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Monday,
August 19, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Oppn rejects Pervez’s proposals Pervez may shed some powers MOSCOW DIARY Pearl slain after escape bid Iraq, UN feud on arms inspection UK looks for non-Asian chefs UK club pays for banning Sikhs Russia, Iraq to sign $ 40 bn deal |
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Hi-tech courtroom for ‘Kanishka’ trial
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Oppn rejects Pervez’s proposals Islamabad, August 18 At a meeting organised by the Pakistan Bar Council in Lahore yesterday, most of the political parties, barring a few like the Pakistan Millat Party headed by former president Farroq Leghari and the Pakistan Muslim League (Qaid-e-Azam), backed a resolution calling for the scrapping of the proposed amendments. Amending the constitution is the “sole and exclusive function of Parliament and no other individual or institution has any authority to change it,” the resolution said. Media reports here said that in view of the strong reservations expressed by parties and the media for the past few weeks, General Musharraf has decided to either withdraw or modify some of the proposals and would announce a new package early next week. Addressed by leaders of all top political parties contesting the October general election, the meeting also rejected the April 30 referendum that extended General Musharraf’s term in office for five years, terming it as a “complete farce” and saying that it conferred no legitimacy to the General. The resolution demanded the lifting of all curbs on political activities and holding the poll under an independent election commission to make it “free, fair and impartial”. Condemning the alleged “pre-poll rigging being done through changes in the election laws and rules, frequent transfers and postings of government officials and by use of intelligence agencies,” the meeting said international observers should be allowed to monitor the poll. The meeting also demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hassan Khan to ensure the impartiality and credibility of the October poll. Mr Khan, who recently retired as the Supreme Court Chief Justice, got embroiled into a controversy after he endorsed the results of the April referendum. Amid allegations of serious irregularities and poor voter turnout, the commission okayed the results saying that General Musharraf received “yes” vote of over 97 per cent. The political parties also suggested constitution of ‘monitoring teams’ at the district levels to check rigging, while demanding the withdrawal of the election orders and ordinances which, they alleged, amounted to virtually amending the constitution. The resolution
adopted at the meeting was supported by representatives of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Musilm League (Nawaz), Jamaat-i-Islami, former cricketer Imran Khan’s Tehrik-i-Insaaf, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party, among others, the reports said.
PTI |
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Pervez may shed some powers Islamabad, August 18 Following widespread criticism from political parties and the media, there are indications that the President might announce changes in the constitution while cutting back some of his discretionary powers. Since he seized control in October 1999, General Musharraf has been slowly arming himself with powers that critics say make him increasingly authoritarian and not as democratic as he claims to be. The hackles of political parties were raised in the run up to the October elections when the President indicated he would arm himself with powers to organise the National Security Council (NSC) and sack the National Assembly. But, government officials say, he may be having second thoughts. “The President will announce the withdrawal of some proposals in the light of meetings with political leaders and a feedback from other sections of society,” a senior government official told IANS. The composition and role of the proposed NSC are being finalised, besides the President’s authority to dissolve the Assembly or sack the Prime Minister and his cabinet. Analysts believe the President will agree not to dissolve the Assembly, opting instead to sack the Prime Minister and his cabinet if the need arose. Similarly it is also expected that the President may review the proposed amendment related to the appointment of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and other public office-holders. However, the appointment of the service chiefs is expected to be the prerogative of the President who is the supreme commander of the armed forces in
Pakistan. IANS |
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MOSCOW DIARY On June 21 this year, President Putin awarded the Order of Courage to Tatyana Sapunova (28). On July 25, Putin personally received her in the Kremlin and in the presence of television cameras and journalists admired her courageous act and thanked her for setting an example to be followed by others. Who is this courageous woman and what did she do to receive such a high honour, fame and admiration from President Putin? On May 27, Tatyana Sapunova, an office manager, was driving her minibus, about 32 km south-west of Moscow, when she saw a placard on the roadside with an anti-Semitic slogan “Death to jids (Jews)” inscribed on it in big letters. She stopped her vehicle to remove this anti-racial sign. As she tugged at the sign, it exploded and injured her face seriously. Interfax reported that the blast had a force of 100 gm to 200 gm of TNT. Tatyana, who is a Russian but not a Jew, was hospitalised and it was feared that she would lose her one eye completely. But Russian doctors and later Israeli medical experts did their utmost to save her eyesight and treat the injuries on her face which she suffered when shrapnel from the booby-trapped sign had hit her. She was sent to Israel for treatment by Jewish groups in Moscow at their own expense. Tatyana has not fully recovered; her left eye is still blurry, but doctors are hopeful that she will regain her vision fully soon. President Putin’s public demonstration of his