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Leading News
Difficult to hold credible
elections in Emergency: US Ambassador
Staff Correspondent
Newly appointed US Ambassador James F Moriarty has ruled
out the possibility of free and fair election under state
of emergency. "It is difficult to hold any free, fair and
credible election under the state of emergency, he said
while addressing his first press conference at American
Club in Gulshan on Monday.
Terming the present time as being critical for Bangladesh
he said the country is going through a transition and
reformation to achieve a vibrant democracy for which the
country has been struggling for 37 years after its
independence just as the United States has strived to get
democracy for long 231 years.
He pointed out three key challenges for Bangladesh which
are: promotion of democracy, ensuring development and
denying space for terrorism and the USA has keen interest
to work over the three issues with Bangladesh which will
remain a close partner in the region.
Moriarty hailed the Emergency Government's move to stamp
out corruption and bring political and institutional
reforms saying, "On January 11, 2007 the present Caretaker
Government embarked upon an ambitious programme which has
lowered corruption and reformed institutions. Much has
been accomplished in a short period of time." But this
government has less than eight months of time in its hand
before the general election to finish its ambitious tasks,
he pointed out.
Affirming US support to the Emergency Government, he said
as a friend the US fully supports this government on the
issues of restoring democracy by holding free, fair and
transparent election by the end of this year. He also
called upon the people of Bangladesh to support and stand
by this government to fulfill its mandate to strengthen
democracy and eliminate corruption.
About US help in the development issues he recalled, "The
U.S. has provided roughly $5 billion in assistance to
Bangladesh since its independence, and our annual
assistance programmes average a $100 million. Last year,
immediately after Cyclone Sidr, we provided $19.5 million
in emergency assistance and logistical support to get
desperately needed emergency supplies to the devastated
areas. Operation Sea Angel II helped saved lives and
demonstrated once again the strong and productive ties
between our two nations. We will continue to work with the
Government of Bangladesh and Bangladeshis in a wide
variety of fields to advance sustainable development", he
added.
But most important of all the challenges which Bangladesh
will have to succeed in is denial of space to terrorists
as having been victimized by terrorism in the recent past,
the people of Bangladesh have already understood ills of
extremism, he said. He added, "We are working closely with
the government to strengthen the capacity of law
enforcement agencies to combat terrorism and improve
control of Bangladesh's borders and ports of entry. We are
also partnering with civil society groups who are
rejecting the lies of the extremists who seek to sow
hatred. We are grateful for Bangladesh's strong
partnership with the United States in the Global War on
Terror, and strengthening this partnership will be a
priority for me during my tenure in Bangladesh."
54 reformist ex-BNP MPs ask EC to invite Hafiz
Huda waits for certified copy of HC verdict
Staff Correspondent
Acting Secretary General of the reformist camp in BNP, Maj
(retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, on Monday reiterated his hope
that the party unity will take place soon after the EC
dispatches its letter and it is immaterial who gets the
invitation.
Hafiz made the statement after some 54 ex-MPs of his
faction sent a letter to the election commission asking it
to invite Maj (retd) Hafiz for EC-BNP electoral talks.
However, no department of the EC received their letter as
it was not signed by all the 54 ex-MPs and the list of the
names of those ex-MPs was not enclosed.
Meanwhile, the CEC is waiting for the certified copy of
High Court verdict that discharged the writ of the
detained BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia against the EC
clearing its path to invite Hafiz to the dialogue.
"We will decide only after we get the certified copy of
the High Court verdict in our hands," CEC ATM Shamsul Huda
told newsmen after holding a meeting with a 12-member
delegation of the reformists who carried the letter of 54
ex-MPs to him. The delegation was led by BNP Chairperson's
adviser AH Mofazzal Karim.
Asked about the unity of BNP as the EC has long been
emphasizing the party unity, Huda opined, "It seems far
away."
Later, briefing newsmen at his Banani residence, Hafiz
said, "We have come across a news item that a few of
standing committee members recently asked the EC to invite
the leaders of other faction for the EC-BNP dialogue and
that's why the former BNP MPs have realized that they
should clarify their stand. Against this backdrop, some 54
ex-BNP MPs sent a letter to the EC requesting it to invite
us for the dialogue."
Calling upon the leaders of his rival faction to sit
together, Hafiz said, "Let us sit together to devise a
plan on how to run the party and how to secure the release
of the detained Chairperson. In reply to a question, he
said, "We will take the senior leaders of other camp along
with us, if we are invited to the dialogue"
Responding to a query, he said, "Party posts can never be
a hurdle on the way to reuniting the party. We are always
in favour of party unity as there is no alternative to
unity to win the next general election. Let us see what
happens …the EC will dispatch its invitation letter in a
day or two and I hope whoever gets the letter the unity
will take place in the party."
Asked if the EC invites Khandoker Delwar Hossain to the
dialogue and if Delwar Hossain requests him to join
dialogue with them, Hafiz said, "Of course, we will join
the dialogue unitedly."
AL’s
front orgs urge street agitation to free Hasina
Staff Correspondent
Leaders of some eight front organisations of Awami League
at a meeting on Monday urged its central committee to
announce tough agitation programme to release the detained
AL President and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"Legal remedy is not enough to free our party chief; there
is no alternative but to wage street agitation across the
country," they observed.
The Presidents and General Secretaries of some eight front
organisations of AL held an views-exchange-meeting at
Bangabandhu Avenue's AL Central Office with Bangladesh
Krishak League (KL) president Dr Mirza Abdul Jalil in the
chair yesterday.
Leaders at the meeting demanded of the Caretaker
Government to ensure Hasina's proper treatment in the
United States as per the recommendation of doctors,
lifting of the State of Emergency and announcing the date
of upcoming general election within the shortest possible
time.
Dr Mirza Abdul Jalil vowed to release Hasina first and
then go on with other demands of the rest five-point
earlier placed before the advisers to the Caretaker
Government during the recent bilateral informal talks
between the Government and the AL held at the State Guest
House Meghna. He urged the authorities to withdraw all
'false' cases lodged against the AL leaders and activists
including Sheikh Hasina. "The ongoing 'Mass Hunger Strike'
of different front organisations- demanding immediate
release of the AL president - will turn into a
mass-upsurge shortly," he cautioned the Government adding,
"Don't test our patience any longer. The people are very
much fed up at present and a dire consequence is waiting
for you."
Meanwhile, detained AL President Sheikh Hasina, now
undergoing treatment in capital's Square Hospital since
Saturday noon, was not produced before the Special Judge
Court in connection with the Barge-Mounted Power Plants
case yesterday as the attending Physicians did not permit
her to move on her health grounds.
Talking to The Bangladesh Today, Deputy Inspector General
(Prisons) Major Shamsul Haider Siddique said, "Sheikh
Hasina was not taken to court as doctors suggested her
taking rest."
Replying to a query, he said "Her health condition is
quite fine today. But doctors know better as to when she
would be taken back to the special jail."
SC
puts off judgment on HC ruling over bail under EPR
UNB, Dhaka
The crucial judgment by the Supreme Court on a government
appeal challenging a HC ruling over its jurisdiction to
dispose of bail petitions in criminal cases under the EPR
could not be pronounced Monday as a judge fell sick.
Before the resumption of the court at 9-20 am, a bench
officer informed that the scheduled judgment would not be
delivered Monday, as one judge of the 7-member full court
of the Appellate Division fell sick.
"The next date for the announcement of the judgment will
be fixed when the judge returns to the court," the bench
officer added.
Attorney General Fida M Kamal, who moved the government
appeal against the High Court ruling, was present at the
court.
