SUBSCRIPTION

SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013 RAJAB 23, 1434 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Indian minister ‘Perfect poison’: Pakistan’s new Bayern seal draws flak over Ricin used in 3 MPs sworn in, treble with ‘Kuwait6 gaffe’ recent cases7 face13 many tests German20 Cup Hagel issues stern Max 41º Min 28º High Tide warning to Beijing 06:44 & 18:35 Low Tide 00:08 & 12:46 40 PAGES NO: 15827 150 FILS Growing threat of cyberattacks worries US

SINGAPORE: Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel delivered a two-pronged message to Beijing - holding out hope for a slowly improving military relationship with the Asian giant while issuing a stern warning on cyberattacks coming from that country. But he was met with immedi- ate skepticism from the Chinese delegation in the audi- ence, who questioned America’s role in the Pacific. Speaking yesterday at a security conference in Singapore that he helped to form more than a decade ago, Hagel said: “The United States has expressed our concerns about the growing threat of cyber intrusions, some of which appear to be tied to the Chinese govern- ment and military.” While he is not the first US official to publicly blame China for computer-based attacks that steal data from US government and corporate networks, he delivered the rebuke in China’s backyard, with mem- bers of Beijing’s government in the audience. His comments triggered a wry response from Maj Gen Yao Yunzhu, director of the Center for China- America Defense Relations, at the People’s Liberation Army’s Academy of Military Science, who challenged him to better explain America’s intentions in its building up of the military across the region. “Thank you for men- tioning China several times,” she told Hagel, minutes after he concluded his remarks, and began taking ques- tions from the audience. As an audible murmur and some quiet chuckles rose from the crowd, she added that America’s new shift to the Pacific has been widely interpreted as an “attempt to counter China’s rising influence, and to offset the increasing military capabilities of the Chinese PLA. However, China is not convinced.” She asked Hagel how he can assure China that the increased military deploy- ments to the region are part of an effort to build a more positive relationship with Beijing. “That’s really the whole point behind closer military- to-military relationships,” Hagel responded. “We don’t want miscalculations and misunderstandings and misin- terpretations. And the only way you do that is you talk to each other.” He said the US welcomes a strong and emerging China that takes on responsibilities KUWAIT: Pigeons perch on a tree branches in Kuwait City. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Continued on Page 15 Erdogan defiant Iraq uncovers chemical weapon plot BAGHDAD: Iraq has captured a suspected Al- attack Iraqi Kurdish villages in the north. Five masks. They also displayed bottles of chemi- Qaeda cell that planned to produce chemical men were caught before they could manufac- cals and other lab equipment as well as as Turkey burns poisons such as mustard gas to attack Iraqi ture any gas or chemical weapons in remote controlled toy helicopters authorities forces and to ship overseas for attacks on makeshift factories in Baghdad and another said the men planned to use to disperse the ISTANBUL: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip “If this is about holding meetings, if Europe and the United States, the govern- province, Mohammed Al-Askari, a defense gas. Erdogan made a defiant call for an end to this is a social movement, where they ment said yesterday. The announcement was ministry spokesman told reporters. Bolstered by the Sunni Muslim rebellion the fiercest anti-government demonstra- gather 20, I will get up and gather made as investigators look into allegations “They got some programs from Al-Qaeda against Assad in Syria, Al-Qaeda in Iraq is tions in years yesterday, as thousands of 200,000 people. Where they gather over the use of sarin nerve gas in next-door outside Iraq, they were working ... to produce regaining ground and since the start of the protesters clashed with riot police in 100,000, I will bring together one million Syria where rebels and President Bashar Al- mustard gas ... and other gas,” he said. “There year has stepped up its campaign of attacks to Istanbul and Ankara for a second day. The from my party,” Erdogan said in a tele- Assad’s forces have blamed each other for are some confessions about organized cells to stoke sectarian conflict in Iraq. Western pow- unrest was triggered by government vised speech. “Every four years we hold using chemical weapons. smuggle them outside Iraq through a neigh- ers, including the United States and Britain, plans for a replica Ottoman-era barracks elections and this nation makes its choice During the height of the Iraq war, Al-Qaeda boring country in order to target Europe, say there is growing evidence of chemicals housing shops or apartments in Istanbul’s ... Those who have a problem with gov- in Iraq used chlorine gas in its explosives to America and different capitals.” Officials weapons use in the conflict in neighboring Taksim Square, long a venue for political ernment’s policies can express their opin- poison areas where their bombs detonated showed reporters three suspects dressed in Syria, where fighting has killed more than protest, but has widened into a broader ions within the framework of law and and Saddam Hussein used chemical gas to yellow jumpsuits with their heads covered by 80,000 people in two years. — Reuters show of defiance against Erdogan and his democracy,” he said. Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Police later pulled back from Gezi Park Party (AKP). in Taksim, where the demonstration start- Police fired teargas and water cannon ed peacefully on Monday with people Saudi, Egypt Arab Spring marks end down a major shopping street as crowds pitching tents in protest at trees being of protesters chanting “shoulder to shoul- torn up for the redevelopment. Waiters ink $1.6b deal of silence, submission der against fascism” and “government scurried out of luxury hotels lining the resign” marched towards Taksim, where square, on what should be a busy week- RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Egypt yesterday signed a 6 Drive for reform shifting to slow lane hundreds were injured in clashes on end for tourists in one of the world’s most billion riyal ($1.6 billion) agreement to link their elec- Friday. A police helicopter buzzed over- visited cities, ferrying lemons to protest- tricity grids, a project that will allow power trading DUBAI: On a recent blustery night, with tence for supposedly insulting the Amir, head as groups of mostly young men and ers, who squirted the juice in their eyes to between the two countries. Peak-time summer power a sandstorm kicking up, Kuwait’s own Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed A-Sabah. women, bandanas or surgical masks tied mitigate the effects of tear gas. “People consumption in Saudi Arabia falls between noon and Arab Spring was playing out on a quiet In previous times, that might have around their mouths, used Facebook and from different backgrounds are coming mid afternoon, when air conditioners are most inten- road of villas and tall palms. There a been the end of the affair. But 57-year-old Twitter on mobile phones to try to organ- together. sively used, while in Egypt peak time is after sunset. group of protesters gathered to recite a Al-Barrack’s supporters were determined Egypt’s Electricity Minister Ahmed Moustafa Emam ize and regroup in side streets. Continued on Page 15 speech - one after the other, word for to demonstrate that the Arab Spring said the linkage is expected to take 24-30 months to word - that accused Kuwait’s ruler, of stops for no one, and this week they won complete. “Egypt will pay for around 40 percent of the suppressing dissent. The speech had a partial victory when a court reversed cost while Saudi Arabia will pay for the remaining 60 been delivered last year by Musallam Al- the sentence and gave Barrack a chance percent,” Emam said after the signing ceremony in Barrack, then a parliament member, and to continue his principled dissent. Riyadh. “The Project will allow both countries to share had earned him a five-year prison sen- Continued on Page 15 power of up to 3,000 megawatts, and will achieve a return on investment of 13 percent for each country.” Power lines will be extended by around 1320 kms, 820 kms in Saudi Arabia and 480 kms in Egypt. The kingdom’s majority state-owned utility, Saudi Electricity Co (SEC), and Egypt’s state power company Egyptian Electric Holding Co will share the cost of a 20 km undersea cable. Emam said since peak hours in Egypt and Saudi Arabia fall at different times of the day, both countries will be able to divert resources as necessary to meet increased demand. He declined to give details on prices, saying tariff and commercial agreements have not yet been finalized. Emam said it would cost Egypt around 30 billion Egyptian pounds to generate an additional 3,000 megawatts itself. Saudi Transport, Water and Electricity Minister Abdullah bin Abdul- Rahman Al-Husayen said the project, when completed, will effectively lead to linking the power grids of 14 KUWAIT: In this file photo, Islamist, nationalist and liberal opposition groups Arab countries, including the six-member Gulf ISTANBUL: Smoke rises as Turkish protesters and riot policemen clash yesterday, march together in Kuwait City to protest the government’s amendment of the Cooperation Council. — Reuters during a protest against the demolition of Taksim Gezi Park in Istanbul. — AFP electoral law and to support a boycott on the country’s elections. — AP SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013 LOCAL

News 12,000 vehicles registered in brief

Abdally Earthquake illegally in Kuwait: Report KUWAIT: An earthquake measuring 3.8 degree on the Richter scale was recorded at the Abdally area on Thursday 10:37 pm. The epicenter of the earthquake More speed cameras to track violators was 18 kilometers inside the earth, 70 kilometers North of Kuwait City, the capital, 80 kilometers North By Nawara Fattahova East Al-Jahra City and 33 kilometer South West of Umm Qasr area in Iraq. The Chairman of the National KUWAIT: The tightening up of Net for Earthquakes at Kuwait Institute for Scientific checking procedures by the Research, Dr. Abdullah Al-Enazie, said that the earth- Ministry of Interior in different quake had nothing to do with oil related activities as sectors for over a month ago has it was far from the oil fields in that area. He said it resulted in the revelation of vari- was the first time that an earthquake struck these ous violations and the arrest of areas, as usually earthquakes happen in areas close to many violators. oil fields in Al-Rawdatain. He said that the earthquake One of such violations was felt by residents of North Abdally and its farms involved the illegal registrations and certain areas of Al-Jahra. However, it did not of about 12,000 vehicles (accord- cause any material damage and there were so far no ing to a local Arab daily), because reports about anyone suffering any damage. these registrations were made in the names of people employed as Surprise Interior check domestic workers, such as drivers, First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister servants, and cookers. According Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah is set to pay sur- to the nation’s traffic and immi- prise visits at a number of security departments in order to assess the quality of work and determine gration laws, these workers are employees at the Traffic requirements and conditions. installed in all areas across the six violators. “Besides the speed cam- response systems in place in catering to security con- not allowed to own vehicles. Department. These driving licenses were with- governorates. “Besides all the eras on traffic lights, there are cerns and the needs of the public, a local newspaper Theses illegal licenses were The investigations will lead to drawn. We are conducting checks new cameras installed over the monitoring cameras installed on reported yesterday. According to sources quoted in issued without being officially the naming of those who com- in different departments, includ- past few months that have the top of the light signals over the Al-Rai’s report, the step comes ahead of plans to recorded in the Traffic mitted these illegal acts,” Colonel ing technical checking, general recently begun operating, there those tall poles. These cameras change the ministry’s structure “by scrapping a num- Department. “After the confisca- Adel Al-Hashsh, PR and Moral registration, and others to reveal are also mobile speed cameras were originally monitoring the ber of departments, creating new ones, merging oth- tion of some vehicles whose Guidance Director of the Ministry violations or false licenses. It’s not operated by policemen in differ- traffic to control the light signal, ers and reshuffling sections within some depart- owners are not eligible to register of Interior told the Kuwait Times. an easy job as there are about a ent locations. These focus on the but now they also register differ- ments.” “These plans aim to trim the bloated ministry vehicles in their names, the inves- “Intensive inspections and traffic- million licenses in Kuwait,” he safety lines of the roads, in addi- ent violations including over- structure in accordance with certain requirements tigators are checking and verify- checking also led to the identifi- added. tion to registering speed and oth- speeding, jumping the red light, that include redirecting security officers to more ing the original files at the Traffic cation of hundreds of drivers who Speaking about speed cam- er violations,” he explained. crossing the safety lines, using active places such as police stations that suffer staff department. These illegal licenses had driving licenses that they eras, Al-Hashash advised drivers Furthermore, there are other tinted windows, using mobile shortage,” said sources who spoke on the condition of were most probably issued were not qualified to have, as to be more careful while driving, cameras that can lead to the phones during driving, and other anonymity. through payment of bribes to they don’t meet the necessary as such cameras have been imposition of indirect fines on violations,” stressed Al-Hashash. National labor Sources at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor revealed that ministry has planned to organize the labor market in Kuwait by recommending an increase in the percentage of Kuwaiti workers in all sectors and stepping up supervision to ensure that the plan is actually implemented and does not just remain on paper, with only the names of Kuwaiti citizens being listed in the files of business owners, while the actual work is done by expats, as has been common until now. The sources said the labor department has final- ized the strategy and sent it to Minister of Social Affairs Thekra Al-Rashidi, Undersecretary Abdelmohsen Al-Mutairi and Assistant Undersecretary Jamel Al-Dawsary. They added that the minister was likely to send the plan to the council of ministers soon, and that the strategy included forming a team that would prepare a database on labor movement and market requirements.

Youth project launched The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education launched here yesterday the sports for the youth project aimed at encouraging youngsters to seek sports activities after school hours. Ministry offi- cial Mona Al-Fraij told KUNA that the Ministries, in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and coopera- tive societies, will rent football pitches for the youth in order to allow them to practice their favorite sport. This project is aiming at combating obesity and other ills as well as spreading awareness on the benefit of sports, said the official.

KAC compensations should go to state treasury: Ministry KUWAIT: Compensation that Kuwait received in lieu of the destruction of its national carrier’s fleet during the 1990/91 Iraqi Invasion must be ploughed into the state’s treasury instead of going to the newly privatized Kuwait Airways, a senior government official told a local newspaper in a statement published yesterday. The Iraq Airways Company paid $500 million as per a KUWAIT: National Guard hosted a graduation ceremony for its foundation course officers. Military Education Commander Brig Adnanulaiman S Al-Saeed said that National settlement reached earlier this year to end the row with Guard is achieving quality in the training field. Al-Saeed congratulated the officers those who graduated and called upon them putto more efforts to raise fighting level its Kuwaiti counterpart over the subject which involved among cadres of the National Guard. an international court order settling the above pay- ment. But according to Minister of Communications Salem Al-Othaina, the general assembly of the Kuwait Airways Company can pursue the money that the state departments owed it for financing and allow the com- pensation to be added to the state’s funds. “During the early stages of the KAC transitioning into a shareholding company, the financing process was not clear,” Al-Othaina told Al-Jarida on Thursday. He added that the company faced two choices at the time: be funded by the IAC’s compensations, or by closing its final account statements for previous fiscal years which remained open since state departments failed to pay their dues to the KAC. Al-Othaina, who is also the state’s Minister of Housing Affairs, explained that law number 22/2012 regarding the KAC privatization did not include granti- ng the company the dues granted through court orders against the Iraqi Airways or the Republic of Iraq, or any other rights pertaining to Iraq. “The Kuwait Airways Company has now been established as an independent entity with a capital of KD250 million, and the Kuwait Investment Authority became the decision maker when it comes to financing it,” he said. — Al-Jarida

Corona virus to attack respiratory system KUWAIT: Dr Ghanim Al-Hujailan said that corona virus was one of the viruses that attacks the respiratory system and it was the responsibility of anyone afflicted by it to protect himself and those who were still safe. A person attacked by this virus should ensure that he or she uses a piece of cloth or a handkerchief while sneezing or coughing, and maintain a safe distance from other peo- ple. Similarly, other people should also maintain distance and ensure that they do not mix with an infected patient and regularly wash their hands, avoiding touching their nose and eyes at all times. Regarding those traveling during the Hajj season, he said so far there were no international recommendations, nor at the region level, but nevertheless advised Hajjis to observe necessary precautions. The doctor said in a majority of cases where the virus proved fatal, the patients were either elderly people or those with chronic diseases and poor immunity. The Corona virus is found usually in bats and the symp- toms mainly are belabored breathing and fever. SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013 LOCAL ‘Brotherhood’ cell not on Kuwait-UAE talks agenda UAE FM to arrive today KUWAIT: Minister of Foreign Affairs network connected with the Instead, the discussions, which projects in Kuwait, such as the of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Muslim Brotherhood, members of are set to conclude tomorrow Madinat Al-Hareer (Silk City) project, Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al- which were arrested in the UAE on (Monday), will focus on “activating and help Kuwait become a gateway Nahyan is scheduled to arrive in accusations of attempting a coup the signed agreements between for trade between the Gulf Kuwait today in order to take part and threatening the national secu- the two states” and “discussing the Cooperation Council countries and in the meetings of the joint higher rity. A number of Kuwaitis were possibility of developing economic Iraq. Minister Al-Nahyan is heading a committee formed by the two reportedly part of the network. and commercial cooperation that large UAE delegation that includes countries, a local daily reported “The two sides will avoid getting can fulfill the ambitions of people in officials from the Foreign Ministry, the yesterday. into details about the cell and the both countries”, the sources said. Chamber of Commerce and Industry, In the meantime, sources famil- suspects involved,” said the sources, They further explained that the the Emirates Businesswomen Council iar with the visit told Al-Rai that the who spoke on the condition of ambitions pertain to the UAE’s desire and various corporations and depart- meetings are unlikely to discuss a anonymity. to contribute to the development ments in the country. Burgan Bank opens new branch in Al-Qasr

KUWAIT: Burgan Bank has inaugurat- ed recently a new branch located in Al-Qasr District -Jahra Governorate, extending the bank’s offer of finan- cial services to residents of Jahra, and continued focus on client service. The branch is the 25th in Kuwait, and the 217th across the Burgan Bank Group extensive network of branches in the Middle East and North Africa (Kuwait - Jordan - Turkey - Algeria - Iraq - Tunisia - Lebanon). The branch was officially inaugu- rated by Jahra’s Governor, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Homoud Al-Jaber Al- Sabah as well as Burgan Bank’s Chairman, Majed Essa Al-Ajeel, along with senior executives of the bank’s management. The new branch is located in Al-Qasr - Jahra, Block 3, and will operate on Sunday’s to Thursdays from 8:30 am to 3.00 pm. 100,000 persons face travel ban in Kuwait KUWAIT: A 100,000 people of Kuwaiti and other nationali- ties were currently banned from leaving Kuwait due to court orders against them, a local newspaper reported yes- terday quoting official statistics as of last weekend. According to security sources who provided the num- bers to Al-Qabas, the list included 58,000 Kuwaitis and 42,000 expatriates hailing from 12 countries. This number has increased by 10,000 during the month of May alone, said the sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “Most common cases pertained to non-pay- ment of dues as per court orders, including cases in which the disputed amount was less than KD100,” they added. A person facing a travel ban for financial reason can have the ban automatically lifted after paying the amount at the airport, seaports or land border checkpoints, but only if there are no other court orders against them. A Ministry of Interior insider explained in the meantime that travel ban orders were being enforced as per regulations which were aimed at guaranteeing the rights of the credi- tors. A travel ban supported by a court order is only lifted by the Ministry of Justice through channels specifically assigned for this task, said a security source who explained why the Interior Ministry was not authorized to lift the ban in such a case. The Ministry of Interior’s assistant undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Immigration, Major General Sheikh Faisal Al-Nawaf, said there was no reason to stop issuing all kinds of visitor visas, but security and political considerations must not be ignored, particularly since the prevalent complex situation requires caution at all levels. Al-Nawaf said there was an intention that the ministry should not ask for good conduct testimonials and gather fingerprints of expat laborers. He said a study in this regard will soon be released as part of several studies to improve work at the immigration department. About the nationality and passports sector, he said he has received several applications from citizens wishing to register their foreign wives in their nationality files. He said it could be done now, according to certain rules and condi- tions. He said the department has started to prepare lists of citizens’ wives, who meet the conditions for naturalization, but the decision to naturalize them was a sovereign one and it was in the hands of the First Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud. Al-Nawaf denied that there were instructions to stop issuing article 17 passports to bedoons, but said there were certain conditions applicable, including that the applicant must figure in the 1965 census and should be unencumbered from any security restrictions.— Al-Jarida Study recommends new authorities, more auditing powers KUWAIT: The Finance Ministry should be tasked with settling financial disputes between state departments as well as end- ing the system of changing orders and inflating the projects’ worth, said a report released by a government team and pub- lished by Al-Qabas yesterday. The government team was set up with the purpose of sug- gesting solutions to check repeated financial violations noticed in annual State Audit Bureau reports about the per- formance of state departments. It came up with 19 recom- mendations as well as demands to amend 18 legislations and enforcing five new ones. Among the laws that the report rec- ommended for amendments was law number 40/1964 under which the State Audit Bureau itself was established. It said this amendment should increase the number of contract classifi- cations that required the bureau’s prior approval before being signed. A similar amendment was proposed to the law num- ber 37/1964 which pertained to public tenders. As per the rec- ommendation, there was need to increase the number of con- tracts that required approval from the Central Tenders Committee. The report called for establishing an independent authority for tax, an independent body for financial and administrative monitoring, and a decision to assign the Civil Service Commission to coordinate with the Central Agency for Information Technology to link it with databases of state departments such as the Public Institution for Social Security, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health. This link would help avoid spending money unlawfully by employees or citizens. — Al-Qabas

SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013 LOCAL Kuwait fully prepared against any potential threats: Official Risk of terror attacks in Kuwait remains high: US report

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s armed forces are pre- indicates that Kuwait “lacked legal pro- to boost airport security authorities’ 2010 on charges of espionage, terrorist continued monitoring and supervising pared against any potential terrorist visions that deal specifically with terror- ability to detect contraband items, plotting, and vandalism. The Court of charities, including enforcing the ban threats against the country, a senior mil- ism and terrorists’ financing, although including explosives and metals, with- Appeal’s verdicts are not final, and are on cash donations, except during itary official told a local newspaper a the government maintained its efforts out the need for human inspection, expected to be challenged at the Court Ramadan; implementing an enhanced day after a United States report sug- to counter terrorism and violent thus reducing the chance for human of Cassation (Supreme Court equiva- receipt system for Ramadan cash dona- gested that the risk of terrorist attacks extremism, notably through other legal error. However, the project announced lent), whose rulings are final. tions; and coordinating closely with the in the Gulf state remains high. “A top- statutes and official statements.” While it by the government to install retina Countering Terrorist Finance: Kuwait is a Ministry of Islamic Affairs to monitor level coordination mechanism between points out that “there were no signifi- scanning capabilities at ports of entry member of the Middle East North Africa and prosecute fraudulent charities. The the army, police force and National cant attacks attributed to terrorists or had not been implemented by year’s Financial Action Task Force, a Financial monitoring of foundations was not as Guard is in place in that regard, and the terrorist organizations in 2012,” it indi- end. Action Task Force-style regional body. comprehensive as it was for charities. security conditions at our borders are cates that “the risk of terrorist attacks in After the full implementation and Of particular note is the fact that Kuwait Despite these obstacles, competent very reassuring,” said the Ministry of Kuwait remained high.” distribution of smart civil ID cards to lacked comprehensive legislation that authorities continued efforts to combat Defense insider who spoke to Al-Anba “As in previous years, the Kuwaiti Kuwaiti citizens, the Public Authority for criminalizes terrorist financing. In June financial crimes. The Central Bank of on the condition of anonymity. Armed Forces, National Guard, and Civil Information started issuing the 2012, Kuwait was publicly identified by Kuwait engaged the International Meanwhile, a Ministry of Interior Ministry of Interior conducted a number new smart ID cards to expatriates. With the FATF as a jurisdiction with strategic Monetary Fund in a 12-month technical insider undermined the statements of exercises aimed at how to respond to electronic chips that save large volumes anti-money laundering/combating the assistance program aimed at addressing regarding Kuwait mentioned in the US terrorist attacks, including joint exercis- of data, including photographs and fin- financing of terrorism deficiencies, for weaknesses in Kuwait’s anti-money Department of State Country Report on es with regional and international part- gerprints, the new ID cards are meant to which it has developed an action plan laundering/terrorist finance regime, and Terrorism for 2012, saying that the risk ners,” the report reads in the overview of enable holders to travel freely within with the FATF to address these weak- reached out to other partners as well. of terrorist attacks was there in every Kuwait’s section under the Middle East the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nesses. Kuwait had a comprehensive Regional and International Cooperation: country around the world with varying and North Africa chapter. countries. Holders of the cards can also confiscation, freezing, and seizing On December 25, GCC heads of state risk levels “including the United States.” The following is the report in detail: use them for electronic signature. framework that applies to all offenses signed a collective security agreement “All security services in Kuwait are Legislation, Law Enforcement, and On May 28, Kuwait’s Court of Appeals under Kuwaiti criminal legislation. The to enable member states to respond working highly efficiently, especially Border Security: The Government of commuted the death sentences of three lack of specific legislation related to ter- quickly to, and take appropriate preven- with regards to detecting any suspi- Kuwait lacks a clear legal framework for defendants (two Iranians and a Kuwaiti), rorist finance precluded immediate tive measures, to confront potential cious movement, be it one involving a prosecuting terrorism-related crimes, convicted of belonging to an Iranian freezes, although cases prosecuted security threats. The pact stipulates full terror-related risk or anything that may often having to resort to other legal espionage cell, to life in prison. The under other elements of the criminal cooperation between the six member affect the national security,” said the statutes to try suspected terrorists, court also upheld the life imprisonment code were able to initiate freezing and states and delineates mutual responsi- source who also requested anonymity. which hampered enforcement efforts. sentence for the fourth defendant (a confiscation of assets. Kuwait lacked an bilities to preserve collective security He further credited it for enabling The government extended the appli- stateless man) and the acquittal of two effective monitoring framework for and stability. It also promotes security Kuwait to remain “terror-free for at least cation of the biometric fingerprinting other Iranians, but overturned the life transfers outside of the formal sector, coordination and information the past eight years,” and added that system to include all land and sea entry sentence imposed by a lower court and lacked explicit laws and regulations exchanges to help combat transnational security operations were conducted in points. The Interior Ministry announced against a Syrian defendant and acquit- requiring due diligence on customer and organized crime and terrorism. To coordination with security services in plans to start operation of the advanced ted him. The cell’s seven members (four data. be implemented, the 45-article treaty Gulf Cooperation Council countries. computer tomography x-ray monitor Iranians, a Kuwaiti, a Syrian, and a state- The Ministry of Social Affairs and must be approved by the GCC countries’ The US report released on Thursday system at Kuwait International Airport less man) were apprehended in May Labor and Ministry of Foreign Affairs parliaments and Shura councils.

Woman dies in huge Municipal elections to be held on July 6 KUWAIT: Chairman of the Higher also an applicable condition during the forgotten areas in the elections law so Elections Committee Judge Ahmad Al- National Assembly elections held last that more than 42,000 voters can exer- university blaze Ajeel said an Amiri Decree has been December. cise their franchise. They said such a issued to call for the Municipal Council He said elections will be conducted large number of people are not sup- By Hanan Al-Saadoun Shidadia University in an incident of 4,000 square meters and were elections in ten constituencies. according to the old system and votes posed to be excluded in a state that is which left an Asian expat woman under construction. Elections will be overseen by judges, will be counted manually. Despite the considered an example of true democ- KUWAIT: Firefighters from seven fire dead. The two buildings, the according to the law. He said the Committee’s demands for automated racy. They said there is no justification centers fought a huge blaze that Education College for Girls and the Farwaniya fire decree will be published on Sunday counting, the system has not been for not including the areas that are not engulfed two buildings at the Al- Arts College, were spread over an area Operations room received a report while elections will be held on July 6. approved yet. Meanwhile Alwatan mentioned in the Municipal Council’s at 1.49 am about a fire breaking out in Al-Ajeel said candidates’ registration newspaper said that several members law and such a move does not require a building in Farwaniya area. The will start on Monday, while the of the Municipal Council, in addition to much work, but rather needed a quick Farwaniya fire center along with Al- Committee will make sure the candi- several potential candidates, were decision before the call for elections. Ardiya and technical rescue team dates meet all the conditions including waiting for the call for elections to reg- This can happen anytime before June responded to the call immediately. that for good reputation, which was ister their candidacy and inclusion of 13, even if a special session is required. When they arrived at the site, they found that the fire was in an apart- ment at the second floor. Firemen formed two teams, one for rescue and the other for fighting fire. The blaze was brought under control, but an Asian expat woman who flung herself out of a second floor window, died in the mishap. One resident of the build- ing was suffocated due to smoke fumes and was treated at the site. Three firefighters suffered due to excessive heat from the blaze while they were fighting the flames and were sent to a hospital for treatment. Investigations were on to determine Fire-fighters battle the blaze at the Al-Shidadia University. the cause of the fire.

(Left) Smoke billows from the university building yesterday. (Right) Fire-fighters at the site in Farwaniya. Three women arrested on charges of prostitution

KUWAIT: Police arrested three women man in his twenties, was charged with campaign, police at eight checkpoints on Friday, a day after they arrived in attempted murder, possession of an unli- arrested 43 lawbreakers and fugitives, Kuwait on invitations to indulge in prosti- censed weapon, public shooting as well impounded 20 vehicles and detained tution. According to a security source as damaging public property. He was four stolen cars. A total of 98 traffic tick- with knowledge of the case, an opera- also held responsible for a patrol vehicle ets were issued during the campaign, tion to arrest the suspects went under- that suffered damage during a melee. He while 42 sharp edged weapons and way after Undersecretary Assistant for attacked the head of the Taima Police some batons were also seized. Criminal Security Affairs in the Interior Station, Major Ghunaim Al-Atl who led a Ministry, Major General Abdulhameed security team in response to reports Smuggling bid foiled Al-Awadhi, received information that about someone firing shots in public in Customs officials foiled an attempt to three Spanish prostitutes “who are Al-Oyoun. The man was among a group smuggle tons of ammunition rounds’ ranked high on international prostitution of people who reportedly fired celebra- casings at the Shwaikh Port on Friday. lists” have arrived in Kuwait. tory gun shots and performed danger- The officers decided to search a number Investigations revealed that the three ous stunts at the parking lot of a wed- of containers after their customs clear- were ‘hired’ online for a ten-day stay in ding hall in the area. Investigations were ance papers read ‘scrap steel’. They found Kuwait during which they were to on to arrest the remaining suspects. a large number of M16 rifle’s bullet cases, receive KD90,000 in total. The first prosti- as well as cases for tank and artillery tute was arrested after she was lured by Traffic campaign shells. An investigation was opened to an undercover officer who handed her Fifteen people were caught driving determine the people behind smuggling numbered currency notes. Later, the oth- without a license during a traffic cam- the casings. er two were also arrested. The source paign carried out on Thursday night in who spoke to Al-Rai on the condition of Hawally. The campaign included setting Bootlegger held anonymity indicated that the suspects up of several checkpoints in areas A bootlegger was arrested during an have visited Kuwait on previous occa- around the governorate, during which operation carried out on Friday in Jleeb sions also for the same purpose. dozens of citations were reportedly Al-Shuyoukh. The Asian man was pulled Investigations were on to identify those issued for violations ranging from reck- over in the area after he was identified as who had signed up for the prostitutes’ less driving and driving in the wrong being the main suspect in an ongoing services during their stay in Kuwait. lane. Five people were cited for illegal investigation into sale of alcohol. He was Man who stabbed racing. placed under arrest after 38 bottles of policeman arrested In the meantime, dozens of people homebrewed liquor were found in his Jahra detectives arrested a man on were arrested while 20 cars were car. The man admitted that the bottles Friday, a day after he stabbed a senior impounded during a security campaign were prepared for sale, and that he police officer trying to check those com- in Al-Abdaly which started at 10 pm brewed the drinks himself. He was mitting reckless activities during a wed- Thursday and ended at 1 am Friday. referred to the proper authorities to face ding in the area. The suspect, a Kuwaiti According to a source familiar with the charges. SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013 LOCAL India to seek solution to deportation issues Minister Ravi draws flak over ‘Kuwait gaffe’ By Sajeev K Peter Ravi drew sharp criticisms from people across India on Friday when he said he was not aware KUWAIT: A visiting Kerala minister said on Friday of the ‘Kuwait situation’. “The message was not that the state government will pile pressure on communicated to me,” he told journalists in an the Indian government to initiate talks with the obvious ‘diplomatic gaffe’ on Friday when his Kuwaiti authorities to find an early solution to attention was drawn to the issue of deported the problems pertaining to deportation of Indian workers. Indians following the campaign against illegal Kerala’s NORKA minister K C Joseph said on residents in the country. Friday that the Indian Embassy in Kuwait has not “I have realized that there is some confusion informed the Kerala government regarding the regarding the issue of deportation which needs Kuwaiti campaign which has been going on for to be sorted out,” said Thiruvanchoor the last two months. Radhakrishnan, Home Minister of Kerala state of “I will take up the matter with the Kerala Chief India, while addressing a media conference at Minister Oommen Chandy and Overseas the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Friday. Minister Vayalar Ravi so that they can raise the Zain Kuwait hosts The minister, who arrived in Kuwait on a brief issue with the Indian External Affairs minister visit, said that the Indian embassy officials will and the Prime Minister. Because, only through successful employee soon meet the Kuwait authorities in this regard. KUWAIT: Kerala minister Thiruvanchoor country-to-country discussion, the problems can The minister said he had discussions with the Radhakrishnan addresses a press conference be sorted out,” he said. Indian embassy officials including Vidhu P Nair, at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kuwait on Friday. Nasaruddin, a Trivandrum native, who was Leadership Boot Camp Acting Ambassador. He held meetings with among the deported from Kuwait, told journal- Indian community members here who have con- “Secondly, there is a growing concern regard- ists in Delhi on Friday that thousands of Indians KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommu- veyed their growing concerns to the minister ing the destination of the people being deport- are in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh deportation center, nications company in Kuwait, recently over the continuous crackdown. ed,” he said. The issue came to the fore on Friday waiting to be deported. According to him the held an employee leadership boot Vidhu P Nair told the Kuwait Times yesterday when 25 Keralites, deported among others from detained workers live a harrowing life in the camp; an intensive training program that that the embassy officials are expected to meet Kuwait, landed in Delhi airport. The stranded over-crowed cells. focused on the development of skills of the authorities over the next couple of days workers now seek help to reach their home- The Kuwait government launched the cam- employees in leadership positions. regarding the issue. He also informed that Indian towns in Kerala. paign two months ago to reduce the number of Zain’s human resources strategy aims Overseas Minister Vayalar Ravi and Kerala’s Non- “At the same time, legal residents here need expatriates by 100,000 every year over the next to build on and improve the skills of its resident Kerala Affairs Minister K C Joseph spoke to be retained and protected from harassment,” 10 years. employees, who stand as one of the to him over the phone on Friday to discuss the the minister said answering a specific question. Expatriates in Kuwait make up about two- company’s greatest assets. The Zain matter. The minister said in addition to the airfare, Rs thirds of the country’s population which is num- Leadership Boot Camp shed light on “The Indian embassy is entitled to get a list of 4,000 (approx KD 20) will also be given to each bering around 3.8 million. According to the sta- several important topics that are geared deportees from the authorities. At the moment person to meet his/her incidental expenses. tistics issued by the director general of immigra- to help employees develop their skills the authorities do not provide any information These arrangements have been made by the tion for 2012, there are around 93,000 illegal res- and be better equipped for senior roles as to how many Indians are detained and how department of NORKA, he informed. idents in Kuwait. Out of these, 38,000 are domes- within the organization. These topics many were deported,” Radhakrishnan said. Meanwhile, Overseas Affairs Minister Vayalar tic workers. included managing processes and results, problem solving and decision making, customer satisfaction, innova- tion, and results orientation. Bourisli, Zain Kuwait’s Human Resources For eight days, employees were Director said: “This is just one of the exposed to self-adaptability and many training programs we provide at accountability exercises, working Zain as part of our long-term commit- towards realizing their own potential ment to investing in our employees and through a ‘can do’ approach. The boot encouraging them to continually devel- camp was able to develop personal lead- op their skills. ership philosophies within the partici- Our Leadership Boot Camp was pants, helping them on their journey to developed to progress worthy employ- becoming better leaders, and mastering ees quickly, so they can inspire and skills in order to improve the company engage with others, and motivate their and accelerate their careers. Nawal teams to achieve greater results.”

EU delegation hails GCC SG Al-Zayani

The Head of the EU delegation in Riyadh, Ambassador Adam Kulach warmly con- gratulated GCC SG Al-Zayani on the occa- Gulf Bank hosts ‘Be the sion of the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Change’ team bonding activity and conveyed a message to the Secretary General with a view to the EU-GCC minis- KUWAIT: Gulf Bank recently launched terial meeting which will take place in a team bonding activity initiative Manama on 30 June 2013. entitled ‘Be the Change’ to honor its Ambassador Kulach underlined that new employees. The initiative aims to the EU and the GCC have been partners highlight the paradigm shift in the for over 25 years and successfully devel- Bank’s outlook towards banking and oped a multifaceted cooperation in both Ambassador Adam Kulach operating at a different level aimed at regional issues - cooperation in Yemen a customer centric approach to serv- with the countries of the Gulf through for instance has been exemplary - as well ing its customers. the GCC. The relationship between the EU as on a number of bilateral and sectoral The event included a number of issues. He also noted that there was and the GCC is governed by a activities that focused on teamwork ample room for improvement and he Cooperation Agreement signed in 1988 and bonding to achieve success in expressed hope that the EU-GCC ministe- as well as a Joint Action Program agreed the workplace. The activities were rial in Manama on the 30th of June will in 2010 and expiring this year, a new ver- based on experiential learning that record significant progress in this rela- sion of the Joint Action Program could engaged the participants and high- tionship. The EU-GCC ministerial meeting replace the current one and provide a is scheduled to take place on the 30th of framework document for EU-GCC rela- lighted the skill sets required for col- June in Manama under the co-chairman- tions in the years to come. laboration, team bonding and respect ship of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Both sides are committed to negotia- for self and others at the work place. Bahrain, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin tions towards a Free Trade Agreement. The event kicked off with a moti- Mohammed Al-Khalifa and the High The EU has also been committed to shar- vational talk by Salma Al-Hajjaj, Gulf Representative of the European Union for ing its experiences of advanced integra- Bank’s new General Manager of Foreign Affairs & Security Policy, tion with the GCC which has been under- Human Resources , which focused on Catherine Ashton. The European Union going a similar process inspired by that self worth, importance of self motiva- has a broad region to region relationship of the European Union. tion and developing the right attitude and drive for succeeding in life. Vikram Issar, Gulf Bank’s General Manager of Consumer Banking spoke Al-Haifi clarifies on to the new employees regarding how teamwork is vital to success in busi- ness and the opportunities for a treatment timings young workforce in Kuwait. In addi- tion, Carlos Ribeiro, Chief Financial 100% rise in customs duty on tobacco products Officer & General Manager- Finance & KUWAIT: Health Minister Dr Mohammad implement it in other government bodies Support and Mark Magnacca, Chief Al-Haifi said the decision to separate the also. He added that the issue of including a Marketing Officer at Gulf Bank attend- citizens and the expatriates in the outpa- reference to the harms that tobacco usage ed the event to interact with staff and tient clinics has been misunderstood in cer- can wreak on human beings in the school to support the initiative. tain quarters as if the expats were not to be curricula was being coordinated with the ‘Be the Change’ is one of the many examined. He said it was not true as expats Ministry of Education. initiatives organized by Gulf Bank as will be received at the emergency depart- Also, an attempt was on to support and part of its endeavor to create an agile ment round-the-clock. establish “Say No to Smoking” clinics in all and customer centric bank through He said the decision was merely an the health zones, apart from implementing staff engagement and a training & organizational move meant for outpatient a ministerial decision that banned smoking development strategy aimed at clinics only, which dealt on the basis of pri- in public places including restaurants, young workforce. The Bank firmly or appointments. One can take an appoint- hotels and cafes to curb the menace. believes that building talent through ment in the morning or the evening. The minister was speaking during a cer- working together in an inclusive envi- He said the decision to treat expats and emony to mark the International Day of ronment, and helping new staff to citizens during different hours was only fight against tobacco. He said the MoH had settle-in is imperative to the success meant to be implemented on a trial basis formulated a national program to fight of the Bank. for six months in the Jahra hospital. Only if noninfectious chronic diseases and was it proved successful would it be applied to pursuing it with significant interest within all other hospitals. He said the trial would the government’s working program. allow everyone to know their capacities He said the ministry was keen on exe- New 6-lane bridge to replace Amghara bridge and the needs of the clinics in the after- cuting decisions and recommendations of noon. the WHO as well as the political declaration KUWAIT: The Ministry of Public Works began comfort. Their well being and safety would be demolished and replaced with a new one at the Al-Haifi said the National Committee on issued by the United Nations in September demolishing the Amghara Bridge on the Sixth ensured in coordination with the traffic depart- same spot. He said the new bridge and the Fighting Smoking at the Ministry of Health 2011. He said the programs were aimed at Ring Road in order to construct a new six-lane ment. closed portion of the Sixth Ring Road as soon as had achieved a lot, most important of encouraging sound health behavior among bridge, with three lanes in each direction. Meanwhile, Public Relations Director at the the rubble of the demolished bridge is removed. which was a national plan to fight tobacco people in order to fight noninfectious The Ministry said an alternative road will Public Works Ministry Ahmad Al-Mutairi said He said this bridge was part of the first stage use and a 100 percent increase in the cus- chronic diseases and related risk factors. serve the motorists until the new bridge was that despite the nature of the current works that of the project to develop the Amgharah inter- toms duty on tobacco and tobacco- prod- Tobacco is considered one of the most completed. involved certain services, the ministry was keen section with the Sixth Ring Road. The second ucts. important causes of diseases that the MoH It said it was keen on providing alternative to provide alternative roads during the interreg- stage will be executed during next week, which The ‘no smoking’ law has been imple- was seeking to fight as it harmed any indi- roads during the construction period and all num period. will involve construction on the second bridge mented at all the health ministry affiliated vidual’s health as well as prove financially instructions and traffic signs would be put up to The project manager and contractor, Eng of Amgharah intersection that may last for a facilities and efforts were being made to disastrous. ensure that the motorists are not put to any dis- Emad Amin, said the old bridge had to be period of up to 11 months. SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013 Asian arms build-ups India vows to weed out corruption in army ‘could be dangerous’

