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Leading News
RMG factories reopen after unrest
AFP, Ashulia,
Hundreds of Bangladeshi garment factories reopened
Wednesday under a heavy police presence, struggling to
meet orders from key Western brands after riots by workers
forced their closure.
Tens of thousands of employees who stitch garments for the
leading names in US and European retail had been on strike
since Saturday to protest against low pay at a major
industrial zone outside Dhaka.
Violence and vandalism flared Tuesday, with police firing
rubber bullets and tear gas after dozens of the estimated
700 factories in the area were attacked.
"It is very volatile. We can't predict if things will
flare up again, but we have enough security to handle it
today," police deputy inspector Ayub Khan, who was at one
of the worst-affected factories, told AFP.
"The workers have gone to their shifts on time, there were
no problems," he said.
Nearly a thousand riot police, armed with several water
cannons, were in the area where as many as 800,000 people
are employed by subcontractors working on behalf of global
retailers such as Wal-Mart, Tesco and H & M.
Factories reopened despite smashed windows and damaged
sewing machines, desperate to stop the protests affecting
orders from Western buyers, said garment manufacturer
Envoy Group's director Sultan Noorani.
"We are worried about late delivery-if you are late by one
day, international buyers cut five percent off the order
price," he said, adding that his factory was now late on
an order of shorts for Wal-Mart.
"We will be forced to use air cargo to deliver things,
which is expensive. For the last week, we've had problems
with this strike. We plan to raise wages as soon as the
government makes a decision, but workers are impatient."
The factory staff-most of whom are female-are demanding
wages of at least 5,000 taka (70 dollars) per month. The
current minimum wage, set in 2006, is 1,662 taka.
Workers suspected of organising the protests have been
sacked, said Jahan Alam, a sewing machine operator at the
Scandex garment factory. Police said tens of thousands of
protesters became violent on Tuesday, pelting police with
stones and rocks, torching and damaging vehicles and
ransacking factories.
"We have filed criminal cases against 50,000 to 60,000
as-yet unidentified people for taking part in the mayhem.
But we haven't arrested anyone yet," police chief in
Ashulia industrial area, Sirajul Islam told AFP.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Expor-ters
Association (BGMEA) on Tuesday closed all factories in the
vast Ashulia industrial zone, 30 kilometres (20 miles)
north of Dhaka.
It said the decision to reopen followed a government
pledge to ensure law and order.
Garments accounted for nearly 80 percent of Bangladesh's
15.56 billion dollars of exports last year. The factories
employ around 40 percent of the industrial workforce.
Hasina
again urges Khaleda to return to Parliament
Next polls under e-voting, she says
UNB, Dhaka
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated her call to
opposition leader Khaleda Zia to return to Parliament and
place her suggestions and statements on the proposed
national budget.
Addressing a discussion marking the 61st founding
anniversary of Bangladesh Awami League at the Bangabandhu
International Conference Centre, Hasina, also the party's
president said the opposition leader should come to
Parliament to place her "alternative budget." Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina also told the meeting that
electronic voting system will be introduced in the next
parliamentary elections across the country to stop vote
rigging.
She termed the introduction of the electronic voting
system at the Chittagong city corporation elections as an
effective step towards building a 'Digital Bangladesh'.
Strongly criticizing the opposition party for their
agitation programs instead of working for people, the
Prime Minister said it seems that the opposition leader
and her party colleagues have forgotten the times after
the political changeover of 1/11.
"I do not understand what is her (opposition leader)
problem in joining Parlia-ment. Have we put any obstacle
on the path of their return to the House?" the Prime
Minister questioned. The Prime Minister also criticized
the opposition leader and her party colleagues for making
"illogical and impractical" allegations of vote rigging in
the Chitt-agong city corporation elections. In fact, it is
the BNP-Jamaat alliance's political habit to rig elections
and snatch the people's democratic rights, the Prime
Minister said.
She said when the nation is advancing towards development
and prosperity under the present democratically elected
government, the opposition party has called hartal. "They
do not believe in democracy. Because their party was not
born democratically," she said. Hasina said the
conspirators are still active to destroy the nation's
dream of a Golden Bangladesh, but they can do nothing
against the people's interests.
Meanwhile, to observe the founding anniversary, Sheikh
Hasina placed separate wreaths at the portrait of Father
of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front
of Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi Road 32 in the morning
as Prime Minister and President of Awami League. She and
her party MPs also cut a cake at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban
on the occasion.
Flood
waters submerge vast areas of Sunamganj
Several hundred families marooned
UNB, Sunamganj
Heavy rains coupled with onrush of hill waters have caused
flashfloods in the vast areas of the district, including
its headquarters, rendering hundreds of families marooned.
Flood Control Cell of Sunamganj WDB said Surma was flowing
42cm above the danger level near the district town on
Tuesday and the rain-fed river continued to swell.
Incessant rains in the last few days and onrush of hill
water from the upstream were causing extensive inundations
in low-lying areas of the district town and Sadar and
Tahirpur upazilas. Besides, flood waters engulfed three
other upazilas- Biswambharpur, Doarabazaar and Jam-alganj-
on Tuesday.
Local administration said flood water submerged l2
villages in Tahirpur rendering several hundred families
marooned.
A big part of Sunamganj municipality, including Barapara,
Pashchim Bazaar, Maachh Bazaar, Shologhar and Nabinagar
went under flood water as the rain continued, they added.
BNP
leaders start mass contact in capital for June 27 hartal
UNB, Dhaka
Despite police obstructions at different places, top
leaders of BNP and its front and associate outfits kicked
off a mass contact campaign in the capital on Wednesday to
make its June 27 countrywide dawn to dusk hartal a
success.
President of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, the youth front of the
BNP, Syed Moazzem Hossan Alal told UNB on Wednesday that
while he along with local leaders were carrying out mass
contact in Mohamadpur and its adjacent areas to drum up
support for the hartal, police obstructed their
uninterrupted campaign.
He said they visited shops, departmental stores, kitchen
markets, leaders of business communities, transport
associations and rickshaw garages, and distributed
leaflets.
Alal said they told them that BNP called the hartal not to
oust the Awami League government or BNP goes to power but
to resolve existing problems of people. Police also
obstructed a mass contact led by Barrister Shajahan Omar
at New Market area, Alal said.
BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and
organizing secretary Fazlul Haque Milon led the reaching
out campaign in Shantinagar area, while BNP standing
committee member Mirza Abbas led it in Kamlapur and
Khilgaon, and BNP chairperson's adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo
in Farmgate and another adviser Dr Osman Farruk in Gulshan.
The BNP has formed 62 teams to carryout mass contact in
different spots in the city in favour of the hartal. The
general strike (hartal), first of its kind against the 18
month old Awami League government was called by BNP
chairperson Khaleda Zia on a package of issues and
demands, which include ensuring utility services like gas,
electricity and water, stopping extortion, grabbing and
tender manipulation by the ruling party terrorists and
containing prices hike of essentials and scrapping
'anti-national' agreements with India.
Contacts signed
for two more rental power plants without tender
UNB, Dhaka
State-owned Power Development Board (PDB) on Wednesday
signed contracts with Summit Group and United Group to buy
electricity from fast-track rental power plants.
As per contract, Summit Group will set up a 102 MW furnace
oil-based plant at Madanganj of Narayanganj through its
subsidiary Summit Naray-anganj Power Limited.
The United Group will set up a 115 MW furnace oil-based
plant at Goalpara of Khulna through its subsidiary Khulna
Power Company Unit-II Limited. However, in the Goalpara
plant, Summit Group also has a 50 percent stake.
PDB, which awarded the contracts without any tender, will
purchase electricity from the Goalpara plant at a rate of
Tk 7.783 per unit (per kilowatt hour), and from the
Madanganj plant at a rate of Tk 7.785 per unit. The
contract period will run for 5 years with 80 percent plant
factor for both the plants. The sponsors will set up their
respective plants within the next 270 days (9 months) from
the signing date of the contracts.
ANM Tariqur Rashid of Summit, Hasan Mahmud Raza of United
Group and PDB Secretary M Azizul Islam inked the contracts
on behalf of their respective sides.
PDB Chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir, Member (generation)
Mostafa Kamal, and Summit Group Chairman Mohammad Aziz
Khan were present at the contract signing function at the
PDB head office. So far, PDB has awarded contracts for 12
quick rental power plants of which 2 were signed earlier
and 2 were signed today for implementation.
PDB went for unsolicited awarding of rental power plants
on the plea of arranging electricity in a short time
frame, claiming that the normal contract awarding process
takes excessive time for project implementation.
Addressing the function, the PDB Chairman said that they
hoped the Fast-track rental power plants will come into
operation before the next Irrigation season.
Summit's Chairman Mohammad Aziz Khan assured the PDB of
implementing the plants as per schedule. He said the power
tariff is not too high considering the fuel costs, as the
plants will be run on furnace oil.
Vehicle-laden
BIWTC ferry sinks
UNB, Dhaka
A BIWTC ferry loaded with vehicles, named 'Ferry Dhaka'
capsized in the Meghna River at Shariatpur ghat on
Wednesday noon.
BIWTC and locals said the ferry from Chandpur ghat reached
the Shariatpur ghat and anchored, but at one stage, it
sank into the river as the anchoring iron-wire torn at
about 2-30pm. The passengers of the vehicles left the
ferry safely.
The ferry master Badal Hossain said the ferry, bearing
vehicles including two buses, four trucks, a van and a
bitumen laden pick up was being loaded with water from a
leakage and it hanged in midway.
The authorities said the rescuer-vessel 'Hamza' was called
to rescue the ferry.
The River Transport Ministry on the same day formed a
probe body headed by its joint secretary (commercial) to
investigate the ferry sinking incident. Md Abdul Kuddus,
joint secretary (commercial) is the convener and Zahid
Hossain, Chief Inspector of Department of Sea Trans-port
is member secretary of the four-member probe body. The
other members are BIWTA joint director Md Abdur Razzaq and
Additional District Commissioner (Gen-eral) of Shariatpur.
The committee will submit their investigation report to
the secretary of the river ministry within the next three
working days.
Defoe fires
rejuventated England into last 16
AFP, Port Elizabeth
England's World Cup campaign finally took off Wednesday at
the third attempt as Fabio Capello's side qualified for
the last 16 with a 1-0 win over Slovenia to secure
runners-up spot in Group C.
The United States took top spot with an injury-time winner
over Algeria, a late strike which also eliminated Slovenia
who had started the day on top of the table.
Jermain Defoe started for England in place of Emile Heskey
in one of the biggest gambles of manager Capello's career
and the move paid dividends with the Tottenham striker's
23rd minute goal. Defoe was delighted with his
contribution. Capello's men turned up at the Nelson
Mandela Bay stadium facing, as Steven Gerrard had so aptly
put it, a do-or-die match. They did it, and now have
earned a second round date with the winners of Group D.
Back Page
President seeks British investment
in country’s energy sector
UNB, Dhaka
President Zillur Rahman, now on a medical check-up in
London, has sought more British investment in Bangladesh's
energy sector and help assist the country's stride for
fast track economic development.
The President made the remark when Baroness Sayeeda Warsi,
a Cabinet Minister and Chairman of the ruling Conservative
Party, paid a courtesy call on him at Bupa Cromwell
Hospital Wednesday morning, according to a message
received in Dhaka.
Zillur also requested the British government to increase
various facilities for expatriate Bangladeshis living in
Britain.
Baroness Warsi enquired about the President's health, and
on behalf of Prime Minister David Cameron, she wished his
good health and wellbeing.
The conservative party Chairman also handed over a message
of Queen Elizabeth who wished early recovery of the
President.
She lauded the process of democratisation of Bangladesh
and cited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as an inspirational
role model.
The President requested Baroness Warsi to visit Bangladesh
and she gladly accepted the invitation.
Zillur expressed the hope that the excellent relations
between Bangladesh and UK would continue to grow in the
years to come.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to UK Dr. M. Syeedur Rahman
Khan and officials of the President were present during
the meeting.
President Zillur, who arrived in London on June 20, was
admitted to the hospital on the following day for medical
check up.
In last two days, Prime Minister's sister Sheikh Rehana
and representatives of different socio-political
organisations based in UK visited the President at the
hospital.
The President is expected to return home on June 28.
100 cadets pass out of BMA; President
Parade held at Bhatiary
UNB, Bhatiary (Chittagong)
A total of 100 cadets formally passed out of the
Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) at a glittering ceremony
at Bhatiary, Chittagong on Wednesday.
Among them, 84 cadets, including 17 female cadets, were
from 62nd BMA long course and 16 cadets including one
female cadet from 33rd BMA special course.
To mark the occasion, the President Parade was held at the
Academy on the day.
Chief of Army Staff General Mohammad Abdul Mubeen reviewed
the smartly turned-out parade and took salute at the
impressive march past as chief guest.
He also distributed prizes among the cadets who
demonstrated excellent performance during the training.
Company senior under officer Imran Khan was adjudged the
best all round cadet in the 62nd BMA long course and
awarded with the coveted 'Sword of Honour'. He also
received the 'Chief of Army Staff (CAS) Gold Medal' for
his outstanding performance in military subjects.
Jahangir Company received the BMA colour for the summer
term on the basis of different inter-company competitions.
The cadets formally took oath and were adorned with the
rank badges by their respective parents and guardians.
Addressing the officers designate, the Chief of Army Staff
said, "Remember, upholding image, honor and glorious
tradition of the Bangladesh Army is your sacred duty. To
discharge this duty needs robust of personal character,
professional efficiency and high competence". Through
achieving these traits of leadership newly commissioned
officers might become properly military leaders, he added.
He further said that officers should be conscious about
that as if any kind of personal interest, allurement and
revenge could not misguiding them.
General Mubeen said that importance and necessity of a
strong military was unlimited and undeniable for an
independent and sovereign country. Considering such
importance Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman established BMA in 1974.
Mubeen noted that Bangladesh Army had stood by the people
of the country during natural calamities and their hard
times.
Spl court frames
charges against 667 BDR mutineers
UNB, Dhaka
The Special Court-5 will frame charges against 667 accused
mutineers under the 24th Rifles battalion of Dhaka Sector
on Saturday.
A 3-member Special Court, headed by BDR Director General
Maj Gen Rafiqul Islam, fixed the date Wednesday after
closing reading out charges against the suspected
mutineers.
The trial held at the Darbar hall of BDR Pilkhana
Headquarters, where the mutiny took place from February
25-26 last year, killed 73 people, including 57 army
officers who were in commanding positions to the border
force.
Two other members of the court are Lt Col Golam Rabbani
and Major Syed Hossain Tapash. The Attorney General's
representative, deputy AG Mohammad Suhrawardy provides
legal assistance to the special court. Court sources said
the trial began at about 9:15 am and continued till 2:00
pm with two short breaks in between.
During the 4th day of its proceedings, the court read out
allegations against the remaining 292 mutineers.
