The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Myanmar ready for bypoll tomorrow Suu Kyi complains of widespread irregularities Yangon, March 30 Attempts to disrupt campaigning for Myanmar's historic byelections on Sunday are "beyond acceptable", opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said today, her first public appearance since falling sick last weekend. "What has been happening in this country is really beyond what is acceptable for a democratic election. Still, we are determined to go forward because we think that is what our people want," a frail but defiant Suu Kyi told reporters outside her lakeside house in Yangon. She accused her rivals of vandalising election posters, padding electoral registers and "many, many cases of intimidation", including two attempts to injure candidates with catapulted projectiles. The United States and European Union have hinted economic sanctions —imposed years ago in response to human rights abuses — could be lifted if the election is free and fair, which could unleash a wave of investment in the impoverished but resource-rich country bordering India and China. To be regarded as credible, the vote needs the blessing of 66-year-old Suu Kyi. She is contesting one seat in her first election since being freed from house arrest in late 2010. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), competing for 44 of the 45 byelection seats, has previously complained of irregularities that could undermine the vote. As big as France and Britain combined, Myanmar's size, energy resources and ports on the Indian Ocean and Andaman Sea have made it a vital energy security asset for Beijing's landlocked western provinces, and a priority for Washington as President Barack Obama strengthens engagement with Asia. "There have been cases of vandalism of NLD signboards and posters and many, many cases of intimidation," said Suu Kyi, who fell ill on March 25 due to seasickness and exhaustion while campaigning by boat. She said she remained "a little delicate". — Reuters
	Smiles and a warning as LiLo ends probation Los Angeles, March 30 A smiling Lindsay Lohan was released on Thursday from almost five years of formal probation, and told by a Los Angeles judge to grow up and stop clubbing. Actress Lohan, 25, who has made multiple trips to court, jail and rehab since a 2007 drunk driving and cocaine possession arrest, was praised for completing months of community service at a Los Angeles morgue and court-ordered psychotherapy. “She has done everything that this court has asked of her,” Los Angeles Superior Court judge Stephanie Sautner said. “Probation terminates today. Now.” Lohan, dressed conservatively in a powder blue pants suit and black top, let out a sigh of relief and hugged her attorney. Although the “Mean Girls” actress will remain on informal probation until 2014 for a 2011 jewelry theft, she will not have to report regularly to court and will no longer be compelled to live in Los Angeles, as long as she stays out of trouble. Lohan’s once promising movie career was derailed by the 2007 arrest, years of hard partying, missed court dates and failed drug tests that saw her probation extended repeatedly. — Reuters
	Afghan policeman kills 9 colleagues, joins Taliban Kabul, March 30 An Afghan policeman today shot dead nine of his colleagues, including his brother, as they slept and fled with their weapons in a truck to join Taliban ranks in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province, the police said. “The incident happened while the shooter was guarding the check point and all other policemen were sleeping,” said Paktika provincial police chief Gen Dawlat Khan Zadran. The shooter, identified as Asadullah, was in contact with the insurgents in Yahyakhail district in Paktika province and targeted the other fellows as part of a plan, he said. After killings, he gathered all weapons in a police truck and run away from the area to an unknown location. “Among the policemen who have been shot, one of them is shooter’s bother,” said Zadran, adding the commander of the check point with two of his sons and five others were among the dead. Mokhlis Afghan, spokesman for the governor of Paktika province, said that two other brothers, both policemen, of Asadullah have been arrested for questioning. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack. — PTI