Page 13 Page 12

OKLAHOMA: Overturned trucks block a frontage road off I-40 just east of 81 in El Reno, Okla after a tornado moved through the area. — AFP Battered Oklahoma hit by tornadoes Mother and child among 5 killed

CHICAGO: Tornadoes killed at least five peo- flood waters to recede before we get out to thunderstorm watches and tornado watches needed.” Reports said five twisters had struck had been evacuated to an underground tun- ple and wreaked massive damage Friday in assess damage,” spokeswoman Keli Cain said, remained in place. Photos showed streets the area around Oklahoma City, with winds of nel and that flights in and out had been sus- Oklahoma near the battered city of Moore, still adding that if the rain continued, that could looking like rivers, with stranded cars sub- up to 90 miles per hour, accompanied by very pended. recovering from a monster twister less than take several days. merged in water as high as their door handles large hail. Flash floods also hit the area, the The airport was re-opened by around 3:30 two weeks ago. The Oklahoma Medical Several people were hurt in crashes and in some places. National Weather Service’s Tulsa World newspaper said. One large torna- am local time (0830 GMT), but all early depar- Examiner’s office confirmed the death toll, but overturned vehicles, including semi-trailers Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma do touched down west of Oklahoma City, the tures had been cancelled, they said. Friday’s said it had no further details on the victims. and trailers, Oklahoma Highway Patrol spokes- warned the severe weather was shifting east- state’s biggest city, news reports said. storms were far less damaging than the Moore But the Oklahoma Department of Emergency woman Betsy Randolph told NBC television ward yesterday, with the Ohio and Mississippi Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said earlier tornado nearly two weeks ago that left 24 Management confirmed a mother and child affiliate KFOR. “It is a heartbreaking situation,” River Valleys set to receive the bulk of the she was “heartsick” that Moore, struck by a dead and demolished large swathes of the were killed as they traveled in their car on Randolph said. While storms continued to pass storms. “Large hail, damaging winds and iso- powerful tornado on May 20, could be hit town with winds above 200 miles per hour, Interstate 40 near Oklahoma City. through the state, Cain said, “they’re much less lated strong tornadoes are all possible,” the once again. KFOR television, meanwhile, affecting a total of 33,000 people. With an At least 12 people were injured in the severe.” However, “there’s still a lot of flooding weather center said on its website. reported extensive damage around the cities average of 1,200 tornadoes per year, the storm, with that number expected to rise, the in areas,” she said, warning residents to stay off In Missouri, which borders the Mississippi of El Reno and Yukon. United States is the most hurricane-prone agency told AFP. Media reports, citing local roads and avoid high water. River, Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of More than 170,000 people were said to country in the world. hospitals, put the injury toll at 39 or even high- Weather forecasters lifted an emergency emergency Friday night, urging “Missourians have lost power in the Oklahoma City metro They are particularly prominent in the er, but officials said it would take time to get for parts of the tornado-prone midwestern to closely monitor weather conditions, so they area. Officials for Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers Great Plains states of Kansas, Oklahoma and an accurate count. “We will have to wait for state, though flash flood warnings, severe can take shelter or move to higher ground if World Airport said on Twitter that passengers Texas, as well as in Florida. — AFP ‘Perfect poison’: Ricin unleashed Obama, US politicians targeted

JACKSON: Mailings of the deadly poison ricin, including to President Barack Obama, have been on the rise, and copycat attacks are made possible by the relative ease of extracting the poison, experts say. The key ingredient - castor beans - is easy to find. Crude instructions for extracting the lethal poison in them can be found on the Internet. And it doesn’t require a chemistry degree or sophisticated lab equipment. The FBI is investigating at least three cas- es over the past month and a half in which ricin was mailed to Obama and other public figures. “I can absolutely promise you that MANILA: A police officer looks at a delivery van where part of a wall from a when these kinds of things happen, we’re high-end condominium unit landed in Manila yesterday, following a powerful going to have copycats. We expect them. We explosion late the night before. — AFP prepare for them. And we catch them,” said Murray Cohen, founder of the Atlanta-based NEW YORK: In this image, the envelope that contained the ricin tainted letter mailed to New York Frontline Foundation, which trains workers City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is shown. —AP Death toll in Manila in how to respond to bioterrorism and epi- demics. umbrella to fire the pellet into a Bulgarian explosion rises to 6 Security and counterterrorism expert dissident. The first of the three recent ricin Michael Fagel, who teaches at Northwestern investigations in the US began in April. An University and is a veteran of ricin investiga- MANILA: The death toll from a powerful explosion that ripped through an upscale Elvis impersonator, Kevin Curtis, was jailed apartment complex in the Philippine capital has risen to six, including the crew of a tions, said ricin may be employed because and accused of sending poisoned letters to passing delivery van that was hit by debris, authorities said yesterday. The explo- castor beans are so easy to come by. The Obama, a US senator and a Mississippi sion Friday night punched a large hole in the wall of the apartment building and plants grow wild along highways and in oth- judge. Then Curtis was suddenly released sent concrete chunks flying onto the street below, which was teeming with pedes- er spots in the US. They are also considered from jail when the FBI shifted its focus to his trians. ornamental by some gardeners and are cul- longtime foe, James Everett Dutschke. He Three people in the van were crushed to death. The Office of Civil defense said tivated for medicinal castor oil and other was charged with making ricin. The FBI said three more bodies were recovered at the Serendra building, a plush condominium products. “And you can go on the Internet Dutschke, a former martial arts instructor complex surrounded by restaurants and shops in Taguig city in metropolitan and find out any one of a gazillion recipes and unsuccessful candidate for various polit- Manila. Five others, including a 9-year-old, were injured. Authorities were initially on how to make ricin,” Fagel said, adding ical offices, bought his castor beans on eBay looking into a gas supply issue, and residents were kept out of other buildings as that it takes only a beginner’s knowledge of and may have used a coffee grinder to turn officials assessed the supply maintenance. science to “weaponize” it. If inhaled, ricin can them into a powder from recipes he down- A telephone operator at the Taguig city police station, who declined to give her cause respiratory failure, among other loaded on his computer. name because she was not authorized to speak to the media, said the explosion symptoms. If swallowed, it can shut down Then in May, three poison-tainted letters came from an appliance and was not caused by a bomb. Interior Secretary Mar the liver and other organs, resulting in were mailed from Spokane, Washington, to Roxas, who visited the site with President Benigno Aquino III, told reporters that death. The amount of ricin that can fit on the Obama, a federal judge, a post office and an the building was evacuated and all possible angles were being investigated. He head of a pin is said to be enough to kill an Air Force Base near Spokane. The FBI is try- said a forensic examination was not yet finished. adult if properly prepared. No antidote is ing to locate a fifth letter it suspects was “This could be an accident, this could be an explosion of chemicals. This could available, though researchers are trying to mailed to the CIA in Virginia. Matthew Ryan be anything. Let us not speculate,” he said. He urged the public to refrain from develop one. Buquet, a 37-year-old janitor and a regis- speculating if the blast was linked to recent travel advisories issued by the US, Despite the poison’s fearsome reputa- tered sex offender, was charged last week British, Canadian and Australian governments for the restive southern Philippines, tion, a draft of a 2010 Homeland Security with mailing a threatening communication. where they cited a risk of kidnappings and terrorist activities. Muslim militants Department handbook lists only one person He has pleaded not guilty. In the most have targeted the Philippine capital in the past, but most attacks have been con- killed by ricin, and that was a 1978 assassina- recent case, authorities say ricin-laced letters fined to the southern region, where minority Muslims have fought for self-rule for tion in London involving injection with a were sent to New York Mayor Michael decades. — AP ricin pellet. Someone associated with Bloomberg and his Washington gun control Bulgaria’s secret police used a special group. — AP SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013 INTERNATIONAL

Iran press, experts slam ‘comical’ presidential debate

TEHRAN: Iranian newspapers and experts debates between the eight approved hour state television debate echoed criti- cussion between the candidates of how lished economic plan”. yesterday give a resounding thumbs candidates in this month’s presidential cism from the hopefuls themselves of a they would reverse the rapid deteriora- “It had been expected that each candi- down to the first of three televised election. Their verdict on Friday’s four- format that they charge stifled real discus- tion of the economy in the face of EU and date would present his own solutions to sion of the issues. US sanctions. The first debate focused on control inflation, unemployment or sup- Conservative candidate Mohsen Rezai, the economic policies of the candidates. port for domestic production, but none of a former commander of the elite The lone reformist candidate, former first them showed a clear solution which Revolutionary Guards, told his own vice president Mohammad Reza Aref, means they did not have an established Tabnak website he would boycott the refused to take part in one section of the plan,” said Raghfar. “In such circumstances, next two debates scheduled for program in which each candidate was we cannot expect an improvement in the Wednesday and Friday if the format does given multiple choice questions about his situation in the country,” he added. not change. The reformist Bahar newspa- program. “This way of organizing the Analyst Mohammad Saleh Sedghian said per called the quality of the debate “comi- debate and asking questions is an insult that he thought the debate was useful. cal”. Another reformist daily, Etemad, to all eight candidates and to the Iranian “But there were some problems. For commented: “Television has turned the people,” he said. example, each candidate was answering most important political event into an His criticism led the front page of the questions like in an exam situation,” he entertainment program.” repeatedly banned reformist daily said. Even the hardline Kayhan newspaper Shargh. Each candidate was asked by the “There was no debate on their various said the debate had “failed to live up to moderator to respond to a randomly economic policies, and this would not expectations”. Conservative candidate chosen question on unemployment, give the electorate a clear idea of each Mohammad Gharazi said after the studio inflation, international economic or sanc- candidate’s economic plans,” he added. debate that “four hours was too much for tions imposed because of Iran’s contro- Mohammad Mehdi Forqani, communica- both the candidates and the audience”. versial nuclear program. He then had tions professor at a Tehran university, was All eight candidates who had secured three minutes to respond, and then each quoted by the Mehr news agency as say- the approval of Iran’s conservative-led of the rest had 90 seconds to either out- ing the debate “did not have the element TEHRAN: An Iranian woman walks past posters of presidential candi- electoral watchdog the Guardians Council line his own prospective or to challenge of challenge for the candidates.” “The mul- date Hasan Rowhani, a former top nuclear negotiator, next to his cam- to stand in the June 14 election took part. the speaker. Economic expert Hossein tiple choice system of questioning was paign headquarters, in Tehran yesterday. The 11th presidential election But despite its length, the debate Raghfar told the reformist Aftab that also not dignified for candidates in a pres- after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, will be held on June 14. —AP failed to provide a platform for real dis- “none of the candidates had any estab- idential contest,” he added. —AFP More than 1,000 Iraqis killed in May violence Iraq hit by worst violence since 2008

