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Massive protests rock Kathmandu
Paris
Diary |
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Pervez for security barrier along Afghan border
US unveils vision for UNSC reforms
Stop-and-search
orders in UK evoke fresh row 2 West Asian women to get Gandhi medal
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Massive protests rock Kathmandu
Kathmandu, September 13 Thousands of demonstrators, carrying party flags and chanting anti-King and pro-democracy slogans, broke police cordon to enter restricted areas at Ratnapark, Bhotahity, Bhrikutimandap and Baghbazaar. The Riot police, mobilised in large numbers to suppress the demonstrators, baton charged the activists, sprayed water from the fire engines and used tear gas shells before dragging the protestors to the police vans. About two dozen activists were injured in the clashes with the riot police, party sources said. Twenty students were injured as clashes continued today in the Mahendra Ratna Campus at Tahachal where securitymen fired several rounds in the air to control the anti-King demonstrations. The Nepali Congress (Democratic) acting President Mr Gopalman
Shrestha, the Janamorcha Nepal President Mr Amik Serchan, the Nepali Congress central members Mr Ramchandra Poudyal and Mr Ramsharan
Mahat, the former Home Minister Mr Khum Bahadur Khada and the Nepal Communist Party UML- central member Mr Bam Dev Gautam were among those arrested today as the seven-party alliance intensified its pro-democracy agitation. The Nepali Congress office secretary Mr Shobhakar Parajuli claimed at least 300 workers of the party were arrested today. Over 200 workers of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) and nearly 100 of the CPN-UML were also detained during the protests, party officials said.
— PTI |
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Paris Diary
The turban issue pertaining to the Sikh community is not a raging issue in France though it continues to rankle the Sikh leaders and organisations back home. India appreciates the assistance provided by France so as not to hurt the susceptibilities of the Sikh community in this country. The new law in France disallows any kind of religious symbols in schools all over this country.
What, however, is engaging the attention of the French authorities is the attempt of the aliens to rake up the turban issue to gain citizenship of this country. It is estimated that there are about 1500 people of the Asian origin including Indians, Sri Lankans and
others, desperately seeking the French citizenship on the grounds of political
discrimination. Out of this, the Indian components are said to be around 200. * * * * The Indian Prime Minister
Dr. Manmohan Singh’s official visit to France has not attracted requisite attention either in the print or electronic media. Barring the highly respected Le Figaro carrying a detailed interview of Dr Singh and Channel two reporting that the Scorpene submarine deal has been clinched, there has been little else. Le Monde, the other newspaper which appears to be a slipping ground, woke up rather late after being beaten by Le Monde ,seeking an interview with the Prime Minister. They were offered this from New Delhi but declined. However, the importance of Prime Minister’s visit to France surely sank in after the Le Monde’s interview. But by that time, it was too late because of Dr Singh’s hectic schedule. * * * * External Affairs Minister Mr K Natwar presented to the French President Jacques Chirac extracts from Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography about the father of the Nation’s visit to Paris before independence. The Mahatma has written that he had read about a great exhibition in Paris in 1890. That kindled a desire in him to visit Paris and a particular attraction of the exhibition was the Eiffel Tower constructed entirely of iron. The
Mahatma wrote “I had heard of a vegetarian restaurant in Paris. I engaged a room there and stayed seven days. I managed everything economically and went about sight seeing. This I did mostly on foot and with the help of a map of Paris. I remember nothing of the exhibition excepting its magnitude and variety. I have a fair recollection of the
Eiffel Tower as I ascended it twice or thrice. The ancient Churches of Paris are still in my memory. Their grandeur and their peacefulness are unforgettable. Kneeling and prayer could not be worshipping mere marble. I have an impression that I felt then that by this worship they were not detracting from, but increasing, the glory of God,” the Mahatma noted. * * * * Students of a French school presented some Indian songs in honour of the Indian Prime Minister. Having an exchange programme with the Sanskriti School in Delhi, a group of adolescents aged between 15 and 16 years sang interesting numbers. A group of about 20 children from this school located in the upper middle class district of Lycee Lavoisier are expected to visit India in December. A similar group of children from the Sanskriti school will visit France in March next year. The French school was established in 1871 and was only the third primary school at that time in France. |
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Pervez for security barrier along Afghan border
IN a bid to quell criticism of his government's inability to ebb the flow of terrorists across Pakistan's borders President Pervez Musharraf has recommended that a security barrier be constructed along the border with Afghanistan.
