South Asia Tribune

Tribune South Asia

Paralympians Fly Into UK See page 13

Year 2

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Issue 06

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Thursday, 23.08.12

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Sabah & Rayhan Badly injured in hit-and-run on Eid

“She’s a little hero” : Please pray for them Three bailed in hit-and-run inquiry • Rayhan Saleem, aged two, and his 10-year-old sister Sabah were knocked down by a Vauxhall Astra in Leeds, at around 5.20pm on Saturday • Sabam was hurt while trying to save her brother, her family said • West Yorkshire Police arrest men aged 39, 36, and 26 A 10-year-old girl and her brother, two, remain in hospital as three men arrested over a collision in Leeds are released on bail.

Three men who were arrested over a hit-and-run incident in which a brother and sister were seriously injured have been released on bail, police say. West Yorkshire Police arrested a 36-year-old man on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident

and failing to report an accident; a 39year-old man on suspicion of dangerous driving; and a 26-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender.

All three have now been released on bail pending further inquiries, the force said.

Police released an image taken from CCTV of a silver or grey mark 4 Vauxhall Astra they wanted to trace. It is understood they have now

recovered a vehicle.

Detectives also said they wanted to trace a woman caught on CCTV near the scene at the time of the incident who may have witnessed what happened.

Sabah Saleem, who was on a shopping trip with her brother Rayhan to buy onions for their mother, is showing few signs of improvement at Leeds General Infirmary, according to her family, who are expecting her to be in hospital for

a considerable time. Eyewitnesses, including a young cousin who escaped unhurt, have suggested she may have tried to protect Rayhaan, who is described as improving and walking around.

Three men who were arrested over a hit-and-run incident in which a brother and sister were seriously injured have been released on bail, police say. West Continued on page 5 >>

UK Muslim Patient Fights for Right to Life

The family of a Muslim man in an apparently vegetative state is fighting for a court ruling to give their father a life-saving treatment against doctors’ advice to leave him die.

Muslims in general “believe that you prolong life as far as you can go and that you actively take every step to so do,” FL, a son of Patient L, said in a statement cited by The Guardian.

L, a Muslim man from Manchester, suffered a heart

attack in mid-July, leaving him with severe brain damage.

He is tube-fed, has a catheter

and does not move or respond to verbal command or physical stimulus.

Doctors say the Muslim man is in a persistent vegetative state and that ventilation or resuscitation would not be in his best interest.

Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which is responsible for his care, is seeking a court declaration that it would not be in his best interests to offer him ventilation or resuscitation if there was “a life-threatening event”.

Claire Watson, appearing for the

Trust, said it was the unanimous view of clinicians treating L, as well as independent experts, that the family man was in a persistent vegetative state “with minimal prospects of improving any neurological function and no meaningful prospect of further recovery”.

He is in a persistent vegetative state “with minimal prospects of improving any neurological function and no meaningful Continued on page 5 >>

NEWS

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

Britain’s public borrowing rises unexpectedly in July Chancellor George Osborne’s deficit reduction plans were dealt a blow on Tuesday when official figures revealed a shock rise in borrowing in July.

Britain’s public borrowing rose unexpectedly to 600 million pounds (945 million U.S. dollars) in July, latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed on Tuesday.

In the same period last year, there was a surplus of 2.8 billion pounds since July is usually a strong month for tax receipts.

ONS figures show Britain’s tax revenues in July were down nearly 1 percent, with corporation tax revenue falling by 10 percent.

However, income tax, national insurance and VAT increased, while spending, including Publisher Salah Bu Khamas (UAE) Sabha Khan (UK) UK Office 10 Courtenay Road, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 7ND UK Phone: +44 20 8904 0619 Fax: +44 20 8181 7575 info@satribune.co.uk India Office Satya Infomedia Pvt. Ltd. C/O Satya Group.

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welfare payments, was more than expected.

The government had planned to eliminate the structural budget deficit by 2015 with a tough programme of spending cuts and tax rises, but the weak economy has forced it to extend that by two years and Prime Minister David Cameron has warned austerity could last until 2020.

The news comes as a blow to the government’s full-year borrowing target, which had planned to eliminate the deficit by 2015. (1 pound = 1.575 U.S. dollars)

Lord Rothschild Betting On Euro Collapse?

You know the euro is in deep water when a doyen of the banking industry, Lord Jacob Rothschild takes a £130 million ($200 million) bet against it. Lord Rothschild, an elder member of the dynastic Rothschild banking family, has taken the position against the euro through RIT Capital Partners, the 1.9 billion pound investment trust of which he is executive chairman, according to a report in the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph.

As cynicism that the single currency is on its last legs continues to spread among some euro zone politicians and the public, the influential financier has used the currency as a form of hedge.

The Telegraph quoted sources close to the banker as saying that that his current position against the euro is a realistic one given that the currency remains weak and not a “dogmatic, negative view” on the currency per se. Last week, influential German newspaper Der Spiegel reported that “Banks, companies and investors are preparing themselves for a collapse of the euro.”

Meanwhile, billionaires like John Paulson and George Soros are throwing their financial muscle behind gold as the financial picture looks increasingly unstable heading towards the end of the year.

“According to Bloomberg News, Paulson & Co. and Soros Fund

Management bumped up exposure to SPDR Gold Trust to 21.8 million shares and 884,000 shares, respectively. Paulson & Co. now has 44 percent of its $24 billion fund exposed to bullion,” reports

ABC News.

The next leg of the financial collapse is being forecast by many to be far greater in severity than the 2008 downturn, with Max Keiser appearing on the Alex Jones

Show Friday to predict a systemic economic meltdown before April 2013.

“There is no way to stop it because systems analysis tells me that when you complicate a system to the degree that this has been compromised and complicated there’s a 99.9 per cent probability of a total utter systemic collapse before April (2013),” said Keiser.

Meanwhile Globes reported that a senior Bank of Israel official said, “We have $76 billion in foreign currency reserves, which says it all. It does not conceal the fact that some of the reasons for its accumulation of foreign currencies over the past four years, from $27 billion to $76 billion, have been due to Israel’s geopolitical challenges.”

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

NEWS

Leading from Behind

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On sale starting August 21st

Pakistan’s Army chief of staff was alerted in December 2010, months before the operation. Book Claimed ISI colonel provided vital help in locating Osama former reporter with ‘The Wall Street Journal’ and ‘The Washington Post’.

“In a never-before-reported account, Pakistan was more involved in the bin Laden operation than Obama’s team admitted. When the CIA revealed that an ISI colonel had contacted the CIA in Islamabad and offered information

months before the operation. No concrete facts about the operation were passed on, but an informal approval was sought,” he writes.

“When the SEAL helicopter crashed into bin Laden’s compound, the cover story was abandoned,” the official said.

The story could not be independently “The records held another surprise. The land for the bin Laden lair seemed to have been carved out of property owned by the Kakul Military Academy, Pakistan’s answer to Sandhurst and West Point,” Miniter claimed.

A colonel in the Pakistan’s spy agency ISI had provided vital help to the CIA in tracing Osama bin Laden, a new book has claimed.

The book also claims that Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani may have been briefed by the US on its operation to kill Osama bin Laden, some five months in advance.

‘Leading from Behind: The Reluctant President and the Advisors Who Decide for Him’, penned by eminent American journalist Richard Miniter, hit the stands yesterday.

The new book also says that land of the Abbottabad compound, where the al-Qaeda leader lived with his family, was “carved out” from the Pakistan military academy compound.

“A colonel in Pakistan’s feared intelligence service, the Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI, provided vital help in locating Bin Laden when he walked into the CIA’s Islamabad station in August 2010,” says the book.

Bin Laden was killed by US Navy SEALs inside

his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan in May 2011.

“And Pakistan’s Army chief of staff may have been briefed in December 2010, five months before the nighttime raid on bin Laden’s concrete castle.

“Far from taking a risk, there are indications that a cover story had been developed with the Pakistani military and that Obama had their tacit consent for the mission,” claims Miniter, a

about bin Laden, a debate followed,” it says.

“Was this a secret sign that the head of the ISI himself was pointing out bin Laden’s hiding place or was the colonel actually the patriot who hated extremism that he claimed to be?

Whatever the motivation, the CIA found bin Laden’s hiding place within a month of the colonel’s visit,” the book claims.

“There was talk about devising a cover story that would allow Pakistan to be helpful while keeping its leaders from political harm.

“The story, according to an official with secondhand knowledge of the White House discussion, was that bin Laden was killed in a drone strike and that the US later sent in a team to recover the body. That was believed to be less politically harmful than a commando team treading on Pakistan’s soil,” Minter says.

“According to this official, Pakistan’s Army chief of staff was alerted in December 2010,

confirmed, but it has the virtue of explaining why the Obama administration did not press to end military aid to Pakistan when bin Laden was found eight hundred yards from its officer training facility,” Minter wrote.

According to the book, as the CIA found the Abbottabad compound where Osama bin Laden lived along with his family members and started researching on the property, they found out that the land was carved out from the Pakistan military academy compound.

“The bin Laden compound was akin to an isosceles triangle, carved out of the property of the Kakul Military Academy, Pakistan’s West Point. The campus’s main building sat some eight hundred yards from bin Laden’s castle.

“The triangular compound was bordered with concrete walls ranging in height from ten to eighteen feet. The main building, a three-story tower, housed the arch terrorist, his wives, and their children,” he wrote.

According to the book it was on March 14, 2011 during a situation room meeting that the US President, Barack Obama, decided that Pakistan “should be kept in dark” while America made its plans.

NEWS

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EDITORIAL

In Defence of George Galloway The concerted attempt to demonize George Galloway over his comments on the rape allegations levelled at Julian Assange is reflective of something rotten in British cultural life. Nothing short of a lynching-by-media is being attempted by a range of commentators from right to left, to the point where there’s no room left on the bandwagon.

George Galloway is not nor has he ever been an apologist for rape. He is not nor has he ever been a ‘rape-denier’. He is however a firm opponent of what he and many others around the world consider bears all the hallmarks of the political and legal witchhunt of a man whose role with Wikileaks rocked and humiliated a US government that is now determined to take its revenge. Anyone who still doubts this need only consider the treatment meted out to Bradley Manning, accused of passing classified information to Wikileaks and is now facing 52 years in prison and who since his arrest in 2010 has had his human rights repeatedly violated.

The truth is that rape has become such a politically loaded issue in this country it is impossible to have an honest discussion about it without feeling like you’re walking through a minefield of hysteria and semantic traps, designed to trip you up if you dare deviate from the path of an unwritten but no less rigid consensus, which is that any man accused of rape under any circumstances is guilty until proven innocent - with anyone who suggests it should be the other way round no better than a rapist him or herself.

This occludes rather than enlightens the issue and is designed to place a curtain of censorship around it.

The allegations faced by Assange, which he denies and of which by law he remains innocent until proven guilty, are extremely serious. Any man accused of rape is disgraced by the very allegation. To be publicly accused of the offence, as Assange has been, leaves a stigma that no legal defence can hope to eradicate. Regardless of guilt or innocence, in this respect the allegations have already had a devastating effect on his reputation in the eyes of many who’ve commentated on the story since it broke, moving him from the status of someone being persecuted for political reasons to a rapist doing his utmost to avoid justice. If he is guilty of course he must face the consequences. But only a fool or a supporter of his extradition to the US would deny that he has a justified concern over going to Sweden to be questioned under the present circumstances. After all, does anyone really think that the Ecuadorian Government did not look into the case before granting Julian Assange asylum? Does anyone really believe that tiny Ecuador would defy the might of the United States and its junior partner Britain just for the hell of it?

The precise cause of the calumniation

that has been attached to Galloway’s intervention is the assertion that in his podcast he downplays rape by suggesting that if Assange initiated sex with one of the women involved while she was sleeping, on the morning after they’d already had consensual sex as is claimed, then it might be considered ‘bad sexual etiquette’ but it would not be rape as most people understand it.

How many men or women have initiated sex with a partner or sexual partner in the morning under those very circumstances?

I would guess 99 percent, including most of those who are currently clambering for Galloway’s head.

If any degree of coercion is involved of course it is rape, no doubt. If the other person involved withdraws their consent at any time then the man or woman who initiated sex must stop. On this there can be no equivocation. But Galloway did not dispute either of those red lines. His focus was on the fact that the woman involved in this particular instance went on to hold a party for Assange the night after the alleged rape took place, then the day after went out to dinner with him. Surely any reasonable person, with this mind, would allow for even a smidgeon of something suspicious over the way these allegations have come about?

That George Galloway did so without in the eyes of his accusers giving sufficient room to the possibility that the allegations may be true, reflects not a dismissive attitude to rape, as is being inferred, but his understanding of the nature of the beast that Assange has provoked via Wikileaks and his own consistent opposition to that beast, which is otherwise known as Empire.

But this isn’t really about Julian Assange.

The focus that has been placed on George Galloway is a political campaign being conducted by on the one hand his many enemies within the liberal media who smell blood, and on the other those on the left who are determined to police the issue of rape, the context in which it can be discussed, to the point where men in general are expected to view their sexuality and natural sexual instinct as predatory, something to be ashamed of, something dirty and devious which marks them out as potential rapists.

As a man and as a rational human being I completely and utterly reject this. Rape is far too serious an issue to trivialise and reduce to the level of a stick to beat men with just by dint of them being men. By the same token false allegations of rape are equally too serious to be treated lightly.

George Galloway’s only crime is that he spoke the truth without fear or favour as he and many others see it, and ‘In a time of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act’.

Follow John Wight on Twitter: www.twitter.com/johnwight1

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

Experts: Euro-zone collapse is inevitable

The euro-zone collapse is inevitable, financial expert Viktor Suslov told a press conference “Is Greece leaving the eurozone? Consequences for Europe and the world”, ForUm correspondent reports.

In particular, Suslov noted the need for understanding the reasons for the Greek debt crisis. “It was the mistake to introduce single currency in sovereign states, the establishment of the euro-zone was a mistake,” he said. According to the expert, now there are two ways out of this situation.

The first is to return to national currencies, and the second is to found the Finance Ministry of the European Union, unifying tax legislation and so on.

The expert noted that Greece has no leverages over the situation, so it has a substantial capital outflow of funds from the banks, the growth of debt, unemployment and emigration. As for the euro devaluation, Suslov believes that only the strongest eurozone economy, Germany, may benefit from it.

“As you know, Nobel Prize-winner American Professor Roubini criticizes the euro-zone model... He argues that the collapse of the

euro-zone is not only inevitable, but also desirable to maintain the EU,” the expert said.

In addition, the financial expert warned the citizens of Ukraine against swift selling euros and stressed that the process of disintegration of the euro-zone can last years or even decades.

In turn, executive director of the International Fund of Blazer Oleh Ustenko noted that Greece had to declare its default long ago.

He also said that currently, difficult situation is observed in other countries of the eurozone as well, predicting that Greece may not be the first state to deny euro currency.

“There are numerous statements from the UK ... we hear repeated statements from Italian and Spanish politicians,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, former deputy chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine Serhiy Yaremenko expressed his view that “current situation in Greece is a phenomenon not of this country, but of the Western model (of economy - Ed.), which has been developing for 40 years”.

We have to prepare for collapse of the euro, says Finland

FINLAND’S Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, warned last week that eurozone members should be prepared for a collapse of the common currency as a struggling Europe edges closer to recession, dragged down by the crippling debt problems of the 17 countries that belong to the euro bloc.

He said that the small, triple A credit-rated Nordic nation stands behind the euro, but that Europe was in “a very unstable situation” in which every country should be prepared for the worst.

“Our government is doing everything it can to save the euro and manage the crisis, but what is obvious in every country is that everybody has to be also prepared for the worst eventualities. It would be irresponsible otherwise,” he said.

However, Mr Tuomioja declined to reveal any Finnish contingency plans for a possible collapse of the euro, saying only that such a possibility had been aired in several discussions among senior politicians.

Japan has posted its biggest ever trade deficit for the month of July, following a collapse in shipments to the EU, the country’s third most important trading

partner.

Exports from Japan to the EU fell by a quarter from the same month last year, government data showed on Wednesday.

As fuel imports remained high to replace lost nuclear capacity, Japan’s monthly deficit was pushed to Y517bn ($6.5bn).

That was almost twice as wide as consensus forecasts, and the biggest for July since records began in 1979.

“We can’t see any encouraging signs in Europe,” said Yuichiro Nagai, Tokyobased economist at Barclays.

Fredrik Erixon, director of European Centre for International Political Economy, warned that Japanese companies could be in for more bad news as crisis-hit European companies increasingly seek to unload their products on foreign markets.

Foreign exchange markets were subdued on Wednesday with major currencies lacking direction, but the euro held recent levels on continued hopes of action from the European Central Bank.

The single currency remained at a sixweek high of $1.2464 against the US dollar as traders mulled whether recent strength represented a selling opportunity or if the euro would continue to kick higher.

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

NEWS

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Europe is at great risk of terrorist attacks by extremists: German Intelligence The report also states that over 100,000 native Germans have converted to Islam in recent years.

German Intelligence Chief Gerhard Schindler has issued a warning saying that Europe is at great risk of terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists.

In a wide-ranging interview with the German newspaper Die Welt, Schindler said the German foreign intelligence agency, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), is particularly concerned about the threat posed by homegrown terrorists, individuals who are either born or raised in Europe and who travel to war zones like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia or Yemen to obtain training in terrorist methods.

Schindler said: “A particular threat stems from Al Qaeda structures in Yemen. They want to bring Jihad to Europe. Among other tactics, this involves the ‘lone wolf’ model, which involves individuals who are citizens of the targeted country and who go abroad for training. We know that this is strategy is currently high on Al Qaeda’s agenda, and we are accordingly attentive.”

Schindler’s comments came just days after Spanish authorities arrested three suspected al Qaeda terrorists who were allegedly plotting an airborne attack on a shopping mall near Gibraltar, the British overseas territory on the southernmost tip of Spain.

Schindler’s warning also comes amid the backdrop of a high-security court trial of four suspected Al Qaeda members which began in the German city of Düsseldorf on July 25. German public prosecutors say the defendants -- three home grown Continued from page 1 >>

Islamists born in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and one Moroccan national -- were planning to stage a “sensational terror attack” in Germany.

Also known as the “Düsseldorfer Cell,” the defendants are also accused of plotting to assassinate the former

in Germany. After several months of surveillance by German police, ElKebir was arrested in April 2011.

Before his arrest, El-Kebir also recruited three accomplices he knew from his student days in the German city of Bochum: a 32-yearold German-Moroccan named Jamil

studying Information Technology at the University of Hagen when he was arrested. Seddiki, a high school graduate, was working as an electrician.

Prosecutors have compiled 260 ringbinders containing evidence gathered by investigators; the prosecutor’s

commander of German Special Forces (KSK Kommando Spezialkräfte) as well as to attack the US Army base in the Bavarian town of Grafenwöhr.

German authorities began monitoring the group in early 2010, when the American Central Intelligence Agency alerted German police to the fact that the Moroccan, Abdeladim el-Kebir, 31, had entered Germany after having been trained at an Al Qaeda camp in Waziristan along the AfghanistanPakistan border in 2010.

