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Gas crisis in capital
Major repair work on Bakhrabad-Demra gas
line
UNB, Dhaka
Gas supply to a major part of Dhaka city will remain
partially suspended for at least 48 hours from Sunday
midnight for a major repair on the main gas-transmission
line at Daudkandi in Commilla. For the temporary closure
of gas supply, about a third of the capital city,
particularly the southeastern part, will be directly
affected as people of the area will have to use
alternative sources of energy for cooking and other
purposes.
The gas-based industries will also be affected by the
supply disruption.
The affected areas include Postagola, Zurain, Jatrabari,
Dhalpur, Bibirbagicha, Gupibagh, Kamlapur, Khilgaon,
Basabo, Shahjahanpur, Badda, Rampura, Ulan, Tejgaon
Industrial area, Mahakhali, Gulshan, Nayatola, Madhubagh,
Santinagar, Siddheswari, Motijheel, Wari, Gendaria,
Nawabpur, Sadarghat, Sutrapur, Banglabazar, Bakshibazar,
Islampur, Hazaribagh and Azimpur.
Apart from the city areas, gas supply in some adjoining
areas, including Sonargaon, Meghnaghat and Rupganj in
Narayanganj, Gazaria in Munshiganj, Daudkandi, Homna and
Titas in Commilla, and Banchharampur and Kachua in
Chandpur will remain suspended.
Besides, at least 2 power plants will have to suspend
their operation for two days due to the suspension of gas
supply, official sources said.
The power plants, located in Narayanganj, are state-owned
Power Development Board (PDB)’s 50-MW Hapipur power plant
and the independent power producer (IPP)’s 100-MW NEPC
power Plant.
Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company and
Bakhrabad gas company will jointly conduct the repairing
works on the 20’ Bakhrabad-Demra gas transmission line.
Titas gas officials said Dhaka city gets gas supply from
four transmission sources: Demra, Jaidevpur, Ashulia and
Elenga.
Titas Managing Director M Abullah told UNB that his
organisation is trying to arrange alternative system to
keep the supply normal in the city. But until now it’s not
certain.
"Since this is a major repair, so we have alerted people
about the non-supply of gas during the repairing work," he
said. He said the capital city normally consumes 220
million cubic feet (mmcf) gas per day. About 100-mmcfd gas
comes from Bakhrabad-Demra line.He noted that he is
hopeful that the gas supply would be restored by Monday
midnight and then the consumers would get supply as usual.
Sources said the Titas gas company decided to do the
repair as the country’s largest power plant-450-MW
Meghnaghat plant, which gets supply from Baghrabad-Demra
line—is now under overhauling.
National energy
sources
National coal policy to be announced soon
Staff Correspondent
The government is expected to announce the national coal
policy soon in order to ensure proper utilisation of the
natural resources in the greater
interest of the country.
The draft of the proposed coal policy are being finalised
with the goal of ensuring ‘optimum production.’ The
objective of the optimum production policy is to ensure
more production of coal through ensuring pollution-free
environment so that coal.
Sources said, the government is formulating the national
coal policy in a bid to free the country’s natural
resources from all sorts of corruption and irregularities
as the previous governments made several decisions
regarding the country’s fuel sector ignoring the national
interest on the plea of attracting foreign direct
investment (FDI) resulting in huge financial losses to the
country.
The country requires at least 1200 metric tons of coal to
produce power till 2035. The country, however, has a stock
of some 1168 metric tons of coal. So, there is no option
but to formulate national coal policy as soon as possible
to ensure proper utiliation of the country’s coal
resources, sources said.
Country to face
serious setback by 2015 if new gas fields not discovered
Staff Correspondent
The country
will face a serious set back by the year of 2015 If any
fresh sources of natural gas is not discovered or
government does not take effective measures to reserve in
this vital sector.
With present gas reserves, estimated at 8.50 to 9 trillion
cubic feet (TCF) which may be exhausted before 2015,
sources in the ministry of energy and mineral resource
said. But the international companies are not showing keen
interest for risky investment to explore for future energy
security while the government is not able to make
requisite investment.
The gas demand has increased by 250-300 million cubic feet
per day (MMCFD) in the last few years. The present average
gas demand is over 1700, million cubic feet per day
occasionally picking up to about 1750. On the other hand,
the present production capacity from 60 to 65 wells of 12
producing gas field is 1700 million cubic feet per day.
Although the government is considering to purchase gas
from Myanmar to face the crisis but it yet to take a final
decision regarding this.
Around ninety per cent of the power plants of the country
are fired by gas and many industries and factories are
also based on this natural resource. However no
exploratory or development well could be drilled in the
last few years to augment the gas production. Security of
supply to national gas grid has become vulnerable. Gas
shock, gas rationing are being experienced. Down stream
users of various categories suffer from low gas-pressure
problems in various industrial belts of Dhaka and its
neighborhoods.
All the past and present caretaker government set its
priorities for the sector. Reducing system loss and
improving accounts of receivable, accelerating exploration
and production of gas, expanding CNG utilisation, setting
up Energy Regularatory Commission to ensure a level
playing field for gas sector players, finding ways of
containing pressure of the "International" and donor
agencies for allowing export were the salient points.
The sources said that the sector was overshadowed by
mismanagement of affairs so far as increasing production
and expansion of transmission and distribution activities
are concerned.
The sources said that the transmission capacity is also
constrained by capacity saturation of critical segments of
the national gas grid. The system management has become
extremely difficult.
Extortion case against Hasina
Discord surfaces between HC and Appellate division
UNB, Dhaka
A discord
between the two wings of the Supreme Court—the High Court
division and the Appellate division—has surfaced over the
extortion case against detained former Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina who stands trial under the Emergency Power
Rules.
The Appellate division censured two Judges of a division
bench of the High Court comprising Justice Shah Abu Nayeem
Monminur Rahman and Justice Shahidul Islam for their Jan
17 orders. The apex court accused them of tending to let
loose a judicial anarchy.
The apple of discord stemmed from a stay and a
counter-stay on each other’s orders relating to a Tk
3-crore extortion case against Hasina, the formal trial of
which started with deposition making by complainant
businessman Azam J Chowdhury on January 30.
The HC orders stalled the further proceedings of Hasina’s
trial by the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge
until the disposal of its pending rule that had asked the
government to explain why bringing the extortion case for
trial under the Emergency Power Rules should not be
declared illegal.
The High Court orders said since the rule is otherwise
ready for hearing and as the legality of the initiation
and continuation of trial pending before the sessions
court is dependent on the decision of the rule, it would
be just and fair at this stage to stay its further trial
proceedings.
Earlier, on July 30 last year, the High Court, following a
writ petition filed by Awami League president Sheikh
Hasina, issued a rule staying the case proceedings and
granting bail to Hasina.
The EPR bars a detained accused from submitting
application seeking bail before any court of the country
till the case is settled within a specific timeline.
CA urges farmers to increase
food production
UNB, Mithapukur, Rangpur
Assuring
necessary government support, Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin
Ahmed urged farmers to redouble their effort to increase
production of food by turning single-crop farmland into
two-crop land.
"We don’t have any alternative to food production as
acreage of land is squeezing due to urbanization,
industrialization and infrastructure development," he told
a meeting of representatives of cross-sections of people
at the Upazila auditorium.
Dr Ahmed, now in Rangpur holding a meeting of the Council
of Advisors, said instructions were given to departments
concerned to timely supply agricultural inputs like
fertilizer, diesel and irrigation to farmers in order to
boost boro paddy production this year.
