‘Why Are You Firing Bullets At Us?’

Tanmarg, Sep 22 : When the all-party delegation on Tuesday decided to move out of the security cordons of Dal lake to hear out the people, it came face to face with the ‘reality’ of Kashmir.

While a 14-member group that included BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, CPM's Sitaram Yechury and CPI's Gurudas Dasgupta faced angry protests during their visit to the city's main hospital, an 11-member delegation comprising Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, top BJP leader Arun Jaitley and other leaders heard plainspeak at Tangmarg -- the Valley's famous holiday destination where five youths were killed and 85 others injured in police and CRPF firing during a mass protest recently.

At Ward 16 of SMHS hospital, where all 16 injured patients admitted in the hospital had assembled to interact with the delegation members, one of them shouted: "Give us freedom or kill us all."Outside, hundreds of attendants staged a protest.

The government then dropped the plan of taking the delegation to visit injured youths at Bones and Joints Hospital owing to the protests.

At Tangmarg, however, the situation was calmer when Chidambaram, Arun Jaitley and other leaders met a group of around 300 villagers brought together by local Independent legislator and Agriculture minister in Omar Abdullah government Ghulam Hassan Mir.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was with the delegation. Here too, the message wasn't any different.

Sensing that the programme could be orchestrated, as names of villagers were called out to speak on the dais, Chidambaram suddenly stood up, followed by others, and walked towards the villagers, turning it into a direct conversation.

A young Tariq Ahmad Lone from the crowd asked him: "If you call Kashmir an atoot ang (inalienable part) of India, then why are your people showering bullets on Kashmiris?... If you say Kashmir is atoot ang of India, then why are you putting your own ang (body part) into frying pan?" The Home Minister listened, so did other leaders.

This was followed by another question to Chidambaram. "I want to ask you, why are you firing bullets at us whenever there is a protest. Protests are always peaceful but unlike other states, you fire at us here. Why is it different in other states?" asked Yasir Mir, a student. Again, the Home Minister stood silent.

Then a question was posed to Arun Jaitley. An elderly man stood up and asked: "Jaitley sahib, I wanted to ask you as to why we are being labelled as Pakistanis... We are asking for our right. Our right is legitimate. We are your own, we are not strangers." Jaitley, too, stayed silent.

The all-party delegation had decided to reach out to the people at the close of the initial day of meetings with the mainstream political parties, trade, tourism and civil society groups besides talks with the three top Kashmiri separatist leaders.

Before leaving for Jammu on Tuesday afternoon, the delegation split into different groups to improvise on the set format and meet the "real people".

In the morning, Chidambaram along with Jaitley and other leaders flew to Gulmarg and then drove another 11-km to reach Tangmarg.

Though the visiting all-party delegation members didn't speak to the press, several top leaders said they were on the same page on the ground situation in the Valley. "There is an immediate need for a serious political intervention. The situation here is extremely precarious and any delay to address it will not work," a senior leader told The Indian Express.

The all-party delegation Wednesday concluded its three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir and flew back to New Delhi in a special plane from here, an official source said.

The team arrived in Jammu Tuesday after spending one and a half days in Srinagar.

The delegation's visit was necessitated by an unending cycle of stone throwing, clashes and killings. More than 100 people have been killed in the clashes since June 11. "We are going back to Delhi with a much better understanding of Kashmir."

Source: Indian Express

India Clears Joint Amphibious Exercise at US Base Near China

New Delhi, Sep 22 : A year after the Defence Ministry backed out of a military exercise at a US base near China at the last minute, a go-ahead has been given for a joint amphibious exercise at the US Marines base in Okinawa, Japan. The war game, which will involve senior officers of the Indian Navy and Army is scheduled to start later this week and will continue till October.

The same exercise, under the Habu Nag series of war games, was cancelled at the final stage in 2009 when 12 officers who had been earmarked were sent back to their formations days before they were scheduled to depart.

While no reason was given for the last minute pull-out, regional sensitivities were thought to be behind the move. Okinawa is located close to China and has a significant US presence where several military bases are concentrated.

The island has also been in the news recently for frequent spotting of Chinese naval vessels, including submarines by Japanese self-defence forces. A Japanese white paper on defence has also raised a red flag over the increasing operations by the Chinese Navy near the Okinawa island.

India is sending a 14-member delegation for the Habu Nag exercise that will consist of officers from the Indian Navy and Army. The exercise has been described as "very unique" by a US government official who said that there aren't many marine forces across the world that carry out such operations.

This also brings out the increasing military exercises that are being carried out by Indian forces with their US counterparts. A US official said that India is conducting more exercises with American forces than any other nation in the world. While a brigade-level exercise will take place in Alaska next month where 200 army personnel are expected to participate, a special forces exercise is already under way at Belgaum.

However, military relations with China have chilled after the recent denial of a visa to Northern Army Commander Lt Gen BS Jaswal who was to lead a military delegation to Beijing on the grounds that he commanded troops in a "disputed area". Sources say that it is too soon to comment on whether a joint exercise with the Chinese army scheduled for next year will go ahead following this.

