Howrah News Service - Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World

No change in Nepal Maoists' status for now: US

Wed, 07 May 2008 02:12:00 -0400

Washington, May 7 (IANS) The United States says there is no change in the status of Nepal's Maoist party even as the once underground party is poised to lead the new government after its victory in the elections last month.

"I don't think there's any change - there's no change in their status," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters Tuesday when asked if the Communist Party of Nepal Maoist (CPN-Maoist) would now be removed from the terrorist list.

Asked if this meant that the party would remain on Washington's list of terrorist organisations, he said: "Well, there's a particular listing, and I don't have in front of me exactly what it is. But there's not - at this point, there's no change in their status."

McCormack offered no comment on a meeting May 1 between US Ambassador to Nepal Nancy Powell and Maoist chief Prachanda in the first formal US contact with a party it still considers as a terrorist organisation.

Though the US accepted the April poll verdict that favoured the Maoists, Washington remains doubtful about the former guerrillas.

However, a senior US official did indicate last week that Washington would seek "legitimate reconciliation and reintegration politically" in Nepal after the Maoists' election victory.

"In any terrorist organisation or any terrorist situation, if there is a way for reconciliation legally and lawfully through the political system, obviously, we prefer that," Dell L. Dailey, coordinator of the Office for Counter-terrorism said.

"And there are places where that's taking place already," he said briefing reporters on the State Department's annual terrorism report. "It is taking place in Nepal, although it's had some ups and downs."

"But we prefer a legitimate reconciliation and reintegration politically long before we go after and try and do a coordinated, integrated, with host nation military action," he said when asked how the US planned to deal with the new situation in Nepal.

Dailey's remarks were the first indication of a US rethink of its Nepal policy following the Maoists' election victory. Other officials too have hinted at the possibility of a review, but have declined to spell it out in so many words.

Washington still regards the CPN-Maoist as a terrorist group although the group formally laid down weapons in 2006 and joined Nepal's interim coalition government last year. Officials have pointed to "legal hurdles" in taking the Maoists off the list of designated Foreign Terrorist Organisations.

After the Maoist victory, the State Department chose to merely congratulate "the people of Nepal on their historic Constituent Assembly election" with no reference to the outcome.

The bland first reaction made no reference at all to the Maoist party, leave alone giving any indication of a rethink of the country's Nepal policy, which has for long considered preventing a Maoist takeover a key to achieving US regional goals.

The new terrorism report acknowledged Nepal experienced no significant acts of international terrorism in 2007, but said "several incidents of domestic terrorism and politically-motivated violence occurred in urban areas and in the Terai."

The report alleged "Despite ending their ten-year insurgency by signing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in November 2006, and entering into the interim government in April 2007, the Maoists, the only US-designated terrorist organization in Nepal, continued to engage in violence, extortion, and abductions."

Three Indians among top 100 shortlisted world intellectuals

Wed, 07 May 2008 02:09:00 -0400

New York: Three Indians are among 100 names shortlisted by a reputed US foreign policy magazine of the world's top 100 public intellectuals. The magazine has asked readers to vote in their favourites to finally pick the top 20.

Indians in the list published in the May-June issue of Foreign Policy magazine are historian Ramachandra Guha, political psychologist Ashis Nandy and environmentalist Sunita Narain.

Also listed are four Indian Americans - development economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, novelist Salman Rushdie, journalist and author Fareed Zakaria and neurosurgeon V S Ramachandran.

Nobel Laureate micro financier from Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus and Pakistan's lawyer-politician Aitzaz Ahsan too are among the thinkers who, according to the Washington-based magazine, are "shaping the tenor of our times".

In defining the criteria for its selection, the magazine said the candidates, "among the world's most sophisticated thinkers... have shown distinction in their particular field as well as an ability to influence wider debate, often far beyond the borders of their own country".

The magazine goes on to task online readers to choose who should receive top honours by voting for the world's top five public intellectuals. Based on the votes, it will publish the list of the top 20 public intellectuals in its July-August issue. (IANS)

CID probe ordered into stripping of women at Nandigram

Tue, 06 May 2008 16:59:00 -0400

The West Bengal government on Tuesday ordered a CID probe into the alleged stripping of three women supporters of the Trinamool Congress-backed Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) in Nandigram.