The head of caretaker government said the Rural
Electrification Board has been provided with money to buy
electric transformers to help irrigation for the boro
farming. Besides, shops and markets have been ordered to
close at 8pm to save power for irrigation.
He said the government has set the target of procuring 28
lakh tons of fertilizer this year, 3 lakh tons more than
previous year’s, to support increased agricultural
production. The fertilizers will be distributed from
12,000 to 14,000 points so that farmers could get it
timely.
"Turn your one-crop land into two-crop land and two-crop
into three-crop land. Government will provide all-out
support to you in increasing production, " he said. Dr
Ahmed noted that the incumbent government has prioritized
the agriculture sector with increased allocation in ADP.
Besides, Tk 350 crore has been earmarked for agriculture
research to increase the production of food-grains.
Explaining the reason for holding the Council-of-Advisors
meeting in Rangpur, he said, "We want to take government
to the doorstep of common people. Rangpur has been
selected as it is far away from the capital Dhaka." He
said the Council meeting asked the Advisors to identify
the problems in the northern region and take effective
measures to resolve those.
West Bengal govt imposes
levy on rice mills, import declines
UNB, Chapainawabganj
West Bengal
government of India has imposed levy on the rice mills
resulting in drastic fall in import of rice through Sona
Masjid land port.
Some 40 trucks with about 800 metric tons of rice came to
Sona Masjid land port on Saturday as against 2,103 metric
tons on Thursday and 1,432 tons on Wednesday, said the
customs officials.
According Indian exporters, the authorities have issued
order that millers are to sell to the government 50
percent of their production.
The levy has been imposed for the government’s internal
procurement. The rice millers have declined to sell to the
exporters according to the demand, as they are to meet the
government levy.
At the same time millers have been agitating against the
government as its procurement price is Rs 11 kg as against
the market price of Rs 13.
The exporters are making huge profit from rice export to
Bangladesh, said Abdul Wahed, president of local chamber
of commerce and industry. Levy on millers by the West
Bengal Government has cause impediment to rice export, he
added.
Politics
AL
AL demands immediate release of all
detained political leaders
Staff Correspondent
The Awami League has demanded immediate release of all
detained political leaders along with its party chief
Sheikh Hasina so that a congenial atmosphere conducive to
a free, fair and credible election is created.
Acting AL president Zillur Rahman made the demand at a
press conference at the Dhanmondi party office on
Saturday.
AL Relief Committee for Sidr-affected people organised the
press conference to release the statistics regarding
collection and disbursement of relief materials among the
cyclone victims.
Calling upon the government to create a propitious
environment for the upcoming general election through
taking necessary measures, he said immediate release of
all the jailed political leaders including Awami League
president Sheikh Hasina will play a vital role in holding
the next general election in a neutral and credible
manner.
He also demanded immediate withdrawal of the state of
emergency to bring back normalcy in the country soon.
Awami League will not abstain from its fight for democracy
and rule of law until the people’s demands are realised,
he added.
Thanking the Awami League leaders and activists for coming
forward with cash and kind for the Sidr victims, Zillur
Rahman said, Awami League will always stand by the
helpless people to mitigate their distress as the party
did in the past under the leadership of AL chief Sheikh
Hasina.
Presenting the relief collection and disbursement
statistics at the press conference, relief committee
chairman Abdur Razzak said since January 31, a total of Tk
1,78,61,170 was donated to the relief fund and the whole
amount of money has been given away among the Sidr victims
of 10 districts.
A huge quantity of medicines were given to thousands of
ailing people by the relief
committee.
Tofael Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Motia Chowdhury, Syeda
Sajeda Chowdhury and acting general secretary Syed
Ashraful Islam were also present at the press conference.
Others
European Parliament members
express concern over political developments in BD
UNB, Dhaka
A group of European Parliament members urged the caretaker
government to lift the state of emergency and announce an
election date as soon as possible.
In a joint statement they expressed concern over recent
political developments in Bangladesh as well as health
condition of detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"As members of the European Parliament we are ready to
support further cooperation with Bangladesh as a long
lasting development partner, if the present government
restores civic and political liberties and arranges as
soon as possible free and fair democratic elections under
the presence of international observers," they said.
Some 21 members of European parliament issued the
statement on January 22 which was released by Awami League
office on Saturday.
The signatories include Michael Gahler (Germany), member
of the sub-committee on Human Rights and Vice-Chairman of
the committee on Foreign Affairs, Johan Van Parke
(Belgium), Dr Charles Pannock (UK), Eija-Rika Konhola
(Finland), Baroness Sarah Lubford (UK), Sajjad M Karim
(UK), Ignasi Guardans Cambo (Spain), Dan Mulder
(Netherlands), Toina Manders (Netherlands), Irena
Belochorske (Slovakia), Therry Cornillet (France), Luisa
Morgantini (Italy) and Maroo Cappato (Italy).
Back Page
Businessmen being harassed by NBR and Customs?
Staff Correspondent
Businessmen are facing serious difficulties in export and
import of goods as they are being harassed in many ways by
NBR and Custom, Excise and Bond Commissionarate everyday.
This was stated by the import and export business leaders
at a discussion on "Custom Bonded Warehouse" organised by
Core Resources Ltd at CIRDAP auditorium on Saturday.
They called upon the government to take immediate steps
for setting up a separate Custom, Excise and Bond
Commissionarate in Chittagong and simplification custom,
tax and bond licence related rules to encourage the export
and import business.
As the chief guest, Syed Manzur Elahi, administrator,
FBCCI, said that export business should be promoted for
the sustainable development of national economy but export
business is being hampered due to bureaucratic
complications.
"Bangladesh which has opportunity to produce various goods
at cheap cost, can be easily a leading exporting country.
China exports 75% shoes of the world. There are ethnic
problems, high labour and material cost in China and many
other exporting countries. But there are no such problems
in Bangladesh where export can be promoted easily if the
government takes necessary step in this regard", he said.
Md Habib Ullah, director, Standard Group, said there is a
NBR order prohibiting taking any duty and bank guarantee
from any company which imports raw material and
subsequently gives it to another company for manufacturing
goods for export. But recently, the importers are asked to
submit bank guarantees to the custom excise and bond
commissionarate tax authority.
Safi Ullah Chowdhury, president, Bangladesh Corrugated
Cartoon and Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters
Association, said, "The plastic industries are suffering
from the frequent power outage. The plastic product
manufacturers should be subject to abatement of tax."
Hussain Ahmed, commissioner, Custom Bond Commissionarate,
said the government is going to introduce a computarised
automatic communication among NBR, Custom Bond
Commissionarate, L.C. Board and Banks for smooth
regulation of export and import business. He said the NBR
has initiated the project to set up the IT bases
communication to share information or files electronically
by the departments for quick disposal of activities of
those.
Bird flu outbreak 'under control', says West Bengal
Minister
AFP, Kolkata
An Indian state said it had brought the country's
worst bird flu outbreak "under control" on Saturday as
neighbouring Bangladesh reported the virus was spreading.
The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu had been detected in 13
of 19 districts in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal
since the outbreak began in mid-January.
The state's Animal Resource Development Minister Anisur
Rahaman told AFP that health workers expected to complete
the culling of three million poultry by late Saturday.
"We have so far culled nearly 2.9 million poultry since
January 14," when the outbreak-India's third and worst-was
confirmed, Rahaman said.
He added that the "next plan is to disinfect thousands of
backyard poultry yards where culling has been done."