Source: Indian Express

Burmese Traders Seek Peace in Troubled Manipur

By Khelen Thockchom

Myanmarese women walk past the police station in Tamu on Tuesday.

Tamu (Myanmar), Sep 22 : Myanmar’s traders and officials at Tamu town are seeking an improvement in Manipur’s law and order situation so that border trade with India could be enhanced.

“So far the border trade between India and our country is going on smoothly. But we are hoping that the security problem on your side of the border will improve further so we can enhance trading activities,” Hla Maung, the chairman of the Union of Myanmarese Border Trade Chamber of Commerce, said.

Goods are transported through Tamu of Myanmar and Chandel district of Manipur. Moreh and Myanmar’s Namphalong market, just across the border, are the main trade hubs. Frequent bandhs at Moreh and blockades along the Imphal-Moreh stretch of National Highway 39 regularly affect border trade at both trade centres.

“Yes, the law and order situation on the Indian side is a matter of concern. This affects our business because if no vehicles come to Moreh for a transport strike, Namphalong market also shuts down,” T. Win, a trader at Namphalong, said.

Moreh, a small township with a population of 30,000, faces problems because of the mixed population. Tamu, however, faces no such problem. A post each of Assam Rifles and Manipur Rifles operate in Moreh to assist the police in maintaining law and order.

Maung expressed the hope that the situation would improve. “India and Myanmar have good trade co-operation and we are hoping for enhanced business,” he said.

Myanmarese officials felt that a peaceful atmosphere on Manipur side of the border could promote tourism .

“We can also look towards tourism between India and other Asean countries. Tourism can ensure mutual benefit among the countries,” the Myanmar ambassador to India, U. Kyi Thein, said.

The Ibobi Singh government did not allow any citizens’ group or trade unions to meet the delegation or submit any memorandum to them, citing security reasons. The move left many fuming.

“We were not allowed to meet the delegation. If they are coming to improve border trade, why is the government not allowing us to meet the delegation? We wanted to brief them on the situation,” said R.K. Sanahal, a community leader of Moreh.

Officials in Moreh also felt that a business and tourism-friendly atmosphere should be created. “Tamu is better prepared than Moreh. We need better roads. Moreh needs immediate attention if we don’t want to make Moreh a speedbreaker on the Asian highway,” said Lunminthang Haokip, the additional deputy commissioner of Moreh.  

Brahmaputra Rising: Assam Schools Under Water

Guwahati, Sep 22 : As the Brahmaputra flows above the danger level in several areas across Assam, a large number of students have been out of their classes with schools going under water.

It's the eighth wave of flood in Assam and the water level of the Brahmaputra has been steadily rising.

Eighteen lakh people have been affected across the state. Homes have been destroyed, lakhs of hectares of agricultural land has gone which will lead to unemployment. But something which perhaps no one has noticed are schools.

Twenty schools across the state are inundated which means the students have been out of their classes for the last three months.

Not just schools, all educational institutions in the flood affected areas have shut down.
Bikram and his friends studying in Class XII have already lost out on two months of classes.
"A little water and our college gets submerged. For months now our classes have been suspended," he says.

The rainfall has been adequate this year. So, the only cause for such extensive flood devastation are weak embankments in low lying areas.

Assam Asked to be Alert Ahead of Ayodhya Verdict

Guwahati, Sep 22 : The central government has cautioned Assam to be on maximum alert and warned of possible communal backlash in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title case by the Allahabad High Court scheduled for Friday.

An Assam government spokesperson said the central home ministry communique Tuesday called for extra vigil by security forces in the state in view of intelligence inputs about possibilities of communal clashes once the Ayodhya title verdict was pronounced.

The home ministry order has asked the Assam government to ensure that all police officials are on duty Friday - asking specifically to cancel leave of all senior civil and police officials and make sure they are asked to report for duty.

'The chief minister has specifically asked us to make sure that we are alert and coordinate with all officials and political parties to ensure peace and harmony in view of Friday's court verdict on the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case,' state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told journalists.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Tuesday told his cabinet colleagues to stay put in Assam for the next one week and monitor the situation.

'All the ministers have been advised by the chief minister to remain in their respective constituencies on Friday so that they could react in the event of any untoward incidents,' another senior minister said.

Assam witnessed a string of communal clashes soon after the Babri mosque was demolished in 1992.

Assam Students Unite in Protest Against Mega Dams

AASU, allies to sit-in in Guwahati

AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya addresses a news conference in Guwahati on Tuesday.

Guwahati, Sep 22 : The All Assam Students Union and 25 other student organizations today decided to launch a massive agitation in protest against the alleged failure of New Delhi and Dispur to prevent construction of the Lower Subansiri hydroelectric project.

A two-day meeting of the student organisations, which ended here today, resolved to fight in a united manner to pressurise both the Union and the state governments to stop construction of all mega dams for power generation.

The meeting was attended by Sadou Asam Tribal Sangha, All Bodo Students Union, All Rabha Students Union, All Missing Students Union, All Assam Moran Students Union, Karbi Students Union and NC Hills Indigenous Forum and other groups.

It also resolved to carry out a sustained movement on the issues of updating the National Register of Citizens, 1951, and protection of rights of the indigenous people in the state.

AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya said even after an expert committee found that the proposed mega dam would have adverse impacts on aquatic life, ecology and people living in the downstream, the Centre and Dispur were not doing anything to stop construction of the dam.

“The expert committee included experts from Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University and IIT Guwahati. The AASU demand must not be seen or interpreted as anti-development as it is based on a detailed scientific study carried out by the expert committee. Since the government is not doing anything, the student organisations have been left with no other option but to launch a peaceful democratic movement till their demands are met,” Bhattacharyya said.

The organisations will stage a sit-in in Guwahati on September 30. They will launch a gana satyagraha across the state in November.

The meeting also resolved to carry out a journey, Sanghyati Yatra, to get close to the people in the state and create awareness about issues like construction of mega dams and updating of the NRC.

US Keen to Help Northeast India Tap its Potential

Agartala, Sep 21 : The United States is willing to help northeast India utilise its potential and wants the region's capabilities to be harnessed for its economic development, a diplomatic official said here.

'Northeastern states of India have tremendous potentiality of natural and human resources. These capabilities must be utilised for the economic development of the backward region,' US Consul for Political and Economic Affairs Clinton S. Tad Brown told reporters.

He said: 'Primary responsibility to use US government's (assistance)...lies with the Indian and state government concerned.'

The Kolkata-based US diplomat, who is on a two-day tour to the northeastern region, addressed the National Institutes of Technology (NIT) in Agartala and Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI) University.

Brown said US ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer has been focusing on US investments and collaborations in northeast India.

'For example, the US-based General Electric (GE) would provide the all important turbine to the 726-MW thermal power project in southern Tripura,' he said, adding that such collaborations can be executed in many projects.

The state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's (ONGC) is now commissioning first major commercial gas based power project in south Tripura's Palatana, about 65-km south of capital city Agartala. The plant is expected to be operational by March 2012.

'The US government is strongly hopeful that India-Bangladesh economic and trade integration would help each other for further enlargement of business in many areas.

'Use of Chittagong international port and establishment of new rail link between the two neighbours would boost the trade and economic activities and increase people to people contact,' said Brown and added: 'This part of India can deliver many things to the rest of the country and world.'

He said that during US President Barack Obama's visit to India in November, New Delhi and Washington would discuss utilising traditional and renewable energy and climate change among other vital issues.

He added: 'Greener technologies are the future of the world as it can be seen from the present climatic scenario. Scientists and engineers should come up with better options of clean technologies since this is what is very essential for the entire world.'

Banned 'Savita Bhabhi' Travels to Goa, Govt Throws a Fit!

Panaji, Sep 21 : India's biggest and outrageous toon porn star Savita Bhabhi has set foot in the sands of Goa - of course, in cyber space. And the state government is not too happy. Already banned by the Indian government, the website showcases the adventures of the seductive, sari-clad Savita, who is the face of Indian graphic porn art.

The latest edition of 'Savita Bhabhi - The sexual adventures of a Hot Indian Bhabhi' has the much-married protagonist visiting a Goa resort with her female friends and ending up in a series of sexual encounters with resort owners, masseurs and sundry.

Already uneasy with the 'sleaze capital of India' tag, the state tourism department has not taken 29-year-old Savita Bhabhi's foray into Goa too graciously.

"We will have to go after these sites. I was not aware of this thing, but rest assured we will examine legal options to go after people who are behind this particular website," Nikhil Desai, managing director of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), told IANS.

"These sites are illegal and are the handiwork of unscrupulous perverts and criminals who are out to make a quick buck. They have nefarious designs," said Desai, who is currently engaged in ensuring that Goa puts its best foot forward for the International Tourism Mart it is hosting next month.

After its original domain was banned by the Indian government for promoting pornography, the toon porn star has now switched to a more inconspicuous address.

The website describes Savita (Patel) Bhabhi as a "regular Indian woman in the eyes of the world, but only a few lucky people know who she really is. She is a woman who finds the need to explore her sexuality and enjoy the moment. Trapped in a loveless marriage, she is always open to new sexual experiences. This series follows her various sexual exploits and fantasies".

The two-part series of Savita Bhabhi's Goa adventures is available on its new website for a price and carries a provocative strap line 'Beautiful beaches, sexy swimsuits, one hot bhabhi'.

According to Desai, such vulgar projection of Goa by the toon porn site won't dent Goa's image much.

"People who visit these sites are perverts. There will be perverts in this world. I think people who really want to go on a clean holiday will not go by the impression of Goa created on these websites," Desai said, adding that tourists would go to proper websites for genuine information on Goa.

Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) Atmaram Deshpande said a cyber cell was being created in the state police force just to go after such websites.

"We are keeping track of such websites. But most of these websites are registered abroad and are being operated from there," said Deshpande.

The website, which hosts the pictorial adventures of the bhabhi, is operated from an IP address based in Brooklyn, US.

According to the police spokesperson, such websites try to cash in on 'Brand Goa', which helps gather eyeballs.

"Those behind such websites that promote escort services and pornography know the value of Goa. They are using Goa as a brand, while the real operations happen from elsewhere," Deshpande said.