German public prosecutors say ElKebir, also known as Abi al-Barra, was the ringleader of the Düsseldorfer Cell and, following orders from an unidentified senior Al-Qaeda operative, in November 2010 began working on a plot to blow up public buildings, train stations and airports

Seddiki, a 21-year-old GermanIranian named Amid Chaabi, and a 28-year-old German named citizen Halil Simsek. The three were arrested in Germany in December 2011.

Prosecutors say that Seddiki was in charge of producing explosives while Chaabi and Simsek were responsible for communications with the al Qaeda leadership.

During testimony in court, it emerged that all four defendants led inconspicuous lives. Simsek, for example, who was born in the German city of Gelsenkirchen, earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Bochum. He had wanted to become a German police officer but his application was rejected for medical reasons. Chaabi, who was born in Bochum, was

arraignment runs to 500 pages. The main accusation against the men is that they set up a terrorist cell and prepared to commit murder.

Federal Prosecutor Michael Bruns told the court that the defendants “planned to carry out a spectacular and startling attack” in Germany and that the defendants “wanted to spread fear and horror.”

The trial is expected to run for 30 days; a verdict is expected in November. If the four accused men are found guilty, they face up to ten years in prison.

(In November 2011, a federal court in Brooklyn, New York indicted elKebir on charges of conspiring to provide Al-Qaeda with explosives and training. If extradited and convicted, el-Kebir faces a maximum

Yorkshire Police arrested a 36-year-old man on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident; a 39-year-old man on suspicion of dangerous driving; and a 26-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender.

All three have now been released on bail pending further inquiries, the force said.

Police released an image taken from CCTV of a silver or grey mark 4 Vauxhall Astra they wanted to trace. It is understood they have now recovered a vehicle.

Detectives also said they wanted to trace a woman caught on CCTV near the scene at the time of the incident who may have witnessed what happened.

Police have gathered evidence from people nearby and released CCTV images of the Astra on Monday. They are still appealing for witnesses to contact them on 101 or via Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

The family was cooking a feast as part of Eid celebrations, which mark the end of Ramadan. The grid of redbrick terraces in Hyde Park is host to a large Muslim community and is also home to many students at Leeds’ two universities.

Speed restrictions including road bumps are in place at a number of roads, which are often used as cutthroughs. The area is usually full of shoppers, families and others during the daytime, when the accident took place. West Yorkshire police have drawn on specialist resources. Tyre markings and CCTV evidence can provide precise evidence of speeds and timings in accidents such as the one in Hyde Park.

Detective Superintendent Paul Taylor, leading the inquiry, called the collision “a truly shocking incident in a very close-knit community”. He warned before the arrests that “it would be better for this individual to contact us before we come to see them”.

Sabah & Rayhan Badly injured in hit-and-run on Eid

sentence of life imprisonment.)

Underscoring German officialdom’s anxiety over home grown Islamic terrorism, the German state of Lower Saxony recently published a practical guide to extremist Islam to help citizens identify tell-tale signs of Muslims who are becoming radicalized.

Security officials said the objective of the document is to mitigate the threat of home-grown terrorist attacks by educating Germans about radical Islam and encouraging them to refer suspected Islamic extremists to the authorities -- a move that reflects mounting concern in Germany over the growing assertiveness of Salafist Muslims, who openly state that they want to establish Islamic Sharia law in the country and across Europe.

The 54-page document, “Radicalization Processes in the Context of Islamic Extremism and Terrorism,” which provides countless details about the Islamist scene in Germany, paints a worrisome picture of the threat of radical Islam there.

According to the report, German security agencies estimate that approximately 1,140 individuals living in Germany pose a high risk of becoming Islamic terrorists. The document also states that up to 100,000 native Germans have converted to Islam in recent years, and that “intelligence analysis has found that converts are especially susceptible to radicalization…Security officials believe that converts comprise between five to ten percent of the Salafists.”

UK Muslim Patient Fights for Right to Life prospect of further recovery,” Claire Watson, representing the Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust, told the court.

“Rather than there being the prolongation of life, there would be the prolongation of death and lack of dignity.”

The clinical team of the Muslim patient, who is in his 40s, argues that he has a very poor prognosis.

An intensive care consultant said that L would not “significantly improve”.

Another consultant, who specializes in anesthetics and critical care, estimated there was “less than 1% chance of meaningful recovery”.

Any recovery would be very limited and leave L “profoundly physically and mentally impaired,” he said.

Doctors opine that the Muslim man is prone to respiratory deterioration, skin and urinary infections and the risk of pneumonia.

The trust wants a court declaration that treatment should be limited to what doctors consider reasonable to maintain the Muslim man’s dignity and to relieve any pain and discomfort he may be feeling, but should not extend to resuscitation or ventilation.

Right-to-life But the Muslim man’s family reject the doctors’ opinion, saying that their father should be given a life-saving treatment if his condition worsens.

“My father was very aware of these issues and often when we

heard stories in the media about negligence and decisions to turn off life-support, he would wince his face and give a look of disapproval,” FL said.

“It was a solemn look of disapproval and sadness.”

His wife said that her husband was a happy, loving person “and a loving and caring father”.

The family want a court ruling after noticing that doctors have placed a “do not resuscitate” notice on his notes.

After objections from the Muslim family, doctors removed the notice.

The family say that their father is responsive as they have observed “some degree of responsiveness”.

They want a court ruling that all steps should be taken to preserve the life of their Muslim faither.

But doctors insist that the family’s views are unrealistic.

Watson, who represents Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust, argued that the patient view’s and his family’s were highly material but were “not the governing factors”.

In Islam, euthanasia, which involves the act of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, is forbidden as a major sin.

As for the suspension of medical treatment via preventing the patient from his due medication which is, from a medical perspective, thought to be useless, this is permissible and sometimes it is even recommended.

Thus, the physician can do this for the sake of the patient’s comfort and the relief of his family.

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NEWS

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

Euthanasia and suicide in Islam

Tony Nicklinson, 58, was left paralysed by a catastrophic stroke while on a business trip to Athens in 2005. On August 16, he lost a court bid to end his life after High Court judges unanimously agreed that it would be wrong to depart from a precedent that equates voluntary euthanasia with murder. After the ruling Nicklinson broke down in tears, saying he was “devastated” by the decision.

His lawyers Bindmans LLP said Nicklinson passed away on Wednesday, six days after the decision. In a statement issued by his lawyer after the ruling last week, Nicklinson said: “I thought that if the court saw me as I am, utterly miserable with my life, powerless to do anything about it because of my disability then the judges would accept my reasoning that I do not want to carry on and should be able to have a dignified death.

“I am saddened that the law wants to condemn me to a life of increasing indignity and misery.”

And no person can ever die except by Allah’s leave and at an appointed term.

Qur’an 3:145 Suicide and euthanasia are explicitly forbidden Destroy not yourselves. Surely Allah is ever merciful to you.

I have forbidden him (to enter) Paradise.’ “ Sahih Bukhari 4.56.669

Can we end the suffering..?

A controversial discussion is taking place nowadays in this and other countries of the world related to the right of individuals to

Euthanasia and suicide in Islam

Muslims are against euthanasia. They believe that all human life is sacred because it is given by Allah, and that Allah chooses how long each person will live. Human beings should not interfere in this.

Life is sacred Euthanasia and suicide are not included among the reasons allowed for killing in Islam.

Do not take life, which Allah made sacred, other than in the course of justice.

Qur’an 17:33 Allah decides how long each of us will live When their time comes they cannot delay it for a single hour nor can they bring it forward by a single hour.

Qur’an 16:61

A BRITISH man who suffered from locked-in syndrome has died days after losing a legal bid to end his life .

Qur’an 4:29 The Prophet said: “Amongst the nations before you there was a man who got a wound, and growing impatient (with its pain), he took a knife and cut his hand with it and the blood did not stop till he died. Allah said, ‘My Slave hurried to bring death upon himself so

end a life under certain circumstances. This is a critical issue in particular in our days with many cases of terminally ill individuals where the person, his family, or the doctor need to take a decision related to medical treatments and when to “pull the plug.” In Islam, this controversy is looked upon in the

light of three basic criteria: We must do our best to maintain the trust given to us by Allah as he gave us life.

We must do our best to maintain life. Doing our best in maintaining life is within the limits of knowledge and financial resources.

We have to ensure that whatever we do does not introduce unbearable pain or suffering to the human in consideration. In other words, if an affordable medical treatment is available, it must be administered to the patient provided it does not expose the patient to unusual pains and suffering. On the other hand, using devices or drugs aimed at ending a person’s life is not allowed in Islam no matter how much the illness or the suffering is. Emotional factors should not be used in making the treatment decision since belief in the Will and Mercy of Allah should provide the patient, his family, and his friends with the needed support. Muslims look upon such hardships as tests from Allah.

Patience, persistence, and hope in Allah’s Mercy not only are prescribed for the patient and his family and friends but also are better rewarded by Allah. Treatment decisions are typically discussed between the doctor and the immediate family members. The doctor is trusted to have the scientific medical knowledge. An Islamic rule which is relevant to state here is that as long as the efforts are sincere and the intentions are to abide by the Islamic rules and follow the commands of Allah, no one is held responsible for the results. No one is asked to do things beyond his true means and his true abilities. In summary, knowing that every single one will die when Allah wills him to die, we all are asked to only do our best, within the Islamic regulations, in whatever treatment decisions we take.

Criminal charges filed against German rabbi for performing circumcision

A German Rabbi has become the first person to face criminal charges after performing a circumcision.

The charges come less than two months after a Cologne court ruled that the religious act causes bodily harm to newborn babies.

Rabbi David Goldberg was sued by a German doctor on Tuesday, for inflicting “physical harm” by circumcising an infant.

Chief prosecutor Gerhard Schmitt confirmed that the complaint was filed, although it has not yet been decided whether legal action will be carried out against the rabbi.

The new law bans religious circumcisions in Cologne, although medical circumcisions remain legal.

The June court ruling sparked outcry from Muslim and Jewish communities across the world.

The issue originally came about after a Muslim doctor performed a circumcision on a four-year-old boy at his parents’ request.

Two days later, the boy was taken to the hospital after complications arose.

German authorities launched a criminal investigation against the doctor. Although the initial

court trial ruled that there was no violation of the law, the prosecutor’s office took the case to the Cologne district court, where religious circumcision was banned.

The ruling says circumcision “for

the purpose of religious upbringing constitutes a violation of physical integrity.”

The court decision has sparked a rare show of unity between Jews and Muslims, who see the decision as a threat to religious freedom.

Immediately after the district court ruling, Chancellor Angela Merkel lashed out against it, saying her country risked becoming “a laughing stock” if Jews and Muslims were banned from practicing their rituals.

The issue was taken to the European Parliament where Jewish and Muslim religious leaders met with the European officials in Brussels to complain about what they called “an affront to their basic religious and human rights.”

Muslims circumcise young boys before the age of 7, while Jews perform circumcision rituals on the eighth day after birth.

“Circumcision represents the basis for belonging to the Jewish

community. It has been practiced for 4,000 years and cannot be changed,” Chief Rabbi of Moscow Pinchas Goldschmidt said in a statement.

But those who support the ban say it is entirely necessary, in order to protect children from unnecessary pain and potential harm.

Communities in Switzerland and Austria have followed suit by temporarily banned circumcisions after Cologne’s ruling.

The Norwegian ombudsman for children’s rights, Anne Lindboe, told Vart Land newspaper that circumcising boys was a violation of their right to make decisions regarding their own bodies.

“Muslim and Jewish children are entitled to the same protection as all other children,” Lindboe said.

A medical adviser to the Norwegian government has proposed that Jewish and Muslim circumcisions are replaced with a non-surgical procedure.

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

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One in nine rape complaints ‘written off’ by police

Police choose not to investigate rape complaints more often than any other type of violent crime, as one in nine allegations is “written off”, new analysis shows.

The British police have simply ignored one in nine rape complaints by victims as ‘not a crime’, figures from the Home Office reveal.

According to the figures, police have also ignored part of several other violent crimes including two percent of reported burglaries, five percent of robberies, three percent of drugs complaints and six percent of sexual assaults.

This comes as a study by Criminal Justice Joint Inspection team found earlier this year that the emphasis on keeping recorded cases to a “minimum” risks forcing officers to

ignore some incidents as “no crime” without proper examination.

The police fiasco in dealing with violent crimes, especially sexual violence, raises fears that rape victims could find themselves even more defenseless and isolated in the British society after officials admitted earlier this year that nine out of ten rapes and other sexual assaults go unreported each year.

Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer said in a report back in July that more than 300,000 women are sexually assaulted each year in Britain but warned only 91,000 of the culprits are prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and almost 67,000 are convicted.

The data comes amid fresh controversy over the high-profile allegations of sexual assault facing Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks - accusations that he strongly denies. George Galloway, the Respect MP, also caused furore by suggesting Mr Assange has been accused of no more than bad “sexual etiquette”.

Mr Galloway, speaking in a 30

minute video blog on Sunday, said the allegations levelled against Mr Assange could not be considered rape.

In his video, Mr Galloway admits

that he finds Julian Assange’s sexual behaviour “sordid” and “disgusting” but says that the allegations against him amount to “bad sexual etiquette”

and not rape.

I think that Julian Assange’s personal sexual behaviour is something sordid, disgusting, and I condemn it.

But even taken at its worst, the allegations made against him by the two women – and I’m not even going into their political connections, I’m going to leave that for others and for another day.

Even taken at its worst, if the allegations made by these two women were true, 100 per cent true, and even if a camera in the room captured them, they don’t constitute rape.

At least not rape as anyone with any sense can possibly recognise it. And somebody has to say this.

– George Galloway MP Mr Galloway was condemned for his comments by women’s rights groups, who said he was misrepresenting the law on rape. Respect party leader,

Salma Yaqoob, describes MP for Bradford West’s remarks as ‘deeply disappointing and wrong’ In a posting on her own website

on Tuesday, Yaqoob emphatically distanced herself from Galloway’s comments, saying the “political issues” surrounding Assange’s case should not be used to lessen the gravity of the accusations against him.

“Let me be clear, as a politician and as a woman,” she said. “Rape occurs when a woman has not consented to sex. George Galloway’s comments on what constitutes rape are deeply disappointing and wrong. There are many political issues entwined in the case of Julian Assange. These issues cannot be used to diminish in any way the seriousness of any allegations against him.”

Just as anyone accused of any crime was innocent until proven guilty, she added, “Any individual who believes themselves to be a victim has a right to have their grievances heard in a fair manner and not have their allegations belittled or dismissed.” That, said Yaqoob, was a “cornerstone of justice”.

Her criticism came hours after Galloway had released a statement to defend and clarify the claims he made in the video, and to repeat his assertion that Assange was the victim of a setup.

“No never means yes and nonconsensual sex is rape,” he said.

“There’s no doubt about it and that has always been my position. But if my remarks on the podcast need clarification, I am happy to do that.

Julian Assange – let’s be clear – has always denied the allegations.

And this has all the hallmarks of a setup. I don’t believe, from what we know, that the director of public prosecutions would sanction a prosecution in Britain. What occurred is not rape as most people understand it. And it’s important to note that the two women involved did not initially claim it.”

George Galloway sacked as political columnist for rape remarks

Holyrood paper editor Mandy Rhodes ends contract after Respect MP fails to apologise for rape definition George Galloway has been sacked as a columnist on the Scottish political magazine Holyrood after he refused to retract his widely condemned remarks about the rape charges facing Julian Assange.

Mandy Rhodes, the editor of Holyrood, said the Respect party MP’s remarks that Assange was guilty of just “bad manners” by failing to ask permission to have sex with a sleeping woman, had left her “frankly gobsmacked”.

Rhodes said she had not always agreed with Galloway’s views in the past but had respected his integrity, his role as an “effective thorn in the side of the establishment”, and his stance on Iraq.

However, she said it was impossible for him to continue his column following his remark that having sex with a sleeping woman was “not rape as anyone with any sense can possibly recognise it” if she had already had sex with that man.

“There is no excuse, ever, for sex without consent, and regardless of the details of the Assange case, Galloway’s comments and inappropriate language about rape per se are alarming,” Rhodes said in a

statement on the magazine’s website.

She added: “I had hoped he might have taken the last 24 hours to reflect on his judgment and perhaps make some kind of public apology – but that has not been apparent, far from it. So, it is with some very genuine regret that I have asked him to no longer write his column for the magazine.”

Already a weekly columnist for the Record newspaper, Galloway, the MP for Bradford West, had been hired recently to write regular columns for Holyrood, a fortnightly magazine covering the devolved parliament in Edinburgh

and mainstream Scottish politics. He took up the role after the former Scottish National party MP Jim Sillars stood down as a columnist on health grounds. He had written five columns before Rhodes emailed him and his press adviser, Ron McKay, on Wednesday morning to say he had been sacked. The Respect Party member is currently in Indonesia, but he released a statement on his website seeking to clarify the comments he had made.

He said: “No never means yes and non-consensual sex is rape. There’s no doubt about it and that has always been my position.”

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

Secret NYPD unit spying on Muslims proves useless

Six years of covertly spying and eavesdropping on Muslim neighborhoods by a secret New York Police Department unit yielded no results and led to no cases, stated an NYPD official in a court testimony unsealed Monday. ¬The information was revealed through a June deposition attained

by AP, in which Assistant Chief Thomas Galati, the commanding officer of the NYPD Intelligence Division, offered his testimony in regards to NYPD’s Demographic Unit.

“Related to Demographics” none of the incoming data had “commenced an investigation,” Galati testified.

“I never made a lead from rhetoric that came from a Demographics report, and I’m here since 2006,” he said. “I don’t recall other ones prior to my arrival. Again, that’s always a possibility. I am not aware of any.”

He further went on to describe that police continued to gather information on people even though there was no evidence of wrongdoing or any other kind of

federal civil rights case, dubbed the Handschu case, which began in 1971 over NYPD spying tactics during the 1950s and 1960s. The case resulted in the implementation of federal guidelines, which prohibit the NYPD from collecting information and political speeches unless related to terrorist activity.

Civil rights lawyers now strongly believe that those federal

It confirmed that none of the conversations the officers listened in on had ever led to a case or even an investigation.

terrorist activity, which raised big concerns with civil rights lawyers.

Galati’s deposition was carried out as part of the longstanding

guidelines are not being followed by the Demographics Unit, which is why Galati was asked to testify in the first place.

The secret unit in question was created with CIA assistance and compiled databases on where New York’s Muslims lived, shopped, worked and prayed. It also catalogued mosques and monitored sermons. The goal of the unit was

to serve as a pre-emptive warning system for terrorism.

For instance, if the police got a tip about terrorist activity, the unit could help identify where the terrorist could rent a room, go shopping, pray and socialize.

Just a year ago, AP revealed the existence of the unit, and the fact that it was made up of 16 officers and led by a veteran CIA officer who remained on the Central Intelligence Agency’s payroll.

