests of ordinary Londoners first - and I will follow the same course by putting money in peoples’ pockets by cutting fares if I am elected. ‘The approach taken by the government and mayor are making Londoners less well off and less safe.’ Ken has promised to rip up Boris Johnson’s ‘high fare’ policy which has committed Londoners to 20 years of fare increases at 2% above inflation each year and replace it with a fairer fares package starting with: • An overall cut in fares for Londoners of 5% in the autumn of 2012 • No further fare rises at all in 2013. • From January 2014 and in subsequent years no fare rises above RPI inflation.
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
NEWS
3
Year of pain for Anni Dewani’s family T
HE father of murdered honeymoon bride Anni Dewani says nearly a year of struggling to cope without knowing why their daughter was killed has taken its toll on his wife’s health. “She just needs answers, we need answers,” said Anni’s father, Vinod Hindocha. “We’re not telling Shrien (Dewani) he’s guilty or he’s not guilty, we’re just saying give us answers,” said Hindocha, who was speaking from his home in Mariestad, Sweden. He said aside from his wife’s ailing health, he was struggling to cope to such an extent that he had not returned to work since Anni’s murder. Last month the UK Home Secretary signed Shrien Dewani’s extradition order, but his legal team then announced they would appeal against this. Had Shrien, who is accused of masterminding Anni’s November 13 murder in Khayelitsha, not decided to appeal, preparations for him to return to Cape Town would have started yesterday. Hindocha said he did not understand why Dewani was appealing against the extradition. “His legal team keeps saying he needs closure all the time.
We also need closure. If he goes to South Africa, we can all have closure.” Hindocha added that four years ago his wife had had a major operation as she had been stricken with cancer. She had then undergone gruelling chemotherapy and radiation therapy. “We were doing so well until Anni passed away. But my wife was not supposed to travel a lot or go under any stress,” Hindocha said. After Anni’s murder, he and his wife had travelled to London a few times and to South Africa to retrace Anni’s last journey and this had impacted on Nilam Hindocha’s health. “My wife isn’t coping now. It’s really difficult. Things are not as they should
be,” Hindocha said. He believed that if his wife knew why her daughter had been murdered, she would be able to move on with her life and recover fully. Hindocha, an electrical engineer, said he had not been to work for 11 months. “It’s been a torture every single day. I can’t go to work. I can’t focus. “People say time will heal the wounds, in this case time increases the wounds,” he said. Hindocha said he was waiting to hear when proceedings regarding Dewani’s extradition appeal would go ahead.
“If I hear he will come back to South Africa, I’ll be the first to book tickets there,” he said. The South African authorities want Dewani to return so that he can stand trial with his local co-accused, Mziwamadoda Qwabe and Xolile Mngeni. In November, Zola Robert Tongo, who had chauffeured Dewani and Anni around while they were honeymooning in Cape Town, confessed to his role in Anni’s murder and was sentenced to 18 years in jail. Tongo said Dewani had offered him R15 000 to have his wife killed and Tongo had then hired Qwabe and Mngeni to kill her.
Last month Qwabe and Mngeni, the alleged hit men in the case, appeared in the Wynberg Regional Court. There they were told their case had been transferred to the Western Cape High Court. A pre-trial conference was set for February 10. Yesterday Hindocha said he hoped Dewani would be in South Africa by then. November 13 would mark one year since’s Anni’s murder. Hindocha said he had invited people from around the world to light a candle in memory of his daughter on November 14.
Queen begins her 16th, and Nawaz holds MQM responsible possibly last, visit to Australia for terrorism in politics
THE Queen has embarked on what may be her last tour of Australia. Travelling with the Duke of Edinburgh, she touched down at Canberra’s RAAF Fairbairn base tonight in a British Airways jet to be welcomed by hundreds of wellwishers, many holding flowers or waving flags. The Queen emerged from the plane wearing a teal-coloured coat and hat to be greeted by Governor-General Quentin Bryce and Prime Minister Julia Gillard. A military band played God Save
the Queen and a 21-gun salute rang out before the 85-year-old monarch inspected the ceremonial royal guard made up of army, navy and air force personnel. The Queen first visited Australia in 1954. Some expect that the 2011 tour will be her last. THEY turned on the pomp and ceremony, with the military band, the straight-backed guard of honour and the royal representative at Yarralumla, Quentin Bryce, all doing their bit as the
Queen yesterday set foot on Australian soil for the first time in five years - and possibly the last. The genuine warmth of the welcome for the 85-year-old monarch and Prince Philip, 90, set off a picture-perfect spring evening in Canberra, and brought a smile to the face of the Queen. “You’re beautiful,” someone shouted from the big and happy crowd, packed with local schoolchildren who got the afternoon off class to see her. She nodded graciously in response.
PML-N Mian Nawaz Sharif has alleged the MQM of introducing politics of terrorism in Pakistan and also that it was involved in disturbing peace in Karachi. “The politics of terrorism in Pakistan started with creation of MQM, which also is involved in disturbing peace in Karachi,” Mian Nawaz Sharif said in an interview to a private TV channel during his visit to rain-affected areas of Sindh on Wednesday. Stating that his party was against the terrorism, PML-N chief referred to Karachioperation against MQM conducted during his first tenure as Prime Minister, and said, ”MQM should now make it clear whether it wants clean politics or terrorism through their armed wings. Nawaz Sharif denied that ‘Go Zardari Go’ was the name of his movement. “Such a slogan is very old one. Now there must be a change in Pakistan,” he said to a question.
PML-N chief said those in the government were involved in corruption and questioned how could such people run the country. Meanwhile, PPI correspondent reported from Nawabshah that Nawaz Sharif while talking to newsmen at Nawabshah airport leveled same allegation on MQM of being involved in terrorism. He said It was MQM to decide if it wants to do politics or terrorism. “Hakim Muhammad Saeed was murdered when I was Prime Minister. At that point I decided to part ways with MQM and sacrificed my government. “Now the MQM must clear itself and declare if they want to do a clean politics or continue terrorism through its militant wing,” Nawaz Sharif said. PML-N said there must not be any role of army in politics and categorically stated that his party would not enter into alliance with any party that favors role of army in politics. He said people want to get rid of corrupt government.
NEWS
4
EDITORIAL
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
Pak-US tensions ease through ‘quiet diplomacy’
Prisoner swap about scoring U political points Shalit’s release could enable Hamas to extend its sphere of influence outside Gaza Yesterday’s successful prisoner swap between the Israelis and Hamas was not a humanitarian gesture by either side. The Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was captured by Hamas more than five years ago, and some of the hundreds of Palestinians have been in Israeli hands for much longer than that. Their release could have happened at any time, but the present moment suited both sides for their own political advantage. Both Hamas and the Israelis (for very different reasons) have been put under pressure by both Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas going to the United Nations to seek recognition for the Palestinian state, and the new political dynamism in the region created by the events of the Arab Spring. The Israelis are pumping out their lies with great fluency. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman produced the most flagrant nonsense after Shalit reached Israel yesterday when he said that “we hope to live in peace and reconciliation with our neighbours. We are ready for the immediate resumption of peace talks. The Palestinian side so far says that they are not willing to talk to us. We hope they change.” The Netanyahu government has been blatant in its refusal to talk to the Palestinians, and to frustrate any attempt to go back to the defined path to a two-state solution. It has continued to build and expand its colonies, and it has increased the roadblocks and routine harassment and persecution of the Palestinians. Hamas has different issues to consider. It has agreed to reconciliation with Fatah, but it wants a reasonable measure of influence over events as they unfold. The release of Shalit allows them to enter a wider field of regional politics outside the narrow confines of Gaza, which may well suit them over the next 12 months.
S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is likely to arrive in Pakistan on October 20 (Thursday) for a two-day visit aimed at putting the strained Pakistan-US relations back on track and rectifying the damage done to bilateral ties by strong antiInter-Services Intelligence (ISI) statements by American officials accusing it of sponsoring terrorism in Afghanistan. As the top US diplomat lands here later this week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has put off his visit to Islamabad, which was also scheduled for later this week. A diplomat confirmed the postponement of the Iranian president’s visit but said it had nothing to do with Clinton’s visit and was only a matter of working out the schedule of the Iranian leader, who would now visit Pakistan some other time in the near future. Iran and the US are currently engaged in a serious row over the Obama administration’s allegations against Tehran of devising a plot to kill the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Washington. The diplomat said that during her visit to Islamabad, Clinton would pick up the discussion from where US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman left it. Grossman visited Islamabad a few days ago and held meetings with Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership on prospects of peace talks with the powerful Talibanlinked militant group Haqqani
network. “Clinton’s visit is a great opportunity for the two countries to normalise their ties,” the diplomat said.
Before Grossman’s visit both sides were not communicating via formal diplomatic channels and the only discussions being held were through
secret channels between the defence officials of the two countries. This fact lends further importance to the secretary of state’s visit. Clinton will meet President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani during her two-day stay in Islamabad and hold talks with them on ways to improve bilateral ties and revive full counter-terrorism cooperation. According to APP, Haqqani told a gathering of the PakistaniAmerican community in Portland, Oregon, that challenges remain in the wide-ranging bilateral ties but relations are gradually coming back to normal. “Both Islamabad and Washington realise we need each other and a strong, positive bilateral relationship is in the best interest of our two countries and their peoples,” said Haqqani. Despite the positive whispers emanating from diplomatic sources, it is unclear if the two sides have been able to iron out their differences on how to tackle the Haqqani network, allegedly based in North Waziristan Agency. The US remains adamant that the deadliest Afghan Taliban allied insurgent group must be dealt with forcefully. However, Secretary Clinton recently hinted at reaching out to the Haqqanis in the quest to seek a political solution to the Afghan impasse.
CoE chief: Anti-Muslim Gold nugget worth feeling on rise in Europe $424,000 found in Russia
The Council of Europe’s secretary general says the anti-Muslim beliefs of confessed Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik are shared by more Europeans than most people would like to believe. Thorbjoern Jagland told the AP in an interview Wednesday that only a “very small minority” of like-minded individuals would act on those beliefs as Breivik did. But Jagland said he’s
very concerned that xenophobic attitudes – especially toward Muslims – are getting worse in Europe. Breivik has confessed to killing 77 people in a bomb attack and shooting spree in Norway last July. But he denies criminal guilt, saying he’s in a state of war and believes the massacre was necessary to save Norway and Europe from being overrun by Muslim immigrants.
A gold nugget weighing 7 kg 650 g (16,87 lbs) was discovered by Vostok mining partnership at Irkindan deposit in Ayano-Maisky district of Russia’s Khabarovsk region. The finding was tentatively evaluated at 12.7 million rubles ($424,000), officials said. The final cost of the nugget will be announced
later, Finmarket reports. The nugget looks pure and outwardly resembles a boxing glove. “This is the first big finding that we’ve had in 40 years of work in the region. We found a large gold nugget in this region in 2007, and it was 1.7 kilos,” officials of the enterprise told Interfax.
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
NEWS
5
Amnesty International seeks George W. Bush’s arrest T
he human rights group Amnesty International called on Canadian authorities Wednesday to arrest former President George W. Bush when he attends an economic summit in the province of British Columbia next week. The group accused Bush of “responsibility for crimes under international law including torture.” Amnesty International asked that Canada either prosecute or extradite Bush for violations that they allege took place during the CIA’s secret detention program between 2002 and 2009. The organization wrote a 1,000 page memorandum addressed to Canadian authorities to make the case for human rights violations by the 43rd president. “Canada is required by its international obligations to arrest and prosecute former President
Bush given his responsibility for crimes under international law
including torture,” Susan Lee, Americas Director at Amnesty
International, said in a statement. The Canadian government responded to the request with critical words for Amnesty International. “I cannot comment on individual cases… that said, Amnesty International cherry picks cases to publicize based on ideology. This kind of stunt helps explain why so many respected human rights advocates have abandoned Amnesty International,” Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney told POLITICO, noting that Amnesty International had never sought a court order to bar Cuban dictator Fidel Castro or Tongolese dicator Gnassingbé Eyadema from Canada. “Perhaps this helps to explain why Salman Rushie has said that ‘it looks very much as if Amnesty’s leadership is suffering from a kind of moral bankruptcy,’ and
why Christopher Hitchens has written about the organization’s ‘degeneration and politicization,’” Kenney added. Bush cancelled a visit to Switzerland in February after facing similar public calls for his arrest by the other human rights groups. Amnesty International said that Canada was obligated to arrest Bush under its commitments to the UN Convention Against Torture. The human rights organization objected to the Bush administration’s “enhanced interrogation techniques” and violations they characterized as “cruel, inhuman and degrating treatment and enforced disappearances.” “A failure by Canada to take action during his visit would violate the UN Convention against Torture and demonstrate contempt for fundamental human rights,” said Lee.
Health Secretary’s remarks Jemima Khan quits Independent for New Statesman on obesity can help end food Magazine’s editor says he is delighted at signing up ‘first-rate’ campaigning journalist poverty: says Muslim Aid. B ritish Charity Muslim Aid today welcomed remarks by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley about eating less to cut down the health bill on obesity. It said that instead of simply reducing food intake, the public should also be encouraged to
times when unemployment is increasing and many households are finding it hard to manage their food budgets, it will be wonderful if the public shared their surplus
share their food savings with the homeless and other vulnerable households who are finding it hard in these times to make ends meet. A spokesperson for Muslim Aid said: “Secretary Andrew Lansley has got it spot on when he points to a culture of eat more, waste more. What we need instead is the right kind of food in the right quantity to stay healthy and contented. However, in these challenging
with the poor and vulnerable to bring food on their table.” “Muslim Aid is considering a proposal to set up food banks to ship surplus food donations to countries like Somalia in times of need. These food banks, if patronised by the big supermarkets can also provide food to the homeless and less affluent people in the UK to end food poverty here,” added the spokesperson.
T
Jemima Khan is leaving the Independent to join the New Statesman as associate editor. She will write and commission and will also work on what the magazine calls “specially curated issues”. Khan’s decision comes within weeks of the Indy amending her status. She was appointed as the paper’s associate editor in June by the former editor, Simon Kelner. But the incoming editor, Chris Blackhurst, reduced her role to that of contributing editor, with a reduced pay arrangement. He was warm about her talents, and her great range of contacts, but she has written little for the paper of late. The New Statesman’s editor, Jason Cowley, is clearly very pleased with his acquisition, saying: “I’m delighted that Jemima is joining us and that I have tempted her away from the Independent. “She is a first-rate journalist who has strong campaigning instincts and a powerful interest in international affairs and human rights issues.” In April, Khan oversaw a special free speech issue of the Statesman, which featured high-profile contributors such as Hugh Grant, Oliver Stone, Tim Robbins and Russell Brand. Cowley said: “She worked brilliantly with the whole team on her guest-edited issue of the New Statesman, which was a media sensation. She’s very popular among the staff.” Khan said of her appointment: “I loved working on the guest edit at the beginning of the year and I am delighted to become a permanent part of the exceptional team at the New Statesman. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Independent but the challenge of a wider role at the New Statesman
was too tempting.” Only a couple of weeks ago, Blackhurst signalled that Khan would be writing more for the Indy. But she recently decided that things weren’t working out after all. Sources: New Statesman/The Independent
Terrorism: Breivik Trial to start in April
he trial against Anders Behring Breivik, charged with the July 22nd terrorist attacks – the largest criminal trial in Norwegian history will most likely start just after Easter in 2012. The Police can still not confirm an
exact start date for the trial, but assume that it will most likely take place in the spring. “We are working on the assumption that the trial could start April 1st next year,” says Erlend More, Department Manager of the Court Administration.
However, because the trial would then fall during Easter, it will most likely be rescheduled for after the holiday and begin on April 10. District Judge Geir
Engebretsen agrees with the current prediction: “At that time we go into the second quarter, so around Easter is a very likely time,” he says. Regardless, the goal is for the trial to be completed before summer in 2012. A decision has yet to be made about
where the trial will be held, but Oslo Courthouse is the most likely option. Telenor Arena was discussed as another option earlier in the process, but is unlikely due to the arena’s association with entertainment and concerts.
NEWS
6
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
Ahmadinejad reacts to the USA: ‘Murder is your thing’
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reacted Sunday to the release by the U.S. government that accused Tehran of sponsoring a terrorist plot in the United States and used the occasion to blame Washington for the frequent bilateral crises.”The Iranian nation does not need educated articulate plans of murder. Murder is your thing,” said Ahmadinejad, speaking at the Iranian Parliament, The Iranian President’s remarks were reported by the official news agency, IRNA. The onslaught from the leader responds to U.S. charges that the Islamic Republic would be behind a plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington, Adel al-Jubeir. Ahmadinejad said the U.S. is seeking “to create a new crisis every day with Iran, accusing it of terrorism.” For him, the American accusations are merely an attempt to try and stop the development of Iran.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran said in a statement that the U.S. accusations “have no legal basis” and they only seek to “exacerbate tension in the region” in the Middle East and “undermine international security.” “They unilaterally announce charges against a resident (Iranian) in the United States, without providing documents, and create a media campaign against Iran that has no legal basis,” the Ministry said. For Iran, Washington should have consulted Tehran about its suspicions. “But the U.S. government ignored the express request of the Islamic Republic which it did, against international conventions,” says the statement. A reminder, that the west, the United States and Israel in particular, have accused Iran of plans to produce nuclear weapons, which Iran completely denies. Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty, while Israel has refused to sign the treaty, and is also in possession of a large nuclear stockpile itself, remaining completely unchallenged. Leaders of those countries have also
threatened Iran with military action, stating that “all options are on the table/” Numerous sanctions have also been imposed on Iran, while there are none on Israel. Iran’s representative to the IAEA,
the organization responsible for monitoring compliance made the following statements: “Iran has repeatedly announced that it opposes nuclear weapons and that all its activities pursue peaceful objectives and are carried out under the IAEA’s full surveillance. As it has been repeatedly proven over the past eight years, claims about Iran’s nuclear arms are baseless,” he said, adding that “the international community has been witnessing such unfounded allegations.” An IAEA report said, “Iran appears to be working with the agency on parts of its nuclear program as it promised earlier.” Certain misunderstandings over Iran’s nuclear activities have been cleared up, and the inspections on the country’s centrifuge research centers by IAEA have proven that Iran’s nuclear activities are peaceful, the report concludes.