On April 22 last year, a High Court division bench,
comprising Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury and Justice SM
Emdadul Huq in its verdict had affirmed that it has the
locus standi to dispose of petitions by persons seeking
bails in criminal cases under the stringent Emergency
Power Rules.
The HC verdict came following an application by an oil
trader of Khulna, Maijuddin Sikder, on March 29 last year
seeking bail in a case, filed under the EPR, over
adulterated oil supply.
British
HC expects swift, stern action over assault of British
nat’l at ZIA
UNB, Dhaka
The British High Commission in Dhaka expects a swift and
stern action over the recent alleged assault of a British
national by security personnel at Zia International
Airport.
A spokesman for the British High Commission Monday said,
"We're fully aware of, and engaged on, this incident. The
UK takes any allegation of abuse very seriously. We've
consistently urged Bangladesh's government, military and
law enforcement agencies to act proportionately, with
respect for human rights and the rule of law."
"The British High Commission has taken up the matter at
the most senior levels of the Bangladeshi government and
military, and has been assured that swift and stern action
will be taken. We continue to provide full consular
assistance," the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Air Force has formed a three-member
high-level probe body, headed by a group captain of the
Air Force, to investigate the incident.
An ISPR release Monday said the Air Force has already
taken steps for taking punitive actions against those
involved in the incident after proper investigation into
it.
The Bangladeshi-born British citizen, Barrister Rezwan
Hossian, an adviser to charity department of London-based
TV Channel S, at a press conference in London on April 17
alleged that he was tortured by a group of security
personnel at the Bangladesh international airport.
Back Page
Govt to ensure
quality mass education: Education Adviser
Staff Correspondent
Primary and Mass Education
Adviser Rasheda K. Choudhury on Monday said the Government
has decided to appoint some primary cadres through PSC
for upgrading the existing primary education system.
"The government is trying to upgrade the present education
system, and to do so, concerned ministry has sent a
proposal to the council of advisors for its approval, all
the appointment would be done through PSC. The main
objective of its to upgrade the existing method of primary
education to cope with the developed nation's education
system," said the adviser, while speaking as chief guest
at the launching ceremony of Asia Pacific Education Watch
Report at the LGED Bhaban in the capital yesterday.
Rasheda said, "We have been facing two types of challenges
in our education; one of them is lack of qualitative
education and good governance, people are struggling to
cope with the soaring prices of livelihood, the educations
must be free of cost, from the next year, the government
will provide books for the primary students without any
cost."
"Many parents are sending their children to the coaching
centres, but if the schooling systems can ensure proper
teaching, I hope there will be no need for sending the
children to the coaching centres which are commercial."
said the adviser adding "restrictions might be imposed, so
that the school teachers cannot join in these coaching
centres."
On the occasion of revealing the report, representatives
from ten Asian nations were present at the function, the
participants countries are: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India,
Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,
Solomon Island and Sri Lanka.
Speakers made some recommendations such as Public funding
needs to be increased, particularly in view of commitment
to universal and free quality primary education for all
and also for quality secondary education for the maximum
number.
This anomaly should be corrected, particularly urgently in
the case of primary education in view of the state's
constitutional obligation of ensuring equality of
opportunities for all citizens and because ensuring basic
education for all is its primary responsibility.
Resources should be made available for improving the
quality of education of all students through facilitation
and properly developed guidelines for continuous
evaluations and strict monitoring and supervision. A local
citizens' monitoring arrangement may be designed and
required to be locally put in place and implemented
throughout the country.
Coal
Policy likely next month
Staff Correspondent
Special Assistant to Head of the Caretaker Government for
the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Prof M
Tamim on Monday said there is no alternative to energy
security for maintaining smooth economic growth of the
country.
He said, "Due to the scarcity of natural gas, no new
industry can be established and gradually the gap between
demand and supply is increasing. If we do not go for
finding new gas resources, the industrialization process
will be hampered to a large extent".
Dr Tamim was addressing a Symposium titled 'Mining and
Community Livelihood in Bangladesh' organized by
Petrobangla at its conference room yesterday with SM
Wahiduzzaman, Secretary, Ministry of Science and
Information and Communication was in the chair.
He said the government has taken all initiative to
formulate a coal policy soon,
Regarding the timeframe of finalization the coal policy,
Tamim said, "It is at the end stage; we would be able to
finalize the much waited policy within two months and it
will be formulated maintaining transparency and
accountability, so that none can criticize the
government".
He said, "As Petrobangla has financial crisis, so we need
a partner for developing our coal mining, and for gas
exploration, we also require a huge investment in this
sector and that's why Petrobangla is looking for partners
as it needs a total amount of $ 8 billion for the
development of the coal and gas mines."
Tamim also emphasized on ensuring environment, livelihood
and food and energy security before start of digging in
any mine, saying, " We must take note that no decision
should be taken without ensuring environmental and
livelihood safety and discussing with the people living in
the specific area. We must follow such mining method which
would minimize harm to the people and the government must
compensate the people for their losses."
He said, "At present most of our power plants are running
on gas, but from the next year, we have to use coal for
power production to release the pressure on gas. Besides,
the country should go for power production using atomic
energy as it only can ensure the power production for a
longer period which is required for economic growth."
Speaking at the symposium, Secretary, Energy and Mineral
Resource Division, Mohammad Mohsin said, "World energy
demand is increasing by 23 % per year, so we are looking
for alternative energy sources to meet the growing demand
of the country. And coal mining should more cautiously
because a lot of issues are related with it."
Petrobangla Chairman Jalal Ahmed said, "Most of the coal
mines are located in the country's northern region where
population density is mush higher, so before selecting the
mining method, the decision has to taken after consulting
with the people living in the area."
Biman-Boeing deal today
8 new-generation aircraft to be procured
UNB, Dhaka
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited, the national flag
carrier, will sign a deal with US plane-maker Boeing today
(Tuesday) to procure eight new-generation aircraft.
Biman's board of directors at a marathon meeting here
Sunday night approved the final deal to be signed with
Boeing, as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this
effect was already signed on March 15.
Besides, the board decided to take on lease a Boeing 747
from Orient Thai, as the company was the lowest bidder in
the tender. Another decision was taken to put Osborne
Aeronautical Services as the second choice to get the
Boeing 747 under ACMI lease system.
On March 9, the Biman board decided to buy eight Boeing
aircraft at $ 1.265 billion to resuscitate the country's
lone public sector airlines.
Of the eight Boeings, the first consignment of four
aircraft will be arriving here in 2013 while the second
consignment in 2017.
The first Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will cost US$ 182.17
million while the other three US$ 182.51 million, US$
183.20 million and US$ 184.01 million. The initial selling
price of this kind of aircraft is US$ 272 million.
The first Boeing 787 aircraft will cost US$ 132.83
million, while the other three will cost US$ 133.08
million, US$ 133.53 million and US$ 133.81 million. The
initial selling price of these planes are US$ 167 million.
The four Boeings (777-300ER), scheduled to come in 2013,
will have 463 seats, including 39 business class ones and
424 of economy class, while the second-phase Boeings
(787), expected to arrive in 2017, will have 394 seats
with 26 of business class and 268 of economy class.
Climate Change, food security twin concerns for developing
world: Iftekhar
UNB, Accra
Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury on Sunday told
the Ministers of the Group of 77 and China that climate
change and food security have been the twin concerns for
the developing world.
He said this at a Ministerial Meeting of G-77 took pace in
Accra during the UNCTAD XII Conference.
Speaking as chairman of the least developed countries (LDCs),
Iftekhar underscored the need for maintaining close
relations between the LDCs and the G-77 as both sides
represent the developing world. "The LDCs are part of the
G-77. For decades they have shared empathy and
aspirations. They have been supportive to each other. They
have championed similar causes. They stand together in
firm solidarity," he said.