Thomas Galati was questioned by attorney Jethro Eisenstein, who filed the Handschu case more than 40 years ago. Eisenstein said he wants to take this deposition further and ask the court to shut the whole unit down. It now operates under a new name, the Zone Assessment Unit.

“It seems horrible to me that the NYPD is treating an entire religious community as potential terrorists,” Eisenstein said.

“This is a flat-out violation … this is a smoking gun,” he added.

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Asil Nadir guilty on three counts of theft

Fugitive tycoon Asil Nadir is found guilty of three charges of theft at the Old Bailey.

Nadir, 69, is accused of 13 specimen charges of theft of £34m following the collapse

of the Polly Peck empire in 1990.

He has been found not guilty of one charge, and the jury is retiring to consider the nine remaining charges.

The tycoon fled the UK in May 1993, and returned to Northern Cyprus.

He then returned to the UK in August 2010 on the condition he was not remanded into custody, and paid a £250,000 bail bond to the authorities.

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

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Russia warns West over Syria after Obama threats

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the West on Tuesday against any unilateral action on Syria after President Barack Obama said U.S. forces could act if the Syrian leader deployed chemical weapons against rebels trying to topple him.

Russia and China have opposed military intervention in Syria throughout 17 months of bloodshed and have vetoed three U.N. Security Council resolutions backed by Western and Arab states that would have raised pressure on Damascus to end violence.

Lavrov spoke at a meeting with China’s top diplomat one day after Obama, in some of his strongest language yet, said U.S. forces could move against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad if he resorted to chemical weapons against insurgents.

Russia and China base their diplomatic cooperation on “the need to strictly adhere to the norms of international law and the principles contained in the U.N. Charter, and not to allow their violation”, Lavrov said at a meeting with Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo.

“I think this is the only correct path in today’s conditions,” Lavrov told Dai, who also met President Vladimir Putin and his top security adviser, Nikolai Patrushev, on Monday for consultations went unannounced

by the Kremlin.

Lavrov’s remarks underscored Moscow’s wish to keep international efforts to end Syria’s crisis within the United Nations, where Russia and China wield clout as two of the five permanent Security Council members with veto power.

Frustrated by the vetoes and by the refusal of Russia and China to join calls for Assad to leave power, the United States and other Western and Arab countries are seeking other ways to exert influence on the situation in Syria.

Taliban attack US Russia denies supplying military chief’s aircraft Syria with chemical weapons

Russia has never supplied Syria with chemical weapons, a senior Russian official in charge of chemical weapons safety said Tuesday.

“I would not say the chemical weapons possessed by Damascus were made by the Soviet Union or Russia. Russia didn’t supply Syria with chemical weapons,” said Vladimir Mandych, deputy head of the Federal Departments for Safe Storage and Disposal of Chemical Weapons.

He stressed the situation in Syria has highlighted the need of the international control over storage and use of chemical weapons.

In July, senior Syrian officials said that Damascus would not use chemical weapons unless it was attacked by foreign forces.

“When a conflict broke out in Syria and the authorities spoke about the possibility of using chemical weapons for defense purposes, all this offered another argument in favor of fully

disposing of these weapons all over the world,” Mandych said. He added such statements contradicted the UN Convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons, and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons must tackle this issue.

The official also called on the international community to

upon his arrival to the Mosque by Minister of Endowment (Religious Affairs), the Mufti, Assistant Regional Secretary of the Ba’ath Arab Socialist Party, Chairman of the People’s Assembly (Parliament), and by the

Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, saying Gen. Dempsey’s aircraft was “specifically targetted on exact information.”

Gen. Dempsey was on a crucial visit to Afghanistan to meet commanders of the Nato forces and Afghan top

door of the C-17 aircraft used by the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, wounding two maintenance officers and also damaging an Apache helicopter gunship parked nearby, the ABC news reported quoting Pentagon officials.

A US military spokesman, Jamie Graybeal, told reporters that the shrapnel from the rockets struck the door of the plane, injuring two workers.

But the rockets posed no threat to the safety of Gen. Dempsey or his entourage who were asleep in their quarters at the time of the attack in the early hours of the morning.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah

brass to discuss the recent surge in attacks by Afghan security personnel on their international colleague.

A total of 10 Nato soldiers have lost their lives in attacks billed as “green on blue” in the past two weeks.

A spokesman for the Nato’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said that “Dempsey was nowhere in sight when the attacks took place”.

The American commander later left Kabul in another C-17 plane.

“Indirect fire is not uncommon at Bagram and there is absolutely no indication that the attack was specifically targeting the plane,” the spokesman said.

undertake measures to prevent chemical weapons being used in various regions.

Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction was signed in 1993.

Eight countries have not signed the Convention yet, including Syria.

Assad Performs Eid Prayers in Public

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made a public appearance Sunday for prayers marking the first day of Eid al-Fitr.

Assad joined prayers at a Damascus mosque for the Eid al-Fitr festival, his first appearance in a public place since a bomb blast last month killed four top security officials, although he has been seen on television since then.

Senior state officials, a number of MP’s, the Mufti, and a number of Islamic Religion Scholars and citizens performed the Prayers along with President Assad.

The Syrian President was received

Taliban fired rockets and damaged the special aircraft of the top most US military commander in Afghanistan’s highly secure Bagram air base, but General Martin Dempsey escaped as he was not in the plane.

The rockets uprooted the main

prime Minister, the Syrian Shamna.net news website reported.

Across the country, Syrians joined prayers and staged demonstrations for Eid, taking place for the second year under the current crisis.

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

Shop worker Farrakh Nizzar jailed for £1m lottery scam bid knew Nizzar by his nickname of ‘Lucky’, told him to bin the worthless ticket. In fact when Nizzar had scanned the ticket at his cousin’s Best One shop in Oldham, where he worked, the terminal told him the holder should contact Camelot.

Brothers Mohammed Yasin, 42, and Musood

Ahmed, 29, own the shop where Nizzar worked.

They said they grew suspicious when investigators turned up.

Musood said: “He was talking about buying cars and all sorts. But something didn’t sound

A shop worker nicknamed ‘Lucky’ has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for trying to claim a winning £1m lottery ticket belonging to a pensioner couple.

Farrakh Nizzar, 30, of Woodlands Road, Crumpsall, told Maureen Holt her EuroMillions ticket was a loser - and asked her if she wanted the ticket back.

Mrs Holt, 78, and her husband Fred, 80, who

right.

“Eventually, we sat him down and said if that ticket isn’t yours you are in trouble. He swore on the Quran and on his mum and dad’s life it was his ticket.”

Nizzar, an illegal over-stayer in the UK who is due to be deported to Pakistan, kept the ticket and later called the lottery company himself in an attempt to keep the prize.

But the firm became suspicious when he was unable to answer questions about the winning ticket.

Camelot checked CCTV and traced the rightful owners of the ticket using Mr Holt’s Tesco Clubcard to unite the couple with their £1m prize.

Nizzar pleaded guilty last month to one charge of fraud by false representation committed on May 31 this year. He bowed his head and made no reaction as he was jailed at Minshull Street Crown Court.

After the hearing, Maureen said: “I thought he was a nice young man. He knew me and my husband by name. He would ask after my daughter.

“I still feel sorry for him that he’s done it.

Everyone calls him Lucky but he wasn’t lucky this time.” She said she had believed Nizzar when he told her she hadn’t won.

German Right Wingers Anger Muslims with Mohammed Cartoon Demonstrators claim to be exercising freedom of speech, while Muslims see actions as deliberate provocation

Right-wing demonstrators in Berlin have angered local Muslims by displaying a caricature of Mohammed outside a mosque.

The image was carried by the Pro Deutschland group, along with slogans saying “Hasta la vista Salafista” (Goodbye Salafism).

The demonstrators were granted permission to carry the caricature, which originally appeared in a Danish newspaper, by an administrative court in Berlin.

The group plans to continue its demonstrations outside other mosques in Berlin.

“We don’t ridicule anyone. We will present our arguments. We have to begin a debate and that couldn’t have happened if not for a series of demonstrations in April and May. Politicians only react if a subject gets attention,” the chairman of the protest group, Manfred Rouhs, was quoted as saying by Euronews.

The court in the German capital

earlier struck down an appeal filed by congregations of mosques, ruling that the caricature was artistic freedom of expression and could not be considered as abuse of a religious group.

The appeal was filed by three mosque congregations “to prevent

the citizens’ movement Pro Deutschland from showing socalled Mohammed caricatures in front of their premises”.

The court said: “Simply showing the Mohammed cartoons does not qualify as a call to hatred or violence against a specific segment

of the population.”

The demonstrations have been seen as a provocation by the Islamic community. The Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten generated huge protests from Muslims around the world when it printed a cartoon of Mohammed in 2005.

“We consider what is happening here a provocation. We think that events like this one should be few and far between, especially as they threaten the social and religious peace in Germany,” said Burhan Kesici, from Islamrates, the German Islamic council.

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

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British and German spies helping Syria rebels: reports

BRITISH and German spies are involved in covert operations to help Syrian rebels in their increasingly bloody fight to topple the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, press reports say.

The claims emerged as UN observers wound up their troubled mission in Syria with violence showing no let-up on the first day of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. press reports said German and British spies were passing on information about Syrian troop movements to the rebels who took up arms against Mr Assad’s regime over a year ago in the face of its brutal crackdown on protests.

“We can be proud of the significant contribution we are making to the fall of the Assad regime,” an official from Germany’s BND foreign intelligence service told Bild am Sonntag.

The paper said German spies were stationed off the Syrian coast and also active at a NATO base in Turkey, whose government is staunchly opposed to the Assad regime and is sheltering Free Syrian Army rebels.

Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper also said British intelligence was helping rebels launch successful attacks on government forces with information gathered from their listening posts in nearby Cyprus.

It said the most valuable intelligence has been about the movements of troops towards the flashpoint commercial hub of Aleppo, which is now partly controlled by rebels and is the scene of some of the fiercest fighting.

The regime’s far superior military might has failed to suppress the poorly armed rebels whose determination to bring Mr Assad down has only grown with the passing of time.

Overall the death toll has surged to at least 23,000 people since March last year, the Observatory says, while the UN puts the toll at 17,000.

Salafists Abandon Germany for Egypt

to move to Egypt in search of the “true” Islam. German intelligence officials, who have been cracking down on radical Muslim groups recently, are concerned they may end up in networks linked to al-Qaida. Reports Spiegel online.

It’s well known that many German Islamists have traveled to lawless regions of Pakistan over the last few years to join other jihadists there. But in recent weeks German authorities have been observing a new destination for Islamists leaving Germany: Egypt.

A number of Salafists, who practice a particularly strict form of Islam, are following the lead of an Austrian “hate preacher” known as Mohamed Mahmoud and traveling to the North African country, SPIEGEL reports. Mahmoud, 27, is the leader of the Millatu Ibrahim network, which was banned in June. He left Germany in the spring to avoid deportation.

Authorities have learned from intercepted e-mails and phone calls that many Salafists feel persecuted following the Millatu Ibrahim ban and recent raids on their facilities. The Islamists apparently want to experience “true” Islam in Egypt or join the “jihad against infidels.”

About 20 of Mahmoud’s supporters, among them Denis Cuspert, also known as Deso Dogg, a Berlin-based former rapper who converted to Islam, have already traveled to Egypt. Another 30 Islamists “are sitting on their suitcases,” a senior security official told SPIEGEL. Salafists made headlines in Germany earlier this year after high-profile clashes with police and members of a farright group following demonstrations in various cities.

German intelligence officials are concerned that terrorist organizations like al-Qaida could exploit the post-Arab Spring power vacuum in Egypt to expand their networks.

Authorities believe that the jihadists may travel on from Egypt to African trouble spots like Somalia or Mali, or join the terrorist organization Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

Meanwhile British MP warned that Young British Muslims could be radicalised by the conflict in Syria .

‘Dozens’ have travelled to join the uprising against president Bashar al-Assad – with some linking up with Islamist groups, it was claimed.

Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said the situation

had the potential to radicalise a generation of fighters.

‘I am extremely concerned at the moment because I see similar things to what happened at the original stages of the Afghanistan war where we were supporting the mujahideen against the Russians,’ he told the BBC. Mr Mahmood called on police and border control staff to be vigilant.

Peter Neumann, professor of security studies at King’s College, London, claimed al-Qaeda was trying to exploit the Syrian crisis.

British Muslim convert joins Syria opposition fighters in Aleppo A Facebook screenshot shows Denis Cuspert (left) with Mohamed Mahmoud (third from left).

Salafist Muslims influenced by a controversial preacher are leaving Germany

More than 200 Islamists are believed to have left Germany in the past few years to join the jihad in Pakistan. Many of them have however been returning home recently after growing disillusioned with life there.

A British Muslim convert from London has joined an Islamist brigade fighting against Syrian government forces in Aleppo, the Daily Telegraph reported on Thursday.

The man, who refused to give his real named but calls himself “Abu Yacoub,” was born in Tanzania and moved to Britain as a child.

According to the paper, this is the first proven case of a British citizen being on the ground in Syria’s commercial capital, which has been witnessing fierce battles between the government army and opposition fighters.

“I will stay here until I die,” he told the paper. “I want to die in Syria. We must all taste paradise, and when that happens is decided already.”

Abu Yacoub said he had converted to Islam five years ago. He traveled to Syria in April to join the revolutionary forces seeking to overthrow President Assad. The interview took place in a field hospital in the contested neighborhood of Salaheddin, where government tanks shelled locations controlled by the Free Syrian Army.

The man was fighting as part of Ahrar alSham, “Free Men of Syria,” a small Islamist group said to have 500 members in its ranks.

The role of foreign fighters in the Syrian conflict has been a source of dispute among opposition fighters, the newspaper said, because they can be seen as a liability by attracting suspicion from Western government that support the uprising.

These governments have repeatedly raised concern about the presence of foreign Jihadi fighters in Syria.

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

Hit And Run: Two-year-old Rahan Saleem and his sister Sabah, aged 10 fighting for life CCTV Of Car That Struck Children

Leeds Children Hit And Run: Two More Arrests Police make more arrests over a hit and run which has left two children in hospital, ill but no longer fighting for their lives.

Three people have now been arrested in relation to a hit and run incident in Leeds which has left a two-year-old boy and his 10-year-old sister in hospital.

Police made two more arrests on Tuesday after a 36-year-old man was taken into custody on Monday night.

A 39-year-old man has now been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and a 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

The first arrest was made on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and failing to report a collision.

All three men are from the northwest Leeds area, according to West Yorkshire Police.

The arrests came as the family of the injured A HIT-run victim aged two and his schoolgirl sister were fighting for life last night after being left for dead crossing a road.

Police have released a CCTV image of a car involved in a hit and run incident which has left two children critically ill.

Two-year-old Rahan Saleem and his sister Sabah, aged 10, had been on an errand and were crossing a road near their home in Leeds when the car hit them. They had been to buy food to celebrate Eid which marks the end of Ramadan fasting.

Police say the driver slowed down to see what had happened and then sped off. They have appealed for anyone who may recognise the car, a silver or grey Vauxhall Astra (model four), to contact them.

The incident happened on

children said two-year-old Rahan Saleem was getting better all the time but his older sister was showing “little sign of improvement”.

Last night, West Yorkshire Police said: “At around 9.30pm this evening police arrested a 36-year-old Leeds man in connection with the incident.

Rayhan was “much improved” and has been moved out of the intensive care unit at Leeds General Infirmary. Their aunt, Saima Rafique, said Sabah’s condition was very serious. She said: “We want her home. I really want my princess home.”

Police also released an image of a woman in Asian dress who passed the scene with a child, and urged her to contact them.

Police are continuing to appeal for anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information to contact them.

Brudenell Road, Hyde Park, at 5.20pm on Saturday. The injured children have had surgery in Leeds General Infirmary where Rahan is improving but his sister remains in a critical condition.

Detective Superintendent Paul Taylor, of West Yorkshire Police, appealed directly to the driver saying: “If you are making some

knocked over.

“We were crossing the road. I went first and I heard the noise that it was coming fast and I said to Sabah

registration.

They are also appealing to a woman captured on camera to contact them. She was walking along the

‘Run fast!’ and she didn’t hear me.

She was close to the edge of the footpath. Sabah was protecting Rahan so that he did not get hit but he flew and hit his head on the road.”

Police say forensic scientists are continuing to examine CCTV footage which shows the moment of collision. They are hoping that they may be able to enhance the images enough to reveal the car

same road with a child and is likely to have seen the incident.

Det Supt Taylor said: “A major investigation remains ongoing into what has been a catastrophic incident for Sabah and Rahan’s family on what should have been one of the happiest weekends of their year.

“Specialist officers are working to support their family who are clearly extremely distressed.”

sort of risk assessment as to whether we will catch up with you, eventually past experience shows us that there is a good probability that we will. So I hope you take the hint and come and speak to us

before we speak to you.”

Nine-year-old Shazad Azeem is the cousin of the two injured children and was with them when they were

Saarc international I Thursday 23 August 2012

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Paralympians Fly Into UK As Games Lane Opens

LONDON is gearing up for the paralympics as competitors start arriving at Heathrow airport.

The number of people travelling to the Olympic Park will be as many as went there during the Olympics, with up to 215,000 spectators expected.

The first influx of international Paralympians have arrived in London , with one week to go until the start of the Paralympic Games.

Hundreds of athletes arrived into Heathrow Airport this morning, as preparations gathered pace with the Paralympic Games Lanes also coming into force across London.

British Airways said today would be its busiest day for Paralympic arrivals at Heathrow.

The Paralympic Torch will be incorporated into a 24-hour relay before the Paralympic Games begin.

The ceremony begins on Wednesday August 22, when four flames will be lit at the summit of the highest peaks of the four UK nations – Scafell Pike in England; Snowdon in Wales; Ben Nevis in Scotland; and Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland.

Crucial dates for the London 2012 Paralympics • Archery Dates: August 30September 5 Paralympic fact: Archery featured at the first Stoke Mandeville Games in 1948 and has been in every Paralympics since the inaugural event in 1960.

British hopes: Danielle Brown is defending champion and a Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

• Athletics Dates: August 31-September 9 Paralympic fact: Wheelchair racers compete at speeds of more than 30 kilometres per hour and the top men can complete a marathon in under one hour 30 minutes.

British hopes: Wheelchair racer David Weir was the only Briton to win athletics gold in Beijing and is the team talisman.

• Boccia Dates: September 2-September 8 Paralympic fact:

Boccia, coming from the Latin for ball, is played in 50 countries worldwide.

British hopes: David Smith, Zoe Robinson, Nigel Murray and Dan Bentley won team gold in Beijing.

• Cycling Dates: August 30September 2 (track); September 5-September 8 (road) Paralympic fact: The Paralympic road events will take place at motorsport venue Brands Hatch.

British hopes: Sarah Storey is aiming to compete in the Olympics and Paralympics, while Terry Byrne and Jon-Allan Butterworth are war veterans eager for sporting glory.

• Equestrian Dates: August 30-September 4 Paralympic fact: The

formidable foe.

• Football seven-a-side Dates: September 1-September 9 Paralympic fact: Will be played at the Olympic

• Sailing Dates: September 1-September 6 Paralympic fact: For greater stability, the yachts used in Paralympic sailing have keels.