Awlaki family condemns killing of cleric’s son T
he family of Anwar al-Awlaki is asserting that the U.S.born cleric’s son,killed last week in a U.S. airstrike in Yemen, was a 16year-old noncombatant who “paid a hefty price for something he never did and never was.” Anwar al-Awlaki was killed in late September. His son was killed two weeks later. In a statement, their first since the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki last month, the family says the cleric’s son was an American citizen who was living in the Yemeni capital until mid-September, when he left his mother a note saying he was going in search of his father. He was killed Friday in a U.S. drone strike while “barbecuing under the moonlight” with other teenagers, the family said.
A family member reached in Sanaa confirmed the Awlakis had released the statement. The family said they had been shocked to see reports suggesting
that Abdulrahman al-Awlaki was a 21-year-old al-Qaeda operative. On a memorial page set up on Facebook, they posted photos of the teenager.
“Look at his pictures, his friends and his hobbies,” the statement said. “His Facebook page shows a typical kid.” The family also condemned the “unlawful assassination” of Anwar al-Awlaki, 40, saying that he was an American citizen who had never been formally charged with any crime. “Anwar was never a ‘militant’ nor was he ‘the head of Al Qaeda external operations’ ” the family said. The family of Samir Khan, the alQaeda propagandist killed alongside Anwar al-Awlaki, has previously issued a statement condemning the U.S. targeting of their son as illegal. The Charlotte family described Khan as a “law-abiding citizen of the United States” who had never
been implicated in a crime. “Was this style of execution the only solution?” the family said. “Why couldn’t there have been a capture and trial?”
Press TV could have its licence revoked
Press TV reported that it was to be taken off air in the UK next week, which Ofcom has not confirmed. Ofcom is in fact still considering whether to revoke Press TV’s licence, after finding in May that it had broken broadcasting rules by showing a 2009 interview with Newsweek journalist Maziar Bahari, detained by the Iranians, which Mr Bahari later said was a forced, scripted confession, under threat of execution. Ofcom spokesman Rhys Hurd said that no decision had yet been made.
But in May, when Ofcom ruled against the channel, it was made clear that punishment could include a ban on broadcasting. Press TV is
likely to be allowed to appeal if it is banned. In a statement posted on its website, the channel claimed: “The
British media regulator’s decision is considered to be an abuse of the UK media law and the result of mounting pressure on the organisation by certain members of the royal family and government.” It added: “A quick glance at the senior decision-makers at Ofcom reveals that the regulator is mostly made up of former Channel 4 and BBC executives, some of whom are well-linked to, and influenced by, powerful pro-Israeli politicians and US sympathisers.” Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn,
London mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone and former MP George Galloway have all made regular appearances. Ofcom has ruled that both Mr Galloway and Mr Corbyn have breached broadcasting rules on impartiality. Mr Galloway has described Israel as a “terrorist gangster state” and a “miscreant, law-breaking rogue, war-launching, occupying state.” Mr Corbyn breached the rules when he appeared on Mr Galloway’s weekly Comment show.
7
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
The Reality of University Fees Adrian Felaar With all the current economic and climatic turmoil in the world, the international status quo is rightly termed as depressing. Daily we find ourselves swamped with the evident degeneration of morality: criminality has experienced a surge, from bankers embezzling funds to knife crime on the London streets; financial markets are spiraling out of control (to a destination of which even economists are unsure of). It would seem that meteorologists are relying more on probability laws than on fancy technology as weather patterns pirouette wildly. Yet, hope insists. With all this dismal truism comes the reality of hope and, in my mind, it takes the form of education. Nonetheless, even our hope is under threat. Considering going to a British university? Does the sound of having the possibility of attending some of the world’s most highly commended tertiary institutions appeal to you? The answers may be yes and they are rightly so. However the Coalition’s recent bill to raise the university fees cap to £9000 is certainly a barrier to our aspirations of continuing on to higher education. Subsequently many top universities have raised their fees in a dramatic fashion. The perplexity of why the Coalition is suppressing higher education is incomprehensible. Why try to inhibit something which could one day help revive the country’s economy? The Chancellor, George Osborne, is forever consulting advisors on strategies for economic growth when he chooses to ignore an obvious consideration. Cameron, having
Marisa Paulson [Previously: ...Anthony and I...were bruised with busted nose, eyes, lips, ears, stomach, arms...we had two weeks off to recover and do whatever we pleased. *** ...violence was wrong and hurting others got you nowhere so long as we all ended up affected, and this was inevitable.] My ideology of that never left, and even if I was in a position to hurt, I truly believed I would never let myself fall into the epitome of such darkness, was just the way I was. Still, I had complete gratitude
obtained a first class honours degree in PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at Oxford, is expected to know his way around the economy. Having been studying AS Economics for a short season it already strikes me that one of the more important factors of production in an economy is Labour and if Labour is to be better, an educated workforce is vital. It seems that the only skill Cameron transferred as Prime Minister from his Oxford days is how to damage things – something which the Bullingdon Club was renowned for. The internationally-respected statesman Nelson Mandela, that bastion of democracy, is quoted saying that education is the “most powerful weapon” we can use to change the world we live in. The opportunity to go to university allows us to broaden our minds, much like travelling.
Yet with the latest extortionate hike in tuition fees not a few potential undergraduates must be dissuaded from continuing in higher education. Figures, as reported in an article from the Telegraph broadsheet, illustrate that some universities
that the country’s economy is in a slump and savings need to be made across the board, the Government is not doing enough to encourage youth to pursue a path in higher education. Sure, provision is being made for the destitute and, needless to say,
If we want a fairer “Big” society we must fight for our rights. If our places of education are stolen away from our grasp, then it may be conceived that we are descended from primates. Education is our only key to a better existence. are anticipating that a fifth of undergraduates will be lost as a result. While it is necessary recognize
the wealthier members of society need not worry about economising for university. Nonetheless the
SORRY FOR YOURSELF for Anthony saving me. My mom gave me aspirin and sleeping tablets to assuage the pain, I took three in one go, (of the aspirin) and two of the other, this was alright, said it on the packet. I wanted to escape from my daily pains of being human, still not ever wanting it to change as I was fine with the way I was born. With my last consumption of the pill and water I inaccurately placed the glass on the edge of my side table, gently closing my eyes as I heard a thump: the glass. The doctor said I should have rest, my
family let me rest, and even Worthall has given me the chance of rest, well I might as well use it, I’ll pick it up later, mindlessly I thought as I drifted away into the fantasies of having a soul. The minute I awoke I was already feeling slightly better, I would rest. My head still hammered and I had strains all over me, my time for sleep was nigh. Sighing I looked up towards the ceiling – thinking – just thinking about life. I turned towards my clock on the windowpane: only eleven o’clock. Great,
not even the next day and my wounds weren’t healing: I’d have plenty of rest. Slowly my eyelids tightened: sight hazy, sight dreamlike. A week was a while, two weeks even, and given the amount of damage done to my body, I’d be like this for a while, so I might as well have gotten used to it. The night air aroma of Arrova was sweetened with the essence of nostalgia and despair. On top of a hill, Hanaled painfully overlooked his hometown, grinning with a slight strain, seeing an absentminded crow perched on
“squeezed” middle will again bear the social cost of this externality. The Government is in grave danger of jeopardising the futures of many would-be undergraduates. Can our government empathise with the average family in the land? Consider that 23 of the 29 cabinet members are millionaires and the question becomes almost rhetorical. Furthermore, Government has withdrawn direct state funding for teaching in universities, leaving universities to vie for students and their money. This policy may just send some English universities down the drain as they will need to scrutinize their balance sheets with greater intensity, making universities more like a firm than a centre of learning. Amidst strong opposition and criticism from leading academics such as Sir Peter Scott, former vicechancellor of Kingston University, the Government has decided to press on. It is now a confirmed truth that as of September 2012 many universities will charge £9000. However this should NOT deter us from going to university. If we have aspirations we must work towards them no matter what obstacles may seem to hinder our progression. Though Government policy may be aimed at widening the fissure between the elite and those situated on the lower rungs of the social ladder, it is within our power to reverse this. If we want a fairer “Big” society we must fight for our rights. If our places of education are stolen away from our grasp, then it may be conceived that we are descended from primates. Education is our only key to a better existence.
a shadow shrub. He knew he was hungry, and he knew that today he would kill. The echo of him blew added dread and grief, which to him, reminded him of the days that he wasn’t chained to a curse mark that would never disappear. Closing, clenching, calming his fists, he enduringly looked back up into empty, navy darkness; there is a slight chance, he thought, but I must do this, it must be done! And he cautiously hurled himself down onto the ground rocks before him, walking. Perhaps today isn’t a time to kill, but instead the aftermath of what should’ve been truly desired.
8
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
DEBATE
ENTERTAINMENT Does ‘Rock On’ have Something more to it?
Today’s pleasure Tomorrow’s pain Keziah-Ann Abakah Indulgence is a word that most would find overrated yet most neglect to understand that we spend a large majority of our lives indulging over trivial things. A magazine, a sumptuous snack or (my personal favourite) a Phone app. We each allow ourselves to pursue these various things because they are easy, because they are convenient and ultimately because they give us pleasure. And in our pursuit of these things we take not even a moment’s pause to think, today’s pleasure could be tomorrow’s pain? Most if not all would readily assume that the purchase of one magazine, two magazines, maybe two magazine and one monthly subscribed magazine will do us no harm . After all what pain could possibly come from turning glossy pages, filling our mind with information and attuning our eyes to aesthetically pleasing images? The negligible fact of the matter is this. For the pleasure of browsing your eyes over these charming pages comes the pain of emptiness within your pocket.
Every subscription and every purchase accumulates to the cut back of your own personal funds. Funds which could be put to much better use but what use is more funds weighed against personal satisfaction? Many of us are suckers for a good dish. A steaming hot plate of chips here, a well seasoned piece of chicken there and a ravishing slice of cake just to keep things even. After all what pain could possibly come from igniting your insides with a hot delicacy on a cold day? What pain could possibly come from tucking into some freshly cooked fries from a certain place with two golden arches and lastly what pain could possibly come from consuming a hand crafted pastry topped with cream, chocolate or an even sweeter surprise? In actual fact a lot of pain. Trips to the dentist, an unflattering figure, the death of your social life, shall I go on? Never the less what good is a social life, well kept teeth and an even better kept figure when weighed against personal taste? Last but not least, a great number of us dare I say all of us love a good produce
of technology. Be it a Phone app, the latest game console or even the latest phone. After all what pain could possibly come from manipulating nature, cocooning ourselves in a virtual world and earning the top score? Aside from the environmental trouble caused to gain resources needed to fuel these pieces of technology, the extreme measures of recycling enforced by the government in order for certain materials to enable the manufacturing of these products and a little thing I like to call global warming no pain what so ever could come form these things. Pay no attention to the things listed for what good is a world in which recycling is not taken to extremes, the environment is cared for and global warming is reduced when weighed against personal entertainment? In no such words am I saying that people should stop eating, purchasing magazines or perhaps stop buying needless pieces of technological devices that are more to do with vanity than with use. I am simply saying that today’s pleasure could be tomorrow’s pain.
The symbol of rock has seen to be a simple hand gesture, however some believe to see it otherwise. Celebrities, The public and even the President of the USA have been seen using this highly symbolic rock sign with their hands, but what does it actually mean? Is it just a normal way of showing your love for rock or does it represent something far beyond
our understanding? The sign itself is known all around the globe, most people recognise it, and ‘rock’ springs to mind, however are all these supporters actual rock fans? Many of us believe that it is a harmless character representing the distinct style of ‘rock’. Others believe that it must relate to Illuminati, Satanism or even Free Mason. Nonetheless it doesn’t change the fact that all these people are using representation, and it almost leaves us all blinded.
ADVICE
FASHION Faux fur is a timeless fashion. It’s warm, fashionable and a key trend this season. Fur is luxury at its cheapest and here are a few pieces that can give you the ultimate cozy look…
Dear Miss R,
TOBACCO FUR TRIM MITTEN Price: £16.00 www.topshop.com
I am extremely concerned about my brother who has recently started hanging out with ‘the wrong crowd’. He’s always been very sensible and a good student and a positive role model for me. However he has become increasingly irritant and rude for example swearing at my mum. Just last week he went and got his tongue pierced; him and my mum had a huge row and now they are not speaking. I’m also worried he’s been taking drugs/smoking. Things are getting very tense at home and I’m not sure what to do. My brother is a smart kid but if he keeps going on like this, he’ll get into major trouble and I hate the situation at home. Angela
Fake fur jacket £39.99 www.hm.com/gb
Light brown faux fur hooded gilet £45.00 www.riverisland.com
By Misbah Khan
Fur Cuff Heeled Boot £22.00 www.matalan.co.uk
Fake fur collar £12.99 www.hm.com/gb
Dear Angela, First of all it’s best you speak to your mother about how you feel and then speak to your brother and tell him you love him but you are concerned about the changes in him. Also, try speak to your father if possible and see if he can do anything? Boys will usually relate more to fatherly figures and it’s most likely your brother will listen to him. It would also be wise to contact a counselor and get your brother tested for drugs/alcohol. Keep in mind that adults will be the best to deal with this situation so contact any other adult immediately if not your parents for example a teacher. Who knows with some help and guidance that nose ring may disappear too. Miss R
9
Saarc international I Thursday 20 October 2011
Work displayed in saarc int. are a review of southasianmedia.net. The information on this page is for information purposes only. The South Asia Tribune and SAARC International Ltd. assume no liability for any inaccurate, delayed, or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The full story can be viewed at www.southasianmedia.net
aarc S
international
Thursday, 20.10.11
Operation ‘Knife Edge’ on at border
Kayani does not rule out US strike US forces amass on Af-Pak border, ready for attack on Taliban faction
T
he American build-up, which includes helicopter gunships, heavy artillery and hundreds of U.S. and Afghan military personnel, has reportedly caused panic in Pakistan’s north Waziristan, a usually safe haven for Haqqani fighters. U.S. military troops are positioning on the Pakistan border in eastern Afghanistan ahead of a likely drone missile attack against militants from the Haqqani network, a feared faction of the Taliban. The American build-up, which includes helicopter gunships, heavy artillery and hundreds of U.S. and Afghan military personnel, has reportedly caused panic in Pakistan’s north Waziristan, a usually safe haven for Haqqani fighters. Pakistan Army sources told the Telegraph that the American plan was to force the tribal militia from their bases and into Afghanistan, where they will be ‘encircled, arrested or killed.’ Preparing for strike: U.S. military personnel
are amassing on the Afghan-Pakistan border. The Haqqani group, which is linked to both the Taliban and al-Qaida, has been blamed for high profile attacks in the Afghan capital, including last month’s 19-hour siege against the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Members of the network fathered in the capital Miranshah to consider the appropriate response to the anticipated strike, the Telegraph reported. Local officials warned that Pakistan’s armed forces would block any move across the border by American forces, but military sources in Islamabad and Afghan officials told the Telegraph that the build-up was part of a coordinated operation. President Barack Obama has said that he believes Pakistan is not going after insurgent groups that it feels could end up regaining power in Afghanistan after coalition forces leave. A senior official with the U.S.-led coalition told reporters at a briefing today that the coalition was very focused now on the Haqqani network.
Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has not ruled out the possibility of a unilateral US military strike against militants in North Waziristan tribal region, but warned that Washington will have to think “ten times” before launching such an attack, a media report said today. “They (USA) might do it but they will have to think ten times because Pakistan is not Iraq or Afghanistan,” Gen. Kayani was quoted by ‘The Express Tribune’ newspaper as telling members of parliament’s defence committee during a briefing at the General Headquarters yesterday. The rare briefing for members of the standing committees on defence of the two Houses of parliament lasted over three hours, media reports said. Gen. Kayani made the remarks when a lawmaker asked him to comment on the possibility of a US strike in Pakistan, like American attacks in Laos and Cambodia before the withdrawal from Vietnam.
NEWS
10
Saarc international I Thursday 20 October 2011
SC to hear petition on foreign assets of politicians, military officers Assets are worth a staggering $5billion: The petition
T
he Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would hear the petition regarding foreign assets of civil and military officers and has formed a larger bench to conduct the hearing on October 31. The petition was filed in the apex court by former Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani. The petition states that certain Pakistani civilian and military officials, politicians and businessmen have made money through illegal means and subsequently laundered it to Switzerland and other countries. Mr Durrani claims that
the foreign assets are worth a staggering $5billion.
He also said that according to the UN convention, this money
belongs to Pakistan and the court should direct the government to bring it back. Earlier this year, 30 members of Parliament admitted to having assets outside the country. Among the parliamentarians who admitted to having assets abroad are National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza, Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Babar Khan Ghauri from the MQM, Senator Ishaq Dar from the PML-N, Senator Tariq Azeem from PML-Q and former minister Azam Khan Sawati from JUI-F. Last week, the Lahore High Court chief justice issued
notices to some of the country’s most prominent politicians, including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, following a writ petition alleging they were misappropriating public funds. Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry directed President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, among others, to file their replies, along with their affidavits, regarding the details of their worldwide assets by the first week of December.
