THE WORDS THAT ARE THE WISDOM OF A. A. MILNE IN AND OUT WITH THE FEBRUARY BIDEN ADMINISTRATION 26 - 28, 2021 GOVT. ISSUES GAZETTE VOL: 4- ISSUE 236 NOTICE PERMITTING BURIAL . IMPLICATIONS OF 30 OF COVID-19 VICTIMS IMRAN KHAN’S VISIT GLOCAL PAGE 03 RETHINKING AMERICA PAGE 06 COMMENTARY PAGE 07 LITERARY LIVES PAGE 09

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Worldwide coronavirus deaths top 2.5 million PARIS - COVID-19 has killed more than 2.5 million people worldwide since the pandemic began in December 2019, ac- cording to an AFP count based on official figures at 1730 GMT Thursday (25). In total, 2,500,172 deaths and 112,618,488 cases have been reported. With 842,894 deaths, Europe is the hardest-hit region, followed by Latin America and the Carib- bean (667,972 deaths) and the US and Canada (528,039). Almost half of the fatalities have occurred in just five coun- tries: the US (506,232), Brazil (249,957), Mexico (182,815), India (156,705) and Britain (122,070). These figures are based on daily tolls provided by health au- thorities in each country and exclude later re-evaluations by statistical organizations, as has happened in Russia, Spain and Britain. The world passed one million reported coronavirus deaths on September 28, a little over nine months after the first death was recorded in China in January 2020. It took just four more months, until January 15, to reach two million deaths. But the pace of deaths has slowed since late January this year, with 66,800 last week or an average of 9,500 per day - well below the deadliest week of January 20 to 26, when 101,400 deaths or 14,500 per day were registered. The present daily figure is similar to that seen in early No- vember. Over the past week, more than one-third of global deaths have come in Europe's 52 countries and territories, al- though the figure has fallen 14% compared with the previous week, to around 3,400 per day. Other continents have also seen falling death rates, with the US and Canada dropping 23%, to 2,150 per day, falling faster than Europe and Africa, which shed 13% to 378 per day. Latin America and the Caribbean's rate fell 7%, to 2,720 daily deaths. -AFP Armenian premier accuses military of coup attempt YEREVAN/MOSCOW - In the midst of a domestic political crisis, the Armenian military has demanded the resignation of -SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who in turn accused the gen- A polar bear named Sessi and its cub, Kara, in their enclosure at the Zoological and Botanical park in Mulhouse, eastern France, on Thursday (25). The polar bear cub, who erals of attempting a military coup. makes its first steps outside, was born in November 2020 "It is the clear conviction and stance of the generals and officers, with one purpose – to serve for the salvation of our homeland at this critical moment," the Armenian Armed Forc- es said in a statement cited by news agency Armenpress. "The prime minister and the government are no longer able India, Pakistan agree to stop cross-border to make reasonable decisions," the military said in an earlier statement. Pashinyan spoke on Facebook however of an "attempt at a military coup" and immediately announced the dismissal of firing in Kashmir the head of the armed forces' general staff, Onik Gasparyan. Pashinyan called on his supporters to gather in the capital ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and In- to resolve potential misunderstand- between Yusuf and his Indian coun- Pakistan responded with an air- of the South Caucasus republic, Yerevan, on Republic Square. dia on Thursday (25) reaffirmed ings. “This is a victory of diplomacy terpart, Ajit Doval, had taken place strike in the Indian side of Kashmir. The military representatives noted in their statements that their commitment to a cease-fire and, God willing, more avenues will in a third country to advance the ef- While those were the most notable Pashinyan had recently dismissed the deputy chief of general along the troubled border between open in the future,” Moeed Yusuf, forts to reduce tensions. episodes of violence in recent years staff. Pashinyan has been under extreme pressure since the the two countries in the disputed Pakistan’s de facto national security Yusuf, without addressing the ex- between the two nations, which end of fighting over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh region of Kashmir, after a year of adviser, said in a brief statement to act nature of the discussions, con- have faced off in multiple wars, more than three months ago because the opposition holds him bloody skirmishes. The move was The New York Times. firmed the talks. smaller deadly skirmishes have fre- personally responsible for the defeat to Azerbaijan. welcomed in both countries for An Indian official with knowledge “These things happen behind the quently broken out along the bor- Most recently, tens of thousands of people called for his lowering tensions in the tinderbox of the developments, who asked for scenes — it takes a lot of effort,” he der despite a cease-fire agreement resignation in new protests, which Pashinyan has repeatedly region. anonymity to comment because he said. in 2003. Last year saw the highest refused to accept. According to the Interfax agency, Kremlin A joint statement released by the was not authorized to speak to the Tensions have been particularly number of violations, with about spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that the situation militaries of the two countries said news media, said that back-channel high between India and Pakistan 5,000 incidents recorded. in Armenia was being observed "with concern." that top officials from both sides meetings between the two sides in since airstrikes in 2019. The increasing trouble along the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a press had agreed to a strict observance neutral locations had intensified In retaliation for an attack on In- border with Pakistan was threaten- conference with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto in of the truce along the Line of Con- over the past month and had led to dian forces in the Indian-controlled ing to bog down India in a two-front Budapest that his country "strongly condemns the coup at- trol, as the disputed stretch of the the renewed commitment. part of Kashmir, India blamed mili- war, as tensions were also mounting tempt in Armenia." frontier is called, and to continue Indian news media reported that tants in Pakistan and carried out along the border with China. -dpa communicating through a hotline at least one face-to-face meeting aerial bombings across the border. -NYT US says Khashoggi report will help UN votes on vaccine equity resolution Manhattan DA now has Trump’s UNITED NATIONS - The UN Se- doses from developed economies bring ‘accountability' curity Council was voting Thursday and all those in a position to do so to tax returns WASHINGTON - The upcom- "will review the entirety of that (25) on a resolution on improving low- and middle-income countries ing release of intelligence on the relationship to make sure that the availability of COVID-19 vac- and other countries in need." NEW YORK — Tax and financial statement reacting to the Supreme killing of Saudi journalist Jamal it advances the interests of the cines in conflict-wracked or impov- It also "calls for the strengthen- records that former President Don- Court decision, he again called the Khashoggi will be a step toward American people and to ensure erished countries, diplomats said. ing of national and multilateral ap- ald Trump fought to keep secret for investigation a “fishing expedition” ensuring accountability, Presi- that it reflects the values." The draft obtained by AFP stress- proaches and international coopera- nearly 18 months have been turned and vowed to “fight on.” dent Joe Biden's administration The report's imminent re- es "the urgent need for solidarity, tion… in order to facilitate equitable over to the Manhattan District At- Prosecutors have begun combing said Thursday (25). lease is a sharp departure from equity, and efficacy" in fighting the and affordable access to COVID-19 torney’s Office, which is investigat- through millions of pages of esoter- The United States is planning the policies of former president pandemic in countries with limited vaccines in armed conflict situations, ing possible fraud by Trump and ic financial documents. In addition, shortly to declassify intelligence Donald Trump, who hailed his access to vaccines. post-conflict situations and complex his company, an official said. an outside consulting firm is scru- findings into the grisly October close friendship with Saudi Ara- The vote, requested by Britain, is humanitarian emergencies." The voluminous records, includ- tinizing commercial real estate and 2018 murder inside the Saudi bia and whose son-in-law and being carried out in writing over 24 The UN says some 160 million ing eight years of personal tax re- tax strategies. The office has also consulate in Istanbul of the US- adviser, Jared Kushner, became hours because of pandemic restric- people live in such conditions. turns, were handed over to pros- enlisted the help of a former fed- based journalist, who had writ- texting friends with Prince Mo- tions on council meetings. The result If passed this will be the council's ecutors Monday (22), the same day eral prosecutor, Mark Pomerantz, ten critically about Crown Prince hammed. Ahead of the memo's will be known Friday (26), diplomats second resolution on the pandemic. that the Supreme Court rejected who has significant experience with Mohammed bin Salman. release, Biden will place a call to said. Negotiations on the wording of The first one, approved in July of Trump’s final bid to block a sub- white collar and organized crime. "I expect that we will be in a Saudi King Salman, which White the resolution took a week and were last year, called for ceasefires in war poena for them. A spokesperson for Trump also faces a criminal in- position before long to speak to House press secretary Jen Psaki slowed by Russia and China, both of zones to facilitate the fight against the district attorney, Cyrus Vance quiry from Fulton County prosecu- steps to promote accountability said will occur "very soon." which currently have tense relations the pandemic. Jr., confirmed in an email that the tors in Atlanta, who are looking into going forward for this horrific Secretary of State Antony with Britain. The new draft urges Secretary office had received the records. his attempts to persuade officials to time," State Department spokes- Blinken on Thursday held his lat- Britain, which held a ministerial- General Antonio Guterres to carry Vance’s investigation, which manipulate the election results in man Ned Price told reporters. est talks by phone with Saudi For- level meeting on vaccines at the out frequent assessments of obsta- started more than two years ago, Georgia. "It's an important step in the eign Minister Faisal bin Farhan council on February 17, is hoping for cles to vaccine access. has recently zeroed in on possi- The Supreme Court decision al- direction of transparency. Trans- and "discussed the importance of unanimous approval of the resolu- It also calls on member countries ble tax and bank-related fraud. lowed Vance to obtain eight years’ parency, as it often is, is an ele- Saudi progress on human rights, tion, as a sign of the international to take measures to prevent specula- Trump has excoriated Vance and worth of Trump’s tax returns. It ment of accountability," he said including through legal and judi- community moving towards greater tion in and hoarding of vaccines so his investigators, saying that their also granted Vance's office access of the report's release. cial reforms," Price said. unity in fighting the coronavirus as to ensure access to inoculation, work is just the latest example of a to the business records that under- On the impact of ties with -Agencies pandemic. The draft text seen by especially in conflict zones. politically motivated campaign to lie the information in those returns. Saudi Arabia, he said that Biden Read more on page 6 AFP "invites donation of vaccine -AFP charge him criminally. In a lengthy -NYT

Trending News Quote for Today Greece: Officials say an Af- EU: The Union declares Ven- Morocco: The government says 11 months in 1968 after being They can conquer who believe they can. ghan woman is facing arson ezuela's ambassador to the it is considering legalizing the captured by the country’s navy. -Virgil charges after trying to burn her- bloc "persona non grata" in a production of cannabis, large vol- Peru: A court orders the gov- Word for Today self to death at a migrants camp tit-for-tat move after Caracas umes of which are grown illicitly, ernment to respect the wishes Zeugma [zoog-muh] -noun- -the use of a word to modify or gov- on the Greek island of Lesbos expelled its own envoy. for therapeutic use of the drug. of a polio-stricken woman to ern two or more words when it is appropriate to only one of them this week. The charges are the USA: President Joe Biden Israel: Plans to distribute surplus be allowed to die, a rare allow- or is appropriate to each but in a different way latest in a series of punish- warns that despite falling coronavirus vaccines are halted as ance for euthanasia in largely ments directed at refugees and COVID-19 cases and a steady authorities examine whether it Catholic Latin America. asylum-seekers on the island. Today in History rise in vaccinations, "this is not was in Prime Minister Benjamin Russia: Kremlin critic Alexei Brazil: The country’s death a time to relax." Netanyahu's authority to order 1815 - Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from the Island of Elba and be- Navalny has been transferred gins his second conquest of France toll from COVID-19 surpasses - Prosecutors say former the move from a Moscow jail to an un- a quarter-million, a year after Olympics women's gymnastics North Korea: A US court or- known location, his aides Today is... the first case was confirmed in coach John Geddert has been ders the hermit kingdom to pay claim, suggesting he may be a nation struggling with vaccine charged with human traffick- damages to the crew and family beginning a prison sentence For Pete’s Sake Day shortages and a devastating ing and criminal sexual con- of the spy ship USS Pueblo, who condemned as politically mo- A day that celebrates a ‘minced oath’, where an offensive word or second wave. duct. were tortured and mistreated for tivated. phrase is substituted by something more acceptable in society 2 FEBRUARY 26 - 28, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS BUSINESS