2008 equestrian events took place in Hong Kong, with Britain winning 10 of the 33 available medals, five gold and five silver.

British hopes: Lee Pearson has a 100% record from three Games and will be seeking a fourth successive hat-trick

Hockey Centre.

British hopes: A combined British team will have an English backbone featuring Martin Sinclair, brother of Swansea’s Scott Sinclair.

• Goalball Dates: August 30September 7 Paralympic fact: The court markings are tactile, enabling the athletes to feel their way around.

British hopes: One of two sports not represented in Beijing, but Britain’s women stated their case by winning the European Championships in 2009.

• Judo Dates: August 30September 1 Paralympic fact: In the only martial art on the Paralympic programme, the partially-sighted athletes are allowed to have contact with their opponent before each contest begins.

British hopes: Ben Quilter was fourth in Beijing, but will be aiming for a podium place in London.

• Powerlifting Dates: August 30-September 5 Paralympic fact: Athletes with different disabilities compete for the same medals, with weight the only classifier.

British hopes: Training in Weymouth and Portland will have boosted hopes of success in home waters across the team.

• Shooting Dates: August 30September 4 Paralympic fact: Britain has won medals at every Games in which shooting has been included, since Toronto 1976.

British hopes: Matt Skelhon, the man with a Mohican, won gold in Beijing and will have his sights on the target once again.

• Sitting volleyball Dates: August 30-September 8 Paralympic fact: A part of the player’s body between their buttocks and shoulders must be in contact with the floor when they hit the ball.

British hopes: There was no team in Beijing, but they are optimistic for London.

• Swimming Dates: August 30-September 8 Paralympic fact: South Africa’s Natalie du Toit, a 10time Paralympic champion, competed in the open water marathon at the Beijing Olympics.

British hopes: Sascha Kindred and

in Greenwich.

• Football five-a-side Dates: August 31-September 8 Paralympic fact: The crowd must be silent so the blind or partially-sighted players (all wearing blackout masks) can hear a noise-making device in the ball.

British hopes: David Clarke, who has scored more than 100 goals in 100 appearances for Britain, will lead the charge, but Brazil are a

British hopes: Ali Jawad will seek to realise his potential and lift his way to a medal.

• Rowing Dates: August 31-September 2 Paralympic fact: Adaptive rowing made its Paralympic debut in the 2008 Games.

British hopes: Tom Aggar will be highly fancied to successfully defend his Paralympic title and his teammates are pretty good too.

Eleanor Simmonds are among those with Paralympic titles to defend, while Susie Rodgers won five golds at the European Championships. The team was so strong there was no place for 11-time champion David Roberts.

• Table Tennis Dates: August 30-September 8 Paralympic fact: Poland’s Natalia Partyka made her Paralympic debut in Sydney aged 11

and competed in the Olympics and Paralympics in China eight years later.

British hopes: Will Bayley is the world number one with aspirations of gold in 2012.

• Wheelchair Basketball Dates: August 30-September 8 Paralympic fact: There is a professional league in Spain where many of the top players ply their trade.

British hopes: The men took bronze in Athens and Beijing and London is the last chance for the ageing group to succeed.

• Wheelchair Fencing Dates: September 4-September 8 Paralympic fact: Athletes compete in wheelchairs fastened to the floor, with the length of the playing area determined by the athlete with the shorter arm reach.

British hopes: British fencers will be up against it.

• Wheelchair Rugby Dates: September 5-September 9 Paralympic fact: Commonly known as murderball due to its ferocity, wheelchair rugby is a game played by athletes with a disability affecting both their arms and legs.

British hopes: Britain must upset

the established elite to get on the podium but they have some talented individuals.

• Wheelchair Tennis Dates: September 1-September 8 Paralympic fact: The ball is allowed to bounce twice.

British hopes: The ‘Quadfather’ Peter Norfolk is looking to defend his Paralympic title on home soil.

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COMMENT

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

Reflections on Islam

There is more cultural ancestry between the Islamic world and the Western world than many people wish to acknowledge. Alan Ssempebwa takes a closer look.

With Ramadan just ending and Muslims reflecting on themselves and their actions it is useful to understand what Muslims have given to the world.

In the western imagination Islam has become known as a dangerous faith, preaching intolerance towards the west and western culture; backwards as a culture and contemptuous towards women. The enduring image of the twin towers falling on 9/11 as well as the London Transport bombing on 7/7 has created an instant negative association with Islam. These events coupled with the outbreak of wars and tension between the west and the Middle East has fostered an increasingly hostile relationship, confusing Islam as a faith and the actions and beliefs of a few misguided Muslims.

Much of our society’s understanding of Islam is misinformed, and the gifts its followers have brought the world go largely unrecognised. We owe a great debt to Muslims as many of the things they have brought us are taken for granted and seldom accredited or celebrated in the same way the modern Judeo-Christian and older Greco-Roman traditions are.

Despite the distinction often made between different cultures throughout history, there has been a massive overlap and exchange of ideas that has subsequently shaped our lives today. The bias against Islam has made us ignorant of Muslim contributions, so it is worth enlightening ourselves on some of

We want to spread the knowledge of ilmu akhiruzzaman and to increase awareness of the tribulations of end times and its manifestations in the contemporary modern world.

We also want to highlight the two branches of knowledge taught in

the many things Muslim polymaths have given the modern world.

In the fields of science and medicine we owe Muslim polymaths a considerable amount. In The Cannon of Medicine Ibn Sina (Avicenna) compiled a complete book of all the medical knowledge of the time. Avicenna displayed a comprehension of germs, contagious disease and infection that was the pinnacle of knowledge and was used into the 18th century in European Universities. His use of quarantine and the division of patients according to symptoms was a prequel to modern day hospitals. Ibn al-Nafis is recognised as the first to describe the pulmonary circulation of blood.

Here are just two contributions among many that Muslims have had on the history of medicine.

Algebra is taken form the Arabic word al-jabr or restoration, and was developed greatly by Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (Algoritmi).

Algorism and algorithm both stem from his Latinised name. The system of numbering we used today is based on Hindu-Arabic numerals first appearing in print in al-Khwarizmi’s works. With heavy influences from India, Arabic mathematicians

this Conference as it is crucial for the continued struggle to remain on the Straight Path.Teaching its methodologies not only ensure the survival of this knowledge but ensures its continued dissemination and implementation insha’Allah.

thrived in the field and even invented the decimal place. We use Arabic numerals every time we write number.

Despite many calls for Islam to reform today, in the Islamic golden age Muslim philosophers found it perfectly possible to reconcile Aristotelian and Neoplatonism with their faith. The Islamic embrace of Greek philosophy has subsequently led to them being the main preservers and commentators of the ancient Greek texts. Muslim philosophers had their own works translated into Latin and where significant their own right. Today we owe much of our knowledge about philosophers such Aristotle to Muslims, particularly the Baghdad House of Wisdom. Averroes even features in Rafael’s famous fresco School of Athens among other famous philosophers.

Muslims were aware that the earth was spherical and revolved around the sun long before it occurred to Galileo.

At the end of these two days, in consultation with the delegates and the speakers, we would like to formulate a Resolution towards which all delegates may strive, and devise an Action Plan with which all delegates may be guided for future action.

Muslims contributed greatly to astronomy, and this was partly aided by the fact that they rely on the positions of the sun and moon to determine prayer times and the Islamic calendar.

There are still stars today that are referred to by their Arabic names such as Aldebaran and Altair.

Other than these grand developments that can be attributed to the Muslim world, they also improved our lives in more subtle ways, through small inventions and cultural practices that have become ubiquitous today.

The invention of the fountain pen which is the basis for all modern pens having an ink reservoir that fed ink to the nib. They perfected the recipe for soap, which was the result of their religious hygiene requirements. Muslims have to wash before prayer which they do 5 times a day, in stark contrast Queen Elizabeth I of England was so concerned about hygiene that she bathed once a month whether she needed it or not. There are examples

of western art where figures like Jesus and the Virgin Marry painted standing on Islamic carpets, wearing Islamic clothing, or decorations in Arabic and Pseudo-Kufic writing.

This shows the reputation in which their culture was held.

We also owe coffee, quilting, the crank shaft, carpets and the 3 course meal among many other things to Muslims. As a way of life it has allowed people to express themselves, pursuing logic and reason through philosophy, maths and science. They have borrowed from neighbouring cultures and civilizations, managing to preserve and enhance ideas as well as create new ones. So rather than associate Islam with terrorism, religious fundamentalism and bigotry, remember what Islam has really given us, try and reflect on where humanity would be if it weren’t for Muslims.

Eid Mubarak Alan Ssempebwa

DAY 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO ISLAMIC ESCHATOLOGY This (Teaching) Seminar will be conducted by Islamic Scholar Imran N. Hosein who is renowned for his book “Jerusalem in the Quran” and his talks pertaining to End Times. It will explain Islamic Eschatology (Ilmu Akhiruzzaman) and will highlight its strategic importance in Today’s Strange World. Of special Importance

Recognising Occult Methodologies and Identifying Societies (Both Secret and Open) This Seminar will be conducted by Dr. Omar Zaid MD, a medicallytrained doctor renowned for his book “Hand of Iblis” and his writing and talks pertaining to the Occult. A former member of the Occult, he now devotes his time to demystifying their existence, presence and influences.

will be the explanation of Methodology for the Study of Islamic Eschatology.

This will be the FIRST TIME he will be conducting a seminar purely on this topic. Sheikh Imran will be returning to his home country soon Insha’Allah so do not miss the opportunity to learn from him personally.

DAY 2: SOCIOPATHS OF THE KHASSA: Contemporary Influences,

This seminar will unveil and explain for the FIRST TIME ever the Methodology of Recognising and Identifying the Occult and Secret Societies and its Contemporary Influences. Dr. Omar Zaid may be leaving for a position overseas Insha’Allah so do not miss the opportunity to learn from him personally. http://www.muddyjunction.com

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

NEWS

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Assam violence: No fresh incident reported in the state No fresh incident of violence was reported from any part of Assam where security has been beefed up on the occasion of Eid on Monday.

“There are no fresh incidents of violence.

We are in constant touch will all the districts and Eid prayers have passed off peacefully,” Assam IGP (law & order) L R Bishnoi said.

He said police and security forces have been deployed in all districts and regular reports have been received.

There are reports of Eid celebrations from districts, including Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri, which bore the brunt of the recent violence.

In Guwahati, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi called for peace and harmony in the state.

Assam violence: Accord still on paper, regrets AGP Lamenting that the Assam Accord was still on paper, Assam Gana Parishad legislator Alka Sarma today asserted that the violence should not be seen as a Bodo-Muslim conflict.

The implementation of the accord could have helped in easing ‘Assamese versus foreign nationals’ tension, Sarma said while interacting with the media at the Press Club here.

“The Assam agitation dates back to 1979 against illegal foreign nationals, which culminated in the signing of the Assam Accord. Assamese people had assimilated

Bangladeshis who had migrated till 1966.

As per the Accord, those Bangladeshis who came between 1966 and 1971 will be barred from voting for ten years,” Sarma said.

The Accord also mentioned that the international borders will be sealed, however, the clauses are yet to see the light of the day, she regretted.

The IMDT detected 54,000 illegal Bangladeshi migrants but no steps have been taken to deport them. Similarly, over 80,000 had come with valid documents and withered away. In 1985, nearly two lakh people were identified as “D” (doubtful) category voters but still no action has been taken,” she said.

Mumbai University on Naga economy, said the government should take a policy decision on illegal Bangladeshi migrants. “If we should accept them, why should Assam alone bear the burden. If not, then they should be detected and deported,” she said.

She lamented that the seriousness of the Assam problem was realised by rest of

Referring to the present violence, she claimed that the Assam government was aware that tension was building up but failed to act in time to check it.

“The government is still in denial over the presence of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Assam,” she said.

As per the Foreigners Act, the onus of proving Indian citizenship lies on the person concerned. However, according to the Illegal Migrant Determination Tribunal (IMDT) invoked in Assam, the onus lies on the complainant. “Nowhere in the world, there are two set of laws for the same purpose in one country,” she stated.

According to Sarma, 27 years after the Accord, the “definition of Assamese” is yet to be worked out. “There are more than 450 tribal communities in the north east which has 4,500 kms of international border.

Border with mainland India is only of 22 km. Hence, north east is very important for safeguarding the sovereignty of the country,” she said.

Sarma said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Rs 300 crore package was inadequate.

“The riot victims have to be rehabilitated.

The camaraderie and friendship has to return,” she expressed.

The AGP leader who holds a doctorate from

India only after the Mumbai violence and the exodus from Indian cities. “People from north east feel alienated and marginalised and hence fall easy prey to rumours,” she added.

The AGP leader stressed the need for an extradition treaty with Bangladesh.

“Development of Bangladesh, work permit to its nationals to work in India can be given.

But granting voting rights results in shifting of political balance,” she said.

Sarma criticised the Assam government for granting autonomous councils to different tribes saying it was “a divide and rule policy.”

Kangaroo courts biggest threat to democracy: Court

Kangaroo courts and their dictates are the biggest threats to Indian democracy, a Delhi court has said while asking police to take action against a man for restraining witnesses from deposing in a gangrape case.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Kamini Lau said “such self-styled local leaders cannot be permitted to takeover the legally-constituted courts” and their threats to witnesses result into “casualty of justice”.

“Kangaroo courts and their dictates are the biggest threats to the Indian democracy. Self-styled

local ‘netas’ cannot be permitted to takeover the legally constituted courts of India and reduce the judicial system to insignificance by holding parallel proceedings of their own. “...One of the major reasons for a high rate of acquittal and the guilty getting away in cases involving rape and sexual abuse, is the social attitude and the frequent interventions and interferences by these self-styled leaders and kangaroo courts on account of which the victim and her family are often compelled to compromise with the offenders under the fear of social ostracising,” the court said.

The judge made the remarks, taking note of an incident in which a local leader of Mukherjee Nagar in North West Delhi had threatened an alleged gangrape victim and her siblings and had stopped them from going to the courtroom to depose.

The ASJ directed station house officer of Prashant Vihar police station to take appropriate action against Rajesh, who had restrained the three witnesses from deposing in the court and had threatened them to compromise with the accused.

Rajesh had also asked the witnesses to take next date in the case on the pretext that the victim was unwell, the witnesses told the court.

NZ troops may leave Afghanistan earlier than planned: PM John Key

New Zealand’s (NZ) Prime Minister John Key has said that the country’s troops will remain in Afghanistan into 2013, but signaled that they may leave earlier than a previously said date of late 2013. “Ministers have for some weeks been considering options for an orderly withdrawal from the region during 2013. While decisions still have to be finalised, it’s likely it will take place in the earlier part of 2013 rather than the later,” he said in a press conference. NZ Foreign Affairs minister Murray McCully had said in May that the troops would be withdrawn “in the latter part of 2013”. Key said the consideration of an earlier withdrawal was not related to the recent deaths of the country’s troops. Three of the country’s soldiers died Sunday in the blast from an improvised explosive device, bringing to five the total number of NZ soldiers killed this month - half the total number of NZ troops killed in the country’s nine years of involvement in the Afghan war.

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

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Marking Eid around the world in unique ways WITH over 1.6 billion Muslims globally, the end of the holy month of Ramadan or Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Eid) is one of the biggest celebrations in the world. Interestingly, despite the cultural differences in all these countries, many Muslim communities share similar customs of celebrating Eid. Eid in Russia Russia’s Muslims celebrated Eid, Uraza Bayram, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Celebrations are taking place in the capital’s four mosques, as well as several stadiums and parks.

Moscow authorities deployed around 3,000 police officers to provide security during the Eid day.

Traffic was limited around the capital beginning at 12:30 pm, and lasting until the end of the day.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Russian Muslims on the eve of the holiday, wishing them welfare, health, and success in good deeds.

Putin said that by their “fruitful” activity, Muslim organizations are making a significant contribution to the preservation and development of Russia’s national and cultural traditions.

Pakistan Eid Al Fitr was celebrated with traditional zeal and

good wishes to their friends and relatives through website and other social networking sties. Eid is also a national holiday in India. Sweet dishes are the common delicacies for the Indian Muslims, especially siwaiyaan, which is made of toasted sweet vermicelli noodles, dried fruits, and milk.

Like the other Muslim communities around the world, many of the Muslims in India take the chance on the day to visit relatives and families. Bollywood actor Salman Khan threw his much-awaited Eid party in Mumbai.

Khan told reporters that he was happy to be celebrating Eid after the success of his latest film Ek Tha Tiger.

Bangladesh Muslims in Bangladesh will celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr on Monday as the Shawal moon was not sighted on Saturday.

According to report reaching Dhaka, the Eid congregation was held in 27 villages in Patukhali, 10 villages of Barguna, seven villages in Munshiganj, 10 villages in Bhola, eight villages in Lakshmipur, 15 villages in Madaripur, 31 villages in Chittagong and 40 villages in Chandpur.

festivities across Pakistan on Monday.

Top leadership including President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and MQM chief Altaf Hussain in their separate messages greeted the nation on the occasion and called for peace, tolerance, harmony and magnanimity.

Strict security measures were taken in major cities where mobile services were also suspended for 14 hours to avert any terrorist threat.

Eid congregations were held at thousands of places all over Pakistan where prayers were offered for peace, solidarity and security of the Muslims of Pakistan and the world.

On first day of Eid-ul- Fitr at least four persons were killed and 11 others injured in acts of violence in different parts of Karachi. At least five persons including a woman were killed and five injured in incidents of violence in different area of the city on Wednesday.

Islamabad Police has organized a special security plan on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Security cameras have been installed in all big malls of the city and police help lines have also been established at different locations of the city. Gen Kayani enjoys Eid celebrations with troops in S. Waziristan India Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated across the state on Monday with Muslims brethren involving themselves in charity works and visiting friends and relatives. Several citizens in Bhopal did not miss the opportunity to extend

Nigeria Eid, which is known as Small Sallah in this West African country, is usually ushered in with traditional drums and horns. On the day, all the people, including the non-Muslims, will greet each other with “Barka da Sallah” which means Happy Prayers. Balik kampung is also a custom in Nigeria where many return to their hometowns to visit their family and relatives.

Turkey Eid is also known as the festival of sweets in Turkey where all sorts of candy, chocolates as well as traditional sweets such as baklava and Turkish Delight are shared among revellers. On the eve of Eid, most houses, villages and towns are decorated with colourful lights.

As in Malaysia, after prayers, families will gather for the celebration. Dressed in their best or new clothes, the young will ask for forgiveness from their elders. Many will also visit the graves of their loved ones to pay their respects. At some celebrations, shadow puppet shows are held as entertainment.

hampers of basic supplies outside the homes of the poor anonymously. They also give out “duit raya” or money to children that they meet. In some families, after the usual exchanges of greetings while asking for forgiveness for any wrong doings the adults will give out sweets, chocolates and cookies to the children.

Celebratory dance: Two dancers from western China’s Xinjiang province performing on the street outside the Niujie mosque in Beijing to celebrate Eid. China Muslims across China on Sunday celebrated Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a season of fasting and spiritual reflection.

