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Pashupatinath Stalemate
Chief priest may head back to India
Mumbai Attacks |
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‘Pak to take action
against JuD’
Lankan army gains control
over Mahumalai
Prabhakaran’s Extradition
Sheikh Hasina sworn in as B’desh PM
Pakistanis buy guns in droves as insecurity creeps in
Obama picks Panetta as CIA chief
Obama girls tackle new school as father takes on economy
Israeli ground offensive widens to south Gaza
France asks Syria to help end conflict
Best picture nomination for ‘Slumdog’ by US guild
Bulgaria sees crisis as Russia halts gas supplies
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Pashupatinath Stalemate
Protesters today blocked traffic to the world famous Pashupatinath temple, staging rallies in defiance of a ban in force, asking the Maoist government to keep off religion and respect the orders of the Supreme Court staying the sacking of Indian priests.
Hundreds of people including priests, Bhandaris, aides to the priests, civil society members and local residents came out shouting anti-Maoist slogans asking the government not to interfere in religion. Some 2,500 people have staged demonstration near the temple area shouting slogans like “Down with Maoist government,” “Thief Prachanda leave the Country,” “Dont mix politics in religion,” and asked for halting of the prayers performed by the Maoist appointed priests, former member of the Pashupatinath Area Development Trust (PADT) and a local activist Narottam Vaidya said. “Remove the new priest. Reinstate the old priest.” “Parliament members of the ruling alliance CPN-UML and opposition Nepal Congress have said they would also join the sit-in programme later today to express their solidarity to the agitation,” Vaidya said. “We will continue our struggle until the government honours the court’s decision and allows the old priests to perform their prayer as per the age old tradition,” the agitators said. They burnt tyres on the road and blocked all traffics and entrances, including the main road to halt. The Trust had no authority to put restriction on demonstrations in the area as it came under the jurisdiction of the district administration to impose such restrictions, Vaidya said. The authorities have banned demonstration in the temple area. The struggle committee formed by the local people against the Maoist intrusion has been launching peaceful agitation in the area. — PTI
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Chief priest may head back to India
Kathmandu, January 6 Despite facing severe criticism at home and abroad for the sacking of the Indian priests, Prachanda-led government has challenged an interim order of the apex court staying the controversial appointment of local Brahmins on January 1. The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), a body headed by Maoist Culture Minister Gopal Kirati to oversee the affairs of the temple, filed a writ petition in the apex court yesterday to vacate the stay that effectively bars the newly appointed Nepalese priests. Sacked head priest Mahabaleswor Bhatta said he wanted to get away from the raging controversy and leave Nepal as soon as possible. “Help me get out of this chaos,” pleaded Bhatta, a resident of south India who has been the priest at the world famous Pashupatinath for the last 16 years. “I was threatened by a group not to continue with my duties, while another wanted me to carry on. What can I do under the circumstances? I dont want to get drawn into the vortex of this controversy,” he was quoted as saying by The Himalayan Times online. The top priest underlined that he had an unfinished task before he headed back home. He wanted to handover the temples belongings to the PADT. — PTI
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Mumbai Attacks
Islamabad, January 6 It was "clear that the attackers had links that lead to Pakistani soil," visiting assistant secretary of state Richard Boucher told reporters yesterday. Boucher, whose arrival here coincided with India handing over evidence about the terrorist attacks to Pakistan, said the US wants Islamabad to investigate the information provided by New Delhi, follow available leads and track down perpetrators so that similar attacks do not occur in future. India and Pakistan both had "pieces of the puzzle" and need to cooperate, Boucher told the news conference at the US embassy here after talks with the country's top leadership. "The two sides need to exchange information," he said, adding that India and Pakistan need to work together as this alone will ensure that the perpetrators of the attacks are tracked down. The US had a "direct interest" in the probe as six of its citizens were killed in the Mumbai attacks, he said, adding, "We are interested that those responsible must be found". The "scene of the crime" is in India and authorities there have made some arrests. At the same time, Pakistan had detained persons involved in the planning and execution of the attacks, he said. Both sides will now have to follow up on the available information, he said. Asked whether the US believed Pakistan's state institutions, including the ISI, was linked to the strikes, he said: "Let us find out from the evidence (handed over by India) who was involved in these attacks" and "not jump to conclusions". — PTI
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‘Pak to take action
against JuD’
Pakistan will take action against the banned Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) in the light of whatever evidence has been provided by India of JuD’s involvement in the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan Information Minister Sherry Rehman said in an interview.
Sherry said the Indian dossier on Mumbai attacks has been forwarded to the Punjab government for necessary action. But the minister insisted that any action by the government must follow certain legal procedures. The JuD is believed to be a frontal organisation of the banned LeT. According to the Indian government, it is trained and aided by Pakistan’s spy agency ISI for proxy war in Kashmir. Proof (provided by India) against the JuD has been shared with the Punjab government, which has assured the federal government of cooperation, Sherry said. In a statement issued after the interview, special assistant to Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Rashid said the provincial government had put five top JuD leaders - Mufti Abdur Rehman, Hafiz Saeed, Ameer Hamza, Colonel Nazir and Yasin Baloch - under house arrest, sealed 61 offices of the organisation and had taken over 19 dispensaries and 10 schools run by it. “Necessary measures are also being taken for assuming control of the JuD’s central headquarters at Muridke,” he added. Talking to India’s NDTV channel, Sherry said locating Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar was like looking for a “needle in the haystack.” “He is certainly not strolling around outside my office. If we see him, we will nab him," she said, adding Pakistan was committed to taking action against any non-state actors found involved in the Mumbai attacks.