By P. Manoj Sri Lanka seeks $2.2 bn from China as reserves shrink Sri Lanka blames COLOMBO - Sri Lanka is seeking $2.2 ber 2009 when they fell to $4.2 billion. Of- dent. Sri Lanka was forced to hand over international agencies were "unwarrant- billion from Chinese banks, the govern- ficials said Sri Lanka was also in talks with its strategic Hambantota port on a 99-year ed." He said Sri Lanka had already repaid ment said Thursday (25), in echoes of a China Development Bank for a $700-mil- lease to a Chinese company in 2017 after $500 million this year out of its $3.7 bil- Adani for collapse of borrowing binge more than a decade ago lion loan that would include the equivalent Colombo said it was unable to service the lion debt servicing commitment for calen- that resulted in the country having to give of $200 million being drawn in Chinese $1.4-billion debt from Beijing used to build dar 2021. ECT deal up a strategic port to China. currency. it. He said the government imposed a ban MUMBAI - Sri Lanka has blamed the Ada- Money and capital markets Minister- Under former president Mahinda Ra- Three top international rating agencies on luxury imports and several other com- ni Group for the collapse of the tripartite NivardCabraal said the government was japaksa between 2005-15, Colombo bor- downgraded Sri Lanka's creditworthiness modities in a bid to conserve foreign ex- memorandum of cooperation (MoC) signed hopeful of finalizing a $1.5-billion swap rowed billions from China, accumulating a late last year after raising doubts over Co- change so that the country could have suf- in May 2019 with Japan and India to jointly facility with China's central bank. mountain of debt for expensive infrastruc- lombo's ability to service its foreign debt. ficient foreign currency to repay its debt. develop the East Container Terminal (ECT) "Within the next two weeks we should ture projects. The South Asian nation's economy is Sri Lanka's economy contracted by a re- at Colombo Port, citing lack of flexibility be able to finalize it," Cabraal told report- This sparked Western and Indian con- reeling from the twin impacts of the deadly cord 3.9% last year. shown by the Indian firm in “adhering to ers in Colombo while maintaining that the cerns that the strategically located Indian 2019 Easter bombings that killed 279 and However, Cabraal said economic activity the key financial clauses” set by the island funds would be used as a "buffer" to meet Ocean nation was falling victim to a Chi- devastated the tourism sector as well as the was picking up and the country estimated nation, according to Cabinet documents. the government's foreign currency needs. nese debt trap. fallout from the pandemic. foreign inflows of $32 billion against out- During negotiations held by Sri Lanka’s Official figures show Sri Lanka's foreign Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to power Cabraal insisted Thursday that Sri Lanka flows of $27.6 billion this year leaving a Cabinet Appointed Negotiation Committee reserves plummeted to $4.8 billion at the as prime minister in 2019 after his brother would maintain its record of repaying debt surplus of $4.4 billion. (CANC) on January 27 and 28, Adani Ports end of January, the lowest since Septem- Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected presi- on time and said the credit downgrades by -AFP and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), which was nominated by the Indian gov- ernment to develop the ECT, “insisted” that Undeclared funds tax, special GST to be the same terms, conditions, rates, royalty and land lease payments to Sri Lanka Ports legislated by April Authority (SLPA) set for the Colombo Inter- national Container Terminals Ltd (CICT) be COLOMBO – Sri Lanka tax changes was also hoping to focus on the large made applicable to ECT too. announced in 2019 December, a budg- tax payer unit to bring more revenues. China’s state-run China Merchants Port et for 2021 including a special goods Despite lower rates and a COVID-19 Holdings Company Ltd. holds 85% stake in and services tax and a 1% tax to bring pandemic, income tax collections in CICT, a joint venture terminal it runs with undeclared money to the open would the 2021 first quarter relating to busi- Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). be legislated by April 21, Treasury Sec- ness performance of the prior quar- But, this demand of Adani was rejected retary S. R. Attygalle said. ter had exceeded last year’s levels, he by the CANC and endorsed by the Sri Lanka Sri Lanka cut value added tax, lifted said. Cabinet on February 1. the threshold, announced a special The government wanted to keep the “The Sri Lanka team explained (to Adani) goods and services tax for 5 items and current tax rates without changing for that the request for proposal (RFP) for the also a series of income tax cut to pro- 5 years, to give stability, Attygalle said. CICT was processed in the recession period mote exports and support small and Though income tax cuts boosts in- in 2009 and the breakwater was being con- medium enterprises. Some changes vestment and jobs allowing the most structed and the investor was expected to have been drafted, or were with the productive companies to grow, there commence construction (of CICT) in paral- legal draftsman. had been concern over the cutting of lel with the breakwater construction works,” “We will send them to the cabinet value added tax, without an equivalent according to a January 31 Cabinet memo- and have them legislated by the begin- trimming of state as more borrowings randum prepared by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of ning of the next tax year by April,” At- tend to push up interest rates. Ports and Shipping. tygalle said. Any attempt to keep rates down -NARINDER NANU / AFP “However, the present situation is very Anyone who had undeclared funds with central bank money printing then much improved with developed infrastruc- could also bring them out and invest triggers forex shortages and currency Farmers shout slogans during a rally against the central government's recent agricultural reforms and ture ready for any new investor to come in in certain areas by paying a 1% tax. Sri collapse. demand the release of activists who were arrested in connection with the violence at the Red Fort on (at ECT). Further, presently, the port busi- Lanka had lowered income taxes and -economynext.com India's Republic Day, in Tarn Taran, about 25 km from Amritsar on Thursday (25) ness is established with proven records. Therefore, the same payment received by SLPA from CICT cannot be applied to ECT. China to push ahead with Hambantota port project The financial return expected from the ECT to SLPA shall be much higher than it is from Amid reports of Sri Lanka having second thoughts CICT,” the Cabinet memorandum said. The first round of negotiations held by BEIJING - Beijing will push forward with ate the deal soon after he took office in 2019, ment as saying China was Sri Lanka’s “clos- busiest shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean. CANC with Adani was inconclusive, and did a plan to develop Hambantota port, China’s was recently said to be revisiting the port est friend” and offered “heartfelt gratitude” China also holds a stake in another major not reach any agreement on the basic terms Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a phone deal, according to a report in an English lan- to Beijing’s economic and diplomatic sup- Sri Lankan port, with a Chinese state-owned of the project, such as royalty, upfront pay- call with his Sri Lankan counterpart amid re- guage daily quoting chairman of the Sri Lan- port. company investing US$1.4 billion in the Port ment, land lease payment to SLPA and ex- ports that Colombo was seeking to renegoti- ka Ports Authority, General DayaRatnayake. Sri Lanka has long been a theatre for geo- City Colombo, a real-estate project involving clusivity clauses. ate the agreement. Gunawardena added to uncertainty over political rivalry by regional powers. India land reclamation that was completed in early “No flexibility was shown (by Adani) but In the call with Sri Lankan Foreign Min- the deal on Saturday (20), telling the same considers the region to be its strategic back- 2019. This month, amid protests by trade (it) stressed to stick to the financial values ister Dinesh Gunawardena on Wednesday newspaper that “the previous government yard, while China considers Sri Lanka to be a unions and opposition parties, Sri Lanka given in the Build, Operate and Transfer (24), Wang said both countries would con- made a mistake on the Hambantota port deal critical link for its massive global infrastruc- scrapped a deal to develop a deep-sea termi- (BOT) agreement for CICT,” the Cabinet tinue to cooperate to turn the Hambantota when they cancelled the lease and gave it on ture drive known as the Belt and Road Initia- nal at the Colombo port with India and Ja- memo said, referring to the talks held by and Colombo ports into “the twin engines” a longer period of 99 years plus another 99 tive as Beijing expands its presence globally. pan. Under the deal, India and Japan would CANC. of Sri Lanka’s industrial development and years once the first term ends”. The Hambantota port deal, signed in 2017 have owned 49 per cent of the terminal’s The tripartite memorandum of coopera- economic growth, according to a Chinese On Wednesday, China denied the deal was by the previous Sri Lankan government to shares while the Sri Lanka Ports Authority tion envisaged the formation of a terminal foreign ministry statement. being renegotiated, with foreign ministry cover its debts to China, has been the sub- would retain the majority stake. The deep- operating company 51% owned by SLPA The call came after reports suggesting the spokesman Wang Wenbin instead saying the ject of intense international scrutiny amid sea jetty is next to the Colombo International and 49% by Indian and Japanese entities. South Asian nation was reconsidering the port’s operations were expanding. accusations that Beijing is using “debt-trap Container Terminal, which is 85% owned by Although “the MoC indicates the ECT deal. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Raja- Also on Wednesday, Gunawardena was diplomacy” for geopolitical clout given Ham- China and was commissioned in 2013. to be developed on a loan provided by the paksa, who indicated he wanted to renegoti- quoted in the Chinese foreign ministry state- bantota’s proximity to one of the world’s - scmp.com Japanese government to SLPA, the present government has decided to develop ECT as Minister says investment project (by) refrain(ing) from obtaining loans.” The ECT comprise 1,320 metres of quay SL, Pakistan discussed cross-investing wall, terminal area of 76 hectares, 18-metre- deep berths and container stacking yard with annual capacity of 2.4 million twenty- forex reserves in government bonds foot equivalent units (TEUs). The SLPA has COLOMBO – Sri Lanka and Paki- noting there was “merit” in invest- developed 440 metres of quay wall, 20 hec- stan had discussed the possibility of ing forex reserves in each other’s tares yard area and connected facilities with cross-investing foreign reserves in dollar sovereign bonds up to a pru- a $80-million loan from the Bank of Ceylon. each other’s’ sovereign bonds dur- dential limit. Noting Bangladesh During the negotiations held by CANC ing the visit of Prime Minister Im- central bank I Sri Lankan bond, on January 27 and 28, the Sri Lankan side ran Khan to the island, State Minis- he said, “We should look at South- emphasized that the expenditure incurred ter for Money and Capital Markets, South investment.” by SLPA on the ECT would be recovered up- Nivard Cabraal said. “We have been Over the last two decades Bang- front from the Indian and Japanese inves- investing foreign reserves in West- ladesh has had superior monetary tors. However, APSEZ wanted the cost in- ern government bonds at low rates policy running a fairly credible im- curred by SLPA for the part-development of about 1.5,” Cabraal told reporters plicitly pegged regime, analysts say. ECT to be “considered as the government’s in Colombo, adding, that Pakistan Most South Asian governments share of the project”. was also investing in various instru- have issued international sovereign The CANC further said that the conces- ments in the Western world, gener- bonds which are traded in key over sion agreement for the ECT “will not offer ating 1.5%, just like Sri Lanka and the counter markets in Asia, Europe anything more than what is already availa- that sometimes it makes sense to in- and the US. Pegged central banks ble to CICT”. The CANC also sought a “gold- vest in Pakistan (bonds) and for Pa- invest in Western government en shareholder status” to the government kistan to invest in Sri Lankan bonds. bonds because they have a high rat- of Sri Lanka in the “strategic national inter- “”But we borrow at high rates. ing with low default risk and West- est”. Adani sad the project IRR and equity When we give money to Western ern markets are liquid and do not IRR were “negative”, as per its calculations nations it is not called giving a loan impose exchange controls. based on values proposed by SLPA. but an investment,” Cabraal said, -economynext.om Thus, the minutes of the negotiations of CANC noted: “It is not fruitful to proceed with the negotiations on the proposal sub- Exporters to EU, Germany urged to mitted by APSEZ as they were not flexible to adhere to key financial clauses.” develop sustainable supply chains The Cabinet memo, therefore, recom- COLOMBO – Sri Lankan exporters and more consumer and industry- mended developing and operating ECT as and providers of services to the Eu- driven. Besides the existing official a fully-owned container terminal of SLPA ropean Union (EU) market are being legally binding standards, Euro- and to complete the terminal development encouraged to develop sustainable pean importers require more and works in three years. supply chains to become part of the more consumer and industry-driv- The Ministry of Ports and Shipping also restart of the island’s economy to en standards like Fairtrade, BSCI, proposed to the Cabinet “to develop the overcome the COVID-19 pandemic SA8000 and IFS,” he said. West Container Terminal (WCT) in parallel as fast as possible. Country Head for Sri Lanka and with the ECT as a public, private partner- At a conference on ‘Sustainable Bangladesh of the Friedrich Nau- ship (PPP) project under BOT basis for a pe- Supply Chains as drivers of global mann Foundation for Freedom, riod of 35 years by a joint venture compris- competitiveness’ held on Colombo Hubertus von Welck, emphasized ing SLPA and nominees of the government on Wednesday (24), suppliers to the companies should be open for of India and Japan based on the framework EU market were offered training and standards under the UN Guiding used in developing the CICT”. help to obtain broader market access Principles and incorporate those in The CICT framework included BOT ten- to permit German and EU importers their in-house procedures. ure of 35 years, one-time upfront payment, to bring in products according to in- In a video message, German Am- annual payment of land lease and royalty ternational sustainability standards. bassador to Sri Lanka and the Mal- based on the containers handled at the ter- The conference was co-organised by dives, Holger Seubert, pointed out minal. Based on the CICT framework, it was the Delegation of German Industry the relevance of the subject with decided by the then Sri Lankan government and Commerce (AHK Sri Lanka) and regards to the upcoming Supply that this “model could be successfully used the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Chain Law in Germany. A joint in- for development of container terminals, for Freedom (FNF) in Colombo. ter-ministerial draft law is to be pre- revisiting the payments to be received by “Since September 2020, the two sented in mid-March to the German SLPA based on comparative size of the ter- organizations in cooperation with Parliament. German importers will minal area and improved business opportu- Loening Human Rights and Re- be under obligation to continuously nity in the port of Colombo”. sponsible Business have conducted verify their suppliers respect United The WCT will have a 1,400-metre quay several trainings, individual gap Nation Guiding Principles (UNGP) wall, water depth of 20 metres, terminal assessments and covered the pre- of business and human rights. Viola- area of about 64 hectares with annual ca- conditions for certifications for Sri tions would be sanctioned with pen- pacity of 2.6 million TEUs. Lankan exporters in the sectors of alties up to 10-pct of the importer’s The WCT was being offered as an alter- rubber, apparel, and food products. annual turnover and exclusion from native to India and Japan as a “responsi- All project partners agreed to extend public tenders for up to three years. ble government who honour international the project to the Sri Lankan tour- During the panel discussion with agreements reached between countries, the ism sector,” a media release issued company representatives of the tar- government of Sri Lanka is expected to be by the organizers said. geted sectors of apparel, food and responsible in honouring such international In opening remarks, the Chief tourism, panellists stressed how agreements”. Delegate of German Industry and much their businesses are related to While approving the proposal submitted Commerce and Industry in Sri Lan- consumer-driven sustainability re- by the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, the ka, Andreas Hergenroether, pointed quirements and how important the Cabinet also decided to set up a CANC and out that sustainability standards are required documentation of UNGPs Project Committee to evaluate the proposal a reality. “They are partially politi- conform processes are. of the India-Japan team for the WCT. cally driven, but they are also more -economynext.com -Hindu Business WEEKEND EXPRESS FEBRUARY 26 - 28, 2021 3 GLOCAL