Till Wednesday, all 667 out of 668 accused have been
charged for committing the BDR mutiny. Nayek Joynal Abedin
was exempted after he died of cardiac arrest in jail on
May 14. All the accused were produced before the trial
court. The court was adjourned till 9:00 am on June 26
(Saturday).
Children, women
in urban slums worse off than rest of the country: Survey
UNB, Dhaka
Urban slums perform worst regarding women and children's
well-being and access to basic services, compared to rural
and non-slum urban areas, according to a recent survey.
The survey also confirms the improvements made by
Bangladesh in survival and education rates, and also shows
clear progress in timely initiation of breastfeeding,
reduction of child and infant mortality, pre-school
attendance rate and school retention rate.
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistic (BBS) and UNICEF jointly
conducted the Multiple Indicator of Cluster Survey (MICS)
- 2009, a national survey on the situation of women and
children.
The complete results of the Multiple Indicator of Cluster
Survey (MICS) - 2009 was presented at the Sonargaon Hotel
in the city on Wednesday. Planning Minister Air Vice
Marshal (retd) AK Khandaker formally launched the survey
while State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Dr
Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, UNICEF country director Carel De
Rooy, Planning secretary Rita Ibrahim and BBS director
general Shahjahan Ali Mollah, among others, addressed the
session.
The BSS -UNICEF survey found major improvements in birth
registration with 53 per cent of children under five being
registered against 9.8 per cent in 2006, while some 85.2
per cent of the population has access to improved sources
of water safe from arsenic.
During the survey, a total of 7,683 interviewers collected
data from 300,000 households from April to May 2009 and a
total of 13,301 water samples were tested for arsenic
according to the government's standards.
For the first time, the 481 upazilas of the country have
been ranked according to their performance in 23 key
social indicators. The rich set of data shows clearly the
geographical areas which are lagging behind in achieving
some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Two killed in Manikganj, B’baria road
accidents
UNB, Manikganj
An Imam of a local mosque was killed as his bicycle was
hit by a truck at Nilua on Manikganj-Daulatpur road in
Daulatpur upazila on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Yusuf Munshi, 35, of
Bishampur village in same upazila.
Witnesses said the accident occurred at 3pm when a brick
loaded truck rammed into his bicycle while he was
returning his home, leaving him critically injured.
He later succumbed to his injures on way to a hospital.
The body was sent to Sadar hospital morgue for autopsy.
Police later seized the truck, but its driver managed to
flee away. A case was filed in this connection.
Another report from Brahmanbaria adds: A woman passer-by
was killed and four others were injured in a road accident
at a crossing in Ashuganj upazila on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Khorsheda Begum, 55.
Witnesses said a Dhaka bound bus of Shaymoli paribahan
coming from Sylhet hit pedestrians, leaving her dead on
the spot and injuring four others in the morning.
Local people later caught the bus, but its driver managed
to flee the scene.
4th Road-show on
power sector on July 3
BSS, Dhaka
The government is set to kick-off its 4th Road-show in
Dhaka on July 3 to attract the foreign investors in
Bangladesh 's power sector.
In December and January last, government conducted three
separated shows in London, New York and Singapore. "We got
good responses from the investors.
They took part in pre- qualification stage bidding of some
power plants and our observation is that the shows are a
fruitful tool to attract investors," a PDB top official
told BSS on wednesday.
To catch the expatriate and foreign investor to implement
around 9000 MW power projects in the next couple of years,
the Power Development Board will display the generation
roadmap in Dhaka before the foreign and non-resident
investors to invest in the proposed four coal- fired
(imported coal) power plants and LNG terminal.
"A large number of foreign investors visited the shows and
showed keen interests in investing in Bangladesh 's power
sector. However, we need huge investment to implement our
projects so we arrange the Dhaka show," he added.
According to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral
Resources, the government needs US $ 12 billion for power
and energy sector development and to implements its idea
in energy and power sector.
Nine power projects and one LNG terminal installation
project will displayed to the investors in the Road- show.
Each of the 350-450 MW capacity power plants at Bibiana
and Sirajganj and each of the 100 MW power plants at
Kaliakoir (near IT park) and Saver (in proposed tannery
areas) and a 150 MW furnace oil based power plant at Bhola
are the major projects, the power division official said.
Editorial
Implementation of DAP
The
government on Tuesday issued a gazette notification on the
Detailed Area Plan (DAP) for the planned development of Dhaka
City.The DAP is designed to grant every water body, canal and
river under it official status. It is expected to help ease
waterlogging and traffic congestion in the city. The gazette
was issued the day after a decision taken in the cabinet
meeting which said that the DAP should be implemented as
quickly as possible, to salvage the capital from the unplanned
urbanization that was threatening to make its development
unsustainable.
The Cabinet on Monday gave approval for publishing the gazette
notification on the DAP, a popular project of the present
government to build Dhaka as a safe modern city. Presiding
over the cabinet meeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered
quick implementation of the DAP. The cabinet formed an
inter-ministerial body to ensure proper coordination among the
ministries and departments concerned during implementation of
the DAP. It comprises seven ministries - Housing and Public
Works, Land, LGRD, Communication, Shipping, Water Resources
and Environment. The Prime Minister also told the cabinet that
the wetlands of the city must be preserved at any cost.
"Nobody will be spared in the process of preserving the
wetlands," the Prime Minister said at a time when most of the
ponds, canals and other water bodies have been filled up by
some real estate companies and land developers.
The government gazetted the DAP for the capital city six years
after the project was initiated by the Rajdhani Unnayan
Kartripakkha (RAJUK). The gazette notification was issued
under section 73 of the Town Improvement Act,1953 (E B Act
Xlll of 1953), encompassing 590 square miles under the master
plan of DAP for the Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan under
the jurisdiction of RAJUK.
According to official website of RAJUK, the DAP aims at
implementing the Structure Plan and the Urban Area Plan
policies and recommendations. The specific objectives of DAP
include data management and dissemination at mouza dag level,
providing a program for Multi-sector Investment Plan,
providing control for private sector development and clarity
and security of investment for inhabitants and investors,
providing guideline for development considering the
opportunity and constraints and ensuring sustainable
environment
The gazette has been published endorsing in full the
recommendations made by the review committee for implementing
DAP. Consequently, on the basis of the recommendation of the
review committee 21 per cent of the 590 square miles area of
Dhaka metropolitan city will be reserved as water body and
wetland. The unplanned establishments and projects have to be
shifted from this area. The review committee has marked 16
projects, six government and 10 private, and 724 industrial
establishments as non-conforming with the DAP and asked for
their shifting. State Minister for Works has said that the
city would be submerged by water if the DAP is not
implemented.
It goes without saying that the implementation of DAP as early
as possible is essential in the interest of protecting the
Dhaka city. However, it is very difficult to implement it. But
for the greater national interest, the government has to
implement it. It is expected that the Prime Minister's order
to implement the DAP will be carried out with utmost urgency
and sincerity.
Admission trade
The
ruling Awami League's student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL)
is engaged in continued admission trade in different
educational institutions triggering clashes and unrests and
the government appears to be unable to control it. A group of
Chhatra League activists on Tuesday assaulted the principal of
Pabna Government Bulbul College and forced suspension of the
admission process, as the college authorities refused to meet
their demand for fulfilling "admission quota". The BCL faction
wanted to get some 150 students of their choice admitted into
the college. College Principal told journalists that the
student leaders tried to force the authorities to admit the
students of their choice violating the admission rules.
On the same day, a group of BCL activists resorted to
vandalism, closed the door of the office of Hathazari College
Principal keeping him inside and set fire to the room as he
refused to accept their demand for admission of students to
the college on the basis of 'BCL quota'. Teachers and
employees of the college doused the fire and rescued the
principal. Earlier, on May 27 activists of BCL and Chhatra
Moitree at Rajshahi Govt New Degree College demanded quota for
the first year honours admission. But as the college
authorities refused to comply, they jointly brought out a
procession, vandalised a classroom and a seminar room and also
clashed with police. Tension ran high on the Eden Girls'
College campus in Dhaka on May 28 after activists of two
factions of BCL were engaged in chase and counter-chase
following a dispute over "admission trade." The conflict
erupted as one group of BCL activists did not get 'due share'
of the admission trade.
Admission trade is an old problem which has vitiated the
country's educational atmosphere. Stern warnings against such
nefarious activities were sounded from the high ups in the
administration on many occasions, but with no effect.
Admission trade is rampant in the educational institutions
across the country nowadays. And unfortunately the BCL has
been playing the pre-dominant role in this shameful business
to earn easy money. In the process of admission trade, the BCL
reportedly disrupted admission process at Satkhira College,
Rajshahi New Government Degree College, capitals Eden Girls'
College, Government Titumir College, Government Bangla
College, Badrunnesa College, Kabi Nazrul Government College
and Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, MM College in
Jessore and BL College in Khulna.
In fact, there is no credit in only decrying admission trade,
violence and clashes on the campus. The government must be
firm and act strongly to stop the admission trade and all
other irregularities in education sector and elsewhere.
Analysis
Kayani’s caring gestures
General Kayani, in fact, happens to be a
commander-in-chief at a very critical and historic juncture,
when the nation, ruined and ravaged by repeated dictatorships,
seems to be genuinely fired with a new enthusiasm to resume
its long lost democratic path.
Elf Habib
General Kayani's
offer to sponsor the education of 350 Baloch youths is indeed
a welcome initiative, reflecting his vision about the
inevitable need to spur and strengthen cerebral and skill
development. Last November, he similarly offered a blank
cheque to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police to refurbish their
potential in our first real war for survival and progress as a
modern tolerant democratic state. The frontier police and
population had repeatedly endured the monstrous and murderous
militant onslaughts. The police certainly bore the heaviest
burden. Realising this, General Kayani also donated 20 million
rupees to the police martyr fund. Profuse praise and encomium
for this gesture were accordingly poured on him, including a
quite laudatory editorial in the illustrious paper - Daily
Times.
General Kayani, in fact, happens to be a commander-in-chief at
a very critical and historic juncture, when the nation, ruined
and ravaged by repeated dictatorships, seems to be genuinely
fired with a new enthusiasm to resume its long lost democratic
path. Yet, it is mired in the politics of vendetta, ethnic and
sectarian schism, militancy and remnants of dictatorship out
to derail the democratic process.
The Taliban are spilling blood, spreading devastation and
devouring the resources, which were already too inadequate to
meet our intricate socio-economic imperatives. The
excruciating economic recession is rattling even the most
robust and established democracies. Democracy in Pakistan is
in an especially precarious state, as it has not only to
sustain and stabilise itself, but also has to deliver the
dreams long cherished for human and economic development.
The repeated bouts of army dictatorship, however, have
systematically diverted the national resources to the defence
sector, leaving relatively far little for the common basic
needs like health, food, energy, education, skill building,
social care and employment avenues. Further, the repeated
ouster, incarceration, victimisation, vilification and
banishment of the popular politicians rocked their confidence
to slice even the slightest bits from the defence sector. A
really caring gesture by Kayani and his commanders thus would
be to keep sharing the most feasible chunks of their resources
for the long simmering social and civilian needs and proffer
7-10 percent of their budget to the health and education
sectors.
Our forces, indeed, are already rendering remarkably memorable
and monumental sacrifices under the weirdly daunting odds in
the most rugged and treacherous terrain. They are also
certainly hard-pressed for some essential modern equipment and
facilities.
Yet, given the proper will, sagacity and foresight, an optimum
balance can certainly be found between the immediately
pressing inevitables and long-term, read justifiable,
requirements. An agreement to procure fighting planes for $
1.4 billion from China was, for instance, signed barely a few
days after the revelation of some reservations at a corp
commanders conference concerning some conditions in the $ 1.5
billion Kerry-Lugar bill hit the media, triggering tremors to
topple the tottering civilian set-up. Every patriotic soul
perturbed at our peculiar civil-army equation felt that the
commanders could certainly pursue a more careful option to
vent their feelings through their normal channels. Even the
defence deal could, preferably, be delayed pending an economic
recovery.
Similarly, a burden of $ 75 billion external and internal
debt, pathetic health and education conditions and the
crippling energy, industrial and employment scenario could
hardly justify the recent Rs 105 billion raise in this sector.
Despite the tirade of inefficiency, corruption and
unscrupulous spending against the civilian government, any
rational analyst would concede that our catastrophic economic
deterioration has been caused mostly by our persistently
unrealistic and excessive defence allocations. A really
gracious and caring gesture on the part of our proud
commanders, thus, would be to delve deeper to pare down a
fraction of their projected layouts and spare a meaningful
solace for the sufferers. This would evidently also force the
government to slash some of its other spendings and strive for
a sturdier basis to spurn the Kerry-Lugar and IMF strictures.
The exigency for some actual downward review of the defence
budget is evidently further exacerbated by the persistently
plummeting development sectors. With the bare crumbs left for
development, even the most selfless angels, the exemplary
economic wizards and gurus of good governance cannot manage
the miracle of the long elusive welfare and development.
No democracy, in fact, can prosper without adequate resources
equitably distributed to the satisfaction of all the
stakeholders. Still another cardinal and more commendable
gesture by Kayani and the commanders would be to dispel every
doubt about the continuation of democracy being perpetrated by
the doom mongers, remnants of the dictatorship and the forces
disillusioned of any dominant role in the representative
system. Profound trust and confidence in the continuation of a
system are essential for its survival and success.
In Pakistan unfortunately, the detonators to destroy democracy
were inserted right at the start of the system. Most media
hawks, rather than digging up the draconian deeds, scams and
scandals of the decades of dictatorship, are battering the
civilian leadership struggling to sustain the system. A
demolition squad in a juggernaut section of the media even
theorised how any untoward reaction in Sindh on scuttling the
PPP-led government could be countered by manoeuvring the
nationalist forces. The assertion evokes the painful memories
of the swaggering yet futile strategy to swamp the popular
surge in East Pakistan through manipulated minion
organisations.
Some other segments are similarly stirring a civil-army
dichotomy by praising certain army actions while skewering the
related civilian endeavours, particularly in the context of
relief operations.
The idea, ironically, is either quite naďve or a deliberate
ploy to portray the army and the government as two separate or
different entities. The army evidently is the most trained,
valorous and disciplined organ of the government, like the
brave trained youth of an extended clan gathered and groomed
to counter any calamity or crisis. Reverence and realisation
of the will and command of the family elders, which in modern
established societies symbolises the elected civilian leaders,
is an inalienable essence of the entire army discipline and
training.
These ideas are now so ridiculously rudimentary, common and
innately ingrained into modern democracies that they are
rarely mentioned or debated. Yet, they have to be repeatedly
emphasised in a country crushed by repeated adventurism.
Even the deepest love, reverence and devotion requires
repeated asseveration and reiteration to remove the shreds of
suspicion, doubt and uncertainties.
So another generous gesture by Kayani would be to squelch and
stump the rumours, innuendos and the doubts about his resolve
to keep the representative system on an even keel and
uninterrupted course.
The writer is an academic and freelance columnist. He can
be reached at habibpbu@yahoo.com
Africa
roaring to go
The West and the prosperous countries of the Middle East
should listen to the deep roar of Africa's lions- and
invest in Africa's future as the Chinese and Indians have
already decided to do.