The suggestion was made during Gen. Musharraf's meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in New York on Monday. The Pakistani leader will meet President George W. Bush on Tuesday. The Associated Press quoted Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri as saying: "We don't ever want anybody to say Pakistan is not doing enough." The minister said he was "fed up" over such allegations. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack later said: "We think it is important that Pakistan and Afghanistan take up this idea.. We would be pleased at some point to be part of the discussion if they think it is a good idea." In his meeting with Miss Rice, Gen. Musharraf briefed her on the peace process with India and emphasized the need to focus the process on resolving the Kashmir dispute among other outstanding issues. He urged the U.S. government to extend its support in moving forward on Kashmir. India has steadfastly opposed mediation by any foreign government in the dispute maintaining it is a bilateral issue that needs to be resolved by New Delhi and Islamabad alone. According to a statement issued after the meeting by the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, Miss Rice told Gen. Musharraf that the U.S. would "continue to support progress in the Pakistan-India peace process. She also affirmed U.S. support for the settlement of all outstanding issues including Kashmir dispute." Miss Rice did not issue a statement after the meeting. Prof Sumit Ganguly, a professor of political science at Indiana University in Bloomington, pointed out that the issue of Kashmir remains the "central stumbling block" to the peace process between India and Pakistan. "Musharraf appears obsessed about the subject and [Prime Minister Manmohan] Singh has made it amply clear that he will neither countenance territorial compromise nor brook Pakistan's continuing support for various insurgent groups operating in Kashmir," Prof. Ganguly said. Pakistan's failure to curb border crossings by members of Al-Qaida and the Taliban has drawn sharp criticism from some quarters. Miss Rice on Monday attempted to defend Pakistan's record. At her meeting with Gen. Musharraf she expressed her appreciation of his country's cooperation in countering terrorism and praised its contribution in the stabilisation and reconstruction of Afghanistan. Later in an interview with CBS News, Miss Rice was asked about the progress to capture Osama bin Laden. The leader of the Al-Qaida network is believed to be hiding in the rugged North West Frontier Province border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Secretary noted the Pakistanis "are really pursuing Al-Qaida now in the frontier areas, in places where Pakistan had never even gone into." In an interview with the New York Times, Gen. Musharraf admitted it was possible that Bin Laden was still travelling between remote parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. "I will not negate entirely, with confidence, that he is not there," he said. "But I will never accept anybody who says with confidence that he is there." Miss Rice's meeting with Gen. Musharraf continued well past the allotted half an hour. According to Pakistani officials, Gen. Musharraf told the Secretary that economic development and creation of employment opportunities in Pakistan would help to curb extremism. On September 17, Gen. Musharraf will address the American Jewish Congress. The meeting is the latest in a series of overtures by Gen. Musharraf to the Jewish community. Earlier this month, Mr. Kasuri met with his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom in Turkey, the first acknowledged meeting of its kind between senior Pakistani and Israeli officials. Gen. Musharraf told the New York Times said the opening to Israel could flourish "in case there is forward movement" on negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, but he said, "this is by no means recognition of Israel." Gen. Musharraf will travel to Tampa, Florida, on September 18 where he will meet with the commander of the U.S. Central Command, Gen. John Abizaid. In an effort to burnish his country's image, Gen. Musharraf will be doing a series of interviews with CNN, NBC, Washington Post, New York Times and Time Magazine. |
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US unveils vision for UNSC reforms
Washington, September 13 While the overall “geographic balance” of the council is a consideration, effectiveness remains the benchmark for any reform, the State Department said. Management, budget and administrative reform management reform is necessary to ensure that member states receive the greatest benefit from resources and that UN personnel are held to the highest standard of ethical conduct and accountability. All UN member states should unequivocally outlaw acts of international terrorism, and it is time to reach agreement on the Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), the State Department said, adding that adopting the CCIT would be an important achievement in the UN’s global effort to counter terrorism. “Our proposals relate to three themes: accountability and integrity, improved effectiveness, and boosting the UN’s relevance in the modern world,” it said. The Secretary General’s authority and duty to waive immunity must be affirmed so that UN officials suspected of committing criminal activities can be fully investigated, and guilty individuals held accountable, it said while stressing the urgent need for establishing a ‘Peace Building Commission’. “The US strongly supports the Secretary-General’s concept of a Peace Building Commission that would allow the UN to more effectively galvanise international efforts to help countries recover after conflict.” “The high-level event in September is an opportunity to renew our collective commitment to eradicate poverty and promote sustained economic development.” |
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Stop-and-search orders in UK evoke fresh row London, September 13 Civil liberties
campaigners and black groups have reacted furiously and demanded an
investigation by the Commission for Racial Equality into orders to the
British Transport Police, which identified terrorist suspects as those
of “Asian, West Indian and East African origin”. Officers
patrolling on the Tube and train network have been told not to “use
stereotypical images of terrorists when deciding whether or not to use
their powers of stop and search.” But the
operational order, issued after the July 7 attacks in London, said:
“It should be noted, however, that recent suspects have included
individuals of Asian, West Indian and east African origin, some of
whom have British nationality.” It said “police
supervisors must ensure that officers make maximum use of Section 44
of the Terrorism Act 2000 search powers in a targeted approach against
individuals who match the target profile, which is males aged between
18-30, who may be of any racial background,” British daily The
Independent reported today. Liberty, the human rights
lobby group, has consulted lawyers to see if the order breached race
relations laws. Its head Shami Chakrabarti said the order was so
controversial that she had arranged a meeting with Mr Ian Johnston,
the transport police chief constable. — PTI
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2 West Asian women to get Gandhi medal Jerusalem, September 13 Left-wing Meretz Party’s Knesset member Zahava Gal-On and Palestinian spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi will be awarded the medals at a ceremony in Durban, South Africa, by Gandhi’s grand-daughter, Ella Gandhi, daily Ha’aretz reported.
— PTI
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