BAGHDAD: The worst violence since 2008 hit were released ahead of a meeting of leading car bomb even tore through a group of people Iraq in May, raising fears of all-out sectarian politicians including Prime Minister Nuri Al- cheering a bride ahead of her wedding. strife, as political leaders met yesterday for talks Maliki and several of his key rivals planned for Although violence in Iraq has fallen from its on persistent disputes that have paralyzed the later. The long-discussed meeting is aimed at peak at the height of the sectarian conflict in government. Authorities have failed to bring the resolving a wide variety of disputes between the 2006 and 2007, when the monthly death toll wave of unrest under control, and have so far country’s political blocs, some of which have repeatedly topped 1,000, the numbers of dead not addressed the underlying political issues persisted for several years. Analysts often link have begun to rise again. that analysts say are driving the attacks, while political instability to increases in attacks. There has been a heightened level of vio- the UN envoy to Iraq has warned that the vio- UN envoy Martin Kobler warned on lence since the beginning of the year, coincid- ing with rising discontent in the Sunni Arab minority that erupted into protests in late TEHRAN: Iranians shop at the main bazaar in Tehran yesterday. —AFP December. Members of the minority, which ruled Iraq from its establishment after World War I until Saddam Hussein’s overthrow by US- Ray of light, dark clouds led forces in 2003, accuse the Shiite-led govern- ment of marginalizing and targeting their com- in Iran nuclear program munity. Analysts say government policies that have VIENNA: An important recent development in plant, used to enrich uranium to five-percent disenfranchised Sunnis have given militant Iran’s nuclear program, if it continues, might purities for nuclear power, which will enable groups both fuel and room to manoeuvre help to ease international fears that Tehran Tehran to process fissile material more quickly. among the disillusioned community. The gov- wants the bomb, but serious questions still As the IAEA cannot vouch for Iran’s activities ernment has made some concessions aimed at remain, analysts and diplomats said. This poten- being peaceful, its 35-nation board of gover- tially positive step, as highlighted in recent quar- nors, which meets in Vienna from Monday, has placating protesters and Sunnis in general, such terly reports by the International Atomic Energy passed several resolutions calling on Tehran to as freeing prisoners and raising the salaries of Agency, concerns uranium enriched by Iran to a suspend all enrichment, as has the UN Security Sunni anti-Al-Qaeda fighters, but underlying fissile purity of 20 percent. Council. Iran refuses, calling the UN resolutions- issues have yet to be addressed. This material is of major international con- and related UN and Western sanctions, which Both analysts and officials say that dealing cern because if further purified to 90 percent-a last year began to cause it economic problems- with political issues, including Sunni grievances process well within Iran’s technical capabilities-it illegal and the IAEA, which derives some 65 per- and disputes over issues ranging from control would be suitable for a bomb. According to the cent of its budget from Washington and its of territory to power-sharing, is key to curbing IAEA’s most recent report last week, Iran has pro- allies, “politicized”. the violence. “The government should genuine- duced 324 kilograms (714 pounds) of 20-per- ly (take) steps toward the negotiation with the cent enriched uranium, well above the around PLUTONIUM street, with the (Sunni) protesters,” said Maria 240 kilograms thought to be needed for one But even if Iran manages to soothe some of BAGHDAD: A handout picture shows devices allegedly confiscated by Military intel- Fantappie, an Iraq analyst with the International nuclear device-which is reportedly also Israel’s the concerns about uranium, there are also oth- ligence from what they described as a “Terror Cell”. The Ministry announced the Crisis Group. “So far, the government has not “red line”. er areas of worry. Not least of these is progress, arrest of an Iraqi cell that was preparing to launch chemical attacks against targets taken any genuine steps towards really... But more than 40 percent of this has been as outlined in the last IAEA report, in building engaging into a dialogue with the protesters,” converted into another form, triuranium octox- the new IR-40 reactor at Arak, which Western inside Iraq and in Europe and North America, in collaboration with other intelli- ide, which experts say is tricky-although not countries fear could provide Iran with plutoni- gence agencies. —AFP she said. John Drake, an Iraq specialist with risk con- impossible-to convert back to the original urani- um, an alternative to uranium for a weapon, if lence is “ready to explode”. Thursday that “systemic violence is ready to sulting firm AKE Group, agreed. “Engagement um hexafluoride. Iran says that it is converting the fuel is reprocessed. “Everyone is always Figures for the May death toll ranged from explode at any moment” if Iraqi leaders do and dialogue would likely be the most effective this uranium in order to provide fuel for a reac- focusing on the uranium enrichment, and for more than 600, according to the government, to not resolve their disagreements. But so far, all way to tackle the violence. An increase in secu- tor in Tehran, and four others that outgoing understandable reasons, but there is this second President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad last February pathway,” said Shannon Kile, nuclear expert at more than 1,000, according to the United Nations. efforts to bridge their differences have failed. rity force operations and arrests will only pro- ordered constructed, for nuclear medicines. the Stockholm International Peace Research Either would make the violence the deadliest While violence has mainly targeted the gov- voke the situation further,” Drake said. But Iraqi Tehran also calls it a “confidence-building” Institute (SIPRI). “The IR-40 is of the general type since 2008. An AFP count based on information ernment and members of the Shiite majority authorities are approaching the unrest as a measure in so-far fruitless talks with six world that was used by the North Koreans, the Indians from security and medical sources indicated that in the past, unrest in May was more wide- security issue alone, and have failed to address powers on hold until after Iranian presidential and the Pakistanis in their initial programs, so it 614 people were killed and 1,550 wounded, while ranging, with major attacks on Sunnis as well. its root causes. So far, Baghdad’s response has elections on June 14. But the problem, says is well suited to producing plutonium for data from government ministries put the toll at The violence has struck all aspects of daily largely been limited to actions by security Mark Hibbs, analyst at the Carnegie Endowment weapons purposes,” Kile told AFP. 681 dead and 1,097 wounded. life. Bombings cut down worshippers in forces, a shakeup of senior officers, and for International Peace, is that Iran’s output is Arak “shows that this issue is not just about The UN gave a significantly higher toll of mosques, shoppers in markets and people announcing a series of vague new security- “way beyond” what it needs. Plans for four more 20-percent enriched uranium stockpiles. This is a 1,045 killed and 2,397 wounded. The figures mourning those killed in attacks. One Baghdad related measures. —AFP reactors are also “pie in the sky,” he said. broader picture,” agreed one senior Western At the same time, the rate at which Iran is diplomat in Vienna. Another bone of contention converting the 20-percent enriched uranium meanwhile is what the IAEA suspects may have remains below the production rate-meaning been Iranian research, mostly before 2003 but that the size of the overall stockpile continues to possibly ongoing, into creating a nuclear pay- creep ever higher. Moreover, Iran’s output of 20- load for a missile. Iran denies this, and 10 meet- NGO law becomes test percent enriched uranium is set to triple once ings with the IAEA since its major November new machinery at its Fordo enrichment facility is 2011 report summarizing these claims-based up and running. Iran is also putting in more mostly, but not only, on foreign intelligence- for Egyptian president modern enrichment machines at its Natanz have failed to make progress.—AFP US targets Iran CAIRO: A draft law regulating funding of civic groups”. “The cussed in the senate, was drafted and its security agencies to arbi- Egyptian civil society groups has United States believes the pro- in that spirit. But many NGOs, trarily restrict the funding and become a barometer of the posed law is likely to impede already wary of the Islamist presi- operation of independent groups,” Islamist government’s commit- Egyptians’ ability to form civic dent, say it is an attempt to assert the watchdog said in a statement. petrochemicals ment to the ideals of the demo- groups that are critical to advanc- control over the foreign funding of The presidency has denied that cratic uprising that brought it to ing freedoms, supporting democ- projects such as human rights the bill would allow security serv- WASHINGTON: The United States has imposed based frozen yogurt and dessert company. The power, with the text raising con- racy, and acting as appropriate advocacy. ices control over civil society sanctions on Iran’s petrochemical industry, vow- State Department accused the company of receiv- cerns both at home and abroad. checks on the government,” it said. The draft law will create a steer- groups. “I confirm this draft law ing to target more of the Islamic regime’s sources ing payments on behalf of Iran’s Jam President Mohamed Morsi, who Before Mubarak’s ouster in ear- ing committee, headed by the completely removes the security of revenue after curbing its vital oil exports. Petrochemical Company, which was put under referred the bill to the Islamist- ly 2011, many rights groups failed social affairs minister that must role,” Wael Zoghby, who helped Washington also announced action against com- the same sanctions. The Treasury Department also dominated senate on Wednesday, to secure operating licenses, and approve requests for foreign fund- compose the bill, told a news con- panies based in Cyprus, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and identified eight Iranian petrochemical companies pledged that he “does not aspire their activities were monitored by ing. It will be able to turn down ference last week. the United Arab Emirates for support to Iranian as being under the control of the Tehran govern- to control civil society,” in a depar- the then all-powerful security the requests from NGOs if it Nermeen Mohamed, a presi- entities accused of involvement in the country’s ment, which subjects them to US sanctions. ture from his overthrown prede- services. The interim military gov- deems a project illegal. Foreign dential aide who also helped to controversial nuclear program. US officials said The United States, Israel and European nations cessor Hosni Mubarak’s strongman ernment which then took power funding, for example, may not be draft the bill, says its current incar- they were taking action against Iran’s petrochemi- have demanded that Iran end sensitive uranium tactics. ordered raids on the offices of for- used for political campaigning. nation is the product of more than cal industry as it represented the Iranian govern- work, fearing that it could be used to develop a NGOs in Egypt have eign NGOs in which Americans The courts will have the final say in three months of consultations ment’s largest source of revenue after oil, which nuclear bomb. Iran insists its nuclear program is for denounced the bill, which regu- were among staff members any dispute. The draft law would with civil society groups. “The con- has been severely curtailed by a US-led sanctions peaceful purposes. Since last year, the United lates the funding and activities of referred to trial on charges of “curb the right to freedom of asso- sultation process resulted in sub- campaign. States has brandished sanctions against anyone non-governmental organizations, receiving illicit foreign funds. ciation through legal restrictions stantial differences between the “We are committed to intensifying the pres- who buys Iran’s oil. In its latest move, it punished going so far as to condemn it as The raids dealt a serious blow even more severe than those Presidency’s draft and other sure against Iran, not only by adopting new sanc- Ferland Co., which is based in Cyprus and Ukraine, “aggression against civil society”. to relations between the military imposed by the Mubarak regime,” drafts,” she wrote in a blog post, tions, but also by actively enforcing our sanctions for allegedly assisting the Iranian National Tanker Western powers such as the and Washington, its main foreign said a statement signed by 40 referring to previous proposals. A and preventing sanctions evasion,” David Cohen, Company. United States, a major funder of aid donor. Morsi, once a political NGOs. Previous drafts of the law presidential aide said in a briefing the Treasury Department point man on sanctions, US authorities also took action against several NGOs in Egypt, are closely moni- prisoner under Mubarak and had given the security services that the minister who heads the said in a statement. “We will continue to work individuals and airlines for alleged cooperation toring the issue. In a statement, leader of the formerly banned oversight of NGOs. steering committee that decided with our partners around the world to ensure that with Iran, including Kyrgyzstan-based Kyrgyz Trans the US State Department said it Muslim Brotherhood, has insisted The US-based Human Rights on foreign funding may choose the sanctions pressure on Iran builds so long as Avia and Ukraine-based Ukrainian-Mediterranean was “concerned” by the civil socie- that he must reform a corrupt Watch group said the presidential other members as he sees fit. Civil Iran continues to defy its... international obliga- Airlines, also known as Um Air. Despite the tough ty draft law which “imposes signifi- inherited bureaucracy and instill draft contained some improve- society groups themselves will tions,” he said. sanctions, the United States on Thursday lifted a cant government controls and transparency. His aides say that ments over previous versions. But also be represented on the com- The United States slapped sanctions that ban on laptops, mobile telephones and other restrictions on the activities and the NGO bill, which will be dis- “it would allow the government mittee. —AFP include a ban on US-based financial transactions equipment, saying the step would help ordinary on the Niksima Food & Beverage Co, a Dubai- Iranians circumvent government controls. —AFP SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013 INTERNATIONAL Syria opposition looks as divided as ever ISTANBUL: After an eight-day tug of war for been assigned to civilian members of the main- the key town. Scores of fighters on both sides control and with no clear winner, Syria’s opposi- stream rebel Free Syrian Army command, which have been killed, and Qusayr has all but fallen tion looks set to become more divided than is also dominated by Saudi Arabia. But the result into army hands. But as the opposition closed ever. On the ground, rebels fighting President of more than a week of back and forth in the its Istanbul meeting, news broke of the arrival Bashar Al-Assad’s regime and activists say they Istanbul tug-of-war looks to be an unsteady bal- of “hundreds” of Muslim Brotherhood-linked have lost faith in foreign-based dissidents who ance. rebel reinforcements in Qusayr. One activist appear powerless to check army advances. The Coalition members and officials from coun- questioned the new rebels’ timely arrival. “I opposition National Coalition concluded an tries that back the anti-Assad revolt believe the don’t believe in coincidences,” said Fares, an extended meeting in Turkey on Friday that saw conclusion was a success overall, however. “Our independent Syrian activist in Istanbul. “I think Qatari- and Saudi-backed dissidents reach a last- mission is more or less accomplished, even the rebels were given the weapons they need- minute compromise brokered under intense though it was quite painful,” one Western diplo- ed to enter Qusayr, and they were given a sign pressure. After hours of bickering, Coalition mat said on condition of anonymity. The the (Qatari- and Saudi-backed) sides had chief George Sabra announced an expansion of Coalition will now be able to elect a new leader- reached an agreement.” “The biggest problem is the group to include 51 new members, taking ship and discuss a US-Russian peace initiative, all these disputes could have been solved a the total to 114. To date, the Coalition has been the diplomat said, adding that it will be “two to week ago,” he added. dominated by the Qatar-backed Muslim three weeks” before the group holds its next A rebel from central Syria slammed the Brotherhood, but regional powerhouse Saudi meeting. Coalition for being far removed from those at Arabia is seeking to downsize that influence. Of But while disputes raged among Saudi- and the sharp end. “They are disconnected. We can- the new members, some 10 are affiliated to vet- Qatari-backed dissidents in Turkey, across the not support people who have become oppo- eran secular dissident Michel Kilo, whose bid to border in Syria Assad loyalists were advancing, nents just for personal gain,” said Ali Sattuf, a enter the umbrella Coalition was backed by squeezing the Coalition’s credibility in the war- former army lieutenant who joined the revolt in Riyadh. torn country to a new low. In Kafranbel in May 2012. “We don’t want one selfish regime to “We have reached a compromise solution. northwestern Syria, activists raised a placard replace another,” he added. Another defector, While (Kilo’s list) has entered the group, the during a protest on Friday that accused the Omar Ferzat, said: “We need support, and the Coalition has also expanded to include 14 grass- Coalition of being “part of the problem”. After Coalition is not channeling the right help to us.” roots activists,” Coalition member Salem Al- months of rebel dominance east of Damascus Anti-Assad dissidents inside Syria will only gain HAREM: A group of Free Syrian Army fighters carry a wounded comrade Moslet said. “We wanted to be more representa- and in central Syria’s Qusayr, troops backed by trust in the Coalition if its members themselves in the town of Harem, Syria. —AP tive. The meeting was too long, but we are on Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah movement last move into the country, he added. “Here in the the right track,” he added. Another 15 seats have week launched an assault to reclaim control of hotel, they can do no good,” Ferzat said. —AFP Mystery surrounds US woman’s death in Syria New Muslim convert dies in Syria

FLINT: The daughter of a 33-year-old looking a rattlesnake in the face” after she Syrian state media showed footage on Michigan woman who converted to Islam converted to Islam and began wearing a Friday of a dead woman in a full black hijab and was killed in fighting in Syria this week hijab. “You never would have thought she’d and a picture of Mansfield’s identification, insisted yesterday her mother was “NOT a ter- be a terrorist,” Carole Mansfield said. Known saying she was part of an extremist rebel rorist,” although the woman’s father said he within the family as “Nikki,” Nicole Mansfield group caught in an ambush. The govern- had expressed concerns about her to the FBI. was a high school dropout and teenage ment-run media said the group was Syrian state media said Nicole Mansfield, a mother who was raised Baptist. Relatives ambushed while exploring a checkpoint and single mother from the Midwestern city of said she appeared lost and wanted a cause that government forces found weapons on Flint, was killed with two others in an the group and documents, including a ambush by Syrian government forces on an sketch of a security building. Britain’s opposition mission in northwestern Syria. Guardian newspaper quoted a Syrian army Syrian media also showed the passport of a officer as saying it was believed the third per- British man, Ali alManasfi, 22. son killed was Canadian because his cell- Security sources said it was not clear phone listed numerous calls to Canada. what Mansfield and alManasfi were doing or which rebel group they were with. ‘JAMES BOND JOURNEY’ Insurgents are seeking to topple Syrian There appeared to be little on Friday President Bashar Al-Assad. The conflict has tying Nicole Mansfield, whom family mem- killed more than 80,000 people since March bers described as “compassionate, stubborn 2011. Gregory Mansfield, Nicole Mansfield’s and unusually intelligent,” to extremist father, told CNN on Friday that he Islamist groups. Her Pinterest social media approached the FBI three years ago after his account contains as many references to daughter made remarks about Israel at an shoes, dogs and other animals as it does to Easter family gathering. Islam. The Islamic-themed pictures appear “All I know is that I went to the FBI about moderate and pious. Mary Ellen O’Toole, a my concerns,” he said. “And I know they did former FBI profiler and a human behavioral follow up because they were following her expert said, “Setting aside whether Islamic for a while. They needed to revoke her pass- extremists would even let an American port, then this wouldn’t be going on.” Lindsay woman take up arms, there are many ques- Godwin, a spokeswoman at the FBI’s Nicole Lynn Mansfield tions left unanswered at this point.” Washington field office, said the FBI “is look- to believe in. “It’s a huge step going from living in Flint, ing into the situation that happened in Syria.” In her late 20s, after an unsuccessful mar- Michigan, to taking up arms against the In a posting on Facebook on Friday, riage, she converted to Islam after meeting Syrian government,” O’Toole said. “And Mansfield’s daughter, Triana Lynn Mansfield, Muslims online. She attended a local mosque there’s a big difference between converting wrote, “My mother was NOT a terrorist.” “She but never showed signs of radicalism, her to Islam and going on a James Bond journey went there for a reason that is unknown,” she family said. She married a Muslim immigrant into a war zone.” Monica Mansfield wrote. “But believe this-SHE WAS FORCED TO after her conversion, but family members Speelman, Nicole Mansfield’s aunt, said on STAY.” said they never met him and Nicole never Thursday that she was “just devastated” The woman’s grandmother Carole talked about him. “I don’t even think they when the FBI told her that afternoon her Mansfield added she was not convinced her ever lived together,” Carole Mansfield said. niece was dead. “I didn’t think she would granddaughter was in Syria to fight, “He was a mystery. No one knew anything stoop that low to go over there and try to although she said she had told her, “You’re about him.” harm anybody,” Speelman said. —Reuters Far-right, anti-fascists face off over London soldier’s murder LONDON: Dozens of people were arrested Adebolajo, one of two prime suspects in the first fatal Islamist attack in Britain since the in London yesterday as rival far-right and killing, was held for questioning for a sec- 2005 London bombings. Yesterday, the rival anti-fascist groups faced off over the mur- ond day following his release from hospital. BNP and anti-fascist protesters traded der of a British soldier by suspected He and the other prime suspect, 22-year-old chants, held behind opposing metal barri- Islamists. London’s Metropolitan Police said Michael Adebowale, were shot and injured cades with police separating them. 58 people from the Unite Against Fascism by police at the murder scene, shortly after The BNP had hoped to march in pressure group were arrested after they 25-year-old soldier Lee Rigby was hacked to Woolwich but were banned from doing so by gathered to oppose a rally by the far-right death in broad daylight near his barracks in the police, fearing public disorder. Many of British National Party (BNP) near the Woolwich, southeast London. Adebowale their protesters carried the British flag and Houses of Parliament. The arrested UAF has been charged with murder and possess- some had signs saying “Hate preachers out”. protesters, who were part of a group of ing a revolver. Both suspects are Londoners “Britain is a tinderbox waiting to explode,” around 300 people opposing the 150- who converted to Islam after growing up in BNP leader Nick Griffin said. “We are here-I strong BNP rally, were detained on suspi- Nigerian Christian families. Rigby’s family hope-starting a debate to point out the only cion of breaching the Public Order Act, had issued an appeal for calm following a way out, or the best way to get peace, is to Scotland Yard added. number of attacks on mosques and a rise in disengage so there’s a peace treaty between The rallies came as 28-year-old Michael anti-Muslim incidents since his murder, the the West and Islam. —AFP Drone strikes kill 7 Al-Qaeda militants

ADEN: Two drone strikes killed seven sus- commander of the police force at the pected Al-Qaeda militants in southern Seyoun airbase, the official said. He said Yemen yesterday, a local official said, nine both attacks carried the hallmarks of al days after US President Barack Obama said Qaeda, which is believed to be behind a he would only use such strikes when a spate of recent attacks on senior police, threat was “continuing and imminent”. In security and army officers, including at least two separate attacks, militants believed to three incidents last week. Islamists linked to be linked to Al-Qaeda killed two senior Al-Qaeda seized control of some towns in police officers in the eastern part of the southern Yemen in 2011 after Arab Spring country, a local security official said. protests weakened the government in Washington views Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Sanaa. However, the Yemeni army and local Peninsula (AQAP) as the movement’s most tribal militias recaptured the towns last year dangerous wing after it attempted to launch with US assistance. bomb attacks on international airliners. Lawless, impoverished Yemen lies on The official said the seven were travelling major international energy shipment in two cars yesterday morning in the Al- routes and shares a long, porous border Mahfad district of Abyan Governorate in with Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil southern Yemen where the Islamist militant exporter. President Obama has come under group has a strong presence, when the criticism in the United States for his govern- drones struck. In eastern Yemen, Colonel ment’s use of drone strikes which have led Abdel-Rahman Bashkeel, head of the crimi- to civilian casualties. He said in a speech nal investigation department in the city of on May 23 that the Defense Department Seyoun in the Wadi Hadramout area, was would now take the lead in launching killed yesterday afternoon by a bomb placed lethal drone strikes from the Central in his car, a local security official said. Intelligence Agency, meaning there would Militants on a motorbike also shot and be more Congressional oversight of the killed Brigadier-General Yahya Al-Omaisi, program. —Reuters SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013 INTERNATIONAL Russia to resume nuclear submarine patrols