Express Newspapers (Cey) Pvt. Ltd., By P. K. Balachandran 185, Grandpass Road, Colombo 14, Sri Lanka Telephone: 0117 322 705 (Editorial) 0117 322 731 (Advertising) UNHRC debate 0117 322 789 (Circulation) Email – [email protected]/[email protected] Epaper - http://epaper.newsexpress.lk 21 countries speak in Facebook –News Express Sri Lanka favour of Sri Lanka COLOMBO – A majority 21 countries are said to have spoken in favour of Sri Lanka at the UN Hu- Govt. issues gazette notice permitting burial of man Rights Council (UNHRC) debate on Thurs- day (25), while 15 had spoken against. The debate was on the Core Group’s resolution against Sri Lanka for alleged rights violations and COVID-19 victims absence of accountability during the war and to date. COLOMBO – The government on Thurs- vices at a cemetery or place approved by the keem, he had taken up the matter with monks there was pressure from different Sri Lanka had wanted the council to reject the day (25) issued a gazette notification permit- proper authority under the supervision of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and quarters to rescind the ban on burial and resolution in-toto. ting both burial and cremation of COVID-19 such authority”. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and had se- that the monks had said if the technical ex- China, Pakistan and Russia were among the victims, rescinding an earlier contentious Wanniarachchi earlier in the day informed cured “a positive response”. perts agreed to allow burial, they would have countries which spoke unequivocally for Sri notice that made cremation mandatory. party leaders about the government’s deci- Hakeem later tweeted saying he and his no objection. Lanka, a diplomatic source said, adding that In- The extraordinary gazette, issued by sion to permit both burial and cremation of colleagues from several political parties Given the dire need for the support of Pa- dia had remained neutral and Bangladesh had Health Minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi the Covid-dead. Reportedly, the announce- had a pleasant and fruitful discussion with kistan and the Organization of Islamic Co- remained silent. However, Australia made some late Thursday night amended the Quaran- ment had come in the wake of the technical the Pakistan Prime Minister and that “He operation (OIC) in the UN Human Rights constructive suggestions avoiding the harsh in- tine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance committee giving the clearance for burial. expressed confidence in the capacity of our Council (UNHRC) to face a resolution dictment which characterized the West-led Core to include “cremation or burial” instead of The decision to accommodate burial also Leaders to improve harmony among all Sri against Sri Lanka in March, it has become Group’s contentions. only ‘cremation’, and specified “in the case comes close on the heels of a state visit by Lankans and address their citizens griev- necessary to accommodate the Muslims’ de- The 15 countries which supported the resolu- of burial, the corpse of such person shall be Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who ances with view to foster goodwill among mand. The OIC had in fact openly asked for tion were all from the Western bloc, the source buried in accordance with the directions is- told a group of Muslim MPs, including Sri nations”. Media reports said Prime Minis- the lifting the ban. pointed out, deeming the supportive response a sued by the Director General of Health Ser- Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Ha- ter Mahinda Rajapaksa had told Buddhist -ENCL major achievement, from the Sri Lankan point of view. Sri Lanka has been making no bones about the fact that it has become a victim of the Big Pow- COVID-19 ers’ arm twisting for achieving their geo-political objectives. Based on this understanding, the Sri Drop in numbers linked to reduction in Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena- had twice asked the 47-member Council to reject the Core Group’s resolution. PCR tests He dubbed the resolution a tissue of lies based COLOMBO - Public Health Inspectors be conducted in parallel to the vaccina- on unsubstantiated material largely based on (PHIs) believe the drop in the number of tion process. Baalasooriya emphasized the testimony of shadowy, biased and motivated COVID-19 positive cases recorded in Sri this was necessary in order to be pre- sources and mere surmises. What Gunawardena Lanka over the past few days, is due to pared to deal with any new outbreaks. found particularly galling was the equation of a a reduction in the number of PCR tests He warned new outbreak could be legitimate State having a democratically elected being conducted rather than the spread caused locally or could emerge as a result government, with a terrorist group widely known of the virus being brought under control. of tourists entering the country in the fu- to be the most ruthless one with assassinations Sri Lanka has been recording under 500 ture, and that if the existing containment and senseless bombings as its hallmarks. new cases the past several days, a sig- programs are relaxed, another outbreak Gunawardena also warned that the West, led by nificant drop from the 900 and above could throw the existing COVID-19 pre- the US, has been using human rights as a cover to recorded the previous week. vention programs out of balance and destabilize States, a tendency that has to be halted PHI Association Secretary M. Baal- cause a major issue for the country. if sovereign states have to survive. He also lam- asooriya acknowledged there had been Baalasooriya urged authorities to con- basted the US-led West’s tendency to meddle in a visible drop in the number of positive tinue implementing the COVID-19 pre- the internal affairs and institutions of sovereign cases confirmed in various districts over vention programs that were in place prior States going beyond the mandate of the council the last few days, but said there were also to the commencement of the vaccination and violating the UN Secretary General’s instruc- reports of a reduction in the number of process. tion to maintain credibility by eschewing bias. PCR tests being conducted in certain dis- He said both the coronavirus contain- The operative portion of the Zero Draft tricts. ment programs and the vaccination pro- of February 19, on which the resolution is Baalasooriya believed the reduction in cess must be carried out simultaneously based: - LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP PCR tests may be due to officials assum- to avoid possible future outbreaks. The resolution notes the persistent lack of ac- People stand in a queue to register for a COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine, in Colombo on ing the tests may not be necessary due to Sri Lanka recorded 464 new cases by countability through domestic mechanisms and Thursday (25) 2021 the administration of the COVID-19 vac- 9.30 p.m. Thursday, taking Sri Lanka’s regrets the domestic Commission of Inquiry an- cine. coronavirus tally to 81,707. Two more nounced on January 22, 2021, lacks independ- Pointing out that both the PCR tests Covid related deaths were also recorded, ence and does not include a mandate to pursue Sri Lanka sees Cabinet approval and quarantine process is still essential taking the fatality count to 459. accountability for past gross violations of human at present, he said the procedures must -CG/ENCL rights, or for serious violations of international link between bond humanitarian law. sought to enforce ban It recognizes the importance of preserving and analyzing evidence relating to violations and investment on burqa Half a million COVISHIELD doses arrive abuses of human rights in Sri Lanka with a view COLOMBO – Cabinet approval has been to advancing accountability and strengthening advisories and UN sought to ban burqas (full face cover worn in Sri Lanka the capacity of the Office of the High Commis- by Muslim women) in public places. Justice COLOMBO – The first batch of the nine Following discussions held on Wednes- sioner for Human Rights to consolidate, analyze rights pressure Minister Ali Sabry said on Thursday (25), the million doses of the COVISHIELD vaccine day (24), several high risk areas have been and preserve information and evidence and de- move was not an attempt to target any com- purchased from India’s Serum Institute identified where everyone above 30 will velop possible strategies for future accountability COLOMBO – Sri Lanka sees a link between munity but was being considered in the best arrived in Sri Lanka Thursday (25) after- receive the jab. In other areas, the offi- processes for gross violations of human rights or pressure to improve human rights and ac- interest of national security. noon, a State Pharmaceutical Corporation cial said, those above 60 will get it. The serious violations of international humanitarian countability in by a United Nations body and Emergency regulations were enforced fol- (SPC) official said. remaining 200,000 will be distributed, on law; to advocate for victims and survivors; and to recent reports on the islands sovereign bond lowing the Easter Sunday attacks in April SPC General Manager Dinusha Dis- request, to other vaccination centres that support relevant judicial proceedings in Member risks, Central Bank Governor W. D. Laksh- 2019 imposing a ban on clothing that con- sanayake said the 500,000 doses of the operate under Medical Officers of Health. States with competent jurisdiction. man told an online forum. ceals the face. Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine The source said vaccines will be distribut- It expresses serious concern over emerging Many individuals and institutions had Human rights groups had however raised manufactured by Serum under the brand ed by Friday (26) to continue the vaccina- trends over the past year, which represents clear made adverse comments regarding Sri Lan- concerns with Amnesty International’s Dep- COVISHID was sent to the health minis- tion process without any disruptions. early warning signs of a deteriorating human ka’s economic management and prospects. uty South Asia Director, Dinushika Dissan- try’s central storage facility for distribu- Dissanayake also said batches of rights situation in Sri Lanka that threaten to re- “In the last couple of weeks alone, three in- ayake, saying back then that at a time when tion. 500,000 will follow in the future with the verse the limited but important gains made in re- stitutions, Standard Chartered, Barclays and many Muslims in Sri Lanka feared a back- Health ministry sources said of the half second batch scheduled to arrive in the cent years and risk the recurrence of policies and ICRA published damaging reports,” Gover- lash, imposing a ban that effectively targets a million doses, 300,000 will be used to second week of March, and the third batch practices that gave rise to the grave violations of nor Lakshman told the forum conducted by women wearing a face veil for religious rea- vaccinate citizens in the high risk areas in would follow in the first week of April. the past. Issues of serious concern included the Veemansa, a Colombo based think tank. sons risks stigmatizing them. the Western Province. The consignments will be used to give accelerating militarization of civilian govern- “It is no coincidence that these three re- Dissanayake said that where there are le- “There are over 100,000 citizens above the second jab for the frontline workers ment functions; erosion of the independence of ports came one after the other during the gitimate security concerns, the authorities 60 years of age in the Colombo Munici- in the health sector and the military who the judiciary and key institutions responsible for period when one of the international, global can carry out identity checks when necessary. pal Council area, another 100,000 in the received their first dose in early February. the promotion and protection of human rights; events restricting Sri Lanka is taking place in -CG Gampaha district and 100,000 more in According to the Ministry of Health, ongoing impunity and political obstruction of ac- the Human Rights Council. high risk Grama Niladhari areas in the 366,907 Sri Lankans – frontline workers countability for crimes and human rights viola- “I think it is no coincidence.” Western Province,” the source said, add- and members of the general public – had tions in ‘emblematic cases’; policies that adverse- The UN rights chief also released a new re- State Minister alleges ing the vaccines would be delivered to received their first dose by February 24 ly affect the right to freedom of religion or belief; port on Sri Lanka human rights, war crimes storage facilities located in those areas from the consignment received as a dona- surveillance and intimidation of civil society and and treatment of minorities ahead of meet- from the MOH central storage, according tion from India. shrinking democratic space. ings in February. Health Ministry to their individual capacities. -economynext.com It expresses further concern that the COVID-19 Sri Lanka is also under fire for forced cre- pandemic has impacted on freedom of religion or mations of Muslims and Christian victims of officials going belief and exacerbated the prevailing marginali- coronavirus, claiming that the water table By P. K. Balachandran zation and discrimination suffered by the Muslim would be contaminated if they were buried. community, and that the Government of Sri Lan- Political analysts had expected more pres- rogue with ka’s decision to mandate cremations for all those sure to curb nationalism in Sri Lanka after Dinesh Gunawardena seeks China’s help deceased from COVID-19 has prevented Muslims President Donald Trump, a white national- vaccination rollout and members of other religions from practicing ists was defeated by Joe Biden who is sup- COLOMBO – Top officials at Sri Lanka’s to uphold justice their own burial religious rites, and has dispro- porting better treatment of black Americans health ministry have taken snap decisions portionately affected religious minorities and ex- and minorities. Sri Lanka’s bond yields have on the country’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, COLOMBO – Sri Lankan Foreign Min- Colombo Port City and the Hambantota acerbated distress and tensions. plunged as money printing weakened a cur- in complete disregard of ministry-sanctioned ister Dinesh Gunawardene, in a phones Port into two major engines to boost Sri It calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to rency peg, triggered downgrades and forex recommendations made by a technical com- conversation with the Chinese State Lanka’s economic development, pushing ensure the prompt, thorough and impartial in- reserves continued to erode. Governor Lak- mittee, State Minister Sudarshini Fernan- Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi for Sri Lanka’s industrialization, and en- vestigation and, if warranted, prosecution ofall shman assured than a billion dollar interna- dopulle charged. on Wednesday (24), had accused certain hancing the country’s capacity for inde- allegations of gross human rights violations and tional sovereign bond due in July would be The sudden appearance of vaccination cen- Western countries of exploiting human