81 Issue | Zarb-e-Jamhoor e-Newspaper | 22-28 Jul, 2012

Birthday of King Sobhuza Swaziland - Jul 22

Ngwenyama Sobhuza II (July 22, 1899 – August 21, 1982) was the Paramount Chief and later King of Swaziland. He was the son of Ngwane V.

Biography Sobhuza succeeded Ngwane V as Paramount Chief of Swaziland on De-

cember 10, 1899, when he was only a few months old. His grandmother, Labotsibeni Mdluli, acted as regent until December 22, 1921. His nominal reign of 82 years, 9 months is the longest precisely dated monarchical reign on record and the longest documented reign of any monarch since antiquity. Only Pepi II Neferkare of Ancient Egypt and Taejo of the ancient Korean kingdom of Goguryeo are claimed to have reigned longer, though these claims are disputed.

Sobhuza's personal reign of over 60 years (1921–82) saw Swaziland's independence fromGreat Britain in 1968, after which he was styled King of Swaziland. When the kingdom became independent, it was considered possible that the existing tribal government could be modified into a constitutional monarchy. This existed for some time, until April 12, 1973, when he repealed the constitution and dissolved parliament, making himself absolute ruler.

King Sobhuza continued the tribal practice of keeping many wives. According to the Swaziland National Trust Commission, King Sobhuza II married 70 wives, who gave him 210 children between 1920 and 1970 (i.e. three children per wife, on average). About 180 children survived infancy, and ninety-seven sons and daughters are alive today. When he died he had over 1000 grandchildren.

In the early 1980s he attempted to gain control over KaNgwane, a Bantustan set up by theSouth African apartheid government.

Sobhuza died in 1982, having Prince Sozisa appointed Dlamini to serve as 'Authorized Person', advising a regent after his death. The first regent was Queen Dzeliwe, but after a power struggle Sozisa deposed her and replaced her by Queen Ntombi, while at the same time Ntombi and Sobhuza's young son Mswati was designated as Crown Prince. Mswati was crowned as king in 1986.

A son-in-law was King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu of the Zulu Nation, who married Sobhuza's daughter Mantfombi Dlamini.

A daughter-in-law is Zenani Mandela, the daughter of former South African President Nelson Mandela of a cadet branch of the Thembu dynasty, who is married to one of Sobhuza's many sons.

Martyr's Day Armenia - Jul 23

Genocide Remembrance Day (Armenian: Եղեռնի զոհերի հիշատակի օր) or Genocide Memorial day, is a national holiday in Armenia and is observed

by Armenians in dispersed communities around the world on April 24. It is held annually to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide from 1915 to 1923. In Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, hundreds of thousands of people walk to the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial to lay flowers at the eternal flame.

The date 24 April commemorates the Armenian notables deported from the Ottoman capital in 1915, of hundreds of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders, most of whom would be executed, which was a precursor to the ensuing events.

National Hot Dog Day U.S. - Jul 23

Hot Dog Days are informal events that are celebrated in communities throughout the hotdog-eating world, including the USA, Canada, Great Britain and Australia. Their origin is obscure. As the name suggests the festivals revolve around eating hot dogs, but usually there are many other activities such as wiener dog races, root beer chugging contests and face painting. Often the proceeds from a hot dog day are given to charity. Industry groups, such as National Hot Dog & Sausage Council in the USA, which designates July as National Hot Dog Month and July 22 as National Hot Dog Day 2009, encourage, sponsor, and support the events. The council also gives advice on hot-dog eating etiquette, which aren't considered strict, as most Hot Dog Day style events do not adhere to them.

Notable Hot Dog Festivals Alfred Village Hot Dog Day:

Hot Dog Day is celebrated in the spring in the village of Alfred, New York. It has been celebrated since 1972, when students first proposed it. The event is focused on the hot dog, a food popular among college students for its cheapness and ease of preparation. Hot Dog Day itself is usually the third Saturday in April, although many students celebrate the entire "hot dog week", running from that Wednesday to that Sunday.

Hot Dog Day, which is organized primarily by students from Alfred Universityand Alfred State College, raises money for local charities and community organizations, such as Alfred's fire department and Montessori school.

Events typically include a parade, ice cream social, "fun run", mud Olympics, hot dog eating contests, carnival and live music. Main Street, which is closed to traffic, hosts most of these activities, along with food choices such as a chicken barbecue and numerous hot dog stands. Hot Dog Day is often the time chosen for alumni reunions for Alfred's two colleges.

Revolution Day Egypt - Jul 23

Revolution Day refers to the public holiday in Egypt on 23 July, the anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution of 1952. It is the biggest secular public holiday in Egypt.

Annual celebrations marking the Revolution begin on the preceding evening, as the evening of 22 July 1952 was when the Free Officers Movement led by Muhammad Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser commenced the military coup d'état that launched the Revolution, and ultimately led to the abdication of King Farouk (the penultimate King of Egypt and Sudan). The public holiday itself is characterised by large and elaborate celebrations, including televised concerts with heavily nationalistic themes, and military parades.

Bolivar Day - Jul 24 Venezuela, Ecuador

Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Blanco(July 24, 1783 – December 17, 1830), commonly known as Simón Bolívar, was a Venezuelan military and political leader. Together with José de San Martín, he played a key role in Hispanic-Spanish America's successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire, and is today considered one of the most influential politicians in American history.

Following the triumph over the Spanish Monarchy, Bolívar participated in the foundation of the first union of independent nations in Hispanic-America, a republic, which was named Gran Colombia, of which he was president from 1819 to 1830. Bolívar remains regarded in Hispanic-America as a hero, visionary, revolutionary, and liberator.

During his lifetime, he led Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia to independence, and helped lay the foundations for democratic ideology in much of Latin America.

The surname Bolívar derives from the Bolívar aristocrats who came from a small village in the Basque Country, Spain, called La Puebla de Bolívar. His father came from the male line of the de Ardanza family. His maternal grandmother, however, was descended from some families from the Canary Islands that settled in the country.

The Bolívars settled in Venezuela in the sixteenth century. His first South American Bolívar ancestor was Simón de Bolívar (or Simon de Bolibar; the spelling was not standardized until the nineteenth century), who lived and worked with the governor of the Santo Domingo from 1550 to 1570. When the governor of Santo Domingo was reassigned to Venezuela in 1589, Simón de Bolívar came with him. As an early settler in Caracas Province, he became prominent in the local society and he and his descendants were granted estates, encomiendas, and positions in the Caracas cabildo.

The social position of the family is illustrated by the fact that when the Caracas Cathedral was built in 1594, the Bolívar family had one of the first dedicated side chapels. The majority of the wealth of Simón de Bolívar's descendants came from the estates. The most important of these estates was a sugar plantation with an encomienda that provided the labor needed to run the estate. In later centuries, slave and free black labor would have replaced most of the encomienda labor. Another portion of Bolívar wealth came from the silver, gold, and more importantly, copper mines in Venezuela. In 1632, small gold deposits first were mined in Venezuela, leading to further discoveries of much more extensive copper deposits. From his mother's side, the Palacios family, Bolívar inherited the copper mines at Cocorote. Native American and African slaves provided the majority of the labor in these mines.

Toward the end of the seventeenth century, copper exploitation became so prominent in Venezuela that it became known as Cobre Caracas ("Caracas copper"). Many of the mines became the property of the Bolívar family. Bolívar's grandfather, Juan de Bolívar y Martínez de Villegas, paid 22,000 ducats to the monastery at Santa Maria de Montserrat in 1728 for a title of nobility that had been granted by the king, Philip V of Spain, for its maintenance. The crown never issued the patent of nobility, and so the purchase became the subject of lawsuits that were still going on during Bolívar's lifetime, when independence from Spain made the point moot. (If successful, Bolívar's older brother, Juan Vicente, would have become the Marqués de San Luis and Vizconde de Cocorote.) Bolívar was able to use his family's immense wealth to finance his revolutionary efforts.

Jose Barbosa Day Puerto Rico - Jul 24

Dr. José Celso Barbosa (July 27, 1857 – September 21, 1921) was a medical Physician, sociologist, and political leader of Puerto Rico. Known within Puerto Rico's New Progressive Party as "The father of the Statehood for Puerto Rico movement", Barbosa was also the first Puerto Rican earn a medical degree in the United States.

Early Years

Barbosa was born in the city of Bayamón,Puerto Rico; he received both his primary and secondary education in Puerto Rico. He was the first person who had both black ancestry and white ancestry to attend Puerto Rico's prestigious Jesuit Seminary. After graduating from the Seminary, Barbosa tutored private students to save money to attend college. In 1875, he moved to New York to attend prep school where he learned English in a year.

Originally Barbosa wished to become a lawyer, but after a bout of pneumonia in New York City, his doctor recommended he study medicine rather than law. In 1877, he was admitted to the medical school of the University of Michigan, where he graduated valedictorian of the class of 1880. He returned to the island where he set up his practice in his native hometown.

Independence Day Maldives - Jul 26

Maldives officially Republic of Maldives (Dhivehi: ‫ެގޭޖްއާރިހެވިދ‬ ް ‫ރ‬ ޫ ‫އ‬ ި ‫ޔ‬ ް ,ާ Dhivehi Raa'jeyge Jumhooriyya), also referred to as ‫ހމުޖ‬ the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented northsouth off India's Lakshadweep Islands, between Minicoy Island and Chagos Archipelago. It stands in the Laccadive Sea, about 700 kilometres (430 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka and 400 kilometres (250 mi) south-west of India. During the colonial era, the Dutch referred to the country as "Maldivische Eilanden" in their documentation, while "Maldive Islands" is the anglicised version of the local name used by the British, which later came to be written "Maldives".

