Monthly archive

By Farzana Shah-Asian Tribune correspondent in Pakistan

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will continue to maintain its optimum operational readiness to undertake all types of missions against all internal and external threats to ensure safety and security of the country said Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman. This was stated by the Air Chief while presiding over the Annual Safety review held here Saturday for 2008. It was attended by Principal Staff Officers, Regional Commanders and field officers. The Air Chief said, "Pakistan Air Force is capable to provide instant support to Pak army as and when directed by Government of Pakistan. To keep PAF at the highest state of Operational Readiness’ is my number one priority."

By Habib Siddiqui

Israel’s inherent racism has been vividly clear to anyone who had visited the Occupied Territories. As was noted in 2003 by The Foundation for Middle East Peace, a Washington-based institution that has been tracking Israeli settlement-building for decades, Israel's relentless increase in territorial control had "compromised not only the prospect for genuine Palestinian independence but also, in ways not seen in Israel’s 36-year occupation, the very sustainability of everyday Palestinian life."

By M Rama Rao - India Editor, Asian Tribune

Jayalalithaa Jayaram, the AIADMK supremo is the latest convert to the cause of ‘Separate Eelam’ for Sri Lanka Tamils. Vote the AIADMK Front if you want Eelam for Tamils in Lanka, she told election rallies in Western Tamil Nadu. In her address to meetings at Erode and Salem, her refrain was: we will strive for Eelam if we win all the 40 seats at stake in Tamilnadu and Puducherry. Ten days back when she kick started the AIADMK campaign, Jayalalithaa mainly focused on what she called as the failure of DMK, her arch rival, in securing the interests of Tamils in Sri Lanka. She did not sound very categorical on Eelam issue though in her alliance boasts of unabashed Eelam champion Vaiko and his MDMK.

The Tokyo Co-Chairs have urged Sri Lanka Government to offer amnesty to most Tamil Tigers. They have also asked Sri Lanka to devise a clear resettlement plan and to open the way for a political dialogue. According to Robert Wood, representatives of the Tokyo Co-Chairs (U.S., European Union, Norway and Japan) spoke on Wednesday, April 22 to discuss the humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka. Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher participated for the United States.

By Quintus Perera – Asian Tribune

The International Labour Organization (ILO) commencing on 21 April launched global celebrations on its 90th anniversary. In a statement released the message of Juan Somavia, Director General of the International Labour Office by the ILO Sri Lanka to coincide the celebration. In his message Mr Somavia has said that events around the world will bring together the ILO’s tripartite constituents —governments, workers and employers— and others who are mobilizing for decent work for all. These local dialogues will have global significance and impact.

Sri Lanka's minister of resettlement and disaster relief, Rishad Bathiudeen, met yesterday with former president Bill Clinton and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to request assistance for some 170,000 displaced civilians who have made their way out of areas held by Tamil rebels battling the Sri Lankan government. We want to resettle them immediately," Bathiudeen said in a telephone interview. "We want all the activities to treat them, to give them food and water."