pendent development. serious violations of international humanitarian repaid and the country will maintain its un- tres was a result of such rash decisions, she rights issues to fault developing countries Over the past year, the two countries law, including for longstanding emblematic cases. blemished record in debt repayment. said. The State Minister of Primary Health in the United Nations Human Rights joined hands to fight against the pan- It also calls upon the government to ensure the Sri Lanka has sufficient reserves to repay Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control Council (UNHRC) and expressed hope demic and supported each other, and effective and independent functioning of the Na- the bond at the moment, but concern has ris- told reporters on Wednesday (24) the offi- China will continue to uphold justice and their bilateral relations maintained a tional Human Rights Commission, the Office on en over the pace of reserve erosion, prompt- cials had even overridden directives given by stand with the developing countries strong development momentum, Wang Missing Persons and the Office for Reparations; ing calls for corrective policies to address in- President Gotabaya Rajapaksa through the According to press release issued by had said.. to protect civil society actors, to investigate any terest rates, excess liquidity and budgets. presidential task force appointed to oversee the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka, Wang attacks and ensure a safe and enabling environ- Sri Lanka has since imposed surrender Noting that this year marks the 100th the country’s vaccination drive. had said the two countries are “strategic anniversary of the founding of the Com- ment in which civil society can operate free from rules on remittances and export receipts to “When decisions have already been made hindrance, insecurity and reprisals. shore up reserves. cooperative partners of sincere mutual munist Party of China (CPC), Wang had -economynext.com [regarding the rollout timetable], these offi- It requests the government to review the Pre- assistance and lasting friendship,” and also noted that China had won the victory vention of Terrorism Act, and ensure any legis- cials suddenly call at night and say start the agreed that some Western countries are of ending extreme poverty and achieved program right away. We can’t do it this way,” lation to combat terrorism complies with its in- she said. Explaining the process, Fernan- used to pressuring developing countries great results in building a moderately ternational human rights and humanitarian law dopulle said local Medical Officers of Health on the pretext of human rights. prosperous society in all respects, and obligations. It also urges the government to foster (MOH) in consultation with Grama Nilad- He had said that China firmly opposes will embark on a new journey toward religious freedom and pluralism by promoting haris need to first inform the public well in this, and is willing to unswervingly sup- fully building a modern socialist country. the ability of all religious communities to mani- advance about the vaccination scheduled. port Sri Lanka to jointly safeguard the le- China’s development means a growing fest their religion, and to contribute openly and However, she said changes to the schedule gitimate rights and interests of develop- force for peace and the growth of devel- on an equal footing to society. were being made with one phone call when ing countries, the basic norms governing oping countries, which will provide more It encourages the government to continue to process is already underway. international relations, and the purposes development opportunities for develop- cooperate with special procedures mandate hold- According to Fernandopulle, the health and principles of the UN Charter includ- ing countries, including Sri Lanka, he ers, including responding formally to outstanding ministry has yet to send official guidelines on ing non-interference in other countries’ had added. requests, and the Office of the High Commis- COVID-19 vaccination to MOH offices internal affairs Gunawardena, for his part, had said Sri sioner and relevant Special Procedures mandate The offending officials who make the ad- Gunawardena has said Sri Lanka ap- Lanka regards China as its closest friend holders to provide, in consultation with and with hoc decisions in the health ministry, she preciates China’s fair stance on human and sincerely thanked the country for its the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka, said, do not have a thorough understand- rights issues and is willing to join hands long-term, selfless help for Sri Lanka’s advice and technical assistance on implementing ing of public health but are nevertheless re- with China to safeguard fairness and jus- economic development, improvement of the abovementioned steps. sponsible for their actions. “Even though the tice in regional and international affairs. people’s livelihood, and coping with in- It requests the Office of the High Commission- COVID-19 prevention portfolio was assigned er to enhance its monitoring and reporting on He had agreed the allegations about Xin- ternal and external challenges. the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, includ- to me, I’m not always aware of some of the jiang and Hong Kong were baseless and He had also highlighted the Colombo meetings that are taking place nor about the ing progress on reconciliation and accountability, decisions reached at those meetings,” she that Sri Lanka steadily support China on Port City, Hambantota Port as key pro- and to present a written update to the Human said.. the Xinjiang, Hong Kong related issues jects for Sri Lanka’s future development, Rights Council at its forty-ninth session, and a She also noted there needs to be follow ups and the One-China Policy. and that Sri Lanka welcomes more Chi- comprehensive report including further options on any side effects and plans need to be made The press release said Wang had called nese investment, businessmen and tour- for advancing accountability at its fifty-first ses- for the second dose. for cooperation within the framework of ists sion, both to be discussed in interactive dialogues. -economynext.com the Belt and Road Initiative, turning the - newsin.asia/ENCL -ENCL 4 FEBRUARY 26 - 28, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS HOT TOPICS

By Christina Morales By Andrew Beatty Gallup poll finds Australia passes More adult Americans A military landmark law requiring supporter points are identifying as LGBT a sharp object tech firms to pay for news as he confronts SYDNEY - Facebook and Google will be A Gallup survey released Wednesday (24) pro-democracy forced to pay for Australian news under leg- has found that more adult Americans are protesters islation passed Thursday (25) that is being identifying as LGBT, a shift that pollsters during a military closely watched globally for precedents in see as driven, at least in part, by people in the battle between Big Tech and media com- younger generations who are more likely to support rally in Yangon, panies. consider themselves to be something other The world-first law passed easily after the than heterosexual. The poll found that 5.6% Myanmar on Thursday (25) Australian government agreed to water down of adults identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual elements most fiercely opposed by the tech or transgender, rising from 4.5% in 2017, the giants, in return for both agreeing to negoti- last time Gallup reported an annual update. ate paid deals with local media. The poll also found that more than half of It paves the way for Google and Facebook LGBT adults identified as bisexual. - REUTERS/Stringer to plough tens of millions of dollars into One in six adults in Generation Z, people struggling local media companies, and could born between 1997 and 2002, identify as provide a model for resolving tussles with LGBT, the poll found. The growth in Ameri- Supporters of Myanmar military coup regulators worldwide. cans who identify as LGBTQ is likely to in- The government said the law would ensure crease, Gallup’s senior editor, Jeffrey Jones, that news businesses "are fairly remunerated wrote in announcing the results. That is be- rampage in Yangon for the content they generate, helping to sus- cause those in younger generations are more tain public interest journalism in Australia". likely than those in older generations to con- YANGON - Supporters of Myanmar’s mili- appointment of a local official by the junta, or sentenced in relation to the pro-democracy Google has already brokered deals worth sider themselves LGBT, he said. tary, some armed with knives and clubs, according to a witness and live-streamed vid- protests. The army said its overthrow of the millions of dollars with Australian media Americans have been more supportive of others firing catapults and throwing stones, eo. The violence will compound worries about government was within the constitution after companies, including the two largest: Rupert equal rights for LGBTQ people, Jones said, attacked opponents of the Feb. 1 coup on a country largely paralysed by the protests its complaints of fraud in the Nov. 8 election, Murdoch's News Corp and Nine Entertain- prompting an increase in people who identify Thursday (25), as protests against the new and a civil disobedience campaign of strikes swept by Suu Kyi’s party as expected, had ment. themselves as LGBT. junta continued in the country’s largest city. against the military. Earlier, police blocked been ignored. The election commission said A more reluctant Facebook - which briefly “I think the findings prove that visibility Myanmar has been in turmoil since the the gates of Yangon’s main university cam- the vote was fair. The army has promised a slapped a site-wide ban on Australian news and acceptance, when combined, will bust army seized power and detained civilian gov- pus, stopping hundreds of students inside new election after reviewing voter lists. It has in protest at the law - has inched towards a out closet doors,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, the ernment leader Aung San Suu Kyi and much from coming out to demonstrate. not given a date but it imposed a one-year first deal with Seven West, and said more ne- president and chief executive of GLAAD, an of her party leadership after the military com- Facebook said that due to the risks evident state of emergency when it seized power. gotiations are on the way. LGBTQ media organization and advocacy plained of fraud in a November election. from the “deadly violence” seen since the coup Suu Kyi has been detained incommunicado So long as these deals go ahead, the tech group. The survey was based on more than Protests and strikes have taken place dai- it had banned the Myanmar military from us- at her home in the capital Naypyitaw but her firms will avoid being told who and what to 15,000 interviews conducted throughout ly for about three weeks, and students had ing its Facebook and Instagram platforms. party says its November victory must be re- pay by an arbiter, and their most profitable 2020 with Americans in all 50 states and the planned to come out again in the commercial The spokesman for the ruling military spected. Veteran democracy activist Min Ko- products such as "search" will be ringfenced. District of Columbia who were 18 or older. hub Yangon on Thursday. council did not respond to a telephone call Naing said the military’s efforts to arrange to The agreements mark a new foray into Those surveyed were interviewed by both But before many coup opponents congre- seeking comment. Military chief General Min an election re-run, which include a new elec- content payment for Facebook and Google, cellphone and landline. They were asked: gated, about 1,000 supporters of the military Aung Hlaing says authorities are using mini- tion commission, had to be stopped and any who became two of the world's largest and “Which of the following do you consider turned up for a rally in the city centre. mal force. Nevertheless, three protesters and parties involved in it were “abettors”. most profitable companies largely by organ- yourself to be? You can select as many as ap- Some threatened news photographers, me- one policeman have been killed in violence. “We have to reject the actions of the mili- izing, curating and indexing others' content ply: straight or heterosexual; lesbian; gay; dia workers and witnesses said, and scuffles The United States, Britain and others have tary government to try to legitimise itself,” he cost-free. bisexual; transgender.” Gallup said the poll’s soon escalated into more serious violence in called for Suu Kyi’s release and the restora- said in a post on Facebook. Facebook and Google have each said they margin of error was plus or minus 1 percent- several parts of the city. Several people were tion of democracy and have imposed limited The question of a new election is at the will invest around US$1 billion in news age point for all adults, and plus or minus 5 set upon and beaten by groups of men, some sanctions aimed at members of the junta and centre of a diplomatic effort by the Associa- around the world over the next three years. percentage points for LGBT adults. armed with knives, others firing catapults and its business links. The British Foreign Office tion of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of Google will pay for news content that ap- The identity question in the most recent hurling stones, witnesses said. At least two said on Thursday it would sanction a further which Myanmar is a member, aimed at easing pears on its "Showcase" product and Face- poll was more detailed than in previous people were stabbed, video footage showed. six military figures, adding to 19 previously the crisis. Indonesia has taken the lead in the book is expected to pay providers who ap- years, Jones said. Respondents answered In one incident, several men, one wielding listed and including Min Aung Hlaing, and attempt and its foreign minister, RetnoMar- pear on its "News" feature, which is to be their precise sexual orientation instead of an- a large knife, attacked a man outside a city- that the trade ministry would work to ensure sudi, met her military-appointed Myanmar rolled out in Australia later this year. swering “yes” or “no” to whether they identi- centre hotel. Emergency workers helped the British businesses do not deal with Myan- counterpart, WunnaMaungLwin, for talks in The legislation is seen as an opening salvo fied as LGBT. bloodied man after his attackers moved off mar’s military-owned companies. Thailand on Wednesday. But Indonesia’s in- in the battle between Big Tech and regula- The Supreme Court has made several land- but his condition was not known. “Today’s package of measures sends a clear tervention has raised suspicion among coup tors, who have watched the companies grow mark rulings in the past decade, adding to a “Today’s events show who the terrorists message to the military regime in Myanmar opponents who fear it will confer legitimacy from start-ups to digital conglomerates with more supportive climate for LGBTQ people. are. They’re afraid of the people’s action for that those responsible for human rights viola- on the junta and its bid to scrap the Novem- only light touch regulation. In 2013, the court ruled that married same- democracy,” said activist Thin Zar Shun Lei tions will be held to account, and the authori- ber vote and arrange a re-run. Their tussle began with an investigation by sex couples were entitled to federal benefits. Yi. “We’ll continue our peaceful protests ties must hand back control to a government Retno did not mention an election in com- Australia's consumer watchdog into Google In 2015, the court ruled that same-sex mar- against dictatorship.” As dusk fell, dozens of elected by the people of Myanmar,” Foreign ments to reporters after her talks but em- and Facebook's online advertising domi- riage was a nationwide right. Most recently, riot