The Maldives was dominated from the mid sixteenth century by colonial powers - by Portugal, the Netherlands, and the British. In 1965, the Maldives gained independence from the British, becoming a republic. It was then ruled by a sultanate and an authoritarian government. After protests and political pressure for democracy, the first free elections in the history of the Maldives were held in 2008, leading to the election of Mohamed Nasheed. However following the 20112012 Maldives Crisis and accompanying coup d'état, Nasheed was forced to resign in February 2012. Vice President Mohammed Waheed Hassan Manik was thus sworn in as the new president.

The archipelago is located on top of the Chagos-Maldives-Laccadive Ridge, a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean. Maldives also form a terrestrial ecoregion together with the Chagos and the Lakshadweep. The atolls of Maldives encompass a territory spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi), making it one of the world's most geographically dispersed countries. Its population of 328,536 (2012) inhabits 200 of its 1,192 islands.

Maldives' capital and largest city Malé had a population of 103,693 in 2006. It is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll, in the Kaafu Atoll. It is also one of the Administrative divisions of the Maldives. Traditionally it was the King's Island where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties were enthroned.

Maldives is the smallest Asian country in both population and land area. With an average ground level of 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, it is the planet's lowest country.It is also the country with the lowest natural highest point in the world, at 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in); the Maldives' forecast inundation is a great concern for the Maldivian people.

Etymology

The name Maldives may derive from Mahal'deeb, in Sanskrit or maalai theevu (மாலை தீவு ) in Tamil. The Maldivian people were called Dhivehin. The word Dheeb/Deeb (archaic Dhivehi, related to Sanskrit dvīpa (द्वीप)) means "island", and Dhives (Dhivehin) means "islanders" (i.e., Maldivians). During the colonial era, the Dutch referred to the country as Maldivische Eilanden in their documentation, while Maldive Islands is the anglicised version of the local name used by the British, which later came to be written as "Maldives".

The ancient Sri Lankan chronicle Mahawamsa refers to an island called Mahiladiva ("Island of Women", महिलादिभ) in Pali, which is probably a mistranslation of the same Sanskrit word meaning "garland". The Mahawamsa is derived from an even older Sinhala word dating back to the 2nd century BC. Some theorise that the name Maldives derives from the Sanskrit mālādvīpa (मालाद्वीप), meaning "garland of islands". In Malayalam, "Garland of Islands" can be translated as Maladhweepu (മാലദ്വീപ്). In Tamil, "Garland of Islands" can be translated asMalaiTheevu (மாலைத்தீவு). None of these names is mentioned in any literature, but classical Sanskrit texts dating back to theVedic period mention the "Hundred Thousand Islands" (Lakshadweepa), a generic name which would include not only the Maldives, but also the Laccadives, Aminidivi Islands, Minicoy and the Chagos island groups.

Some medieval travellers such as Ibn Batuta called the islands Mahal Dibiyat (‫ )تأيبد لحم‬from the Arabic word Mahal ("palace"), which must be how the Berber traveller interpreted the local name, having been through Muslim North India, where Perso-Arabic words were introduced into the local vocabulary . This is the name currently inscribed on the scroll in the Maldive state emblem. The classical Persian/Arabic name for Maldives is Dibajat.

The name Maldives also might have come from the Sinhalese word මාල දිවයින Maala Divaina ("Necklace Islands"), perhaps referring to the shape of the archipelago. The same name is still used today by Sinhalese when referring to the Maldives, and it is widely believed that ancient Sinhalese were amongst the first settlers on the island archipelago.

History

Ancient history and settlement:

Comparative studies of Maldivian oral, linguistic and cultural traditions and customs indicate that the first settlers were Dravidian people from Tamil Nadu in the Sangam period (300 BC–AD 300), most probably fishermen from the southwest coasts of what is now the south of the Indian Subcontinent and the western shores of Sri Lanka. One such community is the Giraavaru people descended from ancient Tamils. They are mentioned in ancient legends and local folklore about the establishment of the capital and kingly rule inMalé. They are considered to be the islands' earliest settler community. A strong underlying layer of Dravidian population and culture survives in Maldivian society, with a clear Dravidian-Malayalam substratum in the language, which also appears in place names, kinship terms, poetry, dance, and religious beliefs. Malabari sea faring culture led to Malayali settling of the Laccadives, and the Maldives were evidently viewed as an extension of that archipelago. Some argue (from the presence of Jat, Gujjar Titles and Gotra names) that Sindhisalso accounted for an early layer of migration. Seafaring from Debal began during the Indus valley civilisation. The Jatakas and Puranasshow abundant evidence of this maritime trade; the use of similar traditional boat building techniques in Northwestern South Asia and the Maldives, and the presence of silver punch mark coins from both regions, gives additional weight to this. There are minor signs of Southeast Asian settlers, probably some adrift from the main group of Austronesian reed boat migrants that settled Madagascar.There are some signs of Arab inhabitants, mostly in the southernmost atolls, who probably settled in the height of the Islamic era.

The earliest written history of the Maldives is marked by the arrival of Sinhalese people, who were descended from the exiled MagadhaPrince Vijaya from the ancient city known as Sinhapura. He and his party of several hundred landed in Sri Lanka, and some in the Maldives circa 543 to 483 BC. According to the Mahavansa, one of the ships that sailed with Prince Vijaya, who went to Sri Lanka around 500 BC, went adrift and arrived at an island called Mahiladvipika, which is the Maldives. It is also said that at that time, the people from Mahiladvipika used to travel to Sri Lanka. Their settlement in Sri Lanka and the Maldives marks a significant change in demographics and the development of the Indo-Aryan language Dhivehi, which is most similar in grammar, phonology, and structure toSinhala, and especially to the more ancient Elu language, which has less Pali.

Alternatively, it is believed that Vijaya and his clan came from western India – a claim supported by linguistic and cultural features, and specific descriptions in the epics themselves, e.g. that Vijaya visited Bharukaccha (Bharuch in Gujarat) in his ship on the voyage down south.

Philostorgius, a late antique Greek historian, wrote of a hostage among the Romans, from the island called Diva, which is presumed to be the Maldives, who was baptised Theophilus. Theophilus was sent in the 350s to convert the Himyarites to Christianity, and went to his homeland from Arabia; he returned to Arabia, visited Axum, and settled in Antioch.

Buddhism came to the Maldives at the time of Emperor Ashoka's expansion, and became the dominant religion of the people of the Maldives until the 12th century AD. The ancient Maldivian Kings promoted Buddhism, and the first Maldive writings and artistic achievements, in the form of highly developed sculpture and architecture, are from that period. Before embracing Buddhism as their way of life, Maldivians had practised an ancient form ofHinduism, ritualistic traditions known as Śrauta, in the form of venerating the Surya (the ancient ruling cast were of Aadheetta or Suryavanshi origins).

The first archaeological study of the remains of early cultures in the Maldives began with the work of H.C.P. Bell, a British commissioner of the Ceylon Civil Service. Bell was shipwrecked on the islands in 1879, and returned several times to investigate ancient Buddhist ruins. He studied the ancient mounds, called havitta or ustubu (these names ި ‫ތ‬ ް )ަ by the Maldivians, which are found on many of the atolls. Although are derived from chaitiya and stupa) (Dhivehi: ‫އވަހ‬ Bell asserted that the ancient Maldivians had followed Theravada Buddhism, many local Buddhist archaeological remains now in the Malé Museum in fact also display elements of Mahayana and Vajrayana iconography.

In the early 11th century, the Minicoy and Thiladhunmathi, and possibly other northern Atolls, were conquered by the medieval Chola Tamil emperor Raja Raja Chola I, thus becoming a part of the Chola Empire.

According to a legend from Maldivian folklore, in the early 12th century AD, a medieval prince named Koimala, a nobleman of the Lion Race from Sri Lanka, sailed to Rasgetheemu island (literally "Town of the Royal House", or figuratively "King's Town") in the North Maalhosmadulu Atoll, and from there to Malé, and established a kingdom. By then, theAadeetta (Sun) Dynasty (the Suryavanshi ruling cast) had for some time ceased to rule in Malé, possibly because of invasions by the Cholas of Southern India in the tenth century. Koimala Kalou (Lord Koimala), who reigned as King Maanaabarana, was a king of the Homa(Lunar) Dynasty (the Chandravanshi ruling cast), which some historians call the House of Theemuge. The Homa (Lunar) dynasty sovereigns intermarried with the Aaditta (Sun) Dynasty.

This is why the formal titles of Maldive kings until 1968 contained references to "kula sudha ira", which means "descended from the Moon and the Sun". No official record exists of the Aadeetta dynasty's reign. Since Koimala's reign, the Maldive throne was also known as the Singaasana (Lion Throne). Before then, and in some situations since, it was also known as the Saridhaaleys (Ivory Throne). Some historians credit Koimala with freeing the Maldives from Tamil Chola rule.

Several foreign travellers, mainly Arabs, had written about a kingdom of the Maldives ruled over by a queen. This kingdom pre-dated Koimala's reign. al-Idrisi, referring to earlier writers, mentions the name of one of the queens, Damahaar, who was a member of theAadeetta (Sun) dynasty.

The conversion to Islam is mentioned in the ancient edicts written in copper plates from the end of the 12th century AD. There is also a locally well-known legend about a foreign saint (an Iranian from the city of Tabriz) who subdued a demon known as Rannamaari. Dhovemi Kalaminja, who succeeded Koimala, converted to Islam in the year AD 1153.

Over the centuries, the islands have been visited, and their development influenced, by sailors and traders from countries on the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The main export of medieval Maldivians was cowrie shell, which they cultivated by floating branches of coconut palms in the sea, to which the shells attached themselves.

The Maldives were the first landfall for traders from Basrah, sailing to Sri Lankaor Southeast Asia. In the Maldives, ships could take on fresh water, fruit and the delicious, basket-smoked red flesh of the black bonito, a delicacy exported to Sindh, China and Yemen. The people of the archipelago were described as gentle, civilised and hospitable.