Jordan’s King India, Pakistan firm up Abdullah dismisses liberalised visa regime draft the government T According to Jordanian sources, the King “accepted the resignation” of Prime Minister Al-Bakhit
The King of Jordan has yielded to pressure from protesters and parliament and dismissed the government of Maarouf Al-Bakhit. King Abdullah II also sacked his intelligence chief, Mohamed AlRakkad.
Maldives aims to bridge SAARC differences at November summit B
uilding Bridges’ will be the core theme for the two-day 17th SAARC Summit beginning in the picturesque Atoll Addu in Maldives next month on November 10-11, 2011. The theme, preferred by the Republic of Maldives, represents a range of new diplomatic initiatives covering geo-physical regional connectivity to conscious nursing of political dialogue among the SAARC community. This will be the third-time SAARC Summit being hosted by the Maldives government: the previous ones in 1990 and 1997 respectively. SAARC community consists of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The 16th Summit was held in April 2010 in Bhutan
with Climate Change as its central subject of deliberations. Maldives is trying to bridge political differences among the member countries of the SAARC forum. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani who is expected represent Pakistan at the 17th SAARC summit on November 10 and 11, 2011, will have second strategic occasion of meeting with his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh. It was the Thimpu SAARC event of April 2010 that both Islamabad and New Dehli had agreed to open up years choked channels for diplomatic dialogue between them, the process now gone much ahead to a burgeoning bilateral trade and Pakistan’s consent to accord Most Favored Nation (MFN) status to India.
ravelers from India and Pakistan may soon be allowed to visit to more than three places in one visit as per the new Visa Agreement the draft of which is finalised in New Delhi. It envisages more liberalised and simple visa procedure for business people. The draft of the agreement to ease travel for the nationals of either country desiring to visit the other was finalised during the second meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) and will be submitted to the respective governments for obtaining necessary approvals in order to sign the Agreement at an early date, Ministry of External Affairs said. The draft also envisages hassle-free travel for the businessmen from each country by providing more liberalised and simple visa procedure, according to official sources. The modalities for streamlining the visa procedures was also examined at the two-day meeting which was held in pursuance of the decision taken during the India-Pakistan Home/ Interior Secretary-level talks held in March. The meeting, which was a followup on the deliberations held in the first meeting of the JWG in Islamabad in June this year, was led by Anil Goswami, Additional Secretary(Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs, and Nasar Hayat, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Interior, from Pakistani side. “The discussions were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere. The two sides finalized the draft text of the
Agreement which will be submitted to the respective governments for obtaining necessary approvals in order to sign the Agreement at an early date,” MEA said. The draft of the new bilateral visa agreement envisages, among other things, multiple-entry visas for traders and businessmen of the two countries. During the talks between the foreign ministers of the two countries in June, the two sides had prioritised building strong peopleto-people contacts as a key part of their relationship and decided to accelerate their negotiations for concluding a visa agreement. The draft agreement as suggested by Pakistan included that all embassy staff assigned as diplomats and their families should be allowed multiple entry visas during their period of posting; High-ranking dignitaries with diplomatic passports would be given single-entry visas; non diplomatic staff and families in the
missions would get multiple entry visas during tenure but the visas would be restricted to city of posting; official visas for officials visiting on work would be single-entry. For the popular visit visa category, visas would be issued for a period of six months; Senior citizens, “eminent persons”, and females of one country married to males of the other, and their children below 18, would get one-year visas with multiple entries. Further the transit visa would be for 36 hours. The visa regime has, hitherto, restricted to social visits and to pilgrim only. The new category of group tourism has also been introduced through an agent. The visa will be given for 30 days if the group should not be less than 10 people. The agent will be required to register the group on arrival and departure with the police stations of the places to be visited. Businessmen would get multiple entry visa for the duration of one year.
11
Saarc international I Thursday 20 October 2011
WEEKLY REVIEW OF AFGHANISTAN NEWS
Clinton in Afghanistan to Push Reconciliation Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Afghanistan on Wednesday on an unannounced visit to urge leaders there to continue reconciliation efforts with the Taliban. Clinton, arriving in Kabul after a brief trip to Libya, will hold talks with President Hamid Karzai and other top officials, encouraging them to keep up efforts to convince militants to lay down their weapons. Optimism that Taliban leaders
will ever join in the peace process has hit a new low with the recent assassination of the country’s top peace negotiator, former President Burhanuddin Rabbani, and a spate of high-profile attacks. She is expected to discuss US strategic relations with Afghanistan and ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as preview plans for conferences on the future of Afghanistan due to be held in Istanbul in November and
Bonn in December. Ties between Kabul and Islamabad have been particularly strained since the assassination of Rabbani, who was killed by a suicide bomber posing as a Taliban reconciliation envoy. Many Afghans, including senior officials, have accused the Pakistan government of having links to the killing, and accused their neighbor of fomenting instability to further
its own political interests. Pakistan denies this. Karzai has been more circumspect, but hinted after the killing that he had lost hope in pursuing peace talks with the Taliban and suggested negotiations with Pakistan instead. Top US officials accused Pakistan of supporting insurgent groups in Afghanistan after September’s 20hour attack on diplomatic targets in Kabul, including the US embassy.
Parliament approves $51m Afghanistan, NATO launch ‘new push against Haqqanis’ US officials have accused payout over Kabul Bank Pakistan of ties to the Haqqani Afghanistan’s parliament approved a $51m payment to the central bank on Sunday as part of a planned
compensation package over its multimillion-dollar bailout of the scandalhit Kabul Bank. The payment is part of a package of government measures agreed with the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure a new loan for Afghanistan. The IMF stalled renewal of its assistance programme in the wake of the scandal, which highlighted endemic corruption among Kabul’s elite. It comes as planned NATO troop withdrawals and waning donor support are expected to challenge economic growth in the heavily aid-dependent nation. The central bank bailed out Kabul Bank, the war-torn country’s biggest commercial lender, to the tune of $825 million last year, after it collapsed in a scandal which saw hundreds of millions of dollars stolen.
group, causing diplomatic rifts as the West seeks an end to the 10-year war in Afghanistan. Afghan security forces and their NATO allies have launched a new push against the al Qaedalinked Haqqani network along the troubled Pakistani border, senior defence officials said Tuesday. Defence minister Abdul Rahim Wardak said operation “Knife Edge” was launched two days ago, while a senior defence ministry official said it was “largely against the Haqqani network”, blamed for a recent attack in Kabul.
Russia welcomes ISAF longer stay in Afghanistan
A NATO spokesman confirmed only that “enhanced official operations” were ongoing in
the eastern region that borders Pakistan, but gave no further details for security reasons.
German president in surprise Afghanistan trip
T
he Russian Foreign Ministry has issued a statement saying that the UN Security Council’s decision to prolong the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan would promote security in the region. “We believe that the extension of the ISAF mandate will facilitate stabilization in the country in close cooperation with the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,” reads the statement posted on the Foreign Ministry’s website. The prolongation of the mission would advance of the Afghan stabilization process and ensure regional security and stability, it added. The Russian ministry reminded that the Security Council has designated the main responsibility for security and law enforcement in Afghanistan on the national authorities. It also said that the withdrawal of the international forces from Afghanistan should take place only after the local military and security forces have acquired the necessary training to counter any remaining threats from the
Taliban and Al-Qaeda. The resolution of the UN Security council also mentions the special role of regional security organizations in Afghanistan settlement, such as the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Russia is a member of both organizations. Russia continues to support the international operation in Afghanistan, and in 2008-2009 opened transit routes
for transporting German and US military cargo across its territory into the war zone. This has given the ISAF a muchneeded alternative route, especially after the Pakistan supply route had become complicated after Al-Qaeda terrorists increased their activities in the country. Moscow has repeatedly stressed the danger of chaos spreading from Afghanistan into other Central Asian countries if the removal of international forces is conducted too hastily and without preparation.
German President Christian Wulff vowed Sunday that Germany would continue to support Afghanistan after the troops have left, as he made a surprise trip to Kabul for talks with President Hamid Karzai. “I have come to Afghanistan to make clear: Germany will not leave Afghanistan in the lurch,” Wulff stressed upon arriving for the first official visit of a German head of state to Kabul in 44 years. “We will remain a reliable and durable friend and partner of Afghanistan after the handing over of security in 2014 as it overcomes future challenges,” added the president in
remarks released by his office. Wulff was due to meet human rights groups before embarking on talks with Karzai, which were to prepare the ground for a major conference on Afghanistan in the former German capital Bonn in December. Germany has around 5,000 troops supporting international efforts in Afghanistan -- a mission polls consistently show is unpopular in the country. A total of 52 German soldiers have fallen during the mission, according to the army’s website, 34 of them under enemy fire.
12
Saarc international I Thursday 20 October 2011
WEEKLY REVIEW OF BANGLADESH NEWS
Police disperse investors on hunger strike The police dispersed on Monday morning hundreds of small investors who spent the previous night outside the Dhaka Stock Exchange staging a hunger strike in protest at the free fall of share prices. After the police action, the investors gathered in front of the National Press Club and vowed to continue their hunger strike. They also said they would call a countrywide general strike if the government tried to suppress their movement. Investors, under the banner of Bangladesh Capital Market Investors Council, started the hunger strike on Sunday morning in front of the DSE building demanding an immediate assurance from the prime minister to stabilise the capital market. In a press briefing at the National Press Club, the council leaders claimed that law enforcement agencies were asking them not to
continue the protest. ‘We want security of our life. Different quarters and police have issued threats asking us not to continue the protest,’ Kazi Nazrul Islam, acting president of the council told the briefing. He said the investors would continue their protest and hunger strike at the press club and would not leave the streets until their demands were met.
Council leader Kazi Firoz Rashid said, ‘If we cannot continue our protests here, we will move to the Central Shaheed Minar to take our protest to its next stage.’ If the police repression continues, we will call a nationwide general strike,’ he said. Leaders of the council claimed that the DSE authorities had unleashed police to foil their ‘peaceful’ protest. During the overnight protest in front of the DSE, the investors
sang patriotic songs and parodies deriding the government’s policies. A sharp fall in the DSE index on Sunday prompted the investors to embark on a hunger strike. They demanded immediate government measures to stabilise the capital market as it was going through a depression after a market crash in January. Several political parties expressed their solidarity with the affected
small investors on Sunday. Jatiya Party chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad, BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan, Communist Party of Bangladesh central leader Sajjad Zahir Chandan, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president ASM Abdur Rob and general secretary Abdul Malek Ratan visited the hunger strikers. The DSE benchmark index, DGEN, on December 5, 2010, booked the highest-ever gain in its history to 8,918 points. However, with the index continuing to plunge since then, swinging only occasionally to a day or two of slight gains, have lost 3,513 points over the past 10 months. Thousands of small investors lost their capitals in the prolonged depression of the stock market but the government is yet to come up with any concrete measures to stabilise the market.
Govt to split Dhaka into two city corpns The government on Monday approved a proposal for dividing Dhaka into two city corporations – north and south – with a view to ensuring ‘better service delivery’ to around 1.2 crore people living in the metropolis. The local government division placed the proposal for splitting the DCC into two separate local government bodies at the weekly meeting of the cabinet with the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, in the chair at the secretariat. The move came against the backdrop of the ‘DCC’s failure to deliver its responsibilities that include
cleaning, sewerage management and maintenance of roads,’ a senior official concerned told New Age, adding that it had become difficult for the city
Khaleda’s comment fueled communalism BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia fueled communalism and hurt the religious sentiments of the country’s minorities by her “communal speech”, said Awami League leader Suranjit Sengupta yesterday. Suranjit was speaking as the chief guest at a discussion styled “Amendment of Vested Property Return Act 2001: Finalisation and victim’s expectation” in the city’s Dhaka Reporters Unity. Bangladesh Hindu-BuddhaChristian Oikkya Parishad, Ain O Salish Kendra and six other nongovernment and social organisations organised the discussion. Khaleda, at a rally in Sylhet recently, questioned the religious identity of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after the latter visited Dhakeswari National Temple during Durga Puja,
the largest religious festival of the Hindu community. “If the government does not protect the rights of the minorities, then both the parties should give up expectations on each other and it will change the political equilibrium in the country,” he said. Addressing the function, veteran leftist politician Ajoy Roy opined for placing the vested property issue in the UN Human Rights Commission for its resolution. Arpito Sampotti Ain Protirodh Andolon General Secretary Subrata Chowdhury placed a seven-point demand for inclusion in the amendment. Justice Ghulam Rabbani chaired the function, where representatives of different non-government organisations also spoke.
corporation to cater to the demands of a growing population of the metropolis and so the government had decided to divide it into two city corporations.
The Awami League-led government is yet to take initiatives to hold the DCC elections due since May 14, 2007 as it wants to divide the city into two parts, according officials. ‘The cabinet has approved in principle the proposal to make amendments to the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009 for dividing the Dhaka City Corporation into two parts as the single body cannot deliver expected services to over one crore people,’ prime minister’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters after the meeting.
The city corporation with an area of 360 sq kilometres is now divided into 92 wards with 15 constituencies. The proposed DCC North will be constituted with 36 wards, including 1- 23 and 37- 45, and the DCC South will be made up of 56 wards, including 24- 36, 48-53, 56- 66 and 68-92, the press secretary said. A senior official of the local government division said that no wards would be delimited and Mohammadpur, Tejgaon and Badda, to be placed under the northern part, would mark the dividing line between the two city corporations.
Sangu gas reserve to be known in 10-12 days Australia-based Santos, which is drilling a well in the Bay of Bengal in search of gas, said it has to wait another 10 to 12 days for a result. The oil and gas exploration company started the drilling at South Sangu-4, around five kilometres off the present Sangu gas field, on September 24 with jackup rig called Offshore Resolute brought from Singapore. “The drilling needs around 10 to 12 days more to reach the targeted depth of approximately 3,600 to 3,800 metres and know if there is any reserve,” said ABA Siraj Uddowlah, vice president (government and public affairs) of Santos Bangladesh, yesterday. If gas was found in this well, another one month would be required to determine the total deposit, and another one and a half years to set up a platform and underwater pipeline to bring gas ashore, he said.
He is talking to a team of journalists visiting the rig, around 45 kilometres from the shore. “The work is going on smoothly and we are getting all sorts of support from the government,” said Siraj. On completion of the South Sangu exploration, the rig would be moved to another Sangu 11 well where the drilling is scheduled to start towards
the end of November. Santos’ Senior Drilling Engineer Hasnain Ibrahim Babu said they had drilled upto 2,235 metres till yesterday. Aiming at increasing gas supply to industries in Chittagong, Santos took a $126 million project for drilling South Sangu-4, Sangu 11 and Sangu North East wells in Block 16 of the Bay.
13
Saarc international I Thursday 20 October 2011
WEEKLY REVIEW OF BHUTAN NEWS
Royal wedding raises question for locals A royal wedding in Bhutan, is more than a walk down the aisle for the nation’s newest cherished couple. It is, in fact a walk down a new lane for the small Asian country, and it has the people asking questions about themselves. The country’s goal was not simply to marry a royal couple, but instead to share that wedding with the rest of the country. Bhutan is a country that didn’t even have television until 1999. Today, just a dozen years later, most of the country’s people enjoyed the opportunity to see the wedding on live television. Journalists from around the world traveled to the tiny country sandwiched between India and China. Visiting the town of Punakha, the ancient capital, reporters converged on a monastery complex that once served double duty as a military fortress. As reporters marveled at
traditional ways of life, especially farming, seem to have little appetite for the bustling outside world. The royal wedding was an opportunity for many to gather around television sets and enjoy the ceremony. The people are proud of their prince and new princess, and they watched the ceremonies with great anticipation and pride. But as the joy of the nuptials faded, and the common people returned to their traditional lives, they have been left to wonder just what effect the ancient masonry, and curiously wondered just how a royal Buddhist wedding would work, the people of Bhutan wondered how the media attention would change their country. The population of Bhutan is about 700,000 people. The King, is known for traveling around the
country and meeting his people in person. Often, he has been known to travel on foot or bicycle. He has even been known to invite commoners to his palace for tea. Modern devices such as satellite dishes and television are new in the country. And the people, who mostly make their living following
Bhutan’s newly-wed royal couple ‘walks’ to capital
B
hutan’s newly married Royal Couple waded through a sea of people during their 13-hour journey today from the ancient city of Punakha to capital Thimphu, covering most of the 71 km distance by foot. The 31-year-old Oxford-educated Wangchuck and his Queen Pema, who did her higher secondary schooling in Himachal Pradesh’s Sanawar, skipped their lunch as they accepted greetings, congratulatory messages and simple gifts from people all along their journey that began as early as 7.30 AM. The Royal Couple got down from their car almost every five minutes, walked along with commoners,
patiently signed autographs and even let them plant a kiss on their cheeks as people waited for hours together braving cold conditions to get a glimpse of the newly-wed couple. The 71-km distance, which usually takes 3 hours by car, took 13 hours for the Royal Convoy to reach the capital as over 25,000 people queued across this picturesque city alone to welcome the Royal Couple to the capital. The couple was scheduled to arrive here by 2 PM, but it was 8 PM when they reached the Druk Shopping Complex in the centre of the city. When the convoy came near to
them, the Bhutanese cheered and welcomed the King and the Queen with folded hands. Once the Royal Couple reciprocated their gestures, the people jostled with each other to present a white scarf, considered as a mark of respect, to the Royal Couple. “Many a times, the King got down from his vehicle and walked along with the people. He likes spending time with people,” Kinley Dorji, Secretary Ministry of Information and Communication, told PTI. “Most of the journey is being covered by foot. People are lined up across the way. He did not want to drive past them. That is why he took so much of time,” he said. Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, a friend of the Bhutan King, arrived here this afternoon and will grace the national celebrations at the Changlingmithang Grounds, which wears a festive look. In Thimphu, near the Druk Shopping Complex, the Royal Couple shook hands with school children, who patiently waited for their arrival, gave autographs, accepted gifts and even kissed some of them. “Thank you very much. Thank you very much,” Wangchuck, who attended the National Defence College in New Delhi, told the huge foreign media with folded hands as photographers jostled with each other to click pictures.
the encroachment of modern technology, media attention, and particularly television, would have on their culture. Already, a dozen different channels are broadcasting their programs into every home with the a satellite dish. Still, whether the media attention around the royal wedding marks a technological and social turning point for the people of Bhutan, is a question that only they can decide for themselves, and fortunately, the answer is merely a switch or a plug away.
