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| Tuesday, May 1, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Karachi a fortress on eve of ARD rally 12 to die for Mujib killing MPs for second censure of Wahid
Storms kill 21 in B’desh Anti-police riots spread to Algiers |
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Vessel carrying Tito docks with ISS Estrada trial on Thursday
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Karachi a fortress on eve of ARD rally Islamabad, April 30 Police put up barricades around half of Karachi town including the main Nishtar Park, venue of the May Day rally, amidst reports that ARD chief Nawabzada Nasurullah Khan and other leaders of the 18-party alliance had gone underground to escape the preventive arrests. ARD claimed over 2,500 activists were taken into custody and added that most of them belonged to the Pakistan People’s Party of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Pakistan Muslim League of deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Alliance sources said the ARD would go ahead with the rally despite the military leadership’s efforts to prevent it. In another development the Jamaat-e-Islami, a prominent religious party in the country, announced its plan to launch an agitation for the ouster of the army regims after the local body elections, scheduled to be completed early next month. JI chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad said the party’s national convention at Lahore yesterday that the military regime should hold general elections immediately. “The government should announce a schedule for general elections forthwith, complying with the orders of the Suprem Court, and avoid creating ambiguities and doubts about the future political set-up,” a resolution adopted at the convention said. Earlier the police cordoned off the residence of the chief of the ARD in central Punjab province to frustrate his attempt to hold an anti-government May Day rally in Karachi even as Pakistan’s military regime said the ban on political rallies would continue till the general elections scheduled for October 2002. The police erected barricades outside the residence of Nawabzada Narasullah Khan, Chairman of the 16-party ARD, and asked him to stay indoors following rumours that the veteran leader might leave for Karachi in disguise to attend the scheduled pro-democracy rally, reports reaching from Lahore said. Mr Khan has already been expelled from Karachi and banished to enter it till the deadline of the rally passed off. Meanwhile, Mr Khan told mediapersons in Lahore that he planned to approach the Supreme Court to lift the ban on the rally. It would be a test for the judiciary to decide whether military regime’s laws were more powerful than the constitution, he told reporters who were allowed entry into his residence. He said he was waiting for his detention orders and “as soon as they are served on me, I shall challenge these as well.” Mr Khan said the armies were meant to fight wars against enemies and not against their own people. Unlike Japan and India where prime ministers replace each other every now and then, Pakistan was saddled with army rule, Mr Khan added. DUBAI: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has vehemently denied having struck a deal with the military regime to get her jailed husband Asif Ali Zardari released in return for supporting General Pervez Musharraf’s move to take over as President. In an interview with Gulf News from London, Ms Bhutto, the chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party, said she,in fact, wanted to see the military back in the barracks. She said she would never be able to deal with a military that held the upper hand and had the power to dismiss governments. She said: “If Musharraf sets up a national security council, I personally would opt out, I would be unable to get myself to go down that road again”, she added. Ms Bhutto’s comments are significant in view of recent news reports in Pakistan which stated that the military government wanted to anoint General Musharraf as President. In return for Ms Bhutto’s support, the military would set up a national government with her PPP being offered the office of the Prime Minister in the interim set-up.
PTI, Reuters, UNI |
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12 to die for Mujib killing Dhaka, April 30 The third single justice court has acquitted Lt-Col (Retd) Ahmed Sarful Hossain Captains Nazmul Hossain Ansar and Kismat Hashem. They were also earlier acquitted by Justice A B M Khairul Huq in a split judgement. Justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim of the third single judge bench of the High Court pronounced today his judgement in the case popularly known as Bangabandhu murder case confirming death sentence to two of the accused who were earlier acquitted by a judge of the High court bench in a split judgement on December 14, 2000. With this the death penalty has been imposed on 12. Justice Fazlul Karim read out today his 160-page judgement in front of a packed courtroom. Hearing in this court was completed on 17 April. Third single judge court was entrusted by the Chief Justice to try the case following a split judgement by two justices in the case. The prosecution completed their arguments earlier. In his verdict on December 14, 2000 Justice Ruhul Amin of the High Court acquitted five of the accused and sentenced nine to death while Justice ABM Khairul Huq of the same bench convicted all 15 with death penalty. They were hearing in the death reference on the verdict given by District and Sessions Judge Kazi Golam Rasul on November 8, 1998, sentencing all 15 to death. The district court acquitted Taheruddin Thakur, former state minister in the Sheikh Mujib government and two other army personnel. The single judge bench took up hearing on the split judgement on February 12, this year and completed the hearing in 24 court days. Only four of the accused sentenced to death are in custody. They are retired Lieutenant Colonels Farook Rahman, Shahriar Rashid Khan and Mohiuddin Ahmed (artillery) and Major Bazlul Huda. The