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Lankan army gains control
over Mahumalai
Colombo, January 6 The seizure of Muhamalai defence line came as government forces have launched a major operation to link up troops from the Jaffna with those advancing from Kilinochchi. “LTTE militants were caught in total disarray following concentrated armour and infantry assaults backed by heavy artillery which left scores of rebels killed and many others wounded,” officials said. According to military sources, the combined 53 and 55 Division troops have seized control over the entire LTTE defence line, North of A-9, while fighting still continues in the remaining LTTE positions, south of the A-9 main road. The Sri Lankan forces are now battling for the control of the Elephant Pass to get an overland access to the Jaffna. The link up would bring relief to the Lankan troops positioned in Jaffna, who are now totally dependent on air supply. The LTTE cadres have withdrawn further south-east after receiving heavy beating, the sources said. Separately, army inflicted damages on the LTTE fighters in two different incidents at Murasumoddei near Kilinochchi and in the Vaddakkachchi area last afternoon, the Media Centre for National Security said. Both LTTE cadres and the troops sustained minor damages in two different confrontations in the Kilaly area of Jaffna yesterday, the Media Centre said. An LTTE anti-personnel mine explosion took place in the Iranamadu west area last morning near Kilinochchi. — PTI
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Prabhakaran’s Extradition
Colombo, January 6 “There is a procedure. The procedure is for India to formally ask the Sri Lankan government for Prabhakaran’s extradition if he is caught,” the sources said. Since there is only an extradition arrangement between India and Sri Lanka, short of a treaty, deportation of wanted people could be undertaken only on grounds of mutual requests. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had taken a positive view on the issue of Prabhakaran’s extradition. “You should realise Prabhakaran was involved in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the Sri Lankan government will consider any request for his extradition if he is caught,” Rajapaksa had told foreign correspondents
recently. Defence spokesman and senior cabinet minister Keheliya Rambukwella said if Prabhakaran was captured alive, his future would be determined in line with international conventions. There was no decision yet about handing him over to India to be tried for the killing of Rajiv Gandhi, the Daily Mirror had quoted Rambukwella as saying yesterday. Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon yesterday said in New Delhi that India had consistently sought his extradition to face trial. — PTI
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Sheikh Hasina sworn in as B’desh PM
Sheikh Hasina was sworn in as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister on Tuesday, returning the country to democracy after a two-year stint by an army-backed administration.
Hasina (61) will be the 12th Prime Minister of Bangladesh, with the latest being her second term in office after serving as the premier between 1996 and 2001. She led her Awami League-led Grand Alliance to a landslide victory in last week’s election, decimating her bitter rivals by taking 262 of the 300-seat National Parliament. Thirtyone ministers, dominated by new faces, followed her in the swearing in ceremony on Tuesday evening administered by President Iajuddin Ahmed at the Presidential Palace - Bangabhaban.
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Pakistanis buy guns in droves as insecurity creeps in
New York, January 6 Registrations of guns and rifles have recorded a new high, Wall Street Journal reported quoting officials who attributed this trend to the rising sense of anxiety, fear and insecurity among the people, who now seek arms to protect themselves. These fears have been generated as over the past year Pakistan has witnessed the assassination of popular political leader Benazir Bhutto and the bloody bombing of Islamabad's Marriott Hotel. The recent Mumbai attacks, allegedly carried out by 10 Pakistani militants trained here, has further frayed the nerves of the people. — PTI
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Obama picks Panetta as CIA chief
Washington, January 6 While Panetta, 70, an eight-term Congressman, is being chosen for the job in the top US external spy agency, Admiral Dennis Blair, who formerly headed the US Navy’s Pacific Command, is being tapped as director of national intelligence, Democratic officials were quoted by US media
as saying. Panetta, who was chief of staff for President Bill Clinton, has had a long political career and is known as a strong manager with solid organisational skills. But he has little hands-on experience in intelligence-gathering. — PTI
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Obama girls tackle new school as father takes on economy
Washington, January 6 The President-elect had made his own “no drama” arrival to the capital the night before, helping to ensure his children made a smooth transition to their new Quaker school, Sidwell Friends. His solitary departure from the family home in Chicago brought out the loneliness of the challenges that lie ahead of him. He admitted that he “choked up” as he left his now empty house when a friend of one of his daughters gave him an album she had made showing their pre-school years together. He then headed for Washington on an air-force plane normally used to transport the Vice President or the first lady. For his first meal on a presidential plane, he ordered a cheeseburger with fries and a glass of water. George Bush, by contrast, usually has a low-fat hot dog. He received no official welcome from the predominantly black city but residents are in a state of excitement about the new first family. Some were so keen to get a glimpse they booked in for a $65 brunch at the Hay-Adams, where the Obamas are staying. The inauguration of the 44th President is more than two weeks away and a mountain of problems await Obama’s attention, not least the crisis in Gaza. But sticking to his mantra that “there is only one president at a time”, Obama has refrained from commenting on the situation. His biggest headache is trying to sort out the worsening economy. (By arrangement with The Independent)