About food security, Iftekhar said the developing world is
passing through a critical time. "We've asked the UN
Secretary General to take initiatives himself to set up a
high-level panel with eminent persons to examine all
related issues for consideration of an international
conference for addressing the crisis."
He also referred to a specific proposal he had made the
previous day to the LDC Ministers, which was incorporated
in the LDC Ministerial Declaration issued in Accra.
Crime
Two
stabbed to death in city
Staff Reporter
A young man was stabbed to death by his younger brother at
Demra in the capital on Monday morning.
The deceased was identified as Ripon, 22, son of Abdur
Rashid of the area. According to police, Russel locked in
a quarrel over corrugated iron sheets meant for relief.
Following an altercation Russel attacked his elder brother
Ripon and at one stage stabbed him indiscriminately
leaving him dead on the spot.
On information, police recovered the body and sent it to
the Dhaka Medical College Hospital for autopsy. A case was
lodged with Demra police station but none was arrested
till the filing of the report last night.
BDNEWS24 also adds: Writer Momena Ahmed, the wife of the
late chairman of Dhaka University's Applied Physics
Department Sultan Ahmed, was knifed to death Monday,
police and witnesses said.
The police arrested a youth, named Faruq, on charges of
being involved in the killing. Investigators are chasing
the leads to the killing of the 65-year-old woman, who had
also worked for Udyana School as a librarian.
Security guards held and handed Faruq over to the police.
A housemaid claimed that Faruq was held when he was
fleeing the scene after slaughtering Momena at her
Dhanmondi home at about 1:30 pm. Quoting Momena's
relatives, the police said the killing might have stemmed
from her row with a publishing house. Dhanmondi police
chief Monwar Hossain told bdnews24.com that the police
would investigate the alleged links of the publisher in
the killing. Momen's husband Prof Sultan Ahmed died in
1994.
3 sub-inspectors closed following death of a man in
custody
UNB, Narayanganj
Three police sub-inspectors were closed tonight to the
Police Lines following preliminary investigation report
into the death of a suspected mugger in custody Friday
night.
The action was taken against sub-inspectors Babul Akter,
Saiful Islam and Mamoon.
A three-member committee was formed Saturday to probe into
the death of Fakir Chan of Siddirganj following allegation
by his family that he was tortured to death in custody.
Fakir Chan was arrested on April 12 in connection with the
mugging of Tk 6 lakh from in front of Sonali Bank at
Godnyle on April 6. Police had in a press release
explained the reason of fatal injuries while Fakir Chan in
hand cuff position tried to flee.
His family said the main culprit ASP Jannatul Hassan who
mercilessly beat him resulting to the death remained
unpunished.
Man gets 7-yr RI
A Correspondent, Sirajganj
The court in Sirajganj sentenced a man to 7-year Rigorous
Imprisonment (RI) in a murder case on Monday.
The convict is: Md. Abdur Rashid, 35, son of late Eusuf
Ali of village Harinathpur-Bagbati under sadar upazila.
Satendra Nath Ghosh, the additional district and session
judge-1, pronounced the verdict.
According to the prosecution, the convict physically
tortured his wife Kazoli Khatun, daughter of Mafiz Mandol,
of village Sthalbari under Kazipur upazila of the
district, due to a family feud on 10 July 1999.
At one stage, when she died, he hanged her body with sari
with the ceiling of his house.
Later police recovered the deceased and recorded a case in
this matter with Kazipur police station.
Housewife commits suicide
UNB, Jhalakati
A housewife allegedly committed suicide hanging from a
mango tree over the sale of a calf by her husband at Godva
village in Nalchiti upazila Sunday.
Police Sunday morning recovered the body of Shahnaj
Parveen, 40, mother of four children, and sent it to
hospital morgue for autopsy.
Being hard hit by poverty, her husband Haider Ali sold a
calf of his house to support his family, which angered his
wife and at one stage she committed suicide.
Haider, a pushcart driver, was taken to thana for
interrogation. A UD case was filed.
Woman injured in acid attack
UNB, Madaripur
A woman sustained severe burn injuries in an acid attack
at Kadambari village in Rajoir upazila on Sunday morning.
Police said a gang of terrorists hurled acid at Shanti
Rani, 26, wife of Bikash Chandra Majumber at about 9am and
soon fled the scene. The victim was rushed to the upazila
health complex.
Reason behind the attack could not be known immediately. A
case was filed.
Old man slaughtered
UNB, Sirajganj
A sexagenarian man was slaughtered by unidentified
assailants at Bandhangachha village in Ullapara upazila on
Friday night.
Police said terrorists slaughtered Akter Hossain, 60, and
left his body on the nearby rail line when he was
returning home at Bandhangachha from nearby Dahakula
village at night. Being informed by the local people,
police rushed to the spot and recovered the body.
Police detained UP member Saiful Islam and Nimai Chandra
suspecting their involvement in the murder.
2 thieves killed in mass beating
UNB, Chittagong
Two suspected thieves were killed in a lynch-mob attack in
a factory at Baro Aulia in Sitakunda upazila here Monday.
The deceased were identified as Mohammad Harun, 28, and
Jahidul Islam, 31.
Police said Harun and Jahid tried to enter the 'Equity
Readymade Factory Ltd' by cutting its grill at about
4:30am. Hearing screams of the factory security guard,
local people rushed in and gave them a good beating,
leaving them critically injured. As police were taking
them to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Harun died on
the way while Jahid at the hospital after admission. A
case was filed.
UP chairman sued
UNB, Pirojpur
Dhawa union parishad chairman in Bhandaria upazila
Siddiqur Rahman Tulu was sued Saturday for
misappropriation of rice under VGD. Police said 24 kgs of
rice instead of 30 kgs were distributed among the
destitute including widows at Dhawa union parishad on
April 14.
Being displeased at distribution of less quantity of rice
the recipients later complained to UNO who formed a
three-member investigation committee.
Upazila women affairs officer Khelada Khanam, who headed
the committee, filed the case later Saturday night as she
found the
chairman guilty.
Local people alleged that the chairman, who is now on the
run, was involved in various criminal activities since
long.
Jubo Dal leader held
A Correspondent, Barisal
Jasimuddin alias Manik Fakir, 40, secretary of Kalapara
upazila Jubodal under Patuakhali district, arrested by
police on Monday morning.
Sekandar Howladar, Officer-in-Charge of Kalapara police
station, said Manik as a top terror of the area went
wanted for more than a dozen criminal cases of extortion,
violation against women, attack on journalist in Kalapara,
Amtali, Taltali, police stations of Patuakhali and Barguna
districts.
He tried to escape arrest by jumping to Andhar Manik
River, but police succeeded to arrest him by chasing, OC
added. Manik was sent to Patuakhali jail at afternoon.
2 NGO officials held
UNB, Feni
Two officials of an NGO here in the town on Sunday were
arrested on charge of confining two poor rickshaw-pullers
for realizing loan money from them.
The two arrested officials were identified as Shamsuddoha,
regional manager of Social Development Initiative (SDI)
and its branch manager HS Rustam.
On information, police raided the SDI regional office at
Pathanbari in the town at noon and rescued the
rickshaw-pullers Abu Bakar and Khaleque. The two NGO
officials were also taken into custody.
Editorial
Accidents Continue to Take Their Toll
on Human Lives
Everyday
millions of people are on the move to and from cities and
within cities. Most of these movements take place by roads,
highways and river routes. Also each day we are faced with
multiple news of accidents which account for scores of death
and injuries daily and which tally up to thousands each year
and yet public consciousness, awareness and concern rarely
goes beyond pity and commiseration. Authorities,
law-enforcement agencies, the Government and even the public
have long habituated themselves to considering such events as
normal hazards attendant to traveling.