The state government was "taking all possible steps to
stop the spread of the H5N1 strains of bird flu to
humans," he said.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh slaughtered tens of thousands of
chickens on Saturday as four more districts reported
outbreaks.
"The disease is spreading," livestock department chief
Sunil Chandra Ghosh said while insisting authorities had
the situation under control.
The H5N1 strain has now spread to 34 out of Bangladesh's
64 districts, forcing the police and livestock officials
to slaughter 35,000 chickens in the past three days,
officials said.
Humans typically catch bird flu by coming into direct
contact with infected poultry, but experts fear the H5N1
strain may mutate into a form easily transmissible between
people.
"All culling workers have been asked to stay for at least
10 days in hospital to take the full course of (antiviral
drug)) Tamilflu and burn clothes worn during culling,"
Rahaman said.
At least 700 were already in hospital taking Tamiflu,
recommended by the World Health Organisation for use as a
first line of defence against the virus, Rahaman said.
No cases of humans catching bird flu have yet been
reported in India or Bangladesh. But in Indonesia on
Friday, a 31-year-old woman died of the virus, bringing
the toll to 102 in the nation worst hit by the illness.
Hossain Zillur for responsible market coordination
BSS, Natore
Adviser for commerce and education Dr Hossain Zillur
Rahman on Saturday laid emphasis on coordinating the
demands of large number of stakeholders operating in the
market with a view to developing it on strong foundation.
He made this comment while exchanging views in the
conference room of the deputy commissioner with officials,
civil society leaders, farmers, representatives of local
producers and printing industry.
The commerce adviser said coordination of divergent
interest of four broad- based stakeholder groups is
important to bring discipline in the market. These groups
include consumers, producers, businessmen and various
government agencies to make sure they are behaving in a
cohesive way.
And more important to all of them, he said is the
collection of correct market information and its proper
maintenance.
The meeting witnessed free, frank discussion on how to
achieve the development of the district and the
participants shared their views on wide ranging issues
affecting their life and the development of the district.
They exchanged views on prices of essentials, problems
affecting education and agriculture and the challenges
arising out of market distortions. They emphasized the
need for solving these problems in the light of the
realities on the ground.
Dr Hossain Zillur said he would convey the views of the
people to the relevant agencies of the government to bring
remedial actions where it is required.
‘Climate change threatens BD’
BSS, Dhaka
"Most people
in Bangladesh thinks that climate change is confusing;
they can't see how it relates to them; won't affect them
personally; is a problem for the future, not now; and
can't be affected by their individual actions, because the
problem is so big".
These are the challenges we need to face for fighting
climate change, leading expert and IUCN Bangladesh country
director Dr Ainun Nishat told environmental journalists
and added," We can prepare for the challenges if we
believe something can be done. Firstly, we need to change
these attitudes".
Climate change, Dr Nishat asserted, is happening now.
Bangladesh is already suffering from its present impacts,
said another climate scientist and BIDS research director
Dr M Asaduzzaman. Quoting current scientific
understanding, globally acclaimed climate scientist Dr
Atiq A Rahman of BCAS warned, the state of well being and
survival of the people in Bangladesh will be under serious
threat from climate change over the coming decades.
Crime Watch
Police should work with public: JR Modassir
Staff Correspondent
Former chief justice Syed J R Modassir Hossain has said,
the police shall have to work in partnership with the
public and organisations to reduce crime and fear of
crime.
"It is the need of the hour that the role played and
duties performed by the law enforcing agent in terms of
maintaining law and order, discipline in the society,
human rights of all people more specially who are poor,
women, oppressed, deprived and vulnerable in many
respects, may be greatly valued for protecting human
rights," he observed.
The former justice was addressing the inaugural session of
a workshop on "Study on Duties and Obligation of the Law
Enforcing Institute" at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU)
auditorium at Segun Bagicha in the capital on Saturday.
Crime Reporters' Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) in
association with the Bangladesh Human Rights
Implementation Agency organized the workshop with CRAB
president Modhusudhan Mandol in the chair.
Professor Golam Azam of Dhaka University presented the key
note paper at the workshop while the executive director of
the human rights organization, advocate Elina Khan
moderated the function. Among others, former IGP Mohammad
Abdul Quayum, DG RAB Hasan Mahmud Khandaker, Chief
Metropolitan Magistrate AKM Enamul Haque, Nurul Islam, Dr
izanur Rahman Shelly, Omar Faruque and CRAB general
secretary Azhar Mahmud spoke on the occasion.
Upazila Election Officer held with cocaine
A Correspondent, Rajshahi
Three persons including a Upazila Election Officer were
arrested by the members of RAB-5 in Rajshahi with a pound
of Cocaine at Bansbaria village under Porsha upazia of
Naogaon district on Friday night.
The arrested persons have been identified as Nasir Uddin,
Upazila Election Officer of Porsha upazila, drug traders
Kutub Uddin and Mahbub. According to RAB sources, acting
on a tip off, the members of RAB-5 stormed at the house of
Mahbub at Bansbaria village and recovered one pound of
Cocaine and arrested Mahbub, Nasir uddin and Kutub Uddin
from there. Local people informed, arrested persons were
dealing in cocaine and heroin for a long time. RAB also
gathered some sensational information about the drug
traders' syndicate but refused to disclose those for the
sake of further investigation.
Man nabbed with links to Tagore medal theft
BSNEWS24, Dhaka
Police have arrested an accomplice on Saturday of Indian
national Jibon Singh, one of the accused in a case that
involves the theft of Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel medal, a
CID officer said. The police have been interrogating
Shiplu with alleged links to the theft.
Additional superintendent of police (CID) Md Abdullah Arif
said Shiplu was arrested in a raid on a house in Lalbagh
Thursday night. He said they were confirmed that Shiplu
had been hosting Jibon Singh.
"Shiplu is one of the accomplices of Jibon Singh, accused
of stealing the medal. Jibon Singh is evading arrest."
Arif said told bdnews24.com that Indian authorities had
already sought cooperation from Dhaka to arrest Singh,
believed to be hiding in Bangladesh. He said Shiplu would
be remanded in custody and interrogated on the location of
Jibon Singh and stealing of the Nobel medal.
CID Saturday afternoon asked a court for permission to
take Shiplu on seven days' remand. The court sent Shiplu
to jail and set Sunday for hearing the remand appeal.
Shiplu recently returned from Italy.
In a Nov 6 overnight operation, RAB raided Roksana
Handicrafts at Gulshan-2 City Corporation Market in search
of Tagore's missing medal and arrested shop owner Abul
Hossain and two salespersons on suspicion. Later, the two
salespersons were released.
Charge sheet against Danida men for taking bribes
A Correspondent, Patuakhali
Patuakhali sadar thana police has submitted charge sheet
against two Danida officials in a bribe taking case.
Sheikh Delwar Hossain, OC (Officer in Charge) of sadar
thana submitted the charge sheet to the local Magistrate
court on Monday.
The were identified as Md. Amdad Hossain, monitoring &
evaluation officer and Md. Sirajul Islam, manager (Admin &
finance) of Patuakhali aquaculture and livestock extension
project. According to the charge sheet accused demanded Tk
1.5 lakh to plaintiff Hafiz-Al-Masud assuring give job to
his brother Hafiz Al Asad in the project. Masud gave a
through a bank cheque Of Tk 20,000 on June 22 in 2006 and
Amdad Hossain received money from the bank by putting his
signature. Later on Sirajul on September 18 and Amdad
Hossain on October 10 in 2006 demanded more money to the
plaintiff more money though separate massages by their
cell phones. The plaintiff gave more Tk 50,000 on October
19 to Amdad though another bank cheque and Amada received
the money same way. But on May 22 in 2007 accused demanded
Tk two lakh to make a job other wise disagreed to return
the money. Finding no alternatives Masud filed a case to
the local court on June 5 against the officials. The court
sent signatures of Amdad to justify to the hand writing
experts. The experts submitted report identifying Amdad's
signatures.
