6 Friday 7th March, 2008 Medvedev presidency likely to boost Bhutto's party to China-Russia ties BEIJING (AP) - China's ambassador to Moscow has showered fulsome praise on newly elected Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, calling him a friend and highlighting energy-hungry China's hopes for faster growth in economic ties. name candidate Medvedev's victory was a "boost to China-Russia ties and will certainly take bilateral ties to an even higher level," the China Daily newspaper said Thursday, citing Ambassador Liu Guchang. "Since Medvedev participated in for prime minister drafting and developing (former presi- Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, embraces Ecuador's become a purely civilian presi- dent Vladimir) Putin's policies, he is President Rafael Correa during a press conference at the Miraflores dent, is expected to convene par- expected to continue following his pre- Presidential Palace in Caracas, Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Chavez liament later this month and decessor's policy on China," Liu was called a Colombian raid that killed two dozen rebels in Ecuador a invite the People's Party to form a quoted as saying. "war crime," and joined Ecuador's president in demanding interna- government. tional condemnation of the cross-bborder attack. (AP) The party has said it will gov- ern in coalition with supporters Controversial...From page 1 of another former premier, said that bedrock principles once Chavez, Correa call for Nawaz Sharif, and smaller groups and set about trimming the taken for granted -- including the pro- condemnation of Colombia's sweeping powers accumulated by hibition against torture -- have been Musharraf in eight years of mili- eroded, and that what she considers tary rule. Washington's excesses have undercut cross-border raid The government is likely to try her efforts to crusade for human CARACAS, Venezuela ease tensions, but stopped to remove the presidential power rights, particularly in places where (AP) - Venezuelan President short of explicitly condemn- to fire the prime minister and dis- political repression is greatest. Hugo Chavez on Wednesday ing the assault. solve the assemblies and perhaps Human rights advocates largely called a Colombian raid that The United States was abolish the National Security killed two dozen rebels in the only OAS nation offering Council, which gave the military praised Arbour, a former Canadian Ecuador a "war crime," and Colombia unqualified sup- a formal say in security policy. Supreme Court justice, as a tough, joined Ecuador's president port. However, Bhutto's party has principled lawyer who has offered the in demanding international "We are using all the yet to spell out how it will reverse United Nations' most forceful critique condemnation of the cross- peaceful and diplomatic Musharraf's crackdown on the of the United States' use of harsh media and the judiciary last year border attack. channels available for the interrogation techniques and the In a bid to ease the diplo- international community to as he battled to safeguard his own transfer of suspects to countries matic crisis, the condemn the aggressor," rule. Organization of American Ecuador's president said. The most ticklish issue is where they stand a chance of being States approved a resolution "We've cut relations with whether to restore Supreme tortured. They note that she has done earlier Wednesday that a government that can't be Court judges purged after more to expand the presence of U.N. called the Colombian mili- believed, a treacherous gov- Musharraf declared emergency rights monitors around the world, tary raid a violation of ernment," Correa said. "We rule in November. The court was making reports on abuses from about to rule on the legality of Ecuadorean sovereignty. But can't have relations ... with Baghdad to Katmandu routine, President Rafael Correa said that sort of government." his re-election as president the reports said. the resolution was not Colombia accused both month before. enough. Chavez and Correa of hav- In an interview with Dawn But she has also been a lightning rod "The OAS resolution ing deepening ties with the News television broadcast on for American conservatives, includ- pleases us. We are pleased, leftist rebels, and said that Wednesday, Fahim was evasive ing the former U.S. envoy to the but not satisfied," Correa was shown by documents about what he thought should United Nations, John R. Bolton, who said, standing beside Chavez found on a laptop seized at happen to Musharraf or the scolded her in 2005 for using