last one was arrested by Thai authority in Bangkok and was later handed over to Bangladesh under an extradition treaty. The convicts to face the death penalty fled from their place of posting as diplomats and are now fugitives. The five who are fugitive but convicted to death are former Lieutenant Colonels Khondakar Abdur Rashid, Shariful Huq Dalim, AM Rashed Chowdhury, SHBM Nur Chowdhury, Abdul Aziz Pasha. The three convicted and acquitted today are also fugitive. The government was moving friendly nations to extradite the fugitives staying in that country, to face conviction. Former Bangladesh Foreign Secretary C M Shafi Sami went to the USA as a special envoy of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this month and signed a memorandum of understanding with US Justice Department officials finalising a draft extradition agreement between the two countries. Two of the fugitive convicts are staying in America. Recently a New Delhi daily reported that Mohiuddin Ahmed (lancer) had organised a meeting of these fugitives at a restaurant owned by him at a small town in Holland to plan killing of Sheikh Hasina. The Holland government informed the Bangladesh authority through Indian intelligence agency RAW. The Bangladesh government has sought help of Interpol in this regard. The delay in the trial of the brutal killing of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with other family members on August 15, 1975, was because the successive governments since then did not hold the trial. Rather Late General Ziaur Rahman, the assassinated president of the country had rehabilitated the killers in diplomatic jobs. After 23 years the Awami League was voted to power in 1996. Sheikh Hasina, elder of the two surviving daughters of the slain leader, became the Prime Minister and arranged to reopen the investigation and trial of the cold-blooded murder. Holding trial of Bangabandhu killers was one of her election pledges. However, the lengthy procedure of trial took this long time and the final execution of the verdict will take more time. If the defendants move the Supreme Court then there will be further delays. |
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MPs for second censure of Wahid Jakarta, April 30 One by one, Parliament’s three largest factions blasted Wahid’s erratic behaviour as they read statements on the President’s reply to an initial censure issued on February 1 that accused him of corruption. At least eight of Parliament’s 10 factions were expected to endorse the second censure in a formal vote today afternoon — the final step before legislators can request a special National Assembly session after June 1 to impeach Wahid. The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), led by Wahid’s popular Vice-President, Megawati Sukarnoputri, blasted Wahid for rejecting the first censure as unconstitutional. “In the three months since the first memorandum, we conclude that the government has not taken seriously the views of the House of Representatives (DPR),’’ said PDIP legislator Dwiria Laitiva, who read the party’s reply before a morning Parliament session. She also blasted Wahid’s erratic behaviour and provocative statements in recent weeks, including claims there would be a nationwide rebellion, widespread violence and possible national disintegration if Parliament attempted to remove him. The ex-ruling Golkar Party followed by railing against Wahid for failing to lead an economic recovery, saying his provocative public statements had in fact worsened the economy by scaring away foreign investors and sending the stocks and currency markets to two-year lows. “We believe the President has strayed from his duties,’’ Golkar legislator Ibnu Munzir told the body while delivering his party’s reply. Sukardi Hakin of the Moslem United Development Party (PPP), the third largest faction, followed suit, setting the stage for what promised to be a long afternoon for Wahid, who was hunkered down at the presidential palace across town. The lone support Wahid received was from his own National Awakening Party (PKB), which rejected claims that the corruption allegations and Wahid’s statements about rebellion constituted a violation of his presidential oath and the Indonesian constitution. “We find no violation of the constitution in regard to his oath of office. The President has already regarded the first memorandum, so there is no need for further action,’’ said PKB legislator Ali As’ad. Legislators recessed for lunch and will resume debate at 2 p.m. Jakarta time. Around 5,000 irate Wahid supporters marched toward Parliament on an hour after the session opened, but were halted by riot police at a city centre roundabout from continuing toward south Jakarta. Police warnings as well as a sudden downpour of rain prompted most of the protesters to turn around and walk back north toward the presidential palace, while a handful remained and rallied among the traffic gridlock they had created. More than 42,000 police officers were deployed to safeguard the city, and were given shoot-on-sight orders against troublemakers.
DPA |
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Storms kill 21 in B’desh Dhaka, April 30 The tropical storms — which packed winds of up to 80 km per hour — damaged homes and paddy crops. “The deaths were caused by a ferry sinking and houses collapsing, which also left over 100 injured and many missing,” an official at the Disaster Management Bureau in Dhaka told Reuters. He said seven persons drowned when a ferry sank on Saturday in the Meghna river estuary, upstream from the island of Hatiya in the Bay of Bengal. An official in Sirajgang, northwest of Dhaka, said 12 persons were killed and about 50 injured by falling trees and collapsing bamboo-walled houses with tin roofs. In the neighbouring district of Pabna, Deputy Commissioner Syed Hasinur Rahman said over 100 houses and many acres of standing crops had been damaged. Two persons were killed by lightning in the northeastern town of Sylhet and at least 50 persons were injured as a storm levelled at least 100 homes and scores of trees yesterday, the police said.