Injuries and deaths are the ultimate price that some people
have to pay for traveling but before that there are other
hazards to be overcome : exorbitant fares which defy any
controls, long waits and even longer traveling times,
harassment by touts and thieves and finally miserable
traveling condition in ramshackle transports be they road
bound or riverine.
Speed has become the driving force in our lives. Everyone is
in a hurry-to get to work, to unload a cargo, to get home, to
drop off the kids, to pick them up, to get to the market. We
must go ever faster, and we build our cars ever stronger to
protect us in the reckless chase for money and status not
knowing that the truck near our car is a time bomb ticking
away as the metal liner of its CNG cylinder has already frayed
out and is about to give way to a slight concussion.
Thousands of people in our country are falling prey everyday
to our love for speed, shoddy brakes, adulterated lubricants,
CNG gas cylinders made of fatigued metals, spurious
replacements of vital parts, laxity of traffic law, faulty/no
traffic signal and unbridled behavior of unruly, untrained and
drunken drivers driving defective and unscientifically
modified vehicles on our dilapidated and poorly maintained
roads and highways.
According to the Accident Research Centre (ARC) of BUET
thirty-two people are killed everyday on the roads of our
country and according to Red Cross & Red Crescent Society
three thousand people (including 500 children) are killed
everyday on the roads of the world. This amounts to 1.2
million deaths a year. In addition, more than 50 million
people are seriously injured on roads every year; many are
disabled for life.
World report of 2004 jointly published by World Bank and World
Health Organization cried for taking immediate measures to
check road crashes in poor countries as it predicted that
fatalities on roads will fall by 20 percent in high-income
economies like in USA and rise by 80 percent in low-income
economies like in Bangladesh in the coming years, if we fail
to follow what the developed countries are doing to reverse
the trend of road mishaps.
Hundreds of road mishaps are not heard about even by local
people of the area where the road crashes are taking place in
our country. Only a very few are reported in the news media
and fewer are recorded by the police or the statistician and
no follow-up story of a handful of those reported crashes is
ever published in any newspaper as to plights of the victims
left in the lurch: their groans in hospitals or hunger of the
children who became orphans.
If traumas and tribulations of those crash victims were
published in news media in serials, perhaps there could have
been an earthquake of public opinions to compel our government
to right all the wrongs on the roads or the nerves of the
reckless drivers could perhaps have been calmed enough not to
fly their cars at supersonic speed or ram their trucks on the
wrong sides of the roads or hurtle their buses onto the rail
track when the speeding train is only a few yards away.
Except for railways, the government has entirely given up on
mass public transportation leaving it to the private sector to
provide that service. The private sector has of course
welcomed this opportunity at minting money at least cost to
themselves. Over a period of two decades powerful mafias have
developed in both road and riverine transport sectors who
control everything from fares to routes, from licensing to
recruitments and from ticketing stalls to stands and "ghats".
The government authorities such as the BRTA, BIWTA and the
police rarely, if ever, pay attention to this miserable state
of affairs; in fact, officials and personnel from these
agencies form a part of the mafia, taking hefty bribes from
various interest groups engaged in the business. The ultimate
suffers are the people who have to travel in order to earn a
living, to get to and from work or to do business. Government
have come and gone but none have seen fit to do anything about
a matter which of such a fundamental and basic interest to the
public - the need and the requirement of an efficient and
corruption-free public transportation system.
Analysis
The Responsibility to Protect: Ending
Mass Atrocity Crimes
The overwhelming preoccupation of those who
founded the UN was not in fact human rights but the problem of
states waging aggressive war against each other.
Gareth Evans
Every
time you think that we really have accomplished something over
the last few years, and that the world may be becoming a
marginally more civilized place, something brings you up with
rather a start. I had such a moment when I came across this
quote from a Shanghai professor in USA Today in October last
year, at the time of the Burmese regime's crackdown against
the monks' protest:
China has used tanks to kill people on Tiananmen Square. It is
Myanmar's sovereign right to kill their own people, too....
We have made some real progress, which I will describe in this
talk, in getting apparent consensus at the highest levels of
government that there is something wrong with the view that
that it's no-one's business but their own if states murder or
forcibly displace large numbers of their own citizens, or
allow atrocity crimes to be committed by one group against
another on their soil. But when it comes to getting that
understanding deeply embedded in the consciousness and
practice of states everywhere, and - it seems - into the minds
of even university professors everywhere, we still have some
distance to go.
The truth of the matter is that for an insanely long time -
centuries in fact, going all the way back to the emergence of
the modern system of states in the 1600s - the view has
prevailed that state sovereignty is a license to kill. After
World War II and Hitler's Holocaust some progress was
certainly made in challenging this absolutist concept of
sovereignty, with individual and group human rights recognized
in the UN Charter and, more grandly, in the Universal
Declaration; with the Nuremberg Tribunal Charter in 1945
recognizing the concept of 'crimes against humanity'; and with
the signing of the Genocide Convention in 1948.
But the overwhelming preoccupation of those who founded the UN
was not in fact human rights but the problem of states waging
aggressive war against each other. And what actually captured
the mood of the time, and the mood that prevailed right
through the Cold War years, was, more than any of the human
rights provisions, Article 2(7) of the UN Charter: "Nothing
should authorize intervention in matters essentially within
the domestic jurisdiction of any State". The state of mind
that even massive atrocity crimes like those of the Cambodian
killing fields were just not the rest of the world's business
prevailed throughout the UN's first half-century of existence:
Vietnam's invasion, which stopped the Khmer Rouge in its
tracks, was universally attacked, not applauded.
With the arrival of the 1990s, and the end of the Cold War,
the prevailing complacent assumptions about non-intervention
did at last come under challenge as never before. The
quintessential peace and security problem, you'll remember -
before 9/11 came along to dominate everything - became not
interstate war, but civil war and internal violence
perpetrated on a massive scale. With the break-up of various
Cold War state structures, and the removal of some superpower
constraints, conscience-shocking situations repeatedly arose,
above all in the former Yugoslavia and in Africa
But old habits of non-intervention died very hard. Even when
situations cried out for some kind of response, and the
international community did react through the UN, it was too
often erratically, incompletely or counter-productively, as in
the debacle of Somalia in 1993, the catastrophe of Rwandan
genocide in 1994, and the almost unbelievable default in
Srebrenica, Bosnia just a year later, in 1995.
Then the killing and ethnic cleansing started all over again
in Kosovo in 1999. Not everyone, but certainly most people,
and governments, accepted quite rapidly that external military
intervention was the only way to stop it. But again the
Security Council failed to act in the face of a threatened
veto by Russia. The action that needed to be taken was
eventually taken, by a coalition of the willing, but in a way
that challenged the integrity of the whole international
security system (just as did the invasion of Iraq four years
later in far less defensible circumstances).
Throughout the decade of the 1990s a fierce argument raged
between on the one hand, advocates of "humanitarian
intervention" - the doctrine that there was a "right to
intervene" militarily, against the will of the government of
the country in question, in these cases - and on the other
hand defenders of the traditional prerogatives of state
sovereignty, who insisted that internal events were none of
the rest of the world's business. It was very much a
North-South debate, with the many new states born out of
decolonization being very proud of their new won sovereignty,
very conscious of their fragility, and all too conscious of
the way in which they had been on the receiving end in the
past of not very benign interventions from the imperial and
colonial powers, and not very keen to acknowledge their right
to do so again, whatever the circumstances. And it was a very
bitter debate, with the trenches dug deep on both sides, and
the verbal missiles flowing thick and fast, often in very ugly
terms.