Jonathan Power
The
Football World Cup, now being played out in South Africa,
is not a mirage. It is succeeding beyond anyone's wildest
dreams. Not only has the game thrilled its adherents all
over the world, the new infrastructure has not failed to
impress visitors- from the amazing stadiums, to the new
roads and the high speed rail link to the airport. All was
completed on schedule, testimony to the country's growing
expertise in management and sophisticated technology. The
"crime wave" foreseen by many has not occurred.
But for those who can take their eye off the ball, think
not of football but of the African continent as a whole.
It is beginning to roar. As the tigers have growled in
South East Asia the last three decades, with an almost
stratospheric rise in economic growth and living
standards, the roaring African lions seem intent on
emulating their Asian cousins which only a couple of
generations ago were at the same economic level as West
Africa.
Of course, as the BBC reported yesterday from Niger,
drought and bad management can reduce a poor African
country to widespread hunger. But for most of Africa this
is not only not true it is distorting reality-a common
problem among broadcasters who are attracted to visual
suffering far more than they are to the non-visual, dry as
a bone, statistics of the International Monetary Fund.
Africa has played its cards well during the US-led "Great
Recession". It confronted the recession from a position of
strength, following years of policy reform. Nigeria has
used significant amounts of its saved oil revenues to
counter the dampening effects of the recession. Kenya's
proactive measures by the central bank helped mitigate the
recession's impact on the banking sector-it remains liquid
and well capitalised. Many countries have a sound fiscal
position and were able to increase government
spending-mainly on health and education-to buttress
economic activity. Interest rates were brought down and
today the business friendly environment attracts a huge
amount of foreign investment.
The World Bank ranked Rwanda as the world's top performer
in encouraging entrepreneurship. The IMF predicts that
next year economic growth will average in sub-Saharan
Africa 5.75 per cent.
In Tanzania it will be 8 per cent, in Uganda 7 per cent in
Mozambique 8 per cent, in Ghana 7.3 per cent, in Mali 6.3
per cent, in Nigeria 8 per cent and in Kenya 5.8 per cent.
Even the Zimbabwe of the Marxist dictator, Robert Mugabe,
has begun to show signs of recovery from its years of
mismanagement with an expected growth rate of 4 per cent
and an inflation rate falling from over 1000 per cent to 8
per cent. Foreign direct investment in Africa has
increased from $10 billion a year to Ł88 million- compare
this with India's $42 billion and China's $108 billion.
Is this just a reflection of the world's lust (especially
China's and India's) for oil and minerals? Only in part-
the natural-resource sector accounts only a third of
Africa's growth. The Boston Consulting Group in a report
published earlier this month says there are a number of
African countries whose performance rivals the Bric
countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China).
The report says that 500 African companies have been
growing at more than 8 per cent a year since 1998, helping
produce a rise in export growth of 18 per cent. Some of
these countries are in North Africa but most are in
sub-Saharan Africa- in particular South Africa but also in
Nigeria, Angola and Togo.
Africa is positioning itself to take advantage of China's
exports moving up the value chain so that it can become a
major source of low cost manufacturing- from shoes, to
textiles, to the now ubiquitous motor bikes. Consumer
growth is growing, with the first item of choice the
mobile phone. Africa has the fastest rate of increase of
mobile ownership in the world and has pioneered such
innovations as mobile enabled money-transfer and savings
accounts.
One of the benign results of increased economic activity
and better health and education programmes is the fall of
infant mortality. Sub-Saharan Africa may still be a
laggard compared with the fast rate of improvement in
Asia, North Africa and Latin America but the rate is
accelerating, particularly in those countries that have
invested heavily in primary health care-Tanzania, Malawi,
Ethiopia, Zambia, Rwanda and Botswana.
Africa still has an enormous amount to do- to get its
infant mortality rate much further down, to educate its
girls so that they are receptive to birth control and
basic hygiene and, for many of the poorer countries, to
make them more attractive to foreign investment.
Corruption is rife and needs perpetual vigilance. Good
governance has to be dramatically improved. Domestic
savings rates have to be lifted and tax collection
improved.
The West and the prosperous countries of the Middle East
should listen to the deep roar of Africa's lions- and
invest in Africa's future as the Chinese and Indians have
already decided to do.
Jonathan Power is a London-based foreign policy
commentator
Viewpoints
Indo-Pak border: the road not yet
taken
The Indo-Pak
border was created to shape and control the massive
displacements of partition, to fix the national status of
religious minorities, and to create national difference where
none had existed before.
Vazira Fazila-Yacoobali
Nation-states
and their borders are products of specific histories, and are
shaped by political processes that need to be interrogated. In
the Indian subcontinent we need to understand this shared
history and reclaim our political imagination to transform the
boundaries that divide us.
The highly restricted Indo-Pak border that we live with in the
subcontinent today was not created, as some would believe,
because of Indo-Pak wars over Kashmir. Rather, it has a very
different history. By separating the border from the Kashmir
conflict, this history may allow us to think about more open
borders as the road not yet taken -- the road that lies ahead
for finding solutions through affinity rather than difference.
While historians may argue for years to come over the roads
that led to the denouement of the partition of 1947, when a
line was drawn on maps to demarcate the territories of India
and Pakistan, what this line was actually supposed to mean on
the ground, in actual people's lives, was uncertain even to
leaders of the time. The record is littered with formulations
that may appear fantastical and ridiculous from our present
location, but are extremely important for they reveal the many
ways in which "Pakistan" was imagined as an Indo-Muslim space
that was not severed from the rest of India, and as a
territorial entity that would continue to be multi-religious
like the rest of India.
For one, while leaving the difficult question of nationality
laws to the two emerging postcolonial states the Partition
Council went so far as to amend the British Indian passport
rules "so that there should be no restrictions on the movement
of persons from one Dominion to another". How citizenship was
to be defined in this multi-religious landscape -- what would
be the national status of Hindus and Sikhs that lived in
"Pakistan" or Muslims that lived in "India" - was unclear, but
freedom of movement was considered essential to maintain
religious, economic and kin ties that the line would divide.
Thus, when the first restrictions on movement of people
between West Pakistan and India were imposed on July 14, 1948,
this was a shock to people in the region and for many the
"real partition." These restrictions were imposed suddenly by
the Indian government in the form of an emergency permit
system when north Indian Muslim refugees, that had fled their
homes in the midst of partition's violence, began to return to
their ancestral homes in the thousands.
In violence-torn Punjab, the Indian and Pakistani governments
agreed to a complete transfer of populations along religious
lines. This agreement had far reaching consequences for the
rest of the subcontinent that was not included in this
agreement. One of those consequences was that the Pakistani
government was relieved of the responsibility for creating
conditions for bringing back Hindu and Sikh refugees that had
fled their homes and lands in the Punjab, and the Indian
government for Muslim refugees.
While the Indian government was willing to accept Hindu and
Sikh refugees from Pakistan as a whole, it did not want north
Indian Muslim refugees to return to India (and thus claim
Indian citizenship). On the other hand, the Pakistani
government considered Muslim refugees from other parts of
India as Indian citizens, and feared a mass Muslim exodus that
it would not be able to cope with, given its territorial
limits and the substantial number of Muslims on the other side
of the line. The Pakistani government imposed a parallel
permit system by September 1948, in large part to prevent
Muslims that remained in India from coming to West Pakistan.
The unique form of the excruciating passport and visa system
for Indian and Pakistani passport holders -- visas issued only
for specific cities, requiring invitations, endorsements and
police reporting - are all remnants from the permit system
where people moving were largely those who were returning
home, to family and friends, to ties deep enough to make
people readily violate permit restrictions. When people were
arrested for overstaying on their permits, a flood of court
cases over belonging and citizenship followed.
In India, citizenship provisions (articles 5-9) were brought
into force on November 26, 1949, in advance of the Indian
constitution itself, to address these questions, and article 7
declared the act of "migration" as a basis for losing one's
citizenship. As large numbers of Muslims were forced to
contest their citizenship, it made the position of Muslims in
India as a whole suspect and subject to scrutiny. On the other
hand, the much-debated citizenship laws in Pakistan introduced
a "date-line" for "migration," and along with the introduction
of the passport system in 1952, made Muslims who remained in
India, "foreigners" in Pakistan.
It is worth noting that there were no restrictions placed on
movement between West Bengal and East Pakistan until 1952 when
the permit system was replaced by the Indo-Pak passport
system, and in the east freedom of movement was considered
important to provide security to the substantial religious
minorities that remained on both sides of the line. One could
argue that this fact, that West Pakistan almost immediately
lost most of its religious pluralism with the transfer of
populations agreement in the Punjab while East Pakistan did
not, affected how the Punjabi-dominated Pakistani state viewed
East Pakistan, and shaped their parting of ways.
The Indo-Pak border was created to shape and control the
massive displacements of partition, to fix the national status
of religious minorities, and to create national difference
where none had existed before. While the two governments made
the border more and more difficult to cross, people repeatedly
campaigned for an end to all travel restrictions, while some
groups went so far as to argue for the repeal of the transfer
of population agreement for Punjab. People resisted the border
at every stage of its long and contested making, and divided
communities and families held onto emotional connections
despite their difficulties.
But sixty years on, the generation for whom the landscape was
tangled, who had memories and feelings that told them that the
other side was also a part of them, who had friends on the
other side, well, that generation is passing away. For the
post-1971 generations, the other side has become another
country, and worse an enemy country with all its dark
stereotypes, our political imagination hostage to fear.
The extreme border controls have divided people but not
brought peace or resolutions to conflicts. May one dare to
ask, if freedom of movement had been maintained after 1947
what would India and Pakistan look like today? What do we want
them to look like in the future? n
The writer is Assistant Professor of History, Brown
University, and author of 'The Long Partition and the Making
of Modern South Asia: Refugees, Boundaries, Histories'
(Columbia University Press in 2007) vfyz@brown.edu
Palestinians
in Lebanon: Righting a wrong
Their home is
Palestine and they cannot wait to return. But, until that
day arrives, there is no need to deny them the most basic
of rights and infringe upon their very dignity.
Ramzy Baroud
Finally,
a parliamentary debate in Lebanon over the human rights of
Palestinian refugees.
What is unfortunate though, is that granting basic civil
rights to over 400,000 Palestinians - 62 years after their
expulsion from their historic homeland and the issuing of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - has been a
topic of "debate" in the first place. Equally regrettable
is the fact that various "Christian" Lebanese political
forces are fiercely opposing granting Palestinians their
rights.
Most Palestinians in Lebanon are second- and
third-generation refugees. Impoverished camps are the only
homes they have ever known. In Palestine, their real home,
their villages were destroyed, their fields were burned
down and their culture was eradicated. An ongoing attempt
at erasing every aspect of the Palestinians' Arab identity
in today's Israel continues unabated, strengthened by the
right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
and his Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who is
recognized in many political circles as "fascist".
But what 62 years of dispossession, massacres and untold
hardship failed to destroy - the memory and the belonging
- will certainly not be eliminated now by some right-wing
politicians and a few parliamentary bills at the Israeli
Knesset, including one that forbids Palestinians from
commemorating their Nakba (Catastrophe of 1947-48).
The ongoing debate in the Lebanese Parliament, however, is
of a different nature. Lebanon is striving to settle many
hanging political questions. Despite Israel's devastating
wars, a more confident Lebanese populace is emerging. This
was largely empowered by the success of the Lebanese
military resistance to Israel. A country of law and order
is replacing that of chaos and turmoil, and a level of
political independence is making some promising
appearances after decades of total political dependency
and proxy civil wars.
However, there are those who want Lebanon to remain a
country divided on sectarian lines, a characteristic that
defined Lebanese society for generations. Only such a
division could guarantee their survival at the helm of
dismal clan-based, sectarian hierarchy that has long
degraded the image of the country, and allowed outsiders,
notwithstanding Israel, to manipulate the fragile
structure for their own benefit.
THE denial of rights for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon
is an old subject that often resurfaces as a political
ploy to serve immediate interests. This time, however,
things seem to be different. Lebanon needs to move
forward. Denying 400,000 people living a most wretched
existence in scattered refugee camps, surrounded by mass
graves, military checkpoints and no political horizon
whatsoever is not conducive to the process of political
and social progress.
Of course, those who dread the possibility of a modern
Lebanon unified by one common identity - one that is not
held hostage to sectarian allegiances or tribal
affiliations - want Palestinian refugees to remain
perpetual victims. The good news is that the bill is
supported by those who are otherwise political rivals in
Lebanese politics - Saad Hariri, the Lebanese prime
minister of the Future Movement, and Hezbollah and Amal,
among others.
The bill, introduced by the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP)
on June 15 "would cancel prohibitions on property
ownership and social security benefits for Palestinians,
and ease restrictions on their right to work," according
to Human Rights Watch. Nadim Houry, HRW director in
Beirut, said, "Lebanon has marginalized Palestinian
refugees for too long (and the) Parliament should seize
this opportunity to turn the page and end discrimination
against Palestinians."
INDEED, it is an opportunity. But MPs from the Free
Patriotic Movement, Phalange and Lebanese Forces are
strongly opposing the measure. Phalange official Sami
Gemayel, for example, has tried to delay the measure,
hoping perhaps to deflate the strong movement that no
longer tolerates denying Palestinian refugees their basic
rights. "A matter that has created a number of crises for
more than 60 years could not be tackled within three
days," the Lebanese Daily Star quoted him as saying. Of
course he could not help but infuse the same old tired
mantra, stressing that "integrating the Palestinians in
the Lebanese society would undermine their right of return
and fulfill an Israeli demand."
Not one Lebanese could possibly believe that a Phalange
official - whose party worked with Israeli forces in the
summer of 1982 to orchestrate and carry out the killing of
thousands of defenseless Palestinian refugees in the Sabra
and Shatilla refugee camps - could truly be concerned
about the Palestinian sense of belonging, identity and
right of return. It is obvious that the measure could
embolden refugees into demanding full integration into
Lebanese society, which would completely undermine the
foundation of the sectarian society that the Phalange
official stalwartly champions.
But why should Palestinian refugees be humiliated for no
fault of their own? Why should they live under the choice
that they either suffer under draconian measures or risk
losing their right of return? It's like repeatedly
punishing the victim for "allowing" his victimhood. The
fact is, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, like Palestinian
refugees elsewhere, are utterly clear regarding their
right of return and their adherence to that right. They
need not to be fined or jailed for adding a bedroom to
their ramshackle homes in the refugee camps. They need not
be treated like tenth-class citizens to be reminded of
their love for Palestine, the names of their destroyed
villages, and the memories of their ancestors.
It is ironic how Gemayel found it implausible to reach a
solution regarding the acknowledgement of Palestinian
refugees' basic rights in three days, while it was
astoundingly achievable to butcher thousands of innocent
civilians by Phalange forces in 36-48 hours in Sabra and
Shatilla on Sept. 16, 1982.