police fired tear gas into a neighbourhood Secretary Dominic Raab said in a state- phasized “an inclusive democratic transition nance, which has drained cash away from it ruled in June that civil rights law protected in the city to disperse a crowd that had gath- ment. A rights group said as of Wednesday process”. traditional news organizations. gay and transgender workers. ered at an administrative office to protest the (24)728 people had been arrested, charged -Reuters For every $100 spent by Australian adver- But challenges continue for LGBTQ Amer- tisers today, $49 goes to Google and $24 to icans. Although hundreds of religious leaders By Mike Isaac and David E. Sanger Facebook, according to the country's compe- around the world signed a declaration de- tition watchdog. manding a global ban on conversion therapy, Facebook bans Myanmar military accounts in aftermath of coup Thousands of journalism jobs and scores which seeks to change the sexual orienta- of news outlets have been lost in Australia tions of LGBTQ people, only about 20 states SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook said Kyi and returned Myanmar to full military gency.” “Events since the February 1 coup, Wednesday (24) it had banned Myanmar’s rule, the military has repeatedly shut off the including deadly violence, have precipitated a over the past decade as the sector watched have some form of a ban on the disputed ap- advertising revenue flow to the digital play- proach. During President Donald Trump’s military and military-controlled state and internet and cut access to major social media need for this ban,” the company said. It added media entities from its platforms, weeks after sites, including Facebook. that the risks of letting the Myanmar military ers. administration, the rollback of rights for Critics of the law say it punishes innovative transgender people extended through the the military overthrew the country’s fragile The social network took the Myanmar mili- remain on Facebook and Instagram “are too democratic government. tary’s main news page and another state TV great.” It said the military would be barred companies and amounts to a money-grab by entire federal government. struggling - but politically connected - tradi- An annual report by GLAAD also found The move plunged the social network di- network page offline a few days ago. It also indefinitely. rectly into Myanmar’s post-coup politics took down the official accounts of senior My- The action underscores the difficulties Fa- tional media. this year that LGBTQ representation on tel- Tech insiders see the legislation as driven, evision had fallen for the first time in five — and left little question that it was picking anmar military leaders who were linked to cebook faces over what it allows on its site. sides in a pitched political battle. the Rohingya violence in 2018. But plenty of Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief execu- in particular, by Rupert Murdoch's News years. The US House of Representatives is Corp, which dominates the local media land- likely to vote this week on the Equality Act, Facebook acted after facing criticism for other military-linked pages were still online. tive, has long championed freedom of speech years over how Myanmar’s military has used Now, in taking further action, Facebook above all else, positioning the site as merely scape and has close ties with Australia's con- a bill that would expand protections against servative government. discrimination based on sexual orientation the site, including to incite hatred against the has made it clear that it is making a political a platform and technology service that would country’s mostly Muslim Rohingya minor- judgment. In a statement, the company said it not get in the way of governmental or social There is no guarantee in the law that the and gender identity, NPR reported. proceeds will be used to fund journalism. While leading LGBTQ advocacy groups ity group. Since the coup earlier this month, was banning “remaining” accounts linked to disputes. which ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu the military because the coup was “an emer- -New York Times Nick Clegg, Facebook's head of global af- were encouraged that the Gallup results fairs, on Thursday said the original draft of matched their independent polls, leaders the law would have forced the firm to pay said there was more to be done to make the India steps up clampdown on US social media giants "potentially unlimited amounts of money to estimates more inclusive for people who multinational media conglomerates under identify in other ways or are gender non- NEW DELHI - India imposed tough new The farmers stormed New Delhi's historic farmers who have been camped on roads on an arbitration system that deliberately mis- conforming. “You’re not just erasing their rules on social media platforms Thursday Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila, as a mass the outskirts of Delhi since November calling describes the relationship between publish- identity, but you’re missing an opportunity (25) as it accused US tech giants of "double rally turned into a city-wide riot on January for the repeal of new free market farm laws. ers and Facebook". to understand the complexity of lived experi- standards" in taking down disputed content. 26. India's Hindu nationalist government or- But the government began its complaints Observers said the weakening of the law to ences,” said Amit Paley, the chief executive New Delhi is the latest in a series of govern- dered Twitter to take down hundreds of ac- about social media when it first came to pow- largely avoid mandatory arbitration means and executive director of the Trevor Project, ments to clamp down on Facebook, Twitter counts and tweets commenting on the dem- er in 2014. A Facebook spokesperson said it is unlikely to spark copycat legislation in an organization that aims to prevent suicides and other big tech firms but analysts said In- onstrations. Twitter at first complied but soon the US company was "an ally for India" and places like Canada and Britain that would in young LGBTQ people. dia's move could be challenged in court. reopened most of the accounts. "we will carefully study the rules". "We have threaten Google and Facebook's business For leaders, the poll also highlights a per- Facebook said the new regulations, which Social media companies will also have always been clear as a company that we wel- models. petual issue in gathering data on LGBTQ will take effect in three months, would be to appoint a chief compliance officer and a come regulations that set guidelines for ad- And it is far from clear the money will be people that could influence new policies. carefully studied. The rules will force social "grievance redressal officer", both based in dressing today's toughest challenges on the enough to save Australia's news media. “We don’t actually know how many LG- media platforms, online streaming services India, under the new regime. internet," the spokesperson said. "We have always put up with advertising BTQ people in this country die by suicide and digital news services to remove content A separate "self-regulatory body" led by Facebook has been the target of legislation in order to get the information produced because death records don’t include data on within 24 hours of a complaint being made. an official nominated by the government will in Australia to force the firm to pay for news by news organizations," said University of gender identity or sexual orientation, which Tech companies will also have to disclose the have the power to warn or censure a plat- content. It also faces mounting pressure from Queensland economist John Quiggin, recall- is erasing LGBTQ people in important ways,” origin of a "mischievous tweet or message" if form, force it to make an apology or include a Canada, Britain and the European Union. ing the days of papers fuelled by page after Paley said. asked by an Indian court or the government. "warning" or "disclaimer" about content. Internet freedom analysts expressed con- page of classified ads. -New York Times Information technology minister Ravi Prasad said there must be "a robust griev- cern over the Indian government's regula- "Now the advertising revenue is flowing to Shankar Prasad justified the move by com- ance redressal mechanism" and complaints tions. Google and Facebook, and we have no model China denies using paring the refusal of social media firms to must be dealt with in 24 hours and redressed "I think these new rules are extremely wor- for funding news media in the future," he take down content after protesting farmers within 15 days. risome because they are imposing a regula- wrote in a recent blog post for The Conver- COVID-19 anal swabs went on a rampage in New Delhi to their re- "The government welcomes criticism and tion on free speech and privacy without any sation. action after violence at the US Congress days the right to dissent but it is important for the backing of law," Nikhil Pahwa, founder of a "We may need direct public funding, per- earlier. "If there is an attack on Capitol Hill in users of social media to have a forum to raise digital news portal and a cyber activist, told haps financed by a tax on advertising. In the on US diplomats Congress, social media supports police action. their grievance against the misuse of social AFP. "In my opinion all these rules should meantime, forcing Google and Facebook to BEIJING - China on Thursday (25) said it But there is an aggressive attack on Lal Qila... media," he added. be challenged in court and if they are, I doubt pay for links is not a particularly satisfactory had never asked US diplomats to undergo you have double standards," he said, calling it Social media has become a central battle- they would hold up." solution, but it's the best we've got." COVID-19 anal swabs, following American "unacceptable". ground in the government's showdown with -Agence France-Presse -Agence France-Presse media reports that State Department person- nel had complained of being subjected to the By Helen Sullivan intrusive test. UN urges Gulf states to step up to avert China - which has largely brought the virus under control domestically - said last month Yemen famine Princess Latifa urges UK police to investigate that anal swabs can be more effective than GENEVA - UN aid chief Mark Lowcock than half the $3.4bn it needed, which normal throat and nose swabs as the virus has urged Gulf states to step up next Mon- Lowcock said was largely due to smaller sister's abduction can linger longer in the digestive system. day (March 1) when the world body seeks contributions from Gulf countries. He But Beijing rebuffed reports from Vice and to avert a large-scale “man-made” famine urged them to pledge generously for 2021 LONDON - Princess Latifa, a daughter of Dubai’s previous month, Shamsa had fled her father’s Washington Post - citing US officials - that in Yemen by raising $3.85bn for humani- and pay quickly. ruler who claims to have been held in captivity by Longcross estate near Chobham, Surrey. State Department employees in China had tarian operations in the war-torn Arabian “My message really to the Gulf coun- her father since 2018, has asked UK police to re- In an email Shamsa later managed to smug- been given the test "in error," despite diplo- Peninsula country for 2021. The United tries … is you have an extremely impor- investigate the kidnapping more than 20 years gle out from captivity in Dubai to an immigra- mats being exempt from the procedure. Nations describes Yemen as the world’s tant role to play here, what you did in ago of her sister, Princess Shamsa, according to a tion solicitor from whom she had sought advice "China has never requested US diplomatic largest humanitarian crisis, with 80% of 2018 and 2019 saved a lot of lives, frank- letter reported by the BBC. about remaining in Britain, Shamsa alleged: “I personnel in China to undergo anal swabs," the people in need. Lowcock warned if the ly, and enabled us to avoid a total collapse The BBC reported that in a letter handwritten was caught by my father, he managed to track me foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said world body does not receive the money it and a tragedy of genuinely historic pro- in 2019 – but passed to Cambridgeshire police on down through someone I kept in touch with. at a regular press briefing Thursday. needs at a virtual pledging conference on portion. It’s now back on a knife-edge,” Wednesday (25) – Latifa says the police may be “I was caught on the 19th August, in Cambridge. Officials in China have used anal swabs to Monday, “we’re going to see is the worst Lowcock told reporters. able to free Shamsa, who was abducted on the or- He sent four Arab men to catch me, they were car- test people it considers at high-risk of con- famine the world has seen for decades”. “This is an entirely man-made famine,” ders of her father when she was 19. rying guns and threatening me, they drove me to tracting COVID-19, including residents of In 2018 and 2019, the UN prevented he added. Yemen is engulfed in a war that “Your help and attention on her case could free my father’s place in Newmarket, there they gave neighbourhoods with confirmed cases as famine in Yemen due to a well-funded erupted in 2014 when Houthi rebels took her,” Latifa reportedly wrote. me two injections and a handful of tablets, the well as some international travellers. aid appeal, which included large dona- control of the capital Sanaa and most On Sunday (21), the United Nations asked the very next morning a helicopter came and flew me State media reports that anal swabs had tions from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab of the country’s north after overthrow- UAE for proof that Latifa was alive, following to the plane, which took me back to Dubai. I am been used in Beijing during a small outbreak Emirates and Kuwait, Lowcock said. ing the internationally-backed govern- the release days earlier of secretly recorded mes- locked up until today.” in January caused a social media uproar, “What is alarming and what is different ment. Months later, a Saudi-led coalition sages in which she said: “I’m a hostage. I am not Cambridgeshire police launched an investi- with many commenters on Twitter-like Wei- about the situation we’re in now is that launched a military offensive in support free. I’m enslaved in this jail. My life is not in my gation into the kidnapping in 2001, the BBC re- bo reacting with a mix of horror and amuse- there’s been such a big drop off in sup- of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. hands.” The BBC reported that Latifa had dated ported, but “the investigation eventually hit a ment. But officials acknowledged it would be port for the aid operation that we’ve been After nearly six years of war, millions of her letter about her sister’s kidnapping 2018, dead end when officers were blocked from going hard to use anal swabs as widely as the other cutting aid to starving people – not in an Yemenis are on the brink of famine with “before her escape attempt, to avoid revealing to Dubai”. The investigation was reviewed in 2018 methods, which have been used to test mil- isolated way, in a way that affects millions the economy destroyed, schools and that she had a way of communicating with the and again in 2020. The police said in a statement lions in mass campaigns, as the former tech- of people all over the country,” Lowcock hospitals barely functioning, and tens of outside world from captivity”. Princess Shamsa to the BBC that the new letter “will be looked at as nique was "not convenient." said on Wednesday (24). In 2020 the thousands killed. was snatched from the street in Cambridge in part of the ongoing review”. -Agencies United Nations only received just more -Agencies August 2000 after visiting a bar with friends. The -theguardian.com WEEKEND EXPRESS FEBRUARY 26 - 28, 2021 5 REALITY CHECK