White gold recovered
UNB, Satkhira
Sixteen tolas of white gold worth about Tk six lakh was
recovered from a bus at Kadamtala Bazar in the town
Saturday. Acting on a tip-off, BDR jawans of Nildumur camp
intercepted a capital bound bus and recovered the gold
from under seat cover at about 11am.
Two alleged extremists shot dead
UNB, Pabna
Terrorists shot dead two suspected extremists at
remote Ramnarayanpur in Bera upazila on Friday night.
Police recovered the bodies from the bank of the Padma
river Saturday morning and sent to Pabna General Hospital
morgue for autopsy.
Police said outlawed party member Bacchu (20), of Bera
upazila, and his unidentified associate, aged about 27,
were shot and then slaughtered by their rival party
members at sometime Friday night. They were wanted in
various cases including of robbery and murder,
police said. A case was filed with Bera thana in
connection with the double murder.
Robbery in Noakhali
UNB, Noakhali
Robbers stormed into a market in Companiganj upazila and
looted cash and valuables worth over Tk 3 lakh from four
shops on Wednesday night. The shopkeepers said the gang
numbering 10/12 raided the Chowdhury Bazar and looted
valuables worth Tk two lakh and cash Tk one lakh from
grocery shop of Dulal, Anis Store, Cold Corner of Sattar
and Bombay Centre. On the same night the gang entered into
the office room of Musapur High School headmaster and took
away Tk one lakh in cash from the almirah.
Another report from Gazipur adds: Police on Thursday
arrested three dacoits for committing robbery at an
expatriate's house on Monday at Aral village in Kapasia
upazila. Police also recovered some stolen goods from
their possession.
Police said a gang of robbers stormed into the house of
Saudi expatriate Babul Khan at dead of night and looted
cash and valuables worth about Tk 5 lakh.
Editorial
Quota in BCS
For
the last couple of days, people have been demonstrating
against quotas in BCS recruitment. The contention is that if
55 percent of the recruitment is reserved, many talented
people simply do not get a chance to get into the BCS thereby
depriving the Civil Service of some of the best and the
brightest. The contentions of the demonstrating people have
both merit and logic for a number of very valid reasons.
Firstly, undue ad unfair advantage is taken of the quota
system to push in people to the BCS who have neither the
ability nor do they deserve to be there. Corruption, of which
there are numerous allegations, is therefore, engendered and
perpetuated. Secondly, where is the justification for keeping
30 percent of vacancies for freedom fighters, 37 years after
the Liberation War, when most, if not all freedom fighters are
in their 60s, even their children are in their mid 30s; where
is the justification of keeping 10 percent seats reserved for
women and districts when the BCS examinations are open to any
citizen with the necessary qualification regardless of gender,
race or religion; and finally one is hard put to justify a 5
percent quota for "indigenous" people when they consist of
less than half a percent of the populace.
Basically the quota system is allowing people to get into the
BCS who are incapable of competing for the vacancies through
the normal system which is very unfair to the whole host of
talent waiting out there and competing for a limited number of
vacancies for the elite civil service. A system which allows
55 percent of the relatively untalented but only 45 percent of
the talented to get into government service, is not conducive
to merit, efficiency, competence, integrity or fairness.
Moreover, the quota system violates basic human rights and
some important tenets of our Constitution which call for equal
opportunities to be provided for government employment, to all
citizens regardless of race, gender, religion or economic and
social status. The Government, the Public Service Commission
and the Civil Services ought to therefore, review the
recruitment policies and make them more amenable to "equal
opportunities" and fairness.
ADP Projects
Although our Finance
Adviser would'nt lose hope on the poor implementation of ADP,
estimated at 21 percent in the first half of the current
fiscal year, we all have already lost hope. Non-performing and
non- implementable ADPs are nothing new for Bangladesh; every
year, every government unveils a massive ADP, most of which
never see the "light of day" and remain what they are - pieces
of paper. This year however; things are even worse and they
are worse because the government machinery and the bureaucracy
is far too cumbersome and unresponsive to be anything other
than "worst". Yet inspite of non-performance, the ECNEC has
gone ahead to approve another 11 projects worth Tk. 4,751
crores. One wonders where all this money goes to, at the end
of the year, if little or anything is being implemented?
There is no gainsaying the fact that government spending in
the form of ADPs have a considerable impact on the economy
because they generate a huge number of economic activities
providing employment and living to large number of skilled,
semi-skilled and unskilled work-force who would otherwise
remain unemployed or at best under-employed. These large
number of people then spend the money they earn in
"consumption" of goods and services and they also save some of
their earnings. The entire process of government spending thus
"fuels" the economy. If that process is disrupted, the economy
is too and this is particularly applicable to countries and
economics like Bangladesh.
Typically therefore, governments in developing economics
increase their spendings through systems such as ADPs and
ensure that such projects are implemented particularly during
"times of trouble" such as we are facing now because of
natural disasters. This is to ensure that the engine of
economy keeps functioning, that people find employment, that
people have money to spend on goods and services which many
other people provide. Unfortunately for us, this is not being
realised by our Government and its Finance Adviser, who then
exude optimism untainted and untouched by the miseries of a
people who have to eke out an existence which can barely be
considered "human" and is often considered "animal".
Analysis
Changing Societies - Changing
Traditions
Many traditional social formats are changing
and being redefined according to the new conditions, fuelled
not least by the fact that demographics in the majority world
are now so biased toward the young.
Palden Jenkins
I
think one thing that is changing is that the West is losing
its capacity to name the game of 'modernization' - and
increasingly the more 'cutting edge' societies of the
'majority world' are doing so. An example: mobile phone
take-up and its effects are quite different in such places as
the Middle East and Africa than in Europe and America. In the
latter, cell phones are a simple addition to an
already-existing telecoms system, while elsewhere, where
advanced telecoms systems don't exist, they represent an
entirely new sociological phenomenon, and in Africa mobile
phones are filling the gap, for micro-payments at least, that,
in the West, are covered by credit/debit cards, and they are
allowing villages to be connected into the wider economy. In
China, cell phones connect migrant workers with home villages
and families, allowing the departure from a village and
consequent family breakdown to be marginally less traumatic
than before.
I think such social changes will arise according to need,
rather than because the West does them. In Southern Africa,
the loss of people, particularly parents, from AIDS is causing
a massive redefinition of families and communities and how
they work, and this is not an emulation of the West but a
pragmatic development arising from circumstances. So I think
that, after the standardization pressures of the last fifty
years, brought about by Western corporate culture, we will see
a new kind of socio-diversity arising worldwide, arising from
local conditions and needs.
But I think that, whatever is true, many traditional social
formats are changing and being redefined according to the new
conditions, fuelled not least by the fact that demographics in
the majority world are now so biased toward the young. This
means that, in the Middle East, where 50% of the population is
under about age 22, social values are shifting rapidly - even
the fundamentalists of the last few decades are now 'older
generation' (now in their 30s-50s) and 'part of the problem'
as perceived by young, blogging, cell phone-using people. For
example, the recent breakout at Rafah in Gaza was a symptom of
these young people, who just took an initiative - since even
Hamas (men in their 40s-50s) are looked on somewhat as 'out of
date'.