The Sunday morning prayer service on Eid al-Fitr, the fast-breaking festival, is one of the most important prayer ceremonies Muslims attend each year. Totalling more than 18 million people, the Muslim communities in China are more diverse than people realise. The Han ethnic Chinese community will give out meat, especially lamb, to the poor as part of their celebration.

In Yunnan, other than visiting each other, the Muslims in the area will also pay their respects at the grave of their first Governor Sayyid Ajjal’ who purportedly hailed from Iran. In the Xinjiang province, northwest of China,

the men of the Uygur community will usually perform a traditional dance after their Eid prayers.

Indonesia If you think the balik kampung exodus in Malaysia is a nightmare, it is many times worse in Indonesia. As most people migrate from all corners of Indonesia to the big cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung for work, the Eid holidays present an opportunity for everyone to return to their hometowns. During this annual phenomenon called mudik, which usually lasts at least for a week, government agencies and companies close for the holiday.

Saudi Arabia Other than the revelry, Eid in Saudi Arabia is also marked with acts of philanthropy. Some even leave

UK Muslims across the United Kingdom on Sunday celebrated Eid with religious fervour and harmony.

British Muslims from all factions expressed their joy on celebrating Eid the same day across the UK and Europe after three years. Last time the community

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ENTERTAINMENT

Saarc international I Thursday 23 August 2012

Farah Khan makes her glowing debut Gin and Rees in Parsi coming-into-age rom-com Melodic Magicians ‘Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi’

The first-time actress and veteran comedian say their mature romcom reflects reality On the surface, Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi, a romantic comedy about forty-somethings has very little going for it. Unlike the massively popular traditional Bollywood musicals, there are no exquisite faces filling up the big screen or exotic locales to distract us from the script.

Instead, rotund and frumpy choreographer and director Farah Khan awkwardly getting to know rather hairy 45-year-old Boman Irani star in the mature romance, releasing on Thursday in the UAE. The facts don’t escape the lead actors.

“Between you and me, I said yes to the role because I was confident that nobody was ever going to fund this film,” said Khan of her acting debut.

The director of blockbusters Main Hoon Na and Om Shanti Om may be a formidable force behind

the camera, but looking picture perfect has never been her thing.

She doesn’t even know why her own heroines take so much time doing make-up.

“We both are nowhere next to those good-looking Bollywood actors and actresses. I am not a beauty queen and everyone knows that. But the fact is that this film is

not about a beautiful woman. It’s about a Parsi spinster who missed her bus in terms of relationships

and love. She’s a real person,” said Khan.

The 40-year-old mother to triplets even borrowed clothes from real Parsi women in Mumbai to lend authenticity to her geriatric (by the Bollywood scale) character.

Khan, who plays an ageing Parsi secretary, Shirin, says she was at her heaviest when the filmmakers

approached her for the role.

Actor Boman Irani reveals that his wife Zenobia was excited to hear that Farah Khan will act opposite him in Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi and urged him to say yes to the movie.

“I said it’s (casting Farah) a great idea. I went home and told Zenobia (Boman’s wife) and she said ‘What

a fantastic idea! Boman, if this is the casting, you must do this film just because of the casting’,” the 52-year-old said here.

Talking about their chemistry in the film, Farah said: “I think we are comfortable with each other and we look good together.” She took a quick dig at Boman, saying: “At least, I look good and you because of me. I helped you to look good also you helped me act better and our comic timings are also good.”

Directed by Bela Sehgal, Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi, a love story between two 40-plus individuals, hits theatres on Friday.

Get ready to fall in love (and lust) with this year’s hugely quirky,

sweet, and must-see rom-com film, ‘Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi’, releasing in cinemas on the 24th of August 2012.

After many years of creating music behind the scenes, producing duo Gin and Rees are set to release their debut single ‘Sanu Teh Changa’.

Featuring the beautiful lyrics of the musical genius Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Gin and Rees have not only managed to pay homage to the maestro of qaawal, but have managed to find a vocalist that truly

even came close to my hero. But Aslam is incredible and I knew that we had to work with him.”

Gin and Rees, who are not only coproducers but also brothers, have grown up in the music industry, with Gin mastering Indian percussion (Dhol, Dholak and Tabla) and melody from a young age. Rees also fell in love with Bhangra

does justice to the Ustad.

The track, will be released on the 23rd August features the soulful vocals of India based singer Aslam Ali, whose voice so closely resembles the mighty Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Listeners will not only be amazed, but emotionally touched by memories of the musical giant.

Gin who first heard Aslam sing on a trip to India says: “The hairs literally stood up on the back of my neck. I could not believe that anyone could have a voice that

music and dance; the brothers have been running the now famous VP Entertainments. The dance troupe which made it’s mark with a scintillating Bhangra performance at London 2012’s closing ceremony.

However, creating music is in their blood and ‘Sanu Teh Changa’, shows off their musical vision and talents. With a beautiful melody that perfectly complements the heart-wrenching lyrics, this track will, without doubt, melt and steal hearts.

‘Ajj De Ranjhe’ - The Punjabi Comedy Film of 2012 Lifts the Lid on Punjab’s Police Force (with Comic Results!)

Reliance Entertainment and internationally acclaimed Punjabi director Manmohan Singh, the mastermind behind box office smash hits Mera Pind, Mitti Wajaan Maardi, and Jee Aayan Nu, will once again raise the bar in wholesome Punjabi entertainment with the family entertainer, Ajj De Ranjhe, releasing in the UK on 7th September 2012.

Manmohan Singh surprises and entertains filmgoers in equal measure with the satirical gem Ajj De Ranjhe. The film provides a comic take on Punjab’s police force, raising pertinent questions about their responsibilities in society, whilst parodying the role of the modern media. It highlights the paradox between the police’s role to protect and serve and the public’s mistrust and fear of them.

The film is led by a talented cast of promising and veteran Punjabi stars, including comedy kingpin Gurpreet Ghuggi, Rana Ranbir,

Kimi Verma, Gurleen Chopra, Aman Dhaliwal and Darshan Aulakh.

The award-winning Manmohan Singh is a name synonymous with modern Punjabi cinema. He began his illustrious film career working in Bollywood as a leading film cinematographer and his credits include cinematic greats such as Chandni, Betaab, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil To Pagal Hai and Maachis.

Ajj De Ranjhe marks Reliance Entertainment and Manmohan Singh’s third film together after the blockbuster success of Mera Pind (My Home) in 2008 and Mitti Wajaan Maardi in 2007.

Set to create new benchmarks in Punjabi cinema, Ajj De Ranjhe raises important social issues, which are expertly interwoven into a cleaver, witty and well-acted satire.

Ajj De Ranjhe releases nationwide

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international

Thursday, 23.08.12

‘Report on Assam riots has inflammatory comments’

Assam riots: State limps back to normal as 8,186 leave relief camps

Eid written in blood Karachi: Violence claims 13 lives during Eid holidays, 154 shot dead during Ramadan

Assam violence: Congress fears being caught in communal divide

New Delhi and Islamabad could be facing another diplomatic crisis as a result of a recent major population displacement within India. Hundreds of thousands of people from Assam have in fact fled Bangalore (Karnataka), Mumbai and

Pune (Maharashtra) after they received death threats via the Internet. The messages, which were posted mostly on Facebook and Twitter, warned workers from north-eastern India that Indian Muslims would take revenge against them for

sectarian clashes last month in the state of Assam. For India, Pakistan is behind this hate campaign, but Islamabad has denied any involvement, calling on New Delhi to back up its claims with evidence.

In Assam, violence between tribal Bodos and Muslim settlers left 80 people dead in July. This has sparked the panicked flight of about 400,000 people from both communities, some finding shelter in refugee camps set up by the local Catholic Church.

Tensions eventually spread to other Indian states where Bodos and other ethnic groups moved in search of work.

The soaring tempers among Muslims over Assam violence have set off alarm bells in Congress, fearful that it can be caught between the aggressive minority voice protesting victimization and a retaliatory Hindu polarization.

The pictures from Lucknow, Mumbai and Bangalore have been disturbing for Congress strategists who see them as a threat to the party’s electoral calculus seeking to balance majority-minority equation. It could only add to Congress’s cup Continued on page 20 >>

Four people, including a woman, were reported killed in incidents of violence across Karachi, on Wednesday. One person was shot dead while two bodies were recovered as the spate of violence continued in Karachi despite Eidul Fitr.

The targeted killings spree intensified in the city as another 13 persons including a political activist and a Muezzin were killed in separate incidents of violence at various parts of the metropolis during last 24 hours. According to police and rescue sources, the fresh wave of sectarian violence engulfed the city following blast at Al-Quds rally near Safari Park. Even the holy month of Ramadan could not stop target killers from bloodbath and at least 154 people were shot dead and many more injured in Karachi during the month, according to the official figures released here.

The figures once again exposed the complete failure of the Sindh government and Karachi police to curb the on-going daily killings of eight to 10 people in the mega city.

Among those silenced by the bullets of criminals include men, women and children, activists of political parties, lawyers, doctors, different religious sects and law enforcement personnel.

Meanwhile, a report of investigation into the killings was submitted to the Inspector-General (IG) Police of Sindh by the intelligence agencies operating in Karachi claiming an outlawed organisation was behind the surge in incidents of target killings.

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Saarc international I Thursday 23 August 2012

Bhutan, India, and Nepal agree to enhance cooperation in the Kanchenjunga Landscape

The unique, culturally and biologically rich landscape around Mount Kanchenjunga covers parts of western Bhutan, northeastern India, and eastern Nepal and is one of several Himalayan areas where countries need to work together to conserve and manage biodiversity.

In a meeting held at Gangtok in Sikkim State of India from 16 to 18 August 2012, senior officials and experts from Bhutan, India, and Nepal developed a road map for carrying out collaborative work in this area.

The Kanchenjunga landscape includes 15 protected areas. The countries agreed to work towards connecting these areas through ‘biodiversity corridors’ for species migration to assist adaptation to climate change; and to address problems that cross borders such as poaching, overgrazing, forest fire, and spread of livestock disease.

The consultation was organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and hosted by the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED) in India, with support

from the Forest Departments of Sikkim and West Bengal. It was attended by more than 40 representatives of governments and non-governmental organizations

Government of Sikkim, India. To this end, a similar collaborative initiative undertaken by ICIMOD in the Kailash Sacred Landscape could provide a model. “The work

compensated for their conservation efforts”, emphasized Dasho Sherub Gyaltshen, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Royal Government of Bhutan. Mr Krishna

next 18 months will be led by ICIMOD. The preparations will include a feasibility assessment report, a conservation strategy, and a comprehensive environmental

(NGOs).

“The challenges of biodiversity conservation and management in the landscape can only be addressed if all three countries cooperate at various levels from local to bilateral to regional”, said Mr Bhim Prasad Dhungel, Minister of Tourism, Forests, Environment, and Wildlife Management of the

around Kailash already provides substantial scientific information to lead the process”, said Dr BMS Rathore, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

The joint biodiversity conservation effort will focus on the people living in the landscape. “People in the mountains have to be

Acharya, Director General of the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation of the Government of Nepal, pointed out that the landscape programme must also jointly address wildlifepeople conflict.

The participatory and consultative process of preparing the Trans boundary initiative during the

plan, resulting in a framework for Trans boundary cooperation. “We are very satisfied with the progress made at this consultation”, said Dr Eklabya Sharma, Director of Programme Operations at ICIMOD. “All three countries have given their full commitment for the preparatory phase of the Kangchenjunga landscape initiative”.

Assam riots: State limps back to normal as 8,186 leave relief camps Continued from page 19 >> of woes, with slowing economy, inflation and corruption already blunting its appeal with middleclass voters.

While Congress swept the 2009 polls with one-sided backing from minorities, the loud complaint that the party regime in Assam and the Centre was biased against the community has triggered fears about its negative impact on its political prospects.

The Mumbai protest, seen as a precursor to demonstrations spreading to other cities, blamed Congress for targeting of Muslims in the conflict with Bodos in Assam. It also drew a pattern by citing Centre’s silence on the violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, contrasting it with the alacrity shown by the PM in condemning the massacre of Sikhs in the US. The Azad Maidan violence caught the Congress-ruled state off-guard with the massive turnout and the rhetoric. But the rioting in Lucknow on Friday showed Mumbai may not be an isolated incident but part of a larger community angst following Kokrajhar riots.

Congress leaders acknowledged the increasing demonstrations were unnerving if seen alongside the exodus of natives of northeast threatened with reprisals for Assam

violence.

Observers said revelations of a Pakistani hand in circulating fake videos showing atrocities on Muslims could blunt the anger among minorities.

India looks to Pakistan for answers after texts trigger mass panic India is looking to Pakistan for

across India, including Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Bangalore, the country’s technology and outsourcing hub.

Assam violence: Cyber war continues, government blocks 89 more web pages to avoid panic As probe agencies work overtime to collect ‘evidence’ against groups

Monday ordered the blocking of 89 web pages, including Facebook, Google and Twitter, to avoid panic among northeast migrants living across the country.

The websites have been hosting inflammatory and harmful content, particularly morphed images and videos, which were used to incite

for their homes from relief camps in riot-hit districts in Assam.

Altogether 7,498 people have left the camps in Kokrajhar district and 688 in Chirang district since Tuesday, officials said here on Wednesday. However, riot victims living in temporary shelters in Dhubri and Bongaigaon districts

answers after online threats and text messages sparked mass panic among migrant workers and students who hail from the country’s northeast.

Indian Home Minister Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde said in a statement issued Monday that “elements based in Pakistan” had used social media to circulate false pictures and stories.

Students and workers from the northeastern state of Assam said last week they received text messages threatening retribution for ethnic violence that has gripped their state in recent weeks.

The texts and rumors prompted thousands of people to flee cities

involved in creating social unrest in India, around 65 more web pages -- including one created in the name of cricketer Imran Khan’s political party Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf - were blocked on Tuesday for spreading hate messages and doctored videos, taking the total number of such pages to 310.

All the 65 web pages, carrying morphed images depicting victims of Assam violence, were created between July 20 and 24 when the violence was at its peak in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts. Majority of the pages were uploaded on various host sites in Pakistan. he government on

Muslims to target people from the northeast. The total number of sites blocked over the issue stands at 250.

After blocking these sites, Indian agencies contacted Google and Facebook to provide them with ‘server’ details including IP addresses so that India could share it as ‘evidence’ with Pakistan.

Besides, India has also contacted the US and Saudi Arabia so that the host ‘sites’ can share details with India through legal channels.

Assam riots: State limps back to normal as 8,186 leave relief camps As many as 8,186 people have left

are staying put, they said.

The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) Tuesday slammed a report of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on Assam violence, saying it contains “biased and inflammatory” comments with potential to “radicalise Muslims”.

In a post on its website, the New Delhibased human rights organisation with special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (Unesco), said that the NCM had effectively reduced the riots in Assam to “Bodos vs Muslims” wherein Muslims had been defined as “minorities”.

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WEEKLY REVIEW OF AFGHANISTAN NEWS

‘No one really cares’: US deaths in Afghanistan hit 2,000 in ‘forgotten’ war

It was once President Barack Obama’s “war of necessity.” Now, it’s America’s forgotten war.

The Afghan conflict generates barely a whisper on the U.S. presidential campaign trail. It’s not a hot topic at the office water cooler or in the halls of Congress — even though more than 80,000 American troops are still fighting here and dying at a rate of one a day.

Americans show more interest in the economy and taxes than the latest suicide bombings in a different, distant land. They’re more tuned in to the political ad war playing out on television than the deadly fight still raging against the Taliban. Earlier this month, protesters at the Iowa State Fair chanted “Stop the war!” They were referring to one purportedly being waged against the middle class.

By the time voters go to the polls Nov. 6 to choose between Obama and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney, the war will be in its 12th year. For most Americans, that’s long enough.

The New York Times reports: “Nearly nine years passed before American forces reached their first 1,000 dead in the war. The second 1,000 came just 27 months later, a testament to the intensity of fighting prompted

by President Obama’s decision to send 33,000 additional troops to Afghanistan in 2010, a policy known as the surge.”

– Yet the war in Afghanistan is getting scant attention in the U.S. media and election debates. “We all laugh about how no one really cares,” one U.S. Army soldier said. “All the ‘support the troops’ stuff is bumper sticker deep.”

U.N.: 1,145 Afghan civilians killed in

killed and 1,954 others injured during the first half of the year, 80 percent of them by militants.

• The Project on Defense Alternatives estimated that in a 3-month period between October 7, 2001 and January 1, 2002, at least 1,000-1,300 civilians were directly killed by the U.S.-led

• The Los Angeles Times found that in a 5-month period from October 7, 2001 to February 28, 2002, there were between 1,067 and 1,201 civilian deaths from the bombing campaign reported in U.S., British, and Pakistani newspapers and international wire services.

Rights Commission (AIHRC) estimated that around 1,800 civilians were killed as a result of the armed hostilities in 2008.

• The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that 2,118 Afghan civilians wered killed as a direct result of armed conflict in

only 2012 While NATO and Taliban forces engage in a war of words in Afghanistan, the population suffers. Nearly 12,000 Afghan civilians have been killed since 2007, UNAMA’s figures show.

A U.N. report says 1,145 civilians were

aerial bombing campaign, and that by mid-January 2002, at least 3,200 more Afghans had died of “starvation, exposure, associated illnesses, or injury sustained while in flight from war zones”, as a result of the U.S. war and airstrikes.

• A 2002 analysis by The Guardian estimated that as many as 20,000 Afghans died in 2001 as an indirect result of the initial U.S. airstrikes and ground invasion.

• Professor Marc W. Herold of the University of New Hampshire estimated that in the 20-month period between October 7, 2001 and June 3, 2003, at least 3,100 to 3,600 civilians were directly killed by U.S.led forces.

• Professor Marc W. Herold of the University of New Hampshire estimated at least 408-478 Afghan civilians were directly killed by U.S./NATO actions. Human Rights Watch estimated at least 929 Afghan civilians were killed in fighting related to the armed conflict in 2006.[10] In all, they estimated more than 4,400 Afghans (civilians and militants) were killed in conflict-related violence in 2006, twice as many as in 2005.

• An Associated Press tally based on reports from NATO, coalition, and Afghan officials, estimated 4,000 Afghans (civilians and militants) were killed in 2006 • The UN Assistance Mission Afghanistan (UNAMA) estimated that 1,523 Afghan civilians died as a direct result of armed conflict in 2007.

• Human Rights Watch estimated at least 1,633 Afghan civilians were killed in fighting related to the armed conflict in 2007.

• The Afghan Independent Human

2008, the highest number since the end of the initial 2001 invasion.

• The Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM) estimated that in 2008 around 3,917 civilians were killed, over 6,800 were wounded, and around 120,000 were forced out of their homes • The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) recorded 2,412 Afghan civilian deaths in the American-led war in 2009, representing a jump of 14% over the number killed in 2008. In 186 (8%) of the deaths, UNAMA was unable to clearly attribute the cause to any one side .