Report on Media Development in Bhutan Released
Copenhagen-based NGO International Media Support has published a report in association with Bhutan’s Ministry of Information and Communication, Unesco and UNDP on media development in the Himalayan mountain kingdom. The report notes that Bhutan has made progress in media
development in recent years but that the absence of skills and trained manpower could be a constraint in the near future. Certain observations have also been made on the mode of media regulation in force in the kingdom, which seems to leave less room than optimal for the exercise of journalistic judgment.
Bhutan royals head to Rajasthan
Bhutan’s newlywed king and queen are headed to Rajasthan for their honeymoon, if sources are to be believed. The 31-year-old monarch, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, and his bride, Jetsun Pema, will visit Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaipur. The couple will arrive on October 25 and stay till November 1. Apparently, Wangchuck fell in love with Rajasthan when he visited
Ranthambore last October. Looks like the wildlife reserve made such an impression on him that he wants to share the experience with his queen. It has also been learnt that they will take a trip across Rajasthan in a special train arranged for the couple. Not willing to disclose anything, Bina Kak, Rajasthan’s minister of tourism, only said, “We’d love to play host if the royal couple comes to our state.”
14
Saarc international I Thursday 20 October 2011
WEEKLY REVIEW OF INDIA NEWS
Black money: Advani demands white paper A
ddressing a public meeting as part of his Jan Chetna Yatra in Nagpur, the octogenarian leader alleged that the UPA government was not serious about bringing back black money to the tune of Rs 2.5 lakh crore stashed abroad. BJP leader L.K. Advani has demanded a white paper on black money from the UPA government during the forthcoming Winter Session of Parliament. He alleged that while countries like USA, UK, Canada and others have amended necessary provisions to bring back black money from Swiss banks, the Congress-led UPA government was not at all initiating any steps.”If the black
money is brought back, India can provide basic facilities like water, power, roads and others to nearly six lakh villages in the country,” he said.
Advani said ill-governance may lead to collapse of the UPA government and result in mid-term elections. Fed up with the inaction on part of the government on the 2G spectrum scam, the BJP and allies forced Parliament to a standstill for the entire session and finally forced the government to set up a Joint Parliament Committee, he said. He criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his recent remarks favouring a “critical look” at the Right to Information Act.”When faced with questions, Singh sought to clarify
that there will be no dilution of RTI,” Advani said.On the occasion, BJP president Nitin Gadkari targeted Manmohan Singh by saying that he was a failure as an ‘economist’ prime minister.”His economic policies have proved to be wrong,” he said.”If Singh claims to be a honest person, he should take action against those involved in the cash-for-vote scam when the Congress led government bought votes to survive the trust vote in July 2008,” he said. Senior BJP leaders Gopinath Munde and Venkaiah Naidu and Maharashtra unit president Sudhir Mungattiwar were also present on the occasion.
Gujarat: Suspended IPS House panel likely to clear Lokayuktas in all states officer Sanjiv Bhatt gets bail T
Session Judge V K Vyas granted bail on the condition that Bhatt would cooperate with the investigation and would remain present when called for. Seventeen days after he was sent to jail, suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, arrested for allegedly fabricating evidence to implicate Narendra Modi in the Gujarat riots, was granted bail by a local court on Monday. Bhatt was in jail after being arrested on September 30 in connection with an FIR filed against him by a police constable K D Pant
for allegedly threatening him and making him sign a false affidavit with regards to the IPS officer’s presence in the February 27, 2002 meeting called by the chief minister after the Godhra train burning incident.
he parliamentary standing committee on law and justice is likely to recommend bringing Prime Minister under the ambit of Lokpal with certain safeguards. The committee on law and justice is veering around to recommending exclusion of lower bureaucracy from the purview of the proposed Lokpal and facilitating setting up of powerful Lokayuktas in all states. While the panel is likely to endorse the government’s bill on the basic structure of the Lokpal, including exclusion of lower bureaucracy, higher judiciary, citizen’s charter and allowing PM with certain safeguards, it may also recommend that the
Cash-for-coverage scam takes Fashion designers fizz out of Advani’s yatra from India and Pakistan unite
A cash-for-coverage scandal has taken the fizz out of Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani’s ambitious Jan Chetna Yatra against corruption and black money with BJP leaders in Madhya Pradesh “attempting to bribe” journalists for favourable coverage. A cash-for-coverage scandal has taken the fizz out of Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K.Advani’s ambitious Jan Chetna Yatra against corruption and black money with the BJP leaders in Madhya Pradesh “attempting to bribe” journalists for favourable coverage of the yatra. Envelopes containing currency notes worth Rs. 500-1,000 were handed out to journalists during a press conference called by local BJP MP Ganesh Singh at the district party office in Satna on Wednesday, a day ahead of Mr. Advani’s press conference there.
State PWD Minister Nagendra Singh also presided over the press conference. The incident came to light after one of the journalists, Arvind Mishra of the Hindi daily Nai Dunia, returned the envelope handed out to him and reported the matter as a news story in his paper. “There were some 30-35 journalists both from print and TV at the press conference and everybody accepted the envelopes. I was enraged and along with my photographer, decided to return the envelope. It’s unfortunate that this is what journalism, and politics, have come to in this country,” Mr. Mishra told The Hindu. Mr. Mishra claims he has a recording of a phone conversation with the BJP’s district media in-charge, where the latter has admitted to “bribing” journalists.
Come 20 October, Dubai will see the best of India and Pakistan fashion all under one roof. The top 15 designers from the both countries are set to showcase their finest collections at Modula Conceptio Boutique in Dubai. Among the designers on display is Sangita Rao, the talented Dubai-based Indian fashion designer and the winner of The College Best Achievement Award by Manish Malhotra (India’s top Bollywood fashion designer). Also on show is Gulzeb Asif - if debuting her fashion line during Dubai Fashion Week (and stealing the show too) wasn’t enough! Her designs have also found a home at Studio 8, the famous fashion boutique. Other names which are going to be there are Ashoo & Montana, Aleena & Fareena, Aeysha Mukri, Faizaa Samee, Youssef Kamoun (Haute Coutue by SS), Nasreen H Shaikh, Rizwan Beyg, Sadia Mirza, Saima Taimur, Sonya Iffat Omer, Waseem Khan and Zara Shahjahan.
Supreme Court judgment in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha case be reviewed, allowing for stronger control of conduct of MPs. Anna Hazare had demanded that conduct of MPs inside Parliament be brought within the Lokpal but the panel is unlikely to accept it. A major bone of contention -- also part of the Parliament resolution -- was inclusion of all government employees under the ambit of the Lokpal. This has been shot down by the committee and it appears unlikely that Team Anna’s demand will be accepted. Most members feel that an 11-member Lokpal will not be able to efficiently handle
40-lakh government employees and may prove entirely ineffective as a result. Sources who have been tracking the proceedings said there was near unanimity that CBI should not be bifurcated as suggested in civil society’s version of the bill. The Jan Lokpal bill had recommended that the investigative wing of CBI be taken over by the Lokpal. This is unlikely to be part of the panel’s report though a detailed discussion on the powers of the Lokpal is still to happen. On the issue of setting up Lokayukatas, a panel member said, “Lokayuktas in states are a strong possibility.
Anti-Cong yatra only after winter session: Anna After a sustained campaign against the Congress before the Hisar Lok Sabha bypoll by civil society members, Anna Hazare on Friday gave the party and government a breather. He announced postponement of his anti-Congress yatra in Uttar Pradesh to the end of the winter session of Parliament. “Anna won’t say anything now. He will wait for the winter session to get over. Let’s see if the Congress brings the bill,” Team Anna’s Arvind Kejriwal said. However, other team members will tour UP from Monday.
The decision came on a day that saw Team Anna in turmoil over the remarks of two members, Prashant Bhushan and justice Santosh Hegde. Hazare expressed unhappiness over Bhushan’s statement on holding a referendum in Kashmir and distanced the team from it. “Kashmir is an integral part of India. Bhushan’s views are in his personal capacity,” he said. In a separate development, justice Hegde said the anti-Congress campaign in Hisar was “not the right thing to do” and that the Hazare movement “is and should be apolitical”.
Saarc international I Thursday 20 October 2011
FASHION
15
16
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
Trafalgar Square celebrates Diwali Diwali, the festival of lights, has been celebrated at Trafalgar Square. An afternoon of dance and music marked the festival, which has been celebrated at the central London landmark for the last 10 years. Mayor Boris Johnson said: “I am delighted to see Diwali in the Square marking 10 years, it is a magical celebration.” The Diwali in London Committee said live performances would showcase “the best of South Asian culture”.
Lighting lamps Hundreds of people have been gathering at the flagship event in the square every year. The festival, which celebrates the victory of good over evil and marks a new beginning, is of significance to Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world and is marked by people lighting lamps inside and outside their homes, and bursting firecrackers. The Diwali in London Committee, which organises the event, said: “Diwali is now celebrated in towns and cities across the country. “At the flagship event in Trafalgar Square people from all faiths and backgrounds can participate in folk dancing around the fountains, enjoy vegetarian food and watch
stage performances showcasing the best of both contemporary and classical South Asian culture Tens of thousands of people counted down as Leicester’s Diwali lights were switched on, on Belgrave Road. Communities gathered on the Golden Mile on Sunday to celebrate the Hindu festival with music, singing, dancing and a firework and laser display. Leicester’s celebrations of the festival of light are thought to be the largest outside India. Diwali day, on 26 October, marks the end of one year and the Hindu New Year will be celebrated the following day. Leicester’s Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby told the crowd his thoughts on the festival of light. “Diwali comes at a dark time of year, it comes as we move into winter and it celebrates the triumph of light over that darkness and that’s the message for all of our communities here in Leicester,” he said. Road closures and parking restrictions were put in place around Belgrave Road for the duration of the event.
17
NEWS
18
Saarc international I Thursday 20 October 2011
CIA gives military greater say in debate, analysis of Afghan war The CIA is giving the military a greater say in the debate over how the war in Afghanistan is going by allowing battlefield commanders to weigh into the analysis at early stages, U.S. officials say. The move prompted a flurry of criticism in the intelligence community’s old guard, worried the change presages a campaign by newly arrived general-turned-CIA director David Petraeus to improve the poor marks the CIA gave the war effort in its own analysis earlier this year. The change was originally reported to The Associated Press as the brainchild of Petraeus by senior intelligence officials who saw it as a way to improve the intelligence community’s grading of the war. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive policy debates. But the CIA says the change was requested by the current Afghanistan commander, Marine Gen. John Allen, and agreed to by CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell, before Petraeus arrived at the agency. “I saw it as strengthening the analysis, better informing the analytic process,” Morell told the AP on Friday. “We will still call it like we see it but now with even better ground truth.” Morell had been trying to find a way to narrow the gulf between the intelligence community’s sometimes negative view of the war versus the more positive views sometimes expressed by commanders in the fight, a senior intelligence official added, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters. Morell said Petraeus affirmed the move after he took the job as director.
Petraeus issued a statement to the CIA staff Friday saying the change in process was “introduced to enhance coordination, to get our officers even earlier access to more information, and to ensure we gain the benefit of hearing from those on the ground fulltime_intelligence base chiefs, civilian experts, and military officers alike” and not “to impose a military viewpoint on our analysis.” He said the AP article represented an “inaccurate picture of his thoughts” on analysis. The change affects how CIA analysts conduct their semi-annual review of every Afghan district to determine several factors, including who is in control - the Afghan government or the Taliban. The analysts used to brief their findings to the senior military commander in Kabul, who would then share them with his subordinates, to ask their opinion. Now, the analysts will brief those battlefield commanders on their findings first. The commanders will have the option to point out something the CIA may have missed, in which case, the analyst can change the report - or choose to hold firm, and simply note the commander’s disagreement. “No one on the CIA leadership team has directed that our analysts pay more attention to or place more weight on the views of our military colleagues,” Petraeus said in his statement. “The change was simply this: to ask our analysts to discuss their findings with working-level ISAF officers before discussing them with the ISAF leadership_the same steps, but just in a different order.” The policy has been backed by
National Intelligence Director James Clapper, another senior U.S. official said. Intelligence oversight committees will be asking for more details about the change, said a senior U.S. official Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss congressional oversight processes. The CIA’s analysis makes up the bulk of national intelligence estimates, which help guide the White House and Congress in drafting future policy. The last U.S. intelligence assessment offered a dim view of progress in Afghanistan despite the counterinsurgency campaign Petraeus oversaw there and painted a stark contrast to the generally upbeat predictions of progress from Petraeus and other military leaders. Petraeus has made no secret of his frustration with recent negative assessments coming primarily from the CIA, and said during his confirmation hearing that he planned to change the way the civilian analysts grade wars. Petraeus took over as head of the CIA last month. He was directly in charge of the war in Afghanistan for more than a year - his last job in uniform - and oversaw the war as the head of Central Command before that. Like Iraq, Afghanistan has become a proving ground for the theories of counterinsurgency Petraeus is credited with making central to current U.S. military doctrine. The previous U.S. intelligence assessment on Afghanistan and Pakistan earlier this year contradicted then-war-commander Petraeus’ assessment. Where he saw “fragile but reversible progress,” the analysts from
across the intelligence community largely reported stalemate in several parts of the country. The disagreements were highlighted in the CIA’s district by district assessments in which progress was graded geographically, with intelligence analysts seeing far less progress in key districts than did military commanders on the ground. They emphasized a spate of assassinations by the Taliban and poor performance by the Afghan government in their report, two U.S. officials say. Analysts also were negative about the performance of the Afghanistan security forces, whereas military commanders saw some units performing competently. Petraeus insisted at his confirmation hearing in June that he could “grade my own work.” But he vowed then to change the way the CIA grades wars, saying the analysts relied on battlefield data that was often six weeks to eight weeks old. He called that a snapshot that was outdated by the time it reached decision-makers. Petraeus earlier told senators he’d disagreed with four such national intelligence estimates on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan __ two because he thought they were too pessimistic, and two he thought were too optimistic. The February Afghan intelligence assessment found that special operations night raids, combined with village-by-village security operations, had shown more lasting progress in undermining the Taliban and their influence than attempts by conventional military forces to drive out militants, according to three U.S. officials who have read the analysis and described it to The Associated Press.
Petraeus oversaw both the conventional and special operations military campaigns, but his ideas about how to outsmart insurgent militias are more closely associated with the conventional military. The report did not favor one strategy over another. But the information gave ammunition to those who supported Vice President Joe Biden’s special operations-centered counterterrorism strategy over Petraeus’ backing of traditional counterinsurgency. It was seen as proof for some that the additional conventional forces Petraeus championed made little impact on the overall campaign and a slam against parts of the strategy designed by its architect just as he seeks to lead the intelligence service. President Barack Obama’s announcement of a drawdown of 33,000 troops is being seen as another departure from Petraeus’ counterinsurgency strategy. Petraeus would only say it was a more “aggressive ... timeline” than he’d recommended, which meant greater risk that U.S. forces might not succeed. In at least one instance, the analysts’ conclusions in that last intelligence assessment tracked with Petraeus’ recommendation of keeping larger numbers of troops on the ground for a longer time period. The intelligence analysts pointed to intercepted communications and broadcasts among Taliban commanders who were heartened by Obama’s drawdown timetable and were able to reverse their decline of last spring in recruiting new fighters, two U.S. officials said.
Sufi clerics issue call to reject hardline Wahabis A
t a mahapanchayat in Moradabad, UP, the All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board (AIUMB), which claims the support of a majority of Indian Muslims, rooted for Sufi traditions of Islam propagating tolerance and harmony. A prominent organization of Sunni clerics has urged Muslims to reject hardline Wahabi Islam, which it said was giving the community a bad name, and called for limiting the influence of Saudi Arabia, which it blamed for meddling in the affairs of Indian Muslims by pumping in petro-dollars. “About 100 years ago, Sunni Muslims in India had rejected the Wahabis. After Independence, however, the Wahabis expanded their influence through political backing. While we remained away from government and politics, Wahabis gained control over institutions dealing with minority affairs, including the wakf board and
the Muslim Personal Law Board,” said AIUMB general secretary Syed Mohammed Ashraf Kachochavi at Sunday’s meet. AIUMB spokesperson Syed Babar Ashraf said 80% of Indian Muslims followed the Sunni Sufi tradition while Wahabis wielded control over just 1314% of the community. “But a large section of the Urdu press has boycotted us. They are controlled by hardliners,” Ashraf said. He said Wahabi-inspired outfits like Deoband, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind and Ahl-e-Hadees were importing a
“foreign ideology” into India. “They are funded by petro-dollars and aim to grab political power,” Ashraf said. AIUMB urged the Centre to set up a central madrasa board, including a member of each Sufi ‘silsila’ (order) in India and one from Shias or Bohras. The funding of madrasas should be audited to check the influx of Saudi petro-dollars, it said.
AIUMB leaders claimed Wahabiinspired outfits were feeding on the frustration of Muslims and indoctrinating them in radical Islam. “Muslims should be careful about such anti-national activities in the name of religion. If they find any extremist exhorting them to terrorism, they should immediately hand over the person to police,” said Kachochavi.