They produced brass utensils as well as fine cotton textiles, exported in the form of sarongs and turban lengths.

These local industries must have depended on imported raw materials.

The other essential product of the Maldives was coir, the fibre of the dried coconut husk. Cured in pits, beaten, spun and then twisted into cordage and ropes, coir's salient quality is its resistance to saltwater. It stitched together and rigged the dhows that plied the Indian Ocean. Maldivian coir was exported to Sindh, China, Yemen, and the Persian Gulf.

"It is stronger than hemp," wrote Ibn Battuta, "and is used to sew together the planks of Sindhi and Yemeni dhows, for this sea abounds in reefs, and if the planks were fastened with iron nails, they would break into pieces when the vessel hit a rock. The coir gives the boat greater elasticity, so that it doesn't break up."

British protectorate, 1887–1965:

Although governed as an independent Islamic sultanate from 1153 to 1968, the Maldives was a British protectorate from 1887 until 25 July 1965. On 16 December 1887, the Sultan of the Maldives signed a contract with the British Governor of Ceylon turning the Maldives into aBritish protected state, thus giving up the islands' sovereignty in matters of foreign policy, but retaining internal self-government. The British government promised military protection and noninterference in local administration in exchange for an annual tribute, so that the islands were akin to an Indian princely state.

In 1953, there was an abortive attempt to form a republic, but the sultanate survived. In 1957 the British established an air base in the strategic southernmost atoll of Addu, paying £2000 a year, employing hundreds of locals. Nineteen years later, the British government (Labour’s Harold Wilson) gave up the base, as it was too expensive to maintain.

In 1959, objecting to Ibrahim Nasir's centralism, the inhabitants of the three southernmost atolls protested against the government. They formed the United Suvadive Republic and elected Abdullah Afeef as president and chose Hithadhoo as capital of this republic.

End of protectorate, 1965:

During the 1950s and 1960s, the British presence east of Suez was in a steep decline. On 26 July 1965 an agreement was signed on behalf of His Majesty the Sultan by Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan, Prime Minister; and on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen by Sir Michael Walker, British Ambassador designate to the Maldive Islands, which ended the British responsibility for the defense and external affairs of the Maldives. The islands thus achieved full political independence. The Ceremony took place at the British High Commissioner's Residence in Colombo. After this the sultanate continued to operate for another three years under Muhammad Fareed Didi, who declared himself King, rather than Sultan.

Republic, 1968:

On 15 November 1967, a vote was taken in parliament to decide whether the Maldives should continue as a constitutional monarchy or become a republic. Of the 44 members of parliament, forty voted in favour of a republic. On 15 March 1968, a national referendum was held on the question, and 93.34% of those taking part voted in favour of establishing a republic. The republic was declared on 11 November 1968, thus ending the 853-year-old monarchy, which was replaced by a republic under the presidency of Ibrahim Nasir. As the King had held little real power, this was seen as a cosmetic change and required few alterations in the structures of government. The official name of the country was changed from Maldive Islands to the Maldives.

Tourism began to be developed on the archipelago by the beginning of the 1970s. The first accurate census was held in December 1977 and showed 142,832 persons residing in Maldives. However, political infighting during the '70s between Nasir's faction and other political figures led to the 1975 arrest and exile of elected prime minister Ahmed Zaki to a remote atoll. Economic decline followed the closure of the British airfield at Gan and the collapse of the market for dried fish, an important export. With support for his administration faltering, Nasir fled to Singapore in 1978, with millions of dollars from the treasury.

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom began his 30-year role as President in 1978, winning six consecutive elections without opposition. His election was seen as ushering in a period of political stability and economic development in view of Gayoom's priority to develop the poorer islands. Tourism flourished and increased foreign contact spurred development.

However, Gayoom's rule was controversial, with some critics saying Gayoom was an autocrat who quelled dissent by limiting freedoms and political favouritism.

A series of coup attempts (in 1980, 1983, and 1988) by Nasir supporters and business interests tried to topple the government without success. While the first two attempts met with little success, the 1988 coup attempt involved a roughly 200-person mercenary force of the PLOTE Tamil militant group who seized the airport and caused Gayoom to flee from house to house until the intervention of 1600Indian troops airlifted into Malé restored order. The November 1988 coup was headed by Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee, a small businessman. On the night of 3 November 1988, the Indian Air Force airlifted a parachute battalion group from Agra and flew them over 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) to the Maldives. The Indian paratroopers landed at Hulule and secured the airfield and restored the government rule at Malé within hours. The brief, bloodless operation, labelled Operation Cactus, also involved the Indian Navy.

First Puerto Rican with an American medical degree The Spanish government did not recognize Barbosa's medical de-

gree as it was not from one of the European universities. It took the intervention of the American consul to the island for Barbosa's degree to be recognized. Barbosa was the first person in the island with an American medical degree. He practiced medicine all over the island, and introduced the novel idea of employers paying a fee for the future health care needs of their employees (a very early health insurance system). In 1893, Barbosa founded the first Puerto Rican cooperative and named it "El Ahorro Colectivo".

Political career Barbosa was a member of the Autonomous Party led by Román Bal-

dorioty de Castro but left because of ideological differences.

In 1898, when the United States bombarded and blockaded San Juan during the Spanish–American War, Barbosa together with other doctors who lived in Bayamon, traveled to the town of Cataño and boarded a ferry headed towards San Juan. Barbosa, as member of the Red Cross, went to the aid of the wounded Puerto Rican and Spanish soldiers.

The ferry trip which crossed San Juan Bay was dangerous due to cannon fire. Barbosa and those with him were recommended by the Spanish government to be decorated with theCruz de la Orden del Mérito Naval (The Cross of the Order of Naval Merit) for their bravery.

On July 4, 1899, Barbosa formed the pro-statehood Puerto Rican Republican Party as a reaction to the outcome of the Spanish-American War, in which Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States; he became known as the father of the "Statehood for Puerto Rico" movement.

Later years On June 5, 1900, President William McKinley named Barbosa, together with Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón,José de

Diego, Manuel Camuñas and Andrés Crosas as part of an Executive Cabinet under U.S. appointed Governor Charles H. Allen. The Executive Cabinet also included six American members.Barbosa served in Executive Cabinet until 1917 and as a member of the first Puerto Rican Senate from 1917 to 1921. In 1907, he established the newspaper "El Tiempo", the first bilingual newspaper on the island. José Celso Barbosa died in San Juan on September 21, 1921. He was laid to rest in Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery in Old San Juan. His daughter Pilar Barbosa would one day become a renowned historian, the Official Historian of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 1997 and a political activist who would carry on her father's work.

Recognition In honour of Barbosa's accomplishments, Puerto Rico has declared his birthday, July 27, an official holiday. Barbosa's

house in Bayamón has been converted into a museum in which many of his awards, certificates, books and other artifacts of interest are exhibited. On August 1, 2006, President George W. Bush signed Public Law 109-253, the Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa Post Office Building Designation Act, to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service at 100 Avenida RL Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, as the Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa Post Office Building.

Pioneer Day (Utah) U.S. - Jul 24

Pioneer Day is an official holiday celebrated on July 24 in the U.S. state of Utah, with some celebrations in regions of surrounding states originally settled by Mormon pioneers. It commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, where the Latter-day Saints settled after being forced from Nauvoo, Illinois and other locations in the eastern United States.Parades, fireworks, rodeos, and other festivities help commemorate the event. Similar to July 4th, most governmental offices and many businesses are closed on Pioneer Day. In addition to being an official holiday in Utah, Pioneer Day is considered a special occasion by many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). On Pioneer Day, some Latter-day Saints walk portions of the Mormon Trail or reenact entering the Salt Lake Valley by handcart. Latter-day Saints throughout the United Statesand around the world may celebrate July 24 in remembrance of the LDS Churches' pioneer era, with songs, dances, and pioneer related activities.

While the holiday has strong links to the LDS Church, it is a celebration of everyone, regardless of faith and nationality, who emigrated to the Salt Lake Valley during the pioneer era, which is generally considered to have ended with the 1869 arrival of the transcontinental railroad. Notable non-LDS American pioneers from this period include Episcopal Bishop Daniel Tuttle, who was responsible for Utah's first non-Mormon schools (Rowland Hall-St. Mark's) and first public hospital (St. Mark's) in the late 1800s. The Intertribal Powwow at Liberty Park in Salt Lake Cityhonors the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the area's American Indians, helping Utahns to gain a deeper understanding of the region's history.

The holiday generates a great deal of road traffic; Utah Department of Public Safety statistics demonstrate that Pioneer Day has the second highest holiday traffic fatality rate in Utah, with the earlier July 4 Independence Day having the highest rate.

History

The earliest precursor to Pioneer Day celebrations in Utah occurred on July 24, 1849, when the Nauvoo Brass Band led a commemoration of the second anniversary of the Latter-day Saints entering the Salt Lake Valley.

The first celebration of Pioneer Day in 1857 was interrupted with news of the approach of Johnson's Army, heralding the beginning of the Utah War. During the following occupation of the Utah Territory by federal troops, Pioneer Day was not celebrated. Once PresidentAbraham Lincoln initiated a hands-off policy on Utah in 1862 during the American Civil War Pioneer Day was once again observed, and expanded into the surrounding areas as the Mormon Corridor spread throughout the Intermountain West. In 1880, Latter-day Saints commemorated the Golden Jubilee of the church's formal organization in 1830; tens of thousands of people in hundreds of communities participated in very enthusiastic festivities.