"Though no official complaint has been lodged as yet, the CID inquiry has been ordered on the basis of media reports and political reaction to the alleged stripping at Nandigram yesterday," IGP (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia told reporters.

Special IGP (CID) Sanjoy Mukherjee has reached Nandigram for the probe, he said.

To a question, Kanojia said the situation at Nandigram, rocked by fresh violence prior to the panchayat polls, was 'under control' with no incident reported during the day.

The IGP said deployment of additional forces, including CRPF and state police, had started at Nandigram to restore order and peace.

He said all existing CRPF camps at Nandigram were being strengthened.

"Till the election is over, one officer of IPS rank will be posted at Nandigram to monitor the situation," he said.

Biman Bose rues Congress' demand of poll suspension in Nandigram

Tue, 06 May 2008 16:55:00 -0400

Ranaghat: Left Front chairman and CPI (M) state secretary Biman Bose flayed Congress demand of suspension of panchayet poll in Nandigram on Tuesday. His reaction came in the wake of Congress leader Priyaranjan Dasmunsi's demand, which he made during a press conference in Kolkata on Tuesday.

Virtually making a counter attack against Congress while speaking at an election rally in Ranaghat on Tuesday evening Bose said, “Why they do not raise similar demand for suspension of poll in Bandwan and Balarampur in Purulia or in Bankura and Birbhum where the so called Maoist have been killing our party leaders almost on regular basis.”

He also claimed that “those killers are actually our political opponents like Trinamul or Congress who in disguise of so-called Maoists are killing our party activists and probably for which they are silent to raise such poll suspension demand in those place.”

Bose alleged that state Congress leadership is just making fun of the incidents. “I am really surprised that how they could raise such an illogical demand?”. He said that the Congress has now become similar to “two-headed snake” (Do-Mookhi saap), one speaks for themselves while the other for Trinamul Congress.”

Bose also virtually ruled out any fresh violence in Nandigram and said there has been an unnecessary hue and cry being made. “What has happened there in last two days in simple term is a organized resistance by our party cadres against unleashing of terror some outsiders”, he claimed on the recent development in Nandigram

Meanwhile, speaking to media persons after the rally, Bose ruled out any possibility of talks with the Maoists in the state even after chief minister expressed his eagerness to talk with Nepal?s Maoist supreme Prachanda. He said: “ Prachanda had asked the Maoist in WB should learn from us first.”

Poll offenders to be on website

Tue, 06 May 2008 16:47:14 -0400

By Bala Chauhan

Bangalore, May 6: Karnataka has taken the lead in creating an official website on election policing with all the details on the number of offences committed district-wise and other useful information on the elections.

The acting director and inspector general of police and chairman, State Police Housing Corporation, Mr R. Srikumar, on Tuesday launched an official website pertaining to security arrangements and other enforcement related issues regarding the forthcoming Assembly elections.

The website, www.kspelections.com, has all the details people would like to know regarding "behind-the-scenes" activities; there’s a district-wise update on the number of criminal cases booked for violating the model code of conduct, Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, Excise Act, Representation of People Act, cash and property seized.

"The idea of having a website is to make the entire election-related policing process transparent and developing a communication link with the people. They should know what is happening in the state and the role of the police in making the elections fair and free from any corrupt practices. We update information on a daily basis, and also invite information from the people. There’s a section in the website in which people can file poll-related complaints. These will be confidential and accessible only to the designated police officer," said Mr Srikumar.

People can also read briefs of some important poll-related cases on the website. "We have compiled rules and regulations related to elections and a daily bulletin for breaking news," he added. Besides the website, the state police has also introduced sophisticated intra-departmental communication system to make the elections a model for the rest of the country.

"For instance, there’s a facility to lodge complaints regarding abusive, inducement and threatening short messaging services (SMS) related to elections. This information can be passed on through a phone call or fax, email or SMS directly addressed to the director-general and inspector-general of police," he said.