admiration of Tatyana’s courage, consciousness of her civil duty and anti-racial mindset was aimed at an open criticism of fascist and racist groups indulging in such anti-national activities. In a speech at the time of his meeting with Tatyana, he emphasised the fact that Russia is a multi-national and multi-ethnic country and such anti-racial and anti-ethnic groups are doing great harm to national interests. Tatyana, a modest woman who has become a heroine of our days for many democratic, liberal and sound minded Russians, by her gesture and suffering has prompted the Duma, (the Lower House of Parliament) to pass an anti-extremism Bill quickly which gives the police and courts much wider powers to act against such groups that preach racial hatred and incite violence. President Putin is expected to sign the Bill soon. Some political parties, especially the Communists, have expressed fears that it can be used as an instrument of political suppression. Such fears may not be baseless and, therefore, steps must be taken to guarantee its proper implementation. At the same time, one can’t deny the fact that such an anti-extremist law was long overdue, because the racial, religious and ethnic extremism has been continuously on the rise in Russia in the last few years. However, as pointed out by many analysts, it is not sufficient to have an anti-extremism law only. The causes and forces behind such nefarious tendencies should also be explored and analysed and measures taken to remove them. It is rightly emphasised that a campaign to create social awareness in the masses about the dangers and disastrous consequences of such extremist activities can help considerably to fight this evil. It must also be kept in mind that extremism is at the root of international terrorism which the world is trying to fight collectively. * * * Taj Mahal for elephants: The Russian zoo-park has six elephants — three African and three Indian. But since 1995, they are not accessible to viewers owing to non-availability of open cages which can be safe for the public. But it is also a pity that animals like elephants are kept away from visitors. Therefore, the zoo authorities have decided recently to build big and beautiful open air cages for them in the architectural style of Taj Mahal with two large tanks. The initial plan of complete replica of Taj Mahal had to be changed to some extent, because it was found too costly for the zoo-park budget. But the basic contours of the Taj Mahal will be kept intact. For the Indians visiting the Moscow zoo-park after the completion of this project, it will be a very pleasant and heart warming view. The project is likely to be completed in two years. * * * Leo Tolstoy inspires demographers also: World-famous author of such immortal novels as “War and Peace”, “Anna Karenina”, and “Resurrection”, Leo Tolstoy, whom Gandhiji recognised as his “guru” is now not only a source of great interest for literature-lovers, but for Russian demographers too. This fact was highlighted recently, when out of about 250 descendants of Tolstoy, living in various parts of the world, 90 gathered at his estate Yasnaya Polyana, about 200 km south of Moscow, to celebrate the 140th anniversary of Tolstoy’s marriage and 150 anniversary of the publication of his first story “Childhood”. Russian demographers, worried about the quickly decreasing population at the rate of several lakhs yearly, presented Tolstoy to be an ideal example to be followed by the young Russian generation. Tolstoy had 13 children. Obviously, no young couple can afford to have so many children in present-day Russia, but the continuously decreasing size of the modern Russian families and the total population of the country is a matter of real concern for the nation as a whole. Hence, the demographers are justified in emphasising Tolstoy’s love for children. |
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Pearl slain after escape bid Karachi, August 18 Two investigators said the information was gleaned from three men who led the police in May to a dismembered body that was identified by DNA tests as Pearl. Pearl, 38, was kidnapped on January 23 in Karachi while researching links between Pakistani Islamic extremists and Richard C. Reid, who was arrested in December on a flight from Paris to Miami with explosives in his shoe. One of them, British-born Islamic militant Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, was sentenced to death by hanging. The others received life sentences. According to the two police officers, the kidnapping began on the night of January 23, when Saeed telephoned his accomplices and ordered them to pick up Pearl in front of the Village Restaurant. Pearl was put in one car, which was followed by a second carrying three other kidnappers. The two vehicles followed Bukhari, who led the convoy on motor cycle to the shack where Pearl was to be held. The police said on the sixth day, Pearl tried to escape as he was being led to the toilet. However, he was caught by Karim and Chishti, who beat him up and shot him in the leg. The struggle made so much noise that students at a nearby Islamic school ran out onto the roof to see what was happening, the police said. A day after the escape attempt, Bukhari told other kidnappers that they were to kill Pearl, although the officers said it was unclear who gave the order. The kidnappers waited a day while they deliberated issuing a ransom demand, the officers said. On the ninth day after the kidnapping, three Arabs, whom the suspects believed to have been Yemenis, were brought to the hideout, the police said. The two officers said the Arabs were said to have been associates of Ramzi Yousef Ramzi, the imprisoned mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The police said the kidnappers began asking Pearl a series of questions about his religion and his background as one of the Arabs filmed it with a video camera. Suddenly, Karim seized Pearl’s hands and one of the Arabs slit his throat, the officers said. The actual murder was supposed to have been recorded but “the cameraman lost his nerve,’’ one of the policemen said. The videotape was
later sent to the US Consulate in Karachi, confirming Pearl was dead.
