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| Monday, July 3, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Fiji army to seal off Parliament SUVA, July 2 — Fiji’s Army will within 24 hours declare an “exclusive military zone” sealing off the country’s Parliament where the coup leaders are holding 27 hostages, including the elected Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, military sources said today.
COLOMBO, July 2 — Talks between Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga and leader of opposition United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickramasinghe to finalise the draft new Constitution could end up as an “exercise in futility”, if both parties failed to agree on its ratification by Parliament, before it gets dissolved on August 24. Sharif wanted to release Kargil report BERLIN, July 2 — Violence against minorities is a burning political issue the world over, says the human development report 2000, Pinpointing that racism against immigrants and other groups not belonging to the majority, exists in all 15 countries of the European Union. Men are at the receiving end here Anti-HIV herbs |
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Fiji army to seal off Parliament SUVA, July 2 (AFP, Reuters) — Fiji’s Army will within 24 hours declare an “exclusive military zone” sealing off the country’s Parliament where the coup leaders are holding 27 hostages, including the elected Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, military sources said today. A decree was being readied giving the Army the right to temporarily acquire any land or building, restrict essential services such as supplies of food, electricity and water, and control entry and exit to the area. The zone, designed to “force them to come to their senses,” will be under the command of Col Viliame Seruvakula. People will be given 48 hours to move out and the military said the safety of anyone remaining in the exclusion area cannot be guaranteed. The official residencies of the French and American Ambassadors are within the zone. However, the military says that the “necessities of life” will be made available to those inside Parliament. Meanwhile, Fiji’s military said today it was on track to recruit a multi-racial interim Civilian Government by July 5. Denying a media report that the nation’s hostage crisis had made some candidates too frightened to serve as ministers. “I wouldn’t term it too frightened... there are some people who naturally would not want to serve in an administration in a time of crisis like this,” military spokesman Lt-Col Filipo Tarakinikini told reporters. The rebels have refused to release the hostages until a civilian government comprised with a majority of indigenous Fijians is established. Lt-Col Tarakinikini said the new civilian administration would contain some ethnic Indian Fijians, who will be given protection by the military “to ensure nothing happens to them.” The Army’s main focus now is establishing the civilian administration, which is expected to serve for up to two years under the executive authority of the military to prepare for a general election, Lt-Col Tarakinikini said. “Once that is in hand, we will free up all the resources at our disposal to focus on trying to resolve the (hostage) situation in Parliament,” he said. The Fiji’s Sun newspaper today, citing military sources, said two Indian-Fijians approached for ministerial posts had declined. It also said Ro Teimumu, sister-in-law of deposed President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, had turned down a post because “the safety of my family is more important”. The parliamentary compound where rebels are holding Mahendra Chaudhry and 26 other hostages remained open to visitors yesterday despite threats by the military to block off the area. The military said last week that it would appoint an interim government without input from the hostage takers, who had been demanding a role in naming such a government. Last Thursday, Lt-Col Tarakinikini said that the temporary government would take office only once the hostages were released. But, today he said the Army would not wait. “They will take office before the hostages are released,” he said. Responding to the military’s latest statement, rebel spokesman Jo Nata told The Associated Press today that “we hope they are prepared for the implications of their actions.” He did not elaborate, but rebel leader George Speight has said in recent days that any military action perceived as anti-indigenous could result in violence by his supporters. |
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Fresh snags hit Lankan talks COLOMBO, July 2 (PTI) — Talks between Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga and leader of opposition United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickramasinghe to finalise the draft new Constitution could end up as an “exercise in futility”, if both parties failed to agree on its ratification by Parliament, before it gets dissolved on August 24. They have already failed to meet the deadline of June 30 to finalise the draft as stipulated by Ms Chandrika early last month. Instead the two leaders had agreed to meet again on July 7, which was expected to be followed by a few more rounds of talks. But the parley hit new snags as the UNP said according to the present Constitution, the new Constitution could be legal only if it was approved by Parliament with two-thirds of majority followed by a confirmation through a referendum during the tenure of the present Parliament itself. Rejecting a government’s plea that referendum could be held anytime after Parliament granted necessary approval, senior UNP MP, Tyronne Fernando was quoted today in the media as saying, “The two-thirds majority obtained ceases to have validity once Parliament stands dissolved in August. Therefore, if referendum is not held before that, the approval ceases to have validity”. However, an adviser to the Justice Ministry Jayampathy Wciramaratne contradicted Mr Fernando saying once the draft was approved by Parliament, the government was free to hold a referendum subsequently and enforce it. The UNP, which has lost all elections since 1994, wants the presidential system to go at once after the parliamentary elections, scheduled to be held before October this year. The party argues that it has already given its consent to devolution proposals to be incorporated in the Constitution for working out a political solution to end the ethnic conflict. But the UNP leaders say they can not expect to wait for six years to come back to power even after they co-operated to formulate a new constitution. “She has to decide whether she puts her interests or the country’s first”, a top UNP leader said. Ruling Peoples’ Alliance leaders argue that Ms Chandrika secured peoples mandate only in December for a six-year term. Therefore, she need not surrender her right to rule the country for the rest of her term. Besides, presidency could ensure smooth implementation of new Constitution, they said. Ms Chandrika and Mr Ranil would be addressing the issue directly during their meeting on July 7, which UNP leaders say could be a make or break exercise. The two leaders also have to come to an understanding on how they proposed to get the new constitution ratified and approved in a referendum. |