Unlike the Sufis, Wahabis are against praying at dargahs (shrines) and graves and many of the cultural practices embedded in South Asian Islamic traditions. “Millions of Muslims visit the Prophet’s shrine at Madina every year. Muslims are following the Prophet when they pray at dargahs. Why should it be unIslamic?” asked Hazrat Shahid Mian Chishti, dargah-in-charge of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti’s dargah at Ajmer. AIUMB also released a memorandum urging the external affairs ministry to ask the Saudi Arabian government to stop “destroying historical places and preserve sites associated with the Prophet, his family and his Sahabas (companions)”. The AIUMB plans to hold mahapanchayats and Sunni conferences to spread their message every six months. They have held such programmes at Bhagalpur, Bihar, and West Bengal.
Saarc international I Thursday 20 October 2011
SPECIAL FEATURE
19
Bhutan’s newly-wed royal couple
Colorful event
Ahead of the wedding, future Queen Jetsun Pema prepares to take the fifth Dragon King as her husband.
Auspicious wedding
The ancient rituals, administered by the Je Khenpo, Bhutan’s chief Buddhist abbot, began on October 13 at 8:20 am, a time deemed as lucky by royal astrologers.
mony to the cere ity of Leading up ng. The major . di ed w e th prepare for is Buddhist n ks tio on la m st pu hi po Budd try’s alayan coun the small Him
Happy kingdom show of support te their houses in a e. ag rri ma the for
Bhutanese decora
Jigme Patriotism a portrait of King ing. yal flag next to dd ro a we ces the e pla for er be ch y A Bhutanese tea tsun Pema a da angchuck and Je W l ya mg Na r Khesa
100-year-old man runs marathon Centenarian completes marathon, Fauja Singh finished dead last at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday. But even though it took him eight hours, he had every reason to beam. By completing the 26.2 mile course, Singh -- nicknamed the Turbaned Tornado -- became the oldest undisputed runner to finish a marathon. He is 100. Singh, born in rural India in 1911, did not start running marathons until he was 89, after he moved to England following the death of his wife and son. He’s completed eight now. “He says no one is forcing him to do it. It’s his desire to do it,” coach and translator Harmander Singh said Sunday in an interview with CNN affiliate CBC. “He wanted to do one when he’s 100 and today’s the day.” Singh was a colorful sight as he started the race in his canary yellow turban and a matching T-shirt with the words “ Sikhs in
the City” printed across its front -a nod to his faith. He finished more than six hours behind winner
Kenneth Mungara of Kenya, who won the event for the fourth straight year. Then again, Mungara is only 38. Singh, the centenarian, already held the World Record for the 90-plus age group,
sets record in Athens in 1976. Singh says his secret is a life without alcohol and smoking, a vegetarian diet of curries and tea, and daily exercise. He walks or
completing the same race in 2003 at age 92. But until now, the title of “oldest” was the cause of some debate. The Association of Road Racing Statistician already recognized Singh as the oldest for a marathon he ran at age 93. But the Guinness Book of World Records
listed someone else -Dimitrion Yordanidis, 98, who ran
runs up to 10
miles a day. “I have said it before: that I will carry on running, as it is keeping me alive,” Singh told the marathon website.
20
Saarc international I Thursday 20 October 2011
WEEKLY REVIEW OF PAKISTAN NEWS
PM Gilani lays foundation stone for Diamer-Bhasha Dam In an attempt to reduce the prevailing energy crisis in the country, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of the Diamer Bhasha Dam in Gilgit-Baltistan. The dam is being built about 40 kilometres from Chilas on the Indus River and will have a capacity of producing 4,500 megawatts of electricity. The construction of the dam will cost around $11.17 billion and can store around 8.1 million acrefoot of water. The dam will provide more than 6.4 million acre-foot of water to irrigate a large area of agricultural land. After the foundation stone laying ceremony, the prime minister addressed a public gathering and said
that the dam construction would open many jobs and contribute to the economic uplift of Gilgit-Baltistan. Features: 1. LOCATION: The Dam will be located on the River Indus in Northern Pakistan, about 315 km upstream of Tarbela Dam, 165 km downstream of the Northern Areas capital of Gilgit and 40 km downstream of Chilas. 2. MAIN DAM Maximum Height: 270 m Type Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) 3. DIVERSION SYSTEM 2 No. Diversion tunnels 1 No. Diversion canal Upstream and Downstream Cofferdams 4. MAIN SPILLWAY No. of gates 9 Size of gate 16.5
Χ 15.0 m 5. RESERVOIR LEVEL 1160 m Gross capacity 7,300,000 acre feet (9.00×109 m3) Live capacity 6,400,000 acre feet (7.89×109 m3) Min. operation level El. 1060 m 6. OUTLETS Intermediate level 8 Low level 4 7. POWERHOUSE(S) 2 Total installed capacity 4500 MW Location and type Toe of the Dam (one each on
the right and left side) No. of units 8, each of 560 MW Average generation 16,500 Gwh/year 8. ESTIMATED COST (YEAR 2008) US$12 Billion Benefits: Availability of about 6,400,000 acre feet (7.89×109 m3) annual surface face water storage for supplementing irrigation supplies during low flow periods Harnessing of renewable source of clean and cheap energy through installed capacity of 4500 MW Reduction of dependence on thermal power, thus saving foreign exchange Employment opportunity, particularly to the locals, during the construction and operation
Opposition should wait its turn Shahbaz Taseer kept near Pak-Afghan border: Malik until 2013 elections: Gilani S
peaking to journalists at the Lahore Press Club, Gilani said that all the institutions were working fine in their capacities and the opposition is threatened by the majority of the PPP in the Senate. He said that the opposition should wait its turn until the elections. Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday condemned the politics of agitation by PML-N, which, he said, wanted the fall of PPP-led government before Senate elections in March, but the masses would not accept it and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would emerge as a single largest party in the
Senate. “There are all the indications that PPP will emerge as a single largest party in the Senate after March elections with its coalition partners, and they (the PML-N leaders) want the fall of government before March by hook or by crook,” Gilani said in an interview with a
private television on Saturday evening. The prime minister said that the PakUS relations are getting better and that the government will not take any step which will go against national interest. He said that the People’s Party believed in strengthening the nation and the government will remain intact until the people supported it. Gilani also said that the Balochistan package had been given to eliminate the grievances of the province. Speaking on the media, Gilani said that the PPP believed in free media and that the media plays an important role in the success of a democracy.
Minister for Interior, Rehman Malik on Monday said the abductors have kept Shahbaz Taseer near adjoining areas of Pakistan-Afghanistan border and he is alive. “As per intelligence information, the kidnappers have kept the son of late Governor Salman Taseer in Pak-Afghan border areas, but I want to tell the terrorist that their coward action cannot weaken the government’s commitment against extremism and terrorism,” he said. Shahbaz Taseer was kidnapped from Lahore few months ago when
Showdown looms in NA over DHA bill In what could be a deceptive lull after a day of turmoil, the Pakistan National Assembly quietly passed two government bills on Friday, while awaiting a potential thriller to come when it meets next on Monday. An almost unanimous vote, without any argument on the first bills to go through the house’s current session, was in sharp contrast to Thursday’s spectacle when lawmakers of the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N and the government-allied Muttahida Qaumi Movement nearly came to blows mainly over the Karachi-based MQM’s role in Sindh. But the two bills — seeking to boost power generation by making the Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) a statutory body and to provide for the administration of a fund by the human rights ministry to help women prisoners — are to be followed by a controversial Defence Housing Authority Bill for Islamabad that the government put off until Monday after Leader of Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan threatened on Thursday that his PML-N would block it — physically, if needed. While voicing objections to the
government agenda for the bill’s adoption on Thursday, Chaudhry Nisar had criticised the MQM as a “fascist and terrorist party”, provoking a strong response from the Muttahida, which, in turn, accused the PML-N of trying to cripple parliament by threats to block the DHA bill, which the opposition leader alleged would violate the Constitution and give a preferential treatment to a private housing society perceived to be associated with an army-run DHA having some land falling also in the Rawalpindi district of Punjab. The chief whip of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Ahmed Shah then announced the deferment of the
bill with a promise to bring it back on Monday after consulting the opposition as he and some other senior lawmakers intervened to disengage the PML-N and MQM in their second exchange of abusive language within four days. There was no indication on Friday if the PPP and PML-N had come any closer to settling differences that could avoid a feared showdown on Monday on the DHA bill which has already been cleared, by majority vote, by the house standing committee on defence, which is chaired by Azra Fazal Pechuho, a sister of President Asif Ali Zardari. Friday’s quick vote on the PPIB Bill and Women in Distress and Detention Fund (Amendment) Bill, which must now be passed by the Senate to become
laws, came three days after a landmark private bill seeking to penalise antiwomen practices like forced marriages and the so-called marriage with the holy Quran to deprive women of heritance was put off until the next private members’ day on Tuesday just as it was about to be passed after some lawmakers from both the opposition the PPP benches objected to perceived harshness of the intended minimum sentences and drafting flaws. The first bill of the day, piloted by Water and Power Minister Naveed Qamar, said in an accompanying statement of objects and reasons that the new law was expected to inspire public and public sector “confidence in the authority, credibility, efficiency and permanence” of the PPIB, which was originally created under the 1994 power policy of then-PPP government to act as a “one-window operation” to attract and facilitate private investment in the sector. It said donor agencies had “time and again” called for giving the PPIB a legal status, which it added had even been cited by the Asian Development Bank as one of its conditions for its “multitranche facility” to the government.
he was proceeding to his office. The Minister was talking to mediamen at a ceremony organized here by workers of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) at its Headquarters.
President holds informal interaction with SAFMA A delegation of the Pakistan chapter of SAFMA and South Asia Media Commission (SAMC) comprising prominent media persons of the country called on President Asif Ali Zardari here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Friday for an informal interaction. The over 60 strong delegation of media persons included office bearers of SAFMA (South Asian Free Media Association), Nusrat Javed, Imtiaz Alam, Mustansar Javed, Ms. Farzana Ali, Fakhar KakaKhel and that of SAMC, Ziaud-Din and Saleem Shahid among others. Qamar Zaman Kaira, MNA, Secretary Information Taimur Azmat Usman, and Spokesperson to the President were also present during the interaction. The President interacted informally with the participants over the dinner.
21
Saarc international I Thursday 20 October 2011
WEEKLY REVIEW OF MALDIVE NEWS
Iran secretly executing hundreds Higher Subsidy paid to of prisoners: Dr Ahmed Shaheed fishermen: President The UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, former Maldivian Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed has made serious allegations against the Iranian government in his first report detailing growing rights abuses in the Islamic republic. Iran’s authoritarian regime has secretly executed hundreds of prisoners at Vakilabad prison in Mashhad in eastern Iran, according to the UN report. Dr Shaheed, who assumed responsibility for the mandate on August 1, billed this as an interim report cataloging the most recent trends in the human rights situation in Iran. The report, which is to be presented to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, details a raft of abuses from the denial of women’s rights to torture, but the most shocking data was the skyrocketing rate of executions.
PPM not personalities-specific: Gayoom F
ormer President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has said that the new political party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) is for the whole nation and was not meant just for personalties. Speaking at the Inaugural Convention held at Dharubaaruge Sunday night, Former President Gayoom who was elected as the transitional President of the Party by all members who were present, said that was selected as the transitional president and that the
members have set an example in their unanimous support for him.
Gayoom expressed thanks to the party members and others present. He said that the party is being formed for sake of the religion of Islam and will be steadfast on serving Islam and the nation of Maldives. Meanwhile, the convention was attended by officials of the Elections Commission and monitored the meeting as required by the Regulation on Political Parties. 971 members of the party
participated. Apart from former President and his wife Nasreena, several MPs and some former ministers were also present. As required by the Election Commission, the Commission endorsed Progressive Party of Maldives as the name of the party as well as the party’s objectives. The Convention also passed Magenta as its colour and a logo depicting a crescent and palm tree. The Charter and manifesto of the Party was also passed.
President Mohamed Nasheed has said that a higher subsidy has been paid for fishermen, than the amount finalised by the parliament, by cutting down 50% from duty taken on diesel. The President made this statement while speaking at the ceremony held in Noonu Ken’dhikulhudhoo Sunday evening, to commemorate this year’s Fisherman’s Day and Farmer’s Day. Speaking at the ceremony, the President noted that the fishing industry was still one of the main income sources in the Maldives, highlighting the many on going schemes in the development of the fisheries sector. In his speech, the President also highlighted the sea-cucumber cultivation programme initiated in Ken’dhikulhudhoo, noting the profitability of such aquaculture projects, apart from the fishing industry being based on tuna fishing only. Reflecting on the agricultural industry of the Maldives, the President pointed out that the reduction of 20% of all imported agricultural produce has lowered the prices of produce in the market. In his speech, the President also underlined the importance of replacing chemical pesticides with natural means.
DRP to reject Dr UN climate talks ‘stupid and Majeed’s appointment endless’: Maldives
The UN’s talks on climate change are daft and crippled by finger-pointing and the need for consensus, the president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, was quoted on Thursday by Le Monde as saying. Nasheed also said emerging economies were as much to blame for global warming as rich nations. In an interview with the French daily, Nasheed pounded out the frustrations of vulnerable small island states with the 194-party UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). “The current negotiation process is stupid, useless and endless. It is based on this principle: two parties reach an agreement, a third one comes alone and says it doesn’t agree and it reduces the ambition of the others,” Nasheed said. “In essence, even if we reach an agreement, it will be an agreement about nothing. It will be so diluted that it will be of no use,” he said bitterly, calling for “an overhaul of international organisations.” Nasheed, whose comments were reported in French, was speaking during a visit to Paris.
He also criticised the rift in the UNFCCC talks over who was to blame for the man-made carbon emissions that stoke global warming. Poor countries say rich countries bear “historical responsibility” as they were the first to burn the coal, gas and oil that cause the problem. Rich countries say emerging giants such as China, India and Brazil also have to shoulder the burden as they have become huge carbon emitters in their own right. “Responsibility is shared equally,” said Nasheed. “If the emerging countries had had the chance to emit as much carbon, they
would have done the same, perhaps more so,” he said. “If the West stopped their emissions and China, South Africa and Brazil carried on emitting on the basis of business as usual, we would still die. The Maldives would disappear.” Efforts to tackle climate change were ravaged by the near-fiasco of the Copenhagen Summit of December 2009, where world leaders squabbled over targets and burden-sharing. They cobbled together a last-ditch deal, the Copenhagen Accord, which sets down a voluntary approach of national pledges supported by financial pledges to help poor countries.
C
hief opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party’s (DRP) Parliamentary Group is to reject the appointment of Dr Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari as the Islamic Minister for a third time. The party said members of the Parliamentary Group unanimously agreed on Thursday to reject Dr Majeed’s appointment because the Islamic Ministry has not yet taken an action regarding the concerns raised by religious
scholars over the Religious Unity Regulation. DRP stressed that it would work to rally opposition support to the decision. The opposition joint parliamentary group earlier said its members would also vote against Dr Majeed’s appointment. The parliament last week assigned a parliamentary committee to review the endorsement of Dr Majeed as the
22
Saarc international I Thursday 20 October 2011
WEEKLY REVIEW OF NEPAL NEWS
MJF-D turns table on Maoists
The Madhesi Janadhikar ForumDemocratic today urged the UCPNMaoist, which leads the ruling coalition, to come up with an official statement on the controversial remarks of Defence Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari, who represents the MJF-D in the government. “Either the Maoist central committee or the Parliamentary Party should make the party’s stance on the matter public,” said
Ram Janam Chaudhary, the chief whip of the MJF-D after today’s meeting of the MJF-D’s political committee, despite the fact that the Maoist parliamentary board under Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has already sought Bhandari’s resignation. He further said the MJF-D will write to Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal in a day or two demanding his party’s official view on Bhandari’s
Tripathi defends defence minister
Irrigation Minister and senior leader of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Hridayash Tripathi today defended Defence Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari, alleging that opposition parties were running after Bhandari’s remarks as they had no other issue at hand. Talking to mediapersons in Janakpur, Minister Tripathi claimed that opposition parties, who were against the coalition of Madhes-based parties and UCPN-Maoist were venting their
ire on Bhandari by demanding his resignation. He informed that a meeting of United Democratic Madhesi Front would decide whether or not Bhandari should step down. “The parties are demanding Bhandari’s resignation to overshadow the issues of the peace and statute-drafting processes,” said Tripathi. “Bhandari’s statement was not suggesting Tarai secession, but it was misconstrued.”
Sack ministers in controversy: UML
Top UCPN-Maoist and CPN-UML leaders held discussions on a number of issues today. Top UCPN-Maoist and CPN-UML leaders held discussions on a number of issues today. Among others, the resignation of Land Reforms and Management Minister Prabhu Sah and Defence Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari, and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s upcoming India visit beginning October 20 figured in the talks. The UML leaders demanded that the PM immediately sack Land Reforms Minister Sah and Defence Minister Bhandari. While Sah has been accused
of involvement in the murder of Kashi Nath Tiwari, chairman of Hindu Yuva Sangh, Bhandari has come under fire from opposition parties, a section within the UCPN-M and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic for airing secessionist views. While addressing a function in the capital before Dashain, Bhandari had said no constitution can stop 22 districts of the Tarai-Madhes if they choose to secede. “We asked the PM to sack both the ministers as they do not deserve the posts,” Bhim Rawal, a UML leader, who took part in the bilateral meeting this morning, said.
statement that no constitution can stop 22 Tarai-Madhes districts from seceding if discrimination against them continues. Another MJF-D leader Pramod Kumar Gupta, also a member of the political committee, quoted Defence Minister Bhandari as saying at the meeting that he will resign only if a majority of central committee members of the party seek his resignation.