By Gioia Forster and By Charlie Faulkner Anne-Sophie Galli ‘Shot at by both sides' Hello Trouble Families flee as Taliban battles What happened when for territory in Kandahar Bollywood met Nollywood KANDAHAR - The people who lived in Spairwan village spent two days huddled NAIROBI/NEW DELHI - As far as in their homes, besieged by fighting, be- romcoms go, ‘Namaste Wahala’ has the fore the Taliban came and told them all to typical elements: Boy meets girl, they fall leave the area. Qayoom and his family were in love, they face a test of their devotion, among 10,000 families pushed out of their and then everything works out in the end. homes as government and Taliban forces But ‘Namaste Wahala’ is also a love battled for territory in southern Afghani- story between two billion-dollar film in- stan last month. dustries from separate continents: Nol- Qayoom found his new home was to be lywood and Bollywood. a couple of large sheets propped up over "I grew up in an Indian family in Nige- cold, bare earth, a shelter among many oth- ria. I am in the perfect position to tell this ers in a camp for internally displaced peo- story of these two cultures," says Hami- ple (IDP) on the outskirts of Kandahar city. shaDaryani Ahuja. The director, producer But the shelter barely checks the icy blasts and actress' debut film tells the love story of bitter winter winds. of Didi, a woman from Nigeria, and Raj, “Within the space of a few hours, our vil- from India. lage, Spairwan, became the frontline of the When their families find out, the pair, fighting between the government and the played by Ini Dima Okojie and Ruslaan- Taliban,” the father of five said, adding, Mumtaz, is forced to deal with misunder- “For two days we couldn’t leave our houses standings, cultural differences and critical because people were getting shot by both soon-to-be in-laws. "In the film, there is a sides. The Taliban captured our village and lot of magic, romance and cheese but also - Joy Jones via The New York Times then told us to leave the area.” many real topics we touch on. There are In an undated image provided by Joy Jones, her daughter Jackie draws on the hotel room window with dry-erase markers while Fighting has surged across Kandahar deep-rooted issues that do come up," says quarantined at the Stamford Plaza Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand. Air travellers around the world are finding themselves in province since September, sparked by the Ahuja. similar situations, enduring mandatory government quarantines in hotels as they travel to countries that are very serious about start of peace talks that have since stalled. But it's not all serious: The Netflix re- containing the coronavirus The conflict is the closest Taliban fighters lease takes a humorous, celebratory look have come to taking the provincial city of at the cultures of India and Nigeria - and their former heartland in more than a dec- reveals many common preferences and By Lauren Sloss ade. So far, US air support has played a vital traditions, not least for fancy weddings. role for the Afghan forces holding ground. Family prejudice is first and foremost. Travel quarantines Now, with uncertainty surrounding the Didi's relatives don't want her to marry US decision to fully withdraw its remain- an Indian, and Raj's family don't want ing 2,500 troops by May 1– as agreed in the him to marry a Nigerian - reflecting real- US-Taliban peace deal signed in February ity in many ways. last year – there are fears the Taliban will Most Nigerians and Indians look for a Enduring the mundane, one day at a time continue to escalate attacks, potentially tar- spouse within their culture. geting US and NATO forces. In India, people usually marry within May Samali knew she had reached her limit time between Washington, DC, and Tunisia, a senior director at the Planned Parenthood when she saw a tentacle emerging from her was able to choose a hotel for her weeklong Federation of America, who travelled to Tai- Leaving the village amid the fighting was the same caste and social class. In Nige- traumatic for Qayoom, 40, and his family. ria, too, nationality, ethnic origin and reli- hotel dinner in Sydney. quarantine when returning to Tunis with pei from Washington, DC, in November. Sye “I called downstairs and said, ‘I’m a vegan her husband in September; she based her attempted to maintain East Coast hours for “The main road to our village was blocked. gion all matter when it comes to choosing No way was safe,” he said. “I was extremely a life partner. And in both cultures, family now, thank you!’” she said. “It was just so selection, the Medina Belisaire&Thalasso, the majority of his quarantine at the Hanns much fish. I’d gotten to the point where even on price and proximity to the Mediterranean House Hotel, working from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. frightened.” opinion matters a great deal in whom you They made it to safety with little more choose. thinking about it made me gag.” Sea. “We couldn’t see it, but we could hear it. Wallace ran a half-marathon around his Samali swore off the seemingly unlimited ... At least, we told ourselves we could!” she Sydney hotel room (he was unable to adjust than the clothes they were wearing, but now That is slowly changing, however, par- seafood while in the middle of a required said. the in-room air conditioner and got very face appalling living conditions and a strug- ticularly with the increased mixing of cul- quarantine in the Hotel Sofitel in Sydney in Brett Barna, an investment manager who sweaty). Barna and his fiancée in Shang- gle for food. “I have been back to my vil- tures. December and early January. An executive relocated to Shanghai with his fiancée in No- hai had date nights on Zoom, since official lage because we just left everything behind, Both Nigeria and India were once Brit- coach, she was repatriating back to Australia vember, could select a district in the city but policy required them to quarantine in sepa- but I discovered that everywhere had been ish colonies, and Indian families have after her US work visa expired. In addition to not the hotel itself. In an attempt to improve rate rooms. A major highlight of their days looted. I have farmland there but we’ve had been based in Nigeria for generations - having an excess of fish, Samali was confined their odds, Barna chose the upscale Huang- came when a hotel employee, clad in full, to abandon it,” said Qayoom, who did not including Ahuja's family. Some 50,000 to her room all day, forbidden from stepping pu district where, he hoped, the hotels would hazmat-style personal protective equipment, wish to give his full name. “We don’t care Indians live in Nigeria, according to the outside, for two weeks. be higher quality. knocked on the door and pointed an infrared who is in charge, we just want the fighting Indian diplomatic mission. Many stay Air travellers around the world are finding “There were four possible hotels in the dis- thermometer at their heads. They were not to stop.” within their community, although love themselves in similar situations, enduring trict, three of which were nice enough. And allowed outside. In Kandahar province, only 5,500 of the stories similar to Didi and Raj's do hap- mandatory government quarantines in ho- then there was the budget option, the Home nearly 10,000 displaced families have so far pen, Ahuja says. tels as they travel to countries that are very Inn,” he said. Barna and his fiancée, to their Three Meals a Day received aid, according to Dost Mohammad ‘Namaste Wahala’ - which translates serious about containing the coronavirus. dismay, ended up paying for quarantine in Meals become very important in quar- Nayab, head of the Kandahar refugee and roughly as ‘Hello Trouble’ - turns the dif- Their quarantine is not the cushy experi- that option, which had peeling wallpaper and antine life, to mark the passing of the time repatriation department. ferences between the two cultures into ence of shorter-term quarantines or ‘resort bleach stains on the floor thanks to aggres- and as regular occurrences to break up the Another father in the same camp, Na- comedy. "But actually the differences are bubbles’ found in some destinations such as sive cleaning protocols. monotony of the day. Food quality, though, jibullah, described how his young daughter the biggest similarities," Ahuja says. Kauai and the British Virgin Islands, where In Australia and New Zealand, there’s no varies widely, as Sye learned in Taipei, where had died in his arms as he and his family left Both cultures share a love of food, fash- you are able to roam relatively freely on a re- choice in the matter — upon landing, your meals were ordered from nearby restaurants. Sangsar village, in the Zhari district, at the ion and music. Family and respect for sort’s expansive grounds while waiting for a entire flight is bussed to a quarantine hotel He recounted the highs of a Michelin- end of last year. “I don’t know for certain the older generation is very important in negative coronavirus test. with capacity. In most instances, travellers starred meal from Kam’s Roast Goose and what killed her but I think it was a heart at- both. "And both cultures love big parties." This is the more extreme yet typical expe- do not know where they are going until the the thoughtfulness of a Thanksgiving dinner tack – the stress of what was happening was Indian weddings, in particular, are rience of quarantine life. These mandatory bus pulls up at the hotel itself. decorated with a paper turkey to the low of too much for her,” he said tearfully. known as lavish celebrations that can quarantines involve confinement to your Joy Jones, a coach and educator based in an absolutely terrible pizza (at least it was ac- He and his wife, Khatima, buried their last for several days. Often, hundreds of room, 24 hours a day, for up to two weeks San Francisco, travelled to New Zealand with companied by a beer). daughter at the roadside, instead of in the guests are invited - even if the bride and (assuming you test negative, that is). And her husband, a New Zealand citizen, and two For Techamuanvivit, who documented family plot. Along with their grief, they groom don't know many of them. with some exceptions, you are footing the young daughters in January. She learned her quarantine in Christchurch on Twitter, now have to contend with conditions in the Nigerian weddings are also big and bill — quarantine in New South Wales, Aus- before their departure that they would have ordering food and grocery delivery was a glamorous. "This is a very essential part of 4,000-sq m camp now occupied by more tralia, for example, costs about $2,300 for a no say where in the country they would be lifesaver. “I’m a chef. I suppose I am, shall than 250 families, where they struggle to the culture," says Sandra Adewale, a wed- two-week quarantine for one adult, and up quarantined. we say, a snob!” she said. “As a restaura- keep their other five children fed and warm. ding planner in Lagos. "We believe in hav- to 5,000 Australian dollars for a family of “That was probably the hardest part,” she teur, I don’t have much love for UberEats. ing everybody coming to share in the joy." four to quarantine for two weeks. In Janu- said. “I could put together a bag of activi- One small water tank supplies the entire But ordering Indian takeaway proved to be camp. Mother-of-eight Gulsima, 25, also People sometimes show up even if they're ary, Britain announced a mandatory 10-day ties for my older daughter and plan on do- important.” (Others who had delivery op- not invited. "You can have 1,000 people quarantine from high-risk areas with a simi- ing laundry in the sink. But not having an fled from Spairwan in the Panjwayi district. tions available similarly cited them as game Her youngest child is six months old. “The at your wedding you didn't even plan for." lar cost of about $2,500 for one adult. answer to where we’d be — after more than changing.) Ahuja says she created the film for Ni- Travellers journeying to countries with 21 hours of flying, with masks — would we fighting started in the morning and by the gerian audiences. mandatory hotel quarantines, which also have to get another flight? A three-hour bus Seeking Connection on afternoon, everyone had left the village. We "Nigeria grew up on a Bollywood diet," include New Zealand, mainland China and ride?” They didn’t. Jones and her family were Social Media heard the sound of gunfire and heavy weap- she says. Indian movies and TV shows Tunisia, generally must have compelling rea- taken to Stamford Plaza in Auckland, just 25 onry and got out as quickly as we could – we There are Facebook groups dedicated to left all of our belongings behind,” she said. are dubbed for Nigerian television and in sons to do so — visiting ailing family mem- minutes from the airport. hotel quarantine, by region and even by spe- movie theatres. bers, engaging in “essential” business travel PimTechamuanvivit and her New Zea- “We have been given sacks of wheat to cific hotel, where members share tips for make bread but even that is in short sup- Ahuja says wanted to make a film that or carrying out permanent relocation. lander husband, however, were not so boiling eggs using in-room kettles and ‘cook- Nigerians could relate to, but with a "Bol- Travel quarantine might seem manage- lucky. After arriving in Auckland from San ply.” ing’ with an iron. They were also a source His hands wrapped in big white band- lywood feel." "That is why this movie is re- able, even familiar, for those who have been Francisco, they were promptly directed to of community; Wallace, who learned of the ceiving so much buzz. Because people in living in places with shelter-in-place orders board a flight to Christchurch and taken to ages, Ehsanullah, 19, is a patient at Kanda- Sydney Hilton’s Facebook group while on the har’s Mirwais regional hospital. Nigeria love and relate to both cultures." and working from home. Pete Lee, a San the Novotel Christchurch Airport hotel. “At bus from the airport, participated in a daily Thanks to Netflix, the film is now get- Francisco-based filmmaker, wasn’t con- that point, we just really, really wanted to The teenager’s fingers were blown off by Zoom call with members of the group. (The an IED as he searched for his family’s be- ting worldwide attention. cerned about the quarantine when he flew to get to the hotel!” said Techamuanvivit, chef- meals of the day were a constant topic of con- "Wouldn’t surprise me if Namaste Wa- Taiwan for work and to visit family. owner of Nari and Kin Khao restaurants in longings amid the rubble of their home in versation.) Tarinkot, in the neighbouring province of hala ends up being one of Netflix’s big- “I was a little bit cocky when I first heard San Francisco and executive chef of Nahm in Lee moderated filmmaking conversations gest film releases," one observer wrote on about the requirement,” Lee said during Bangkok. on Clubhouse, an invitation-only social me- Uruzgan. He believes the Taliban planted Twitter. "Bollywood and Nollywood have his eighth day at the Roaders Hotel in Tai- Relief at arriving — finally — might be the dia app, and spent time on Tinder while in the bomb. HUGE film industries, both originate pei, Taiwan. “I was inside my San Francisco initial reaction, but it doesn’t take long for re- quarantine; he connected with a woman who “When our village came under attack, we from cultures obsessed with weddings apartment for 22 out of 24 hours a day! But ality to set in. The hotel room is all that you’ll was nearing the end of her confinement in moved to another district but we couldn’t and both have massive populations both it’s a surprisingly intense experience. Those see for a not-insignificant period of time. another hotel across town. live as IDPs, we have no money to pay rent, in-country and in the diaspora." two hours make a big difference.” As Adrian Wallace, a technology project Jones documented her family’s quaran- so we tried to return home,” says Ehsanul- manager who was quarantined at the Sydney lah, who gave only one name. “We had six Ahuja