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Bush under fire over war on terror
Pak bypoll put off by 2 months
‘Restoring judges in 12 days impossible’
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SAMC asks South Asian nations to ensure media freedom
Hasina to contest parliamentary polls
Queen enjoys train ride in disguise
Basmati shortage reaches House of Commons
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Bush under fire over war on terror
President George W. Bush’s administration has come under fire in a new study for attempting to extend the White House’s power
without congressional or judicial review.
The study from Freedom House, “Today’s American: How Free?,” is the first from the group to examine whether Americans are sacrificing essential values in the war on terrorism. It also scrutinises other critical issues such as the political process, criminal justice system, racial inequality and immigration. “Several elements of President George W. Bush’s counterterrorism effort - such as the monitoring of domestic telecommunications and the detention and interrogation of suspected terrorists have drawn criticism from both the public and civil libertarians and have been contested by the nation’s courts,” the reports says. “Generally speaking, the controversies over counterterrorism policies can be traced to the Bush administration’s assertion of a degree of executive authority that is extraordinary even in wartime,” says the report, which finds that broad electronic surveillance affects millions, and law enforcement has “overreached” in terrorism cases. “At the same time, racial inequality and an overburdened justice system present challenges that have been ongoing throughout America’s history,” it adds. Freedom House will release findings from the report at the National Press Club in Washington
on Monday. The group is best known for its annual survey of the state of freedom around the world. The latest report concludes that while issues related to the Bush administration’s approach to the war on terrorism do pose threats to American democracy “and diminish the reputation of the United States as an exemplar of a democratic society” - the most serious challenges are presented by issues that will confront American society long after the war on terrorism has subsided. The report finds more Americans are being imprisoned and race is clearly a factor. A black male in the United States has a one in three chance of being imprisoned, while a white male has only a one in 17 chance. On the controversial issue of capital punishment, America is unique among democracies in its use of the death sentence. There are currently over 3,000 people on death row in America. The report found certain U.S. policies present genuine threats to the individual rights of American and foreign citizens caught up in the war on terrorism including: The Patriot Act’s “sneak and peek” title, warrantless wiretaps, torture and extraordinary rendition. “Yet violations of civil liberties in general are less severe than in previous times of conflict,” it adds. Religious freedom in the United States is “unparalleled” anywhere in the world, and America remains home to a “free and vibrant press.” But, the report points out, “legal protections for journalists, including their ability to maintain the confidentiality of resources, have been weakened since 9/11.” Freedom House notes that despite a heated and polarized national debate over illegal immigration, America continues to remain a coveted destination for immigrants from poor and wealthy countries alike.
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Pak bypoll put off by 2 months
The Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday postponed byelections to 32 national and provincial assemblies by two months evoking strong condemnation by two major coalition partners.
While the PML-N pointed accusing fingers toward the Presidency, the PPP described it as a conspiracy against the elected government. The postponement was announced only a day before the last date of filing of nomination papers. Fresh date for this purpose would be announced later. The EC announced that the byelections scheduled for June 18 would now be held on August 18. It cited security situation and the impending budget session next month as major reasons for deferring the byelections. It claimed that the NWFP government had painted an alarming law and order situation in the province and called for deferring it. The provincial offices of the commission in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan had also voiced similar concerns, EC secretary Kunwar Dilshad told reporters. This is the second time that byelections have been postponed since February 18 general elections. The gap of six months after the main elections is unprecedented in country’s history. Earlier the commission changed the schedule in order to “facilitate certain political parties”. Information minister Sherry Rehman and PPP spokesman condemned the postponement and denied reports that the party wanted time to avoid backlash of its stance on restoration of judges. Sherry termed it as a conspiracy against the elected government and said the commission had not consulted the government before the announcement. She said Zardari is due to meet the Prime Minister some time in the evening to ascertain the factual position. The Nawaz Sharif faction of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) reacted strongly and blamed President Musharraf of conspiring to thwart the resounding popular verdict in the elections against him and his allies. PML-N spokesman Siddiqul Farooq said the party had been closely watching frequent visit by EC secretary Dilshad to the Presidency. He said security situation at present is “one hundred per cent better than on February 18.” Nineteen of the 32 vacant seats are located in Punjab. PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif is contesting the byelections to qualify for becoming chief minister. President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, also filed his nomination for Rawalpindi seat vacated by PML-N leader Javed Hashmi. Farooq said the party is in contact with Nawaz Sharif in London and would announce its future line of action on Tuesday. Sharif has gone to London to visit his ailing wife. Farhatullah Babar said Asif Zardari has yet not taken a final decision on contesting by-election from Rawalpindi. He said all candidates desirous of party tickets have been asked to file their papers and a decision on allocation of ticket would be announced later.