Human judges. in Caracas. "This isn't going the bombed rebel camp. Rights Day to criticise U.S. anti-ter- to cool down until the President Alvaro Uribe, "Let the parliament debate rorism tactics instead of highlighting aggressor is condemned." whose decision to attack the each and every issue and let the The watered-down reso- rebels reflected his frustra- majority take a decision. This is rights abuses by countries such as lution approved by the OAS tion over the ability of guer- Chaudary Ahmed Mukhtar, center in glasses, leader of Pakistan's democracy," Fahim said. Burma, Cuba and Zimbabwe. Even in Washington declared the rillas to find refuge across People Party and candidate of Pakistan's premiership, goes through The United States and other supporters say she has trod lightly foreign backers hope the new gov- attack a violation of Colombia's borders in security gate to attend the party's parliamentary meeting in Islamabad, over abuses by some of the most pow- Ecuador's sovereignty and Venezuela and Ecuador, said ernment will prove a stable part- erful U.N. members, including China Pakistan on Thursday, March. 6, 2008. The party of slain opposition ner committed to preventing al- called for the OAS he would not mobilize and Russia, leaving the United Secretary-General Jose troops or allow his nation to leader Benazir Bhutto considered Thursday whether to nominate one of Qaida and the Taliban from Miguel Insulza to lead a del- be drawn into war with his her most loyal lieutenants as the new prime minister of Pakistan. (AP) mounting attacks in Afghanistan Nations increasingly silent on some of the world's most pressing human egation to both countries to neighbors. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) tancy and looming economic and the West. rights issues." - The party of slain opposition problems. In a move that could smooth leader Benazir Bhutto considered The newly elected lawmakers relations between Bhutto's party Needless to say her rumoured resig- Britney Spears' father retains control over whether to nominate one of her of the Pakistan People's Party and Musharraf, an anti-corrup- nation will be welcome news to most loyal lieutenants Thursday were to decide their nomination tion court on Wednesday quashed Washington and to human rights five graft charges against her as the new prime minister of to lead the government at a meet- abusers worldwide. There's one pop star's estate for another 5 months widower, Asif Ali Zardari, under Pakistan. ing in the residence of Bhutto's Canadian we can all be very proud of. LOS ANGELES (AP) - A until July 31. Parachini was- an order signed by Musharraf Bhutto's party finished first in widower in the capital, This country would do well with a lot court commissioner has n't immediately able to pro- Feb. 18 parliamentary elections, Islamabad. last year. granted Britney Spears' vide more information. in which opponents of President Makhdoom Amin Fahim, a The decision will dismay some more Arbours and a lot fewer like father control of the singer's James Spears was named Pervez Musharraf routed his longtime Bhutto aide from her Pakistanis who view their ruling Harper, Levant and Flanagan. estate for another five as a co-conservator of the political allies. home province of Sindh, is wide- elite as corrupt and incompetent. months. pop star's estate after she But many people have more The unpopular U.S.-backed ly deemed to be the front-runner, From page 1 Superior Court was hospitalized twice in president is resisting pressure to though several other party heavy- immediate concerns, such as Plea... spokesman Alan Parachini January. His temporary fast-rising prices and shortages resign, raising the risk of fresh weights are in the running. The sources asserted that their says Commissioner Reva authority to handle her of fuel and even flour to back political turmoil in Pakistan just Musharraf, who retired as allowance would be perhaps the low- Goetz on Wednesday extend- affairs was to expire March as it faces surging Islamic mili- army chief in November to bread. ed Jamie Spears' control 10. est paid to any category of workers. Even a sanitary labourer would be on a better payment scheme, the sources said. From page 1 Real ... From page 1 Rupavahini... Although the Education Ministry premier after its failure to meet at Thursday’s premier screening and offer Cinestar, Ever since a number of Piyal Ranjan and the latest had assured them permanent appoint- employees had come under his request. “What the hell are of Siri Raja Siri, produced by Anuradhapura to Rupasinghe. being injury Librarian