In the years that followed, federal enforcement efforts of anti-polygamy laws (including the 1882 Edmunds Act) resulted in greatly subdued celebrations. The 1886 commemoration was particularly notable for its mourning theme, with the Salt Lake Tabernacle decorated in black instead of the usually colorful bunting, and the eulogizing of Latter-day Saints who were in hiding or imprisoned for polygamy offenses. By 1897, the celebration included not only the 50th anniversary of the initial arrival in the Salt Lake Valley, but also the end of the polygamy issue, the completion of the Salt Lake Temple, and statehood for Utah.

The centennial in 1947 and the sesquicentennial in 1997 were especially large celebrations in Utah. One writer indicated that the 1947 celebrations seemed to incorporate the entire year, with July 24 only being an apex to the events.

Constitution Day Puerto Rico - Jul 25

Law #1 of August 4, 1952 of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico establishes a full state holiday on July 25 of every year, to be known as Puerto Rico Constitution Day. The holiday commemorates the fact that the Constitution of Puerto Rico, approved on July 3, 1952, was promulgated by Governor Luis Muñoz Marín on July 25, 1952. Up to then, July 25 had been a holiday in Puerto Rico, known as "Occupation Day", to commemorate the arrival of United States military forces on July 25, 1898 in an area of the municipality of Yaucothat in the early 20th century would become the separate municipality of Guánica.

The government of Puerto Rico holds a commemorative ceremony every year, the most recent of which was held at the Puerto Rico Department of State headquarters building, the "Edificio de la Real Intendencia", in Old San Juan with the mayor of Yauco, Abel Nazario, as the keynote speaker and Supreme Court Associate Justice Edgardo Rivera Garcia in charge of the reading of the Constitution's Preamble.

Guanacaste Day Costa Rica - Jul 25

The annexation of Guanacaste also known as Guanacaste Day is celebrated in Costa Rica on 25th July every year.

History Guanacaste was

annexed From Nicaragua in the year 1824. This moment has had significant impact on the history of the region in general. Guanacaste has always been a major coffee exporting region along with the rest of Costa Rica. In 1823, the regions of Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras declared themselves as independent nations. But while Costa Rica Prospered the other nations were war torn. Guanacaste hence, in 1824, requested that they be annexed and made a part of Costa Rica, instead of Nicaragua.

The natives of Guanacaste believed in Costa Rican values and that it held a brighter future for them, than under Nicaraguan rule.

Independence Day Liberia - Jul 26

Liberia officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open to a plateau of drier grasslands. The country possesses 40% of the remaining Upper Guinean rainforest. Liberia has a hot equatorial climate, with significant rainfall during the May to October rainy season and harsh harmattan winds the remainder of the year. Liberia covers an area of 111,369 km2 (43,000 sq mi) and is home to about 3.7 million people. English is the official language, while over 30 indigenous languages are spoken within the country.

Along with Ethiopia, Liberia is one of the two modern countries in Sub-Saharan Africa without roots in the European colonization of Africa. Beginning in 1820, the region was colonized by freed American slaves with the help of the American Colonization Society, a private organization that believed exslaves would have greater freedom and equality in Africa. Slaves freed from slave ships were also sent there instead of being repatriated to their countries of origin. In 1847, these colonists founded the Republic of Liberia, establishing a government modeled on that of the United States and naming the capital city Monrovia after James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States and a prominent supporter of the colonization. The colonists, known as AmericoLiberians, led the political and economic sectors of the country.

The country began to modernize in the 1940s following investment by the United States during World War II and economic liberalization under President William Tubman. Liberia was a founding member of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity. A military coup overthrew the Americo-Liberian leadership in 1980, marking the beginning of political and economic instability and two successive civil wars that left approximately 250,000 people dead and devastated the country's economy. A 2003 peace deal led to democratic elections in 2005. Today, Liberia is recovering from the lingering effects of the civil war and related economic dislocation, with about 85% of the population living below the international poverty line.

History

The Pepper Coast has been inhabited at least as far back as the 12th century, perhaps earlier. Mende-speaking people expanded westward from Sudan, forcing many smaller ethnic groups southward towards the Atlantic ocean. The Dei, Bassa, Kru, Gola and Kissi were some of the earliest recorded arrivals.This influx was compounded by the decline of the Western Sudanic Mali Empire in 1375 and later in 1591 with the Songhai Empire. Additionally, inland regions underwent desertification, and inhabitants were pressured to move to the wetter coast. These new inhabitants brought skills such as cotton spinning, cloth weaving, iron smelting, rice and sorghum cultivation, and social and political institutions from the Mali and Songhai Empires. Shortly after the Manesconquered the region, the Vai people of the former Mali Empire immigrated into the Grand Cape Mount region. The ethnic Kru opposed the influx of Vai, forming an alliance with the Manes to stop further influx of Vai. People along the coast built canoes and traded with other West Africans from Cap-Vert to the Gold Coast. Between 1461 and late 17th century, Portuguese, Dutch and British traders had contacts and trading posts in the region. The Portuguese named the area Costa da Pimenta, meaning Pepper Coast but later translated as Grain Coast, because of the abundance of grains of melegueta pepper. European traders would barter various commodities and goods with local people. When the Kru began trading with Europeans, they initially traded in commodities, but later they actively participated in the African slave trade.

In 1820, the American Colonization Society (ACS) began sending black volunteers to the Pepper Coast to establish a colony for freed American blacks. These free African Americans came to identify themselves as Americo-Liberian, developing a cultural tradition infused with American notions of racial supremacy, and political republicanism. The ACS, a private organization supported by prominent American politicians such as Henry Clay and James Monroe, believed repatriation was preferable to emancipation of slaves. Similar organizations established colonies in Mississippi-in-Africa and the Republic of Maryland, which were later annexed by Liberia. On July 26, 1847, the settlers issued a Declaration of Independence and promulgated aconstitution, which, based on the political principles denoted in the United States Constitution, created the independent Republic of Liberia.

The leadership of the new nation consisted largely of the Americo-Liberians. The 1865 Ports of Entry Act prohibited foreign commerce with the inland tribes. In 1877, the Americo-Liberian True Whig Party was the most powerful political power in the country. Competition for office was usually contained within the party, whose nomination virtually ensured election. Pressure from the United Kingdom and France led to a loss of Liberia's claims to extensive territories, which were annexed by adjoining countries. Economic development was hindered by the decline of markets for Liberian goods in the late 19th century and by indebtedness on a series of international loans. In Liberia's early years, the Americo-Liberian settlers periodically encountered stiff and sometimes violent opposition from indigenous Africans who were excluded from citizenship until 1904.

In the mid-20th century, Liberia gradually began to modernize with American assistance. Both the Freeport of Monrovia and Roberts International Airport were built by U.S. personnel through the Lend-Lease program during World War II. President William Tubmanencouraged foreign investment in the country, resulting in the second-highest rate of economic growth in the world during the 1950s. Liberia also began to take a more active role in international affairs.

It was a founding member of the United Nations in 1945 and became a vocal critic of the South African apartheid regime. Liberia also served as a proponent both of African independence from the European colonial powers and of Pan-Africanism, helping to found the Organization of African Unity.

On April 12, 1980, a military coup led by Master Sergeant Samuel Doe of the Krahn ethnic group overthrew and killed President William R. Tolbert, Jr.. Doe and the other plotters later executed a majority of Tolbert's cabinet and other Americo-Liberian government officials and True Whig Party members. The coup leaders formed the People's Redemption Council(PRC) to govern the country. A strategic Cold War ally, Doe received significant financial backing from the United States while critics condemned the PRC for corruption and political repression. After the country adopted a new constitution in 1985, Doe was elected president in subsequent elections that were internationally condemned as fraudulent. On November 12, 1985, a failed counter-coup was launched by Thomas Quiwonkpa, whose soldiers briefly occupied the national radio station. Government repression intensified in response, as Doe's troops executed members of the Gio and Mano ethnic groups in Nimba County.

The National Patriotic Front of Liberia, a rebel group led by Charles Taylor, launched an insurrection in December 1989 against Doe's government with the backing of neighboring countries such as Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire, triggering the First Liberian Civil War.By September 1990, Doe's forces controlled only a small area just outside the capital, and Doe was captured and executed that month by rebel forces. The rebels soon split into various factions fighting one another, and the Economic Community Monitoring Groupunder the Economic Community of West African States organized a military task force to intervene in the crisis. From 1989 to 1996 one of Africa's bloodiest civil wars ensued, claiming the lives of more than 200,000 Liberians and displacing a million others into refugee camps in neighboring countries. A peace deal between warring parties was reached in 1995 leading to Taylor's election as president in 1997.

Under Taylor's leadership, Liberia became internationally known as a pariah state due to his use of blood diamonds and illegal timberexports to fund the Revolutionary United Front in the Sierra Leone Civil War. The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 whenLiberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, a rebel group based in the northwest of the country, launched an armed insurrection against Taylor. In March 2003, a second rebel group, Movement for Democracy in Liberia, began launching attacks against Taylor from the southeast. Peace talks between the factions began in Accra in June of that year, and Taylor was indicted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone for crimes against humanity that same month. By July 2003, the rebels had launched an assault on Monrovia. Under heavy pressure from the international community and the domestic Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peacemovement, Taylor resigned in August and went into exile in Nigeria, and a peace deal was signed later that month. The United Nations Mission in Liberia began arriving in September 2003 to provide security and monitor the peace accord, and an interim government took power the following October.

The subsequent 2005 elections were internationally regarded as the most free and fair in Liberian history. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, aHarvard-trained economist and former Minister of Finance, was elected as the first female president in Africa. Upon her inauguration, Sirleaf requested the extradition of Taylor from Nigeria and immediately handed him over to the SCSL for trial in The Hague. In 2006, the government established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address the causes and crimes of the civil war.