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Iraq, UN feud on arms inspection Baghdad, August 18 Hans Blix, the head of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Control Commission (UNMOVIC), told the BBC he needed “unfettered access” to Iraq which strongly denies US charges that it is developing weapons of mass destruction. But the ruling Baath Party newspaper said talks on the issue was the only way forward. “Iraq, which has a rational policy, has always called for dialogue so that the United Nations can recover its role and save present and future generations from the horrors of war,” Ath-Thawra said. Baghdad on Friday renewed a proposal to continue discussions with the United Nations about the return of arms inspectors, who fled Iraq in December, 1998, on the eve of US-British air strikes. Mr Blix, who has been invited to Baghdad himself for talks, as have members of the US Congress, explained the difficulties. “We are very eager to start inspections,” he said. “However, you have to read the small print of any invitation. “It seems this was by no means a decision by the Iraqis to invite inspectors, but rather to suggest discussions on what issues were open in 1998. We have not been directed by the UN Security Council to do that. “They want talks first, and in light of the talks maybe decide whether they will invite inspectors,” he said. Blix seemed to suggest that US threats to oust Saddam by force did not help his cause.
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UK looks for non-Asian chefs London, August 18 Now, in a move aimed at reversing a nationwide staff shortage, the body that represents restaurant owners will launch a recruitment drive aimed at non-Asian chefs. Instead of learning about French or Italian cooking, Indian restaurant owners want to teach young chefs the difference between a ‘dosa’ and a ‘paratha’ . They want to cash in on the growing popularity of Bollywood films to cast off the unwanted image of Indian cooking as late-night fast food with lager. Unless hundreds of chefs are recruited, the industry will go into decline. The Guild of Bangladeshi Restaurateurs, which represents 2,000 restaurants specialising in South Asian food, has said the industry desperately needs chefs from all racial backgrounds in order to meet a labour shortfall. The organisation has also asked David Blunkett, Home Secretary, to allow Indian restaurants to recruit more staff from abroad and extend the work permits of some workers from three to five years.
The Guardian, London |
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UK club pays for banning Sikhs London, August 18 The payout received by Mr Harjinder Singh Lal and Mr Jasvinder Marwaha has sent tremors through Birmingham’s club-land, where Sikhs regularly get turned away at the door. Mr Lal, 42, and Mr Marwaha, 48, were turned away twice from the Bar 2 Sixty nightclub in Broad Street in central Birmingham. Gatekeepers at the club refused to let them in while a black friend was permitted to enter. After a two-day hearing at the Birmingham County Court, the nightclub decided to come to an out-of-court settlement without admission of guilt. Mr Lal said the settlement would send a message to nightclubs and bars in Birmingham that they couldn’t discriminate against Asians in the manner that they did.
PTI |
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Russia, Iraq to sign $ 40 bn deal Moscow, August 18 “This document is being prepared,” Oleg Buklemeshev, an adviser to Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, told Reuters, confirming a Washington Post report on the deal. Buklemeshev said the five-year deal to set up cooperation in areas ranging from oil to electric energy and railroads would not violate U.N. sanctions imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait. “It is in line with current international agreements,” he said.
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Hi-tech courtroom for ‘Kanishka’ trial Toronto, August 18 The trial of Inderjit Singh Reyat, 49, Ripudaman Singh Malik, 53, and Ajaib Singh Bagri, 51, facing charges in the case of the mid-air bombing of the Vancouver-New Delhi Air India flight 182 on June 23, 1985, will begin in British Columbia in March, 2003. The ‘Courtroom 20’ is equipped with 25 LCD-screen computers connected to two km of data cable, allowing jurors to see specially prepared evidence, ‘The Globe and Mail’ daily reported here. The room is sealed with bullet-proof windows from the 149-seat public gallery.
PTI |
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