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Asian Tribune is published by World Institute For Asian Studies|Powered by WIAS Vol. 12 No. 687

Monthly archive

The Toronto terror plot and the Canadian establishment’s political agenda

Sat, 2006-06-17 00:45 — admin

The alleged Toronto terror plot is being used by Canada’s ruling elite to stampede the public into accepting a dramatic shift to the right in Canada’s foreign and domestic policies. By conjuring up the image of a Canada under siege from al-Qaeda and “homegrown” Islamicist terrorists, the Conservative government, the national security establishment, the corporate media, and a pliant official opposition are seeking to overcome popular resistance to Canada’s participation in wars, closer collaboration with the Bush administration, further economic and geo-political integration with the United States, and increased repressive powers for the state.

Ban LTTE in Australia under domestic law – Sen. Steve Hutchins, Labour Party

Sat, 2006-06-17 03:27 — admin

In his speech yesterday (June 16, 2006) to the Federal Parliament in Canberra Senator Steve Hutchins (Australian Labour Party, New South Wales) blasted the LTTE on several counts and urged the Australian Government to proscribe the LTTE as a terrorist organisation under domestic law. The LTTE has been banned under international law but not under Australian domestic law. Led by the Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights in Sri Lanka (SPUR) there is a growing lobby to list the LTTE under the Criminal Code of 1995 which would proscribe it under domestic law, giving the Police more powers to track down and prosecute agents of LTTE terrorism in Australia.

Norway condemns attack on bus load of civilians without blaming terrorists

Sat, 2006-06-17 03:22 — admin

Sri Lanka’s The Foreign Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, went on Norwegian TV yesterday and pinned the blame on the LTTE for the massacre of a busload of Sinhalese passengers. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry issued a condemnation without mentioning either the word “terrorism” or the LTTE. Erik Solheim, the failed facilitator, offered his condolences to the families of the victims of the latest LTTE attack on civilians. Norwegians Against Terrorism (NAT) told the Asian Tribune that when a bus or a train is blown up in London it is condemned as brutal terrorism. But when a bus load of Sinhalese passengers are blown up in Sri Lanka it is condemned merely as “a gruesome attack” by the Norwegian facilitators.

Pak in looking for new envoy to India

Sat, 2006-06-17 02:52 — admin

By Iqbal Hussain Khan Yousafzai – Reporting from Islamabad

Pakistan is sorting out several names for the slot of new High Commissioner to India to replace Aziz Ahmed Khan whose extended term expires in August this year. The Foreign Office is currently preparing a list of in-service diplomats who qualify to fill the high-profile slot. Informed sources said names of four career diplomats are being considered for the key diplomatic posting.

Sri Lanka will increase cess on palm oil imports

Sat, 2006-06-17 02:48 — admin

Sunil C. Perera - Reporting from Colombo

The government of Sri Lanka will increase cess by four per cent on palm oil imports to protect the local coconut oil industry. Coconut Development Minister Salinda Dissanayaka says the will forward a cabinet memorandum to obtain its approval to increase the cess. He said due to bulk palm oil imports, local coconut oil products have faced number of barriers.

Mass burial of 64 victims of claymore mines attack

Sat, 2006-06-17 02:15 — admin

The government sponsored mass burial took place at the Kebithigollewa cemetery yesterday evening for the 64 civilians who were killed in a claymore attack on Thursday morning. Earlier, Sri Lanka Government decided to hold the funeral yesterday evening at the Kebithigollewa cemetery. Accordingly, all the 64 bodies had been taken to the Kabithigollawa Maha Vidyalaya. Religious ceremonies commenced at 2 pm before the burial.

Civilian Casualties, Political Solution, Ethnicity and War: Change the course Sri Lanka

Sat, 2006-06-17 01:13 — admin

By Dr. Siri Gamage

On paper at least, it seems that all political players are for peace, patience, political solutions and safeguarding civilian lives. On the ground, the picture emerging from Sri Lanka, particularly in the north and eastern provinces as well as border areas is quite different. Media reports civilian abductions, disappearances, killings, claymore mines, sniffer fire, and other hardships faced by the people. Latest attack on a civilian bus with a very high casualty rate in a government controlled area and return attacks by government jets on LTTE controlled areas imply a 'hidden preference' for further engagement between those who carry arms-there seem to be no lack of these figures- in the two provinces. It is possible that the armed conflict can extend beyond the two provinces in the north and east and much more innocent civilian causalty occur in coming weeks and months unless the trend is reversed via diplomatic and political processes - locally and internationally.

Guns Don't Kill People, Bullets Do

Sat, 2006-06-17 00:56 — admin

By Thalif Deen - - Inter Press Service

The National Rifle Association, one of the most influential pro-gun lobbies in the United States, has philosophically argued that "guns don't kill people, only people kill people". But Oxfam, the international relief organization based in London, raises that argument to a more realistic level: it's bullets that kill people. "The bullet trade is out of control," says Oxfam, and "it is fuelling conflict and human rights abuses worldwide."

Will Musharraf now respond to PM’s Kashmir initiative?

Sat, 2006-06-17 00:51 — admin

By J. N. Raina - Syndicate Features

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is dreaming a dream about Kashmir. He has a vision and a roadmap for the undivided state of Jammu and Kashmir. His announcement at the roundtable Conference in Srinagar, to set-up five ‘working groups’, aimed at peaceful and everlasting resolution of the contentious Kashmir tangle, has been acclaimed widely. Neither any breakthrough nor miracles were expected at the conference, because the Kashmir valley continues to remain a haven for militants. The atmosphere has still not been conducive, where people can breathe freely; and where people can be free from terror. But the steps he has taken are bound to galvanise secular and democratic forces on either side of the LoC, to bring peace.

30 LTTE cadres and six Navy personnel reported killed: Three LTTE divers seized

Sat, 2006-06-17 16:06 — admin

An undeclared protracted military campaign continues often on a piecemeal basis and in today clashes between Sri Lankan government forces and the LTTE were reported from Mannar in the land and sea after the Tigers attacked a police post and Navy camp. Sri Lanka's military said around 30 LTTE cadres were killed in a naval and land battle on the island's northwest coast, while three suspected rebel divers were seized on a beach near the capital Earlier the Police post at Pesalai and the Navy detachment came under LTTE attack from land and sea today around 6.55 a.m.


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