Mrs. ments, after their plight was brought threats and attacks from time Ranjani Aluthge. you doing here?” Rupasinghe Renuka Balasuriya, at Savoy cin- Sources also said the politi- to the notice of President Mahinda had shouted as another ema. cian hadn’t been happy with the to time, the unions alleged. The unions warned that In a statement issued yes- any future incidents involving Rajapaksa in early March last year, no Corporation official arrived at Film Corporation sources decision and the reluctance of terday the unions said the corporation employees would action had been taken to keep that the cinema. He had threatened said Rupasinghe, Renuka the Cinestar management to silence of the Corporation lead to stern action. promise, the sources said. to throw out those who had Balasuriya and her director hus- screen Hatharadenama Surayo administration, the Media When contacted Director The affected teacher assistants are denied him the Wijendra cinema band Somaratne Dissanayake had worsened the problem. Minister and the President on General Sisira Kotalawela, attached to Colombo, Piliyandala, if they came for the premier had wanted to screen their The Film Corporation had the actions of Minister who was in Trincomalee, said Homagama and Jayawardenepura. show. movies at the Wijendra cinema. been forced to send a four-man Mervyn Silva had emboldened he knew about the picketing Sources said that the Education After seeing Dharmadasa Sources said Rupasinghe had team from Colombo to ensure him to target Rupavahini and none of the programmes Ministry had rejected the possibility and his wife emerging from reacted angrily after screening of the movie after workers. had been disrupted as a result. of absorbing them into the perma- their car, Sangadasa had rushed Dharmadasa in consultation Cinestar failed to collect the The unions also said that Unions said they had nent cadre on the basis of the there and persuaded them to go, with the Chief Legal Officer ‘movie box’ sent from Colombo while the real culprits were requested the personnel the sources said. decided to screen Renuka to the Anuradhapura Railway allowed to move freely, the required to maintain services Teachers’ Service Minute. This had been the hot topic Balasuriya’s movie at Wijendra Station. administration and the Media not participate in the picket. Their plight had been also brought Ministry were contemplating The Programmes to the notice of Reginald Cooray, action against the employees Producers’ Union, Technical Dallas Alahapperuma, Wimal with the help of the CID. Officers’ Union, Production Weerawansa, Lakshman They also cited the inci- Services Union, Jathika Nipunaarachchi, G. L. Peiris, Jeevan dents involving producer Lal Sevaka Union and the Sri Kumaratunga and Susil Premjayanth, Hemantha Mawalage, Duleep Lanka Rupavahini Employees’ but the issue hadn’t been resolved, the Dushantha of the media unit, Union were involved in yester- sources said. Deputy Director Camera News day’s picketing. UNP to launch ‘Uniting Country’ campaign on March 10 by Zacki Jabbar solicit the opinions of all Sri views will help formulate policies The UNP is to call for peoples Lankan’s, in drawing up a frame- acceptable to all Sri Lankans,” he views in formulating a framework work that can address national added. that can unite the country and issues meaningfully.” Meanwhile, the UNP is also also eradicate mismanagement, Ad hoc measures cannot seeking the views of all con- bribery and corruption. resolve the complex issues faced cerned persons and organizations Opposition and UNP leader by the country, he observed. on the feasibility of holding free Ranil Wickremesinghe told a Leader of the SLFP (M) and fair elections for the National Congress news confer- Mangala Samaraweera endorsing Batticaloa Municipal Council and ence at the parliamentary com- the move, said that a national nine other local bodies, in an envi- plex on Wednesday, that a cross framework was urgently required ronment dominated by govern- section of views are required to to get the country out of a mess ment backed armed groups. formulate policies that withstand the ‘Mahinda Chintana’ has creat- Asked if the UNP is calling for the test of time, establish good ed. a cancellation of the governance and also eradicate The Rajapaksa government polls,Wickremesinghe said that bribery and corruption. “In this has lost all direction and is merely any decision will be taken as a regard, a countrywide campaign marking time and feathering its group and not by the UNP alone. will be launched on March 10, to own nest.“Gathering divergent