MOSCOW: Russia plans to resume nuclear subma- talking of the need for a reliable armed forces and rine patrols in the southern seas after a hiatus of Russian political unity. more than 20 years following the break-up of the Fears of a nuclear confrontation between Russia Soviet Union, Itar-Tass news agency reported yes- and the United States has eased in recent years, and terday, in another example of efforts to revive the Cold War-era foes signed a landmark treaty in Moscow’s military. The plan to send Borei-class sub- 2010 setting lower limits on the size of their long- marines, designed to carry 16 long-range nuclear range nuclear arsenals. But the limited numbers of missiles, to the southern hemisphere follows warheads and delivery vehicles such as submarines President Vladimir Putin’s decision in March to that they committed to under the New START treaty deploy a naval unit in the Mediterranean Sea on a are still enough to devastate the world. Putin has permanent basis starting this year. made clear Russia will continue to upgrade its arse- “The revival of nuclear submarine patrols will nal. allow us to fulfill the tasks of strategic deterrence Russia’s land-launched Intercontinental Ballistic not only across the North Pole but also the South Missiles (ICBMs) would fly over the northern part of Pole,” state-run Itar-Tass cited an unnamed official in the globe, as would those fired from submarines in the military General Staff as saying. The official said the northern hemisphere. Both the Borei-class sub- the patrols would be phased in over several years. marines and the Bulava ballistic missiles they carry The Yuri Dolgoruky, the first of eight Borei-class were designed in the 1990s, when the science and submarines that Russia hopes to launch by 2020, defense industries were severely underfunded. entered service this year. Putin has stressed the Russia sees the Bulava as the backbone of its future importance of a strong and agile military since nuclear deterrence, but the program has been set returning to the presidency last May. In 13 years in back by several botched launches over the past few MOSCOW: Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (center) listens to a little boy as he hands over power, he has often cited external threats when years.— Reuters awards to families with many children in the Kremlin in Moscow, on May 31, 2013.— AFP New law reignites debate over German ‘baby hatch’ Govt wants unwanted child to know mother’s identity BERLIN: Germany’s “baby hatches”, where found dead in Germany between 1999 and the vide a legal framework to guarantee birth confi- women can safely leave their unwanted new- end of last year. dentially. However, the mother’s personal data born, have come under fire as the government Just recently in Berlin the bodies of two would be kept for 16 years, after which the child pushes a new law to guarantee a child the right babies were discovered-one abandoned in a would have the right to the information, which to eventually know its mother’s identity. At a plastic bag in a wooded area, the other in a pub- some psychologists see as crucial for their emo- Berlin clinic, a discreet path winds through lic clothes recycling bin. Terre des Hommes tional wellbeing. springtime flowerbeds to a sign that simply argues that women driven to killing their baby Conservative lawmaker Ingrid Fischbach said directs visitors to the “Baby Crib”-a steel hatch at birth generally suffer psychological conditions she believed the new legislation takes into that opens onto a heated cot where an infant so severe that they are unlikely to try and find a account both “the mother’s desire for anonymity can be left. “An alarm goes off for several sec- baby hatch. In the face of the UN condemnation and the right of the child to know its origins”. But onds,” says Gabriele Stangl of the Protestant as well as criticism from Germany’s ethics com- supporters of the baby hatch see things differ- ARIZONA: Yanira Maldonado is all smiles as she is escorted by family friend Church-run Waldfriede hospital in the capital’s mittee, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government ently. “I believe the right to life takes precedence Steve Perez to the Hilton Homewood Suites to speak to the media in leafy, residential Zehlendorf district. has adopted draft legislation to find another over the right to know where you came from,” Avondale, Ariz. — AP “It takes two to three minutes for the nurses solution. The idea is to allow women to give Stangl said. “I don’t think a child has to fall into a to come and get the baby, enough time so the birth without publicly revealing their identity- psychological hole simply because it doesn’t Jailing in highlights mother can get away without being seen.” In the something about 130 German hospitals already know where it comes from. When it grows up in 13 years since the clinic set up the hatch-known practice despite a law stipulating that midwives an adoptive family that tells it the truth and in Germany as the “Babyklappe”-the alarm has register the mother’s name. The new bill, which gives it lots of love, it can become a very stable Mexico tourist risks sounded more than 20 times, especially lately. must still be voted on by lawmakers, would pro- human being, despite everything.”— AFP “For two years we didn’t have any, and during PHOENIX: The weeklong detention of an doesn’t carry drugs. the last six months we had two in five days,” American woman after Mexican authorities Maldonado also may have been caught up Stangl said. The babies tend to be between 24 said they found 12 pounds of marijuana in a shakedown by Mexican police who were and 30 hours old and are cared for by the hospi- under her bus seat illustrates just one of the seeking a bribe. Her husband said police tal. They are passed on to an adoptive family perils Americans face while traveling south of sought $5,000 to let her go. She may have unless the birth mother changes her mind with- the border. Yanira Maldonado, 42, walked out just been randomly assigned the seat under in the first eight weeks. of a prison on the outskirts of Nogales, which the smugglers hid the pot. Or she Germany has around 100 baby hatches under Mexico, and into her husband’s arms late could have been put there on purpose by a system thought to have been common in Thursday after a judge dismissed drug-smug- smugglers who hoped an American was less medieval Europe and through to the end of the gling charges against her. likely to be targeted for a search and to pro- 19th Century. It was reintroduced 14 years ago The judge determined Maldonado was no vide cover for the real smuggler. in Germany and has since been adopted by oth- longer a suspect after viewing video that Alonzo Pena, who retired as deputy direc- er countries ranging from Belgium to Japan. The showed the couple climbing on the bus with tor of US Immigration and Customs chief aim of the baby hatches is to give the most just a purse, blankets and bottles of water. Enforcement in 2010 and was once stationed desperate of mothers an alternative to killing After returning to the Phoenix area Friday, in Mexico, said someone else on the bus their babies or abandoning them in places Maldonado said, “I got strength through my probably put the drugs under Maldonado’s where they will die. While the system is accepted faith and said, ‘I’m going to be out,’ and I got seat without her knowledge and watched her by the churches in Germany, there is no legal out.” The governor of the Mexican state of throughout the trip. The State Department framework governing their use, and the method Sonora, where Nogales is located, apologized also warns that criminals are increasingly remains controversial. for Maldonado’s ordeal during a visit to affixing drugs to the bottom of parked cars in The United Nations condemned it last year Phoenix on Friday. He said he made sure she Mexico, the removing them after the vehicle for flouting a child’s right to know its origins. was safe and wasn’t transferred to a federal enters the US. Opponents also argue that the baby hatches prison and worked to ensure the court pro- Those cases are rare, Pena said, because have done nothing to bring down the number ceedings went quickly. smugglers like to closely watch the drugs of newborns being killed every year in Germany. “In a few words I could say we’re very sorry crossing the border. Eric Vos, a lawyer with According to the non-governmental organiza- that she was in the wrong place in the wrong the US Office of Defender Services who trains tion Terre des Hommes, which is campaigning BERLIN: A picture shows two signs reading “Babyklappe” (baby hatch) at the St moment,” Gov. Guillermo Padres Elias said. federal public defenders, agreed that slipping against the baby hatch, 313 newborns were Joseph hospital in Berlin Tempelhof. — AFP “But we’re very glad that she’s OK and she still drugs into unsuspecting travelers’ cars or lug- says ... that she will continue visiting our gage isn’t all that common. country and she will continue going on “There’s just like a million reasons why the tourism trips to Sonora. “Because Sonora real- blind mule thing is a difficult angle,” Vos said Catholic influence wanes ly likes the United States people and Friday. It’s more common, Pena said, for drug Arizonans to go down there. We welcome carriers to admit they knowingly smuggled them with open arms with a big smile and we because they or their families were threat- amidst gay marriage fight see you as a family, so we want to continue ened if they disobeyed. Another old smug- with that.” With kidnappings, drug cartel gling tactic is to advertise work as security shootouts and other violent crime pervasive guards, housecleaners and cashiers in in parts of Mexico, the tourism industry has Mexican newspapers, telling applicants they Church says ‘no’ to gay marriage taken a hit, although popular destinations must drive company cars to the US. They like Cancun are so well-protected that prob- aren’t told the cars are loaded with drugs. PROVIDENCE: Frank Ferri made ings: 62 percent of American tion and gay marriage. These days, bishop of San Francisco, Salvatore lems are rare. Kidnappings and cartel vio- There were 39 arrests at San Diego’s two peace with God years ago. He defeat- Catholics think same-sex marriages the church remains active in political Cordileone, likened gay marriage to lence are prominent among the US State border crossings tied to the ads for seemingly ed the Roman Catholic Church just should be legal, 74 percent think battles over abortion, President male breastfeeding and denounced Department’s lengthy set of warnings about legitimate jobs between February 2011 and last month. The openly gay state rep- abortion ought to be available in at Barack Obama’s health care law, Rhode Island’s vote as violating “the travel in Mexico. But there are also warnings April 2012, according to ICE, prompting the resentative led the fight to legalize least some instances and 61 percent poverty and immigration even very design of nature.” In Minnesota, about getting caught up in drug smuggling, agency to take out ads in Mexican newspa- same-sex marriage in what may be favor the death penalty. though they’ve had little success Catholic leaders spent nearly $1 mil- either by being used as a “blind mule” who pers warning about the scheme. An Arizona the most Catholic state in the nation’s All this comes amid a leadership influencing the gay marriage debate lion last year to support a ballot doesn’t know drugs have been put in their car sheriff who has spent more than 40 years most Catholic region. And, in early shift in the Vatican, where the newly here and elsewhere. measure banning gay marriage. The or luggage, or by being strong-armed by along the Mexican border said Maldonado’s May, Rhode Island became the sixth selected Pope Francis has traditional- In many statehouses, the church year before, the Archdiocese of St smugglers who threaten harm if a person case probably was a shakedown. —AP and final New England state to allow ly taken a more pragmatic approach relies on lobbying consortiums made Paul and Minneapolis produced and gay couples to marry when its than his predecessor on divisive up of lay people, known as Catholic distributed 400,000 copies of a DVD Democratic-dominated Legislature, social issues. While a bishop in conferences, to influence state policy, in which Archbishop John C Republican vs Republican led by an openly gay House speaker, Argentina, Francis angered other fueled by donations from dioceses Nienstedt called same-sex marriage, reversed course after years of the church leaders by supporting civil across the country. In Washington, at best, “an untested social experi- Catholic Church successfully lobby- unions for gay couples ahead of that the church’s primary voice is the ment.” on covering US uninsured ing lawmakers to resist legalization. country’s vote to legalize gay mar- United States Conference of Catholic Thousands of Minnesota Catholics “They put the fear of God into riage. He has taken no such position Bishops, which had an annual budget returned the DVDs in protest. Last WASHINGTON: It’s Republican vs or accepted the Medicaid expansion, a people,” Ferri said, claiming that “the as pope. Kathleen Kennedy last year of $26.6 million, according month, the state Legislature voted to Republican in the latest round Sof political major component of the health care law influence of the church” had been the Townsend, a member of one of the to the Pew Forum of Religion and legalize gay marriage, making battles over health care. Conservative taking effect Jan 1. It’s designed to provide primary stumbling block as every most storied Catholic families in Public Life. “They’ve certainly been Minnesota the 12th state to do so. In Republican legislators in major states are coverage to about 20 million uninsured other neighboring state - and many American politics, says she’s encour- players at the national level,” said Providence, the Rev Bernard Healey trying to block efforts by more pragmatic people if all states accept. Washington people across the country - started aged by Francis’ early leadership but Mark Silk, the director of Trinity led the statehouse lobbying effort to governors of their own party to accept would pick up the full cost for the first three embracing gay marriage. Ferri’s victo- warns that the church’s political influ- College’s Leonard Greenberg Center counter legalization attempts. The health insurance for more low-income resi- years and 90 percent over the long haul. ry marked the Catholic Church’s most ence will continue to wane unless it for the Study of Religion in Public Catholic priest is well-known in the dents under President Barack Obama’s Those helped would mainly be low-income significant political defeat in an area adapts. “Gay marriage is part of a Life. He noted that the church has Rhode Island Capitol’s marble hall- health care law. Unlike their congressional adults with no children at home, people where more than 40 percent of the larger refusal on the part of the been most successful in recent years ways, long patrolling them in his counterparts, who’ve misfired in repeated working jobs that pay little and don’t come population is Catholic. Perhaps more church to listen to, and to under- by building alliances with other reli- black shirt and clerical collar. attempts to torpedo the law, state with health insurance. For uninsured adults problematic for the church: Its state- stand, the people in the pews,” said gious lobbies, including evangelicals, In late April, before the final gay Republicans may well sink the expansion of below the poverty line, expanded Medicaid by-state setbacks on gay marriage Townsend, who still regularly attends to help shape public policy such as marriage vote, Providence Bishop Medicaid in populous states such as Florida is the only way to get coverage under the illustrate a widening divide between church and wrote the book, “Failing the contraception provision in the Thomas J Tobin weighed in by warn- and Michigan. new law. But middle-class people will be the church hierarchy and its mem- America’s Faithful: How Today’s president’s health care law. Religious ing Rhode Island lawmakers: “It is That would mean leaving billions of dol- eligible for subsidized private insurance. bers, which may be undermining Churches Are Mixing God With leaders also have successfully pushed only with grave risk to our spiritual lars in federal matching funds on the table Overall, 23 states plus the District of Catholic influence in American poli- Politics and Losing Their Way.” Church to tighten abortion laws in some well-being and the common good of and hundreds of thousands of the poor Columbia, are planning to expand their tics. The disconnect plays out in officials in Washington, Boston and states. Thirty states have adopted our society that we dare to redefine uninsured. Expansion opponents say it’s an Medicaid programs. About a dozen are polling. In March, a Washington Post- Providence declined to be inter- constitutional provisions limiting what God himself has created.” The issue that goes to their core beliefs. “It’s an undecided. The nine GOP governors sup- ABC News poll found that a majority viewed for this report. marriage to a man and a woman, Rhode Island Legislature overwhelm- ideological principle piece to us on the porting expansion are Jan Brewer in of Catholics, 60 percent, felt the The church for decades has although most are in Southern and ingly voted days later to support conservative side,” said state Rep David Arizona, Rick Scott in Florida, Terry Branstad church was out of touch with the employed aggressive lobbying Western states where there are fewer same-sex marriage. That prompted Gowan, majority leader in the Arizona in Iowa, Rick Snyder in Michigan, Brian views of Catholics in America today. efforts across the country on a host Catholics. Silk suggested that some Tobin to condemn “immoral or House of Representatives. “We don’t Sandoval in Nevada, Chris Christie in New And a CBS News/New York Times poll of political issues, with Catholic lead- Catholic leaders in the United States destructive behavior” and say that believe in the expansion of Medicaid itself - Jersey, Susana Martinez in New Mexico, in February found that 78 percent of ers having used the power of the pul- may be eroding their influence by Catholics should “examine their con- it’s within the process of mandating health Jack Dalrymple in North Dakota and John Catholics said they were more likely pit and substantial financial resources “jumping up and down” to fight gay sciences very carefully” before decid- care. We don’t believe it’s the government’s Kasich in Ohio. Initially, some observers saw to follow their own conscience than to maintain clout. At times they’ve marriage despite strong public sup- ing whether to attend gay marriage duty to do that. It should be open for peo- a shift toward pragmatism among the church’s teachings on difficult gone so far as to tell leading Catholic port. ceremonies, “realizing that to do so ple to go get their health care.” Republicans and predicted the governors moral questions. That poll highlight- lawmakers they were not welcome to As American attitudes rapidly might harm their relationship with Nine Republican governors supported would get their way.—AP ed several areas where most receive communion if they opposed shifted in favor of legalized same-sex God and cause significant scandal to Catholics break with church teach- church teachings on issues like abor- marriage in recent months, the arch- others.”— AP SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013 INTERNATIONAL Online college classes now target the masses Some universities balk, warn of threats to education BOSTON: A leading US provider of online col- educational quality. Faculty at Duke University ers “don’t have any idea what education means,” lege courses has announced plans to expand voted down a proposal to offer online courses said Adam Sitze, an assistant professor of law into introductory level classes such as algebra for credit. And in a biting public letter, the phi- and social thought at Amherst. MOOC backers and composition, marking a shift for a fledgling losophy department at San Jose State disagree; they say their courses will not replace industry that has until now focused on special- University last month condemned MOOCs as a professors or dismantle universities, but will ized material. Coursera, a popular for-profit threat to the very existence of public universi- make quality education more widely available. provider of massive online open courses - ties. Signatories argued the trend would push Some are even testing ways to use MOOCs to known as MOOCs - will host a series of basic college professors out of jobs, stifle diversity of expand the role of faculty. Coursera and EdX, for general education classes to be developed in thought and deprive students of discussions. example, are testing “blended” models that partnerships with 10 state university systems Similar concerns were raised this spring by bring students together for face-to-face instruc- across the United States. faculty at Amherst College in Massachusetts. tion that augments the MOOC videos. The “If we really want to move the needle, we Deeming MOOCs too impersonal and industrial, MOOC market “is too big, too diverse, for one- can’t just stick with offering continuing educa- the faculty rejected a proposed partnership size-fits-all,” said Anant Agarwal, the president PECOS: Tracy Bennett, ranch manager of Hidden Valley Ranch watches a tion to lifelong learners,” said Daphne Koller, the with nonprofit online course provider EdX. of EdX. “This intense experimentation phase Stanford computer scientist who co-founded “When the rubber hits the road,” MOOC promot- will continue for a while.”— Reuters large plume of smoke rise from a wildfire. — AP Coursera. “We have to help people achieve degrees that will help them get a better life.” New Mexico wildfires Another top MOOC provider, Udacity, is launch- Islamist jailed for Internet ing a similar program this summer, teaming up trigger evacuations with California’s San Jose State University to offer five introductory courses. threats posts from prison PECOS: Fire crews are battling two wildfires ing to contain a wildfire burning Friday in Until now, MOOCs have mainly focused on in New Mexico that have scorched thousands rugged mountains north of Los Angeles. A specialized courses like computational neuro- WASHINGTON: American Islamist militants attempting to join the Somali militant group Al of acres, spurred evacuation calls for dozens day earlier, gusts had driven flames toward science - taught by professors at top universi- jailed for threatening violence over the Internet Shabaab. of homes and shut down a state highway. the rural community of Green Valley and ties. Those MOOCs attracted millions of stu- are still posting political writings on the Web - Neither Morton nor other representatives of Officials said the fire in New Mexico’s Santa Fe forced people from about 200 homes. On dents, but the vast majority already had com- while serving time in federal prison. Jesse Curtis IslamPolicy responded to a request for comment National Forest more than doubled in size by Friday, winds were pushing the fire south- pleted college in more traditional settings. At Morton, a convert to Islam who writes under the sent to an email address posted on the website. Friday night and was still totally uncontained. ward - back into the 2.8 square miles that Coursera, for example, 80 percent of registra- name Younus Abdullah Muhammed, posted a A telephone number posted on the site was out That prompted New Mexico Gov Susana have already burned. “The fire is moving tions come from students who already have at lengthy tract opposing US drone policy, on May of order. Lawyers for Morton and Chesser did Martinez to declare a state of emergency in uphill and burning into the black,” US Forest least a bachelor’s degree. 21, on the www.islampolicy.com website that he not respond to requests for comment. Under San Miguel County to free up state funds to Service spokesman Nathan Judy said. “It is a The new partnerships will provide the first launched in 2010. free-speech guarantees in the US Constitution, fight the fire. good thing because it’s not going anywhere, significant evidence to date of whether stu- Morton is serving a prison term of more than federal authorities cannot impose blanket bans New Mexico State Forestry spokesman it’s not moving.” dents without a college background can suc- 11 years in a Pennsylvania federal prison after on such postings by convicts, although email Dan Ware said the evacuations came after the The fire was 15 percent contained and the ceed in MOOCs, which require participants to pleading guilty in 2012 to conspiring to solicit access is limited for prisoners, and messages fire jumped state Route 63. Officials asked cause was under investigation. The fire led to be self-directed and highly motivated. Students murder, make threatening communications and inciting violence are prohibited. Morton and residents in 140 homes - mostly used for the the evacuations of a church camp off Lake who have struggled or are new to college “are “use the Internet to place others in fear.” Morton, Chesser were involved in running the now summer - to leave as crews battled the 3.9- Elizabeth and a forest service campground the ones who most need a teacher who looks from Brooklyn, New York, and previously a stu- defunct website square-mile blaze near the communities of called Cottonwood, Judy said. Only a handful them in the eye and figures out how to moti- dent at Columbia University, was jailed for RevolutionMuslim.blogspot.com. Pecos and Tres Lagunas, about 25 miles east of campers were there, he said. Some 600 vate them,” said Greg Graham, who teaches threatening the writers of the satirical television That was linked to a US affiliate of banned of Santa Fe. They also evacuated camp- firefighters working in 85-degree heat used introductory writing at the University of Central show “South Park” for their depiction of the British group Al Muhajiroun, whose followers grounds and closed trailheads around Pecos, hoes, shovels and bulldozers to scrape away Arkansas. Prophet Mohammed in a bear outfit. have included a man arrested for the brutal Las Vegas and Santa Fe as they worked on brush on the rugged hillsides near Castaic Vince Kellen, a senior vice provost at the Morton wrote in his latest essay that US use killing of a British soldier in London last week. containment lines in hopes of preventing the along Interstate 5. Two firefighters suffered University of Kentucky, acknowledges the chal- of lethal drones against Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan Since federal prisoners are allowed to transmit fire from moving toward the capital city’s minor injuries. In fighting the blaze in New lenge but says it’s worth trying to expand the and Yemen had encouraged homegrown Islamist closely vetted email messages via special chan- watershed and the Tres Lagunas community. Mexico’s Santa Fe National Forest, a helicopter world of MOOCs. “We think this is a reasonable extremism. “The drone assassination of Anwar nels only to a small list of approved recipients, it Friday night, officials said a second, small- helped with efforts to secure the western way to reach some students,” he said. Kentucky Awlaki in Yemen, an Islamic preacher with tens of is possible that messages and essays by prison- er wildfire about 50 miles northwest of perimeter of the fire Friday morning, but it is among the states joining Coursera for the thousands of ardent Western followers, has yet ers such Morton and Chesser first went to some Albuquerque was also causing evacuations. was grounded by late morning due to high new initiative. Others include New York, to be avenged but his popularity has only risen of those recipients, who then arranged for post- State forestry said in a statement that the winds. Nearly 300 firefighters were working Colorado and Tennessee. Some states plan to after death,” Morton wrote, referring to the ing on the Internet. Thompson Ridge fire near Jemez Springs on the blaze, which was being fueled by grant credit to students who complete the American Muslim preacher killed in a 2011 US drone strike in Yemen. PROTECTED SPEECH started in the afternoon and had grown to an winds from the north and northwest. Officials online work while others will urge students to Another American militant, Zachary Chesser, Officials said they did not know precisely how estimated 725 acres by evening. The service said a downed power line ignited the blaze take the MOOCs to prepare for classes with high who was found guilty of conspiring with Morton Morton and Chesser arranged for the posting of said about 50 homes in the area had been Thursday. It’s the first major wildfire this year failure rates. to encourage attacks via the Internet on the cre- their messages. “Their communications with the evacuated and one home was damaged by in New Mexico, which is in its driest two-year ators of “South Park,” has also posted material outside are limited to approved contacts only the fire. The blaze was still burning uncon- period in nearly 120 years of record keeping. BACKLASH while in prison. His postings appear on another and subject to careful monitoring and review to trolled Friday night with more than 80 fire “It has been a slow start to the season, until The deals coincide with a rising backlash website www.aseerun.org and mainly air person- ensure that they do not facilitate criminal activity personnel on the scene, but officials said its this point,” said State Forester Tony Delfin. against MOOCs. Earlier this month, the provost al grievances, along with some political material. or pose a threat to the public or the correctional growth had slowed, reducing any immediate “Now we expect the conditions to go on until of American University in Washington DC, Chesser is serving a 25-year prison sentence in facility,” said Dean Boyd, a Justice Department threats to structures. the monsoons come or the weather changes announced a “moratorium on MOOCs,” saying a Marion, Illinois, for the “South Park” case and for spokesman. —Reuters Meanwhile, the wind helped crews work- the pattern.”— AP serious debate was in order on issues such as SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013 INTERNATIONAL Guatemalan mine dispute militarizes region