Revolution Day Cuba - Jul 27

On July 26, 1953, Cuba exploded into revolution when Fidel Castroand about 140 rebels attacked the federal garrison at Moncada. Although the operation was wellplanned and had the element of surprise, the greater numbers and weapons of the army soldiers, coupled with some remarkably bad luck afflicting the attackers, made the assault a near-total failure for the rebels. Many of the rebels were captured and executed, and Fidel and his brother Raúl were put on trial. They lost the battle but won the war: the Moncada assault was the first armed action of the Cuban Revolution, which would triumph in 1959.

Background Fulgencio Batista was a military officer who had been

president from 1940 to 1944 (and who had held unofficial executive power for some time before 1940). In 1952, Batista ran again for president, but it appeared that he would lose. Together with some other high-ranking officers, Batista smoothly pulled off a coup that removed President Carlos Prío from power. The elections were cancelled.

Fidel Castro was a charismatic young lawyer who was running for Congress in Cuba’s 1952 elections and according to some historians, he was likely to win. After the coup, Castro went into hiding, knowing intuitively that his past opposition to different Cuban governments would make him one of the “enemies of the state” that Batista was rounding up.

Planning the Assault

Batista’s government was quickly recognized by various Cuban civic groups, such as the banking and business communities. It was also recognized internationally, including by the United States. After the elections were cancelled and things had calmed down, Castro tried to bring Batista to court to answer for the takeover, but failed. Castro decided that legal means of removing Batista would never work. Castro began plotting an armed revolution in secret, attracting to his cause many other Cubans disgusted by Batista’s flagrant power grab.

Castro knew that he needed two things to win: weapons and men to use them. The assault on Moncada was designed to provide both. The barracks were full of weapons, enough to outfit a small army of rebels. Castro reasoned that if the daring attack were successful, hundreds of angry Cubans would flock to his side to help him bring Batista down.

Batista’s security forces were aware that several groups (not only Castro’s) were plotting armed insurrection, but they had little resources and none of them seemed a serious threat to the government. Batista and his men were much more worried about rebellious factions within the army itself as well as the organized political parties that had been favored to win the 1952 elections.

The Plan Traditions and activities The date for the assault was set for July 26, because July 25 was the festival of St. James and there would be parties Hence the annexation of Guanacaste is viewed as the triumph of democracy. This day is grandly celebrated in Costa

Rica and is deeply entrenched in their systems. Numerous celebrations are planned and hosted on this day, throughout the country. Parades and traditional folk dances are performed while children are educated on the strong family values and traditional values of Costa Rica. Another aspect of the celebrations is the bullfights that occur. In addition, the whole week leading to July 25th, is lined with parades to the parks at the centres of the various towns, by all primary and secondary schools. Public dances are held and the whole nation rejoices in festivities.

Republic Day Tunisia - Jul 25

Like most of the nations Tunisia tasted her independence in middle of the 20th century, in the year of 1956. In 1942 – 43, during Second World War, Tunisia happened to be a land of major political interest for the allied forces.

History

By then, the leading body of the great British army, after winning the Battle of el-Alamein, stepped into Tunisia from the southern part of the continent. The United States and other allies retreated from the west.

Commander General Rommel of Axis forces in the Northern part of the continent had been hoping for a parallel defeat on the allied forces in Tunisia, as Germany did against France in late 1940. The allies were insisted to evade to Egypt prior to the battle. In essence, this battle of Tunisia happened to be a sheer test for the Allied forces. They calculated that to win this battle against Axis, they would have to be more organised and would have to regain their selves from the ailments the German – Italian forces would incur, as soon as possible.

On the 19th February, 1943, General Rommel attacked the Allies in Kasserine Pass of Western Tunisia; the Allies got divided through the renowned Mareth line of March 20, 1943. Later on the allied forces organised themselves on 8th April and few says later, the German – Italian army gave in. Hence, United States, Great Britain, Free French and the Polish Government won a terrific confrontation in Tunisia by that time. Since then, Tunisia was dominated by the French Government, until July 25, in the year of 1956; President Habib Bourguiba dictated a firm authoritarian territory.

He ruled for long 31 years, suppressing Islamic fundamentalism, and setting women rights up- which, as a matter of fact, did not match any other Arab nations.

In this way Tunisia overcame all her insurmountable barriers witnessed by dazzling historical facts. Thus, the populace of Tunisia has all the reason to celebrate this memorable republic day with honour and pride!

TRADITIONS AND ACTIVITIES

The day begins with a flag hoisting, parades, fireworks and a bullfight. Various exhibitions and fairs are also conducted on this eve where native food, national items and crafts are sold. After the celebration on 25th July, they conduct family get-togethers the next day. Many families also go for an outing in the interiors of the country.

Independence Day Peru - Jul 28

Peru, officially the Republic of Peru is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean.

Peruvian territory was home to ancient cultures, spanning from the Norte Chico civilization, one of the oldest in the world, to the Inca Empire, the largest state in Pre-Columbian America. The Spanish Empire conquered the region in the 16th century and established a Viceroyalty, which included most of its South American colonies. Afterachieving independence in 1821, Peru has undergone periods of political unrest and fiscal crisis as well as periods of stability and economic upswing.

Peru is a representative democratic republic divided into 25 regions. Its geography varies from the arid plains of the Pacific coast to the peaks of the Andes Mountains and the tropical forests of the Amazon Basin. It is a developing country with a high Human Development Index score and a poverty level around 31%. Its main economic activities include agriculture, fishing, mining, and manufacturing of products such as textiles.

The Peruvian population, estimated at 29.5 million, is multiethnic, including Amerindians,Europeans, Africans, and Asians. The main spoken language is Spanish, although a significant number of Peruvians speak Quechua or other native languages. This mixture of cultural traditions has resulted in a wide diversity of expressions in fields such as art, cuisine, literature, and music.

History The earliest evidences of human presence in Peruvian territory have been dated to approximately 9,000 years BCE.

The oldest known complex society in Peru, the Norte Chico civilization, flourished along the coast of the Pacific Ocean between 3,000 and 1,800 BCE. These early developments were followed by archaeological cultures such as Cupisnique, Chavin, Paracas, Mochica, Nazca, Wari, and Chimú. In the 15th century, the Incas emerged as a powerful state which, in the span of a century, formed the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. Andean societies were based on agriculture, using techniques such as irrigation and terracing; camelid husbandry and fishing were also important. Organization relied on reciprocity and redistribution because these societies had no notion of market or money.

In 1532, a group of conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro defeated and captured Inca Emperor Atahualpa. Ten years later, the Spanish Crown established the Viceroyalty of Peru, which included most of its South American colonies. Viceroy Francisco de Toledo reorganized the country in the 1570s with silver mining as its main economic activity and Amerindian forced labor as its primary workforce. Peruvian bullion provided revenue for the Spanish Crown and fueled a complex trade network that extended as far as Europe and the Philippines. However, by the 18th century, declining silver production and economic diversification greatly diminished royal income. In response, the Crown enacted the Bourbon Reforms, a series of edicts that increased taxes and partitioned the Viceroyalty of Peru.

The new laws provoked Túpac Amaru II's rebellion and other revolts, all of which were defeated.

In the early 19th century, while most of South America was swept by wars of independence, Peru remained a royalist stronghold. As the elite hesitated between emancipation and loyalty to the Spanish Monarchy, independence was achieved only after the occupation by military campaigns of José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar. During the early years of the Republic, endemic struggles for power between military leaders caused political instability. National identity was forged during this period, as Bolivarian projects for a Latin American Confederation floundered and a union with Bolivia proved ephemeral. Between the 1840s and 1860s, Peru enjoyed a period of stability under the presidency of Ramón Castilla through increased state revenues from guano exports. However, by the 1870s, these resources had been squandered, the country was heavily indebted, and political in-fighting was again on the rise.

Peru was defeated by Chile in the 1879–1883 War of the Pacific, losing the provinces ofArica and Tarapacá in the treaties of Ancón and Lima. Internal struggles after the war were followed by a period of stability under the Civilista Party, which lasted until the onset of the authoritarian regime of Augusto B. Leguía. The Great Depression caused the downfall of Leguía, renewed political turmoil, and the emergence of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA). The rivalry between this organization and a coalition of the elite and the military defined Peruvian politics for the following three decades.

In 1968, the Armed Forces, led by General Juan Velasco Alvarado, staged a coup against president Fernando Belaunde. The new regime undertook radical reforms aimed at fostering development but failed to gain widespread support. In 1975, General Francisco Morales Bermúdez forcefully replaced Velasco, paralyzed reforms, and oversaw the reestablishment of democracy. During the 1980s, Peru faced a considerable external debt, ever-growing inflation, a surge in drug trafficking, and massive political violence. Under the presidency of Alberto Fujimori (1990–2000), the country started to recover; however, accusations of authoritarianism, corruption, and human rights violations forced his resignation after the controversial 2000 elections. Since the end of the Fujimori regime, Peru has tried to fight corruption while sustaining economic growth.

in the nearby town. It was hoped that at dawn on the 26th, many of the soldiers would be missing, hung over, or even still drunk inside the barracks. The insurgents would drive in wearing army uniforms, seize control of the base, help themselves to weapons, and leave before other armed forces units could respond. The Moncada barracks are located outside of the city of Santiago, in the Oriente province. In 1953, Oriente was the poorest of Cuba’s regions, and the one with the most civil unrest. Castro hoped to spark an uprising, which he would then arm with Moncada weapons.

All aspects of the assault were meticulously planned. Castro had printed copies of a manifesto, and ordered that they be delivered to newspapers and select politicians on July 26 at exactly 5:00 am. A farm close to the barracks was rented, where weapons and uniforms were stashed. All of those who participated in the assault made their way to the city of Santiago independently, and stayed in rooms that had been rented beforehand. No detail was overlooked as the rebels tried to make the attack a success.

The Attack

In the early morning of July 26, several cars drove around Santiago, picking up rebels. They all met at the rented farm, where they were issued uniforms and weapons, mostly light rifles and shotguns. Castro briefed them, as no one except a few high-ranking organizers knew what the target was to be. They loaded back in the cars and set off.