Reuters |
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Anti-police riots spread to Algiers Tizi Ouzou, (Algeria), April 30 Tizi Ouzou, a city of 600,000 people, remained paralysed with businesses shut as stone-throwing rioters fought running battles with police firing tear gas canisters, witnesses said. A week of violence in restive Kabylie, triggered by the shooting in custody of a student and fanned by local hatred of the gendarmerie, has left at least 40 people dead, according to medical sources and residents. The government says 32 people have been killed and over 600 members of the riot police injured. The Algerian press gave higher death tolls with El Watan daily reporting 61 people shot dead between Friday and Sunday in Tizi Ouzou province. In Algiers, 90 km (55 miles) away, witnesses said hundreds of university students protested at the downtown Universite d’Alger chanting slogans including “government, murderer”. Interior Minister Noureddine Zerhouni praised the security forces’ “composure” in suppressing the riots and said live ammunition was only used “as a last resort.” Hospital workers mentioned cases of victims killed at point blank range or shot in the back. “The government promises to provide answers to those who took to the streets,” Zerhouni told a news conference in Tizi Ouzou late on Sunday. He said young rioters, who attacked gendarmerie barracks, torched public buildings, set vehicles on fire and blocked roads, were “manipulated by infiltrated terrorists”.
Reuters |
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Taliban set to reignite civil war Faizabad, April 30 Last week the alliance’s leader, ousted president Burhanuddin Rabbani, sitting in his stronghold here, spoke of the coming conflict and urged Pakistan to end its support for the Taliban regime. He said: “Preparations are being made for the forthcoming war. The hunger and deaths will continue. We need aid. Those countries that are influencing the fighting in Afghanistan for their own gains only make the problems worse.” In recent weeks military activity has been building up in the mountains of Badakshan, the province held by the alliance. Its military leader, Ahmed Shah Masoud, who recently attracted widespread publicity during a visit to Europe, has met fellow rebel commander General Abdul Rashid Dostum to try to redraw a front line against the expected Taliban offensive. The Taliban, backed by Pakistan, is pushing north to drive out resistance. The alliance, which controls about 30 per cent of the countryside, is aided from nearby Tajikistan — from where Iranian jets bring in fuel and arms. When the frail-looking figure of Rabbani arrives at Governor’s house, a shabby double-storey building on the outskirts of the city, the guards snap to attention. He emerges from a Jeep and slowly climbs the stairs to the conference room. By Taliban standards, he is a religious moderate. He was elected head of the alliance, or Jamiat-i-Islam, in 1972 and began to organise anti-Communist rallies,which eventually led to the war against the Soviet Union. Sitting in the Governor’s house, Rabbani rebukes Pakistan for its support for the Taliban. “People call this a civil war,” he says. “But they have to realise that the fighting in Afghanistan has external factors. Pakistan has made its case clear — it will support the Taliban against us.” In the UN league table of the world’s poorest nations, Afghanistan comes 170 out of 178. But Rabbani does not heap draconian Islamic puritanism on top of poverty. At the Saeda Makhfi School in Faizabad, 60 teachers, mostly women, teach mathematics, English literature and Arabic to 1,080 students. Men and women are known to date before marriage — although, out of respect for religious customs, the couples hide their romantic liaisons from their parents. “Girls are naturally better educated here than the boys; they don’t have the same distractions,” says Muhammed Qadir, 48, the school’s principal. “You find that most of the educated workforce is composed of women.”
Observer News Service |
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Vessel carrying Tito docks with ISS Moscow, April 30 The manoeuvre was carried out automatically and declared complete at 1.27 p.m. (IST), spokesman Nikolai Kryuchkov said. Mr Tito, 60, made history on Saturday as the first “space tourist” to blast off into orbit, having agreed to pay a fare of $ 20 million. The Soyuz TM-32 vessel, which lifted Mr Tito into space on Saturday, docked with a Zvezda service module attached to the ISS 10 minutes earlier than had originally been scheduled. LOS ANGELES: NASA scientists said they had contacted the Pioneer 10 spacecraft, ending fears that the robotic probe had gone silent 29 years into a mission that has carried it more than 11.2 billion km from earth. A radio antenna outside Madrid received a signal from Pioneer 10 on
Saturday, marking the first time the spacecraft had been heard from since August 19. The spacecraft was launched March 2, 1972. “Pioneer 10 lives on,” project manager Larry Lasher said in a status report on the mission’s web site.
AFP, AP |
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Estrada trial on Thursday Manila, April 30 The Monday court order came today as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo averted a confrontation with tens of thousands of the former movie idol’s followers who had gathered at a Manila religious shrine since his arrest last Wednesday. The anti-graft Sandiganbayan court ordered Estrada and his son Jinggoy to appear at a pre-trial hearing on Thursday to formally answer charges ranging from graft to perjury and economic plunder. Estrada, who was ousted by Arroyo in a January “people’s power’’ revolt, is being held at a police camp but is due to be moved to a maximum security detention centre later today. His supporters began dispersing earlier today after the military went on full alert. The Estrada supporters have demanded Arroyo step down so he can be reinstated. Riot police took up positions in the Philippine capital’s financial centre as several hundred supporters of jailed ex-president Joseph Estrada demonstrated outside the stock exchange.
Reuters |
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