The survivors of those camps, and the rest don't wish to
impede the "Christian' parties" bid for demographic and
sectarian "balance" in Lebanon. Their home is Palestine
and they cannot wait to return. But, until that day
arrives, there is no need to deny them the most basic of
rights and infringe upon their very dignity. One can only
hope that Lebanon's new political development overpowers
those who wish to keep the country fragmented, sectarian
and forever hostage to the ghosts of its colonial past.
Ramzy Baroud (www.ramzybaroud.net) is an
internationally-syndicated columnist and the editor of
PalestineChronicle.com. His latest book is "My Father Was
a Freedom Fighter: Gaza's Untold Story" (Pluto Press,
London), now available on Amazon.com
Farewell to the shadow shoguns
Ozawa's demise has the potential to put political power
back in the hands of Japan's elected leaders.
Yuriko Koike
It's
déjŕ vu all over again in Japan. Despite a landslide
electoral victory for his Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
last September, Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama
resigned only 262 days after taking office. Sadly, abrupt
changes of prime minister are practically an annual event
in Japan nowadays, as Hatoyama's resignation marks the
fourth sudden transfer of power to a new leader in the
past four years.
While in opposition, the DPJ bashed the Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP) for flipping through leader after leader. With
the DPJ now doing the same thing, the Japanese public is
flabbergasted, and people are beginning to ask if
something is rotten in their political system.
Hatoyama's inept handling of key national security issues
played a key role in his undoing. He alienated his Social
Democratic Party (SDP) allies by opting after months of
dithering to honour an agreement with the United States
ensuring the future of the Futenma Airbase on Okinawa.
Having promised to shut the base in the campaign, and
having also pushed for its removal while in office,
Hatoyama's reversal forced the Socialists to exit the
coalition. The SDP had promised that the base would leave
Japan.
Not only did Hatoyama lose a key coalition partner, but
the man who put him in the premiership has also been
forced out. DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa - the
party's shadowy power broker resigned from his post
simultaneously with Hatoyama. Ozawa's aspiration to make
the next election the grand finale of his political career
by cementing the DPJ as a party of government now seems in
jeopardy.
The Hatoyama government's floundering was not confined to
the issue of the US base on Okinawa. Indeed, it also
grossly neglected to deal with an outbreak of
foot-and-mouth disease in Miyazaki Prefecture, allowing
the disease to spread out of control. Instead of
overseeing the government's management of the outbreak,
Hirotaka Akamatsu, the minister of agriculture, forestry,
and fishing, took a long trip to Cuba to meet Raúl Castro
- a very strange decision given strained US-Japan
relations. That trip further cemented the notion that the
Hatoyama government was at root anti-American in the
mindless way that former South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun
was.
Having lost all support within his own party, Hatoyama had
no choice but to resign. Forcing Ozawa to step down with
him can perhaps be said to be Hatoyama's only meaningful
decision as prime minister, for Ozawa's departure from the
political scene - if it lasts - is the far more important
event.
Former star
In the past, Ozawa was the LDP's youngest secretary
general. A protégé of former prime minister Kakuei Tanaka,
an infamous LDP kingpin, Ozawa's political methods
epitomised the worst aspects of the LDP's old factional
plutocracy. But in 1993, having failed to gain control of
the party, he bolted, along with 45 other Diet members to
create the Shinsei Party, supposedly to press for
electoral reform.
With Japanese voters becoming supportive of new parties
after decades of LDP rule, Shinsei gained tremendous
traction and drove forward the creation of the first
non-LDP coalition government since the mid-1950s. But, as
the LDP retained the most seats in the upper house, it
soon forged a coalition with its long-time rivals, the
Social Democrats, forcing Ozawa back into opposition.
In 1999, Ozawa seized control of the DPJ, which Hatoyama
and Naoto Kan, the new prime minister, had founded. It
took 10 years to make a DPJ government possible, and only
by forging a coalition with the Social Democrats. By
shattering that coalition, Hatoyama destroyed the
governing majority Ozawa had worked so cunningly to
construct. With Ozawa gone, not only does the DPJ now have
an opportunity to renew itself, but so does the LDP.
As a former finance minister, deputy prime minister, and
the product of a grass-roots civil-society movement, Prime
Minister Kan has his work cut out for him, particularly as
it is rumoured that Ozawa intends to topple him in the
autumn. The likely ongoing instability within the DPJ
makes it all the more important that the LDP seriously
reform itself.
Although Ozawa retains considerable influence and so may
be able to exercise his will on the DPJ, this must not be
allowed to happen. For the politics of Tanaka and Ozawa
produced an enfeeblement of Japan's elected leaders in
favour of behind-the-scenes party bosses. Of course,
serious leaders such as former prime ministers Yasahiro
Nakasone and Junichiro Koizumi were able to overcome this
'shadow shogun' system over the years, but no democracy
can depend on great leaders being elected every time there
is a vote. Ozawa's fall could put political power in Japan
back where it belongs - in the hands of elected leaders.
Project Syndicate, 2010
Yuriko Koike, a former Japanese minister of defence and
national security adviser, is a member of the opposition
in Japan's Diet.
International
Myanmar clamps
down on political activity ahead of polls
AFP, Yangon
Members of political parties contesting Myanmar's first
elections in two decades will be banned from marching,
waving flags and chanting to garner support, under rules
announced Wednesday.
The directive, which did not reveal a date for the polls,
requires party members who want to gather and deliver
speeches at places other than their offices to apply for a
permit one week in advance, according to state media.
"Rules prohibiting the act of marching to the designated
gathering point and the venue holding flags, or marching
and chanting slogans in procession ... shall be stipulated
in the permit," the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.
Holding knives, weapons and ammunition are also banned,
along with acts that harm security and the rule of law or
tarnish the image of the military. Misuse of religion for
political gains is also prohibited, state media said.
Critics have dismissed the election-which is scheduled for
some time later this year-as a sham due to laws that have
effectively barred opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from
participating.
The United States said Tuesday that the military-run
state's election will "not be free or fair and will lack
international legitimacy".
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) was forcibly
dissolved under widely criticised laws governing the
polls.
The NLD refused to meet a May 6 deadline to re-register as
a party-a move that would have forced it to expel Suu Kyi,
who is under house arrest-and is boycotting the vote.
Under election legislation unveiled in March, anyone
serving a prison term is banned from being a member of a
political party and parties that fail to obey the rule
will be abolished.
New British FM seeks
deeper ties with Pakistan
AFP, Islamabad
British Foreign Secretary William Hague pledged on
Wednesday to deepen strategic relations with Pakistan as
he paid his first visit to Islamabad since the new
government in London took power.
"We are keen to deepen the UK-Pakistan strategic
dialogue," the Conservative politician told a news
conference without elaborating.
The previous Labour government said that 75 percent of
extremist plots affecting Britain-which is home to an
estimated one million people of Pakistani descent-have
links to Pakistan.
Hague paid tribute to the "enormous sacrifices" made by
Pakistan in the widening fight against Islamist militants
in the northwest near Afghanistan, where British troops
are locked in a war against the Taliban.
"Many thousands of soldiers in Pakistan have lost their
lives in battling against violent extremism, and so I
think that this must be understood all over the world," he
said.
Hague met Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Foreign
Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and is scheduled to hold
talks with President Asif Ali Zardari and speak to
business leaders.
Britain has increased development aid to Pakistan to 665
million pounds (992 million dollars) over four years,
including 50 million pounds to support stabilisation and
reconstruction in conflict-hit areas, Hague said.
Britain is the second largest investor in Pakistan after
the United States with two-way trade now worth more than
one billion pounds, up 30 percent over the past five
years, according to Pakistani data.
Sri Lanka slams UN over war
crimes probe
AFP, Colombo
Sri Lanka accused the United Nations on Wednesday of a
"hidden agenda" behind its plans to investigate alleged
human rights abuses by soldiers in the final months of the
island's savage civil war.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's appointment of a panel
to advise on any violations of international human rights
was "an attempt to provide oxygen" to the defeated Tamil
Tigers, government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said.
Sri Lankan troops finally wiped out the separatist
guerrillas in May last year after decades of ethnic
bloodshed, and the government has denied repeated
allegations that thousands of civilians were killed in the
fighting. "The United Nations and its secretary-general
have revealed their hidden agenda in no uncertain terms,"
Rambukwella said in a statement.
Rambukwella did not elaborate on the UN's "hidden agenda,"
but in the past Colombo has portrayed detractors of the
war as Tiger sympathisers. The foreign ministry warned
that the panel could be exploited "by vested interests
hostile to the process of reconciliation." Sri Lanka is
extremely sensitive about criticism of its hardline war
policy, which it views as having successfully brought
peace to the island.
Rambukwella also said the UN was attempting to pre-judge
Sri Lanka's own system of probing the final stages of the
fighting through a "lessons learnt" commission appointed
by President Mahinda Rajapakse.
"The UN Secretary-General has appointed a three-member
panel ignoring the wishes of a member state," Rambukwella
said. "Sri Lanka will take appropriate action," he added,
without giving further details.
Ban's move followed international pressure for an
independent probe into allegations that thousands of
ethnic Tamil civilians were killed by government troops
and that surrendering rebels were executed in cold blood.
UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said in a statement Tuesday
that the panel would be chaired by Marzuki Darusman from
Indonesia, the UN's special envoy for North Korea, and
hoped to complete its work in four months. Nesirky
emphasised the group had a mostly consultative role, and
that "primary responsibility for investigating rests with
the authorities of Sri Lanka".
However many diplomats see Ban's panel as a precursor to a
full-blown war crimes investigation. Rajapakse has always
rejected calls for a probe and in March warned Ban that he
would take "appropriate action" if a UN panel was set up.
Afghanistan backs
McChrystal to keep job
AFP, Kabul
President Hamid Karzai's government swung behind the
embattled US commander in Afghanistan on Wednesday,
warning that his sacking "would not be helpful" at a
critical juncture in a nine-year war.
US General Stanley McChrystal has been summoned to the
White House amid speculation he may lose his job over
disparaging remarks he made about top officials in
President Barack Obama's administration in a magazine
interview.
But Karzai-whose own relations with the White House have
also been troubled-expressed "confidence" in the general
during a pre-planned Tuesday video conference call with
Obama, his spokesman said.
"The president believes that we're in a sensitive juncture
in our partnership, in our war on terror, in process of
bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan and that any
gap in this process will not be helpful," Karzai's
spokesman Waheed Omar told reporters.
"General Stanley McChrystal is a very important part of
this process and we hope that he continues to partner with
the Afghan government and others in Afghanistan to achieve
the goal that we have set together," Omar said. Omar said
the Kabul government also believed the general had made a
mistake but said that should not detract from the urgency
of trying to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan,
where McChrystal oversees about 142,000 troops.
"We agree this was a mistake, we also agree that we're all
prone to make mistakes. In the past nine years there have
mistakes made in Afghanistan.
"But for the continuation of the process in Afghanistan
and the critical time that we've ahead-his presence is
going to be greatly important." He suggested that if
McChrystal were removed, his departure could interrupt
counter-insurgency efforts in Afghanistan crafted under
his command.
Karzai himself faced criticism this month over sacking his
intelligence chief and interior minister-two of
Afghanistan's top security officials and admired in the
West-after a rocket attack on a landmark peace meeting.
But the presidency credited McChrystal with helping to
"increase the level of trust" with the Afghan people since
he assumed command last year.
Karzai and Obama have endured months of discord and
worsening relations, but made an effort to present a
united front during the Afghan leader's last visit to
Washington on May 12.Last December, Obama announced he was
sending an extra 30,000 soldiers to Afghanistan in an
effort to regain the upper hand against the Taliban, but
said he would being withdrawing troops from the country in
mid-2011.
Pakistan releases Indian
prisoners on the eve of talks
AFP, Lahore, Pakistan,
Pakistan on Wednesday released 17 Indian prisoners as a
"goodwill gesture" on the eve of high-profile talks with a
top official from New Delhi, officials said.
The prisoners were handed over to Indian authorities at
the Wagah border crossing near the eastern Pakistani city
of Lahore, a spokesman for the paramilitary rangers,
Nadeem Raza, told AFP.
He said that all 17 prisoners, who had completed jail
terms in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat prison, were escorted to
Wagah in the morning where they were greeted by Indian
border officials.
Hundreds of Indians and Pakistanis are languishing in
prisons on both sides of the border on charges of spying
or illegal entry.
Prickly relations between South Asia's nuclear-armed
neighbours seriously worsened after the 2008 Mumbai
attacks. India blamed the carnage on Pakistan-based
militants and suspended peace talks.
But after a recent thaw in relations, India and Pakistan's
top foreign ministry officials are due to hold talks in
Islamabad on Thursday.
The talks between Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao
and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir will set the
agenda for a meeting between the foreign ministers on July
15, a senior foreign office official in Islamabad said.
"The two foreign secretaries will also discuss other vital
issues including ways to boost cooperation in
counter-terrorism, peace and security and
confidence-building measure," the official said.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi invited his Indian
counterpart S.M. Krishna to Islamabad as part of a process
of reconciliation between the two countries, who have
fought three wars against each other in the past 60 years.
Hong Kong steps up
security for democracy vote
AFP, Hong Kong
Hong Kong beefed up security on Wednesday as pro-democracy
campaigners staged a protest ahead of a vote on a
controversial plan that promises limited political reforms
for the city. Police surrounded the legislature with metal
barricades and scores of policemen moved to keep apart
pro-democracy and pro-Bejing activists ahead of the vote
beginning at 0300 GMT.
After weeks of tense political manoeuvring, the reform
plan is likely to be adopted by the legislature although
critics complain it does not go far enough and are calling
for universal suffrage in the former British colony. With
campaigners hoping to gather thousands of protesters,
authorities are on high alert to avoid a repeat of an ugly
demonstration in January over a high-speed rail link with
mainland China that saw police use pepper spray on some
protesters.
"The police hope there will be no need to use force to
maintain order, but when necessary, we will deploy
manpower and consider what strategy to adopt to handle the
situation accordingly," William Tang, senior assistant
commissioner of police, told the South China Morning Post.
NATO toll in Afghanistan
hits 70 in June
AFP, Kabul
A NATO soldier was killed in a bomb attack in Afghanistan
on Wednesday, the military said, taking to 70 the number
of foreign troops who have died in the troubled nation so
far this month.
The soldier, whose nationality was not revealed, was
killed in western Afghanistan, NATO's International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said. Since Monday alone,
15 foreign troops have been killed in Afghanistan.
Seventy NATO troops have died so far this month and 290
this year, according to AFP tallies based on the
independent icasualties.org website.
June is already the deadliest month for Western forces in
Afghanistan since October last year.
Much of southern Afghanistan is blighted by the Taliban
insurgency, now in its deadliest phase since the 2001
US-led invasion ousted the hardline Islamist regime and
installed a Western-backed administration led by Hamid
Karzai.
The US military has warned that casualties will inevitably
mount as foreign forces build up their campaign to oust
the militants from the southern province of Kandahar.