There were 138 rebels set to attack Moncada, and another 27 sent to attack a smaller outpost in nearby Bayamo.

Despite the meticulous organization, the operation was a fiasco almost from the start. One of the cars suffered a flat tire, and two cars got lost in the streets of Santiago. The first car to arrive had gotten through the gate and disarmed the guards, but a two-man routine patrol outside of the gate threw the plan off and the shooting started before the rebels were in position.

The alarm sounded and the soldiers began a counterattack. There was a heavy machine gun in a tower which kept most of the rebels pinned down in the street outside the barracks. The few rebels who had made it in with the first car fought for a while, but when half of them were killed they were forced to retreat and join their comrades outside.

Seeing that the attack was doomed, Castro ordered a retreat and the rebels quickly scattered. Some of them simply threw down their weapons, took off their uniforms, and faded into the nearby city. Some, including Fidel and Raúl Castro, were able to escape. Many were captured, including 22 who had occupied the federal hospital. Once the attack was called off, they had tried to disguise themselves as patients but were found out. The smaller Bayamo force met a similar fate as they, too were captured or driven off.

Aftermath

Nineteen federal soldiers had been killed and the remaining soldiers were in a murderous mood. All of the prisoners were massacred, although two women who had been part of the hospital takeover were spared. Most of the prisoners were tortured first, and news of the barbarity of the soldiers soon leaked to the general public. It caused enough of a scandal for the Batista government that by the time Fidel, Raúl and many of the remaining rebels were rounded up in the next couple of weeks, they were jailed and not executed.

Batista made a great show out of the trials of the conspirators, allowing journalists and civilians to attend. This would prove to be a mistake, as Castro used his trial to attack the government. Castro said that he had organized the assault in order to remove the tyrant Batista from office, and that he was merely doing his civic duty as a Cuban in standing up for democracy. He denied nothing, but instead took pride in his actions. The people of Cuba were riveted by the trials and Castro became a national figure. His famous line from the trial is “History will absolve me!”

In a belated attempt to shut him up, the government locked Castro down, claiming he was too ill to continue with his trial. This only made the dictatorship look worse when Castro got word out that he was fine and able to stand trial.

His trial was eventually conducted in secret, and despite his eloquence, he was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Batista made another tactical mistake in 1955 when he buckled to international pressure and released many political prisoners, including Castro and the others who had participated in the Moncada assault. Freed, Castro and his most loyal comrades went to Mexico to organize and launch the Cuban Revolution.

Legacy

Castro named his insurgency “the 26th of July Movement” after the date of the Moncada assault. Although it was initially a failure, Castro was ultimately able to make the most out of Moncada. He used it as a recruiting tool: although many political parties and groups in Cuba railed against Batista and his crooked regime, only Castro had done anything about it. This attracted many Cubans to the movement who may have otherwise not gotten involved.

The massacre of the captured rebels also severely damaged the credibility of Batista and his top officers, who were now seen as butchers, especially once the rebels’ plan – they had hoped to take the barracks without bloodshed – became known. It allowed Castro to use Moncada as a rallying cry, sort of like “Remember the Alamo!” This is more than a little ironic, as Castro and his men had attacked in the first place, but it became somewhat justified in the face of the subsequent atrocities.

Although it failed in its goals of acquiring weapons and arming the unhappy citizens of Oriente Province, Moncada was, in the long run, a very important part of the success of Castro and the 26th of July Movement.

Victory Day - Jul 27 North Korea

The Korean War (Korean: 한국전쟁 or 조선전쟁, Hanja: 韓國戰爭 or 朝鮮戰爭; 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953[a]) was a war between the Republic of Korea (supported primarily by the United States of America, with contributions from allied nations under the aegis of the United Nations) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (supported by the People's Republic of China, with military and material aid from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). The Korean War was primarily the result of the political division of Korea by an agreement of the victorious Allies at the conclusion of the Pacific War at the end of World War II. The Korean Peninsula was ruled by the Empire of Japanfrom 1910 until the end of World War II. Following the surrender of the Empire of Japan in September 1945, American administrators divided the peninsula along the 38th parallel, with U.S. military forces occupying the southern half and Soviet military forces occupying the northern half.

The failure to hold free elections throughout the Korean Peninsula in 1948 deepened the division between the two sides; the North established a communist government, while the South established a capitalist one. The 38th parallel increasingly became a political border between the two Korean states. Although reunification negotiations continued in the months preceding the war, tension intensified. Cross-border skirmishes and raids at the 38th Parallel persisted. The situation escalated into open warfare when North Korean forces invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950. It was the first significant armed conflict of the Cold War. In 1950 the Soviet Union boycotted the United Nations security council, in protest at representation of China by the Kuomintang / Republic of China government, which had taken refuge in Taiwan following defeat in the Chinese Civil War. In the absence of a dissenting voice from the Soviet Union, who could have vetoed it, the United States and other countries passed a security council resolution authorizing military intervention in Korea.

The United States of America provided 88% of the 341,000 international soldiers which aided South Korean forces in repelling the invasion, with twenty other countries of the United Nations offering assistance. Suffering severe casualties, within two months the defenders were pushed back to a small area in the south of the Korean Peninsula, known as the Pusan perimeter. A rapid U.N. counter-offensive then drove the North Koreans past the 38th Parallel and almost to the Yalu River, when the People's Republic of China(PRC) entered the war on the side of North Korea. Chinese intervention forced the Southern-allied forces to retreat behind the 38th Parallel. While not directly committing forces to the conflict, the Soviet Union provided material aid to both the North Korean and Chinese armies. The active stage of the war ended on 27 July 1953, when the armistice agreement was signed. The agreement restored the border between the Koreas near the 38th Parallel and created the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a 2.5-mile (4.0 km)-wide fortified buffer zone between the two Korean nations. Minor outbreaks of fighting continue to the present day.

With both North Korea and South Korea sponsored by external powers, the Korean War was a proxy war. From a military science perspective, it combined strategies and tactics of World War I and World War II: it began with a mobile campaign of swift infantry attacks followed by air bombing raids, but became a static trench war by July 1951.

Mao Zedong's decision to involve China in the Korean War was a conscientious effort to confront the most powerful country in the world, undertaken at a time when the regime was still consolidating its own power after winning theChinese Civil War. Mao primarily supported intervention not to save North Korea or to appease the Soviet Union, but because he believed that a military conflict with the United States was inevitable after UN forces crossed the 38th parallel. Mao's secondary motive was to improve his own prestige inside the communist international community by demonstrating that his Marxist concerns were international. In his later years Mao believed that Stalin only gained a positive opinion of him after China's entrance into the Korean War. Inside China, the war improved the longterm prestige of Mao, Zhou, and Peng.

China emerged from the Korean War united by a sense of national pride, despite the war's enormous costs. The Chinese people were educated to believe that the war was initiated by the United States and Korea, and not by a fraternal communist state in the north. In Chinese propaganda, the Chinese war effort was portrayed and accepted as an example of China's engaging the strongest power in the world with an under-equipped army, forcing it to retreat, and fighting it to a military stalemate. These successes were contrasted with China's historical humiliations by Japan and by Western powers over the previous hundred years in order to promote the image of the PLA and the CCP. The most significant negative long-term consequence of the war (for China) was that it led the United States to guarantee the safety of Chiang Kai-shek's regime in Taiwan, effectively ensuring that Taiwan would remain outside of PRC control until the present day.

The Korean War affected other participant combatants. Turkey, for example, entered NATO in 1952 and the foundation for bilateral diplomatic and trade relations was laid.

The beginning of racial integration efforts in the U.S. military began during the Korean War, where African Americans fought in integrated units for the first time. Among the 1.8 million American soldiers who fought in the Korean War there were more than 100,000 African Americans.

Post-war recovery was different in the two Koreas. South Korea stagnated in the first post-war decade, but later industrialized and modernized. Contemporary North Korea remains underdeveloped. South Korea had one of the world's fastest growing economies from the early 1960s to the late 1990s. In 1957 South Korea had a lower per capita GDP than Ghana, and by 2010 it was ranked thirteenth in the world (Ghana was 86th).

Korean anti-Americanism after the war was fueled by the presence and behavior of American military personnel (USFK) and U.S. support for authoritarian regime, a fact still evident during the country's democratic transition in the 1980s. In a February 2002 GallupKorea poll, one-third of South Koreans viewed the United States favorably.

In addition a large number of mixed race 'G.I. babies' (offspring of U.S. and other western soldiers and Korean women) were filling up the country's orphanages. Korean traditional society places significant weight on paternal family ties, bloodlines, and purity of race.

Children of mixed race or those without fathers are not easily accepted in Korean society. Thousands were adopted by American families in the years following the war, when their plight was covered on television. The U.S. Immigration Act of 1952 removed race as a limiting factor in immigration, and made possible the entry of military spouses and children from South Korea after the Korean War. With the passage of the Immigration Act of 1965, which substantially changed U.S. immigration policy toward non-Europeans, Koreans became one of the fastest growing Asian groups in the United States.

In 2011, some former members of Chinese People's Volunteer Army, who had battled there, revisited North Korea. Afterwards they said that they were "very sad", unsatisfied with the post-war development of North Korea. "(We) liberated them, but they're still struggling for freedom", said Qu Yingkui.

HUNGARY Orbán briefs on the New Széchényi Plan and the absorption of EU funding in Hungary (Online 19 Jul) PM VikOrbán tor the and President of the National Development Agency Z o l t á n Petykó proan vided overall presentation on development policy and New the Széchényi Plan on the occasion of an event organized by the National Development Agency on Thursday.

While most EU member states face news of austerity day to day, so far Hungary's path has been one of stability, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told the conference. Orbán said Hungary was building an economic model fit for the 21st century, to which Brussels may have raised objections, but on the basis of the results so far the European Union has conceded that the Hungarian budget is under control.