This was the unpromising environment in which the concept of
the responsibility to protect was born, and we need to take
all that background into account if we are to appreciate just
how significant, how groundbreaking, this new concept is.
It was an environment which led Kofi Annan to issue his now
famous challenge to the General Assembly in 1999, and again in
2000: "If humanitarian intervention is indeed an unacceptable
assault on sovereignty, how should we respond to a Rwanda, to
a Srebrenica - to gross and systematic violations of human
rights that offend every precept of our common humanity?"
And it was this challenge to which the Canadian-government
responded by appointing the international commission, which I
co-chaired, that came up in 2001 with the idea of 'the
responsibility to protect' (or 'R2P' as we are all now, rather
inelegantly, calling it for short).
The core idea of the responsibility to protect, or R2P, is
very simple. Turn the notion of 'right to intervene' upside
down. Talk not about the 'right' of big states to do anything,
but the responsibility of all states to protect their own
people from atrocity crimes, and to help others to do so. Talk
about the primary responsibility being that of individual
states themselves - respecting their sovereignty - but make it
absolutely clear that if they cannot meet that responsibility,
through either ill-will or incapacity, it then shifts to the
wider international community to take the appropriate action.
Focus not on the notion of 'intervention' but of protection:
look at the whole issue from the perspective of the victims,
the men being killed, the women being raped, the children
dying of starvation; and look at the responsibility in
question as being above all a responsibility to prevent, with
the question of reaction - through diplomatic pressure,
through sanctions, through international criminal
prosecutions, and ultimately through military action - arising
only if prevention failed. And accept coercive military
intervention only as an absolute last resort, after a number
of clearly defined criteria have been met, and the approval of
the Security Council has been obtained.
Well, as many blue-ribbon commissions and panels have
discovered over the years, it is one thing to labor mightily
and produce what looks like a major new contribution to some
policy debate, but quite another to get any policymaker to
take any notice of it. But the extraordinary thing is that
governments did take notice of the R2P idea: within four years
it had won unanimous endorsement by the more than 150 heads of
state and government meeting as the UN General Assembly at the
2005 World Summit, and within another year had been embraced
in a Security Council resolution. This was an unbelievably
short time, just a blink of an eye, in the history of ideas -
and particularly for an idea that was challenging the received
wisdom of centuries, subtly yes, but very directly
challenging.
So a big part of the job is done. The foundations for
consensus have been laid. We have in the new language a strong
basis for finding common ground on hugely divisive issue
(rather in the way that the Brundtland Commission years
earlier, with 'sustainable development', found a way to bridge
the chasm which then existed between environmentalists and
developers). We have something in place which can properly be
described as a new international norm, and perhaps on its way
toward becoming a new rule of customary international law. We
have the new language gradually gaining currency and
recognition. We have a new Secretary General of the UN who has
embraced the concept with all the enthusiasm of his
predecessor and is quick, like many governments now, to use
R2P language to describe the situation in Darfur, and the
situation in Kenya when it erupted so horribly - and so
reminiscently of Rwanda - just over three months ago. And we
have the evidence before our eyes of the international
response to Kenya being, quick, responsive and successful - at
least so far.
But it's too early yet to break out the champagne. It's one
thing to have agreement in the abstract, quite another thing
to have something that is operational in practice. It's one
thing to have formal agreement, quite another to have the real
agreement that means that when the next conscience-shocking
atrocity situation comes along, as it surely will, the
universal reflex action, all round the world, will be not to
ask whether to act, but only where, when and how to act.
Those of us passionate about R2P, and who believe as I do,
that we at last have an internationally agreed basis on which
we can begin to be confident that we'll never again have to
say 'never again', have to acknowledge that there are three
big pieces of unfinished business.
First, there's a conceptual challenge: to refine and
define the concept in such a way that the many
misunderstandings that still stand in the way of its genuine
universal acceptance, and of getting agreement about what is
and is not an R2P situation, are overcome. Central among those
misunderstandings, real or contrived, are that R2P is only
about military intervention, and that the invasion of Iraq in
2003 was a good example of its application. It isn't and it
wasn't.
Secondly, there's an institutional challenge: to put in
place the early warning and response capability, the
diplomatic capability, the civilian response capability, and -
for extreme cases - the military capability, to ensure that
the internationally community, if it has the will, can deliver
the appropriate response to whatever new atrocity crime
situation that comes along that demands its engagement.
Thirdly, there's a political challenge: to have in
place the mechanisms to ensure that, again when a new
challenge comes along, the political will can be in fact
generated to meet it -- that means both 'top down' energizing
of the highest levels of government and intergovernmental
decision making, and 'bottom up' grass roots action to kick
the decision makers into action if they are showing signs of
hesitation.
In order to tackle these challenges in a systematic and
effective way, I have been involved very recently in
launching, with the help of a number of like-minded
governments from both North and South, and foundations, a new
'Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect'. Based in
New York, with a small but highly professional staff, working
with Associated Centres being established in a number of
countries, and a network of affiliates, and closely locked in
to the UN system, this will provide research and advocacy
support to both governments and NGOs, and engage over time in
a major global public outreach exercise. I hope you will feel
when you learn more about it, that this Centre - and its
associated programs and institutions - deserve your support.
Just a final personal word. I suspect that for all of us for
whom the idea of responsibility to protect really resonates,
there will have been some personal experience which has
touched us deeply. For many of us that will be bound to be
scarifying family memories of the Holocaust; for others the
experience of personal loss or closely knowing survivors from
Rwanda or Srebrenica or any of the other mass atrocity scenes
of more recent decades; for others still, perhaps, the awful
sense that they could have done more, in their past official
lives, to generate the kind of international response that
these situations required.
For me it was my visit to Cambodia in the late 1960s, just
before the genocidal slaughter which killed two million of its
people. I was a young Australian making my first trip to
Europe, to take up a scholarship in Oxford, and I spent six
months wending my way by plane and overland through a dozen
countries in Asia, and a few more in Africa and the Middle
East as well. And in every one of them I spent many hours and
days on student campuses and in student hangouts, and in
hard-class cross-country trains and ramshackle rural buses,
getting to know in the process - usually fleetingly, but quite
often enduringly, in friendships that have lasted to this day
- scores of some of the liveliest and brightest people of that
generation.
In the years that followed I have kept running into
Indonesians, Singaporeans, Malaysians, Thais, Vietnamese,
Indians, Pakistanis and others who I either met on the road on
that trip, or who were there at the time and had a store of
common experiences to exchange. But among all the countries in
Asia I visited then, there is just one, Cambodia, from which I
never again, in later years, saw any of those students whom I
had met and befriended, or anyone exactly like them. Not one
of those kids with whom I drank beer, ate noodles and careered
up and down the dusty road from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap in
share taxis, scattering chickens and pigs and little children
in villages all along the way.
The reason, I am sadly certain, is that every last one of them
died a few years later under Pol Pot's murderous genocidal
regime - either targeted for execution in the killing fields
as a middle-class intellectual enemy of the state, or dying,
as more than a million did, from starvation and disease
following forced displacement to labor in the countryside. The
knowledge, and the memory, of what must have happened to those
young men and women haunt me to this day.
And it means that my attachment to the idea, and ideal, of the
responsibility to protect is not just a matter of intellectual
persuasion, but of very powerful emotional commitment. I know
that will be the case for a great many of you too, so let's
work together to make that ideal a reality.
(The above is an address by Gareth Evans, President,
International Crisis Group, to Global Philanthropy Forum, San
Francisco, 11 April 2008. Source: www.crisisgroup.org)
Save Environment by Recycling
Everyone can definitely help the environment by
recycling the things we use. We can recycle almost everything
we use.