• The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) recorded 2,777 Afghan civilian deaths in the American-led war in 2010, a jump of 15% over the number killed in 2009. In 9% of the deaths, UNAMA and AIHRC were unable to clearly attribute the cause to any one side.

• The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) recorded 1,462 Afghan civilian deaths in the American-led war in the first six months of 2011, a jump of 15% over the number killed in the same period in 2010. In 6% of the deaths, UNAMA and AIHRC were unable to clearly attribute the cause to any one side.

Indian Consortium Bids for Copper Mine in Afghanistan

A consortium of six Indian companies, including four state-owned ones, has bid for a single copper mine project in Afghanistan’s Shaida area from an array of copper and gold deposits that are on offer for development in the mineral-rich country.

“So far, it’s the only one that we have bid on,” Shakeel Ahmed, chairman and managing director of state-

run Hindustan Copper Ltd., said Wednesday. “That’s the only one which is financially viable.”

He said four other international bidders have also submitted proposals and are being evaluated by the Afghan government.

Resource-rich Afghanistan has been scouring the globe for investors to develop its mines in an attempt to

raise the living standards of one of the world’s poorest nations through investment.

Promoting Indian business in Afghanistan can be seen as part of a softer push by India to expand its influence in the country, something the U.S. has also encouraged New Delhi to do.

Many see this as a way of balancing Pakistan and the Taliban’s ambitions in a country widely viewed as a geostrategic ally.

Afghan government and industry officials have been visiting India to woo investors, who have shown interest.

At the same time, an analyst said India wouldn’t want to be seen as overzealous in trying to develop commercial interests in the war-torn country, which it has poured billions of dollars into to help rebuild roads, hospitals and power plants.

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Saarc international I Thursday 23 August 2012

WEEKLY REVIEW OF BANGLADESH NEWS

Fear of death can’t change my path: Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday vowed not to leave the path of her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, though she had to face death several times in the past.

“I’ve continued working with the spirit of War of Independence to fulfil Bangabandhu’s dreams despite several attempts to kill me,” she said.

She said, “I’m working so that Bangladesh doesn’t fall in the hands of any unconstitutional and undemocratic power.”

Hasina made the promise after placing wreaths at a makeshift memorial at Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on the occasion of the eighth anniversary of the grisly grenade attack on an Awami League rally.

On Aug 21 in 2004, at least 24 people, including President Zillur Rahman’s wife and senior politician Ivy Rahman, were killed in the blasts in front of the Awami League central office and some 200 others were injured.

Investigations found Sheikh Hasina, then the opposition chief, was the prime target of

the attack, but survived with permanent hearing impairment.

Her bodyguards and several senior party members formed a human wall to save and escort her to the car. Rapid brushfire riddled the bulletproof car as it sped off.

Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar were also charged in the case along with others.

Remembering those who perished in the attack, Hasina on Tuesday held the then BNP-Jamaat alliance

given?”

Hasina, also the Awami League President, continued, “Thirteen grenades blasted one by one right after I finished my speech. Those who threw the grenades had left the scene, but police shot teargas

The chargesheet in the case filed over the blasts said the Aug 21 attack was planned after several attempts to kill her had failed.

BNP Chairman Khaleda Zia’s elder son and party’s Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, Jamaat-e-Islami SecretaryGeneral and then Social Welfare Minister Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed, and former State

government responsible for the incident.

She said, “We had planned to stage a demonstration at Mukgtangon to protest an attack on the British High-Commissioner. We didn’t get the permission. But then again, the permission was given late in the night.”

“We had cancelled the programme.

But why the permission was

shells and charged baton on those trying to rescue the dead and injured.”

She also claimed that evidences found at the scene of crime were also destroyed.

“I promise you, trials of the conspirators will be held in this land,” she said promising that justice for all killings including the grenade attack would be served.

Hasina placed wreaths on the memorial at Bangabandhu Avenue at 11am as the Prime Minister and then placed another wreath as the party’s President along with other Awami League leaders.

She also talked to the family members of those injured in the attack and enquired about their wellbeing.

Awami League Advisory Council member Amir Hossain Amu, General Secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haque Inu, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, and Samyabadi Dal General Secretary and Industries Minister Dilip Barua, also spoke on the occasion.

Syed Ashraful Islam said, “Those who run newspapers with funding from ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam), land grabbers, and people who don’t believe in the spirit of the Liberation War, have united to thwart democracy.”

He also asked everyone to be united to stand against those who were conspiring to foil democracy in the country.

Eid festivity envelops nation PM exchanges Eid greetings Country’s biggest Eid congregation held at Solakia

Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims, is being celebrated amid gaiety, feasting, family reunions and boisterous festivities across the country on Monday.

The day’s programme began with offering Eid prayers by millions of Muslims who thronged at mosques and eidgahs braving light rains in the capital After a month-long fasting, Muslims sought divine blessings, peace, progress and prosperity in their Eid congregations throughout the country.

The prayers followed by exchanging Eid greetings.

The main Eid jamaat (congregation) of holy Eid-ul-Fitr was held at National Eidgah on the city’s High Court premises at 8:30am.

The Eid congregation was also held at

Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

Two Eid congregations were also held at the Dhaka University playground and south plaza of Jatiya Sangsad.

Besides, Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation arranged 361 Eid congregations in 90 wards of the capital.

President Zillur Rahman offered his Eid prayers along with hundreds of people from different walks of life on the National Eidgah.

The chief justice, several ministers, state ministers, Dhaka city mayor, judges of the Supreme Court, senior political leaders, diplomats of different Muslim countries and high civil and military officials offered prayers at the main Eid jamaat.

Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Prof Moulana Muhammad Salahuddin conducted the Eid prayers.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday exchanged Eid greetings with foreign diplomats, judges, senior civil and military officials, party leaders and cross-section of people at her official residence Gono Bhaban.

At first, she exchanged greetings with politicians, intellectuals, journalists, teachers and cross-

section of the people for nearly one and a half hours from 9:30am as the main entrance of Gono Bhaban was opened on the Eid day.

Later, Hasina exchanged pleasantries with foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka. She also exchanged greetings with the Supreme Court judges including the chief justice.

Transfer power to non-party, Khaleda tells govt

Accusing the government of having failed to run the country on all fronts, opposition leader Khaleda Zia on Monday asked the government to hand over power to a non-party and neutral administration for holding a fair election.

“Transfer power to a non-party and neutral administration paving the way for holding a credible election, or else, the consequence for you (govt) will be disastrous,” she said after exchanging Eid greetings with a cross-section of people at the city’s Ladies’ Club.

“The next general election will have to be held ensuring the participation of all major political parties in it,” Khaleda said warning that no force other than people can keep this government in power.

Painting a gloomy picture of the

country, the BNP chairperson said people are not safe under this regime as the law and order situation in the country has been on the downslide apart from worsening poverty and growing jobless rate.

Taking a swipe at the government for what she said killing opposition leaders and activists, making them disappeared and filing “false” cases

against them, Khaleda asked the government to withdraw the cases.

She said they could be tried under the law of the land if they at all commit any crime, but for that the judiciary has to be fair and independent.

“All we want is justice,” the opposition leader said urging all the political parties and the people from all walks of life to wage a vigorous movement to oust this government.

Asked about the much-talkedabout minus-two formula recently re-floated by HM Ershad, Khaleda said, “It’s the people who will decide who will be there in politics.”

Khaleda exchanged Eid greetings with political leaders, diplomats, city elite, teachers and people from the all walks of life from 12.30pm to 1.45pm.

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WEEKLY REVIEW OF BHUTAN NEWS

Credit cards debut in Bhutan

The Bank of Bhutan yesterday launched domestic and international Visa credit card, offering a range of benefits to its users, for making transactions and payments, both in and outside the country.

It enables users to shop online, and also through the point of sales.

The credit card comes in three different versions – Visa international gold credit, Visa domestic gold credit and Visa domestic silver credit cards.

The gold international card is denominated in US dollars, and can be used around the world, except in India, Nepal and Bhutan.

It provides credit up to USD 3,000 a year, which is based on the central bank’s foreign exchange regulation.

The silver and gold domestic cards can be used only in Bhutan, Nepal and India, and has a credit limit of Nu 60,000 and Nu 150,000.

The spending limits from the card will be based on the central bank’s prescription.

BoB’s chairman Karma W Penjor said the launch of the product would help in reducing the cost of printing currency notes, and also serve as a source of foreign

exchange earnings, as it would make it easier for tourists to make payments and shop cashless.

The need to open such a banking product came after an executive order the bank received from the prime minister, bank officials said. Consequently, a task force was formed, comprising officials from the tourism council, finance ministry, Druk Holding and Investments and the Bank of Bhutan.

Bank officials said that, to be eligible to acquire the card, a person should have a minimum net take home salary of Nu 5,000.

Karma W Penjor said that users

Bhutan royal family opens Sarcar watch pavilion at MBS

The royal family of Bhutan was in Singapore recently to open Sarcar’s largest pavillion at Marina Bay Sands (MBS).

The Queen Mother of Bhutan - Ashi Dorji Wangmo - received a warm welcome at the boutique.

Sarcar watches, known for their precious gems and workmanship, are prized between S$50,000 and S$2.5 million.

There was also a private charity drive, where business associates donated S$100,000 to Singapore’s Community Chest and Bhutan’s Tarayana Foundation.

should be cautious while using the card’s facility. It requires the user to pay off the credit within a month, and late payments would result in a penalty of 2.5 percent of the outstanding amount.

The bank has spent around Nu 25M to acquire an international membership, and on the costs incurred for equipment and software.

UN honours literacy programmes in Bhutan, Colombia, Indonesia and Rwanda

Literacy programmes in Bhutan, Colombia, Indonesia and Rwanda won the 2012 International Literacy Prizes of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The awards, worth $20,000 each, will be distributed on 6 September in a ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, as part of the celebrations for International Literacy Day, observed annually on 8 September, the agency announced in a news release on Tuesday.

Two programmes were awarded the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize, which was created in 1989 by the Republic of Korea, and two received the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy, created in 2005 by the Chinese Government.

The Directorate of Community Education Development in Indonesia received one of the two UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prizes for its work

to improve the “quality of literacy education through entrepreneurship literacy, reading culture and tutor training.” The programme, a Government initiative, involves almost three million people and puts special emphasis on women so they can receive basic literacy training.

The second UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize was won by the National Adult Literacy Programme of the Pentecostal Church in Rwanda. The agency said that the programme was selected for its focus on women and outof-school youth. The programme, which has reached over 100,000 people, also aims to ensure that individuals learn about human rights, reconciliation and peacebuilding through literacy.

The Non-formal and Continuing Education programme from Bhutan will receive one of the UNESCO Confucius Prizes for Literacy for its work teaching basic literacy skills through its 950 centres in rural communities.

Bhutan mulls opening diplomatic relations with China

India is adjusting to a new reality as Bhutan mulls opening diplomatic relations with China.

As the only country in India’s immediate neighbourhood which does not have official ties with China, Bhutan is in a special spot where India is concerned.

But Bhutan wants to fly the nest.

And India will have to make room for Bhutan’s ambitions.

Keeping the new developments in mind, last week, national security adviser, Shivshankar Menon, held a brainstorming session with eminent persons to work out India’s strategy on Bhutan.

Bhutan is a candidate for a nonpermanent seat in the UN Security Council in 2013. But given that it has diplomatic relations with just about 30 countries, Bhutan needs to up its game before the vote. That, according to the new Bhutanese government lay behind a much-commented meeting between Bhutan PM Jigme Thinley and Chinese premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the Rio+20 summit recently.

In Delhi, Bhutan has reportedly invited envoys of all foreign missions to Thimphu. In New York, Bhutan sponsored an event on its USP - “gross national happiness”, which, said Indian diplomats, was widely attended.

India is not only supporting the Bhutanese candidature, but lobbying for it. Bhutan will be up against South Korea for the Asian seat, a formidable competitor with very deep pockets.

While India is happy to help Bhutan’s ambitions, new Delhi remains wary about talk of a Bhutan-

in the west to the grazing grounds in the north. China wants those grazing grounds in the west, closest to the Chumbi valley. That raises alarm bells in India.

On August 9, 2012, Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying in Thimphu,

china relationship, particularly if it involves a boundary settlement. A Bhutan-China settlement would involve a decision on the strategic Chumbi valley tri-junction, which is of great importance to India, with its proximity to the “chicken’s neck” near Siliguri.

Bhutan and China have several points of disagreement on the border stretching from Dhoklam

capital of Bhutan. Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying came to Bhutan to attend the bilateral border talks.

Fu Ying conveyed the cordial greetings and good wishes of Premier Wen Jiabao to Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley. She said that the two countries had the first meeting between heads of government in history at the

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Saarc international I Thursday 23 August 2012

WEEKLY REVIEW OF INDIA NEWS

‘Nukes have deterred world powers from threatening India’

Nuclear weapons have deterred world powers from issuing “explicit or implicit threats” to blackmail India to toe a particular line, national security advisor Shivshankar Menon said .

“On at least three occasions before 1998 other powers used the explicit or implicit threat of nuclear weapons to try and change India’s behaviour,” Mr Menon said without elaborating.

Addressing the National Outreach Conference on Global Nuclear Disarmament, he said the global powers did not succeed in changing India’s behaviour because of the “hard-headed leadership we were fortunate to have.”

“Since we became a declared nuclear weapons state in 1998 we have not faced such threats,” Mr Menon told an audience comprising

college students and a handful of diplomats.

He said nuclear weapons contributing to the country’s security

decided to become a nuclear weapon state,” Mr Menon said.

Observing that nuclear weapons make a contribution to the country’s

weapons also added weight to India’s argument for universal disarmament on the global fora.

“We spent 24 years after our first

weapon free world were to be taken seriously and have some effect,” he said.

Mr Menon said today many

in an uncertain and anarchic world.

“There is no question that these weapons have done so, to the extent that they were expected to when we

security in an uncertain and anarchic world, he said, “The possession of nuclear weapons has, empirically speaking, deterred others from attempting nuclear coercion or blackmail against India”.

The NSA underlined that from the very beginning India has made it clear that its nuclear weapons were for deterrence and not “war-fighting weapons”.

In an apparent reference to Pakistan, he said unlike certain other nuclear weapon states, India’s weapons were not meant to redress a military imbalance, or to some perceived inferiority in conventional military terms, or to serve some tactical or operational military need on the battlefield.

Mr Menon said that having nuclear

peaceful nuclear explosion in 1974 urging and working for universal nuclear disarmament and a nuclear free world,” he said.

He said India argued for a nuclear weapons free world out of conviction that such a scenario would enhance national security and that of the rest of the world. “But sadly this was a conviction and view that obtained much lip sympathy and verbal support but was actually flouted in practice with increasing impunity by others,” Mr Menon said.

“And when the division of the world into nuclear weapon haves and have-nots was sought to be made permanent in the nineties it became clear that possession of nuclear weapons was necessary if our attempts to promote a nuclear

countries and people were willing to support and work for a nuclear weapon free world than ever before.

He pointed out that US President Barack Obama, during his visit to India in November 2010, spoke of a shared commitment to a world without nuclear weapons.

“So, the apparent paradox of India as a nuclear weapon state advocating a nuclear weapon free world is simply explained. We do think that we would be more secure in a world that is truly free of nuclear weapons,” he said.

“But until we arrive at that happy state, we have no choice, and a responsibility towards our own people, to have nuclear weapons to protect them from nuclear threats,” Mr Menon said.

NE exodus: Will provide proof to Pak, says Shinde

Pakistan minister Rehman Malik said so far India has not given any evidence on the role of Pakistanbased groups in this regard.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Monday said that the government would provide evidence on the role of Pakistanbased groups who are using social media networking sites to spread communal hatred and create a scare among Indians from Northeast in the country.

“India will give proof to Pakistan very soon on the involvement of Pakistani websites,” Shinde said.

Earlier, Shinde in a telephonic conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik took up the issue of social media-networking sites being misused by elements in Pakistan to circulate false pictures and reports in a bid to create communal strife in India.

A Home Ministry spokesperson said Shinde expressed concern over this

issue when Malik telephoned him to convey Eid greetings, a day after Union Home Secretary RK Singh said bulk of the rumours that triggered panic among people of Northeastern states in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra were sourced from Pakistan.

In the first contact between the two Ministers after Shinde got the Home portfolio, the Indian minister sought Pakistan’s cooperation in checking and neutralising the elements.

Malik said so far India has not given any evidence on the role of Pakistanbased groups in this regard but said his country will look into it if it is provided.

“The Indian Minister has said that rumours were generated from Pakistan through cellular services,” he told reporters in Islamabad during an interaction about his phone conversation with Shinde.

“I had requested him (Shinde) to provide evidence in this regard to us and we will take care of it,” he added.

According to a report prepared by the Home Ministry, a Pakistan-based hardline group is suspected to have been involved in doctoring images and spreading them across social networking sites to whip up communal passions and create panic among Indians of northeastern region.

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WEEKLY REVIEW OF PAKISTAN NEWS

Multiple efforts underway to recover Shahbaz Taseer: Rehman Malik

Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday said that he hoped that Shahbaz Taseer, son of slain Punjab governor Salman Taseer, would soon reunite with his family.

In a statement on the social networking website Twitter, the minister said that “multiple efforts” on the part of the government were underway which he said would result in a “positive” outcome.

Earlier in July, Punjab Law

Minister Rana Sanaullah had said that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had been negotiating with militants over Shahbaz’s release.

That was the first official confirmation that the government was in talks with the men holding Shahbaz.

Sanaullah had said during a Geo News TV program that Shahbaz’s kidnappers were demanding a large ransom and the release of some of their colleagues.

He had moreover said that the ISI had previously secured the release of the son-in-law of a former Pakistani army general through similar negotiations.

Shahbaz Taseer was kidnapped from Lahore on Aug 26, 2011 in the morning near his company’s head office.

Shahbaz Taseer’s father Salman Taseer was killed by his bodyguard last year for criticising Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.

Militants warn Pakistan over tribal offensive A brazen attack by Pakistani Taliban militants on Minhas Airbase in Punjab province on early Thursday will likely make the country’s military think twice about an offensive it is planning in the restive North Waziristan Agency.

According to reliable sources, at about 2am militants from the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) entered the air base in the town of Kamra from a rear wall adjacent to a village. Disguised in PAF uniforms, they then rushed towards aircraft hangars.

A two-hour long firefight ensued between the security forces and the militants. Finally, PAF security crew succeeded in gunning down all nine attackers, with one security official also killed in the skirmish.

The Pakistani Army is preparing to launch a military operation in the North Waziristan Agency (NWA), and some analysts have interpreted Thursday’s attack as a warning.

“Just when the Pakistani army was preparing to finally undertake a military operation to crush the intransigent Haqqani network in North Waziristan, it has again come under another brazen attack”, wrote the Khaleej Times.” As was the case in the PNS Mehran attack, there are strong reasons to believe that insiders were involved in this sophisticated assault”.

The TTP has claimed responsibility for the attack, with spokesperson Ihsanullah Ihsan describing it as “revenge” for the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and former TTP leader Baitullah Mehsud.