Oppn parties obstruct House again Opposition parties, including the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, today continued obstructing the proceedings of Parliament for the second day demanding resignation of two ministers — Prabhu Sah, Minister for Land Reform and Management and Sharat Singh. They had obstructed the House meeting on Thursday with the same demand. However, Minister Sah later today tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. The opposition parties said they would continue obstructing House until the prime minister clarified Parliament about the charges against the two ministers after sacking them. Three lawmakers from Congress and UML addressed the House to elaborate their concerns and then all the lawmakers stood from their seats pressing Speaker Subas Nembang to call off today’s House business. The next meeting has been scheduled for 1 pm tomorrow. Sah is accused in the murder of then chairman of Hindu Youth Association Kasi Tiwari and Bhandari has been dragged to controversy for speaking against national sovereignty. Bhandari had made a public statement stating that no law could stop if 22 Tarai district chose to secede.
UML leader Bhim Rawal demanded prime minister’s clarification on three issues — charges against the two ministers, prime minister’s statement that he was facing pressure not to take action against the murder of Islami Sangh Nepal general secretary Faizan Ahmed and increment in the salary of Maoist combatants without taking permission from the Special Committee (for Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants).
Nepalese see Pakistan as South Muslims enforce chakka jam Asia’s greatest security threat The results, based on a survey that Gallup conducted in mid-July and early August for the South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF), appear to reflect Nepalese respondents’ concern about terrorism. Nepalese are roughly twice as likely to identify Pakistan as the greatest threat to South Asian security than Afghanistan or India. The results, based on a survey that Gallup conducted in mid-July and early August for the South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF), appear to reflect Nepalese respondents’ concern about terrorism. Four in 10 Nepalese choose terrorism as the No. 1 security threat to the region. Crime places a distant second, with 20% naming it as the top issue. Fewer than 1 in 10 (8%) Nepalese say nuclear weapons constitute the greatest security threat and an equal percentage (8%) say the same about rivalry between India and Pakistan. Although Nepal is situated between two rising
powers, India and China, their rivalry hardly registers as a security threat. With concern about terrorism weighing heavily on their minds, Nepalese look with unease at Pakistan -- a country whose own president accuses past governments of having “deliberately created and nurtured” terrorist movements. However, some Nepalese respondents may have been thinking more locally than regionally when answering the question about the greatest security threat. More than five years after Nepal’s decade-long civil war ended, local insurgent groups are still fighting for the independence of certain regions in the country. Nepal’s leaders and others worldwide should take Nepalese worries about Pakistan and terrorism seriously. On the one hand, policymakers need to step up efforts to advance the regional cooperation in South Asia sorely needed to boost regional security. On the other hand, Nepal’s leaders must improve security within the country.
‘Shahid Faizan Struggle Committee’ comprising various Muslim organisations and right activists today enforced chakka jam for one and a half hour in the Capital city to pressure the authorities to implement the deal they had reached with the government. The government is yet to declare slain Muslim leader Faizan Ahmed a martyr, bring the guilty behind his murder to book, induct a Muslim representative in the judicial probe commission, provide education to the deceased’s children free and guarantee security of Muslims. Hundreds of Muslims, human rights activists, professionals and people from other religious faiths had taken out a rally from Ghantaghar where Ahmed, general secretary of Islami Sangh Nepal, was shot dead by gunmen on September 26. The rally that started at 1 pm traversed through various places before gathering for a corner meeting in front of Jame Masjid and Kashmiri Jame Masjid and enforce chakka jam.
23
Saarc international I Thursday 20 October 2011
WEEKLY REVIEW OF SRILANKA NEWS Deadline extended to declare assets
The Elections Secretariat of Sri Lanka has extended the deadline for the elected local government members to hand in their assets and liabilities declarations. The deadline that was set for October 15th has now been extended till the 20th. Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya has called on the defeated candidates also to submit their assets and liabilities declarations to the Elections Department by the 30th. However, candidates representing independent groups or parties that failed to secure at least one seat in any local government body are not required to hand in assets and liabilities declarations.
SL speaking language of peace S
ri Lanka is speaking the language of peace after decades of conflict that affected thousands of Sri Lankans of all communities, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the 9th International Language and Development Conference in Colombo Tuesday. He said the government’s primary focus is to ensure that all citizens of the country irrespective of their ethnicity learn the three main languages to forge closer ties with each other. The President while reiterating
that Sri Lanka is committed to safeguard the language rights of
Bharatha’s widow against Opposition to commence daughter joining politics agitation campaign Hirunika, taking to politics.
Widow of slain politician, and presidential advisor, Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra said that she would object to her daughter,
“Everyone knows what happened to our family because of politics”, she said. Mrs. Sumana Premachandra confirmed her daughter’s intention to take to politics. “I advised her against it as I fear she is inviting trouble.” Hirunika, even before her father’s cremation announced she would come forward to fill his place in politics.
Vietnam pledges to stand by SL Vietnam will always stand by Sri Lanka in the international arena, stated Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang during his bilateral discussion with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday. He said Vietnam will always extend its assistance to Sri Lanka in the UN Assemblies, South-South corporation, Colombo Plan and any other international event. He pledged Vietnam’s fullest cooperation to Sri Lanka to ensure regional security and elimination of terrorism. He appreciated President Rajapaksa for the first telephone call he had made to the then Vietnamese President to inform of the elimination of terrorism in Sri Lanka in 2009. Vietnam highly values the high level political relationship that exists between the two countries, the Vietnamese President stressed. He pledged to provide Sri Lanka with assistance in defence, defence training, fisheries, petroleum sector, disaster management, and search and rescue missions. Vietnamese multi-national corporations will be encouraged to invest in Sri Lanka, he noted. Appreciating the Vietnamese President’s visit, the first-ever
the people, pointed out that the country is in the process of being
transformed into a trilingual society where English will be the link language. President Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka is becoming a destination of business, leisure and tranquillity after the end of 30 years of conflict. He added that holding this kind of conference in Sri Lanka proves that peace prevails in the country. The President said language is a means of communication and understanding.
Co-deputy leaders of Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party (UNP) Karu Jayasuriya and Sajith Premadasa are to commence a protest campaign against the party leadership’s decision to suspend the membership of two party members. The party leader Ranil Wickremasinghe last week decided to suspend the membership and initiate disciplinary action against Matara
district parliamentarian Buddhika Pathirana and Western Provincial Councilor Shiral Lakthilleka. Both Jayasuriya and Premadasa have objected to the party leader’s decision to suspend the two members. UNP sources have said that Jayasuriya and Premadasa are to commence the protest campaign after issuing a joint statement condemning the action against the two members.
Sri Lanka to purchase more aircraft
state visit by a Vietnamese leader to Sri Lanka, President Rajapaksa emphasized the close relations between the two countries which have “matured and strengthened on shared values and historical ties”. He expressed his gratitude to the government of Vietnam for the support and co-operation extended to crackdown on illegal activities carried out by the LTTE in the East Asia Region. “Although we have militarily defeated the LTTE, the sophisticated propaganda machinery supported by some INGOs, operating to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka is of great concern to us. I look forward to your consistent support in the regional and multilateral fora to counter such
negative effects,” he said. “Sri Lanka desires to strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries in fighting against the common menace of terrorism. In this context, the conclusion of the Defence Co-operation Agreement between our two countries during this visit would enable to initiate measures for practical cooperation,” he added. Elaborating on trade and investment, President Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka seeks to engage with Vietnam to create a win-win situation for both countries, capitalizing on mutual advantages. He invited the Vietnamese business community to participate in the Expo 2012 Trade Exhibition in March next year.
Sri Lanka plans to add five more aircraft to its national aviation service within next five months, Minister of Civil and Aviation Priyankara Jayaratne has said. Participating in a programme at the state-run radio Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, the Minister has revealed plans to purchase Three Airbus A320 aircraft and two more for long distance flights. Two of the planes will be added to the service at the end of this year and other three will be obtained by March 2012. The government plans to expand the fleet of 19 aircraft currently in service up to 30 in the next four years. The Minister has indicated that the government has given priority to
civil aviation under the Mahinda Chinthana vision and taken several measures to develop the aviation service. He noted that 60 percent of the construction work of Sri Lankan’s second international airport at Mattala in Hambanthota district has already been completed and the airport will be opened for international flights at the end of 2012. Meanwhile, Katunayake international airport will be expanded to facilitate the handling of modern Airbus A 380 aircraft. The government is expanding air services to accommodate the increased influx of tourists to the country following the end of the war in May 2009.
24
SPECIAL FEATURE
Saarc international I Thursday 20 October 2011
Salman’s Ek Tha Tiger will release on EID, thanks to Aamir together Adi and Salman were much pleased to accept the request and re-scheduled
A friend in need is a friend indeed! Well now this phrase comes totally perfect for one of the best buddies in the industry, namely Salman Khan and Aamir Khan. And better known as a great human being and a lovely friend, Salman can do anything for his close buddies. Yash Raj Films’ romantic thriller Ek Tha Tiger, starring superstar Salman Khan and his ex-girlfriend Katrina Kaif, was earlier slated to release on June 1, 2012. However now it has been shifted and will now release in
theatres worldwide on EID 2012, and for this all credit goes to friend Aamir Khan. In view of the fact that Aamir Khan was desring to release his upcoming movie, directed by Reema Kagti, on June 1, 2012, he requested Salman Khan and Aditya Chopra to reschedule the release dates of their movie ‘Ek tha Tiger’ if possible. Better known for the close rapport and mutual admiration all of them share for one another,
the release of ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ to Eid. Earlier Aamir had re-scheduled his Reema Kagti’s movie from 26th January 2012 to June 1st, 2012, just because Karan Johar’s Agneepath movie starring Hrithik Roshan and
Movie Review
Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge ‘Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge’ is a rollicking rom-com The ApunKaChoice movie review of Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge. Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge is a film by the youth and for the youth. It’s a rollicking rom-com that revolves around a set of characters who fake their identities on Facebook to woo the person they harbour a secret crush on. The movie introduces four newcomers, two of which turn out to be quite a revelation. Vishal (Saqib Saleem) is a loser when it comes to girls. But the lad has got brains and can pen some darn good lyrics. The problem is he’s got a crush on the most beautiful girl in the college, Malvika (Tara D’Souza). Preity (Saba Azad) hates boys except one, Rahul (Nishant Dahiya), the rockstar and the heartthrob of many girls. The problem is that Preity is a dowdy girl and she doesn’t know why Rahul would even notice her. Facebook provides the way out. How? Vishal has access to Rahul’s Facebook account and pretends as Rahul to woo Malvika. On the other hand, Preity fakes as Malvika on Facebook. Ironically, even as they become friends on Facebook, in real life Vishal and Preity can’t stand each other. Director Nupur Asthana takes this case of mistaken identities and spins a funny love story out of it. There’s
fun, confusion, banter, flared tempers and shocking revelations in this youth comedy. The best part: it’s a film that any youth can easily relate to. The language that the characters speak, the situations they find themselves in are all too familiar for anyone who’s enjoyed his or her college life. The movie works primarily because of the performances by Saqib Saleem and Saba Azad. The lovehate relationship between them is tempestuous and that’s what makes the film a fun watch. The other two newbies, Nishant Dahiya and Tara D’Souza are good lookers, but not as good performers. The film’s music may not be a rage, but the songs gel in well with the theme. The story unspools at a quick
pace, though one gets a feeling that the things do get a bit stretched in the second half. And even though you can foresee how this rom com will conclude, sitting through it is entertaining nonetheless. Take your Fraands along for this one and have a ball!
Sanjay Dutt was scheduled to release on the same date. YRF’s ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ is based on a story written by Aditya Chopra and the Screenplay & Dialogues written by Kabir Khan and Neelesh Misra. Aseem Mishra, who has earlier worked in the company of Kabir on YRF’s ‘New York’, is the Director of Photography. The music will be provided by Sohail Sen. Directed by Kabir Khan and produced by Aditya Chopra, the movie stars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles. The movie is at present filming in Dublin from where it shifts on to Turkey for its after that schedule.
India Trying to Boost ‘Bollywood’ Film Industry in Israel India’s $20 billion “Bollywood” film industry moguls are looking to Israel to scout out new ventures and film location sites. India’s $20 billion “Bollywood” film industry moguls are looking to Israel to scout out new ventures and film location sites. They will tour Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Masada and the Dead Sea, with an eye to attractivefilming sites. The visit this week by some of India’s largest and most lucrative film and television companies coincides with the Jerusalem International Film Festival Premiere of “Gangor,” a film by Indian producer Vinod Kumar. The Hollywood Reporter hailed the Indian-Italian co-production as “a moving personal account of the mass rape of India’s poor, tribal women whose voices are rarely, if ever, heard.”
Bookies bet on Aishwarya Rai’s delivery date! Aishwarya Rai’s pregnancy was a national news and now as her due date approaches, the bookies are busy placing bets on the most favourable date for the delivery of the baby. Aishwarya Rai is in the third trimester of her pregnancy and the baby is due sometime in the second week of November. Since it is the eleventh month of the eleventh year in the new millennium, bookies favour the date eleventh November. Yes, 11.11.11 is the date where a lot of people are reportedly placing their bets. Another favourite date, we hear, is 14.11.11 which is the Children’s Day. However, the stakes may change as November approaches as then it would be clearer when the baby is expected. Aishwarya Rai has lately been making public appearances but has been discreetly keeping her baby bump hidden beneath layers of clothes.
Ranbir’s talent hunt on Facebook
The handsome lad Ranbir Kapoor is launching a talent-hunt for the chase for talent people through Facebook and they will be interviewed on the social networking website itself. The talent hunt is going on for “New Star of India”, a three-minute movie. The heartthrob Ranbir says that no one has tried out something like this in past. The 29 year old actor, alongside with Nissan India, is seeking out for 20 participators. The candidates can join the talenthunt contest, which will begin from October 19, by posting a short-clip of individuals. The 20 lucky ones, who will be chosen by online selection, will come into sight next to Ranbir in the film. In a recent interview Ranbir Kapoor said that he is very much thrilled to be caught up in this innovative film with Nissan, and as well nobody has tried out anything like this in past. Further added that he himself requesting to all Bollywood buffs out there, that this is your once in a lifetime chance to join him in the magical of the films. Lastly he concluded in saying that he is hoping to see people’s auditions and just cannot hang around to get introduced with his co-stars. The finalist will as well get an opportunity to produce the film, decide its music, work on the clothing and name the characters too. “New Star of India” will be premiered in a range of cities across India in January 2012.
Saarc international I Thursday 20 October 2011
SPECIAL FEATURE
25
Philanthropist Sarah Hashwani Inspires Uk Women To Empower Women In Pakistan
Chair of international NGO, the Hashoo Foundation, Sarah Hashwani, Wednesday celebrated the launch of the Foundation’s UK chapter. The charity
and Enterprise, broadcaster and presenter Yasmeen Khan and leading make-up artist Zaynab Mirza.
500 Appeal’ and hope I can play a small part in helping to empower and change the lives of these women.” Also attending the
The evening was opened with an address by Mr Sadruddin Hashwani
marked its entry into the UK with a new appeal ‘500 for 500’ created to help empower the women living in the remote regions of Northern Pakistan, with the help of 500 women from the UK. The 500 for 500 Appeal aims to invite and engage 500 women from the UK to join hands with 500 women in the Northern areas of Pakistan, through the foundation’s award-winning Plan Bee project. The campaign was launched on the evening with the introduction of the campaign’s first set of ambassadors, which include: Adeeba Malik, Deputy Chief Executive of leading national development agency, QED-UK; model and TV presenter Gulzaeb Beg; the UK’s youngest Muslim female Councillor, Rabia Bhatti; top fashion designer Raishma Islam; Dr Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj, a Director of the International Centre for Entrepreneurship
Plan Bee, which won the BBC World Challenge in 2008, is Hashoo’s innovative project that provides women in the Northern region of Pakistan with the opportunity to become beekeepers. Leading make-up artist and entrepreneur Zaynab Mirza, one of the appeal’s very first ambassadors said of the initiative: “After having read about all the fantastic work they are already doing in Pakistan I am looking forward to becoming an Ambassador for ‘The 500 for
event was a young woman from the Northern areas of Pakistan, Jamila, who has directly benefitted from Plan Bee. The Hashoo Foundation is a dynamic and progressive nonprofit organisation which was set up by one of Pakistan’s most prominent families - the Hashwani’s in 1988. The Foundation’s vision is to help create an ethical and inclusive society in which people live with dignity and have power over their own lives.
in his role as Patron-inChief of the Foundation, in which he thanked and praised guests for their support and commitment to
the work of the Foundation across the world. Guest of Honour at the event, His Excellency, Sir Mark Lyall Grant, the UK’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations closed the evening with a heart-warming speech that highlighted the positive impact and value that must be placed on the work of NGOs in the developing world. The evening also included an exhibition of photographs
and the first screening of a special documentary film created by award-winning film-maker Romaine Lancaster.
Musharraf-Imran election alliance being brokered by common friends
Important political developments could be witnessed before the general elections as political parties are adjusting their positions in line with the prevailing scenario. The All Pakistan Muslim League chief Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf and Tehrik-e-Insaf leader Imaran Khan are being persuaded by common friends to enter into an alliance to win maximum number
of seats and emerge as one of the major political force in the country. These hints emerged as Tehrik-eInsaaf Chief is now on a visit to the United States. Well placed sources said that Musharraf-Imran were busy in forging a covert political alliance through their friends in the US. One person in the forefront to
make this happen is the mayor of Paris (Texas, USA)) Dr Arjumand Hashmi, one of Musharraf’s cronies, who is trying to broker a deal with all he is worth. The likely alliance is election specific. Sources brought to fore that Imran Khan, flanked by his close aide Dr Zai, on the sidelines of a recent political visit to US met with Dr Arjumand who had invited him
to dinner at his residence. It has also come to light that he (Imran) stayed there overnight. Dr Arjumand when approached by media persons confirmed the meeting and stay of Imran Khan at his house. He however denied any telephonic conversation between the two leaders during the whole time Tehrik-e-Insaf leader was his guest.