Advani campaign lacklustre

Tue, 06 May 2008 16:48:14 -0400

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore, May 6: In a sign that the BJP’s leaders may not be having the kind of impact that they had hoped for, the 20,000 strong crowd at the National College grounds in Bangalore melted away soon after Mr L.K. Advani arrived to make his election pitch for votes. Mr Advani, who was 45 minutes late, lacked the fire and brimstone that is his wont. Indeed, the two speakers who spoke before him, Mr Venkaiah Naidu and Mr Ananth Kumar, were equally desultory.

Mr Advani’s lacklustre speech notwithstanding, the remaining core of BJP supporters cheered his every sally against the Congress, including his tall claim that the IT revolution that transformed Bangalore was courtesy the BJP. Mr Advani on Tuesday said that the full potential of the software industry can be realised only if a good municipal administration is in place in the city.

Mr Advani stressed that making the BJP the single largest party was not enough and what was needed was a clear mandate so that the party could rule on its own. In the 2004 polls, the BJP became the largest party but had to give way to a Congress-JD(S) coalition.

Using the Twenty20 cricket format as a metaphor, he said: "The JD(S), after winning the toss to play the first 20 overs, continued to play another 20 overs, preventing the other team from batting. The Congress’ inability to project a leader in advance was like naming the captain of the team after the innings was over."

Kashmir meet calls for ‘truth commission’

Tue, 06 May 2008 16:46:44 -0400

By Palash Kumar

New Delhi, May 6: An intra-Kashmir conference, which concluded in New Delhi on Tuesday, called for the setting up of a "truth and reconciliation" commission for the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir, including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the Northern Areas.

The conference, attended by 38 leaders from across Kashmir and PoK, said the proposed commission should be on the lines of the one set up at the behest of South Africa’s anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela at the end of apartheid in 1995.

That commission, whose hearings went on for years, recorded testimonies of anybody who felt wronged as well as confessions of the alleged offenders. It worked as a forum to put on record atrocities committed during the apartheid regime, but did not issue any punitive orders. It, however, helped South Africa in its transition to a democracy.

"The group strongly recommended constitution of a truth and reconciliation commission for all of Jammu and Kashmir so as to address grievances, both expressed and unexpressed, in an open atmosphere of acceptance," a statement issued at the end of the three-day conference said.

The commission will go into alleged atrocities committed by the Indian Army in Kashmir and the surrendered militants or Ikhwanis, who have been armed by Indian security forces to fight militancy in Kashmir, one of the participants told this newspaper. It will also put on record acts of violence committed by militants against innocent civilians in Kashmir.

Key leaders who participated in the conference — organised by Sushobha Barve of the New Delhi-based Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation — included Mr Amir Fida Paracha, a former Pakistan MP and a nominee of Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. Gilgit and Balwaristan was represented by the president of the region’s national alliance, Mr Inayatullah Khan Shimali, PoK by Mr Abdul Majeed Mallick and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, the JKLF’s Yasin Malik and the NC’s Shaheen represented Kashmir.

A detailed report on the deliberations of the meeting will be given to both the Indian and Pakistani government ahead of the May 21 visit to Islamabad by external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee.

According to a home ministry official, India, too, is mulling on the idea of a truth commission to "win the hearts and minds of the people of Kashmir", but wants Pakistan to take a similar step for it to be meaningful.

Apart from the demand for a truth commission, another key demand of the participants is to "institutionalise" dialogue between India and Kashmiri leaders, Barve told this newspaper.

"After all, you have appointed an official (former home secretary K. Padmanabhaiah) to hold talks with the Naga rebels, then why not with Kashmiris?" Barve said.

"This is one of our main demands: to create a mechanism to institutionalise the dialogue process so that we don’t have to wait for a year or for a new government to come to power for a forward movement to take place. There has to be a special cell to monitor these talks closely."

The conference, which was the tenth in the past few years — though with the exception of a couple, all other meetings have been strictly "closed-door" — also called for dialogue between leaders of the divided parts of Kashmir as well as the militants.