With regard to the Széchényi Plan, the Prime Minister put forward that it had been the greatest invention of recent years, making Hungary the region’s most competitive state in the years 2001 and 2002. The plan was relaunched last year with the aim of rebuilding and reinforcing the Hungarian economy.

Compared to other member states with similar funds at their disposal, Hungary’s achievement is outstanding in absorbing the most funds for

successful projects. According to data the published by Eurothe pean Commission on 1 July 2012, the Commission has already paid out Euro 101 billion from the allocated amount to the member states as an interim payment. Hungary’s share was 6.9 billion euros, provided by the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund.

EU funds contribute significantly to the Hungarian state budget and are the main source for development funding. For this reason, the Hungarian government has also realized the importance of the absorption of EU funding and in order to harmonize developments it founded the National Development Policy Cabinet lead by the Prime Minister.

Statement of MFA on Nagorno-Karabakh (Online 20 Jul) Hungary remains firm in her position on the settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Hungary shares the common EU stand on this issue emphasizing that the settlement must be achieved by peaceful and negotiated means, on the basis of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders of the states concerned, as well as the respect for the rights of minority communities.

As to the “elections” of 19 July 2012 in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary fully aligns herself with the Statement of the

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton of 18 July 2012, stating that the European Union does not recognise the constitutional and legal framework in which they were held. These 'elections' should not prejudice the determination of the future status of NagornoKarabakh in the negotiated general framework of the peaceful settlement of the conflict. As a member state of the European Union, Hungary reiterates her firm support to the OSCE Minsk Group, and in particular to the sustained efforts of its Co-chairs,

aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Hungary joins the High Representative in calling on the parties to step up their efforts to find a negotiated solution to the conflict on the basis of the Madrid principles, which would allow progress beyond the status quo. Hungary actively supports the EU's readiness to provide further support to efforts in this direction, as reflected by the joint decision of the ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union on 27 February 2012.”

A crime committed should not be left unpunished (Online 19 Jul) Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Public Administration and Justice Tibor Navracsics spoke about the latest developments of the case of Irish citizen Francis Ciarán Tobin, who killed two Hungarian children in a road accident 12 years ago, on a morning television show.

The Minister said he would under any circumstances like to consult with the Irish Justice Minister on the case because he believes that the position taken by the Irish minister is indefensible from a moral point of view.

Hungary is attempting to exert pressure on the administration of justice in Ireland in the case through the legal rules of the EU. At Navracsics’s initiative, the experts of the Hungarian and Irish justice ministries had a

meeting in Brussels on Tuesday organised by Viviane Reding, the European Commission’s justice chief.

Navracsics would like to ensure that someone who killed two small children in a road accident should not be left unpunished, and should not be allowed to avoid taking responsibility for his actions in his own country either. Therefore, the Minister recently requested Viviane Reding in a letter to induce the Irish to be more constructive both on regulatory issues and in the specific case.

Francis Ciarán Tobin, who worked in Hungary for three years, killed a fiveyear-old and a two-year-old child in a road accident in Hungary on 9 April 2000. The children died on the spot.

The investigation established that the driver responsible for the accident

started overtaking at high speed, lost control of the vehicle in the interim, mounted the pavement and hit the two children, the smaller of whom was in a pram. Tobin left Hungary in November 2000 at the end of his business mission in Hungary. He was sentenced to three years in prison two years later in his absence. The Supreme Court of Ireland, however, refused the man’s extradition to Hungary on 19 June this year. In a previous exchange of messages, Mrs Reding indicated that she would like the authorities concerned to discuss together with the Commission what caused the “apparent malfunctioning” of the European Arrest Warrant in the case of the Irish driver causing the deaths of two children.

We can gain strength from the Transatlantic Aviators’ example for everyday acts of heroism (Online 19 Jul) We all have to do our work in own our places within the limits of our possibilities, and if we dare to dream, we will be able to cope with every diffiDeculty, f e n c e Minister C s a b a Hende said at the memorial to the transatlantic aviators in on Bicske (photo: Mária Krasznai-Nehrebeczky) July 15.

On July 15 in the early evening hours, 81 years

the after successful transatlantic flight by pilot György Endresz and navigator S á n d o r Magyar, a commemorative ceremony was held to pay tribute to the two heroes at the site of their crash landing in Bicske. Defence Minister Csaba Hende deliva ered speech at the event.

Hungarian Govt has concluded a strategic agreement with Coca-Cola HBC Hungary (Online 20 Jul) Prime Minister VikOrbán tor concluded a strategic partnership agreement with CocaHBC Cola Hungary on Friday at the company’s headquarters in Dunaharaszti.

The Prime Minister recalled that the governwas ment a building econew nomic model with CocaHBC Cola being one of its beneficiaries. He added that he was born into a generation which considered Coca-Cola not only a soft drink but a feeling of belonging to the Western world. The aim of the Strategic Partnership Agreement is to secure the company’s long-term presence in Hungary, expand cooperation with suppliers as well as to reinforce the company’s role in promoting compet-

itiveness.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated a new production line in Dunaharaszti, which had been realized through an investment of 2 billion forints. The production line can produce 1 million bottles of soft and energy drinks per day, which the company believes will significantly boost export volume.

The Hungarian government attaches great importance to ensuring a

friendly business environment to foreign companies and attracting foreign investment by providing public support. While doing so, the government considers it essential to ensure mutual respect, and trust predictabilwhich ity, also coincide with the guiding principles of the 2012 Annual of Report the Hungarian European Business Council (HEBC).

The above aim is also reflected in the government’s recently presented 10point Job Protection Action Plan, one of the endeavours of which is to ease entrepreneurial accounting regulations to help those enterprises facing difficulties because of foreign currency exchange rate exposure receive greater assistance.

Govt and foreign companies share the same interests (Online 19 Jul) The interests of the government and foreign companies operating in Hungary coincide, Foreign Minister J á n o s Martonyi told the press conference following a meeting of the Hungarian Europ e a n Business Council (HEBC) on Thursday.

The HEBC consists of the leaders of 15 subsidiaries of foreign companies.

The companies have a combined net annual revenue of some 3,500 billion forints (EUR 12.3bn) and employ about 62,000 people.

Local chief representative of GDF Suez Holding Péter Csiba told the HEBC forum that predictability and competitiveness were the main interests of investors in Hungary.

Martonyi said that the Hungarian government and foreign companies operating in the country shared the

same goals including economic growth, job creation, the reduction of public debt, fiscal discipline, competitiveness and the improvement of the country's image and reputation. He underlined that despite some differences of opinion on methods, there was an agreement on the guiding principles.

Assessing the annual report of the Hungarian European Business Council, he said "At a time when the world and Europe are uncertain and unpredictable, it is especially important to provide predictability, transparency and trust."

Concerning the European crisis, he put forward that Europe has arrived at a crossroads: either European integration and thus the success story of the last 60 years terminates, or Eur o p e recovers and continues on stronger than before. Central Europe and Hungary are interested in a unified EU succeeding in tackling the crisis, he said.

As regards Hungary's talks with the EU/IMF, Martonyi said that starting the talks this week and providing a successful outcome were important for both Europe and Hungary.

The Foreign Minister welcomed the fact that the annual report of the HEBC was not restricted to the economy and had a wider scope embracing social policy, a sign, he said, that it was looking to the future.

Dead Hero’s Grave Found in Ukraine (Online 19 Jul) On Friday, July 13 Lt.-Col. Dr. László Töll, the Head of the MoD MilHeritary and itage War Grave Care Department and his deputy, Maj. R o l a n d Maruzs announced one of the most significant of events Hungarian grave war care in the Balaton St. compound of the Ministry (photo: László Tóth) of Defence. been identified over the last few The mortal remains of vitéz nemes months as the result of a research József Barankay – a legendary Hun- conducted in cooperation with Gergarian officer serving with the self- man experts. propelled artillery (SPARTY) branch The Ukrainian authorities, the local – have been found and identified in government of Ivano-Frankivsk and the Hungarian–German heroes’ especially Igor Kochkin, a local proin Ivano-Frankivsk, fessor of archeology have been incemetery Ukraine. strumental in finding the military At the press conference, it was re- officer hero. The Ukrainians living vealed that sixty-eight years ago, on here have displayed an exemplary July 13, 1944 around 14:00, cooperative spirit which has gone a SPARTY Capt. vitéz nemes József long way toward the successful findBarankay and his two comrade he- ing, the lieutenant-colonel pointed roes lost their lives when a bomb hit out. their observation post near Targow- The exhumation of the grave took icza, Galicia. place on July 11 in the presence of a Lt.-Col. Töll told us that the Ministry committee. On seeing the metal cofof Defence gives priority to the task fin the excavating experts already of war grave care. He added that knew they had found the mortal reSPARTY Capt. vitéz nemes József mains of an important person whose Barankay had been a military officer transportation back to Hungary was who had accomplished outstanding definitely intended. feats. His person and the fact that he József Barankay was born in Bácfell in Ukraine were already known, salmás, Hungary and brought up in but his concrete resting place has Novi Sad and Budafok. He gradu-

from ated the Ludovika Academy in 1932, where he became teacher a m u c h adored by the soldiers of the Hungarian Royal 1st ‘Honvéd’ Self-Propelled Art i l l e r y Division, an elite unit he himself set up.

He was held in high esnot teem only for his many-sided talent, excellent skills, consistency, personal leadership qualities in the most dangerous places and situations of close quarter battle, his passionate character and bravery, but also his love of the homeland he felt literally until death and the humanism he showed under all circumstances earned him unanimous esteem and admiration.

He received several distinguished medals during his military career.

The first among these was the Hungarian Officer Golden Medal of Valor, which was awarded only to 22 excellent officers, to eight of them only after their death.