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Israeli ground offensive widens to south Gaza
Gaza, January 6 An Israeli tank shell killed three Israeli soldiers and wounded 24 other troops yesterday in a "friendly fire" that raised questions in the Jewish state over whether its leaders should press on with the crushing offensive. An Israeli officer was killed in a separate incident, apparently by the Israeli firing, the army said. Palestinian witnesses said that Israeli forces pushed into Khan Younis in southern Gaza as the army widened the ground assault launched by it four days ago against Hamas militants after a week of air strikes failed to stamp out cross-border rocket fire. There was intense fighting overnight on the outskirts of the city of Gaza, where residents huddled indoors in fear. Deaths recorded by Palestinian medics have reached 564. Most of the deaths reported have been civilians. The Israeli military said it has killed 130 militants since Saturday, a figure that suggests the total Palestinian death toll since December 27 might be close to 700 and that bodies could still be on the battlefield. Many of the Gaza Strip's 1.5 million people lack food, water or power. In southern Israel, schools remained closed and hundreds of thousands of people have been rushing to shelter at the sound of alarms heralding incoming rockets. — Reuters
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France asks Syria to help end conflict
Damascus, January 6 “I know the importance of Syria in this region and its influence on a number of players. I don’t have any doubt that President Bashar al-Assad will throw all his weight to convince every one to return to reason,'” Sarkozy said after meeting the Syrian leader in Damascus. “Those who can work for peace must do it immediately,'” said Sarkozy, who is on a peace-brokering tour in the West Asia. Syria, along with Iran, is a main backer of Hamas and hosts members of the group’s exiled leadership, including Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal. Assad said any initiative for a truce must stop what he described as Israel’s war crimes in Hamas-run Gaza and lift the blockade in the besieged territory. Diplomats in the Syrian capital said France wanted Syria to exert its influence with Hamas to make sure that any ceasefire sticks, but Syria has been careful not to be seen as acting as a guardian of Israel’s security. — Reuters
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Best picture nomination for ‘Slumdog’ by US guild
Los Angeles, January 6 Most of the Producers Guild of America (PGA) nominees tend to get into the high five for the prestigious Oscar awards. In their 19-year history, the PGA awards have foreseen 12 of Oscar’s eventual best-picture winners, including last year’s winner No Country for Old Men. The winner will be announced on January 24, the Los Angeles Times reported. The PGA, however, snubbed some of the frontrunners like Doubt, Gran Torino, The Reader, Revolutionary Road and The Wrestler this year. Slumdog will compete with others like Brad Pitt starrer The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Batman film Dark Knight, Frost/Nixon, and political drama Milk in the Best Picture category. Directed by British filmmaker Danny Boyle 'Slumdog Millionaire' which bagged a lot of awards and nominations has become this year’s Cinderella story. The film has earned four Golden Globe nominations with Indian music director AR Rahman being nominated for Best Original Music Score. It was also nominated for Best Picture-Drama, Best Director for Boyle and Best Screenplay for Simon Beaufoy. It has also won two annual Satellite Awards for Best Picture-Drama and Best Director. — PTI
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Bulgaria sees crisis as Russia halts gas supplies
Sofia, January 6 “Deliveries of natural gas at the Bulgarian-Romanian frontier for
Bulgargaz, destined for the Bulgarian market and for onward transit towards Greece, Turkey and Macedonia, were stopped at 3:30 am (0700
IST) today,” the ministry said in a statement. The reduction of supplies of gas, used widely for heating in Europe, comes as bitter cold grips many countries in central and western Europe. Ukraine’s Ambassador to Sofia Victor Kalnik told the Focus news agency that Moscow itself had ordered the halt of deliveries to the Balkans. “The orders for the transit are made by Russia and Ukraine performs its obligations as a transit country. Meanwhile, 15 million cubic metres of gas were turned without warning to Moldova by Moldovgas overnight from the Ukrainian station in Odessa,” he explained. Bulgaria’s Economy and Energy Minister Petar Dimitrov appealed to both Kiev and Moscow to end the row which had plunged Bulgaria into a “state of crisis.” “The problem is rather political than economic. Russia and Ukraine have to find a solution. The energy systems of dozens of countries are disrupted,” Dimitrov told the national radio. Bulgaria’s state-owned gas monopoly Bulgargaz said deliveries were halted “without warning” and that according to the Russian side it was Ukraine that turned the tap. Russia covers 92 per cent of Bulgaria’s total natural gas needs. In 2007, the country imported about 3.7 billion cubic metres of Russian gas, or 1.7 per cent more than in 2006. — Reuters
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Gaza, January 6
While international truce efforts gathered speed after the New Year's holiday, an Israeli air strike killed three Palestinians in a UN school in the Gaza Strip where people had sought refuge from the fighting, medical officials said.