But I think the essence of many traditions will hold firm and
gain new strength, not because they are traditional, but
because they serve a realistic purpose in the 21st century. So
we'll probably see a redefinition of tradition instead of a
full-scale rebellion against it. That is, if traditionalists
avoid being too conservative, and therefore stimulating such a
rebellion. An example: amongst my generation in the West, the
rigidity of Christian tradition led to a large-scale rejection
of Christianity, and the dwindling church in the West is now
dominated by old people. But in the Middle East, where,
influenced by the West, many modernizers adopted socialism in
the 1950s-70s (rejecting the past), which was followed by
fundamentalism in the 1980s onwards, young people are not
rejecting Islam so much as redefining it and its concepts in
new ways. In this they are influenced by the new thinking of
Western Muslims, but Western Muslims are not becoming secular
or fully rejecting their past - they are redefining it, and do
not want to adopt all the ways of the West. Al Qaeda, for
example, adopted the technological benefits of Internet and
video technology, without all the commercial and other rubbish
that have come with these technologies in the West.
Meanwhile, amongst youngsters in the West, traditions are
re-surfacing in new forms - especially family and community,
with new notions of allegiance and loyalty. But it is not
blood-family so much as 'soul family' - people united by
belief and preference rather than blood and tradition. This is
their solution to the problems of Western individualism and
loneliness, and it has widespread social and economic effects.
(Palden Jenkins is an internationally renowned writer,
columnist & aid-worker. Copyright Palden Jenkins & The
Bangladesh Today; 01 February 2008.).
Israeli and Palestinian
Palestinians within Israel are a
minority but a rapidly growing one, and their voice needs to
be heard now more than ever.
Daniel Barenboim
BERLIN-I
have often made the statement that the destinies of the
Israeli and Palestinian people are inextricably linked and
that there is no military solution to the conflict. My recent
acceptance of Palestinian nationality has given me the
opportunity to demonstrate this more tangibly.
When my family moved to Israel from Argentina in the 1950s,
one of my parents' intentions was to spare me the experience
of growing up as part of a minority-a Jewish minority. They
wanted to me to grow up as part of a majority-a Jewish
majority.
The tragedy of this is that my generation, despite having been
educated in a society whose positive aspects and human values
have greatly enriched my thinking, ignored the existence of a
minority within Israel - a non-Jewish minority - which had
been the majority in the whole of Palestine until the creation
of the state of Israel in 1948. Part of the non-Jewish
population remained in Israel, and other parts left out of
fear or were forcefully displaced.
In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict there was and still is an
inability to admit the interdependence of their two voices.
The creation of the state of Israel was the result of a
Jewish-European idea, which, if it is to extend its leitmotif
into the future, must accept the Palestinian identity as an
equally valid leitmotif.
The demographic development is impossible to ignore;
Palestinians within Israel are a minority but a rapidly
growing one, and their voice needs to be heard now more than
ever. They now make up approximately 22 percent of the
population of Israel. This is a larger percentage than was
ever represented by a Jewish minority in any country in any
period of history. The total number of Palestinians living
within Israel and in the occupied territories (that is,
greater Israel for the Israelis or greater Palestine for the
Palestinians) is already larger than the Jewish population.
At present, Israel is confronted at once with three problems:
the nature of the modern democratic Jewish state-its very
identity; the problem of Palestinian identity within Israel;
and the problem of the creation of a Palestinian state outside
of Israel. With Jordan and Egypt it was possible to attain
what can best be described as an ice-cold peace without
questioning Israel's existence as a Jewish state.
The problem of the Palestinians within Israel, however, is a
much more challenging one to solve, both theoretically and
practically. For Israel, it means, among other things, coming
to terms with the fact that the land was not barren or empty,
"a land without a people," an idea that was propagated at the
time of its creation. For the Palestinians, it means accepting
the fact that Israel is a Jewish state and is here to stay.
Israelis, however, must accept the integration of the
Palestinian minority even if it means changing certain aspects
of the nature of Israel; they must also accept the
justification for and necessity of the creation of a
Palestinian state next to the state of Israel. Not only is
there no alternative, or magic wand, that will make the
Palestinians disappear, but their integration is an
indispensable condition - on moral, social and political
grounds - for the very survival of Israel.
The longer the occupation continues and Palestinian
dissatisfaction remains unaddressed, the more difficult it is
to find even elementary common ground. We have seen so often
in the modern history of the Middle East that missed
opportunities for reconciliation have had extremely negative
results for both sides.
For my part, when the Palestinian passport was offered to me,
I accepted it in the spirit of acknowledging the Palestinian
destiny that I, as an Israeli, share.
A true citizen of Israel must reach out to the Palestinian
people with openness and at the very least an attempt to
understand what the creation of the state of Israel has meant
to them.
The 15th of May, 1948, is the day of independence for the
Jews, but the same day is Al Nakba, the catastrophe, for the
Palestinians. A true citizen of Israel must ask himself what
the Jews, known as an intelligent people of learning and
culture, have done to share their cultural heritage with the
Palestinians.
A true citizen of Israel must also ask himself why the
Palestinians have been condemned to live in slums and accept
lower standards of education and medical care, rather than
being provided by the occupying force with decent, dignified
and livable conditions, a right common to all human beings. In
any occupied territory, the occupiers are responsible for the
quality of life of the occupied, and in the case of the
Palestinians, the different Israeli governments over the last
40 years have failed miserably. The Palestinians naturally
must continue to resist the occupation and all attempts to
deny them basic individual needs and statehood. However, for
their own sake this resistance must not express itself through
violence.
Crossing the boundary from adamant resistance (including
non-violent demonstrations and protests) to violence only
results in more innocent victims and does not serve the
long-term interests of the Palestinian people. At the same
time, the citizens of Israel have just as much cause to be
alert to the needs and rights of the Palestinian people (both
within and outside Israel) as they do to their own. After all,
in the sense that we share one land and one destiny, we should
all have dual citizenship.
(Daniel Barenboim, a pianist and conductor, is music
director of the Staatskapelle Berlin and principal guest
conductor at La Scala Opera in Milan. This article is
distributed by the Common Ground News Service. Source:
International Herald Tribune, 29 January 2008. Copyright
permission is granted for publication.)
From Vietnam to Iraq
As
Vietnam showed, the alternative to a prompt and complete
withdrawal is not a happy compromise, but prolonged
devastation.
Mike
Marqusee
THIS
week marks the 40th anniversary of an event that seemed to
turn the world upside down. In the early hours of January 31,
1968, soldiers of the National Liberation Front of South
Vietnam and the army of North Vietnam launched what came to be
known as the Tet offensive against the US military and its
local allies.
The insurgents struck simultaneously across the country,
targeting more than 100 cities and towns in what the historian
Stanley Karnow describes as an offensive 'of extraordinary
intensity and astonishing scope ... audaciously shifting the
war for the first time from its rural setting to a new arena -
South Vietnam's supposedly impregnable urban areas'. Military
installations, police stations, prisons, government offices
and radio stations came under attack. Most spectacularly, a
group of 19 commandos fought their way into the US embassy
compound in Saigon, where they held out for six-and-a-half
hours - long enough for the images of defiance to be broadcast
around the world.