SAN RAFAEL LAS FLORES: The neigh- istration but also a warning to other for- ation isn’t going to change until the involves the chemical reagent zinc boomed, driven in large part by growing bors of the San Rafael silver mine no eign companies seeking to invest in the president comes to deal with it.” cyanide, which Davila said “is not dis- demand from China. In Peru, such longer come out of their homes for fear region. The residents of San Rafael, how- The company and its supporters deny charged into rivers because it is reused protests have presented a major chal- of the machine-gun toting troops and ever, say they’re been left with no choice the town’s accusations, saying the mine at the same site.” lenge to President Ollanta Humala, while police who man checkpoints in these but to fight and accuse the government will instead bring jobs and tens of mil- “Half of the (mine’s) employees are similar outrage over foreign exploitation green, wooded mountains. The plaza in of favoring foreign investors over com- lions of dollars to local governments and from San Rafael and 95 percent are of local resources helped defeat presi- the town of San Rafael Las Flores, where munities. “This is affecting us, we feel communities. Andres Davila, the mine’s Guatemalans,” Davila said. “For every dol- dents in Bolivia. Activists say problems at the community used to mingle, is now intimidated,” said 18-year-old Miriam coordinator of corporate communica- lar, 35 cents will stay in Guatemala for the Guatemala mine began in 2007, deserted. The fear that rules this terrain, Munoz, whose nervous parents didn’t tions, said the metal will be extracted taxes, royalties and voluntary contribu- when the owner at the time, Canada’s where residents are mostly Xinca want her to go to school because of all through a flotation process in which the tions.” Claudia Samayoa, director of Goldcorp Inc., came to San Rafael with Indians, recall the bad old days of the the soldiers and police outside. “The situ- ore is passed through water. The process Guatemala’s Human Rights Defense Unit, an exploration license. In 2010, the mine country’s three-decade-long civil war, said the political damage has already was sold to Tahoe Resources. “Since then which killed as many as 200,000 people. been done. “One interesting thing we the problems have aggravated,” said But what’s brought in the troops this have been finding in San Rafael Las Oscar Morales, president of the time are protests over plans by Flores and the communities affected by Community Development Council, Vancouver-based Tahoe Resources Inc. the state of siege is that people who which serves as a link between locals to tap what the company says is one of supported the president are telling us and political authorities. He spoke with the five largest silver deposits in the they no longer back him,” said. the AP from a secret location where he world. Indeed, a new poll by CID Gallup has been in hiding since authorities raid- Protesters say the project, called El shows approval of Perez Molina’s presi- ed his and family members’ homes Escobal, will drain or pollute the local dency falling 20 percentage points over searching for arms. He said nothing water supply, and hundreds of people the past year, from 68 percent in May turned up in the searches. have blocked roads and burned build- 2012 to 48 percent this May. The poll, Morales said eight community con- ings to stop it from going forward. That’s which was conducted between May 2-9 sultations of 4,222 adults found that tested President Otto Perez Molina, who and had a margin for error of 3 percent- nearly all of them opposed the mine. He sent in hundreds of troops and suspend- age points, cites street violence and a said he wants to hold another legally ed the right to hold public gatherings in lack of jobs for the fall. binding community consultation about four townships near the mine in early Such conflicts are breaking out all the mine, but municipal governments May. It was the second time during his over Latin America, where local resist- have refused. The violence has only 16 months in office that he has declared ance to foreign-driven mining projects grown more destructive the longer the a state of siege in response to protests have paralyzed whole regions and dispute remains unresolved. On Sept 17, against a foreign-run mining project. claimed dozens of casualties. At the 2012, mine workers transporting tubes With violence rising, the mine SAN RAFAEL LAS FLORES: Residents walk past a cordon of soldiers standing same time, such projects have become for electrical cables on the main highway protests have now emerged not only as guard at a checkpoint in San Rafael Las Flores, Guatemala. — AP ever more popular as world prices for were stopped and held by local residents a threat to Perez Molina’s young admin- copper, iron ore and other metals have opposed to the mine.— AP

Greying Japan complains Asian arms build-ups of the noise of children TOKYO: As Japan’s population declines, the noise they naturally make, which ‘could be dangerous’ intolerance of children and the noise they spawns complaints about them and con- make is increasing in a society getting tributes to the growing feeling among less accustomed to hearing them, child- younger parents that they don’t want to care experts say. In a nation where con- have more children.” Maeda said when Asia warned against destabilizing arms race venience stores blare electronic greetings she was involved in a project to build day- and political candidates shout through care centers in Yokohama, a sprawling SINGAPORE: Asian countries must guard high-volume megaphones at train sta- city that melds into Tokyo, she faced a lot against destabilizing the region with increased tions, day care centers are putting up of opposition from those living nearby. arms spending, defense chiefs warned at an sound barriers to muffle the din that tod- “We were once told not to take the chil- international security conference yesterday. dlers make and sports clubs are restrict- dren for a walk” because they make too Asian governments, boosted by stronger eco- ing the times that youngsters can play much noise, she said. nomic growth and worried by regional tensions, outside to avoid upsetting the neighbors. Nobuto Hosaka, mayor of Tokyo’s have been beefing up their armed forces and Childcare experts and politicians have Setagaya ward, who has built up a size- there are fears the build-ups could be dangerous voiced concern that this creates a self- able following on Twitter for his com- in the long run if not managed well. perpetuating problem in a country with a ments on the issue said he fears for the “There are indeed inherent perceptional falling birthrate, where it is seen as less future of a country that cannot tolerate sensitivities in military build-ups that could acceptable for parents to expect non-par- the natural noise of children. “I’m told that create miscalculations, misjudgments, and mis- ents to put up with inconveniences kids at one middle school got complaints trust,” Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo caused by their offspring. When it comes from people living nearby about the Yusgiantoro told the Shangri-La Dialogue, an to complaints, “it’s now happening daily,” chanting when they were doing running annual forum in Singapore. “In order to avoid said Masako Madea, a specialist in popu- practice,” he said. “Now they have to prac- military modernization becoming destabiliz- lation at Japan’s Konan University. “As tice in silence.” Outdoor playtime at one ing, there is a need for greater strategic trans- society has fewer and fewer children, daycare centre is limited to 45 minutes a parency.” people get less used to hearing them. day, whatever the weather and a tradi- Asia overtook European members of NATO “It’s a vicious circle: fewer children tional festival in another town now has to in terms of nominal military spending for the make people less accustomed to hearing be held indoors. —AFP first time last year, according to a report by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) released in March. In the annual report on the world’s militaries, the Kyrgyzstan declares emergency IISS-which organizes the Shangri-La Dialogue- said China’s defense spending in real terms after bloody gold mine clashes rose 8.3 percent between 2011 and 2012, while BISHKEK: Parts of Kyrgyzstan were under ance, switched off the power, as they had in Asia as a whole, spending rose 4.94 percent curfew yesterday after clashes between done a day earlier. The activists have called last year. security forces and protesters who want a on the government to nationalize the Globally, China now ranks second behind the Canadian-owned gold mine nationalized Kumtor mine, which has been wholly United States in total military spending, led the president to declare a state of emer- owned by Centerra Gold since it started although the Pentagon’s annual budget of $600 SINGAPORE: US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (center) poses with Japan’s Defense gency. President Almazbek Atambayev operations in 1997. Atambayev on Friday billion still dwarfs Beijing’s arms expenditure. Minister Itsunori Onodera (left) and South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin for photog- signed the declaration Friday for the declared a state of emergency in the trou- Philip Hammond, Britain’s secretary of state for raphers before their trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the International Institute for Dzheti-Ogyzsky district of the northern bled district, which includes a 9:00 pm to defense, said rising defense spending in Asia Strategic Studies Shangri-la Dialogue yesterday. — AFP Issyk Kul region, where the protesters have 6:00 am curfew. The state of emergency was “worrying” as it was taking place against the converged on the mine. will last until June 10. “All the organizers of backdrop of growing tensions over territorial China Sea, and with Japan over the Senkaku $20 to $31.6 billion while Japan maintained its The violence broke out after the arrests the meeting at Kumtor will be punished in disputes and competition for resources. “(It) has islands, which Beijing calls the Diaoyus, in the defense budget throughout the period at $60 of dozens of demonstrators cut off power full accordance with the law. I guarantee the potential to escalate and become at best a East China Sea. billion. to the Kumtor mine, owned by the that as president of the country,” said prolonged source for instability and at worst, a And on the Korean Peninsula, tensions But Tokyo in January announced that it Canadian mining group Centerra Gold. Atambayev. driver for conflict,” he said. remain high between US-backed South Korea would increase military spending this year for Prosecutors said 92 people were arrested “We will not give them the chance to On May 9, a Philippine coast guard ship fired and the nuclear-armed North. Latest statistics the first time in over a decade by over $1.15 bil- when security forces moved in to disperse shake and destroy the country.” The on a Taiwanese fishing vessel along their sea released by the Stockholm International Peace lion under a ruling party plan. Japanese Defense the protest over the mine, retake control of protests started late on Thursday when border, killing a fisherman. Taipei reacted angrily Research Institute showed China’s estimated Minister Itsunori Onodera, who also spoke at the an electrical substation and dismantle the hundreds of people stormed the local sub- and held naval exercises near the Philippines in a defense spending nearly quadrupled from $37 Singapore defense conference, justified the activists’ camp. But this sparked a new station that supplies the high-altitude mine show of force against its bigger but poorly billion in 2000 to $166 billion in 2012. India’s country’s increased spending. “We believe it is protest Friday morning, as thousands of and cut off the electricity. As a result, pro- equipped neighbor. defense spending has grown 67 percent since essential to build-up a defense posture that will locals began a march to call for their duction at the mine, one of resource-poor China is locked in a territorial dispute with 2000, reaching $46.1 billion in 2012, it said. contribute to the enhancement of regional release. Kyrgyzstan’s biggest assets, was halted, four Southeast Asian countries in the South South Korea’s defense investments swelled from peace and stability,” he said. — AFP Local media quoted eyewitnesses as Centerra Gold acknowledged in a state- saying 3,000 locals from the Dzheti- ment from its Toronto office. Ogyzsky district close to the Kazakh and The company acknowledged the steps China borders, where the substation is taken by the Kyrgyz authorities. But it located, staged a march to demand their added: “...until calm returns and safe and Japan, eyeing China, grants liberation. They blocked roads and occu- secure access can be restored, the pied local administration buildings, the Company will continue with an orderly reports said. One bus transporting special shutdown of the mine facilities.” In the $14 billion in aid to Africa forces was set on fire. The security forces hit meantime, it was taking steps to ensure the back with tear gas and rubber bullets. At safety of staff and keep the mine on stand- least 55 people, including a dozen mem- by with measures to stop any damage from Tokyo scrambles to grab resources, market share bers of the security forces, were wounded, freezing, the statement added. Shares in said a health ministry statement. the company fell nearly eight percent in YOKOHAMA: Japan said yesterday its ODA, but reports suggest it nomic growth. “Africa’s rapidly expansion at a time that their The protesters then marched again on trading at the Toronto stock exchange it would give $14 billion in aid to gives up to $2 billion annually. The growing market is not less attrac- home market is contracting and the Tamga substation and, without resist- Friday. —AFP Africa over five years, as Tokyo figure Japan announced Saturday tive than its natural resources to stultifying because of a population scrambles to grab resources and outstrips that significantly. Japanese companies.” that is rapidly ageing and is fore- market share at a time of increased The five-yearly Tokyo Abe called for the introduction cast to shrink. Those hopes were interest in the region from China. International Conference on of transparent rules on business also given a boost in the form of Around half of the money will be African Development (TICAD), a and efforts to boost security for plans to expose Africans to targeted at infrastructure develop- get-together of political leaders Japanese living and working there. Japanese companies through edu- ment, with Japan seeking to match from across Africa, is Japan’s two- The focus on private-sector invest- cation and training. Over the next its firms’ desire to export transport decade-old effort to boost links. ment was welcomed by delegates, five years, Abe said, Japan will systems and power grids with the Tokyo’s commitment to Africa dif- with South African President Jacob invite 1,000 students to study in gaping needs of the continent. fered from that of other nations, Zuma saying the continent’s econ- universities and gain experience as Japan’s overseas development Abe said, in remarks that appeared omy had to develop.”Africa must interns at Japanese companies, aid (ODA) “will be about 1.4 trillion to have been a reference to China. move from a path driven by com- and Tokyo will work to find jobs for yen ($14 billion)” Prime Minister Beijing is criticized in some corners modities export to one led by 30,000 people in Africa. Shinzo Abe told a three-day con- for what is sometimes seen as industrialization and diversifica- “Japan will also construct hubs ference in Tokyo involving the prosecuting little more than a tion,” he said. for human resource development leaders of more then 40 African resources grab and for not linking “Three points are crucial (in the at 10 locations in the field in Africa, countries. Including this aid, “Japan investment with demands for path to development): market inte- including in Ethiopia and Senegal. will offer up to 3.2 trillion yen in improved human rights or more gration, industrial development We will send experts in vocational support to Africa’s growth via pub- transparent governance in recipi- and infrastructure development.” training to these hubs,” Abe said. lic and private sector investment”, ent countries. The broad agreement on the need Makoto Katsumata, professor of he said. “Africa’s abundant natural for better transport connections African studies at Meiji Gakuin Despite relatively long-standing resources provide important busi- will be music to Abe’s ears after his University, said Tokyo was right not connections, Japan’s importance to ness opportunities for the ambitious pledge last month to to ape Beijing. “What Japan should Africa has slipped behind that of resource-poor Japan. But Japan treble exports of infrastructure to do is not just emulate China’s China, whose more aggressive would not explore and dig 30 trillion yen a year by 2020 as aggressive pursuit of natural approach has given it five times resources simply to bring them to part of his plan to reanimate resources, but something that the trading volume and eight Japan,” Abe said. “We will support Japan’s lifeless economy. builds on trust Japan has nurtured TAMGA: Protesters sit outside a power substation in the Kyrgyz village of Tamga, times the direct investment. China Africa so that African natural At the same time, Japan’s firms with African nations over the past some 300 km southeast of the capital Bishkek. — AFP does not give official amounts for resources will lead to African eco- see Africa as an opportunity for years,” he said. — AFP SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013 INTERNATIONAL