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‘Restoring judges in 12 days impossible’
Islamabad, May 5 Fazl held a lengthy session with PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari on Sunday evening and discussed in detail the judicial crisis. Both leaders have identical views on the question of retention of judges inducted by Gen. Musharraf after the November 3 emergency. Both also share deep aversion to chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. Fazl cited Charter of Democracy signed in 2006 by slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif vowed that no judge who took oath under the PCO would be made Chief Justice. Lawyers’ community maintain that the deposed judges had taken oath under the PCO before the charter was signed and then refused to do so when Musharraf promulgated fresh PCO last year. Responding to a question, Maulana Fazlur Rahman said he had participated in the movement for the restoration of the deposed Chief Justice, as he was deposed by the dictator but now the issues had become complicated. Meanwhile, MQM chief Altaf Hussain has commended Fazl’s stance on judges and said all democratic elements must support it.
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SAMC asks South Asian nations to ensure media freedom
Lahore, May 5 In a statement marking World Press Freedom Day 2008, during the week-end, the regional media watchdog facilitated by the South Asian Free Media Association, urged Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to ensure that journalists perform their duties in an environment free from any type of pressures harmful to their work and independence. “World Press Freedom Day highlights how freedom of information and expression is vital for democracy,” SAMC chairman N. Ram and secretary -general Najam Sethi, and SAFMA secretary-general Imtiaz Alam said. “Any threat to journalists and the media means a threat to democracy. Democracy is gaining ground in more countries of the region after elections in Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan but threats to journalists continue unabated in these countries,” they said. Only four months into the year, they said, and the region was mourning the death of five journalists, one each in Afghanistan and India and three
in Pakistan. “It is worrisome that the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) impunity index includes Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India as the deadliest places for journalists to work in,” they said. The intensification of the ongoing conflict and the continuing erosion of democratic practices in Sri Lanka has created an environment conducive to violence, violation of human rights, impunity and corruption earning the island the title of one of the most dangerous places in the world for the media, they said. The SAMC also called for specialist training and insurance cover of mediapersons for reporting in dangerous environments, which the region has many. Appreciating the movement towards scrapping anti-media laws by the new Pakistani rulers, it asked the governments to prepare laws that guaranteed the right to freedom of expression and freedom
of the media.
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Hasina to contest parliamentary polls
Dhaka, May 5 “In view of the present context... I must contest and win the next polls if the elections are held in a free and fair manner,” Hasina was quoted as saying by her counsel Quamrul Islam last night. In an apparent shift from her earlier stance, Hasina has also given a green signal to her party leaders to join a planned dialogue on electoral reforms with the interim government in emergency-ruled Bangladesh. “My presence during the dialogue is not a major issue,” she told her lawyer as chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed was expected to announce the date for the crucial talks next week. She made the comments to her lawyer after hearing on charge framing in a graft case involving purchase of fighter jets for the Air Force during her 1996-2001 tenure.
— PTI
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Queen enjoys train ride in disguise
London, May 5 She enjoyed the 20-minute journey, at one point riding on the footplate of the locomotive, through the estate of her friend Leopold de Rothschild, who drove the small engine which she had earlier named in a private ceremony. Four years ago, the queen nipped away to enjoy a trip on another of Rothschild’s other small engines, Rosemary. “Members of the public were around at the time but it seems they didn’t bat an eyelid at the queen. It was a private visit, she came with very few people and she was dressed very anonymously -- she’s travelling incognito.
— PTI
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Basmati shortage reaches House of Commons
London, May 5 Philip Davies, Conservative MP from Shipley, north England, tabled the motion following several complaints by Indian restaurant owners in his constituency as well as in Bradford. The early day motion titled 'Basmati Rice' reads: "That this House is concerned about the rising cost of rice which is causing problems for many South Asian restaurants and takeaways; condemns the EU for imposing tariffs of up to 65 euros per ton on basmati rice from Thailand, Egypt, Uruguay and the US; believes in the principle of free trade; and therefore calls on the Government to regain trade policy from the EU and abolish these tariffs for the benefit of these restaurants, takeaways and the customers they serve".
— PTI
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12 dead, 40 missing in Brazilian shipwreck Organised crime leaves
21 dead in Mexico 
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