“The Kamra base attack is a terrifying sign that the khakhis [the army] might not be able to tackle the blowback triggered by the forthcoming offensive against North

Waziristan’s tenacious militants,” added the newspaper.

Meanwhile Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s statement regarding the involvement of Waziristan-linked militants in Minhas Airbase attack has surprised

a background briefing.

The incident is not the first attack of its kind. Militants have launched several brazen attacks on army, navy and air force bases in recent years.

On October 10, 1999 militants stormed the General Head Quarters

According to reliable sources and intelligence reports, TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud in early August allocated 25 million Pakistani rupees (US$264,700) “to carry out attacks on the PAF base [in] Lahore, the Inter-Services Intelligence, the

the relevant quarters at the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), who have expressed ignorance of being privy to any such piece of information.

“Not to our knowledge if any person involved in Thursday’s attack has so far been traced and identified.

The investigation just kicked off

in Rawalpindi, the supreme command and control office of the Pakistan Army. In the attack six Pakistani soldiers, including a brigadier and a lieutenant colonel lost their lives, while four terrorists were killed in the siege.

The recent attack is similar to the

Military Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, and the Counter-Terrorism Department offices in the province.”

The intelligence reports further revealed that prominent Taliban commanders, including Qari Yasin of the Qari Aslam Group, were

yesterday (Friday) and it’s next to impossible to trace high-value targets in just less than 24 hours and that too by an organisation that is not involved in the probe altogether,” credible officials at Air Headquarters told TheNation on Saturday during

assault in May 2011 assault on Mehran Naval Base in Karachi by suspected al-Qaeda militants.

During that attack, the Taliban destroyed two US-made 3C Orion maritime surveillance planes and killed 10 Pakistani troops.

planning attacks similar to the 2011 assault on PNS Mehran.

The air base in Kamra is home to Mirage and JF-17 fighter jets built with Chinese cooperation. It has has come under attack twice before, in 2007 and 2009.

Talking exclusively to Asia Times Online, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said, “When there were intelligence reports of an expected militant attack like the former attacks on the army, navy and air force bases, then definitely this is negligence and a security lapse. We lack a counter-terrorism strategy and coordination. This leads to such lethal incidents.”

When questioned about the security measures for Pakistan’s nuclear arsenals, the chairman of the Senate’s Defence Committee said, “It is irrational to question the insecurity of the Pakistan nuclear weapons arsenal as it is quite safe in Pakistan, even more than the United States’ atomic armaments.”

A Foreign Office spokesman, Moazzam Ali Khan, also said in a weekly briefing on Friday that US concerns over Pakistan’s nuclear weapons security were baseless.

“No one need worry about our nuclear assets and we know how to protect them, they are in safe and sound hands,”said Khan.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Syed Naveed Qamar, rejected reports that security lapses had led to the attack on the Minhas Air Base.

In a sign of intensifying sectarian tensions, just an hour after the air base attack 22 Shi’ites were gunned down by TTP militants near Mansehra in the country’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

A bus carrying passengers to Gilgit from Rawalpindi was stopped by a gang of a dozen insurgents, with the identity cards of passengers checked to determine who was Shi’ite.

The TTP’s Khyber Agency spokesman, Muhammad Afridi, has claimed the killings and warned of more attacks on Shi’ites in future.

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WEEKLY REVIEW OF MALDIVE NEWS

Maldives looking to explore Maldives President to visit Sri Lanka Indian wedding market

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Republic of Maldives, is looking to tap the Indian wedding market to boost its tourism.

“Our exotic islands alongwith modern infrastructure and total privacy make for perfect wedding destination.

Moreover, Maldives is close to India, not only geographically but also culturally, and we share the same passion for

art and culture. During my forthcoming visit to India, I will be meeting with a diverse range of industry captains to focus on promoting tourism, art and culture of Maldives,” Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor, Minister for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Republic of Maldives, said in a press release.

As per industry estimates, the wedding market in India is about USD 25 billion and is

growing at 25 per cent to 30 per cent annually. Maldives is amongst the preferred honeymoon destinations for Indians.

As per a recent survey, 15 per cent of Indian tourists to the island nation are honeymooners. This year, there has been a 20 per cent growth in tourism with 2.4 per cent from Indian tourists, when compared with 2011.

Dhi TV audio has been altered: Nasheed’s office

Former President Mohamed Nasheed’s office has stressed that the audio clip publicized by pro-government DhiTV where Nasheed is heard saying that the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) delegation had told him that it was not a coup, has been altered.

A press statement made by the office of former President Nasheed detailed that “Dhi TV’s audio claimed to be of (former)

President Mohamed Nasheed has been altered.” The statement did not reveal any further details of the audio.

In the Dhi TV audio, Nasheed speaks about the findings of CMAG on its three day probe. It is unclear when and to whom Nasheed was speaking to in the clip.

It is unclear whether Nasheed says “through a coup or not through a coup”. There is an overlaying noise which muffles the end of the

sentence.

While opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) claims that the regime was toppled through a coup, former President Nasheed has said that whatever the outcome of the Commission of National Inquiry (CNI) set up to probe the events leading up to and following February 7, his government had been overthrown in a coup d etat.

However, Dhi TV has said that the audio publicized by the station has not been edited in anyway and that it had been broadcast as it had been received.

“No alterations have been to the audio clip except that it had been looped. We also challenge to scientifically prove that it has in fact been edited. Even if Nasheed had claimed that the audio had been changed, he had failed to mention which part of it had been altered or what was wrong with the clip,” Dhi TV message sent to Haveeru stated.

Maldives President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka this week on a two-day official visit.

Maldives’ government spokesman Masood Imad has told Xinhua news agency that President Waheed will visit Sri Lanka from August 23-24.

During his visit President Waheed is expected to hold bilateral discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other senior government ministers and officials. He is also scheduled to sign two bilateral agreements with Sri Lanka.

Last month Maldives Minister of Defence and National Security Mohamed Nazim visited Sri Lanka and held discussions with President Rajapaksa on further strengthening the defence and security relations between the two countries.

During his visit, the Minister signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kotelawala Defence University, to facilitate cooperation on training and education, and for Maldivian National Defence

Force (MNDF) personnel to obtain training and higher education.

Meanwhile, the former President of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed has said that the decisions by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) subsequent to the report of the Commission of National Inquiry (CNI) have been intimated to the prominent officials of the respective governments of Sri Lanka and India.

The National Steering Committee of MDP has proposed the CNI to probe the downfall of Nasheed’s government and reinstate it if toppled through a coup d etat or hold early elections.

Drugs consignment bound for Maldives seized in India

Officials of the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB), South Zone here seized a large quantum of heroin from a man hailing from Andhra Pradesh on August 18.

According to an official statement from NCB, headquarters in Chennai, Ramulu Guglot alias Ramulu (40) was intercepted by officials from NCB Madurai, sub-zone at Kalavasal Junction opposite to Mappillai Vinayagar and Manicka Vinayagar theatres on August 18 and found 1.906 kg of heroin in the man’s possession.

The contraband was bound to the Maldives and the heroin seized was estimated to be worth Rs 2 crore

in the illicit international market.

Ramulu had concealed the stuff in a false bottom of a trolley travel bag when he was intercepted by the officials. He was arrested and was remanded the same day, the statement added.

According to officials, Ramulu was taking the consignment to Tuticorin from where it was to be sent through sea to Maldives.

The heroin is believed to have come from Rajasthan and Ramulu was taking it from Hyderabad to Tuticorin. He had alighted in Madurai to take a bus to Tuticorin but the officials secured him based on special information.

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WEEKLY REVIEW OF NEPAL NEWS

Nepal Urged To Revoke Ban On Young Women Migrating To Gulf

The government of Nepal has imposed a ban on women under the age of 30 from working as housemaids in the GCC states, a top government official announced in Kathmandu on Tuesday. The ban has been reimposed two years after the country lifted a ban on nationals taking up employment in domestic services in the Gulf states.

“Young female workers are reported to have been sexually and psychologically exploited in Gulf countries,” Raj Kishor Yadav, Information Minister told the Himalayan Times.

“So the cabinet decided to set the age bar for women migrant workers in the Gulf. Women above 30 years of age are at low risk of such exploitation,” he added.

Thousands of young Nepalese women leave the impoverished country every year to take up domestic and

construction jobs in Gulf states.

Officials in the Himalayan country lifted a 12-year ban on women being

160,000 workers live in the Gulf, compared to 125,000 in 2008. The majority are thought to be under the

employed in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar in 2010, introduced after a domestic worker subjected to abuse in Kuwait committed suicide.

Nepal authorities estimate around

age of 25-years old.

The GCC relies heavily on foreign workers to fill jobs at all levels of the economy but protection of migrant workers has become a serious issue

Rescue efforts for Nepalese women in Indian jails

Rescue efforts for Nepali prisoners in jails in Baharaich of Uttar Pradesh, India have been started.

For this, a team of human rights activists and social organisations in Nepalgunj will leave for India for discussions with the Indian officials.

Some 30 women of the 70 arrested in Januhana point of Banke’s border and Murtiya of Bardia are still in Baharaich jail.

They were arrested while smuggling hashish from various districts of

mid-western region and it was not easy to release them as Indian laws are strict, but efforts are being made for the same, said advocate Keshav Koirala.

The team including from INSEC, Him Rights and Maiti Nepal will go to India and will rescue the women.

Advocate Koirala said they were not able to hire a lawyer for lack of money and were living a troublesome life in the Indian jail in the allurement of a little amount of money.

112 families displaced by landslide in Dolkha

As many as 112 families have been displaced due to landslides that took place in Dolkha district between mid July to mid August this year.

Majority of the displaced families are from Bhirkot VDC. As many as 24 families have been completely displaced while others have been affected partially as a result of landslides.

Similarly, landslides completely displaced six families in Bhimeshwor Municipality and 10 other families have been partially affected.

The landslides also damaged houses in Jafe, Namdu, Mirge, Babare, Sahare, Suspakshamawati, Dandakharka, Chyama, Pawati and Laduk VDCs, according to Nepal Red Cross Society.

following reports of poor working conditions and low pay. Several thousand Nepalese are thought to work in the Gulf illegally despite the ban.

Human Rights Watch Concerned The Human Rights Watch on Tuesday expressed its displeasure over Nepal’s decision to impose a ban on women under 30 from working in the Gulf countries, and asked the government to revoke the decision saying the latter should improve protections so domestic workers can migrate safely – such as by ensuring full monitoring and accountability of recruitment agencies in Nepal.

The New York-based watchdog further said that the governments in the Gulf should adopt long overdue labour protections and immigration reforms, including ending the discriminatory treatment of domestic workers, to combat

abuse of Nepali and other migrant workers.

“Nepal is right to be concerned about its migrant domestic workers, but imposing a ban on women under 30 from traveling to the Gulf does not solve the problem and discriminates against young women”, said Nisha Varia, senior women’s rights researcher at the HRW. “A better strategy would be to crack down on abusive recruitment practices, ensure that women migrate with an enforceable contract in hand, and equip embassies to respond quickly to complaints of abuse.”

Human Rights Watch has also advised Gulf to adopt long overdue labor protections and immigration reforms, including ending the discriminatory treatment of domestic workers.

Fresh polls only viable option‚ says Yadav

Chairman of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, Nepal, Upendra Yadav today said fresh mandate was the only viable option to bail the country out of current political, constitutional and economic crisis.

Addressing a programme organised by his party’s youth wing on ‘Nepal’s current political situation’, Yadav criticised both the opposition and the ruling parties saying the former was trying to secure the chair of the Prime Minister, while the latter was trying to prolong its rule.

He went on to say, “Major leaders of the big three parties deliberately failed the Constituent Assembly to abort the issues of federalism and inclusion and the United Democratic Mahadhesi Front leaders became a party to their conspiracy.”

Similarly, the Sadbhawana Party Co-Chair Laxmanlal Karna said Madhesis could attain their rights only through movement and if consensus was not formed soon, the UDMF should leave the current government and go to the people of Madhes. “We are ready to go to the people of Madhes irrespective of what other UDMF partners do,” he added.

It’s the Nepali Congress and UML that are mainly hindering federalism and inclusion, Karna said.

“Sharad Singh Bhandari merely

reflected marginalisation of Madhesis but who demanded his resignation, who stalled the house?”

Karna asked in a veiled reference to the NC and the UML’s campaign against Bhandari in the face of latter’s purported secessionist remarks.

Coordinator of the CPN (Maoist) Matrika Prasad Yadav said none of the Pahadi leaders, whether they were from the UCPN-M or the other outfits, wanted to empower Madhesi and other marginalised communities. He accused the government of misusing public funds.

Vice-chair of the Terai Madhes Democratic Party Brikhesh Chandra Lal labelled the NC and the UML as anti-federalists forces and said they talked of 6-8 pradeshes, 9-pradesh and 11-pradesh model just to abort federalism.

“How could the Congress which

has just now formed a panel under Bhim Bahadur Tamang, to form its view on federalism, can claim it as a federalist force?” he questioned.

On his part Devendra Poudel, political advisor to the Prime Minister, said his party was committed to secure identity-based federalism because that alone could recognise the identity of the excluded groups and empower them. He criticised the NC and the UML ‘for running away from elections.’

Poudel urged the opposition parties not to incite the President or else the executive powers supposed to remain with the real executive body might not remain with the same body.

NC leader Ramesh Lekhak said his party was not anti-federalist force and was committed to identity based federalism. “Our major concern is that federalism should not disturb social harmony,” he added.

CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokhrel said they were committed to carve out states on the basis of identity and economic capability but country’s geopolitical situation should be kept in mind.

He said the current political problems could be resolved only through political consensus and not merely through amendments to laws and constitution.

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WEEKLY REVIEW OF SRILANKA NEWS

Rights mar Sri Lankan trade

Sri Lanka is in for some hard bargaining when it negotiates a new aid pact in 2013 with the European Union, which withdrew a key trade concession two years ago over this country’s human-rights record.

Bernard Savage, head of the EU delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, says political differences do not affect trade. “There are no specific irritants [at the moment] and I would like to stress that in the normal run of affairs political differences do not affect trade.”

Savage told IPS in an interview that the issue of withdrawal of EU trade concessions was a specific case. “But, if you look at the broad spectrum of trade relations ... that was not affected by short-term considerations.”

However, human-rights lawyer J C Weliamuna believes that trade and aid are invariably linked to human-rights and corruption - two sectors where Sri Lanka has been asked to show tangible progress.

“What is promised on paper [by the government] is exactly the opposite of what is implemented on the ground,” the lawyer, a board member of Transparency International, told IPS. The EU is among Sri Lanka’s largest providers of development assistance, supporting in the 2007-13 period projects dealing with water and sanitation, housing, income generation, infrastructure, schools, health facilities, food security and others.

“The level of assistance for the next program - 2013 to 2020 - will be more or less the same. It won’t decrease,” Savage said.

Sri Lanka had won generous tax concessions under the Generalised System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) for the July 2005 - August 2010, but this facility was withdrawn over unaddressed human-rights concerns.

EU investigations had found “shortcomings in respect of Sri Lanka’s implementation of three United Nations human rights conventions - the International Covenant

on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.”

However, it was widely understood that the concessions were withdrawn owing to Sri Lanka’s failure to address alleged war crimes during the last stages of the country’s ethnic conflict.

of Sri Lankan Apparel Workers, said the government seems unconcerned and has made no attempt to apply for GSP +.

“They [government] should ask for it. We are badly affected, as small factories are closing and workers are losing jobs,” Athukorala told IPS. Padmini Weerasuriya, coordinator of

The impact of lost EU concessions is now being felt, with garments exports to Europe dropping by 15-20% in the five months up to May, said Rohan Abeykoon, chairman of the Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association. Garments, Sri Lanka’s biggest export item, account for more than 50% of exports to Europe.

“It’s not the job losses that we are worried about because there is demand for labor, but lost contracts are affecting small and medium-sized businesses,” Abeykoon said.

“Local companies are losing out while those with multinational connections will shift production elsewhere.”

Abeykoon told IPS that he has urged the government to reapply for the facility, though there is no sign of that happening yet. “With regard to GSP + we have had no request from the government for a new facility,” Savage confirmed.

Trade unions are also backing the call for a revival of the concessions. Palitha Athukorala, president of the Progress Union

the Women’s Center, a non-government organization active in the country’s free trade zones, says there are no job losses owing to the loss of GSP + concessions, though this may change.

“Our members [workers] have reported a drop in orders which then affects other incentives outside the monthly wage,” she said. Unions have already been campaigning for decent living wages.

On the political front, Sri Lanka this month did a major about-turn to invite the UN Human Rights Council to visit the country to review the human-rights situation. Earlier, Sri Lanka had even refused entry to a EU team examining Sri Lanka’s application for a renewal of GSP+ benefits.

The government has prepared an action plan on human rights and sent it to Geneva, five months after the UN passed a United States-backed resolution urging Sri Lanka to address alleged human rights abuses.

The March UN motion had called

on Colombo to address violations of international humanitarian law; implement the recommendations of a local commission that probed the conflict; and encourage the UN Human Rights office to offer Sri Lanka advice and assistance and the government to accept such advice.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has repeatedly denied claims of large-scale civilian casualties during the last stages of the battle against Tamil separatist rebels that ended in May 2009.

Strained relations with the West have forced the government to rely on allies in the neighborhood like China, Iran, Libya and India for war-related and development aid.

Constant international pressure and the March UN resolution - which was backed

by India - has forced Sri Lanka to make conciliatory gestures to the West.

The respected Sunday Times newspaper said on August 5 that the government’s decision to implement the full UN resolution and allow a UN team to visit the country would pave the way for a long-standing visit by UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, considered a vocal critic.

Weliamuna said issues in which the international community is concerned human rights, declining rule of law, growing impunity and corruption - are relevant. “The government knows it cannot continue in this manner and is trying to convince the world that it has changed,” he said.

Abeykoon says the devaluation of the US dollar in May, which pushed the rupee up to 130 per dollar, against 110 in February, has helped the garment industry. “If not, our exports [to the EU] would have worsened.”

For Savage, the GSP + is a “closed chapter”, using a phrase borrowed from Sri Lanka’s external affairs minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris. “The fact is GSP+ was withdrawn and Sri Lanka has not reapplied. We need to move on,” Savage said.

Sri Lankan activists accuse military of abducting 2 colleagues, demand their release Sri Lankan human rights activists called for the release Tuesday of two colleagues they say were abducted nine months ago by the military.

The military has repeatedly denied involvement in the disappearance of Lalith Kumar Weeraraju, 29, and Kugan Muruganandan, 34.

The two members of the Movement for People’s Struggle disappeared in December while organizing a news conference in the former war zone of Jaffna marking international human rights day.

Colleague and opposition lawmaker Ajith Kumara said he and other activists have

information that the two are being detained by the military and are being interrogated and tortured.

Kumara and other activists, opposition politicians, teachers and union members signed a petition Tuesday demanding their

release.

He said the two were abducted because they were attempting to safeguard the rights of people in the area, a focus of fighting in the country’s 26-year civil war.