Hue, the ancient capital and the south's third-largest city,
was only recaptured by the US after 25 days of house-to-house
fighting. Atrocities against the civilian population were
committed by both sides, and by the battle's end, 116,000 of
the city's population of 140,000 were homeless.
NLF and North Vietnamese casualties reached terrifying
proportions. Perhaps a half - 45,000 - of the soldiers engaged
in the initial offensive were killed. What is more, they were
unable to hold any of the ground they had seized. The aim had
been to spark a popular uprising in the South. When that did
not materialise, partly because the communist party was weak
among urban workers, the US' superior armaments prevailed.
The US counter-offensive was ferocious and indiscriminate.
Urban areas held by the NLF were pulverised. Within two weeks,
630,000 civilians had been made refugees. On February 7, when
the US recaptured the charred wasteland of what had been the
town of Ben Tre, a US major told the Press: "It became
necessary to destroy the town in order to save it." Soon
after, in the course of flushing out alleged collaborators in
Saigon, the chief of South Vietnam's national police was
filmed calmly shooting a bound prisoner in the head. This
image also went round the world, further eroding US claims to
moral purpose.
For an American public reared on a belief in US supremacy, Tet
was a shock. For three years, they had been assured that the
war in Vietnam was being won. Now the disparity between US
government claims and the reality on the ground became
untenable. The anti-war movement was vindicated.Tet caused
fear and trembling in the corridors of power, but in the wider
world the spectacle of the greatest power on earth defeated by
an army of poor people inspired millions. The student revolts
for which 1968 is famous took off in the wake of Tet, first in
Germany and Italy, spreading subsequently to the US, France,
Mexico and Pakistan.
However, the US war in Vietnam was to continue in its
destructive fury for another four years. US policy did change
after Tet - towards 'Vietnamisation', in which reliance on air
power increased. US casualties fell, from 16,000 killed in
1968 to 600 in 1972. On the other side the toll rose. Perhaps
half the five million killed in the war, according to Vietnam
government figures, perished during these post-Tet years.
Here is the ominous lesson for Iraq. There are few things as
dangerous as an imperial power in retreat. Yes, the war is
discredited and the major presidential candidates promise to
reduce US troop numbers. None, however, seems prepared to
abandon the mission in Iraq, which is also propped up by an
array of corporate interests.
As Vietnam showed, the alternative to a prompt and complete
withdrawal is not a happy compromise, but prolonged
devastation.
Source: www.khaleejtimes.com
Viewpoints
Burma/Myanmar: After
the Crackdown
The violent crushing of protests led by Buddhist monks in
Burma/Myanmar in late 2007 has caused even allies of the
military government to recognize that change is desperately
needed.
A Report by the International Crisis Group
A
three-level approach, drawing on the respective strengths of
the UN, the country's neighbors and the wider international
community, is needed to promote change in Burma/Myanmar.
The latest report from the International Crisis Group,
examines the implications of the mass protests in September
2007 and their violent crushing, and proposes an approach to
resolve the crisis. While the military remains in firm charge,
last year's events emphasized the depth of the political and
economic problems. Even regime allies recognize a new course
is desperately needed.
"Myanmar's neighbors, especially China and members of ASEAN,
need to seize the moment", says John Virgoe, Crisis Group's
South East Asia Project Director. "Regional multi-party talks
- coordinated with the UN Secretary-General's special envoy,
Ibrahim Gambari, and backed by the wider international
community - hold out the best hope for launching a meaningful
process of national reconciliation and broader reform".
"Indonesia could play a particularly important role, perhaps
by hosting a regional meeting along the lines of the Jakarta
Informal Meetings (JIM) which kick-started the Cambodia peace
process in 1988 and 1989", says Crisis Group President Gareth
Evans (who as then Australian Foreign Minister was closely
involved in that process).
While new opportunities for change exist, there are profound
structural obstacles. The balance of power is still heavily
weighted in favor of the army, whose top leaders insist that
only a strongly centralized, military-led state can hold the
country together. Myanmar faces immense challenges, too, in
overcoming the debilitating legacy of decades of conflict,
poverty and institutional failure, which fuelled the recent
crisis and could well overwhelm any future government.
All international actors with some ability to influence the
situation need to become actively involved in working for
change, including the emergence of a broader, more inclusive,
better organized political society. At the core, Special Envoy
Gambari plays a vital role promoting dialogue and coordinating
unprecedented international efforts. He deserves strong,
consistent international backing, including from Ban Ki-moon
personally, whose direct involvement in talks would be a
powerful signal.
Others also have important roles. A working group of China and
key ASEAN members - possibly Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand
and Vietnam - should draw on close ties to engage the
government in talks about issues affecting regional stability
and development.
In parallel, a support group from the wider international
community, including the U.S., EU member states, Australia,
Canada, Japan, Norway and others, must keep human rights
issues at the top of the agenda. More effective sanctions
targeting regime leaders are needed, coupled with positive
incentives for reform. So, too, is assistance for saving lives
and strengthening the future basis for successful transition
to peace, democracy and an effective economy.
The violent crushing of protests led by Buddhist monks in
Burma/Myanmar in late 2007 has caused even allies of the
military government to recognize that change is desperately
needed. China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) have thrown their support behind the efforts by the UN
Secretary-General's special envoy to re-open talks on national
reconciliation, while the U.S. and others have stepped up
their sanctions. But neither incomplete punitive measures nor
intermittent talks are likely to bring about major reforms.
Myanmar's neighbors and the West must press together for a
sustainable process of national reconciliation. This will
require a long-term effort by all who can make a difference,
combining robust diplomacy with serious efforts to address the
deep-seated structural obstacles to peace, democracy and
development.
The protests in August-September and, in particular, the
government crackdown have shaken up the political status quo,
the international community has been mobilized to an
unprecedented extent, and there are indications that
divergences of view have grown within the military. The death
toll is uncertain but appears to have been substantially
higher than the official figures, and the violence has
profoundly disrupted religious life across the country. While
extreme violence has been a daily occurrence in ethnic
minority populated areas in the border regions, where
governments have faced widespread armed rebellion for more
than half a century, the recent events struck at the core of
the state and have had serious reverberations within the
Burman majority society, as well as the regime itself, which
it will be difficult for the military leaders to ignore.
While these developments present important new opportunities
for change, they must be viewed against the continuance of
profound structural obstacles. The balance of power is still
heavily weighted in favor of the army, whose top leaders
continue to insist that only a strongly centralized,
military-led state can hold the country together. There may be
more hope that a new generation of military leaders can disown
the failures of the past and seek new ways forward. But even
if the political will for reform improves, Myanmar will still
face immense challenges in overcoming the debilitating legacy
of decades of conflict, poverty and institutional failure,
which fuelled the recent crisis and could well overwhelm
future governments as well.
The immediate challenges are to create a more durable
negotiating process between government, opposition and ethnic
groups and help alleviate the economic and humanitarian crisis
that hampers reconciliation at all levels of society. At the
same time, longer-term efforts are needed to encourage and
support the emergence of a broader, more inclusive and better
organized political society and to build the capacity of the
state, civil society and individual households alike to deal
with the many development challenges. To achieve these aims,
all actors who have the ability to influence the situation
need to become actively involved in working for change, and
the comparative advantages each has must be mobilized to the
fullest, with due respect for differences in national
perspectives and interests.