To people in Niger, Libya ‘El Dorado’ now a threat

AGADEZ: Libya, considered an El Dorado answer. “It’s the collapse of the Gaddafi terrorists hunted in Mali,” asserts Rhissa Ag could buy local accomplices to help them join hands in “helping to stabilize Libya”. for jobs and money when Muammar regime which has brought us all these Boula, a former Tuareg rebel chief who has carry out their dirty work,” says driver Ahmed During a visit to Niger’s capital Niamey on Gaddafi was its “Guide”, has become a ter- problems,” he said. Many people in Agadez become a counselor to Niger’s president. Maha. Anako has launched an appeal on Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Laurent rorist threat in the eyes of people in north- share Manzo’s nostalgia for Gaddafi, one of “After causing chaos in Mali, whence they behalf of the regional council, arguing that Fabius urged “joint action” with the Libyan ern Niger after two suicide bombings. Africa’s longest-serving despots, who was were chased out, the terrorists have taken NATO, which intervened in Libya in 2011, authorities and their neighbors against “ter- “Libya is no longer the country that fed us. killed in October 2011 after an eight- up refuge in Libya,” says Mohamed Adjidar, and the international community should rorist” groups.—AFP It has turned into a real threat to our month rebel insurgency. Under Gaddafi, member of an official commission set up peace,” Iliassou, a motorcycle taxi driver who both provided funds for northern to fight against the proliferation of light said in the main northern town of Agadez. Niger and supported Tuareg rebels based arms. On May 23, a suicide attack on a large mili- around Agadez from the 1990s, thousands tary base in the desert town killed about of local people went to work in Libya and A MALI-TYPE SCENARIO 20 people, mostly soldiers. At almost the sent money back to their families. Mohamed Anako, president of the same moment, a Nigerien employee was However, Tripoli’s new masters chased regional council of Agadez and a veteran of killed in another attack against the French many of these laborers out, and they are Tuareg uprisings in the 1990s, warns: “In nuclear giant Areva, where it mines urani- still doing so. About 1,500 clandestine Libya each tribe has its weapons, and that um in Arlit, 200 kilometers further north. workers from across west Africa, including benefits terrorist groups. At any moment, President Mahamadou Issoufou many Nigeriens, arrived in Agadez last we could face terrorist attacks.” Seeing blamed Islamic extremists who had weekend. Some wander around the town southern Libya as a “real threat”, Sultan crossed into Niger from Libya, the north- like lost souls, nursing hopes of sneaking Ibrahim Elhadj Oumarou, the most senior ern neighbor of the vast sub-Saharan back across the Libyan border. “Before Muslim dignitary in the city, “calls on the country, for both attacks. In the ochre dust becoming a terrorist sanctuary, Libya (Nigerien) state to guard this border well”. of the alleys in Agadez, from the outdoor helped breast-feed us,” retired police offi- “We need to deal with this Libyan zone tea-drinking holes known as “fadas” up to cer Abdou says. The new Libyan authorities before it’s too late,” Mohamed Adjidar says, the market and the famed mosque, resi- seem largely powerless to control the arguing that otherwise, “a Mali-type scenario dents are talking about what Libya has whole of their vast territory, though this could happen here in the north of Niger.” become. “How could such a generous and week they denied that the country has Armed Islamist movements seized control of calm country transform itself into a mon- become a hotbed of terrorists since armed northern Mali on the back of a Tuareg upris- ster?” asked schoolteacher Alousseini Islamists were routed from towns in neigh- ing last year, before they were driven out of Algabas. boring northern Mali. the main towns by a French-led military The chief of the local radio station “The south of Libya, where anarchy intervention that started in January. AGADEZ: A picture shows materials which belonged to Islamists and Sahara FM, Ibrahim Manzo, has his own reigns, has become a safe haven for the “With a few banknotes, the terrorists seized in the army barracks in Agadez, northern Niger. —AFP India promises to weed out military corruption Govt rolls out plan to indigenize defense industry NEW DELHI: India’s military, one of the world’s approach. Defense Minister A K Antony in a fore- to Indian officials to ensure Finmeccanica’s largest weapons buyers, unveiled new arms acqui- word to the policy paper said he hoped the proce- British unit AgustaWestland won the contract, sition policy yesterday aimed at weeding out cor- dure will be a “progressive step aimed at giving according to Italian media reports. An Indian ruption in the defense sector. The policy impetus to indigenization, creating (a) level play- preliminary inquiry report has linked four firms, announcement comes just over a week after ing field... and expediting the procurement four Westerners and seven Indians to the bribery Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pledged to crack process as a whole”. allegations. The governing Congress party, up down on defense corruption following a string of India is negotiating a series of huge procure- for re-election in May next year, has been hit by graft scandals that has put his government on the ment contracts, including for fighter jets, combat a string of scandals. Two ministers resigned last back foot. helicopters, as well as artillery, drones and elec- month after one was accused of interfering in a The defense ministry said the new policy would tronic warfare systems, as it seeks to update its graft probe and another was linked to a bribery seek the “highest standard of transparency” in arms ageing military hardware. Premier Singh a week allegation. purchases for the country’s million-plus military, ago warned he was committed to make purchas- The defense scandal erupted at a time when the world’s fourth largest. “(It) aims to balance the es of military hardware more “transparent, the government was already fighting charges by competing requirements of expediting capital pro- smooth, efficient and less vulnerable to unethical the national auditor that under-pricing of the sale curement... and conforming to the highest stan- practices”. In February, public anger over alleged of telecom spectrum and cut-rate allocation of dards of transparency, probity and public account- bribes paid by Italian company Finmeccanica to coalfields cost the exchequer billions of dollars. ability,” the defense ministry said in a statement. secure a $748 million contract for 12 helicopters The controversy paralyzed parliament and In a bid to boost India’s domestic defense forced New Delhi to order an investigation and derailed measures to further open up the state- industry, the policy gives first right of refusal to suspend the deal. controlled economy as growth plunged to a PALAIYA: Indian farm laborers harvest millet in a field at Palaiya village of Indian vendors, according a “higher preference Italian prosecutors suspect kickbacks worth decade-low of five percent in the last financial Dehgam Taluka, some 50 kms from Ahmedabad. Indian agriculture solely explicitly to the Buy Indian, Buy and Make Indian” around 50 million euros ($64 million) were paid year.—AFP depends on good monsoon rains and with the Indian economy striving hard to accelerate its momentum. —AFP Indian monsoon rains Pakistan’s new lawmakers bring cheer to farmers sworn in, face many tests NEW DELHI: The annual monsoon, crucial the erratic rains to soak around 60 percent ISLAMABAD: Newly elected members to India’s food output and economic of the country’s farmland-despite calls for of Pakistan’s National Assembly were growth, hit the southwest coast yesterday, the government to improve irrigation and sworn in yesterday, officially marking bringing cheer to farmers and boosting water-harvesting methods to ensure more the first transition of power between hopes for the struggling economy. The stable crop output. The rains are crucial this democratically elected civilian govern- keenly awaited rains lashed the state of year for central parts of the western state of ments in the nearly 66-year history of Kerala and parts of neighboring Tamil Nadu Maharashtra, India’s biggest sugar-produc- this coup-prone country. Among the and will now sweep across India, resulting er, which has been reeling from the worst steep challenges the legislators will in torrential downpours over the coming drought in over four decades. Last year face: massive energy shortages that months for hundreds of millions of farmers India got below-normal rain in the first half leave some Pakistanis without power who rely on the seasonal precipitation. of the wet season. The rains picked up in for up to 20 hours a day; a badly ailing “The southwest monsoon has set in over some areas later, but large areas of west economy that might force the Muslim- Kerala,” the weather office announced on its and south India did not benefit. majority nation to seek an international website. The rains that lash the subconti- The Congress-led national govern- bailout; and ongoing militant activity nent from June to September are dubbed ment’s hopes of at least six percent eco- by Taleban and other extremists whose the “economic lifeline” of India, one of the nomic growth this financial year-up from a violence has killed thousands in the world’s leading producers of rice, sugar, decade low of five percent last year-hinge past decade and badly strained wheat and cotton. The rains normally hit on a normal monsoon. A good monsoon is Pakistan’s alliance with the United the southwest coast at the start of June but also vital for the ruling Congress party States. Arriving at the Parliament build- ing in Islamabad on a bright, hot day ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Premier-elect Nawaz Sharif (left, first row) takes the oath along with oth- memories remain fresh of India’s devastat- ahead of elections due in 2014 as it strug- under tight security, the lawmakers er parliamentarians at Parliament House in Islamabad yesterday. —AFP ing drought in 2009 that resulted in shriv- gles to kickstart growth in the country of were immediately mobbed by eled crops. The weather department has 1.2 billion people. Agriculture contributes fers of power between civilian leaders the United States - could also define his recent strike the Pakistani Taleban said reporters. Among those in the spot- will become the norm and ultimately rule. India and Pakistan, which are both they would not participate in any forecast India will receive normal rains this about 15 percent to gross domestic prod- light was the incoming Prime Minister, year, raising prospects of a stronger per- uct but the livelihood of hundreds of mil- lead to more government accountabili- nuclear-armed, have fought three negotiations. Nawaz Sharif, whose Pakistan Muslim ty. The last time Sharif was prime minis- major wars, but in recent years have A statement issued by the PML-N formance by Asia’s third-largest economy. lions of Indians living in rural areas League-N handily won the May 11 India’s 235 million farmers still rely on depends on the farming sector. —AFP ter his government was widely reviled tried to improve their relations. Sharif late Friday said Sharif had expressed elections. “We are facing many chal- to the point where many Pakistanis has said he wants those efforts to con- “deep disappointment” over the lenges, but God willing, we will over- were happy to see the army kick him tinue, not least because India could Wednesday drone strike. The state- come them,” said Sharif, who twice out. But many in the country are now prove a good trading partner. ment called the strike a violation of served as prime minister in the 1990s happy he’s back, and, because of his Dealing with the United States Pakistan’s sovereignty and internation- Malaysia probes and was ousted in a 1999 military coup. business background, are especially could be in some ways a trickier matter. al law. It did not mention Waliur The 63-year-old is expected to be keen on seeing him move to fix the While officially a US ally in the fight Rehman or the Pakistani Taleban. The sworn in as prime minister and appoint economy. Sharif and his advisers are against terrorists, Pakistanis have long statement said a Sharif aide had con- death in custody his Cabinet in the coming week. searching for ways to revive the econo- been at odds with the US on some of veyed his sentiments to the US Outgoing Speaker of Parliament my without turning to the International its tactics, especially drone strikes on Embassy. The US regards such missile KUALA LUMPUR: The wife of a man who ashamed and saddened as a Malaysian Fehmida Mirza solemnly administered Monetary Fund for a bailout. Perhaps Pakistani soil. The most recent drone attacks as legal, but President Barack died in custody in Malaysia accused offi- citizen.” Two staples were still left in the oath to incoming legislators at the most critical step in saving the strike came Wednesday, and the Obama recently described plans to fur- noon. Afterward, lawmakers were cers yesterday of torturing her husband Dhamendran’s ear lobes, said N economy will be to address the energy Pakistani Taleban militant group said it ther restrict drone use in the future. called up to the front of the hall one by before beating him to death, in the latest Surendran, the family’s lawyer and an crisis, which has been exacerbated by killed their deputy leader, Waliur According to the statement, the Sharif one to sign documents formalizing the refusal of many Pakistanis to pay Rehman. Sharif wants to resolve differ- aide described the strike as especially alleged act of police brutality. Truck driv- opposition politician. “This is obviously a their membership. The PML-N has cap- er N Dhamendran died on May 21 in a form of torture by the police. Not one their electricity bills. How Sharif deals ences with the Pakistani Taleban regrettable since it came within days of tured 176 seats in the 342-member with two other countries - India and through peace talks, but after the Obama’s speech.—AP police lock-up, 10 days after he was inch of Dhamendran’s body was spared lower house of Parliament. The previ- arrested over a fight. His lawyer said he from beating,” Surendran told reporters. ous ruling Pakistan People’s Party was had staple wounds in his ears and “not “There is adequate evidence to bring crushed, earning just 39 seats. one inch” of his body was spared from murder charges against all police person- Former cricket star Imran Khan’s ‘Karachi affair’ suspect beating. nel involved.” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party won 35 Police have opened a murder inquiry Allegations of police brutality in seats, and has pledged to act as a after a postmorten revealed “criminal ele- Malaysia are frequent, but prosecutions strong opposition. Khan, who is still charged, held in France ments”, and four officers who were ques- are few. According to the home ministry, recovering after fracturing three verte- tioning the suspect are under investiga- a total of 156 detainees died in custody brae and a rib when he fell off a forklift PARIS: French authorities have charged a Franco-Lebanese the same evening, said the source. The case has been attached tion. They have been reassigned to desk from 2000 to 2011. Home Minister Zahid in the last few days of the campaign, businessman at the centre of a high-profile political scandal, a to two other ongoing investigations into Takieddine’s affairs. duty but remain on the force. Hamidi said interrogation procedures did not attend yesterday’s session. The day after detaining him on suspicion he was trying to flee the Contacted by AFP, one of his lawyers, Francis Vuillemin, said Dhamendran’s family said the post- would be reviewed, including ensuring simple act of the oath-taking was his- country, a legal source said. On Thursday, police detained Ziad Takieddine’s efforts to obtain a Dominican passport had been mortem showed 52 injury marks on his proper monitoring of suspects’ question- toric in Pakistan, a country of 180 mil- Takieddine on suspicion that he was making plans to flee the to facilitate plans to make investments in the country and had body, including extensive bruising and ing. “We will re-evaluate the present reg- lion that was carved out of India in country, despite a ban on foreign travel, by trying to obtain a nothing to do with any plans to flee France. wounds likely made by a cane and sta- ulations so that there will not be any sim- 1947. For most of its history, military diplomatic passport, said a source close to the case. His client had always respected the terms of his bail, he pler. Dhamendran’s wife M. Marry called ilar deaths in the future,” he was quoted coups and other political turmoil pre- Police who conducted a search of his Paris home on April added. “Ziad Takieddine has therefore absolutely not ‘bought’ vented elected civilian governments 11 had found an email that suggested he had paid 200,000 a passport, nor sought to quit French territory,” he said. on authorities to swiftly charge those by The Star newspaper as saying. “Those from finishing their terms. Despite its euros ($260,000) to try to get the document from the Takieddine is embroiled in several scandals in France, some of involved with murder, which carries the responsible are individuals, not the widely perceived incompetence, the Dominican Republic. As a result, Paris prosecutors launched a which allegedly involve former President Nicolas Sarkozy and mandatory death penalty upon convic- entire force.” Last year, a Malaysian court fact that the government led by the preliminary investigation in early May into the alleged corrup- other high-profile politicians. Perhaps the most notorious mat- tion. sentenced a constable to three years in People’s Party survived its full five-year tion of a foreign public official and for fraud. He was ques- ter is the so-called Karachi affair, in which he has been charged “He didn’t even fight back. But look at jail over the death in custody of another term was a significant accomplish- tioned by investigating magistrates on Friday morning before with corruption over commissions he allegedly received in what they did to him,” she said with tears ethnic Indian man, which made head- ment. Pakistanis hope peaceful trans- being charged and remanded in custody for those offences 1994 arms deals. —AFP in her eyes. “I want them hanged... I’m lines in 2009. —AFP 14 SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013 ANALYSIS

THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

Founder and Publisher YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-ALYAN EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432 ADVERTISING : 24835616/7 FAX : 24835620/1 CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163 ACCOUNTS : 24835619 COMMERCIAL : 24835618 P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait. E MAIL :[email protected] Website: www.kuwaittimes.net