Military spokesman Ruwan

Wanigasooriya reiterated the military’s denial of involvement in their disappearance, calling it “a false accusation.”

The civil war ended in 2009 after government troops defeated Tamil Tiger rebels who were

fighting for a separate state in the country’s north and east.

Both government forces and rebels have been accused of rights violations during the conflict.

Since the war’s end, the government has maintained a heavy military presence in the north despite international calls for a reduction of troops there.

Scores of ethnic Tamils suspected of having links with the rebels have disappeared.

Read more: http://www. montrealgazette.com/news/ Lanka+activists+sign+onlin e+petition+demanding+rele ase+missing/7119315/story. html#ixzz24BXmByTf

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India blames Pakistan for ethnic panic

Pakistan has rejected Indian charges that any person from the country posted threatening messages on the Internet that triggered a mass exodus from Bangalore and Mumbai by migrants fleeing to their homes in the northeast.

“Our agencies have discovered that bulk of these messages have been uploaded on various websites in Pakistan,” Home Secretary RK Singh told reporters on Saturday. “This is a first of its kind and we believe that it is highly reprehensible.”

The exodus was sparked by threats sent via mobile phones and the Internet that people from northeastern Assam state would be attacked by Muslims after the end of the holy month of Ramadan in reprisal for recent ethnic violence.

Local media reports estimated that over 35,000 people have fled the cities of Bangalore and Mumbai in recent days.

Interior minister accuses rival neighbour of fabricating messages threatening revenge attacks on indigenous communities.

India has accused Pakistan of fabricating threatening bulk messages that triggered panic among migrant workers in southern Indian cities. The Indian government, meanwhile, stepped up its drive against “erring” portals, and ordered blocking of more than 250 websites in which morphed images and videos were uploaded that led to a scare and exodus of people of the North-east from Karnataka and some other states.

Pakistan rejected as “baseless and

unfounded” India’s allegation and asked New Delhi to provide evidence.

Social networking sites like Facebook and YouTube have informed the government that inflammatory contents uploaded on their pages have indicated that they have originated from Pakistan.

Home secretary R K Singh said home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde during his conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik yesterday, conveyed that New Delhi will share with Islamabad all evidence related to involvement of certain groups and

Bangalore and Mumbai on Saturday and earlier days.

western neighbour, in Pakistan,” Raj Kumar Singh, Indian interior

pictures of victims of natural disasters.

‘Harmony’ threatened Singh said India would register a formal protest with Pakistan.

“We will raise this issue with Pakistan... I am certain that they will deny out of hand but our technical people are definite,” he said.

India has banned bulk text messages temporarily to try to halt the spread of threats and incendiary rumours.

Police in southern city of Bangalore have also arrested three people for spreading images and video clips across India.

The images of atrocities allegedly

individuals who uploaded morphed images and videos. Asked about these elements having any link with the ISI, Mr Singh said it was difficult to say at this stage who was behind it.

Thousands of people hailing from indigenous communities in the northeastern state of Assam fled

The messages threatened revenge attacks against them by Muslims after ethnic violence in Assam pitted the Bodo tribe against Muslim settlers, leaving more than 80 people dead and displacing more than 400,000.

“The bulk of these messages, of these clips, have their origin in our

minister, said.

“That’s what our agencies have discovered: that the bulk of these have been uploaded in various websites in Pakistan.”

He said a number of photographs purportedly showing people killed in revenge attacks for violence in Assam were actually doctored

on Muslims sparked tension and people hailing from the northeast were attacked in western and southern cities.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said those who were fanning the rumours should be punished, saying “communal harmony” was at stake.

Pak rejects India’s charges on northeast exodus

Pakistan has rejected as “unfounded” India’s assertion that elements in this country were using social media networking sites to whip up communal sentiments and create a scare among people from northeast, and asked New Delhi to provide evidence in this regard.

The matter figured in a phone conversation between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik and his Indian counterpart Sushil Kumar Shinde.

Mr. Malik said he has asked India to provide evidence that elements in Pakistan had used social media

networking sites to whip up communal sentiments.

“The Indian minister has said that rumours were generated

from Pakistan through cellular services,” Mr. Malik told reporters referring to his phone conversation with Mr. Shinde on Sunday.

“I had requested him (Shinde) to provide evidence in this regard to us and we will take care of it,” he said.

Mr. Malik said he and Mr. Shinde discussed the regional situation, including rumours, which forced thousands of people from Assam to flee Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Malik had telephoned Mr. Shinde to convey greetings for Eid-ul-Fitr and briefly spoke about

pending issues between the home and interior ministries of the two countries. This was the first direct contact between them.

Separately, a Foreign Office spokesman dismissed India’s assertion as “baseless and unfounded.”

“We totally reject these allegations and insinuations. They are totally baseless and unfounded. Such unsubstantiated statements are not very helpful in creating a conducive environment necessary for improving the relationship between our two countries,” he said.

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‘Undeclared curfew’ imposed in Gilgit All entry and exit routes were sealed and markets closed on Wednesday after three people were killed and two others were injured a day earlier in a fresh wave of sectarian violence that erupted in reaction to the Naran bus attack.

“The step has been taken to overcome target killings,” Ali Sher, a senior police official report.

“This is understandably a reaction to the Naran bus killings,” he said of the violence that left three people dead and two others seriously wounded in different incidents of target killings in Gilgit on Tuesday. The recent incidents came four days after 19 passengers, mostly Shias, were shot dead by terrorists at point blank range in the Mansehra district.

Authorities denied it was an undeclared curfew, however the restrictions were similar to those imposed during one. People were not allowed to come out of their homes, markets were closed and

travelling on vehicles banned as police and other law enforcement agencies kept patrolling the deserted roads of the city.

On Tuesday, two traders Abdul Haleem and Mirza, were killed near Sakwar area after gunmen opened fire on them. The deceased belonged to Swat and were running a business in Gilgit.

Sher said that suspects had been arrested in connection with the killing of traders.

In the second incident, unidentified armed men opened fire on Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel deputed outside the deputy commissioner office at Khomer, killing one Manzoor on the spot while seriously injuring another

man identified as Shujaat.

On Wednesday morning, authorities made repeated announcements through loudspeakers, asking people not to open shops and remain indoors, leaving the roads deserted.

An official at the Chief Minister Secretariat said that people in need of any sort of help would be

facilitated by the authorities. About the duration of the undeclared curfew, he said that it would be decided during a law and order meeting likely to be held at night.

Earlier on Friday last, two truck drivers from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa were killed in Nagar valley and two others were injured in separate incidents.

Pak parliamentarian arrives India to Kabul blames ‘foreign spy hold discussions on Hindu exodus issue agencies’ for insider attacks

A delegation of Pakistani MPs arrived Wednesday and will meet Indian lawmakers to discuss confidence building measures, the trust deficit between the two nations and the recent bilateral developments among other issues.

The 13-member Pakistani delegation, led by Deputy Leader of Senate Sabir Ali Baloch, arrived Wednesday afternoon. “This time a large number of Hindu’s are traveling to India but on visa and they didn’t have any intentions to leave Pakistan “ said leader of delegation Senator Mohammad Jehangir Bader, who is also Leader of the House, Senate of Pakistan while talking to TOI on Wednesday. However he said there were certain incidents of terrorism striking at minority community. “But it is not with Hindu’s even Muslims are at their target” he said.

Member National Assembly from Sindh, Dr. Nafisa Shah said “It is incorrect to say that Hindu’s of Pakistan are leaving the country to settle in India but there were certain issues and structural flaws which needed to be addressed”.

She said Hindu’s were as patriotic as

any other Muslim. Nafisa , however admitted that there was a feeling of iinsecurity among Hindu’s. About forced conversions she said “It is a social situation, there have been cases where Hindu girls willingly embraced Islam but due to social pressure they had to withdraw their statements”. She suggested that in case of inter caste marriage (Hindu and Muslimjs), the couple should be given enough space where they could understand each other and their religions without any pressure.

She said there was a ‘power structure’ who discriminate with them . She said the issue had been exaggerated by media .

Senator Hazi Mohammad Adeel said that Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari had constituted a 3 member committee comprising of two Hindu-senator Hari Ram, Member of national assembly Lal Chand and a Muslim Federal Minister Moula Bakhsh Chandio which was looking into the reports of reported migration of Hindu’s and sense of insecurity among them. He said they would also take up this issue with their Indian counterparts to get to know their

views.

Deputy Chairman, Senate, Sabar Ali Baloch admitted that Pakistan was infested with evil of terrorism which was a threat to all communities and not only Hindu’s He said it was not just Hindus but Muslims were also on their target . He however claimed that there were no incidents of forced conversions.

Adeel said the people to people contact should not be limited between Punjab’s of two nations but it should be extended to rest of India to rest of Pakistan. He questioned “why people of two Punjab’s should meet and why not rest of India and Paksitan”.

He said he would extend invitation to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, border province of Pakistan. He said the delegation was in India to promote peace between two nations so as to lay foundation of a strong South Asia.

These MPs will have discussions with their Indian counterparts tomorrow.

The Pakistan parliamentarian who have arrived India, blamed on media for exaggerating the issue. However a few of them admitted that there were certain ‘structural flaw’s’ and ‘issues’ which needed to be resolved to restore Hindu’s confidence in Pak administration. . He said that the delegation is visiting India for carrying forward the peace process and the trade on government level.

The members included in the delegation besides Jehangir Badar, Sabir Baloch, Faisal Karim Kundi, Nafeesa Shah, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Khurram Dastagir, Shazia Marri and Haji Adeel.

Afghan officials on Wednesday blamed “infiltration by foreign spy agencies” into the ranks of its security forces for a rise in attacks by Afghan soldiers on US-led Nato forces.

The announcement came after President Barack Obama and top US military officers expressed growing concern over the so-called “greenon-blue” attacks in which uniformed Afghans turn their weapons against their Nato allies.

A total of 10 soldiers, mostly Americans, have lost their lives at the hands of their Afghan colleagues in the past two weeks, and the attacks have caused almost one in four coalition deaths in the war so far this month.

President Hamid Karzai held a meeting of the country’s National Security Council on Wednesday to discuss the matter.

Senior Afghan officials told Karzai their months-long investigation had shown that “foreign spy agencies” including those of Afghanistan’s neighbours were behind the rise in insider attacks, presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi said.

Faizi did not name a specific country, but Afghan officials have long accused Pakistan of harbouring Taliban insurgents fighting to overthrow

Karzai’s Western-backed government.

“Reports presented by security officials in this meeting blamed infiltration by foreign spy agencies into the ranks of Afghan security forces as responsible for the rise in the individual shootings,” Faizi told reporters.

“Its shows that majority of the these attacks is the result of such infiltration.

“The reports further highlighted that foreign spy agencies are increasingly fearful of the empowerment of the Afghans security agencies.”

Faizi said Afghan security officials had pledged to tighten the vetting process for army and police recruits to help prevent attacks and Karzai would meet Nato commander General John Allen to discuss the issue.

America’s top military officer flew to Kabul for talks on the issue on Monday with Nato commanders and Afghan top brass.

General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he came away “reassured” after discussions with his Afghan counterpart, General Shir Mohammad Karimi.

Saarc international I Thursday 23 August 2012

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Bangladesh mulls India to cut number of items solar-energy options under sensitive list for SAARC Authorities in Dhaka install solar lighting as part of effort to reduce the South Asian nation’s huge power shortfall.

Bangladesh is struggling to generate the electricity needed to meet the demand of its 150 million people.

Most Bangladeshis are not even connected to the national grid. Those who are, suffer from long and frequent power outages.

Recently several suburbs of in the city of Chittagong went without electricity for four consecutive days. Local residents stormed the power supply

building in protest.

According to government calculations, the country needs 6,750 megawatts (MW) of electricity to meet the current energy demand but it can only supply 5,500MW. The shortfall means they are looking for alternative solutions.

Authorities in Dhaka are now beginning to use solar energy. The panels are set to control traffic lights.

Authorities say the system will reduce traffic jams and well-lit streets will protect people from getting mugged.

But according to report from the Bangladesh capital, keeping residents safe and happy is expensive: each panel costs $5,000 to install. Plans are underway to expand the project and make 10 per cent of Bangladesh’s power supply green and renewable by 2020.

and Kancheepuram.

In order to facilitate trade, especially with Pakistan, the Union Cabinet in India approves pruning of negative list for trade with SAARC countries.

This will allow reduction of import duties of more items under bilateral trade. The negative list denotes items on which import duties may not be reduced. This change is line with the South Asian Free Trade Agreement.

IIIT autonomy The Cabinet has also cleared a Bill that seeks to give IIITs administrative autonomy and

enables setting up of 20 more such institutes at a cost of about Rs 128 crore each. The Centre will bear 50 per cent of the cost, the State Governments 35 per cent, while the rest will be borne by industry partners.

The Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Bill, 2012 is set to be introduced during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, reports said. PSUs have also been allowed to become partners in establishment of IIITs. Currently, there are four IIITs funded by the Union Government at Gwalior, Allahabad, Jabalpur

Cricket: Champions Trophy 2013 draw finalized

Street Vendor Bill Separately, the Government also approved a Bill which aims to protect street vendors against harassment and regulate their activities in public areas. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation is likely to introduce the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill in the ongoing monsoon session.

The Bill will permit anyone over 18 years to register as a street vendor by paying a one-time fee. Vendors will be given with identity cards allowing them to sell their products in specified vending zones.

The Cabinet has also approved an amendment to the Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organizations Bill, 2011, which puts restrictions on the bribery undertaken by foreign companies in India.

FCRA Bill deferred Meanwhile, the CCEA has deferred the Forward Contract Regulation Bill for the third time, apart from decisions on NELP and ethanol price band as the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs couldn’t meet on Friday.

Continued from page 32 >>

Afridi withdraws from Sri Lanka T20 league: Australia won the previous edition of the Champions Trophy, in South Africa Report a host of exciting head-to-head Pakistan at The Oval India will take on South Africa in the opening game of the 2013 Champions Trophy in England, the last time the tournament will be held. Two other big draws in the group stages are India versus Pakistan on June 15, and Australia playing New Zealand on June 12, both at Edgbaston.

England will begin their 2013 ICC Champions Trophy campaign against traditional rivals Australia.

The tournament, hosted by England, will begin with a clash between India and South Africa on June 6, 2013 after the fixtures were announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board on Tuesday morning.

Group A features Australia, England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka while India, Pakistan, South Africa and the West Indies will compete in Group B, with matches held at Edgbaston, Cardiff and The Oval.

The three grounds will each host four matches in the group stage,

contests.

‘The format means every match counts and all eight teams will feel that they are capable of winning the tournament in a

with semi-finals at The Oval on June 19 and Cardiff on June 20 and the final at Edgbaston on June 23.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan meet on June 15 in Birmingham, the same venue where Australia face New Zealand three days earlier.

Tournament director Steve Elworthy said: ‘This will be a terrific opportunity for fans to see the world’s very best one-day sides in action over the space of less than three weeks and the fixture schedule has thrown up

competition which is set to be one of the highlights of the 2013 international calendar.’

Glamorgan chairman Barry O’Brien said, ‘The opportunity to stage ICC Champions Trophy fixtures in Cardiff is an exciting one. To mark our 125th anniversary as a host venue to the best cricketers from around the globe is a real accolade for us.’

Schedule: June 6 (Thursday): India vs South Africa at Cardiff June 7 (Friday): West Indies vs

June 8 (Saturday): England vs Australia at Edgbaston June 9 (Sunday): Sri Lanka vs New Zealand at Cardiff June 10 (Monday): Pakistan vs South Africa (D/N) at Edgbaston June 11 (Tuesday): India vs West Indies at The Oval June 12 (Wednesday): Australia vs New Zealand (D/N) at Edgbaston June 13 (Thursday): England vs Sri Lanka (D/N) at The Oval June 14 (Friday): West Indies vs South Africa at Cardiff June 15 (Saturday): India vs Pakistan at Edgbaston June 16 (Sunday): England vs New Zealand at Cardiff June 17 (Monday): Sri Lanka vs Australia (D/N) at The Oval June 19 (Wednesday): Semi-final 1 at The Oval June 20 (Thursday): Semi-final 2 at Cardiff June 23 (Sunday): Final at Edgbaston

the “issues get resolved”. The Ruhuna Royals are scheduled to play against Basnahira Cricket Dundee on August 25.

Afridi has so far scored 52 runs and has taken two wickets in the league. His highest score was 36 against Kandurata Warriors.

According to an agreement, Pakistani cricketers playing ODIs against Australia in Sharjah will leave Sri Lanka midway through the tournament.

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South Asia Tribune I Thursday 23 August 2012

Afridi withdraws from Sri Lanka T20 league: Report

Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has withdrawn from the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL), NDTV.com reported on Wednesday.

Afridi, who was playing for Ruhuna Royals, had

to leave for Pakistan immediately as his wife was reported to be unwell. A senior official of the SLPL organising committee has said that Afridi will return if Continued on page 31 >>

SAT

Sports

West Indies beat Pakistan by 16 runs West Indies beat Pakistan by 16 runs in a Super League playoff of the ICC Under-19 World Cup on Wednesday in Townsville, Australia.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first and started off with a brilliant opening spell with Mir Hamza dismissing Sunil Ambris (1), John Campbell (13) and Anothiny Alleyane (1).

West Indies were 182 all out in 49 overs as Usman Qadir also took 2-22 in 10 overs. It should have been an easy target to meet for Pakistan but West Indies took a few early

wickets which derailed Pakistan.

Captain Babar Azam ad Umar Waheed scored 38 and 31 respectively for a partnership of 51 runs and Mohammad Nawaz and Qadir took Pakistan to 133-5. Kyle Myers took the winning wicket for West Indies as Pakistan only managed to make 166 runs in 48.3 overs.

Pakistan will now play Bangladesh for seventh place on Friday. In the other’s match, Sri Lanka beat Ireland by 109 runs and will play Afghanisan on Friday.

Salman Butt accuses Shahid Afridi for his statement in spot-fixing scandal

Banned former Pakistan Test captain, Salman Butt has accused former teammate Shahid Afridi of giving a statement against him in the spot-fixing case to get over the shock of losing his captaincy. Butt told the media in his hometown in Lahore during the Eid holidays that Afridi had given a statement against him in the spot-fixing case which led to the ban and jail terms for Butt and two other Pakistani players, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif.

All three have served their jail terms in the United Kingdom but are still under a minimum five year

ban from the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption tribunal for their role in the spot fixing scandal that broke out during Pakistan’s tour to England in 2010.

On that tour, Afridi led Pakistan in the first Test at Lords against Australia which they lost heavily.

After that, Afridi stepped down as Test captain and Butt took over from him leading the team to test wins over Australia and England on the tour.

Afridi also lost his one-day and T20 captaincy in May, 2011 after a dispute with the Pakistan Cricket Board. “I think he was upset and in a shock over the captaincy issue and that is why he gave the statement against me,” Butt said. “I have never indulged in any match or spot fixing and I never gave any instructions to Aamer to bowl the no-ball during the Lords test against England,” Butt claimed.

Butt and the two others were

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