Nirmala’s ashes are immersed in J&K

Tue, 06 May 2008 16:46:01 -0400

By Our Special Correspondent

Srinagar, May 6: Amid snowfall and a heavy downpour, eminent Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande’s ashes were on Tuesday immersed in the Sita spring deep in the Kashmir Himalayas by her disciples, joined by a large number of local residents.

The veteran Gandhian is the third prominent Indian whose mortal remains were taken to the spring surrounded by fir-clad hills at Sita Haran, at an altitude of 2,659 meters. The place falls in the Khag-Poonch range of Jammu and Kashmir’s central district of Budgam. The other two were Acharya Vinoba Bhave and Indira Gandhi.

Ms Deshpande’s death last week was widely mourned in Jammu and Kashmir, to which she had paid frequent visits in her efforts to bring about peace in the state. An all-religion prayer meeting with representatives from different faiths was also held before a part of her mortal remains was immersed in the spring.

Older people present there recalled how she had visited the area way back in 1949 in the company of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, and had been deeply touched by its spiritual and scenic beauty.

JKLF ‘founders’ say have dissolved outfit

Tue, 06 May 2008 16:46:24 -0400

By Our Special Correspondent

Srinagar, May 6: A group of Kashmiri activists based in Britain and Pakistan, which claims to be the founders of the pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), said on Tuesday that they have dissolved the outfit and that a new party with a secular outlook will replace it soon. The substitute, they said, will speak for all people of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the LoC.

But in Srinagar, all JKLF factions ridiculed the announcement and said that these activists have no constitutional authority or moral right to dissolve the outfit. Nevertheless, the divergence shows that the bickering among JKLF stalwarts had reached the point of no return. A statement received here said that senior and founding members of the JKLF decided to dissolve the party "because some top party leaders have betrayed the ideology and have used the party to advance their personal interests and interest of secret agencies". The decision was taken at a "crucial" meeting in Birmingham attended by JKLF founding members, including Shabir Choudhry, Abbas Butt, Zubair Ansari, Nazam Bhatti, Sarwar Hussain, Ahesan Ansari, Masoom Ansari, Nazakat Bhatti, Riasat Bhatti, Asim Mirza and Nawaz Majid, it added.

"JKLF is split in many groups because of the egocentric and selfish attitude of its top leaders and people of Jammu and Kashmir are confused as to which group is genuine and which is advancing the cause of our occupiers," it claimed.

Udit Raj dares Maya to enact Periyar law

Tue, 06 May 2008 16:39:18 -0400

By OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Lucknow, May 6: The Indian Justice Party president, Dr Udit Raj, has challenged UP chief minister Mayawati to enact a law banning the installation of statues and posters of Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy Naickar in Uttar Pradesh.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Dr Raj said that Ms Mayawati was trying to keep her Brahmin voters in good humour till the Lok Sabha elections by prevent installation of Periyar statues in the state.

"This is a betrayal of sorts for the dalits because the BSP president had promised to set up Periyar statues whenever she formed a majority government in UP," he recalled.

He further said that because of this dual policy of the BSP in UP, dalits were being divided and psychologically pressured by other castes. "This is the sole factor responsible for UP having recorded the maximum number of cases related to dalit atrocities," he felt.

Dr Raj was beaten up along with his supporters by the UP police in April when he tried to put up Periyar hoardings.

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Service chiefs meet officials on pay hike

By OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi, May 6: India’s three service chiefs met a committee of secretaries on Tuesday that had been earlier set up by the government to examine the grievances of the armed forces who have been unhappy with the recommendations made by the Sixth Pay Commission. The committee of secretaries comprises the defence secretary, the home secretary, the finance secretary and the Cabinet secretary.

The meeting took place on Tuesday afternoon but officials at South Block were tight-lipped about what transpired at the meeting. "The Army, IAF and Navy chiefs were scheduled to brief the committee of secretaries about the need for better pay packages for India’s armed forces. Let us hope that the proposed pay packages are hiked since there is discontent among officers and soldiers over the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission," said an Army source but added that he had no further details about Tuesday’s meeting.

The meeting was to be held on Monday but was postponed to Tuesday.