Plane bomber believes
N.Korea's Kim ordered ship sinking
AFP, Seoul
A former North Korean agent-who claimed she got orders
from Kim Jong-Il to bomb a South Korean airliner in 1987
-- says she believes Kim also ordered the sinking of a
South Korean warship in March.
Kim Hyun-Hee, who was sentenced to death but later
pardoned for her role in blowing up the plane with the
loss of 115 lives, was quoted by the Monthly Chosun, a
magazine published by Chosun Ilbo newspaper. "No big
incidents like this can happen without informing Kim
Jong-Il," the ex-agent, who now lives under guard in South
Korea, was quoted as saying.
"Although the planning and preparation would have been
done by the military, final confirmation must come from
Kim." Kim Jong-Il formally took over as the North's leader
after his father Kim Il-Sung died in 1994, but he had been
groomed for the role since the 1980s. Cross-border
tensions have risen sharply since the South-citing the
findings of a multinational investigation-accused its
neighbour of torpedoing the warship in March with the loss
of 46 lives.
The North, which denies involvement, has threatened
military retaliation if the UN Security Council censures
it as Seoul wants.
Former agent Kim said people who refuse to accept the
investigation results are "afraid of the truth that North
Korea did it, and they just don't like it". She said the
North still denies involvement in the bombing of the
Korean Air flight in 1987.
Malaysia to probe killing
of tiger
AFP, Kuala Lumpur
Malaysian wildlife authorities said Wednesday they are
investigating the killing of a three-year-old tiger as the
country battles to double the population of the endangered
species.
The tiger was killed in northern Perak state Tuesday after
a villager claimed it attacked his poultry and asked a
member of the government's volunteer force to shoot the
animal, The Star newspaper reported.
The killing comes as Malaysia tries to double its tiger
population to 1,000 by 2020. There are only 500 wild
tigers left in peninsula Malaysia, a sharp decline from an
estimated 3,000 in the 1950s. "We have lodged a police
report. The man should have informed us and let us set up
a trap to capture the tiger alive," said Shabrina Shariff,
state wildlife department director.
"We don't want to kill our tigers, we are supposed to
preserve and conserve them," she told AFP, adding the
department is carrying out its own probe and will
prosecute if the investigation shows any wrongdoing.
Taiwan sends early warning
aircraft to US for upgrade
AFP, Taipei
Taiwan's defence ministry said Wednesday it has shipped
two Hawkeye early warning aircraft to the United States to
boost their capabilities.
The planes will be upgraded to a model similar to aircraft
currently being used by the US navy, and are expected to
return to Taiwan late next year, the ministry said.
"The upgrading will make fleet management more
effective... and satisfy our early warning combat needs in
all types of weather," it said in a statement.
The island will upgrade a total of four aircraft in a
process that is expected to cost 5.6 billion Taiwan
dollars (175 million US dollars) and last three years, a
defence official said.
The United States in January approved a 6.4 billion-dollar
arms package to Taiwan, prompting a furious Beijing to
halt military exchanges and security talks with
Washington.
17
kg of 20 per cent enriched uranium ready: Iran
AFP, Tehran
Iran said Wednesday it has produced more than 17 kilograms
of 20 percent enriched uranium, as the nation's supreme
leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei branded newly imposed
sanctions a "confused" act.
"We have so far produced more than 17 kilograms of 20
percent enriched uranium and we can potentially produce
five kilograms per month," Iran's atomic chief Ali Akbar
Salehi told the ISNA news agency.
World powers led by Washington want Iran to suspend its
uranium enrichment activity which they suspect is masking
a weapons drive and on June 9 backed a UN Security Council
resolution for a fourth set of sanctions on Tehran.
Enriched uranium can be used as fuel to power nuclear
reactors as well as to make the fissile core of an atom
bomb.
Tehran says its atomic programme is geared entirely for
peaceful purposes.
Salehi said Iran was "not in a hurry" to produce 20
percent enriched uranium even if it is able to process
five kilograms of the material every month.
"We will adjust the production in a way that the workshop
for making the fuel plates is equipped," he said,
referring to fuel made from the 20 percent enriched
uranium and used to power a Tehran research reactor.
Iran started producing 20 percent enriched uranium from
February following an order from hardline President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. World powers claim that the Islamic
republic does not possess the technology required to
convert the 20 percent enriched uranium into fuel plates
for powering the reactor.
But Salehi said on June 16 that Iran has acquired the
required technical expertise and by September next year
the first batch of fuel plates will be ready.
Ahmadinejad had ordered the refining of uranium to 20
percent after a nuclear fuel swap deal aimed at powering
the Tehran reactor and drafted by UN atomic body last
October hit a deadlock.
That deal envisaged Iran sending its 1,200 kilograms of
low-enriched uranium-five percent purity-to Russia and
France for further refining to 20 percent and later to be
converted into fuel plates for the Tehran reactor. The
deal hit a stalemate as both sides insisted on conditions
unacceptable to the other.
Brazil and Turkey brokered a counter proposal in Tehran on
May 17 under which Iran would send its LEU to Turkey in
return for the Tehran research reactor fuel to be supplied
at a later date.
But the world powers cold-shouldered that proposal and
went ahead to vote for a fourth set of sanctions, which
had the effect of further tightening financial and
military restrictions on Tehran.
Police hold 27 after
deadly Istanbul bombing
AFP, Istanbul
The Turkish police have detained 27 people as part of a
probe into a deadly bombing of a bus in Istanbul, Anatolia
news agency reported Wednesday.
The roadside bomb, detonated by remote control, targeted a
bus carrying army personnel to work Tuesday, killing four
soldiers and the teenage daughter of an officer and
wounding about a dozen people.
It was not immediately clear whether the suspected
perpetrators of the attack were among the 27 detainees,
rounded up in a joint operation by anti-terror police and
special forces, according to Anatolia.
Radical Kurdish militants claimed responsibility for the
blast, the latest episode in surging violence since jailed
Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan said through his
lawyers last month he was abandoning efforts to seek
dialogue with Ankara for a peaceful end to the 26-year
Kurdish conflict.
Ocalan's separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) had
threatened to spread violence to urban areas after it
killed 12 soldiers in weekend attacks in remote regions in
the mainly Kurdish southeast. The attacks have triggered
nationwide outrage and turned up pressure on Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for tougher measures against
the PKK, with many also urging him to shelve plans to
expand Kurdish freedoms.
Popular anger simmered at the funeral of the youngest
victim of Tuesday's bombing, 17-year-old high school
student Buse Sariyag, who was travelling on the bus with
her father. She was laid to rest in Elmadag, an Ankara
suburb.
Russia cuts Belarus
supplies again as ‘gas war’ escalates
AFP, Moscow
Russia cut gas supplies to Belarus by nearly two thirds on
Wednesday, as a payment feud went into a third day and
claimed its first European victim when Lithuania reported
a drop in gas flow.
Lithuania said it had suffered a 30 percent reduction in
supplies pumped through Belarus, after maverick
Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko warned of a "gas
war" with Moscow and shut down transit of Russian gas to
Europe.
In a dramatic television appearance for the third day
running, the chief executive of Gazprom said the Russian
gas giant was cutting Belarus' supplies by 60 percent from
Wednesday morning but said European customers should not
worry.
"We have two pieces of news. One is good, the other is
bad," a grim-faced Alexei Miller said in comments released
by his company.
"Transit of Russian gas through the territory of Belarus
is being implemented in the full amount and consumers of
Russian gas do not experience any problems with it."
"The bad news is the Belarussian side is undertaking no
action to settle the debt for Russian gas supplies," he
said, adding that the cuts would continue in proportion to
Belarus's outstanding debt.
Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov declined to comment on
Lithuania's report of the reduced energy flow when reached
by AFP.
The dispute centres on Belarus' refusal to accept a hike
in the price it pays for Russian gas from the 150 dollars
per 1,000 cubic metres it paid on average last year to
169.20 dollars in the first quarter of this year and
184.80 dollars in the second quarter.
Gazprom said later Wednesday that Belarus had paid 260
million dollars at full price for gas supplies in May, but
added that Minsk must also "immediately" cover 192 million
dollars in arrears.
After Minsk said it saw no reason for price hikes since
the two countries had been working to ramp up economic
cooperation, Gazprom on Monday reduced gas supplies to
Belarus by 15 percent and then by 30 percent Tuesday.
Belarus for its part says Gazprom owes it more than 200
million dollars in transit fees.
The gas giant has said it would incrementally reduce gas
supplies up to 85 percent of the normal volume if the debt
is not settled in the coming days.
Following Tuesday's cut, Lukashenko ordered a shutdown of
Russian gas transit deliveries to Europe in retaliation,
raising fears in the EU, whose members Lithuania, Germany
and Poland depend on Russian gas piped through Belarus.
Synthetic drug use on rise,
developing countries at risk: UN
AFP, Vienna
Drug consumption is moving away from cocaine and opiates
and increasingly towards synthetic drugs, a UN report said
Wednesday, while warning of growing drug use in developing
countries.
"The world's supply of the two main problem drugs-opiates
and cocaine-keeps declining," the United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime (UNODC) found in its 2010 World Drug
Report presented Wednesday.
In the last two years, the land used for opium cultivation
worldwide has shrunk by 23 percent, it noted, while coca
cultivation, most of it in the Andes and vital for cocaine
and heroin production, has dropped by 28 percent in the
last decade. On the flip-side however, the global number
of users of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) -- between
30 and 40 million-was soon expected to top the combined
number of opiate and cocaine users, the UNODC warned.
"We will not solve the world drugs problem if we simply
push addiction from cocaine and heroin to other addictive
substances and there are unlimited amounts of them,
produced in mafia labs at trivial costs," director Antonio
Maria Costa said.
With short trafficking routes-ATS are often produced close
to their target market-and with raw materials readily and
legally available, these drugs were harder to seize, the
office noted. While cocaine consumption has fallen
significantly in the United States, the number of users in
Europe has doubled in the last decade to 4.1 million in
2008, shifting trafficking routes with disastrous
consequences for regional security and drug use in
developing countries, the UNODC also said.
Summarising the problem, Costa pointed out: "People
snorting coke in Europe are killing the pristine forests
of the Andean countries and corrupting governments in West
Africa."
Developing countries were increasingly falling prey to
drugs, the office noted: heroin consumption was up in
eastern Africa, cocaine use had increased in West Africa
and South America, and production of synthetic drugs was
also rising in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
‘3 Yemeni soldiers killed’
in clashes with south separatists
AFP, Sanaa
Three Yemeni soldiers have been killed in clashes between
the army and militants from the separatist Southern
Movement in Daleh province, a source from the movement
said on Wednesday.
Three other soldiers and three militants were wounded in
the fighting that erupted when the separatists attacked a
military post in the southern province during the past two
days, the source told AFP.
A tank, a military vehicle and an oil tanker were
destroyed in the fighting, the source said.
In a separate incident, armed men from the movement, a
coalition of groups wanting greater autonomy or
independence for south Yemen, bombarded the house of
Daleh's provincial governor and a military post, a
security official told AFP, adding that no damage was
reported.
An intelligence officer also escaped an assassination
attempt on Tuesday by armed men in the town of Khawbar, in
Daleh's northern district, a local source said.
However, one of his companions was killed and another
wounded, a local source told AFP.
Over the past year, the south has witnessed increasingly
bloody protests against perceived discrimination by the
Sanaa government in the allocation of resources.
On Sunday, two senior Yemeni army officers were killed in
a gun battle with separatist militants in Daleh which also
left two gunmen dead and one wounded, according to the
defence ministry.
South Yemen was independent from 1967, when British forces
pulled out, until 1990, when its leaders decided to unite
with the north. The south seceded in 1994, sparking a
short civil war that ended with the region overrun by
northern troops.
Iran must respond to
nuclear concerns: Brazil
AFP, Sofia
Sanctions may not have closed the door for talks over
Iran's nuclear programme, but the ball is now in Tehran's
court to allay international fears, Brazil's foreign
minister said here Wednesday.
During a two-day visit to Sofia, Foreign Minister Celso
Amorim said he was aware that "there were concerns
expressed by the Vienna Group"-the United States, France
and Russia-over a May 17 fuel swap deal between Iran,
Brazil and Turkey.
"I think now it is up to Iran to react to these," he told
journalists.
Iran's tripartite deal to exchange 1,200 kilogrammes
(2,640 pounds) of its low-enriched uranium for higher
grade fuel was cold-shouldered by world powers with the
UN, EU and US slapping new sets of sanctions on Tehran.
"My frank opinion is that sanctions do not help. But I am
encouraged by the fact that Iran has had so far a rather
flexible response," Amorim added.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov meanwhile
noted that "it is most important at the moment not to take
the decision by the UN Security Council for additional
sanctions as closing the door for negotiations and talks
with Iran."
"I hope the Iranian authorities will be ready to sit at
the table for an open dialogue on all issues concerning
their nuclear programme with the Vienna Group and the IAEA
(International Atomic Energy Agency) to find a solution to
this situation," he added.
"I agree that maybe the sanctions do not close the door
(to talks), I hope that this is the case. But I think that
the rush to sanctions was a bit disappointing from our
point of view," Amorim said.
He appeared encouraged that French President Nicolas
Sarkozy was willing to continue negotiations with Iran,
based on the Brazil and Turkey proposal, and he praised
the "positive mood" in Iran's general response to that
proposal.
"I think this is a good development."
Amorim added: "We have felt especially on the part of one
of the members of the so-called Vienna Group, the
willingness and the desire to have a continued engagement
by Turkey and Brazil."
"And if this is also the desire of Iran, which I think it
is, but also of the other two (Vienna Group members) we
will be more than glad to help," he said.
Business/Economy
FICCI
wants broader scope for investment of untaxed money
UNB, Dhaka
While local business chambers and investors hailed the
government's move to stop the provision for whitening
black money, the Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce &
Industry (FICCI) on Wednesday advocated a broader scope
for investing untaxed or undisclosed money.
"A new section 19C has been introduced where special tax
treatment has been allowed with respect to investment in
the purchase of bonds under the Bangladesh Infrastructure
Finance Fund. These amendments are clearly directed at
discouraging the use of investing untaxed money in
manufacturing, industry, capital market and real estate,"
said FICCI president AM Hamim Rahmatullah while addressing
a press conference at a city hotel. The FICCI recommended
the withdrawal of these amendments, as well as the
restoration of sections 19A and 19B of the income tax code
to encourage more investment, as the chamber believes that
investment has been hampered over the last 3 to 4 years.
In the Finance Minister's budget speech, the introduction
of a provision for investment in bonds issued under the
Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund up to June 2012
upon payment of tax at a rate of 10% is clearly mentioned,
with a view to developing the country's physical
infrastructure.
Mentioning that it is hard to define black money, Hamim
said that the government needs to find a mechanism for
collection of untaxed money. The FICCI president said that
the government shouldn't 'kill' others for increasing its
collection of revenue to govern the country, adding:
"Revenue should be increased keeping alive the industries
and there has to be a reasonable and equitable balance."