	Annan urges ceasefire in Syria Damascus, March 30 International envoy Kofi Annan urged Syria's Bashar al-Assad to immediately implement a ceasefire, as fighting raged today even after the embattled leader said he had accepted the peace plan. Activists, meanwhile, appealed for more mass demonstrations to denounce Arab states for "abandoning" protesters by not backing calls to send arms to rebels fighting Assad's forces. UN-Arab League peacebroker Annan's ceasefire appeal came as monitors said shells rained down on Homs, a main rebel bastion which has been the focus of much of President Assad's year-long crackdown on anti-regime protests. "We expect him to implement this plan immediately. Clearly we have not seen a cessation of hostilities on the ground. This is our great concern," the spokesman said. The plan calls for a commitment to stop all armed violence, a daily two-hour humanitarian ceasefire, media access to all areas affected by the fighting, an inclusive Syrian-led political process, a right to demonstrate, and release of arbitrarily detained people. — AFP
	US court sentences Fai to 2 years in jail for ISI link Washington, March 30 Kashmiri separatist Ghulam Nabi Fai was today sentenced to two years in jail by a US court on charges of illegally working for Pakistani spy agency ISI to influence American policy on Kashmir. Fai was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release by a court in Alexandria, Virginia, a suburb of Washington DC. Judge Liam O'Grady also asked Fai not to maintain any contact with the officials and agents of the Government of Pakistan and the ISI. Fai was arrested by the FBI on July 19 last year and had subsequently pleaded guilty before the court to the charges of being a paid agent of the ISI. Fai, who was represented by Nina Ginsberg in the court, said he would self surrender after graduation of his dauj judge told Fai that he could continue to work for the cause of Kashmiri people from the prison like write articles and do conference calls. About 40 persons were inside the court room, mostly his friends and family members. The government attorney was Gordon D Kromberg. After listening from both sides and also for a few minutes from Fai himself, the judge said: "Sentencing is necessary" even though he has done moving things on behalf of people of Kashmir. "I do not think you are ready to believe that by your acts you did a great harm to he US, you ignored that even after FBI brought this to your notice," Judge told Fai. "You participated in a conspiracy to defraud the US and completely deceive the IRS. You knew Pakistan and the ISI was paying you in a manner because your actions would be consistent with theirs and you would represent their voice and you were willing to do so," the judge said. — PTI Chronology of events 1990: Fai establishes Kashmiri American Council in the US July 19, 2011: FBI arrests Fai on charges of accepting funds from the ISI to influence the US govt on the Kashmir issue July 27: Fai granted bail and placed under house arrest Dec 7: Fai pleaded guilty to conspiracy and tax evasion March 30, 2012: Fai found guilty and sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment
	ISI controls Mirwaiz, claims US Attorney Washington, March 30 Separatist Kashmiri leader and Chairman of the moderate Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq is “supported and controlled” by ISI, a US Attorney has claimed before a court. The Attorney Neil H MacBride made the claim before the US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, ahead of the scheduled sentencing of Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai who had set up an organisation Kashmiri American Council in the US to promote the separatist cause. Fai, who was arrested last year on charges of being a paid agent of the ISI, has submitted the names of 53 individuals from Pakistan, India and the US in his support and all of them have urged District Judge Liam O’Grady to give the Kashmiri separatist a lighter sentence. The Mirwaiz, who is among those who has written letters of support, returned to New Delhi from Jeddah this morning but could not be reached for his comments. However, his spokesperson Shahid-ul-Islam said from Srinagar that the Mirwaiz would be issuing a statement on the allegation tomorrow. MacBride made a 10-page submission to the court in which he stated that many of those who had written the letters in support of Fai had failed to disclose facts which might undermine their credibility before the court. In a footnote, he linked the Mirwaiz to the ISI and said that another letter-writer was copied on at least 26 e-mails from Pakistan’s intelligence agency to Fai. Those who have written support letters include Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, a Jammu editor Ved Bhasin and well-known civil rights activist Gautam Navlakha. The Attorney alleged that Navlakha was “introduced to an ISI General for recruitment by Fai at ISI’s direction”. When contacted in Jharkhand, Navlakha rubbished the allegation and said, “it is pretty ridiculous. You have to find out on what basis he made that comment. I don’t know why he said that. It is such an atrocious statement.” Navlakha said he criticised Fai in the support letter for not disclosing the source of funding as per US laws but supported his clemency because of political reasons. — PTI