Mohammad Shahidul Islam
The
bountiful nature has endowed us with profuse resources to live
on. We human beings make use of these resources for our
convenience and while doing so we pollute the environment.
This will for sure transform earth to a non inhabitable place.
It is our responsibility to safeguard the natural resources so
that our successor can live a good life too.
Despite the warnings being given about the harmful effects of
global warming and other environmental problems, most
individuals are doing very little about it today. Global
warming, deforestation, acid rains, the endangerment of
various species etc have gone completely out of control in
many areas around the globe. Various methods and suggestions
are being offered to reduce the effects of these altogether
and if possible, eradicate it completely. Did we know that
recycling done on an everyday basis could actually help our
planet Earth on a large extent? This can begin even at home.
The benefits of recycling are many, from reducing the effects
of industrial production to saving energy.
Everyone can definitely help the environment by recycling the
things we use. We can recycle almost everything we use. It is
better to buy recyclable items so that they can be recycled
and a new material can be manufactured out of the scrap. If
every one of us keeps this in mind, the emission of greenhouse
gases and the other pollutions can definitely be controlled.
Recycling has many other advantages too. We can save the power
by recycling the used products. Manufacturing a new product
requires power and energy. When we recycle, we can save a
large quantity of energy and power. Also manufacture involves
the use of non renewable resources. By recycling we preserve
these resources.
Waste materials are dumped into landfill sites. This is good
when all the waste materials are degradable. But a great
percentage of our wastes are non bio degradable. These pollute
the land and will affect the underground water. When the non
bio degradable products are burned they emit gases that
deplete the ozone layer in the atmosphere. This will result in
more ultraviolet radiations reaching the living atmosphere
which is very dangerous.
The end products of the recycling process are used as raw
materials for the manufacture of other products. Getting these
raw materials from the recycled products will preserve the
environment as the resources that are used in the manufacture
will be more. The recycling process requires investment in
machineries and man power. New technologies have to be evolved
to recycle very many products that we are using. Though this
initial investment is required, the long term effects are
great as the environment is protected form depletion and
pollution.
Recycling can start from reusing the products. Instead of
buying use and throw-away products we can buy reusable
products. This will considerably reduce the amount of waste we
are dumping to the landfill sites. For example we can use the
juice bottles as storage containers so that we can reuse the
product for a long time. If every home employs reusing concept
then at least 30% of pollution can be controlled.
Recycling plastic is very complex compared to the other
materials that we use. Plastic products pose a great threat to
the environment. Despite of this fact, plastic is used by
everybody and for anything. When your purchase is small don't
prefer getting plastic bags from the shop. This will save
millions of plastic wastes that are dumped on the land. Bio
degradable plastic products are available and we can easily
use them. The best help would be to sort the plastic wastes
according to the types and submit them to the recycling plant.
Recycling is important because the energy used to recycle a
product is less than the energy used to create something new.
Our health also benefits from recycling, as it removes
pollution and harmful substances from the waste stream. This
is not all; we have to remember that the raw materials on
Earth will not last for a lifetime, it is thus important to
save them! Everybody can lend a hand for recycling to help the
environment.
(Mohammad Shahidul Islam is a Freelance Contributor toTFE
and a Tourism Worker.
Email: mohd-s-islam@myway.com)
Viewpoints
Iran's Power Brokers
Beyond the outcome of the Shanghai meetings
there is the question of long-term U.S. policy toward Iran.
Greg Bruno
Amid
another round of crisis diplomacy on Iran's nuclear program,
Russia and China appear to hold ever more potent cards.
Energy-rich Iran has turned to them for financial and
political help. U.S. and EU negotiators, meanwhile, need
Russian and Chinese support on the UN Security Council to levy
tougher international sanctions-or at least a promise not to
veto them. The stakes continue to move higher. In March, Iran
applied for full membership to the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization, an intergovernmental security organization
headed by Russia and China. Pyotr Goncharov, a political
commentator for the Russian news agency Novosti, writes that
Iran has more than enough economic cause to gain entry. The
real issue, he says, is whether China and Russia are willing
to look past (Middle East Times) the nuclear question.
In many ways, they already have. China is Iran's
second-largest importer of crude oil, accounting for 335,000
barrels a day in 2006, according to the U.S. Energy
Information Administration. Beijing recently inked a $2
billion deal to develop the Yadavaran oilfield in southern
Iran, and is considering investing in Iran's natural gas
sector. Overall trade volume has spiked in the last decade, up
from $1.2 billion in 1998 to what an Iranian official said was
$20 billion (Press TV). Moscow, for its part, maintains close
military ties with Tehran (AP) and sells the country nuclear
fuel (Reuters). A visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to
Iran in October 2007, capped by a rare welcome from Iran's
supreme leader, was seen as a blow to U.S.-backed efforts to
isolate Tehran (CSMonitor).
Talks this week in Shanghai involving Russia, China, the
United States, and EU powers yielded no clear end to the
impasse (AP). China and Russia favor enticements that would
reward Iran for abandoning its enrichment activities; the
United States and Western allies, which suspect Iran is
developing a nuclear weapons capability, prefer a
sanctions-based approach. The UN Security Council approved a
third round of sanctions in March, increasing the monitoring
of Iranian financial institutions, extending travel bans, and
freezing assets. But critics who considered the measure too
soft aren't holding out hope for tougher moves in China this
week. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has already said she
doesn't expect major changes.
Nonetheless, there are signs Moscow and Beijing are softening
to U.S. pressure. President Bush, who met with Putin on April
6 in Sochi, praised the Russian leader for his commitment to
resolving the Iranian nuclear issue. China has also hinted at
cooperation. The Associated Press reports that Beijing
supplied the International Atomic Energy Agency with
information about Iran's nuclear program.
Amid the stepped-up diplomacy, Iran is hardening its nuclear
posture. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced on April 8
that Tehran is installing an additional six thousand
centrifuges (Fars) at its Natanz uranium-enrichment facility.
Some nuclear experts are skeptical of Iran's claims (RFE/RL),
since past Iranian pronouncements have proven exaggerated.
Still, others see reason to tighten the noose. In an
editorial, the New York Times writes that while there is
consensus Iran is moving closer to the technical know-how to
build a bomb, "the big powers can't come up with a strategy"
to put the brakes on.
Beyond the outcome of the Shanghai meetings there is the
question of long-term U.S. policy toward Iran. International
Herald Tribune columnist John Vinocur argues the Bush
administration's diplomatic blunders have pushed the Iranian
problem to the next president. But by 2009 Iran's ties with
regional heavyweights will be further entrenched. An analysis
of the blossoming relationship between Iran and China,
published by the Asia Pacific electronic journal Japan Focus,
argues that U.S.-backed sanctions on Tehran have essentially
pushed Iran into Asia's arms. Kathy Gockel of the Stanley
Foundation sees that same trend with Russia.
(Greg Bruno is a Staff Writer for the Council on Foreign
Relations. Source: www.cfr.org)
Democrats slam McCain on Economics
There
have been strong feelings among Americans about US
over-spending on terror wars, harming the genuine interests of
its own citizens.
The
Republican presidential candidate John McCain's opponents from
the Democrats are still fighting a stiff course to gain the
party nomination for presidential poll in November; they not
only fight one another in rhetoric but also are at odds with
the Republican hopeful who has already secured the ticket to
contest. As the days pass on, the initial glow seen in the
faces of the democratic candidates is gradually disappearing,
reflecting desperation and despair of the worried democrats,
though they now control both the Houses of the Parliament.
Issues relating to US economy continue to occupy a significant
place in their debate.