At the press conference it was said that although today there is a memorial park in the area of the former cemetery in Ivano-Frankivsk, the experts were able to locate the concrete gravesite, and the personal ID disc they found is a conclusive proof that the military hero officer has been identified.

Hungary condemns the blast in Burgas (Online 19 Jul) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns the blast in Burgas The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary condemns in the strongest possible terms the deadly attack

against a bus carrying Israeli tourists in Burgas, Bulgaria on 18 July 2012 There is not and there cannot be an acceptable explanation for the shameful and cowardly act committed against the innocent and de-

fenseless victims. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers the victims and their families its sincere condolences and deep sympathy, and expresses its solidarity with Bulgaria and the State of Israel.

Several Hungarian and US foreign policy interests coincide: Péter Szijjártó (Online 19 Jul) A number of Hungarian and US foreign policy efforts coincide, and so they may reinforce each other – announced State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Relations Péter Szijjártó to MTI on Thursday.

The State Secretary met the leaders of scientific institutions on Wednesday during his three-day visit to Washington.

He said, during their discussions they had agreed that several of their interests coincided. For example they were both interested in building a strong NATO as well as in forging closer ties with Asia. The State Secretary also mentioned that Hungary provides support for the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans while the stability of the region is also of key importance for the United

States.

Szijjártó has also met former diplomats, think tank policy advisors and journalists to brief them about the Hungarian government's achievements over the past two years. "They were essentially interested in decisions concerning Hungary’s renewal process", he said.

Risk indicators regarding Hungary have improved (Online 19 Jul) According to the CMA Datavision ranking of the second quarter of 2012, Hungary is no more among the world top 10 of highest risk countries and it has achieved

the second best improvement compared to the risk perception of the previous quarter. The favourable result has been primarily due to the introduction of the Széll Kálmán Plan

2.0 and the positive developments with regard to the EU/IMF negotiations.

Govt is Building a New Economic Model (Online 17 Jul) The government is building a new economic model, Prime Minister Orbán said at a meeting with leaders of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK). The meeting is part of a series of consultations with key allies of the ruling party.

The Prime Minister underlined the fact that Hungarian economic methods are part of the European economic toolkit and mentioned as examples the bank levy, the crisis tax, the restructuring of the 3-pillar pension system and the transaction tax. He added that the job protection action plan would soon appear in other countries as well.

One of the components of the new economic model would be the endeavour that 50 percent of the banks in Hungary should be Hungarianowned – a pioneering example in Central Europe, he said. Among the other components, he mentioned the

new tax system that supports labour and families, tax cuts to promote employment, the generation of budget revenues from taxes on consumption rather than from taxes on labour, eliminating systems that add to public debt, reforming the state pension system and welfare services, relaunching industrialization as well as restructuring the farming sector. He pointed out that a great debate would probably take place during the following months on this latter issue due to the new Land Act. The new model also seeks to forge trading paths to the east and novel ways to make use of European Union funds, Orbán said. On this latter issue he added that a commission had been set up to elaborate a new system of EU fund use.

The Prime Minister said he expected great pressure against the government's recently announced job protection plan, but added he was

adamant to carry the programme to completion since it is part and parcel of the government’s philosophy. Hungarians need to be convinced that working is better than being unemployed, but it takes new jobs to demonstrate that employment yields higher incomes than benefits. If the government's employment protection programme is successful, current labour-related tax relief worth 300 billion forints (EUR 1bn) next year could be increased to up to 500 billion forints from 2014, Orbán insisted.

At the end of his speech, the Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the members of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to left-wing entrepreneurs who, he said, had not used the past two years to riot, as well as to those corporations that had not withdrawn their money from the economy as a reaction to the crisis.

Mobile police station has been established in district VIII. (Online 17 Jul) Mr Károly Kontrát, Parliamentary State Secretary and Mr Máté Kocsis, Mayor of Józsefváros opened the mobile police station which has been established in t h e Diószeghy S á m u e l street in district VIII. District VIII. Self-government and Ministry of Interior have Photo: Csaba Pelsőczy cooperated in several cases – recalled Mr Károly Kontrát: he mentioned that Interior Minister Mr Sándor Pintér visited District VIII. in September 2010 and police flats have been opened in the Lujza Street at the beginning of July this year.

The State Secretary emphasized Photo: Csaba Pelsőczy that the poinfringements would not be worthy as lice station conveys two messages to these will be investigated easier than the public and potential offenders: ever. police provides 24 hours service in Mr Károly Kontrát expressed its hope the area and ensures protection for that the objective of the mobile police the law-abiding citizens, committing

station will be achieved and the local residents may feel safer.

From criminal perspect i v e Diószeghy S á m u e l street is one of the most infected part of the city, many residents complain at the police – informed Mr Máté Kocsis and added: he hopes that the mobile police station will contribute to the significant decrease of criminal cases.

The Mayor of Józsefváros highlighted: in the container office, which is12 meters in length and can be relocated in two hours anywhere, the same service is provided as in any other police station.

Mr Máté Kocsis said that the Selfgovernment plans to establish three other mobile police stations in the district in the near future.

Hungary commemorate the Nándorfehérvár victory today (Online 16 Jul) It will be 556 years on Sunday that the Christian Hungarian troops defending Nándorfehérvár, led by János Hunyadi, inflicted a crushing defeat on the army of Turkish Sultan Mehmet II on 22 July 1456 after a battle that ensued for more than two weeks, and thereby stopped the continued expansion of the Turks in Europe for some 70 years. Parliament declared this prominent day of Hungarian and European history and of Christianity the Memorial Day of the Nándorfehérvár Victory last year.

On the memorial day, a convoy of boats will arrive at the Chain Bridge, there will be a salute and, on behalf of the Government, Defence Minister Csaba Hende will deliver a ceremonial speech by the statue of János Hunyadi at the foot of Halászbástya.

The Nándorfehérvár Victory is one of the most significant Hungarian victories in Hungarian military history in

the light of the circumstances of the military challenge and the long-term consequences and international significance of the victory. Bells in the Christian world have been rung at noon in commemoration of the Nándorfehérvár victory ever since; on this day, the Pope called upon people to pray for their freedom by the tolling of the bells at noon.

At 10.00 a.m. on Sunday, 22 July a convoy of civilian and military boats will arrive at the building of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences with 300 elementary and secondary school pupils and students from all over the country on board. It will be an interesting feature that there will also be a fire fighting boat in the convoy which will pay tribute on the occasion of the anniversary of the victory with a water jet of the national colours. At 10.30 a.m., the Bomb Disposal and Naval Regiment of the Hungarian Defence Forces will com-

memorate the heroes with a salute.

It will be worth observing the arrival of the boats and the ensuing salute from the Chain Bridge or the upper Buda embankments.

Following this, a procession of students led by the Defence Forces Ceremonial Battalion will set out on a march to the statue of János Hunyadi in the Buda Castle where, after the ringing of the bells at noon, a commemorative service will begin with military honours. After this, as part of the military honours, attendees will commemorate the heroes of Nándorfehérvár with a wreath-laying ceremony and a silent bow of the heads. A special history lesson will also await the attending students.

Due to the commemorative festivities, the Chain Bridge, Clark Ádám tér and Hunyadi János utca leading to the Castle will be closed to vehicular traffic.

PM Orbán is holding consultations on development policy (Online 18 Jul) Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is holding consultations with non-profit, economic, public and municipal beneficiaries of development

policy on Thursday.

Viktor Orbán and the president of the National Development Agency Zoltán Petykó will report on the goals and

results of the New Széchenyi Plan, furthermore, they will outline the situation of development policy and future ambitions.

Statement of MFA about the American act concerning Wallenberg (Online 16 Jul) The Foreign Ministry of Hungary welcomes the fact that the US Senate – following the unanimous approval of the House of Representatives in April 2012 and in connection with the Wallenberg Memorial Year commemorating the 100th anniversary of the rescuer’s birth – unanimously approved the Raoul Wallenberg Centennial Celebration Act on July 11, 2012.

Consequently, the Congress awards Raoul Wallenberg the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award in the United States.

The Act gives full details of Wallenberg’s heroic actions during the Second World War in Hungary, highlighting the fact that approximately 100 000 of the 120 000 Hungarian Jews surviving the Holocaust owe their life to the Swedish diplomat serving in Hungary aided by the American War Refugee Board. Listing some of the people who were

rescued, it mentions the late Congressman Tom Lantos, former Deputy Prime Minister of Israel Tommy Lapid, and Rabbi Friedlander, who brought the Hasidic dynasty from Olaszliszka to the United States.

Sending his greetings to the commemoration organised by the Friedlander Group in the evening of the vote, Hungarian Ambassador to Washington György Szapáry expressed his delight at the fact that the US legislation commemorated the Swedish diplomat who is known in Hungary as the “knight of humanity” by giving him the highest award on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Quoting Foreign Minister János Martonyi, the Ambassador stated with regret: “During the Holocaust the Hungarian State was weighed in the scales and found wanting. It could not protect its citizens; it provided – even if under occupation – assistance in their

extermination.” However, he called attention to the fact that in addition to Wallenberg, several Hungarians and foreigners, believers and nonbelievers, civilians and soldiers heroically assisted in rescuing those who were persecuted. The selfless Sister Sára Salkaházi, for instance, hid several Jews, for which she was later shot into the Danube. The Ambassador also praised the courage of Colonel Ferenc Koszorús, who – as Tom Lantos said – prevented the deportation of Jews by military resistance, which was unique in the Axis Power countries.

As a concluding remark, the Ambassador highlighted that concerning our national tragedy, it is our common responsibility to draw lessons from the past and continue the dialogue between Jews and nonJews, between Hungarians, Americans, and our friends from all over the world in order to fight anti-Semitism, intolerance, and hatred.