Sharif wanted to release Kargil report ISLAMABAD, July 2 (PTI) — Pakistan’s deposed Premier Nawaz Sharif had planned to release an inquiry report on the Kargil incursion on October 12, the day he was ousted in a coup, and wanted to constitute a commission in the light of that report, his wife Begum Kulsoom has said. However, General Musharraf “willfully sabotaged” the efforts of her husband to constitute a commission on the Kargil issue, Kulsoom told reporters here last night. The report dealing with the Kargil incursion, which Sharif says took place without his knowledge, was later stolen away, Kulsoom said. She refused to divulge more details saying, “You know how the system works in our country. No Prime Minister can do anything unless the army chief permits him to do so”. To a question as to why General Musharraf was given extension as Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee if Sharif had differences with him, she said the decision was taken with the expectation that he would improve his attitude and bring the situation of uncertainty and mistrust to an end. Even at that time General Musharraf feared he would be removed from his office, she claimed. Kulsoom said since the military government came to power people at large were feeling disturbed, adding the sole agenda of the government was to victimise Sharif and his family. She claimed the military leaders were scared of her and she was receiving serious threats. The jail authorities had been asked to be harsh towards Sharif and badger people who come to see him, she said. Ruling out reconciliation between Pakistan Muslim League and the military-led government, she said the PML would not contact General Musharraf in this connection. “Who has stopped Gen Pervez Musharraf, if he wants reconciliation with the Muslim League,” she asked. She alleged that the present rulers had an anti-Pakistan agenda and demanded that military go back to the barracks before the country’s interests are damaged beyond repair. “Who has given them the mandate to throw away the Constitution. Which institution is safe from their hands. They are ruining their own institution,” she said. Alleging that the military government had failed on all counts, Kulsoom said it was to be seen if the 140 million persons were satisfied with what was happening in the country. The promises of alleviating poverty and resolving the problems facing the common man had not been fulfilled. On the contrary the government has added to the sufferings of the people, she said. |
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Racism ‘rampant’ in W. Europe BERLIN, July 2 (IPS) — Violence against minorities is a burning political issue the world over, says the human development report 2000, Pinpointing that racism against immigrants and other groups not belonging to the majority, exists in all 15 countries of the European
Union. The report, presented by Hans D’Orville, of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) on Thursday in Bonn, also singled out India, Israel, Nigeria, Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Uganda, Britain and the USA as countries where “minorities suffer serious
discrimination.” The report prepared by a team of eminent economists and distinguished development professionals, including Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, describes the exclusion and marginalisation of minorities ‘the Achilles’ Heel of majoritarian
democracies. The authors of the report, hailing from different parts of the world, plead for a new model of democracy that goes beyond ‘the brute electoral force of the majority’. They call such democratic systems “majoritarian”. That term all but appeals to western
observers. “The authors of the report have been too reconciliatory to dictatorial governments such as China,’ said Franz Nuscheler, a professor at the University of Duisburg and a well-known German development
economist. Nuscheler feared that attempts at “relativising democracy” only strengthened the hands of heads of governments such as ‘Mahathir’s, a reference to the Malaysia Prime
Minister. To underscore the point, the report quotes the European monitoring centre on racism and xenophobia which, in a comprehensive survey in 1998, confirmed that racism and xenophobia exist in western Europe, though the situation varies across
countries. The Vienna-based centre documented vicious attacks and discrimination against foreigners, immigrants and racial groups in several countries in 1998 — while recognising just how few cases are ever
reported. In Germany there were 430 officially reported cases of xenophobic violence, in Spain 143 cases, mostly against ‘gypsies’, in France 191 cases, most of them anti-semitic, in Sweden 591 ‘acts against ethnic groups’, and in Finland 194 reported racial crimes, most against
immigrants. The study observed that racism was not always linked to social marginalisation. ‘hate crimes are perpetrated in many cases by members of far-right organisations and parties, but also by other citizens and by police officers,’ says the Human Development Report (HDR) 2000 summing up the European centre’s
findings. It adds: “Such uncivil society poses threats to the human rights of minorities in many parts of the world refusing to keep silent. By documenting cases and reporting on them in the media, is the first step towards combating racism — bringing it to collective awareness and mobilising a response.” |
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Men are at the receiving end here PORT OF SPAIN, July 2 (IPS) — Domestic violence perpetrated by women against their partners is receiving more attention in Trinidad and Tobago as fears grow that the incidence of such abuse is increasing.