RECOMMENDATIONS
To the International Community:
1. Agree to tightly structure engagement with Myanmar with
three complementary elements extending beyond the
Secretary-General's current Group of Friends at the UN and
allowing for a division of labor and different degrees of
involvement with the military regime:
(a) the UN Secretary-General's special adviser and envoy,
Ibrahim Gambari, who provides a focal point for the overall
coordination of international efforts and focuses on national
reconciliation issues, including the nature and sequencing of
political reforms and related human rights issues;
(b) cooperating closely with him, a small regional working
group, composed of China and from ASEAN possibly Indonesia,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, which engages Myanmar
directly in discussions on issues bearing on regional
stability and development; and
(c) a support group, composed of influential Western
governments, including Australia, Canada, the EU, France,
Germany, Japan, Norway, the UK and the U.S., which keeps human
rights at the top of the international agenda and structures
inducements for change, including sanctions and incentives, as
well as broader humanitarian and other aid programs.
To the UN Secretary-General:
2. Strengthen his good offices by:
(a) becoming directly involved in key negotiations with the
Myanmar authorities, including through a personal visit to
Naypyidaw in the near future;
(b) facilitating direct access to the Security Council, as
well as to the Human Rights Council, for his special adviser
and envoy, Gambari, when he needs it;
(c) encouraging his special adviser and envoy to focus on
mediation between conflicting parties and viewpoints and leave
primarily to the special rapporteur and other representatives
of relevant UN human rights mechanisms the more public roles
which may weaken his ability to build relations and confidence
with all sides; and
(d) requesting sufficient resources from member states to
support his good offices in the medium term, including for
hiring necessary support staff and establishing an office in
Myanmar or nearby.
To Regional Countries:
3. Provide unequivocal support for the good offices of the UN
Secretary-General and his efforts, personally and through his
special adviser and envoy, to move Myanmar towards national
reconciliation and improvements in human rights.
4. Organize regional multiparty talks, including Myanmar,
China and key ASEAN countries, to address issues of common
concern, including by:
(a) establishing discussion on key peace and conflict issues,
including the consolidation and broadening of existing
ceasefire arrangements, combating transnational crime and
integrating conflict-affected border areas into regional
economies in a more sustainable manner;
(b) creating a forum in which to priorities Myanmar's
development aims and how to link them with those of the region
at large, possibly including a regional experts panel on
development and a regional humanitarian mission;
(c) coordinating and strengthening regional support for the
relevant law enforcement, development and capacity-building
programs; and
(d) ensuring that state and private business practices serve
the long-term interests of the region by contributing to peace
and development in Myanmar.
To Western Countries (including Japan):
5. While allowing the UN and regional governments to take the
diplomatic lead, work to establish an international
environment conducive to their success, including by:
(a) maintaining focus on key human rights issues in all
relevant forums, including the Security Council, and by
supporting active engagement and access to Myanmar by the
special rapporteur and other representatives of the relevant
thematic human rights mechanisms;
(b) preparing and structuring a series of escalating targeted
sanctions, focusing on:
i. restrictions on access by military, state and crony
enterprises to international banking services;
ii. limiting access of selected generals and their immediate
families to personal business opportunities, health care,
shopping, and foreign education for their children; as well as
iii. a universal arms embargo; and
(c) offering incentives for reform in order to balance the
threat and/or imposition of sanctions and give the military
leadership positive motivation for change.
6. Organize a donor's forum, which can work to:
(a) generate agreement on the nature and funding of an
incentive package;
(b) strengthen the humanitarian response by:
i. scaling up existing effective programs in the health sector
to ensure national impact;
ii. initiating new and broader programs to support basic
education and income-generation;
iii. reaching internally displaced persons (IDPs) and others
caught in the conflict zones, by combining programs from
inside the country and across the border; and
iv. complementing aid delivery with policy dialogue and
protection activities to ensure that harmful policies and
practices are alleviated;
(c) strengthen the basis for future reforms and a successful
transition to peace, democracy and a market economy by:
i. empowering disenfranchised groups;
ii. alleviating political, ethnic, religious and other
divisions in communities, and building social capital;
iii. strengthening technical and administrative skills within
state and local administrations, as well as civil society
groups and private businesses;
iv. developing a peace economy in the conflict-affected border
regions which can provide alternative livelihoods for former
combatants; and
v. strengthening the coping mechanisms of individual
households and communities; and
(d) start contingency planning for transitional and
post-transitional programs to rebuild and reform key political
and economic institutions, as well as social and physical
infrastructure.
7. Invite the World Bank to initiate a comprehensive and
sustained policy dialogue with the government and relevant
political and civil society actors, including needs
assessments and capacity-building efforts.
8. Undertake a comprehensive review of existing and proposed
sanctions to assess their impact and revise their terms as
necessary to ensure that the harm done to civilians is
minimized, important complementary policies are not
unreasonably restricted, and they can be lifted flexibly if
there is appropriate progress.
(Source: www.crisisgroup.org)
Little more than the status quo
PREDICTABILITY and
refusal to incorporate flexibility in his political outlook
underlined George Bush's (probably) last state of the union
address, just like last year. Also similarly, he approached the
address with the lowest approval ratings of a US president in
half a century, with the exception of Richard Nixon just prior
to his resignation. That, of course, speaks in no small manner
of just how difficult the next president's job is going to be.
And though Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton are not on the best
of terms these days - almost failing to notice each other at the
address - their take on the show was more or less the same,
aptly condensed by Hillary as "little more than the status quo".
Despite continuously dipping polls, antagonistic media reports
and discontented domestic opinion, Bush & Co still believe they
have handled core issues in the right manner, even though the
close circle has shrunk to only Condi Rice and Dick Chenney.
On the subject of impending economic recession, too, which is
already dominating the elections race and was bound to figure in
his speech, he seemed to care less than anticipated, betraying a
casual approach of sorts. Obama is right in holding Washington's
lax control system responsible for the downside and implying
more than tax cuts are needed to revitalise the economy. Bush is
wrong in looking to leverage the gloom into making his cuts
permanent.
Most distressing was his continued optimism regarding his
war-on-terror policies, more specifically Iraq, which is no
doubt what his presidency will be principally remembered for.
His appreciation for the troop surge is a paradox, signalling in
clear terms that he is not concerned about the long-term outcome
of the issue, even though he has long called for patience citing
the enduring nature of the struggle. As personnel from the surge
start returning, he may still be in office to see Iraq return to
pre-surge violence.
Overall, President Bush has changed little since 9/11 -
confident in his own view of things even if popular opinion
signalled to the contrary in what he prizes as the world's
strongest democracy. Put together, his most telling failure must
be employing the most undemocratic practices to supposedly
protect democracy itself.
Source: www.khaleejtimes.com
Comment
The silent killer
A
lot has been said, and written, about smoking and its adverse,
even lethal, effects on health.
Not much, unfortunately, has been done about putting an end to
this noxious habit, at least there where it affects those not
wishing to have to inhale the harmful smoke.
It has long been noticed that officials are not serious about
stopping smoking in public places, notwithstanding the current
legislation on the issue and the many no-smoking signs.
Why isn't the Ministry of Health firm about enforcing the law
about smoking (not smoking, that is), especially that this
institution knows, better than others, one would think, that
there is a direct link between cigarette smoking and all sorts
of ailments?
There is also a nongovernmental anti-smoking organisation
lurking in the background, ostensibly to sound the alarm about
persistent violations of the law against smoking, but it seems
to prefer to remain silent.
In most public spaces, including hospitals, individuals
consistently violate the law against smoking. As with
everything else, enforcement is slack or non-existent and the
price is paid by those forced to become passive smokers.