FICCI secretary general MA Matin and other chamber leaders
were present on the occasion. Answering a question, FICCI
taxation committee convenor Dr. Qayyum Khan said that
after 1/11, the investment scenario in the country became
miserable.
"The savings rate is 6 percent higher than the investment
rate over the last ten years and the situation needs to be
improved by encouraging investment," said Qayyum.
He said that considering the reality, there is a need to
improve the investment environment as well as to gain the
confidence of the investors. Qayyum alleged that the new
taxpayers are not being identified, rather the existing
taxpayers are being overtaxed.
"Out of the country's total population of 15 crore, only 4
lakh people pay tax. Apart from Dhaka and Chittagong, the
businesses in the small towns should also be included in
the tax net to increase the tax base," he added. The FICCI
president also recommends that the PSI scheme should
remain unchanged.
"PSI should be withdrawn only when customs has increased
its efficiency through acquisition of skills and
technologies,"
Citing the big size of the budget as well its huge
deficit, Hamim expressed his concern that the proposed
budget does not adequately address what new sources of
revenue will be brought under the tax net in an
expeditious manner.
DCCI
for quick finalization of coal policy
UNB, Dhaka
The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) on
Wednesday stood against government's policy to stop
privatization of state owned enterprises (SOEs) and sought
continuation of SOEs privatization policy to accelerate
economic growth.
The trade body also wants stable public policy for the
desired implementation of long-term development projects
under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme and to
increase confidence in the business sector through greater
protection for their investment. "We won't support it if
the government stops privatization of SOEs.
It should continue and we strongly recommend the
continuation of SOEs privatization policy because it will
generate funds for development activities," said the DCCI
President Abul Kasem Khan in a post-budget press
conference held at its conference room on Wednesday.
Khan said they want "standardised guidelines," whoever
comes to power, for PPP in order to implement unimpeded
long-term projects, saying "it will boost investment and
our confidence."
The trade body head also came up with a number of
budgetary recommendations for the government including
quick finalization of coal policy, declaration of
industrial policy, additional allocation for the power and
energy sectors, special allocations for a better
transportation system in Dhaka and reduction of tax at
source to achieve the targeted GDP growth and required
economic development. The DCCI president thinks the
targeted 6.7 per cent GDP (gross domestic product) growth
is achievable if the shortcomings including electricity
crisis are addressed properly.
"We proposed an allocation of Tk 10,000 crore for the
development of power and energy sector. We still feel that
the proposed allocation (Tk 6115 crore) is insufficient
and it should be increased to boost investment and
businessmen's confidence," Abul Kasem said. With regards
to the inadequate transportation system in capital city,
DCCI sought a special allocation of Tk 5000 crore for the
betterment of Dhaka city transportation.
DCCI lauded government for paying special attention to the
railways sector and urged the government to create a
separate ministry titled 'Ministry of Railways', which the
DCCI thinks will help achieve the desired level of
development in the communication sector. DCCI drew the
government's attention to the development of the Dhaka-Chittagong
Economic Corridor (DCEC) to facilitate country's
decentralized development apart from improving
transportation between Dhaka-Chittagong. Reminding the
government of the need for a quick announcement of
industrial policy, the DCCI president said they want to
see a synchronization of industrial policy and fiscal
policy to accelerate industrialization in the country.
Replying to a question, the DCCI boss said he does not
think the size of ADP (annual development programme) is
challenging, rather its proper implementation is. "The
government should prioritize the projects."
World Cup Football
Walton television sales increase
TBT Economy Desk
Walton showrooms all over the country are experiencing
growing turnout of television customers on the occasion of
FIFA World Cup-2010. According to sources, from the
beginning of World Cup excitement, everyday customers are
thronging the Walton showrooms of Dhaka city, other
metropolitan cities and district and upazila towns
countrywide to buy Walton brand televisions.
Walton, the country's leading electrical, electronics and
automobile manufacturing and marketing brand, announces
special offers for its customers on the occasion of all
most festivals and significant events. FIFA World Cup is
the most gorgeous festival in the world that creates great
enthusiasm among hundred crores of people. Ahead of FIFA
World Cup-2010, Walton announced a gift item offer and
special price reduction. Under the gift offer programme
after every purchase of any Walton brand product,
customers are getting gift cards and after rubbing the
cards they are taking a wide rage of high quality gift
items including scopes to travailing to 20 countries
including the USA and Canada. This gift item offer is
being provided by all the Walton showrooms all over the
country.
On the occasion of FIFA World Cup-2010 mostly all the
companies have offered special packages, different
facilities and gift items but customers have a special
look on the Walton brand televisions for special gift
items. In addition to world standard quality, warranty and
after-sales-service have increased the Walton sales,
sources said. During the visit it was seen that customers
crowded the Walton Malibagh showroom. One of the customers
a Ferdousi Jannat who came from Rampura said: "On the eve
of World Cup children have demanded a new television and I
have bought a 21-inch Walton television. I have also got a
gift card and after returning home I will rub the card for
gift".
About a question why she wanted to buy a Walton
television, Jannat told the correspondent: "I discussed
the matter with my relatives and all advised to buy a
Walton brand television". Walton Marketing Director
Emdadul Haque Sirker informed the correspondent that in
the World Cup season, sales of Walton brand televisions
have increased. Manpower of all Walton showrooms all over
the country has also been increased to tackle the
situation. The company has also put special emphasis on
sales service. He also claims that Walton brand products
have already gained huge popularity as its products have
world standard quality and are manufactured in Bangladesh.
Walton has a countrywide network and improved service
centres at every Upazila or Thana headquarters, even the
union level, he said.
A total of 15 models of Walton brand television including
LCD monitor television are being sold at a special
reduction rate at its showrooms. One of the main
attractions of Walton family is that data transferable
improved YUV of high regulation incorporated new Walton
brand television that has created huge enthusiasm among
local customers. A technology collected from CD and DVD
and 'D4ta' technology have been incorporated in the
television. In addition to it has surf-paining system that
saves screen from any kind of bruise and harmful dust,
says a press release.
UAE economy
fine: Dubai ruler
AFP, Dubai
Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has said
that the economy of the United Arab Emirates is doing fine
and that the worst for Dubai is over.
In an interview with CNN due to air on Friday, Sheikh
Mohammed also said that Emirates airline, the largest
carrier in the region, will place another order in July
following a record purchase earlier this month. "The worst
is over and Dubai is looking for new opportunities for
growth, according to Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed," CNN
reported on its website, quoting parts of the interview.
"Dubai and Abu Dhabi and the rest of the emirates are
fine," Sheikh Mohammad, who is also UAE vice president and
Prime Minister, told CNN.
"I don't call it a recession, I call it challenge," Sheikh
Mohammad said about the global economic crisis and its
impact on the UAE. "Without challenges, life would be
boring."
He said that Dubai's giant state conglomerates are
restructuring to conform to new realities. "The companies
are restructuring because it's a new world. You have to
stop and restructure."
The once bustling city state of Dubai was badly hit by the
global financial crisis that forced Dubai World, the
biggest state-owned conglomerate, to seek restructuring of
23.5 billion dollars (19.1 billion euros) of debt.
Sheikh Mohammad said Emirates airline, which recently
placed an order for 32 new superjumbo A-380 aircraft for
11.5 billion dollars (9.3 billion euros), will make a
fresh order next month.
The Dubai-based Arabian Business website on Wednesday
quoted the ruler as saying: "I think they (Emirates) will
have to order some more in the air show in Farnborough,"
held in Britain next month.
IEA sees oil
demand rising 1.4 pc per year
AFP, Paris
Economic recovery, mainly in Asia, is set to push up oil
demand by 1.4 percent a year, the IEA estimated on
Wednesday, saying this would leave behind a crisis
consumption dip lasting three years.
But if sovereign debt crises and other drags slow down the
recovery, oil demand might grow by only 1.0 percent a year
and the trough in usage would last for four years, it said
in a medium-term outlook for energy markets. The agency
stressed that the increasingly important dynamics of
growth for overall activity and therefore energy demand
were blowing from emerging economies rather than from the
31 advanced OECD countries.
And new ways of exploiting gas in North America were
becoming critical to the energy outlook.
The International Energy Agency, which is the oil policy
arm of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development, also said that the outlook for investment in
oil and gas resources was far better than it had feared at
the depths of the downturn 12 months ago. "The main impact
of the upstream spending dip last year was to postpone
rather than cancel upstream projects, many of which have
been reactivated," it said, in response to economic
recovery, strong non-OECD oil demand and higher prices.
Twelve months ago, the IEA had estimated that investment
in upstream resources and infrastructure might drop by 21
percent in 2009, but the fall now seemed to be 10-15
percent, and the agency said.
National
PM warns of stern action against
passengers harassment at airports
UNB, Dhaka
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday warned of stern
action against those who will be found guilty of harassing
passengers at international airports in the country.
She also directed the authorities concerned to remain
alert so that none involved in terrorism and militancy can
enter Bangladesh territory through the airports.
"We'll give all technological and logistics support to
improve the services at the airports. If services for the
passengers are not improved even after that, the
government will have to think of alternative steps," she
said. Hasina was addressing the inaugural function of
laying the foundation stone of the Civil Aviation
Authority Headquarters Complex at the VVIP terminal
auditorium of Hazrat Shahajalal International Airport.
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the Civil
Aviation Authority Headquarters Complex at the present HQs
premises in the morning. Hasina told the Civil Aviation
Authority, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Customs and the law
enforcing agencies to make their best efforts to ensure
security and comfort of all passengers coming into and
going out of Bangladesh.
On terrorism, she said terrorism and militancy have become
an international threat. "Bangladesh has already become
the victim of militancy threat."
The Prime Minister reiterated her government's strong
stand to keep Bangladesh free from threats of terrorism
and militancy.
"We'll never allow the land of Bangladesh to be used for
militancy and terrorism," she said. Criticizing some of
the officials concerned with passenger service at the
airports, Hasina said it is very unfortunate that
expatriate Bangladeshis who give hard labor abroad to earn
foreign currency for the country have to face lot of
sufferings in their homeland.
She said since the present government assumed office,
passenger services at the airports, including at Hazrat
Shahjalal Airport, has been upgraded to a great extent.
The Prime Minister said some 75 lakh expatriate
Bangladeshis, including labor and highly skilled
professionals, are working across the world and earn huge
foreign currency for the country. "But when they arrive at
their own airports after long journey, they have to lose
money and luggage. It's a big shame for the country."
Moreover, she observed that the country's image and many
economic factors depend on ideal environments at the
airports.
Water resources must be
protected from degradation: Speakers
BSS, Rajshahi
Speakers at a divisional dialogue here on Wednesday
underscored the need for taking an effective and urgent
step to protect the existing water resources from all
sorts of destructions in the region particularly in its
vast tract of Barind.
They also laid stress on proper management of the existing
water resources to protect the country from ecological
degradation for the sake of safeguarding the ecological
balance along with survival of all living beings. They
were addressing the dialogue titled "Ensuring strategy of
Water and Sanitation facilities in the draught-prone area"
organized by NGO Forum for drinking water supply and
sanitation at Uttara Community center here.
Commissioner of Rajshahi division Nurul Islam addressed
the programme as the chief guest while Superintending
Engineer of Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE)
Abul Basher and Deputy Director of Department of Health Dr
Nurul Amin as its special guests with Deputy Commissioner
Delwar Bakhth in the chair.
Nurul Islam endorsed that many things have done in water
and sanitation sector, but it needs further attention for
the improvement of quality of service. He underscored the
need for devising new programmes and fine tuning of
existing ones to make substantial development in the
national sanitation campaign.
"We need immediate action to move forward. And also we
need collective efforts," said Islam, who suggested for
looking into sanitation horizontally, an approach which
sees issues from a multicultural outlook.
One of the main objectives of the sanitation campaign is
to reduce diarrhea-related child mortality, which is still
high in the country. Besides, he said success of total
hygienic sanitation programme depends on its
sustainability and NGOs, members of civil society and
affluent people have to play the key role side by side
with government efforts to achieve the goal. In her
keynote speech, Senior Information Officer of NGO Forum
Zubaida Akhter gave an overview of the region's existing
water resources along with its vulnerabilities. Prof Dr
Syed Rafiqul Alam Rumi of Geography and Environmental
Science of Rajshahi University, DPHE Executive Engineer
Saifur Rahman and News Editor of Daily Sonali Sangbad
Akbarul Hassan Millat were the panel discussants.
Rivers mark rise and fall in N-region
BSS, Rangpur
Major rivers and their tributaries marked both rises and
falls at most points during the past 24 hours till this
morning in the Brahmaputra and Ganges basins following
moderate rainfalls and onrush of waters from the upstream.
The Teesta again crossed its danger mark (DM) at Dalia in
Nilphamari this morning and the situation marked little
deterioration during the past 24 hours inundating some
low-lying char areas in its courses, official and local
sources said.
The low-lying areas in three upazilas of Nilphamari and
adjoining areas along the Teesta courses were partially
inundated though the situation is remaining normal in the
other river basins.
Water Development Board (WDB) sources said the Teesta
marked a sharp rise by 33cm during the past 24 hours and
was flowing 8cm above the DM at Dalia point under Dimla
upazila in Nilphamari at 6 am this morning.
However, the Teesta marked a fall by 8cm at Kawnia point
in Rangpur during the period and it was flowing 151cm
below its DM there and the Dharla marked a fall by 13cm
and was flowing 120cm below the DM at Kurigram point this
morning.
The Brahmaputra marked a rise by 1cm during the period and
was flowing 111cm below the DM at Chilmari and also rose
by 2cm and was flowing at 24.75m, which was 250cm below
its DM at Noonkhawa point in Kurigram this morning. The
Karatoa rose by 15cm at Chak Rahimpur during the period
and was flowing 332cm below its DM there and rose by 10cm
to flow 245cm below the DM at Panchagarh point at 6 am on
Wednesday.
The Jamuna marked falls by 6cm and 1cm at Bahadurabad and
Sirajganj points and rose by 6cm at Aricha point during
the period and the rivers were flowing 101cm, 109cm and
188cm below its respective DM at these points at 6 am this
morning.
The Chhoto Jamuna marked rise by 53cm to flow 369cm below
its DM at Naogaon and the Jamuneswari rose by 19cm to flow
275cm below the DM at Badarganj points this morning.
The Padma marked sharp rises by 50cm, 45cm and 27cm at
Pankha, Rajshahi and Hardinge Bridge points during the
period and was flowing 613cm, 760cm and 627cm below its
respective DM at these points in the Ganges basin at 6am
today.
WDB recorded 20mm rainfall at Dalia, 82mm at Panchagarh,
30.5mm at Dinajpur and 48mm at Rajshai during the past 24
hours till 6am today.
Besides, Rangpur Met Office also recorded a total of
61.2mm rainfall at Rangpur point during the past 24 hours
period till 3pm today and moderate rainfalls were
showering at many places till this afternoon in greater
Rangpur, officials said.