“We may soon have to build some safe house for these men,” Prime Minister Basdeo Panday told a political meeting last
week. Mr Panday’s comment not only highlighted the fact that domestic abuse of men was considered to be growing, but also officially acknowledged that it existed.
For years, domestic violence against men has gone unacknowledged by the government, and the judicial, health and social service systems. Abuse against women, however, aided by agitation from women’s rights and human rights activists is well documented and special legal and social measures have been set up to help women in this
situation. The very machismo that leads so many men to attempt physically to subdue women with whom they are associated, dictates that yet many others who are physically and or mentally abused by women conceal their fates,” says lawyer Horace Broomes in a recent newspaper
article. Mr Broomes questions earlier assertions that men were responsible for the majority of domestic violence cases. “Are men really responsible for 90 per cent of all domestic violence. However we define domestic violence, whether only physical as well as
mental?” Independent legislator Daniel Teelucksingh says it was regrettable that domestic violence against men was now a “closeted crime” since men were usually too embarrassed to complain to the authorities. “They feel humiliated,” he
added. Head of the community police Winston Cooper was quoted in the local media this week as saying that his department has been receiving numerous calls from men who are seeking “protection” from their
wives. “We have had to respond to a number of cases in which wives were accused of beating their husbands. It is not as prevalent as domestic violence against women, but we are witnessing an increase in the number of men who seek help from the division,” he
said. Failure to provide for the home and the inability of men to carry out their sexual duties were high on the list of why wives are beating their husbands”, Mr Cooper
said. “I got licks because I broke the envelope,” says a 37-year-old mechanic Allan, making reference to the weekly pay packet he receives. “I know of cases when on Friday nights certain men do get licks too,” he added.
Figures released by the Ministry of Culture and Gender Affairs, show that in 1998 — the latest year for which statistics are available — 418 cases of domestic violence against men were
made. Although the figures indicated that calls had been received from “single clients, divorced clients and separated” it gave no breakdown of the sexes, except to state it had received 418 calls from
men.” Between 1990 and 1998, 10 men were killed as a result of domestic violence. Official figures state that 109 women and 36 children were killed in similar circumstances between 1990 and 1999.
At a recent seminar where some men got together to “to talk about what it means to be a man in these terrible times,” one man told the audience “men are getting a
bashing.” Earlier this year, the University of the West Indies (UWI) organised a conference on “understanding the problems and searching for solutions” to domestic
violence. Participants acknowledged that domestic violence had become a subject that could “no longer be
ignored.” Dr Hamid Ghany, head of the UWI’s Department of Behavioural Sciences, said the existing laws dealing with domestic violence do not cover those who “suffer in silence” pointing to “the victim of mental torture or economic deprivation or verbal abuse that contains neither obscene language nor threatening language, but erodes self-esteem.” |
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Anti-HIV herbs BANGKOK, July 2 (AP) — Thai researchers have found that five Chinese herbs are as effective as western drugs in slowing the progress of HIV, and two others can fight lung cancer, reports said
today. Health Minister Korn Dabaransi announced that herbal medicine from China’s Kunming Institute of Botany could reduce the amount of HIV in the body, and kill cancer cells without causing any side
effects. “The discovery will brighten the hopes of many patients and will probably be the best news for Thai people in the 21st century,” he said , according to newspaper
reports. A cocktail of five herbs dramatically reduced the amount of virus in nine of 28 patients treated this year at a hospital in northern Chiang Mai, said the Medical Science Department Deputy Director, Mr Paijit Warachit. In a further 16 patients it helped to contain the virus, while the other three were at a more advanced stage of the illness and experienced no benefit. |
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