SPECIAL FEATURE
26
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
Will Israel bomb Iran without notifying the US? The danger is that Netanyahu may seek to break out of the current political isolation by mounting a spectacular attack The American, Saudi and Israel armies are on high alert following last week’s American accusations that Iran plotted to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington. The United States also reportedly is sending the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean. It provides combat support for ground troops and can plant mines on coasts of Middle East countries. Meanwhile Earlier on Monday a source close to prominent Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sader’s group said Israeli jet fighters had conducted drills at a military base in Iraq in order to strike targets inside Iran. According to the report a considerable number of Israeli warplanes, including F-15, F-16, F-18, F-22, and KC-10 jet fighters, were seen at al-Asad base in Iraq. A spokeswoman for Israel’s army denied any knowledge of such a report and said that the military did not comment on operational matters. Earlier President Barack Obama on Sunday offered tepid diplomatic and legal responses to an alleged Iranian plot to detonate a bomb in a crowded shopping district in the nation’s capital. “Our first step is to make sure we prosecute those individual [plotters] … I will leave to the Attorney General [Eric Holder] the task of describing how that will proceed,” Obama said at a White House press conference on Sunday day. “The second thing we will continue to do is to apply the toughest sanctions and continue to mobilize the international community to make sure that Iran is further and further isolated and pays a price,” said Obama. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday US accusations that two Iranians planned to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Washington were “meaningless,” state TV reported.”A meaningless and nonsensical accusation has been raised against a few Iranians in America, which was made into an excuse to present the Islamic Republic as a supporter of terrorism,” Khamenei told a crowd in the western province of Kermanshah.”It didn’t work, it won’t work,” he said. Khameni, who is on a nine-day tour of the province, said the west repeatedly made unfounded accusations against Iran.
The Iranian plot the US government says aimed to murder Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Washington allegedly fell down because a member of the Mexican Zeta drug cartel hired to carry out the job for $1.5m was actually a US informant. The informant told the Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) in May that he had been contacted by alleged Iranian agent Manssor Arbabsiar. They held several meetings in Mexico which were taped. Methods discussed reportedly included a targeted assassination and a bomb. Arbabsiar flew to Mexico in late September allegedly to serve as a guarantee that full payment would follow the assassination. The Mexican government has confirmed that it denied him entry and put him on a flight with a stopover in New York, where he was arrested. The Zetas are one of main protagonists in Mexico’s bloody drug wars, where they are fighting rival cartels and a military-led offensive. Their stronghold is the north-eastern state of Tamaulipas, just over the border from Texas. They also have a presence in Guatemala. The cartel is said to operate trafficking routes into Europe as well as the US. Arbabsiar and the DEA informant also reportedly discussed bombing the Israeli embassy in Washington and the Saudi and
Israeli embassies in Argentina, as well as opening Zeta trafficking routes for opium from the Middle East through Mexico. Some reports accused Israeli secret service Mossad for being behind the act of planned to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador in order to provoke a war between Washington and Tehran. In September former Vice President Dick Cheney in an interview with a Television said Israel will attack Iran’s nuclear facilities if necessary to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. On the other hand Saudi
Arabia has taken a first step to have Iran reported to the United Nations Security Council, a move that could lead to new sanctions, but Tehran dismissed allegations it plotted to kill a top Saudi envoy as a ploy to isolate it. “Saudi Arabia’s permanent mission to the United Nations... formally requested the United Nations Secretary General notify the Security Council of the heinous
conspiracy,” the Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported, citing a statement from the kingdom’s UN mission. Israel’s ‘Threat’ to Bomb Nuclear Facilities is Central to its Iran Strategy Earlier some months ago this year implicit warning in the unprecedented public comments by former Mossad chief Meir Dagan and former Chief of Staff, Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi warning that Israel attacking Iran would be an act of spectacular self-destructive folly -- and lamenting that Prime M i n i s t e r Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak were both prone to such reckless whims. Mier Dagan also said the centerpiece of Israel’s I r a n strategy has been to cultivate the belief that if sanctions and other pressures fail to force Tehran to yield, Israel will feel compelled to go to take military action, even without U.S. backing. Israel said nothing at all before its 1981 attack on Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor. Back in July this year A longtime CIA officer who spent 21 years in the Middle East is predicting that Israel will bomb Iran in the fall, dragging the United States into another major war and endangering
US military and civilian personnel (and other interests) throughout the Middle East and beyond. Baer is no ordinary CIA operative. George Clooney won an Oscar for playing a character based on Baer in the film Syriana (Baer also wrote the book). When asked about what would happen in the aftermath of an Israeli attack Dagan said that: “It will be followed by a war with Iran. It is the kind of thing where we know how it starts, but not how it will end.” The Iranians have the capability to fire rockets at Israel for a period of months, and Hizbollah could fire tens of thousands of grad rockets and hundreds of long-range missiles, he said. Robert Baer also said but an Israeli attack on Iran would be different. It would endanger countless Americans (in the region and here at home, too). It would kill off any economic recovery by causing oil prices to skyrocket. It would engulf us in another Middle East war. And it would threaten the existence of the state of Israel. According to Shiekh Imran Hosein When Israel does launch an attack on Iran’s and Pakistan’s nuclear plants, it is certain that the JudeoChristian Zionists would respond by placing unbearable pressure on USA, UK and NATO to join in the war in support of Israel. That war, as well as other possible wars to follow, would ultimately realize for Israel the status of ruling state in the world. Israel will then attempt to impose Pax Judaica upon mankind. Only when that has been achieved - and it does seem possible that it can be achieved, can we expect Dajjāl to appear in person in our world of space and time.
BUSINESS
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
27
Etihad may join Virgin Iran, Pakistan to Atlantic in bid for bmi increase gas exports
Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways is in talks with Britain’s Virgin Atlantic to join the UK carrier in its bid for bmi, the loss-making unit of Lufthansa, two sources familiar with the matter said yesterday.
The fast-growing Middle East carrier is also discussing a possible stake in Virgin Atlantic, said one source. The Financial Times reported that Etihad is also looking at buying a stake in Irish carrier Aer Lingus .
“Discussions have been ongoing on this (partnering for bmi bid) and a possible stake in Virgin,” said an Abu Dhabi source close to the deal who asked not to be named. Etihad and Virgin Atlantic declined to comment. Etihad was earlier reported to have expressed interest in Virgin Atlantic, which hired Deutsche Bank to assess the market for a possible alliance with rival carriers or a sale. Etihad cannot pursue a bid alone due to foreign ownership issues, the FT reported, stating that the Abu Dhabi-based carrier and Virgin Atlantic had held talks for a partnership if the UK carrier were to bid for bmi. “The news is credible, I wouldn’t question it,” another top Abu Dhabi source said. German airline Lufthansa has said it is considering finding a partner for bmi and has mandated bankers to sound out a potential sale. Airlines are keen to get hold of bmi’s coveted takeoff and landing slots at London’s Heathrow airport. Asked if Etihad would take a stake in bmi, the first source said: “It depends on the outcome of the bid.” Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway said last week the group is still keen on buying bmi despite waning growth across the aviation industry. Bmi controls about 10 per cent of the take-off and landing slots at Heathrow, the world’s second-busiest airport, making it second there only to IAG-owned British Airways, which has around 45pc of the slots.
T
ehran and Islamabad have started a new round of negotiations on the export of Iran’s natural gas to Pakistan, with the aim of increasing the volume of exports. Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Javad Oji said on Wednesday the talks have been held in Iran’s capital city, Tehran, following a request by Pakistani government earlier in September for raising the level of exports from the previously agreed level of 21.5 million cubic meters per day to 30 million cubic meters. In June 2009, Tehran and Islamabad signed a 25-year agreement, commencing from February 2014, based on which Iran agreed to export 7.8 billion cubic meters of its natural gas to Pakistan per annum through a multi-billion-dollar pipeline. Iran has no restrictions to raise the volume of its natural gas exports to Pakistan, Oji told Mehr news agency. Meanwhile, Hossein Bidarmaghz,
managing director of the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC) has announced Iran’s readiness to start the gas exports even prior to the agreed timeline. According to the NIGEC chief, Iran has completed 800 km of the 960-km Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, and the remaining 160 km can be laid by the next year; therefore, the country can even start sending natural gas to Pakistan in 2012. Iran ranks second in the world in natural gas resources after Russia with available gas reserves estimated at over 33 trillion cubic meters. In addition to exporting gas to Turkey, Armenia, and Pakistan, the country is currently negotiating as exports to Iraq.
Agencies cut Italy and Spain’s ratings Credit rating agencies have downgraded Italy and Spain’s government-bond ratings over the concerns they may not be able to maintain their previously-owned stability. Standard & Poor’s lowered its rating on 24 Italian banks and Moody’s cut Spain’s credit rating by two notches to A1 which followed Fitch Ratings’ downgrade of Spain’s rating, over the two countries’ looming economic crisis and fading growth prospects The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
Standard & Poor’s analysts believe Italian banks will face higher funding costs because of higher yields on the country’s sovereign debt while domestic lenders will apply tighter credit conditions. Moody’s, in a statement, cited the “continued vulnerability of Spain to market stress” adding, “Moody’s is maintaining a negative outlook on Spain’s rating to reflect the downside risks from a potential further escalation of the euro area crisis.” According to data released by the Bank of
Italy last month, the country’s public debt climbed to 1.911 trillion euros (USD 2.6
trillion) in July, which is around double its GDP. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s government has passed an austerity package to balance the country’s budget by 2013. The Spanish government is aiming to cut its deficit to 6% in 2011, from 9% in 2010. But according to analysts, this target may be missed, since little apparent progress has so far been made this year. Rating agencies also downgraded the ratings of Egypt and Belgium on Tuesday.
US stocks fall amid Euro rating decline US stock markets have ended their week with marked lows following a credit downgrade of Italy and Spain, and the eurozone’s festering credit crisis. On Friday, Wall Street’s Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 19 points, the tech-heavy NASDAQ sunk over 28 points, and the S&P 500, a bellwether for the American economy, lost over nine points, AFP reported. Meanwhile, major bank stocks fell more than the broader market, with Bank of America Corporation plunging 6 percent -- the most in the Dow -- and JP Morgan Chase & Company surrendering 5.2 percent. The smallest of the “big
three” statistical rating agencies, Fitch Ratings cut Italy’s credit rating from double-A minus to A-plus, and Spain’s rating to double-A minus. Separately, Moody’s has
warned that it could downgrade Belgian government bond ratings, this as Brussels is trying to rescue the troubled bank Dexia. On Sunday, Athens declared that it could not meet its 2011-
2012 deficit targets, which prompted EU finance ministers to hold a decision on providing crisis-hit Greece with its next package of bailout funds worth eight billion euros. If the Greek government defaults on its debt, it would cause the value of Greek bonds held by European and US banks to plunge in value, weakening the banks’ balance sheets and making it harder for them to loan money. In September, the International Monetary Fund warned that the financial crisis in developed economies had entered a “dangerous new phase,” saying a fall back into recession for Western economies could have
serious knock-on effects for the rest of the world. The crisis-hit European Union has played on investors’ fears that the US might also be entering another recession, with few signs that strong growth will return soon. Protests against the US financial system, bank bailouts, foreclosures and high unemployment have been seen on Wall Street since September 17, dubbed “Occupy Wall Street,” and have since spread to a number of cities across the country. Major US unions have expressed support for the countrywide protests of the dire economic situation.
SPEACIAL FEATURE
28
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
Ten Major Signs of the Last Day Has One Just Occurred
THE SECOND EARTHQUAKE IN THE WEST When a second massive earthquake (with a sinking down, caving in, or displacement of the earth) eventually occurs in the west, after the recent one in the east, that would further confirm the analysis presented in this essay. All that would then remain to occur for Jesus to descend from the clouds would be the third earthquake in Arabia that would swallow an entire army, and the fire that would come out of Yemen. We are so close to that event that we can already feel the heat of that fire. Although what appears to be the first of the three major earthquakes occurred underwater and resulted in the massive Tsunami in South East Asia, it is not necessary that the second that would occur in the west would be similar. After all, we know that the third and last major earthquake would have its epicenter on land just north of Makkah in Arabia. But it would seem that the mid-Atlantic
(rather than the Pacific) may be the location of the major earthquake of the west that is to come. In case the second major earthqake occurs in the mid-Atlantic, the islands
Shiekh Imran Hossein
Tribune Comment of the Caribbean and the eastern coast of USA and Canada as well as South America would be likely to be affected. It could also be a big earthquake in California along the fault. THE THIRD EARTHQUAKE IN ARABIA Narrated Aisha: Allah’s Apostle
said, “An army would invade the Ka’aba and when the invaders reach Al-Baida’, all the ground would sink and swallow the whole army.” I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! How would they sink into the ground while amongst them would be their markets (the people who worked in business and not invaders) and the people not belonging to them?” The Prophet replied, “All of those people would sink but they would be resurrected and judged according to their intentions.” (Sahih al-Bukhari) Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu’minin: The Prophet said: “Disagreement will occur at the death of a Caliph and a man of the people of Madina would come flying forth to Makkah. Some of the people of Makkah would come to him, bring him out against his will, and swear allegiance to him between the Corner and the Maqam. An expeditionary force would then be sent against him from Syria but would be swallowed
up in the desert between Makkah and Madina.” (Sunan Abu Daud) It is quite clear from the above prophecy of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah Most High be upon him) that the third earthquake would take place at the time of the advent of Imam al-Mahdi. But the Imam cannot emerge to liberate the Arabian heartland of Islam until Israel has become the ruling state in the world. And Allah knows best! THE RETURN OF THE TRUE MESSIAH, JESUS, THE SON OF MARY Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah Most High be upon him) has spoken extensively and in minute details about the event of the return of Jesus (peace and blessings of Allah Most High be upon him). But that event is so rich and complex that it lies beyond the scope of this paper. However, my book, ‘Jerusalem in the Qur’an’ has dealt with the subject in some
Pakistan pacer rocks Cricket spot-fixing trial delivery of no-balls at specific times during Continued from page 32 >> Sri Lanka that match. Continued from page 32 >> Lahiru Thirimanna and Tharanga Paranavitana meandered to 48 without loss with a couple of overs left before the lunch break and his pace trio of Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema and Khan failing to drive home any advantage on the greenish-brown wicket, it looked like a long, hard day under the sun for Pakistan. But Saeed Ajmal struck the opening blow when Younus Khan latched on to a low catch to send back Thirimanna for 20 and Misbah’s men seized the initiative. First breakthrough A fiery spell by Cheema saw him strike with his first ball after lunch to get rid of the dangerous Kumar Sangakkara and he then peppered the equally solid Mahela Jayawardene with his searing pace and bounce. Jayawardene did counter-attack when he pulled Cheema for a six, but it was clear who was in the ascendancy. After Cheema and Ajmal had softened the Lankans, Gul came back to end Paranavitana’s patient innings. Another short ball saw the opener fending to Adnan Akmal who took his second catch behind the stumps. At 79 for three, skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan joined Jayawardene and the two began
to repair the damage before a rank bad decision by Tony Hill ended Dilshan’s vigil. Then came the dream spell from Junaid Khan, who first had the experienced Jayawardene caught in the slips by Hafeez for a gritty 28, and three balls later yorked the other Jayawardene (Prasanna) for a duck, getting the crowd on their feet. Khan then struck again with the first ball of his next over, when he had Rangana Herath plumb in front for another duck to leave Sri Lanka in real trouble. Angelo Matthews scored a gutsy half-century and put on 54 for the eighth wicket with Suranga Lakmal and another 25 for the ninth wicket with Chanaka Welegedara. But Junaid got rid of Welegedera and debutant Nuwan Pradeep to finish with a fivewicket haul, before the openers Mohammed Hafeez (17) and Taufeeq Umar (8) saw Pakistan safely to the close. Sri Lanka first innings: • T. Paranavitana c A. Akmal b Gul 37 • L. Thirimanne c Y. Khan b Ajmal 20 • K. Sangakkara c A. Akmal b Cheema 2 • M. Jayawardene c Hafeez b Junaid 28 • T. Dilshan c A. Akmal b Ajmal 19 • A. Mathews not out 52
promised previously for agreeing to cut the ribbon at the Afters ice cream parlour, in Tooting, which was part-owned by Majeed. Butt was due to open the shop after the match, he told the court. Asked if he knew anything about the fixing deal done to bowl deliberate no balls, Butt said “not at all” Butt and Mohammad Asif deny conspiracy to cheat and accepting corrupt payments in the Lord’s Test last year. The case continues. Earlier Pakistan cricketers were ready to throw one-day internationals and Twenty20s in a bid to undermine then-captain Shahid Afridi and make “a hell of a lot of money”, a London court heard on Tuesday. Mazhar Majeed, an agent for several Pakistan players, told an undercover reporter last year that the players wanted Afridi replaced by then-Test captain Salman Butt and were prepared to fix matches to do it, Southwark Crown Court heard. The court also heard how a shadowy Indian contact offered the agent $1 million (740,000 euros) to ensure Pakistan lost a Test match against England. Former Pakistan captain tells London court he had suspicions Mazhar Majeed was involved in a spot-fixing conspiracy The former Pakistan captain Salman Butt turned on his former agent, Mazhar Majeed, on his second day in the dock at the cricket match-fixing trial. Butt also spoke of his suspicions about a conspiracy between the agent and his own bowlers to fix elements of the Lord’s Test between England and Pakistan last year. Butt’s counsel, Ali Bajwa, asked him his reaction to the News of the World exposé that accused Majeed of predetermining the
“I realised what kind of a man Majeed was,” said Butt, who along with Majeed and the bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, is accused of accepting corrupt payments and cheating at gambling. “I thought I knew him but when it came out I realised I had misjudged someone completely. I took his word and trusted him. I’d known him so long but I didn’t know there could be another side to him.” Butt and Asif deny the charges, and neither Majeed nor Amir is currently standing trial. The trial at Southwark crown court heard that after the News of the World article broke, Majeed had cleared out the filing cabinets at his office, including one headed “Pakistan cricket team”. Jafferjee further challenged Butt over why he had emptied an account he held in Pakistan of US$180,000 (£115,000) on 3 September last year, the day of his police interview. “My mum wanted some money,” said Butt, adding that it is “not a straightforward process” to access money quickly. “So if anyone came after you for cash it was in your mother’s account,” said Jafferjee. “I must say this is a very bad presumption on your part,” said Butt. “You are trying to judge what other people are doing in the Muslim culture.” Jafferjee also focused on the thousands of pounds, dollars, rupees, rand and other currencies found in cash in Butt’s hotel room by police at the time of the alleged crimes. The money was found in a locked suitcase, alongside a notebook that detailed Butt’s cash movements. Noting that Butt had a number of expensive watches, Jafferjee said: “You
detail, and it is to that book that I now refer the gentle reader. ONE FINAL WORD The destiny of Jerusalem is such as to give to Muslims the greatest confidence and hope that Truth will triumph over falsehood and oppression. ‘Jerusalem in the Qur’an’ was written for precisely this purpose — i.e., to explain to Muslims the strange world in which we live today. It is a world in which the cause of Islam appears to be a lost cause. But having read the book the reader would know, if he or she had not already known it, that the reality is quite different. When they know for certain that it is the destiny of Jerusalem to give a spectacular validation of Islam’s claim to truth, Muslims should be able to summon the strength to resist the present war on Islam in which the godless world is making the greatest possible effort to destroy their faith in Allah Most High. were corrupted by your love of money at the expense of the game you profess to love.” Butt replied: “No.” The tenth day of the spot-fixing trial saw banned fast-bowler Mohammad Asif’s lawyer accuse the player’s former captain Salman Butt of ‘pressurising him’ to ‘run faster’ before he bowled his allegedly predetermined no-ball at the Lord’s Test last year. Butt and Asif are facing charges of conspiracy to cheat, and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments, when they allegedly conspired with agent Mazhar Majeed, and fast-bowler Mohammad Amir, to bowl pre-planned no-balls. Butt and Asif deny the charges. The court was played the over in question bowled by Asif in which he delivered the no-ball, after which Asif’s lawyer Alexander Milne pointedly said to Butt: “You had been talking to Asif through this over and pressurising him.” The court had previously heard Asif say in a police transcript from an interview a year ago that he is “never pressured by anyone” but on that occasion he was referring to the notion that he was being put under pressure to fix, not to run faster. However, Butt denied the suggestion. “I’m not there to pressure him, just to encourage,” replied Butt. But Milne responded: “Before Asif bowled his no-ball, you said to him, ‘run faster, you are running too slow’.” Again, Butt denied that such a conversation had taken place. “If you have played cricket you would know that these things are never said. It’s no term. There’s no suggestion in cricket as ‘run faster’. He’s not running the 100 metres, he’s bowling. Asif has never been about pace, he is a rhythm bowler.”