Govt starts selling Family Savings Certificate
UNB, Dhaka
The government again started sale of Family Savings
Certificate (Paribar Sanchoypatra) from Wednesday, which
is aimed at making women economically self-reliant through
increasing their savings and investment. Family Savings
certificate of Tk 10,000, Tk 20,000, Tk 50,000, Tk
100,000, Tk 200,000 and Tk 500,000 will be on sale from
all bureaus of National Savings Directorate across the
country.
An adult woman holding the national identity card can
individually purchase maximum Tk 30 lakh worth of family
savings certificate.
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury formally inaugurated
the sale of family savings certificate at the head office
of National Savings Directory on Wednesday. She sold some
5-6 family savings certificates to women at the inaugural
function. Emphasizing women empowerment, Matia Chowdhury
said women of the country are much neglected as they have
to depend on father in childhood, on husband in their
youth and on children in old age. She said women could be
freed from such captivity through providing capital to
them. Family savings certificates can be the means for
women to collect capital and establish them as
economically self-reliant.
Internal Resources Division (IRD) Secretary Dr Nasir Uddin
Ahmed was the special guest at the inaugural function,
chaired by IRD joint secretary Begum Shaheen Khan.
Director of National Savings Mahmuda Akhter Mina gave the
welcome address.
Narayanganj Pourasabha
announces budget for fiscal 2010-11
BSS, Narayanganj
Narayanganj Pourasabha on Wednesday announced a Taka 43,
89, 35, 962 surplus budget for the fiscal year 2010 -2011.
Addressing a press conference in the conference hall of
the pourasabha in the morning, Mayor Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy
said, of the total budgetary allocation, Taka 21, 89, 46,
757 will come from the municipality's own resources. Taka
70,00,000 will come from government grant and Taka 14,95,
00, 000 from donor agencies.
She said Taka 43,51, 69,500 has been earmarked for the
development of roads, drains, culverts, power connections,
two children parks at Gymkhana and Syedpur, renovation of
Ali Ahmed Chunka Pourasabha library and completion of six
under construction pourasabha markets at Panchabati,
Khanpur, Dharmatola, Loyal Tank Road, and Chashara. She
said to remove water logging from the town the existing
old drains would be improved and expanded for free flow of
accumulated water.
She said no new tax has been imposed in the budget.
Terming the budget as welfare oriented, she said there
will be a surplus of Taka 37,66,463 after the completion
of development works.
No alternative to skilled human resources for building
developed nation: Speakers
BSS, Rangpur
Speakers at a workshop held at Chilmari in Kurigram have
said that the huge population could be turned into worthy
human resources through technical education in various
trades to ensure development of the country.
They specially stressed the need for continuation of the
social awareness building activities under the 'Continuous
Education Project-2' after completion of the Informal
Education Project for developing human resources at the
grassroots and backward areas.
They were addressing the Social Awareness Building
Workshop titled 'Post Literacy Continuous Education for
Human Development (PLCEHD)' organised by District Informal
Education Bureau (DIEB) under the Primary and Mass
Education Ministry.
Held yesterday at the auditorium of Tere Des Homage
Foundation at Chilmari, the workshop was chaired by
president of Chilmari upazila unit of Awami League (AL)
and Chilmari upazila chairman Shawkat Ali Sarker Bir
Bikram.
Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram M Habibur Rahman attended
and addressed the workshop as the chief guest while UNO of
Chilmari upazila M Enamul Haque was present as the special
guest. Assistant director of DIEB of Kurigram Mehedi
Akhter, principal of Chilmari Degree College Prof Abul
Quashem, programme coordinator of the project implementing
organisation RISDA Mizanur Rahman, its master trainer
Masud Rana and Feroz Kabir of Partners' Associate Ltd
spoke.
A total of 55 persons, including successful participants
of the informal literacy programme, teachers, public
representatives, professionals, officials and employees of
different government and non-government organizations and
journalists took part. The workshop revealed that a total
of 2,040 persons including 1,020 women and 1,020 men of
the 15 to 45 years age groups are being provided with
informal education through 34 centres in Raniganj, Ramna,
Thanahat and Chilmari unions in the upazila.
Side by side with informal education, all of them are also
being provided training on various trades including sewing
science, livestock, fish farming, house wearing and
decoration and other technical and vocational trades to
make them skilled manpower.
Plans taken to free capital from traffic jam: PM
New law in offing to reduce accident
UNB, Sangsad Bhaban
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament Wednesday spelt
out her government's detailed plans to free capital Dhaka
from irritating traffic congestion.
The plans include shifting of long distance bus counters
from city centers to inter-district bus terminals,
introduction of IC Card Ticketing System (E-ticketing),
formulation of parking policy which is at final stage,
construction of five overpass/flyovers at Mirpur-Zia
Colony, Maghbazar-Mouchak (combined) flyover, Jurain
Overpass, Kuril Interchange, and Jatrabari-Gulistan
flyover. Replying to a tabled question of Shamsul Huq
Chowdhury (AL), Hasina said Bus-Bay, zebra crossing, speed
breaker, traffic signs/road signs and parking are being
set up at different places of Dhaka City. She said a
survey on Dhaka Urban Transport Network Development Study
(DHUTS-1) has been completed with financing from and
management of JICA (Japan International Cooperation
Agency). In the survey, metro rail from Uttara to Syedabad
has been primarily identified as a priority project to
tackle the traffic jam in Dhaka City.
The Prime Minister said work on a feasibility study on
Uttara-Syedabad metro rail began in May this year.
She admitted that it requires 25 per cent of road for
proper traffic management in Dhaka City but only 7-8 per
cent roads are in place. New roads need to be constructed
to cope with the increasing vehicles coming out on to the
streets, she said.
A new law titled Road Transport and Traffic Bill with the
provision of tough punishment is being prepared in a bid
to reduce road accidents in the country, the Prime
Minister informed Parliament on Wednesday.
The new law will be enacted updating the Motor Vehicles
Ordinance, 1983, Sheikh Hasina said, replying to a tabled
question of M Abul Khayer Bhuiyan (BNP-Laxmipur).
Spelling out the steps for reducing road accidents that
claim lives of many people everyday, she said that the
32-member National Road Safety Council headed by the
Communication Minister has been reorganized.
Besides, the Prime Minister said, the National Road Safety
Strategic Action Plan 2008-2010 has been approved while 24
implementing agencies are executing their respective plans
under their own budgets. She said the highway police is
regularly filing cases and canceling licenses for rash
driving at high speed, carrying passengers in goods-laden
trucks, overtaking while driving and plying faulty
vehicles.
Moreover, cases are being lodged for rash driving at high
speed at some specific places after detection through
speed detectors. Hasina told the House that so far 3,700
professional drivers were imparted training throughout the
country including Dhaka.
Sports
Argentina ease into last 16
AFP, Johannesburg
Argentina cruised into the last 16 of the World Cup on Tuesday
but former winners France ended their nightmarish campaign
meekly and South Africa became the first host nation to fall
at the opening stage.
Uruguay beat Mexico 1-0 in their final game in Group A but
both countries qualified for the knockout round after the
French lost 2-1 to South Africa, who failed to score enough
goals to overhaul second-placed Mexico on goal difference.
Argentina dominated Group B by brushing aside a stubborn
Greece 2-0 in Polokwane, and South Korea reached the last 16
for only the second time after finishing runners-up despite
being held to a 2-2 draw by Nigeria in Durban.
As the competition moves into the knockout round, the South
Koreans will take on Uruguay on Saturday, while on Sunday
Diego Mara-dona's dazzling Argentina face Mexico in the last
16 for the second time in successive World Cups.
South Africa set the unenviable record of becoming the first
country to host a tournament and yet crash out in the first
round, although they were only eliminated on goal difference
and lost just one of their three games. The South Africans
went out on a high note by beating the troubled French - who
dropped captain Patrice Evra following the revolt over Nicolas
Anelka's expulsion from the squad.
Bafana Bafana took the lead in Bloemfontein with a 20th minute
header from Bongani Khumalo and France's day went from bad to
worse when Yoann Gourcuff was sent off for elbowing MacBeth
Sibaya in the face. Katlego Mphela put the host nation 2-0
ahead when the French defence failed to clear, but France
scored a consolation through substitute Florent Malouda -
their only goal of the entire tournament. France coach Raymond
Domenech said he felt a "genuine sense of sadness" as his
reign came to a bitter conclusion.
It was controversial to the end when he declined to explain
why he had refused the traditional end-of-match handshake from
Parreira.
Argentina broke down a stubborn Greek defence with late goals
from Martin Demechelis and Martin Palermo, whose strike after
a flash of Lionel Messi's brilliance prompted coach Maradona
to leap into his assistant's arms in delight.
Palermo, who at 36 has been given a new lease of life by
Maradona, said: "This is priceless. I will always be grateful
to Diego Maradona and to the staff for their confidence in me,
knowing there are others ahead of me.
Mexicans
brace for rematch against Argentina
AP, Mexico City
Maximiliano Stern is an Argentine working in Mexico, and he
has mixed emotions about Sunday's World Cup match between
Mexico and Argentina.
"I would have preferred that Mexico played someone else in the
next round and kept winning," Stern said. "But now that we
play Mexico, I hope we win. Of course, it's not guaranteed.
It's been a nice party atmosphere here. Mexicans will give a
party for anything." Mexicans know all too well the fiesta is
likely to end - and again against Argentina.
This marks the fifth straight time that Mexico has reached the
final 16 of the World Cup. Mexico lost the four previous
showdowns - against Bulgaria, Germany and the United States in
2002. The latest came in the 2006, a 2-1 loss in extra time to
Argentina on a soaring volley by Maxi Rodriguez in extra time.
Stern, the director of an IT company in Mexico City, was here
four years ago and took grief from his Mexican colleagues
after Argentina's victory. He fears a repeat. Thousands of
Mexicans went with hope on Tuesday to the Angel de la
Independencia monument in the city's center, the traditional
site of football celebrations. What they found after the loss
were rows of policemen in riot gear holding shields and
helmets listlessly, watching from a distance as small groups
of fans in jerseys and sombreros posed for news cameras. "To
be for Mexico ... it's a bit tough," said Jesus Sanchez,
wearing a black Mexico jersey and milling around the Angel. A
hard-core Mexico fan with a home jersey draped over her arm,
Marina Gonzalez predicted a 3-0 loss against Argentina and
another disappointing exit. "It's difficult because we always
hope, but we don't always play," she said after Tuesday's 1-0
loss to Uruguay that left Mexico second in Group A and set up
the showdown with the two-time champions. Argentina defeated
Greece 2-0 to win Group B. Mexicans see their country as a
football force, but the reality is different. Mexico has never
gone past the quarterfinals, reaching that stage when it
hosted the event in 1970 and 1986. The Mexicans have probably
slipped behind the United States as the power in the region,
and entering the World Cup they were ranked No. 17 by FIFA. So
an exit at the round of 16 is about right.
Referees
under microscope at WCup
AFP, Cape Town
The standard of refereeing at the World Cup has inevitably
come under the microscope, with some controversial
decisions and claims that some officials aren't up to the
job.
Refereeing on the world's biggest stage is a dream come
true, but it can also be a thankless task with players and
coaches free to lash out without the official able to
answer back.
FIFA appointed 30 referees from 28 countries for the
tournament and many have been praised for their fitness
and keeping their cards in their pockets, but some
decisions have been questioned.
One of the most high-profile came when Mali's Koman
Coulibaly disallowed Maurice Edu's goal for the United
States in the 85th minute of their 2-2 draw with Slovenia,
denying them a vital win and sparking an outcry in the
United States.
South Africa coach Carlos Parreira, meanwhile, blasted
Swiss referee Massimo Busacca for reducing his team to 10
men in their 3-0 loss to Uruguay that crippled their dream
of World Cup advancement. "He is the worst referee in this
competition," Parreira said. "I hope we don't see his face
again in any game anymore. He probably does not deserve to
be here." And on Monday, Switzerland defender Step-hane
Grichting attacked Saudi Arabian referee Khalil Al Ghamdi
who was in charge of their 1-0 defeat against Chile which
saw nine bookings and a sending-off. "At 11 against 11 we
would have had a different match. The problem was that we
came up against a referee that week in, week out is
officiating in the first or second division," he said.
"But here he is at an international level and so he isn't
up to the standard. And we saw that throughout the entire
game."
French referee Stephane Lannoy also came under fire for
sending off Brazil's Kaka against the Ivory Coast, while
he allowed Luis Fabiano's second goal to stand despite a
clear double handball.
To make matters worse, Lannoy was seen laughing with
Fabiano after the incident. Nevertheless, FIFA's head of
refereeing Jose-Marcia Garcia-Aranda told reporters that
overall he was satisfied with the performances, but also
said mistakes were inevitable.
Brazil and Portugal in heavyweight
clash
AFP, Durban
World Cup favourites Brazil clash with their former
colonial masters Portugal in their final Group G match on
Friday, with the five-time champions already qualified for
the round of 16. Brazil have racked up a 2-1 win over
North Korea and a 3-1 victory over Ivory Coast to sit
pretty on six points.
Portugal, on a run of 17 matches without defeat, drew 0-0
with the Ivorians before routing North Korea 7-0 to put
them in second spot in the group and needing only a draw
to advance to the next round.
Even if they were to lose against Brazil, Portugal's goal
difference is such that Ivory Coast, with one point, would
have to win handsomely, and then some, to be close to
threatening them for second spot. "Brazil are going all
out to win another important match - it is important to
ensure top spot," said Brazilian playmaker Kaka, who will
miss Friday's game after his red card against Ivory Coast.
"Okay, I know a draw will leave us top but a victory is
good for confidence." Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz said
he hoped his side would avenge a 6-2 friendly defeat to
the Brazilians in 2008 - the last time they shipped six
goals was in 1955.
"We don't want the Brazilians to score against us this
time - it is a question of honour," said the
Mozambique-born Queiroz, formerly Sir Alex Ferg-uson's
assistant at Manc-hester United. "We must not do Ivory
Coast any favours in terms of letting it go down to goal
difference." He added: "Against Brazil, it is always a
really tough match, a difficult one. I think that Portugal
and Brazil are in the right shape to put on a good
spectacle of football for the whole world. "Brazil and
ourselves will focus more on the game on the pitch and not
on the Jabulani (ball) and the vuvuzelas. "We have spoken
too much about both subjects. It is time for the
supporters to focus on the football. Both teams are going
to think seriously about the second round."
Brazil coach Dunga, who has led his side to victory in the
Copa America and the Confederations Cup here last year,
will likely field some reserves against Portugal. "We are
not sure who will replace Kaka for the next game, we will
think about it over the next few days," he said. Dunga
looks to have three options regarding his Kaka conundrum.
He can field Nilmar in attack and switch the on-form
Robinho into a central role, send in Julio Baptista or
push Daniel Alves forward into the engine room. The
winners of Group G will play the runners-up in Group H,
currently topped by Chile, with Spain and Switzerland in
second on three points and Honduras winless. To date, the
Brazilians have won 12 and the Portuguese four of 18
matches with two drawn.