Issues New study on forgiveness in the Arab world

By Ilham Nasser and Mohammad Abu-Nimer

n these days of political unrest and constant change in Ithe Arab world, there are many instances of violence and a pervading lack of trust among people. More than ever, people wonder what mechanisms need to be in place to heal and repair relationships between people and public institutions. The two of us, Dr Ilham Nasser and Dr Mohammad Abu-Nimer, who specialize in early childhood education and conflict resolution respectively, embarked on a comprehensive three-year study in 2010 on the topic of teaching forgiveness in four Arab countries - Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine. Stop the madness - the deepening sectarian divide This pioneering study concluded its initial phase earlier this year and contributed to the understanding of forgive- Dr James J Zogby of whom have affiliated with al Qaeda) who have entered Syria their sponsors must be made to realize that in continuing this ness and reconciliation in the region both conceptually and to wage war on behalf of their brethren. conflict no one will win, and everyone will lose. how it can be applied practically to stop violence and build n “Looking at Iran”, a report on Iran’s precipitous decline in Listening to the rhetorical excesses coming from all sides As the events of the last week have made clear, we’re not trust. Based on interviews with teachers in the region, results Arab public opinion, our polling establishes several trends in can be quite disturbing. Using apocalyptic references, they there yet. The opposition coalition and its fighting forces suggest that when people from different countries and reli- I attitudes unfolding across the Middle East. The most worri- warn of the calamities that will follow should their side lose, remain hopelessly divided with a fractured leadership and gions are faced with a situation that requires forgiveness, some is the deepening sectarian divide that threatens to while promising that with victory all will be well. This deadly competing agendas. And the regime, as tone-deaf as ever, still there are differences in their willingness to forgive an offend- unravel several states, posing a long-term challenge to the zero-sum game is both dangerous and fatally flawed, because believes it will weather this storm. Their sponsors and support- er. region’s stability. Several Arab states are already in turmoil, vic- in reality this is a war that no one can win, and the conse- ers, East and West, appear determined to continue to fuel the For example, teachers were given a hypothetical situation tims of this phenomenon. Sectarian tension in Lebanon is an quences of continuing it will only make the situation worse. conflict, in the belief that they can secure some advantage. in which someone attends a wedding at a neighbor’s house, old story, as it is in Bahrain. Iraq has once again exploded in For months now, in battle after battle, both the regime and My father-in-law, who possessed a delightfully sardonic wit taking a gift along, only to discover that when they later sect violence. And the situation in Kuwait has become a con- its opposition predicted victory. At one point, Aleppo was soon had an expression he would use in a situation like this. One invite the same neighbor to a wedding the neighbor doesn’t cern. to fall. Then Damascus was threatened. Now it’s the regime and day, while driving on the highway, he realized he was lost. But show. Participants in Lebanon and Egypt were more forgiv- Our polling shows that most Arabs blame Iran for foment- its allies’ turn to promise a “decisive” victory in al Qusayr. But it the road ahead appeared to be clear of traffic (a rarity to be ing of the neighbor than in Jordan and Palestine. It was also ing this division, and point to the war that is destroying Syria as is all illusion. There will be no decisive victory. There is only a enjoyed by a New Yorker), and so he joked, “we don’t know harder for these teachers to forgive when the act was inten- the major driver behind these sectarian tensions. Iran, one stalemate bringing more death and more destruction. And in where we’re going, but we’re making good time”. When I hear tional or related to a close family member. might say, has worked hard to earn this reputation. From the the end, there is the unraveling of Syria and the entire region Senator John McCain calling for more arms, air strikes, no-fly Our study was followed by two regional workshops held earliest days of the Islamic Republic, they agitated, they pro- which will, if this continues, only descend further into a sectari- zones and the like; when I hear the dangerous pronounce- in Amman, Jordan in March 2013 for teachers, curriculum voked, and they meddled. an hell. ments coming from apologists for the various sides, I want to specialists and university faculty to discuss the results and When challenged, they fell back on their time-tested claims A month or so ago, a front page photo in the New York ask “do you know where are you going, and where is this tak- look for ways to incorporate the findings into school curricu- to be the “leader of the resistance against the West” and a Times caught my attention. It was a picture of a bombed out ing Syria, its people and the region?” la in the Arab world. Teachers debated the best term to source of popular revolution. For a while, it worked. But in bru- street scene in Aleppo. The destruction was horrific. In the fore- That is why it is imperative that negotiations take place describe forgiveness in Arabic. Some people used the term tally crushing their domestic opposition “Green Movement” ground of the photo a young man, with a semi-automatic bringing all the combatants and their supporters together to gufraan which has religious connotations while others used and in so overtly playing the sect card in Iraq, Bahrain, and now weapon in his lap, sitting in a chair that, from the looks of it, seek an end to this conflict. Talks will not be pretty. But those musamaha, the broader term we ultimately chose for its Syria, they have, our polling shows, defined their regional role had been salvaged from someone’s living room. The caption who fear that Iran will emerge victorious should a negotiated larger cultural and social resonance. as a sectarian power that is hell bent on defending, not the read “Syria’s Rebels Make Gains in Aleppo”. The question that solution be found, are mistaken. That ship has sailed - Iran has Once the terminology was agreed upon we were able to people’s will, but their own self-interest. occurred to me was “if this picture describes a ‘gain’, what will exhausted its regional standing. And those who fear that an move forward on constructing curriculum materials to While this is true, instead of working to defuse tensions and victory look like?” What consumes me in all of this are the inno- extremist failed state will inevitably be the result of any com- address forgiveness in schools. To that end, a pilot of the new to eliminate the sources of sectarianism, too many regional cents who have died at the hands of the regime’s wanton vio- promise are also mistaken. In fact the best guarantee that both proposed curriculum in Jordan and Lebanon is scheduled for players have stepped in pouring gasoline on raging fires - with lence, and those who have died in the continuing futility of this nightmare scenarios do not occur is that a negotiated solution Fall 2013. Educators came to the workshop with stories Syria being the best example. What began as a popular revolt proxy war. Equally troubling are the millions who are languish- be found that is endorsed and backed up by the international about forgiving people on a daily basis. One participant told against a brutal and ossified dictatorship, Syria has now degen- ing in refugee camps, and those who have been internally dis- community. the story of a 14-year old boy whose hand was stepped on erated into a bloody battlefield pitting sects and their regional placed - their suffering and their loss is of nightmarish propor- It should be clear that at this point no resolution will be per- and broken by another student after being knocked down in allies against each other in a “dance unto death”. tions. fect. But even an imperfect peace will end the blood-letting, a crowded hallway. On the one side, is the Ba’ath regime, supported by Russia, And I also lament the destruction of the country of Syria putting Syria on the long and difficult road to reconstruction A fight started and both students were sent home. As the Iran, Hezbollah, and elements in the Iraqi government. Arrayed and the imminent danger a collapsed Syrian state poses to and reconciliation. Peace will spare millions of lives and may family of the victim sought reparations, the victim spoke out, against them are a host of Syrians (some of whom have defect- Lebanon and Jordan and beyond. Because so many have died save the region from the scourge of an unending sectarian saying he did not want to press charges and instead had for- ed from the armed forces and others who have formed militias and so many others have lost everything but their lives, and conflict. That is why the Kerry-Lavrov proposal should be given the student who broke his hand. Stories like these are receiving arms and support from a number of Arab states and because so many Syrians, especially its vulnerable Christian embraced. It remains the last best hope for Syria and the being incorporated into the design of the new curriculum as Turkey) and a cast of thousands of foreign Sunni fighters (some minority are living in fear, this madness must end. All sides and Middle East. a way to highlight real instances of forgiveness that will hopefully engage Arab students - ages 5 through 18 - in dis- cussion of these issues and alternative responses to situa- As hurricanes loom, Florida insurance lives on borrowed time tions they face. We are also designing a curriculum based on what the By David Adams where private companies dominate the mar- vate investors. Buyers of so-called cat bonds to be insured separately. Private insurers group felt were priorities for the Arab world and literature ket, Florida’s insurance system is tightly con- receive enhanced returns in exchange for the don’t cover many coastal homes in Florida produced by the International Forgiveness Institute in order other Nature has been kind to trolled by the state, and requires all compa- risk that their principal could be wiped out in which are insured instead by the federal flood to provide strategies to successfully introduce forgiveness in MFlorida’s coastline lately with a record nies to pay into a state-run Hurricane the event of disasters of a certain kind or size. insurance program. The state’s ‘Cat Fund’, cre- schools. It will include teaching students ways to cope with run of seven years without a hurri- Catastrophe Fund which acts as a safety net. By the end of this year cat bonds will provide ated to back up private insurers after Andrew, feelings of anger, revenge, frustration and despair, as well as cane making landfall, allowing property Louisiana has a similar system for its state well over $10 billion in coverage to the south- has also managed to build a large surplus, activities and lessons on rights and justice and conflict reso- insurers time to re-stock their depleted cof- property insurer, also called Citizens, and east and Florida, according to John Seo, co- amassing almost $12 billion to pay potential lution skills. We chose to work with teachers because of their fers. As a result, when the new six-month hur- California has its own safety net for earth- founder at cat bond investor Fermat Capital claims in the event of a major storm, accord- impact on students and thus their potential to be agents for ricane season gets underway yesterday, state quakes. Florida’s private insurance industry Management. ing to its director, Jack Nicholson. Although transforming attitudes and creating social change. insurance officials say the industry is ready to was ravaged in 1992 by Hurricane Andrew, Still, critics say the state’s consumer-wary he denied it was under-funded, Nicholson Given the amount of time they spend with students, withstand a major storm. “We are better posi- which caused $26 billion in damages in politicians have allowed Citizens to charge said the fund was vulnerable to volatility in teachers can play a critical role in the healing of communi- tioned today than I have seen in 10 years,” Miami-Dade county. The state was badly hit below-market rates, leaving the insurer the municipal bond market, which it relies on ties most impacted by the conflicts and upheaval in the Kevin McCarty, who heads the state’s Office of again when a series of storms hit south under-funded. They note that its total insured to meet a $17 billion obligation mandated by region. In the Middle East, forgiveness is part of the teach- Insurance Regulation said. Still, industry Florida in 2004 and 2005. Designed as a state- exposure has more than doubled since 2005, the state. A.M. Best, the main credit ratings ings of the region’s three main religions and the region fur- experts question whether Florida’s state-con- run insurer of last resort, Citizens has been and it faces a potential $21 billion payout in agency for the insurance industry, said Friday thermore has its own traditional tools for achieving this act trolled insurance system is able to cope in the left holding more than 1.3 million policies, the event of a once in a 100 years storm. it recognized the Cat Fund’s position had from Arab culture. One example is sulha, the act of an elderly long term. “It’s very fortunate for Florida that making it the state’s largest property insurer, “With the risk transfer we have really nar- improved of late. The recent run of weather member of a community playing the role of mediators when is has been able to build up its reserves, but with about 21 percent of the entire residen- rowed the gap. We haven’t closed the gap but luck may have saved the state from bankrupt- conflicts arise between families and individuals. the fact of the matter is that Florida is living tial market. Due to the lack of recent storms, we have narrowed the gap significantly,” cy, said Hartwig of the Insurance Information Yet, most schools and teachers don’t teach the skills and on borrowed time,” said Robert Hartwig, pres- Citizens has managed to build up a cash sur- Sharon Binnun, Citizens’ chief financial officer, Institute, noting that if a major storm had hit tools required for children to practice forgiveness because of ident of the Insurance Information Institute. plus of about $6.6 billion, plus another $1.8 told Reuters. Florida in the midst of the recession, the state their lack of time and expertise on the topic. Moving forward Just this week, Republican Governor Rick billion in reinsurance. would likely have been turned away by the in the Arab world will have to include forgiveness and recon- Scott signed a new property insurance law Citizens has tried to manage its exposure VULNERABLE TO A ONE-TWO PUNCH bond market. ciliation skills-building. The adoption of a forgiveness cur- designed to reduce the state’s exposure to by issuing catastrophe bonds, which allow Property insurance typically does not cov- Nicholson worries that unless the Cat riculum will equip teachers with tools to teach children hurricane losses by gradually steering home- insurance companies to transfer risk to pri- er hurricane-related flood damage, which has Fund increases its cash reserve, one big storm strategies they can use to resolve issues of violence and dis- owners towards private insurers. The new law could leave it empty, exposing insurers to the trust. also slashes the value of homes that the next big storm. If it has to borrow money to Mohammed Abu-Nimer serves as Director of the state-run Citizens Property Insurance can cov- meet claims, the Fund is required to place an Peacebuilding and Development Institute at American er, down from $2 million to $700,000. “assessment” on almost all insurance policies University. —CGNews Because of its size and geographical posi- in the state, from homes to cars, no matter if tion, with 1,200 miles of coastline on a penin- they live in inland areas not prone to hurri- sula sticking out into the warm waters where canes. Such assessments are decried by some the Caribbean meets the Atlantic, Florida is a as a tax that provides “welfare” for wealthy All articles appearing on these uniquely risky insurance market. Most of its beachfront homeowners. Policy holders are pages are the personal opinion of insured residential and commercial property - still paying off an assessment from the last the writers. Kuwait Times takes no 79 per cent - lies in coastal areas vulnerable to hurricane, Wilma in 2005. both wind damage and flooding. Coastal The bill signed by Governor Scott on responsibility for views expressed property is valued at just under $3 trillion, Wednesday aims to steer homeowners away therein. Kuwait Times invites read- according to a report due to be released next from Citizens and cap the value of homes that ers to voice their opinions. Please week by AIR Worldwide, a global leader in can be insured by the state-run company. The catastrophe risk modeling. Florida accounts legislature rejected a tougher bill that would send submissions via email to: opin- for almost 30 percent of the nation’s entire have accelerated that process by charging [email protected] or via snail $10 trillion coastal exposure, AIR found. new Citizens enrollees much higher premi- mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait. Only New York has as much exposure, with ums. “Citizens has gotten way too big...There The editor reserves the right to edit $3 trillion in coastal property, and that com- was no way in a significant hurricane that pares to $239 billion in South Carolina and SPACE: This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Citizens was going to be able to pay,” Scott any submission as necessary. $107 billion in Georgia. Florida is peculiar in satellite image taken by GOES East shows the southern Pacific coastal area told emergency officials in Miami on other ways too. Unlike most other states in Mexico. — AFP Thursday. —Reuters NEWS SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2013 World watches as Qusair burns Hezbollah, Syrian troops battle rebels BEIRUT: Syrian troops and Hezbollah guerrillas general situation in Qusair is desperate,” they said in a besieging the border town of Qusair fought with joint statement. The Observatory, an anti-Assad net- rebels yesterday as the United Nations warned all work that monitors the violence in Syria through med- sides they would be held accountable for the suffering ical and security sources on the ground, said at least of trapped civilians. The Britain-based Syrian one person was killed during fighting inside Qusair Observatory for Human Rights said fighting was tak- and that Assad’s troops were being reinforced ahead ing place inside Qusair and in villages around it, large- of a possible assault on the remaining rebel-held ly controlled by President Bashar Al-Assad’s forces who areas. Rebels also tried to attack the nearby Daba mili- have cut off access to the town. tary air base, seized by the army on Wednesday, and Rebels have pleaded for military help and medical fought Assad’s troops around Daba village, it said. aid for the hundreds of people wounded in the The two-week battle for Qusair is aimed at secur- onslaught by government forces, who are also fighting ing supply routes near the Syrian-Lebanese frontier, back fiercely around the capital Damascus and the which both sides accuse the other of using to bolster south and centre of the country. The battle for Qusair their forces inside Syria. For Assad, seizing Qusair is happening as the United States and Russia seek to would also allow him to cement control of a belt of overcome deep differences over Syria and bring the territory between the capital Damascus and his two sides to the negotiating table for a political solu- stronghold on the Mediterranean coast. The promi- tion to the civil war in which 80,000 people have been nent role of guerrillas from Lebanon’s Shiite group killed. Hezbollah has angered rebels, who have threatened United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was to take the battle into Lebanon unless Hezbollah monitoring the battle for Qusair “with the gravest con- withdraws. cern” and called on both sides to allow civilians to Early on Saturday at least seven rockets were fired escape the town, usually home to 30,000 people. “The into Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley from rebel-con- eyes of the world are upon them, and ... they will be trolled Syrian territory, security sources said. Most of held accountable for any acts of atrocity carried out the rockets landed in empty fields. No one was hurt against the civilian population of Qusair,” a UN state- but some buildings were hit by shrapnel. It was the ment said. UN emergency relief coordinator Valerie first time the area, about 60 km east of Beirut, had Amos and High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi been struck by rockets. Several barrages have fallen in Pillay said they were alarmed that thousands of civil- the northern Bekaa Valley and on Sunday two rockets ians may be trapped in Qusair. were fired at the Hezbollah stronghold of southern “We understand there may also be as many as 1,500 Beirut after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed wounded people in urgent need of immediate evacu- his fighters would battle in Syria to victory whatever ation for emergency medical treatment, and that the the cost. — Reuters

Arab Spring marks end of silence, submission Continued from Page 1 unlikely to roll back any of its Gulf ties, but could face uncomfortable questions from rights groups. The drama sums up the latest and perhaps most “Authorities believe they can frighten people into important and enduring phase of the Arab Spring, at silence and obedience. It has the exact opposite least in the Gulf region: Instead of more violence, effect. Look at what happened when they arrest explosions and crackdowns, the scenario now envi- someone for a Twitter post. One crackdown spawns sioned by many experts is a revolution transformed dozens more posts talking about it,” said Ahmed into nonviolent give-and-take between rulers and the Mansoor, a Dubai-based rights activist. “They try to ISTANBUL: A Turkish riot police officer pulls the hair of a protester as he detains her near the Taksim Gezi ruled. In this phase, the hereditary monarchs would stop the unstoppable.” park in Istanbul yesterday. — AFP keep their jobs but gradually surrender at least a To buy off dissent, the governments that can share of power under a system of laws. afford it have spent heavily to create civil service jobs The revolution that steamrolled from Tunisia to and other opportunities. Oman has a $180 million Erdogan defiant as Turkey burns Egypt and beyond in 2011 remains locked in horrific fund to help fund small businesses. Saudi Arabia has Continued from Page 1 He remains by far the country’s most popular politi- seesawing battles in Syria and simmering unrest in earmarked more than $100 billion, and despite its cian, but critics point to what they see as his authoritari- Bahrain. But the days of broad, falling-domino rebel- vast wealth, is so worried about unemployment and This has become a protest against the government, anism and the religiously conservative government’s lions have likely run their course. If Syrian President poverty that it is deporting undocumented foreign against Erdogan taking decisions like a king,” said Oral meddling in private life in the secular republic, accusing Bashar Assad goes, he will be the fifth ruler to be top- workers to open up jobs for its own citizens. Goktas, a 31-year old architect among a peaceful crowd him of behaving like a modern-day sultan. Tighter pled, but elsewhere the demands appear to be aim- Gulf security officials have rewired the region for walking towards Taksim. restrictions on alcohol sales and warnings against public ing lower and the resulting changes look more incre- greater intelligence-sharing and mutual aid, such as Stone-throwing protesters also clashed with police displays of affection in recent weeks have also led to mental. the Saudi-led force dispatched to Bahrain in early in the Kizilay district of central Ankara as a helicopter protests. Concern that government policy is allowing “The Arab Spring is moving into, let’s say, a more 2011 as its rebellion swelled. Their alliance has even fired tear gas into the crowds. Riot police with electric Turkey to be dragged into the conflict in neighboring mature phase,” says Ali Al-Ahmed, director of the broadened to include the other monarchy in the shock batons chased demonstrators into side streets Syria by the West has also sparked peaceful demonstra- Washington DC-based Institute of Gulf Affairs. “There neighborhood, Jordan, which has been increasingly and shops. Protests also broke out in the Aegean tions. is Syria, of course. But the rest of the region is moving brought into the Gulf fold. They are buying time,” said coastal city of Izmir late on Friday. Erdogan said the Residents hung out of windows and balconies bang- into a slow burn now. Voices are speaking up against Jordanian political analyst Labib Kamhawi. “In differ- redevelopment of Gezi Park was being used as an ing pots and pans in support of the protesters in the corruption and political arrogance in the Gulf, but ent ways, but they are buying time.” excuse for the unrest and warned the main opposition streets below. Medics said around 1,000 people had also in places like Egypt and Tunisia that went However, there are warning signs. In mid-May, Republican People’s Party (CHP), which had been given been injured in the clashes in Istanbul. At least four lost through their revolutions and are still undergoing a newspapers in Saudi Arabia reported that a man in permission to hold a rally in Istanbul, against stoking their eyesight after being hit by gas canisters, while political shakeout.” the capital, Riyadh, set himself ablaze and died after tensions. But the protests included a broad spectrum of four more were being treated for fractured skulls, the The Western-backed Arab royals are a close-knit police confiscated his vegetable stand. It was a simi- people opposed to Erdogan and were not organized by Turkish Doctors’ Association said. The US State alliance of Sheikhs, kings and Amirs ruling more than lar act in Tunisia that touched off the Arab Spring. any political party. Department said it was concerned by the number of 40 million citizens from Kuwait to Oman. The kings of Bahrain is the only country in the region with ongo- CHP officials called on its members not to take party injuries while Amnesty International and the European Jordan and Morocco rule some 40 million more. All ing violent confrontations. More than 60 people have flags with them to the protests, apparently concerned parliament raised concern about excessive use of face various pressures seeking to chip away at their died since February 2011, and tensions remain acute. they would be held responsible for the violence, and police force. party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu accused Erdogan of Erdogan acknowledged mistakes had been made in powers and privileges. The demands remain general- In late May thousands staged a “day of loyalty” in behaving like a dictator. “Tens of thousands are saying the use of tear gas and said the government was inves- ly too weak and disjointed to seriously threaten their solidarity with the island’s highest-ranking Shiite cler- no, they are opposing the dictator ... The fact that you tigating, but said the police reserved the right to use rule, but they still carry significance. ic, who has strongly backed the uprising against the are the ruling party doesn’t mean you can do whatever reasonable force and vowed that the redevelopment Each concession by the sheikhs and monarchs is Sunni-led monarchy. Through history, rebellions you want,” he said. Erdogan has overseen a transforma- plans for Taksim would go ahead. “Taksim Square can’t an acknowledgment that they cannot insulate them- against autocratic rule rarely have had simple out- tion in Turkey during his decade in power, turning its be a place where extremist groups hang around,” selves from the Arab Spring, and that for their long- comes. Decades after America’s own revolution, once crisis-prone economy into the fastest-growing in Erdogan said of a location which has long been a ven- term survival they will have to give the public greater political forces and ideologies were still jockeying for Europe. ue for mass demonstrations. — Reuters say in everything from their freedoms to their ties to the upper hand. The Arab Spring is no exception. Washington. Meanwhile, other subplots are likely to Islamists, such as the fringe Salafists in Tunisia or sharpen in places where revolution has swept the governing Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, now Hagel issues stern warning to Beijing through whether it’s ultraconservative Islamists have political space that was long restricted. Liberals pressing to expand their voice in Tunisia, or liberals in and moderates have to choose whether to stand their Continued from Page 1 He provided a glimpse into the broad review he Egypt trying to gain ground from the newly empow- ground or give way to Islamists and other newly ordered to determine whether budget cuts will force the ered Muslim Brotherhood. empowered factions. Meanwhile, Arabs under 30, for security in the region, and that Beijing and US military strategy to change - a year after Panetta Washington have to be inclusive and direct with each oth- unveiled it. International leaders have been watching the “The end of silence and submission is what the who are more than a third of the population, are see- er. “I think we’ve made continued progress,” he said. “And deliberations in Washington closely to see what the Arab Spring has brought,” Al-Ahmed said. “This is the ing little gain from the Arab Spring fallout. A ballot- we’ll make more progress.” roughly $487 billion in automatic spending cuts over the first tipping point for all regimes in the Middle East. style placard at Cairo University featured portraits of Defense officials said Hagel also broadly raised the next 10 years will mean to America’s commitment’s Bigger tipping points may come later. But all leaders all the new leaders brought in by the Arab Spring, issue of cybersecurity in a brief, informal meeting with Lt abroad. Already the military services have curtailed flight know you can’t bottle up an idea.” That doesn’t stop from Mohammed Morsi in Egypt to Yemen’s President Gen Qi Jianguo, PLA deputy chief, on Friday evening. The and combat training for many units, grounded some Air them from trying. Some of the most important battle Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. The box checked below officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Force squadrons and delayed or canceled some ship lines to come may not be on the streets but in court- was for None of the Above. they were not allowed to publicly discuss the content of deployments. rooms and cyberspace. Authorities are becoming “Going forward, the movements inspired by the the meeting, said it was one of several subjects that were The Pentagon has also announced it will furlough gatekeepers, allowing some reforms while blocking Arab Spring and the fallout from the revolutions may touched on in the session and that Hagel mentioned about 680,000 civilian employees for up to 11 days any serious challenges with tougher media laws, be less dramatic and more subtle,” said Ehsan Ahrari, plans for the formation of a cyber working group. through the end of the fiscal year. The initial report on the social media monitoring and heavy-handed political a Virginia-based strategic affairs analyst, “but that In his speech, Hagel said the US is determined to work strategy review was due to Hagel on Friday, and while he pressures. doesn’t mean they are less important about shaping closely with China and other nations to establish appro- said the outcome is not final, it should reflect the rise of In Abu Dhabi, 94 suspects from the United Arab how the future will look to the next generation.” This priate standards for behavior in cyberspace. And the US Asia. “For the region, this means I can assure you that Emirates, including scholars, lawyers and even a is still a “petri dish of democracy,” said Salman Shaikh, will also be looking to China for help in resolving ongoing coming out of this review, the United States will continue member of a ruling family, are on trial, accused of director of The Brookings Doha Center in Qatar. problems with North Korea, which in recent months has to implement the rebalance and prioritize our posture, being part of an Islamist-inspired plot to overthrow “You don’t impose democracy. You develop it,” he ratcheted up tensions in the region with a series of rocket activities and investments in Asia-Pacific,” he said. the government. International rights groups call the said. “Indian democracy is not exactly European launches, an underground nuclear test and threats of The Asia-Pacific, said Hagel, is at the epicenter of his- evidence weak, mostly based on emails and alleged democracy and that’s not exactly American democra- nuclear strikes against the US and its allies. toric changes around the world and the US is committed conversations about ways to open up a system that cy. The type of democracy that will eventually come Noting America’s longstanding tensions with China, to strengthening its military, economic and diplomatic bans political parties as well as almost all public dis- from the Arab Spring will take shape over years, Hagel said: “The key is for these differences to be partnerships with nations across the region. As part of sent. A verdict is expected July 2. maybe decades. You can’t rush it.” At an Arab media addressed on the basis of a continuous and respectful dia- that he noted that the US will set aside $100 million to Across the Gulf states, meanwhile, dozens have conference in Dubai this month, a recurring theme logue.” The two nations, he said, must build trust in order expand its military exercises in the region. Just finishing been arrested for Twitter posts and other social was summed up by Bassem Youssef, an Egyptian his third month as Pentagon Chief, Hagel used the to avoid military miscalculations. Much of the speech, media messages deemed insulting to leaders. They political satirist, in an oft-heard punch line: Freedom however, was designed as a follow-up to last year’s gath- speech to introduce himself on a more personal level to include a Qatari poet facing 15 years in prison for is messy, but people still crave the mess. ering, when then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta first the audience. For many he is a familiar face, since he was writing verses inspired by the Arab Spring. In Jordan, The forum then looked ahead with cautious pre- detailed what has been called the military’s new pivot to one of the founders of the conference in 2002, and as a King Abdullah II has agreed to step-by-step reforms, dictions for the Gulf - perhaps soft-pedaled a bit the Pacific. Hagel assured Asian nations that despite sharp US senator, was a speaker at the first three gatherings. budget cuts, the Pentagon will continue to shift its mili- He talked about his long ties to the region, including including ending the practice of hand-picking the because Dubai officials were on hand - that nonethe- tary troops, ships and aircraft to the Pacific region. his father’s service in World War II flying B-25 bombers