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
COMMENT
29
Will Israel Bomb Iran? Patrick Seale
I
n recent weeks, intense discussions have taken place in Israeli military and intelligence circles about whether or not to launch a military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Apparently, the key question in the debate was how to ensure that the United States took part in the attack or, at the very least, intervened on Israel’s side if the initial strike triggered a wider war. Reports of these discussions have caused considerable alarm in Washington and in a number of European capitals. Some Western military experts have been quoted as saying that the window of opportunity for an Israeli air attack on Iran will close within two months, since the onset of winter would make such an assault more difficult. Concern that Israel may decide to attack without giving the United States prior warning is thought to be the main reason for the visit to Tel Aviv on 3 October of the U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta. His aim seems to have been to rein in the Israeli hawks. Amos Harel of the Israeli daily Haaretz summed up Panetta’s message as follows: America is standing by Israel, but an uncoordinated Israeli strike on Iran could spark a regional war. The United States will work to defend Israel, but Israel must behave responsibly. At his joint press conference with
Israel’s Defence Minister Ehud Barak, Panetta said: The United States is “very concerned, and we will work together to do whatever is necessary” to keep Iran from posing “a threat to the region.” But doing so “depends on the countries working together.” He repeated the word “together” several times. In other words, Israel should not act without an American green light. In recent years, Israel has often threatened to attack Iran. Why has the subject been revived this time? Is Israel worried that Iran is close to acquiring the capability to manufacture a nuclear bomb? Most intelligence experts agree that Iran has not yet made a decision to build nuclear weapons. A more likely Israeli motive is its concern that the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany -the so-called P5+1 -- may accept an Iranian offer of renewed talks. Israel’s greatest fear is that the P5+1 will reach a compromise with Iran which would allow it to continue enriching uranium for civilian purposes. This might then lead in due course to the world agreeing to co-exist with a nuclear Iran. If that were to happen, Israel’s monopoly of nuclear weapons -- a key asset in maintaining its regional military supremacy – would be lost. Iran has, in fact, made several recent overtures to the United States and its allies. When he was in New York last month to attend the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the Washington
Post that Iran would stop producing uranium enriched to 20 percent if foreign countries would provide the fuel needed for the Tehran Research Reactor, which makes medical isotopes. Some 850,000 Iranians are said to depend on such isotopes for cancer treatment. Late last month, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, sent a letter to Catherine Ashton, the EU’s foreign affairs chief, requesting fresh talks with the P5+1 to try to resolve the longstanding dispute. Yet another overture was made by Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi when, in an interview with Asia Times on 29 September, he said that Iran was “prepared to undertake the necessary efforts to restore mutual confidence, and if there is a specific concern, it should be addressed in talks... We must look for innovative proposals.” Fereydoun Abbasi, head of Iran’s Atomic Organisation, has invited Yukiya Amano, Secretary-General of the International Atomic Energy Agence (IAEA), to visit Iran and inspect its nuclear facilities. “Our recommendation is that Mr Amano accept this invitation... Today, the situation is that we are again read to consider the fuel swap,” he said. (This was the proposed swap of a large quantity of low-enriched uranium for a small quantity of 20 percent enriched uranium for medical purposes.) Mr Amano’s IAEA board is due to meet in Vienna on November 17-18, a meeting that is keenly awaited. Several influential voices have
been urging the United States to respond positively to Iran’s overtures. “Why not test Iran’s seriousness?” asked Reza Marashi in an article in theHuffington Post on 30 September. Marashi is a former Iran desk officer at the U.S. State Department and is now Director of Research at the National Iranian American Council, In an article in the International Herald Tribune on 29 September, Charles Ferguson, president of the Federation of American Scientists, and Ali Vaez, director of the Federation’s Iran Project, urged the United States and its allies to take Ahmadinejad at his word. They even suggested that the Western powers should provide Iran with 50 kilograms of fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor as a humanitarian gesture that would buy Washington goodwill with the Iranian people, while curtailing Iran’s enrichment activities. None of these appeals is likely to be heard. President Barack Obama has collapsed in the face of pressure from powerful pro-Israeli lobbies and a fervently pro-Israeli U.S. Congress. As he is seeking re-election next year, we will hear nothing more of the call he made during his 2008 campaign for the need for diplomacy with Iran. The danger is that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu may now seek to break out of Israel’s current political isolation by mounting a spectacular attack on Iran. Having lost Turkey and Egypt, and facing a revolt by the international
community against his “Greater Israel” ambitions, he may think that the time is ripe to seize the initiative. His calculation may be that a lethal blow against Iran would weaken an already deeply troubled Syria and leave Hizbullah orphaned. Israel would have killed three birds with one stone. Will Israel seek an American green light if it decides to attack Iran or might Netanyahu believe that Obama, enslaved to Israeli interests, would have no choice but to follow suit? According to the 6 October edition of TTU, a French intelligence bulletin, the United States and Israel are planning an unprecedented joint land forces exercise next May with the goal of establishing a common “intervention force” ready for action in the event of a major regional war. Admiral James Stavridis, head of Eurocom -- America’s European command -- paid a recent unpublicised visit to Israel for talks with General Benny Gantz, Israel’s chief of staff. According to TTU, the plan is to set up American command posts in Israel and Israeli command posts in Eurocom. Cooperation between the two powers has rarely been closer. These are dangerous times in the Middle East. Patrick Seale is a leading British writer on the Middle East. His latest book is The Struggle for Arab Independence: Riad el-Solh and the Makers of the Modern Middle East (Cambridge University Press).
USA to Russia: We don’t care what you want. We just do what we want
M
ichael McFaul, Barack Obama’s nominee for US ambassador to Russia, released the statements, which destroyed the last hope for the possibility of diplomatic maneuvers at the US-Russian talks, the Rossiiskaya Gazeta wrote. McFaul virtually accused Russia of blackmail and acknowledged that the talks on missile defense reached a deadlock. The tone of the new ambassador can be explained with the strong political pressure, which the Obama administration has to deal with when discussing the issues related to Russia. It is obvious that the Americans intend to build the missile defense system and they are not going to ask Russia’s opinion about it. Russian defense officials acknowledged the failure of the negotiations with the United States at the end of September. The Russian officials
said that Washington simply ignores Russia’s concerns and continues to build the missile defense system. Thus, the USA has refused to provide any legal guarantees to Russia saying that its missile defense system would not target the Russian territory. Obama’s nominee for US ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, said during his speech at the Congress that the United States could not accept Russia’s requirements in the talks. Therefore, it is impossible for the two countries to conduct the dialogue on such a sensitive issue as missile defense. According to McFaul, the talks have come to a deadlock because Russia is asking for a legally binding agreement from the USA saying that the missile defense system will not undermine the Russian potential of strategic deterrence. McFaul acknowledged that the discrepancies make it
impossible to discuss anything during the Russia-NATO summit, which is to take place next year in May. Russia’s Ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, stated that Russia would not be able to discuss USA’s suggestions if such fundamental questions as missile defense remain
unsolved. In this case, the official added, Russia will have to take countermeasures to guarantee its own security, Interfax said. The USA has practically finished the first stage of Obama’s European plan. America has deployed the seabased missile defense system near
European shores. The Aegis system with SM-3 interceptor missiles are capable of destroying the ballistic missiles with the range from 3,000 to 5,000 kilometers. In September, Washington signed the missile defense agreement with Turkey and Romania. The US-Polish agreements about the deployment of the army base near Russia’s borders in the Kaliningrad enclave also came into effect. Russia has been criticizing all actions, which the USA has taken so far to build the missile defense system in Europe. Moscow was particularly concerned about Washington’s agreement with Madrid to deploy four US vessels outfitted with SM-3 interceptor missiles in the south of Spain. Official spokesmen for Russia’s Foreign Ministry claimed that the USA’s accomplished facts practice was unacceptable.
SPECIAL FEATURE
30
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
Evidence suggest attack on Benazir Procession on 18th Oct 2007 was MQM’s planned operation: Zulfiqar Mirza Former Sindh home minister Zulfiqar Mirza said on Monday that he wanted to investigate the October 18 attack but federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik had “misguided” President Asif Zardari and stopped him. Mirza said that when he insisted Malik said, “The October 18 investigation will create problems for us. Let us investigate December 27 before jumping into the October 18 incidents, otherwise we would not be able to expose the real culprits involved in BB’s assassination.” He said that some people allegedly involved in switching off the lights on Sharae Faisal were arrested but later released. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Karachi commemorated the fourth anniversary of the Karsaz terrorist attack of October 18 during Benazir Bhutto’s homecoming parade, which killed 180 people. Earlier last week when South Asia Tribune interviewed Dr Zulfiqar Mirza regarding 2002 Karachi Bomb blast and killings of French engineers, he indicated that he is confident that there is strong possibility of MQM
with Dr Zulfiqar Mirza st. BB after bomb bla
involvement and also 18th October bombing was another terrorist activity of MQM, as he sees similarity of evidences that MQM was involved in 2006 Nishtar park bombings in which at least 57 people have died at a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad’s birth in Karachi Pakistan, and More than 80 people were injured. He said Sunni Tehrik held MQM home minister and governor responsible for Nishtar park bomb blast saying that they were not only involved in this attack but were also behind the past attacks against Sunni Tehreek. Dr Zulfiqar
Mirza also alleged that 2009 Ashura blast, ensuing incineration at Boulton Market were planned operations’ as MQM terrorist
Ajmal Phari in his confession claimed that his group of target killers were informed of the plan two days before they were supposed to execute it. “We were instructed to prepare a team of more than 100 men, and
shops and dozens of automobiles were torched after the bombing, and claim that those who planned the suicide attack also anticipated the mob violence. On 18th October 2011 leaders of the PPP visited the families and graves of activists who lost their lives. All five districts of Karachi will hold a Quran Khwani, including at the site of the blast. Other areas include Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Appartments in Malir, the district offices of PPP at Habib Bank, in Moosa Lane, Lyari, and in
e incident on th tyrs of karsaz res of the marat Shuhda Yadgar. ctu pi e th on niversary, er flowers Women showent on their 4th death an ev
all of them were to be dressed in black clothes,” he said. “We knew fully well the exact location of where the bomb was planted, since this information had been communicated to us by our high-ups.” In 2009 Ashura bombing Shi’ite religious procession, killing at least 43 and injuring more than 100. authorities say that more than 1,000
Nusrat Bhutto Colony. In the evening, activists will gather at Karsaz, Shahrae Faisal, where a documentary was screened. At around 6 pm, a vigil was held at Karsaz for all the martyrs. A photography exhibition will also be held there with 400 pictures of Benazir Bhutto from different phases of her life, taken by Agha Feroz Akhtar. A dua and prayers held at around 7:30 pm.
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
ADVERT
31
The city of Dubai is built on foundations that are steeped in history and tradition. From the evocative Dubai Museum to the spectacular Jumeirah Mosque, and from the breathtaking Bastakiya to the imperious Heritage Village. There are many mysteries waiting to be unravelled. Explore Dubai at your pace and relive great traditions from day gone by.
DEFINITELYDUBAI.COM
32
South Asia Tribune I Thursday 20 October 2011
SAT
Cricket spot-fixing trial
Sports
The Pakistan captain accused of fixing cricket matches admitted he took £2,500 worth of “bung” money by his agent - but said he thought it was a payment for opening an ice
cream parlour. balls to be bowled at the Lord’s Salman Butt, 27, claimed he had Test last year. Giving evidence at no idea that the News of the World the cricket corruption trial, Butt had paid £150,000 to his agent, said it was an innocent payment Mazhar Majeed, to arrange three no Continued on page 28 >>
Afridi announces comeback, says he never retired
A
ll-rounder Shahid Afridi on Tuesday reversed his decision to retire from international cricket, saying he wanted to play for Pakistan since the chairman of the cricket board has been replaced. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari last week appointed banker Zaka Ashraf chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to replace Ijaz Butt, who had
developed serious differences with Afridi in May. “Since the board chairman has changed, I take back my retirement decision and am available to play for Pakistan,” Afridi told reporters. “I had said I will never play with Butt as chairman, so things have changed now.” Acting chief selector Mohammad Ilyas, while lauding Shahid Afridi’s
decision of taking back his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday, said the all-rounder can be considered for selection once the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) gives him the clearance for selection. The 31-year-old all-rounder announced his retirement from international cricket after being dumped as one-day captain following a row over selection with team
coach Waqar Younis while on tour in the West Indies in May. Afridi had also wanted Waqar and manager Intikhab Alam replaced. Waqar quit last month citing health problems and Alam has been made director in the PCB, changes which paved the way for Afridi s return. When he retired, the PCB suspended his central contract and revoked permission for him to play abroad. Afridi then went to court, but the dispute was resolved after a private meeting with Butt. Afridi appeared before a PCB disciplinary committee and was fined $53,000 but his permission to play abroad was reinstated. Afridi, who starred with the ball for Hampshire in the Twenty20 earlier this year, said he was in peak physical condition. “I have been playing regular cricket and want to play the one-day series against Sri Lanka as I am in good shape and have been working hard on my batting and bowling,” said Afridi. Pakistan is playing Sri Lanka in the first of three Tests, which began in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. They will also play five one-days and a Twenty20 during the series, relocated to the United Arab Emirates over security fears. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq last month said he was ready to welcome Afridi back to the team. “First he has to make a decision over his retirement, then the matter will go to the PCB and only after that I can decide. He has been playing well and has enough cricket left in him,” he said.
Pakistan pacer rocks Sri Lanka T
Junaid claims five wickets in first Test
wenty-one-year-old Junaid Khan, a surprise inclusion for only his second Test, repaid his skipper Misbah-ul-Haq’s faith with a spell of five for 38 to help Pakistan take control of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Khan’s spell, which included three wickets in the space of five
balls, helped his side bowl out Sri Lanka for 197, while at close of play Pakistan were 27 for no loss. It was a bold decision by Misbah not only to pick Khan, who took just one wicket in his debut match last month against Zimbabwe, but also to ask Sri Lanka to bat first after winning the toss. When Sri Lankan openers Continued on page 28 >>
Published by Saarc International Ltd, Suite 101, 10 Courtenay Road, London HA9 7ND. UK Telephone:020 8904 0619 Fax: 020 8181 7575 E-mail: info@satribune.co.uk www.satribune.co.uk, www.saarc.co.uk. Printed at Webprint UK Ltd, Unit B1 Eastern Approach, Alfred Way, Barking, IG11 0AG