Ballack ready to decide
future
AFP, Berlin
Germany's Michael Ballack, without a club after his
release by Chelsea, is looking at a return to Germany and
says he will decide on his future within two weeks.
"I will take my decision as quickly as possible, which
means in the next two weeks", the 33-year-old, ruled out
of the World Cup through injury and targetted by several
clubs, told the Bild newspaper Wednesday.
He has hinted that he would like to return to Germany
after his stint in London and three Bundesliga
clubs-Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg-have
confirmed interest. Liverpool and Tottenham in the
Premiership and at least one Spanish outfit are also
looking at the powerful midfielder, given a free transfer
by Premiership champions Chelsea.
Beyer have already put a 13 million euros two-year
contract on the table but 2009 champions Wolfsburg are
reportedly ready to offer 19 million over two years
including salary and bonuses. The injured German captain
vowed to play on for at least two more years at the
highest level following his Chelsea exit. He recently said
he remained a "proud German" who was looking at "options
back home."
Blanc set for massive rebuilding
task
AFP, Knysna
New France coach Laurent Blanc faces a massive task to
rebuild the morale and the image of the national side
after its catastrophic World Cup finals campaign which
ended abjectly on Tuesday with a 2-1 defeat by hosts South
Africa.
Blanc, who cut his teeth for the job in coaching Bordeaux
to the 2009 league title, will at least settle into the
hotseat with loads of goodwill, not only because he is
lionised as one of the side that collected both the 1998
World Cup and the Euro 2002 titles, but also because of
one other major factor. He is not Raymond Domenech.
Nevertheless Blanc - nicknamed 'The President' from his
playing days - will not be able to ease himself into the
job as he bids to qualify France for the Euro 2012 finals
to be co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.
The 44-year-old's first task will be to launch a public
relations campaign to win back the supporters. No matter
that captain Patrice Evra announced the squad would refuse
the bonuses coming to them from their South African
adventure, there is far more work to be done on that score
with the fans.
Paraguay want to end NZ
fairytale
AFP, Johannesburg
Paraguay want to become party poopers in Polokwane on
Thursday and end an amazing showing by New Zealand at the
World Cup.
"It is the best team Paraguay has ever had. We have been
playing together for years and are very experienced and
mentally strong," boasted Manchester City striker Roque
Santa Cruz.
"Paraguay have never been to the quarter-finals. This is
our goal and when we reach that, everything is possible.
We have beaten Argentina and Brazil, two of the best teams
in the world (in the qualifiers), to get here."
The South Americans lead Group F with four points,
defending champions Italy and pre-finals no-hopers New
Zealand have two each and Slovakia one with all four
capable of making the second round.
Having suffered three heavy losses in a previous
appearance 28 years ago, the Kiwis mocked predictions that
they would suffer a similar fate in South Africa by
holding Slovakia and Italy to 1-1 draws.
Victory over Paraguay would guarantee a last-16 place and
a draw might suffice depending what happens between Italy
and Slovakia at the same time in Johannesburg.
New Zealand is a rugby union-obsessed country with its All
Blacks national team consistently among the best in the
world although they have won the Rugby World Cup just once
in six attempts.
The 'All Whites' are part of Oceania, a football region
not considered strong enough for automatic World Cup entry
so the Kiwis defeated Bahrain in a play-off to reach South
Africa. A stoppage-time goal from defender Winston Reid
salvaged a draw against the Slovaks and the expected
hiding from four-time world champions Italy did not
materialise with Shane Smeltz giving the no-hopers an
early lead.
Ivory Coast need goals
and some more against NKorea
AFP, Nelspruit
Ivory Coast are hoping for another North Korean defensive
meltdown in their final Group G match here on Friday if
they are to avoid another early African exit at the World
Cup.
Didier Drogba's Elep-hants must register a comprehensive
win over the North Koreans at the Mbombela Stadium and
hope group leaders Brazil punish Portugal in Durban for
them to have even a remote prospect of reaching the last
16.
Ivory Coast's fate is out of their hands after their 3-1
loss to the Brazilians at Soccer City, exacerbated by
Portugal's 7-0 blitz of the hapless Asians in Cape Town.
The Elephants are conceding a massive nine goal difference
to second-placed Portugal heading into Friday's decisive
group matches, and the odds and logic are firmly stacked
against them.
Their only recourse is to deluge the North Koreans with
goals with Drogba, the Chelsea superstar, leading the way.
"It's going to be hard for us to qualify now because our
fate's no longer in our hands," said Drogba, who is
playing his way back to full fitness after breaking his
right arm in a warm-up match and is wearing a
controversial protective cast.
SKorea into last 16 after Nigeria draw
AFP, Durban
South Korea progressed to the second round of the World
Cup for only the second time in eight attempts after a 2-2
draw with Nigeria in their final Group B match here on
Tuesday.
The result saw the Asian giants, who opened their campaign
with a 2-0 win over Greece but then crashed 4-1 to
Argentina, finish second in the group behind the South
Americans, who beat Greece 2-0 to remain unbeaten.
Nigeria, who had lost 1-0 to Argentina and 2-1 to Greece,
were eliminated from the World Cup along with the Greeks.
South Korea will face Uruguay for a quarter-final spot
while Argentina, who saw off Greece 2-0 in their final
group game, will tackle Mexico.
"I am very disappointed," said Nigeria coach Lars
Lagerback. "I am convinced that we deserved better in the
World Cup.
"When we were ahead we continued to battle and we
equalised. But it wasn't good enough."
The Super Eagles, who have never beaten an Asian side at
the World Cup, opened the scoring through Kalu Uche (12)
before South Korea hit back in the 38th minute through Lee
Jung-Soo.
In a free-flowing game, the Koreans took the lead in the
48th minute through a Park Chu-Young free-kick, but Yakubu
Ayegbeni converted a penalty with 20 minutes to play.
The Everton striker, however, was guilty of missing two
clear-cut chances, including one sitter, as the game ebbed
and flowed from one end to another with attempts aplenty
on goal.
South Korea started brightly and Lee Chung-Yong had an
excellent chance in the first minute after capitalising on
a woeful attempt at a clearance from Rabiu Afolabi.
Against the run of play in the opening quarter, Nigeria's
Chidi Odiah made a determined run down the right flank and
squared the ball which Uche tapped in after holding off a
feeble defensive effort by Cha Du-Ri.
USA win Group C,
England also advance
AFP, Johannesburg
England and the United States qualified for the last 16 of
the World Cup from Group C on Wednesday, but the US won
the group with a last-gasp 1-0 victory over Algeria.
A volley from Jermain Defoe gave England a hard-fought 1-0
win over Slovenia, but the the United States pipped
England to the top spot when Landon Donovan scored one
minute into stoppage time.
Until then, Slovenia had been on course to qualify with
England, but Donovan's goal crushed their hopes and left
the Americans top of the group by virtue of having scored
four goals to England's two.
It means England's opponents in the last 16 could be
Germany, who face a battle to finish top of Group D later
Wednesday. In Port Elizabeth, Defoe volleyed England into
the lead from a pinpoint James Milner cross in the 23rd
minute.
In the second half, Slovenia goalkeeper Samir Handanovic
had to be sharp to save from a powerful John Terry header.
Wayne Rooney hit the post after Handanoviuc got his
fingertips to the England striker's shot, but he was later
substituted to make way for Joe Cole as England tried to
play more defensively.
In Pretoria, watched by former US president Bill Clinton,
the United States poached victory after wasting a number
of chances.
Algeria were first to threaten when Rafik Djebbour crashed
a shot off the crossbar in the fifth minute. Clint Dempsey
had the ball in the net but it was disallowed for offside
in what appeared a debatable decision - not the first time
the Americans have had a goal ruled out in the tournament.
Jozy Altidore blasted over the crossbar from just yards
away, his shocked reaction speaking volumes.
And Dempsey hit the post in the 57th minute and fluffed
the rebound.
But Donovan popped up to complete the victory, firing home
a rebound from Jozy Altidore's saved shot, sending the
American bench into joyous celebrations.
French press
slam Domenech after WCup exit
AFP, Paris
France's chaotic exit from the World Cup was greeted with
derision by the French media on Wednesday and few tears
were shed for the departing coach Raymond Domenech.
Indeed, there was almost relief at the end of a nightmare
two weeks scarred by Nicolas Anelka's expulsion and a
players' mutiny.
"The end of one world" was the headline in sports daily
L'Equipe, a wry reference to Domenech's traditionally
unhelpful final press conference following the defeat by
South Africa when he told the media: "I come from another
world to you".
In an editorial, L'Equipe took a final pop at Domenech,
criticising his failure to find an alternative system of
play but reserving their strongest barbs for the
atmosphere he imposed on the squad and the sport
nationally. However, the paper also calls to account the
French Football Federation (FFF) and its president
Jean-Pierre Escalettes, who has gone from the high of
heading the successful bid to host the 2016 European
championships shortly before the finals to becoming a
figure of ridicule.
The tabloid 'Le Parisien' sums it up nicely with the
front-page headline over a photograph of Domenech saying:
"Thank you and goodbye!". Le Parisien also took a dim view
of Domenech's refusal to shake South Africa coach Carlos
Alberto Parreira's hand.
It referred to the fact that at Euro 2008, Domenech made a
marriage proposal live on TV to his girlfriend and
presenter Estelle Denis, instead of responding to the
question about how he felt about exiting the tournament in
the first round.
Left-leaning 'Liberation' runs the sarcastic headline 'And
bravo again!' going on to say that "at last the tragi-comedy
is over."
However, it reminds readers that France only qualified for
the finals thanks to a hand ball from Thierry Henry in the
playoff win over Ireland.
Spain's WCup dream in
Chilean danger zone
AFP, Pretoria
Reigning European champions Spain will need a victory over
Chile on Friday to keep a much-fancied World Cup run on
course with mighty Brazil or arch-rival Portugal likely
waiting if they do advance.
The Spaniards must defeat Chile and hope Switzerland,
which delivered a 1-0 shocker over Spain in their Group H
opener, cannot overcome a Spanish edge in goal difference
from their simultaneous match against goal-less Honduras.
"We still need to beat Chile," Spanish star David Villa
said. "There's a long way to go before we can even think
about being world champions, both in terms of time and
matches."
Argentina coach Diego Maradona summed up the consensus
about Spain before the World Cup began, saying, "The way
they started off, Spain was coming to pick up the World
Cup and we were all playing for second place."
The Swiss loss derailed Spanish supremacy talk and not
even a 2-0 victory over Honduras, new Barcelona signing
Villa netting two goals, but a loss to Chile at Loftus
Versfeld could send Spain home early.
"Now we have to prepare for a big pressure match against
Chile," Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque said. "But these
players are used to dealing with pressure. For them it's
another match in a very busy season."
"We know Chile are a good side. They are active and quite
aggressive, they get to the goal quickly and don't waste
much energy."
Even a victory would not assure finishing atop the group,
with the two Group H qualifiers set to face knockout
matches against the Group G survivors, Brazil and
almost-certain Portugal.
Either figures to be a tough match, with a large
Portuguese population in South Africa set to support their
favorites and Brazil's playmakers with Spain as a choice
of many to reach the World Cup final.
But Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa is taking nothing for
granted despite six points from two matches, the first two
Chilean victories at a World Cup since 1962.
Strauss promises
England will go one day at a time
AFP, Southampton
England captain Andrew Strauss refused to get carried away
after seeing his side take a 1-0 lead in their one-day
international series against old rivals Australia.
It seemed world champions Australia were about to inflict
fresh one-day misery on England as the hosts, chasing 268
for victory under the Rose Bowl floodlights here on
Tuesday, slumped to 97 for four.
But a superb 103 not out from left-hander Eoin Morgan, a
Middlesex colleague of Strauss, turned the tide and saw
England to a four-wicket win in the opening fixture of a
five-match series.
Last year Australia, after losing the Ashes, thrashed
England 6-1 on English soil in a one-day series and
followed that up with a nine-wicket semi-final win en
route to lifting the Champions Trophy in South Africa.
A cautious Strauss was reluctant to compare the current
England one-day side with the lacklustre outfit of a year
ago, telling reporters at the Rose Bowl: "I'd prefer to
answer that after five games, not one.
Certainly the growing influence of former Ireland batsman
Morgan, a member of the England side that beat Australia
in last month's World Twenty20 final in Barbados, has been
a boon to his adopted country.
But Australia captain Ricky Ponting insisted he detected
no change in England's attitude to the one-day game.
The second match of the series takes place in Cardiff on
Thursday where England's final-wicket pair of James
Anderson and Monty Panesar somehow clung on for a draw in
the first Test against Australia. It was a result that
proved to be significant with England going on to regain
the Ashes 2-1 in a five-match campaign.
But the tailenders' heroics were marred slightly by
various England time-wasting tactics, including sending on
the 12th man and the physiotherapist when neither batsman
appeared to be suffering any sort of injury at all.
Bafana fans switch support after dreams die
AFP, Bloemfontein
England, Brazil, or Argentina? South Africa fans are split
on which team they will switch their allegiances to
following the demise of their beloved Bafana Bafana.
The home supporters dared to dream during their match with
France on Tuesday in Bloemfontein when South Africa surged
into a 2-0 lead with the scoreline in the other Group A
clash between Mexico and Uruguay also going in their
favour. But despite a brave effort by their side in
downing the 1998 world champions 2-1, they saw their
dreams die, becoming the first host nation to crash out at
the first stage of a World Cup. Now the yellow-clad
supporters who were roaring on their team at the Free
State stadium are lining up behind other sides left in the
tournament.
"Generally I'm an English supporter because of all the
soccer we see. It's always been the Premier League we've
seen most over the years," said Rashaad Domingo, who had
travelled from Cape Town for the match.
Confident Swiss face Honduras hurdle
AFP, Bloemfontein
Giant killers Switzerland go into their final group clash
needing a win against Honduras but knowing that would not
guarantee them a place in the last 16 of the World Cup.
The Swiss, sunk 1-0 by Chile on Monday, need to beat the
bottom-placed central American side in Friday's Group H
match in Bloemfontein and await the result of the
Chile-Spain game to learn their fate.
Chile have a maximum six points, with Spain and
Switzerland both on three points. Honduras, appearing in
only their second World Cup finals, are yet to get off the
mark. Chile have a goal difference of plus two, with Spain
on plus one and the Swiss on zero. The Swiss began the
tournament in South Africa in style, shocking the European
champions 1-0 in their opener before slipping to defeat to
Chile.
In that game they were reduced to 10 men with coach Ottmar
Hitzfeld laying the blame for midfielder Valon Behrami's
red card firmly at the door of Chilean midfielder Arturo
Vidal. "It wasn't a red card, it wasn't even a yellow
card. It was unfair of Vidal to roll around on the ground
asking for the red card," he said. "With 11 players
against 11 we would have had our chances."
But despite the loss of the West Ham midfielder for the
Honduras clash due to suspension, Hitzfeld remained upbeat
about their chances after the Chile defeat.
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