Are the administrative personnel cowed into accepting an
unacceptable situation?
If individuals do not have the decency to respect others, they
should be made to. The law is clear. It only has to be abided
by.
The sight of government officials, hospital employees and
private individuals smoking in places where it is forbidden is
no reason to allow the habit to continue.
Too bad smoking is only a silent killer unlike the killer
vehicles on our road. But the government should know better
and should pay attention to the displeasure of those who do
not wish to be exposed to cigarette smoke.
If not entirely forbidden, special places could be allocated
to accommodate diehards. In time, who knows, they might even
find it too inconvenient to continue smoking.
It is hoped that in this area, at least, the law will be
enforced without waiting for Royal intervention or for a
shocking medical report.
The lives of people are at stake. Nonsmokers need protection
against the whim of the violators. And that protection can be
extended to cover restaurants, cafés and bars, just like in
the "civilised" countries that have reached the belated
conclusion that cigarettes kill as well.
Source:www.jordantimes.com
International
Bomb hits bus in
central Sri Lanka, kills 20 injures 50
AP/UNB, Colombo
A bomb tore through a packed bus
carrying civilians Saturday in central Sri Lanka, killing
20 people and wounding 50 others, the military said.The
blast inside the bus occurred at 7:05 a.m. in Dambulla
town,about 150 kilometers (90 miles) northeast of the
capital, Colombo,said military spokesman Brig. Udaya
Nanayakkara, blaming separatist
Tamil Tiger rebels. The bus - traveling to the
north-central town of Anuradhapura -
was stopped in Dambulla when the explosion hit,
Nanayakkara said.A spokesman for the rebels could not
immediately be reached for comment Saturday.The group,
listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and
European Union, routinely denies responsibility for such
attacks.Violence has intensified on this Indian Ocean
island and more than 700 have been killed after the
government withdrew from a cease-fire with Tamil rebels
last month.Civilians have bore brunt of the violence since
January with three attacks on passenger buses killing
dozens, including many schoolchildren.On Jan. 16 a
roadside bomb near the southeastern town of Buttala killed
27 people on a bus. Last Tuesday 18 people were killed in
a similar bus attack in the rebel-held north.Both the
government and the rebels blame each other for attacks
against civilians.The Tami Tigers have been fighting since
1983 to create a separate state for ethnic minority
Tamils. Fighting has killed more than 70,000 people.
Meanwhile, a powerful blast ripped through a bus station
at Dambulla in north-central Sri Lanka Saturday, killing
at least 13 people and wounding 30, police said. The
explosion was on a privately-owned bus travelling from the
central town of Kandy to north-central Anuradhapura town,
police said.
"We can confirm at least 13 people killed and several more
wounded," a police officer in Dambulla, 150 kilometres (93
miles) north of Colombo, said by telephone.
A local hospital said at least 30 people were injured.
Police cordoned off the blast site and an investigation
was underway, the officer said. He said initial reports
suggested that the blast may have originated inside the
bus when it was parked at the Dambulla bus station, a key
transit point for people travelling in the region.
Tamil Tiger rebels set off a powerful suicide truck bomb
in the same area in October 2006, killing at least 116
sailors who were heading home on leave.
Saturday's attack came as Sri Lanka stepped up security
ahead of Monday's celebrations to mark the country's 60th
anniversary of independence from Britain.
The government had warned of bomb attacks by Tamil Tiger
guerrillas who are battling government forces in the north
of the country where they maintain a de facto separate
state. There have been a series of bomb attacks in the
country this year.
Baghdad bombs toll now 98 dead
AFP, Baghdad
The toll from two bomb attacks on Baghdad markets on
Friday has risen to 98 dead and 208 wounded, Iraqi
security sources said on Saturday.
The sources in the interior and defence ministries said
that at least 98 people were killed and 208 wounded in the
two explosions in the pet markets of Al-Ghazl and Baghdad
al-Jadida.
The explosives were strapped to two mentally impaired
women and then triggered by remote control in co-ordinated
blasts, a top Iraqi security official said on Friday.
A breakdown of the tolls for each attack was not given by
the ministry sources on Saturday. Officials on Friday said
64 people had been killed and 107 wounded in the market
bombings -- 46 dead at Al-Ghazl and 18 killed at Baghdad
al-Jadida.
"Both women were mentally impaired. They were wearing
belts containing 15 kilogrammes (33 pounds) of
explosives," Major General Qasim Ata, spokesman for the
Baghdad security plan, told AFP on Friday.
"The explosives were detonated by remote control," he said
of the blasts which occurred within 20 minutes of each
other.
The US military in Iraq has blamed Al-Qaeda for the
bombings.
Meanwhile, militants strapped a pair of mentally retarded
women with explosives and blew them up by remote control
in two pet bazaars Friday, in the deadliest day since
Washington began pouring extra troops into the capital
last spring.Brig. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, Iraq's chief
military spokesman in Baghdad, said the women had Down
syndrome and may not have known they were on a suicide
mission.
The tactic would support U.S. claims that al-Qaida in Iraq
may be increasingly desperate and running short of
able-bodied men willing or available for such missions.U.S.
Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said the bombings showed
that a resilient al-Qaida has "found a different, deadly
way" to try to destabilize Iraq."There is nothing they
won't do if they think it will work in creating carnage
and the political fallout that comes from that," he told
The Associated Press in an interview at the State
Department.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said bombing in Iraq
proves al-Qaida is "the most brutal and bankrupt of
movements" and will strengthen Iraqi resolve to reject
terrorism.
Undersea Internet cable damaged in Mideast
AFP, Dubai
Middle East
undersea Internet cable has been damaged, adding to
disruption in Indian online services caused when several
lines were cut earlier this week, a cable operating firm
said Saturday.
The Falcon cable was cut 56 kilometres (35 miles) from
Dubai, between Oman and the United Arab Emirates,
according to its owner FLAG Telecom, part of India's
Reliance Communications.
The company said on its website that a repair ship had
been notified and was expected to arrive at the site in
the next few days.
The cause of the latest cable damage was not immediately
known.
Flag Telecom owns another undersea cable which was damaged
off Egypt on Wednesday in the Mediterranean. Indian media
reports have attributed that damage to a ship's anchor
which dropped on the cable.
On the same day in Kuwait, the government reported two
cables damaged by "weather conditions and maritime
traffic."
The cable damage has left India's vital outsourcing
industry grappling with major communications disruptions
and businesses saying they could take up to two weeks to
return to normal.
It has also disrupted Internet service across the Middle
East and other parts of South Asia.
A repair ship was expected to arrive by next Tuesday to
restore the FLAG Telecom cable that was damaged off Egypt,
the company said.
Smaller Indian firms will be harder hit as they depend on
a single service provider, said R.S Perhar, secretary of
the Internet Service Providers' Association of India (ISPAI).
"But traffic has already started moving after being
re-routed," Perhar said.
Around 90 percent of the services were expected to be
restored by Sunday, the ISPAI said.
India's 11-billion-dollar outsourcing industry is made up
of 1,250 firms that deliver services ranging from
answering customer queries to processing credit card and
mortgage applications.
The industry employs 700,000 people, serving clients
mainly in the United States and Europe that sought to cut
costs by farming out work to the country.
China warns worst not over in weather crisis
AFP, Bejing
China warned Saturday the
worst was not over in its national weather crisis as
desperate holiday travellers jammed transport hubs and
others endured bitter winter storms without power or
water.
Bracing for still more foul |