The winner of the Democratic nomination battle between Clinton
and Obama will face McCain in November's election, and in
recent days both candidates have toned down their attacks on
each other to focus more directly on McCain. They have
criticized the former Navy fighter pilot and prisoner of war
in Vietnam for saying he does not know as much about the
economy as he does about national security and military
issues.
The democratic campaign would finish in June and thus far the
final choice between Obama and Hillary has remained a puzzle.
So, both are wooing the electoral collage to make the choice.
Fortunes have been fluctuating between them in the primaries
so far. Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama, having
pretensions of well-wishers of the down-trodden, have assailed
potential White House opponent John McCain on the economy on
April 01, accusing the Republican of favoring the wealthy and
turning his back on struggling workers and middle-class
families. Clinton and Obama were in Pennsylvania on 01 April
ahead of the next contest when 158 pledged delegates will be
at stake. Some Democrats are concerned the prolonged campaign
will hurt the eventual winner in the match-up with McCain. But
Clinton, who trails Obama in pledged delegates won in
state-by-state contests, has rejected calls to step aside.
The Democratic presidential contenders, campaigning in
Pennsylvania ahead of their April 22 showdown, took a break
from attacking each other to portray the Arizona senator
McCain as uncertain and untested on economic issues. In
separate appearances but similar language, Obama and Hillary
said McCain would take his economic cues from President George
W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. "John McCain admits he
doesn't understand the economy -- and unfortunately he's
proving it in this campaign," Clinton told the Pennsylvania
AFL-CIO union group. "After seven disastrous years of George
Bush and Dick Cheney, the stakes in this election couldn't be
higher and the need to change course couldn't be more urgent.
But John McCain is only offering more of the same," the New
York senator Hillary said. However, she has not condemned in
clear term the US invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq to which
she makes references.
Obama played down worries the long campaign would hurt the
eventual Democratic nominee. "I think this contest has been
good for the Democratic Party. We've brought in all kinds of
new people into the process. And I think that bodes well for
November," he said on NBC's "Today" show.
There have been strong feelings among Americans about US
over-spending on terror wars, harming the genuine interests of
its own citizens. The latest move by the Bush administration
to seriously consider withdrawal form Iraq is seen from this
perspective. All these candidates, across the political
divide, have talked about worsening economic situation in the
country, but none is bold enough to reveal the base cause of
all this. Obama, an Illinois senator, said all McCain offers
"is four more years of the same George W. Bush policies that
have gotten us into this pickle." He noted McCain's support
for extending Bush's tax cuts, which Obama said would help the
wealthy, and his support for trade agreements that Obama said
do not protect U.S. workers. "His response to the housing
crisis amounts to little more than standing on the sidelines
and watching millions of Americans lose their homes," Obama
said. But no one in the USA or else where doubts if McCain
would not continue with polices of George Bush.
It looks like Hillary has outsmarted Obama in highlighting
goals of future economy. Hillary has focused on job creation,
if elected. She also has proposed a plan to create 3 million
jobs through increased investments over 10 years in the U.S.
infrastructure, and proposed a $10 billion (5 billion pounds)
emergency fund for critical repairs to bridges and highways.
Her proposals would eliminate incentives and close tax
loopholes for companies that outsource jobs and use the
savings to help create U.S.-based jobs, the campaign said. The
Hillary Campaign has said that she will eliminate lax
enforcement that make it easier to ship jobs and capital
overseas by ending "deferral" that rewards moving jobs
overseas. "We reward companies like Exxon-Mobil who park $56
billion in profits overseas because they don't have to pay a
dime in US taxes on those profits" Hillary said.
"My insourcing agenda is based on a different approach. I
believe our government should get out of the business of
rewarding companies for shipping jobs overseas, and get back
into the business of rewarding companies that create good,
high-wage jobs with good benefits right here in America," she
added. The "insourcing" plan, billed by Hillary's campaign as
"groundbreaking", provides $7 billion per year in new tax
benefits and investments to help companies create high-paying,
high-quality jobs in the US. Part of the plan would be a $5
billion tax credit for communities hard hit by global
competition and trade.
Obama has been talking in greater detail about what he would
do to repair the economy and contrasting that with McCain's
proposals. But this has sometimes come at the expense of
Obama's more abstract and inspiring message about rising above
partisan pettiness to unite the country, the central call of
his campaign.
At the same time, McCain and Hillary have begun a combined
assault on Obama's working-class outreach, pouncing on his
remarks at a recent San Francisco fundraiser -- about how many
small-town Americans have grown "bitter" about their economic
situation -- as evidence of elitism and lack of empathy for
average Americans.
Of course the debate on economics takes place off and on and
the key objective of this is to outsmart each other and not
necessarily a concrete proposal for US to overcome its
difficulties and deficiencies. Reports suggest neither
candidate is likely to have the 2,024 delegates needed to win
the nomination after the contests end in early June, leaving
the decision up to nearly 800 super-delegates -- elected
officials and party insiders who are free to back any
candidate. U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi
said the campaign should continue through the end of voting,
and repeated her view that super-delegates should not be
perceived to overturn the will of the voters.
Not allowing himself being left behind the scene, McCain said
he will soon offer a plan with specifics to help homeowners
who are having trouble paying their mortgages because of
adjustable-rate loans. He was on a week-long tour highlighting
his military service and life story, visited his former high
school outside Washington, D.C. "Senator Clinton's attacks on
John McCain are a desperate attempt to change the focus away
from the divisive battle within the Democratic Party," said
Republican National Committee spokesman Alex Conant, who
challenged her to explain how she will pay for her new
spending proposals.
McCain does not think the final choice of the Democratic Party
would really matter to the contest as he looks pretty
confident of his "better chances" in the poll in due course.
But then US electorates have to wait until June to know who
will stand against the Republican McCain in November.
(Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal is a Research Scholar at the
School of International studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University;
New Delhi)
Beirut, 25 Years ago - Little did we
know
Claude
Salhani
SPECIAL
REPORT: Twenty-five years ago on this day, April 18, I was
driving back from the U.S. Marine compound near Beirut
International Airport where a press conference was held for
the big news item of the day: a Marine guarding the perimeter
was shot at. The Marine was unhurt, but the bullet went
through his baggy trousers. That was the top news item of the
day … until … until 1:03 p.m. That was the exact time when a
suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden van into the U.S.
Embassy in Beirut. The blast was heard and felt several miles
away.
At 1:03 p.m. I was less than two miles away from the embassy,
driving back from the Marine compound. It was a typical Beirut
day; the sun was shining and traffic was a mess. Typical until
1:03 p.m.
A jeepload of the Beirut police known as Squad 16 was directly
in front of my car and we both felt the shock of the
explosion. They must have received an alert on their police
radio as they immediately turned on their siren to make their
way through the dense traffic. I kept on their tail knowing
they were most likely heading for the site of the explosion.
Noticing the sign on my windshield identifying me as a
journalist, the policeman in the back of the jeep motioned me
to follow.
We made it to the embassy within minutes. Or maybe I should
say to what was left of the embassy. The scene was
apocalyptic. There were mutilated bodies littering the
sidewalks. People staring at them in utter shock and
disbelief. Clouds of smoke and fire was coming out from one
side of the embassy building. The embassy's Marine guards,
those who had survived the blast, were trying to set up a
security perimeter around the blast zone, as rescue crews
arrived. Documents, no doubt many of them confidential, were
floating through the air, taking their own time to reach the
ground. It was as though they answered to a different set of
gravity laws.
Walking around the corner toward the front of the building
offered a scene of additional desolation. Its multistoried
front façade had collapsed like a house of cards. Trapped
between two of the upper floors, part of a man's body could be
seen. It took more than a day for rescue crews to get to it.
French soldiers serving with the multinational force from a
nearby position arrived and assisted in setting up the
security perimeter, until truckloads of Marines from the
airport base arrived on the scene. Six months later the
Marines became the target of another suicide bomber, but
that's another story. The man believed to be responsible for
the Beirut Embassy bombing - and numerous other attacks - was
Imad Mughnieh, a leader of Hezbollah suspected to have been
acting on behalf of the Iranians. He was killed in February in
Damascus by a bomb placed in the headrest of his car.
On this day in 1983, 25 years ago, 63 people - among them 17
Americans - died in the Beirut Embassy blast. They were the
first victims in a new war being waged by an enemy working in
the shadows. A war which continues to this day. But on that
sunny day in Beirut, little did we know of what was to come.
Middle East Times editor Claude Salhani was a correspondent
based in Beirut at the time of the Beirut bombing.
Source: ww.middleeasttimes.com
International
Nepal’s king won’t
go into exile: Palace
AFP, Kathmandu
Nepal's King Gyanendra on Monday angrily denied
speculation he will be heading into exile following a
victory by former Maoist rebels in landmark elections.
A statement from the royal palace rejected what it said
were "malicious reports appearing in sections of the
national and international media in recent days against
the royal palace."
"The reports referred to are about his majesty going to
India," a palace source told AFP.
"He will not be going anywhere. He is not going to leave
the country."
Nepal's Maoists are on track to win the largest single
bloc of seats in an assembly that will rewrite the
country's constitution.
The vote count is expected to end on Tuesday, and the
Maoists are expected to win at least 240 seats in a
601-member constitutional assembly-making them the
dominant party and just short of holding an outright
majority.
The ultra-leftists say they intend to abolish Nepal's
240-year-old monarchy as quickly as possible, and have
called on Gyanendra to leave the palace "gracefully"
rather than be forcibly evicted.
They have also warned the king of "a trial and strong
punishment" if he refuses to accept life as a commoner in
one of the world's poorest nations.
Gyanendra came to the throne in bizarre and tragic
circumstances in 2001, when his popular brother and eight
other family members were shot dead by a drunk, drugged,
love-sick and suicidal crown prince.
The new monarch and his son Paras-loathed for his reported
playboy lifestyle-failed to win the hearts and minds of a
public that viewed the pair's survival of the palace
massacre as deeply suspicious.
In 2005 he seized absolute power to fight the Maoists, but
instead fuelled a wave of republican sentiment that led to
mainstream parties striking a historic 2006 peace deal
with the rebels, ending a decade of civil war.
Gyanendra has since been stripped of all his powers,
including his role as head of state and army commander.
He has faced numerous demands to step down quietly, but
has so far refused to do so.
Analysts say the king can still count on support from
sections of the army and Hindu fundamentalists who see him
as the incarnation of a Hindu god.
Meanwhile, Nepal's Maoists said Saturday they would lead
the next government as they staged a victory rally with
poll results showing them on track to emerge as the
country's biggest party.
The April 10 polls were the climax of the 2006 peace deal
between the Maoists and mainstream political parties, and
the former rebels have confounded analysts and diplomats
who forecast they would come in third at best.
"We will lead the next government after the final results
of the elections. The people's mandate has clearly given
us the responsibility to head the new government," Maoist
information minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara told AFP.
Mahara's statements came as Maoist supporters feted the
party's strong showing on the outskirts of the capital
Kathmandu.
Cheering supporters wreathed party leader Prachanda-whose
nom de guerre means the "fierce one"-with marigold
garlands and smudged red powder on his forehead as
musicians beat drums in celebration.
A beaming Prachanda waded into crowds of supporters in the
market place where the rally was held, shaking hands and
waving to people watching from building windows above the
crowds.
"Namaste, namaste," Prachanda said repeatedly to
well-wishers, pressing his palms together and bowing his
head slightly in the traditional form of salutation used
in South Asia.
Eight killed in Israeli raids after Gaza crossing attack
AFP, Gaza City
At least eight Palestinians were killed Sunday after
Israeli forces launched air strikes across the Gaza Strip,
a day after Hamas militants detonated explosives-laden
vehicles at a border crossing.
Two more Palestinians were killed and three wounded during
a raid late Sunday in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza
strip, bringing the total number of dead to eight,
according to medical sources and witnesses.
They were killed in an air-to-ground missile strike, the
sources said. An Israeli military source confirmed the
attack, saying it was aimed at a "group of armed men."
But Palestinian medical sources said one of the dead was a
civilian.
Six Palestinian fighters, all members of Hamas, the
Islamist movement that violently seized Gaza last year and
that refuses to recognise Israel's right to exist, were
killed in air raids early Sunday.
Israel began air attacks against militants on Saturday
after they detonated two booby-trapped vehicles disguised
as Israeli military jeeps at the Kerem Shalom border
crossing used to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza,
whose economy is crippled by an Israeli blockade.
Thirteen Israeli soldiers were wounded in Saturday's
attack, which Israeli Major General Yoav Galant described
as the "most ambitious launched against our troops" since
the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005.
The jeeps and an armoured vehicle approached the border
under the cover of fog and mortar fire. The Israeli army
said it foiled an attempt to detonate the third vehicle
and killed four "terrorists" who were in it.
A fourth booby-trapped vehicle approached the security
fence near Kibbutz Nirim, just north of Kerem Shalom, but
troops spotted it and blew it up before it could cause any
harm, the army said.
The operation, which was claimed by Hamas, was the fifth
time in 10 days that militants had attacked crossings with
Israel.
On April 9, two Israeli civilians were killed when
Palestinian militants raided the Nahal Oz crossing that
supplies virtually all of Gaza's fuel.
"The terrorists planned to execute a wider attack," the
army said, adding they may have intended to kidnap
soldiers.
"Hamas is exploiting the compassion and generosity of the
State of Israel by targeting humanitarian crossings.
Fresh anti-Western protests rock China
AFP, Beijing
Fresh anti-Western protests broke out in China Sunday with
angry demonstrators targeting US broadcaster CNN and
French store Carrefour in rows over perceived bias, Tibet
and the Beijing Olympics.
Protesters in Xian, Harbin and Jinan defied a huge police
crackdown to chant slogans and hold banners that read
"Oppose Tibet independence," "Oppose CNN's anti-China
statements" and "Boycott Carrefour," a participant said.
"This was a patriotic movement, people want CNN and
Carrefour to apologise," Wang Zheng, a protester at a
Carrefour store in the northern city of Xian, told AFP by
telephone.
"We oppose Tibetan and Taiwan independence and we also
oppose the politicisation of the Olympic Games."
As demonstrations continued for a second day, France said
it was sending two envoys with messages from President
Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been unpopular over his threat to
boycott the Olympics opening ceremony.
Former prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin arrives on
Wednesday while the president's top diplomatic adviser,
Jean-David Levitte, is due to fly in next weekend.
Anti-French feeling was fanned by Paris's chaotic leg of
the Olympic torch relay, while Carrefour's 122
supermarkets here have been subject to boycotts over its
alleged support of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai
Lama, which it denies.
Protesters are also lashing out at the CNN TV network over
its commentator Jack Cafferty, who caused outrage last
week when he called the Beijing leadership "goons and
thugs" and slammed the quality of Chinese exports.
According to the official Xinhua news agency, more than
1,000 people assembled in front of the Carrefour store in
Xian, while demonstrations also occurred at stores in the
northeastern city of Harbin and Jinan in the east.
The protests follow noisy anti-China demonstrations in
London, Paris and San Francisco that have marred the
international Beijing Olympic torch relay, an event aimed
at promoting this year's Games.
Anti-Chi |