didn't expect the film to gener- Destination: Unknown tine experience on her private Instagram ate such interest worldwide - and says she Hilton in August after visiting his ailing fa- account, showing forts made of blankets, rooms before the airstrike hit our house, feels deeply touched. "Many people have Much of quarantine life is determined by ther in Britain, put it: “That moment when paper-airplane competitions, and ‘bowl- but when we returned we discovered only written to me and said, 'I feel seen,'" she your hotel. And depending on where you are the door slams ... it’s reminiscent of the ing’ with water bottles and a crumpled ball two were still standing.” travelling, you may get to choose your quar- opening scene of ‘The Shawshank Redemp- made of paper. She was touched that friends The family are now having to make do says. tion’!” Wallace said, referring to the 1994 All over the world, the issue of cross- antine hotel, or you may be assigned upon and family, both in New Zealand and in the with what is left of their house. arrival. Lee was able to choose and book his prison movie with Tim Robbins and Morgan United States, sent her family meals, treats Mohammad Ismail heads a council of cultural love, and the difficulties that Freeman. come with it, seems to have appeal - not quarantine hotel from a list compiled by the and toys for her daughters in response to her village leaders who meet daily. He said the Taiwanese government, complete with infor- just in India and Nigeria. "They are so Passing the Time posts. council is urging the government to support excited to see a love story that is so di- mation about location, cost, room size and “It was a really cool way to feel love, and displaced families in desperate need. verse on the biggest movie platform in the the presence (or lack thereof) of windows. He The challenge is managing the tedium. connection, from such an isolated space,” “The Taliban are using people’s homes also footed the bill. Similarly, Ouiem Chet- Working remotely helped pass the time for a world," Ahuja says. she said. either as checkpoints, offices or as a place -dpa taoui, a public-policy specialist who splits her number of the travellers, including Tait Sye, -New York Times to camp out. They do so to stop the govern- ment forces from targeting them,” he said. The Afghan and US forces have been crit- icised for their part in civilian deaths. Describing a campaign of destruction By Patrick Kingsley carried out by Taliban fighters affecting homes, schools, bridges and roads, Ismail said the insurgents plant IEDs in the are- Israel gives vaccine to far-off allies, as Palestinians wait as they capture to slow down government forces – a statement corroborated by civil- JERUSALEM — The Israeli government plomacy, in which countries rich in vaccines moved its embassy to Jerusalem, while Hon- ries, almost all of whom have yet to receive a ians and other officials. has pledged to send thousands of spare coro- seek to reward or sway those that have little duras has pledged to do so. Hungary has set vaccine. Israel has pledged at least twice as “A man in my village was killed by an IED navirus vaccines to foreign allies, reigniting a access to them. up a trade mission in Jerusalem, while the many doses to faraway countries as it has so planted on his land. This is happening all debate about Israel’s responsibilities to peo- Jockeying for influence in Asia, China and Czech Republic has promised to open a dip- far promised to the nearly 5 million Palestin- over the province,” he said. “It is impos- ple closer to home: Palestinians living under India have donated thousands of vaccine lomatic office there. ians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. sible for people to remain in their homes Israeli occupation. doses to their neighbours. The United Arab Israel has given at least one shot of the The Israeli government says that the Pales- once the Taliban capture villages. We have On Tuesday (23), the governments of the Emirates has done the same for allies like two-dose, Pfizer-manufactured vaccine to tinian Authority was given responsibility for eight families who fled the fighting in their Czech Republic and Honduras confirmed Egypt. And last week, Israel even promised just over half its own population of 9 million organizing its own health care system in the village now living in one mosque.” that Israel had promised them each 5,000 to buy tens of thousands of doses on behalf — including to people living in Jewish set- 1990s, after the signing of the Oslo Accords A pregnant woman who escaped the on- vaccine doses manufactured by Moderna. of the Syrian government, a long-time foe, in tlements in the occupied Palestinian territo- that gave the Palestinian leadership limited slaught in her village was forced to give The Israeli news media reported that Hun- exchange for the return of an Israeli civilian ries — making it the world leader in vaccine autonomy in parts of the occupied territories. birth in a derelict building, he said. gary and Guatemala would be sent a similar detained in Syria. rollouts. That has left the Israeli government Israel has given 2,000 vaccine doses to the “Without support from US troops, I am number, but the Hungarian and Israeli gov- The vaccines allocated Tuesday were given able to bolster its international relationships Palestinian Authority and promised 3,000 sure the country will collapse and end up in ernments declined to comment, while the without conditions, but they tacitly reward with its surplus supply of Moderna vaccines. more — token figures, given the size of the the hands of whoever wants to lead it,” said Guatemalan government did not respond to recent gestures from the receiving countries But the move has angered Palestinians Palestinian population. And while Israel has a request for comment. that implicitly accept Israeli sovereignty in because it suggests that Israel’s allies are of hinted that more may come, it has yet to for- Ismail. The donations are the latest example of Jerusalem, which both Israelis and Palestin- greater priority than the Palestinians living malize any details. -This article was originally featured on a new expression of soft power: vaccine di- ians consider their capital. Guatemala has under Israeli control in the occupied territo- -New York Times theguardina.com 6 FEBRUARY 26 - 28, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS RETHINKING AMERICA

By David E. Sanger By Nicholas Kristof Candidate Biden called School closures Saudi Arabia a ‘pariah’ have failed He now has to deal with it America’s children WASHINGTON — As a candidate, Presi- dent Joe Biden left no doubt what he Flags are flying at half-staff across the thought about how the United States should United States to commemorate the half- deal with Saudi Arabia. million American lives lost to the corona- His plan, he said, was to make the Saudis virus. “pay the price, and make them in fact the pa- But there is another tragedy we haven’t riah that they are”. Biden was equally blunt adequately confronted: Millions of Ameri- about the Saudi royal family. There is “very can school children will soon have missed little social redeeming value in the present a year of in-person instruction, and we may government in Saudi Arabia,” he said. have inflicted permanent damage on some Now, as president, Biden must deal with of them, and on our country. that government, whether it has redeeming The reluctance of many Republicans to value or not. And he must navigate a series wear masks and practice social distancing of campaign promises to cut off arms ship- is one reason so many Americans are dead. ments and make public the American intelli- But the educational losses are dispropor- gence conclusions about the role of Moham- tionately the fault of Democratic governors med bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince and mayors who too often let schools stay -Doug Mills/The New York Times closed even as bars opened. and the de facto leader of the country, in the President Joe Biden signs executive orders in the Oval Office in Washington, Feb. 2, 2021. Officials in Biden’s administration killing of the dissident and journalist Jamal The blunt fact is that it is Democrats — are using former President Donald Trump’s own tactics to adjust reality again, this time by erasing the words his predecessor including those who run the West Coast, Khashoggi. used and by explicitly returning to ones that had been banished That process appears likely to begin this from California through Oregon to Wash- week when Biden plans to hold his first By Michael D. Shear ington state — who have presided over one conversation with the ailing King Salman. of the worst blows to the education of disad- And while the call will be full of diplomatic vantaged Americans in history. The result: pleasantries, officials say, the real purpose more dropouts, less literacy and numeracy, is to warn him that the intelligence report is The words that are in and out with widening race gaps, and long-term harm to going to be declassified and published. The some of our most marginalized youth. White House would say little about the care- The San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank fully sequenced set of events, other than that this month estimated that educational no conversation between the two men had the Biden administration disruptions during this pandemic may in- crease the number of high school dropouts yet been scheduled — though clearly one WASHINGTON — Days after Presi- agencies is not uncommon when a new briefing. References to presidents as ‘he’ was in the works. “The president’s intention, over 10 years by 3.8%, while also reducing dent Joe Biden took office, the Bureau administration arrives in Washington. were changed to ‘they’ on some parts of the number of college-educated workers as is the intention of this government, is to of Land Management put a scenic land- In addition to their symbolic power, the the site. recalibrate our engagement with Saudi Ara- in the labour force. This will shrink the in- scape of a winding river at the top of its revisions can help usher in new policies. Melissa Schwartz, the Interior Depart- comes of Americans for 70 years, until the bia,” Jen Psaki, the White House press sec- website, which during the previous ad- Allowing the phrase ‘climate change’ ment’s top communications official, said retary, told reporters Wednesday (24). last of today’s students leave the workforce, ministration had featured a photograph gives a green light to government sci- such changes were part of a new policy the bank said. While the Trump administration dealt at of a huge wall of coal. entists, while banning the use of ‘illegal of encouraging voices that had not been length with the crown prince — who was fre- What that doesn’t capture is the human At the Department of Homeland Se- alien’ can alter the real-life engagements heard during the Trump administration. toll. Rich kids going to private schools glide quently in contact with Jared Kushner, for- curity, the phrase ‘illegal alien’ is being between immigrants and border agents. “The words we choose are critical and mer President Donald Trump’s son-in-law on through life mostly unaffected, while replaced with ‘noncitizen’. The Interior But rarely has the contrast been quite set the tone, whether it’s press releases low-income children often don’t even have and adviser — Biden is taking the position Department now makes sure that men- so stark as it is between Biden and or social media or all-staff messages,” that King Salman is still the country’s leader, internet to attend Zoom classes. I’m writ- tions of its stakeholders include ‘Tribal’ Trump. The rhetorical overhaul is un- she said. “At Interior, that means not ing this in rural Oregon, where some homes and the only one he will talk with directly. people (with a capital ‘T’, as preferred derway in all corners of the government just acknowledging the disproportionate Since the crown prince serves as the defence have neither internet nor cellphone service. by Native Americans, it said). The most as executive orders are drafted, news impact that the climate crisis is having I wrote recently about my old buddy minister, he has been told to communicate unpopular two words in the Trump lexi- releases are modified, scores of federal on communities of colour and Indig- with Defence Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III. Mike Stepp, who dropped out of high con — ‘climate change’ — are once again forms are tweaked, and online portals enous peoples but an embrace of the school, couldn’t get a good job, self-medi- But the issue of protocol is less important appearing on government websites and are revamped. science and solutions that will help us than the sharp shift in the way the Saudis cated with alcohol and meth, and recently in documents; officials at the Environ- Stephen Miller, who pursued similar tackle it.” died homeless. I fear that our educational are being treated. mental Protection Agency have even be- changes at the beginning of the Trump Biden administration officials say Nearly three weeks ago, at the State De- failures during this pandemic will produce gun using the hashtag #climatecrisis on administration as a top policy adviser, the effort to modify the language used countless more tragedies like Mike’s. partment, Biden ordered an end to arms Twitter. said the embrace of what he called po- by government officials recognizes the sales and other support to the Saudis for a Bellwether Education Partners, a non- And across the government, LGBTQ litically correct language by officials in powerful messages that certain words profit focused on underserved students, war in Yemen that he called a “humanitarian references are popping up everywhere. Biden’s government reflected the impor- and phrases send. and strategic catastrophe”. American de- estimates that as many as three million Visitors to the White House website are tance of framing important issues for the The term ‘alien’ is written into im- children in the United States have missed fensive arms will continue to flow, largely to now asked whether they want to pro- public. migration statutes and has been widely protect against Iranian missiles and drones, all formal education, in-person or virtual, vide their pronouns when they fill out a In addition to the changes on web- used in government for decades to de- for almost a year. but Biden was making good on a campaign contact form: she/her, he/him or they/ sites, he noted that Biden’s executive scribe foreigners, even showing up in promise to end the Trump-era practice of “We have to acknowledge that there is a them. orders had been filled with words and memos from Obama-era officials. But large percentage of kids that have ‘disap- forgiving Saudi human rights violations in It is all part of a concerted effort by the phrases that would never have come it has increasingly been at the centre of order to preserve jobs in the American arms peared’ — students who have never logged Biden administration to rebrand the gov- from Trump’s mouth, including ‘equity’, an ideological tug of war about whether in, or logged in and never fully engaged,” industry. ernment after four years of former Presi- ‘environmental justice’, ‘pathway to citi- it unfairly stigmatizes immigrants and For the administration to go directly after said Melissa Connelly, chief executive of dent Donald Trump, in part by stripping zenship’, ‘pro-choice’ and ‘undocument- whether those in the United States with- One Goal, a non-profit that does outstand- Crown Prince Mohammed, the workaholic, away the language and imagery that ed immigrant’. out authorization should be called ‘un- unforgiving son of the king known as MBS, ing work with low-income high school stu- represented his anti-immigration, anti- “The struggle over the lexicon is ac- documented’ rather than ‘illegal’. dents. is an entirely different kind of problem. The science and anti-gay rights policies and tually the central struggle,” said Miller, Three years ago, Attorney General Jeff content of the assessment, chiefly written by As of Jan. 29, almost 10% fewer high replacing them with words and pictures who wrote many of Trump’s speeches Sessions ordered officials in his depart- school seniors had submitted Free Applica- the CIA, is no mystery: In November 2018, that are more inclusive and better match and was the architect of his assault on the ment to use the term ‘illegal alien’ in all The New York Times reported that intelli- tion for Federal Student Aid forms, a sign the current president’s sensibilities. immigration system. “Equity is meant to communications when describing some- that some are losing the chance to attend gence officials had concluded that the crown “Biden is trying to reclaim the vision harken to this idea that America is a na- one who did not come to the United prince ordered the killing of Khashoggi, who college. of America that was there during the tion that believes in everybody having States through legal means. In a memo, Closures also exacerbate racial inequity. was drugged and dismembered in the Saudi Obama administration, a vision that this fundamental dignity of treatment. Justice Department officials wrote that Embassy in Turkey. According to McKinsey & Co., fifth graders was much more diverse, much more re- But the other side would say, ‘What you “the word ‘undocumented’ is not based in schools with mostly students of colour The agency buttressed the conclusion with ligiously tolerant, much more tolerant call equity, I call discrimination.’ ” in US code and should not be used to de- two sets of communications: intercepts of mastered only 37% of the math that usually of different kinds of gender dispositions Trump administration officials like scribe someone’s illegal presence in the would be expected. the crown prince’s calls in the days before and gender presentations,” said Norma Miller sought to engineer similar shifts country”. the killing, and calls by the kill team to a Yes, it is hard to open schools during a Mendoza-Denton, a professor of anthro- in language when they were in office. Now the Biden administration is ex- pandemic. But private schools mostly man- senior aide to the crown prince. pology at UCLA and an author of ‘Lan- Miller fought in 2017 for the use of the plicitly reversing that position. On Feb. The Trump administration issued sanc- aged to, and that is true not only of rich guage in the Trump Era: Scandals and phrase ‘radical Islamic terrorism’ dur- 12, officials at Citizenship and Immigra- boarding schools but also of strapped Cath- tions against 17 Saudis involved in the kill- Emergencies’. ing that year’s presidential address to tion Services, the agency that handles ing. But the administration never declas- olic schools. As a nation, we fought to keep Mendoza-Denton said Trump sought Congress, arguing that it conveyed a se- citizenship, said employees should not restaurants and malls open — but we didn’t sified the findings — even stripped of the to “remake reality through language” riousness of purpose by Trump in fight- use the word ‘alien’ in “outreach efforts, sources and methods — and avoided ques- make schools a similar priority, so needy during a tumultuous tenure. In her ing terrorism. Critics said that using the internal documents and in overall com- children were left behind. tions about Crown Prince Mohammed. Sen- book, which she co-wrote with Janet phrase falsely suggested that all Mus- munication with stakeholders, partners ior Trump officials often got angry when “The evidence on remote learning sug- McIntosh from Brandeis University, lims are terrorists. and the general public”. The move, the gests that despite the best efforts of teach- asked about their commitment to follow the McIntosh wrote that the former presi- And Ben Carson, Trump’s secretary of agency’s acting director said, “aligns our evidence. They often asked in return wheth- ers it doesn’t work for a large share of kids,” dent “changed some of the deepest ex- housing and urban development, pro- language practices with the administra- said Emily Oster, a Brown University econ- er the United States should abandon a major pectations about presidential language, posed removing the phrase ‘inclusive tion’s guidance on the federal govern- alliance because of the death of a single dis- omist who has studied the issue. “I think not just when it comes to style, but also and sustainable communities free from ment’s use of immigration terminology”. we’ve de-prioritized children in a way that sident and journalist. the relationship between words and re- discrimination’ from the department’s A few days later, the White House The big question is what action Biden de- will do long-term damage.” ality”. mission statement. He later backed went further. In his legislative proposal What are the risks of opening schools? We cides to take against the crown prince. Now officials in Biden’s administra- down. for a far-reaching immigration overhaul, “I hope his message is that we have to now have a great deal of data in the United tion are using Trump’s own tactics to For the Biden administration, the vo- Biden would strip the word ‘alien’ from States and abroad comparing areas that re- sanction MBS with the exact same sanc- adjust reality again, this time by eras- cabulary shift was immediate. the 1965 Immigration and Nationality tion we imposed on the 17 other Saudi ac- opened schools versus those that kept them ing the words his predecessor used and Hours after taking office, officials re- Act and substitute it with ‘noncitizen’, a closed. As the Centres for Disease Control complices in this murder,” said Sarah Leah by explicitly returning to ones that had sponsible for updating WhiteHouse.gov suggestion that infuriates anti-immigra- Whitson, the executive director of Democra- and Prevention found, “in-person learn- been banished. removed pages highlighting Trump’s tion groups. ing in schools has not been associated with cy for the Arab World Now, an organization “The president has been clear to all of 1776 Commission, which likened pro- “It’s kind of Orwellian — that’s what Khashoggi started. “A travel ban and an as- substantial community transmission.” The us: Words matter, tone matters and ci- gressivism to fascism and attacked liber- it is, really,” said Mark Krikorian, ex- British Medical Journal this week put it this set freeze. Anything less will look like we are vility matters,” said Jen Psaki, the White als who charge that the founding of the ecutive director of the Centre for Im- giving him special treatment and undermine way in an editorial: “Closing schools is not House press secretary. “And bringing United States was tainted by slavery. migration Studies, which favours limits evidence based and harms children.” the sanctions that we have imposed.” the country together, getting back our At the same time, the president’s aides on immigration. “The war against the “Even the Trump administration found it- Most evidence aligns with a careful Tu- seat at the global table means turning restored the Spanish-language version word ‘alien’ is a continuation of this ef- lane study that found that in most of the self forced to take action” against the other the page from the actions but also the di- of the website, which had been taken fort to de-stigmatize illegal immigration 17, Whitson said. “The message to the Sau- United States, school openings do not in- visive and far too often xenophobic lan- down by Trump’s digital team, and that started in the mid-1970s. This is in crease coronavirus hospitalizations. And dis has to be to get rid of this guy,” she said. guage of the last administration.” Some hired sign language interpreters for the a sense the culmination of that process.” -New York Times teachers generally don’t seem at greater risk shift in the language used by government livestream of the press secretary’s daily -New York Times than people in other occupations. While it is crucial to improve ventilation, increase testing and maintain adequate spacing, By Michael D. Shear those steps aren’t always possible — and failure to meet every benchmark shouldn’t be an automatic bar to in-person schooling. Teachers in some places are suggesting Biden revokes Trump’s pause on green cards that in-school instruction shouldn’t resume WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden tion system. Since taking office, Biden that studies had repeatedly cast doubt policy could affect as many as 660,000 even after they are vaccinated, not until reopened the country Wednesday (24) has issued several executive orders and on the idea that immigration was a direct people. students are vaccinated as well. That is an to people seeking green cards, ending a directives aimed at lifting restrictions threat to American jobs because many Biden has vowed to return the United abdication of responsibility to America’s ban on legal immigration that President on immigrants put in place over the past immigrants take jobs that Americans do States’ immigration policies to what they children. Donald Trump imposed last spring, cit- four years. not want. were before Trump became president. Many Democrats seemed to become ing what he said was the need to protect In April, as the coronavirus crisis wors- Biden echoed that sentiment. In his He has increased the number of refugees more suspicious of in-person schooling last American jobs during the pandemic. ened, Trump ordered a ‘pause’ in the is- proclamation, he wrote that he found that can be resettled in the country, and summer when President Donald Trump In a proclamation, Biden said the ban suance of green cards, one of the primary “the unrestricted entry into the United he has taken steps to process claims of called for it. We shouldn’t let ourselves be did “not advance the interests of the ways that foreigners can receive permis- States” of people seeking green cards was asylum seekers waiting in squalid camps driven by ideology rather than science, and United States,” challenging Trump’s sion to live and work in the United States. “not detrimental to the interests of the at the Mexico border. that wasn’t universal: Gov. Gina Raimondo claims that the way to protect the Ameri- At the time, Trump described his action United States”. But Biden has also proposed a more of Rhode Island, a Democrat, worked hard can economy during the health crisis was as a way to protect Americans, millions of Foreigners trying to move to the Unit- far-reaching overhaul of the nation’s to open schools, and kids there are better to shut the country off from the rest of whom lost their jobs as the threat of the ed States can seek to become “lawful per- immigration laws, fulfilling a campaign off because she did. the world. coronavirus shut down the economy. manent residents” — otherwise known promise he made to send legislation to Maybe new variants of the virus will “To the contrary,” Biden said of his “By pausing immigration, we will help as receiving a green card — which allows Congress on the first day of his presi- spread and require school closures — we predecessor’s immigration ban, “it harms put unemployed Americans first in line them to live in the country and eventually dency. should be relentlessly empirical — but that the United States, including by prevent- for jobs as America reopens. So impor- seek citizenship. In his legislation, the president would should be a last resort. Yes, there is un- ing certain family members of United tant,” Trump said. “It would be wrong Trump’s proclamation did not block provide an eight-year path to citizenship certainty. Sure, there are trade-offs. But States citizens and lawful permanent res- and unjust for Americans laid off by the American citizens from trying to bring for most of the 11 million undocumented serving kids in schools should be a higher idents from joining their families here. virus to be replaced with new immigrant their spouses or children to the United immigrants living in the United States. priority than serving drinks in bars, and we It also harms industries in the United labour flown in from abroad. We must States. But it did bar other foreigners, in- The legislation has been proposed in the should plan on summer school so lagging States that utilize talent from around the first take care of the American worker.” cluding the relatives of green card hold- House and Senate by Biden’s Democratic children can catch up. world.” Critics of Trump accused him of using ers and those seeking green cards based allies, but it is unclear whether it can earn For almost a year now, we as a country The president’s action was the lat- the pandemic as an excuse to further ad- on a job offer. enough Republican support to pass the have failed millions of America’s most vul- est example of his efforts to roll back vance his agenda of severely restricting An analysis by the Migration Policy Senate. nerable children. We must right this wrong. Trump’s assault on the nation’s immigra- immigration. And many scholars noted Institute at the time estimated that the -New York Times -New York Times WEEKEND EXPRESS FEBRUARY 26 - 28, 2021 7 COMMENTARY

By Kassapa Is Mahinda Rajapaksa not first among equals anymore? Pakistan's Prime If politics is about marketing leaders to the Minister Imran Khan masses, the leading brand and market leader (R) and his Sri in Sri Lanka is undoubtedly Mahinda Raja- Lankan counterpart paksa. The two-time president has his faults- Mahinda Rajapaksa of which there are many- but he is still the (L) at the end politician who wields the most clout in Sri of the Trade and Lanka. Why then is he being undermined, Investments particularly from within his own camp? conference in Mahinda Rajapaksa, now nearly fifty-one Colombo on years in politics and seventy-five years of age, went from president to ordinary citizen on Wednesday (24) January 8, 2015. Then, instead of retiring, he staged a remarkable comeback through a new political party and is now prime minister. When Gotabaya Rajapaksa ran for presi- dent, it was only because Mahinda couldn’t contest the election due to the 19th Amend- ment barring a third term for him. During the campaign, Mahinda was the dutiful el- der brother, accompanying the people-shy Gotabaya to rallies. It was Mahinda who did the main speech; that was his forte. Gota- – J Sujeewakumar/ENCL baya’s addresses were short, military style and didn’t send the public into raptures as it By P. K. Balachandran did when Mahinda asked ‘obatasathutuyida den?’ (‘Are you happy now?’). Now though, Mahinda’s pre-eminence is being questioned and a series of incidents Implications of Imran Khan’s visit point to a different centre of power emerging within the government, if not the ruling par- ty, the Sri Lanka PodujanaPeramuna (SLPP). Amidst a new trajectory in Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations The first stone was cast by that habitual sinner, Wimal Weerawansa. In an interview COLOMBO - Pakistan Prime Minister Im- COVID-19, Imran had told a group of Mus- saving these monuments and idols from re- ence of close cooperation between them in re- with a newspaper, Weerawansa said Gota- ran Khan’s two-day visit to Sri Lanka, which lim MPs, who met him prior to his departure ligious bigots and idol thieves and win plau- gional and international forums on issues of baya Rajapaksa should be the leader of the concluded on Wednesday (24), has put Paki- that he had taken up the matter with Prime dits from Buddhists in Sri Lanka and other mutual interest, agreed to further strengthen SLPP, a position currently held by Mahinda stan-Sri Lanka relations on a higher footing. Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and President countries. a coordinated approach on such matters. Rajapaksa. That generated a political storm. Besides the traditional defence and security Gotabaya Rajapaksa and had secured “a posi- Significantly, Imran invited Sri Lanka to Mahinda Rajapaksa thanked the govern- The general secretary of the SLPP, SagaraKa- ties, which will be enhanced, the relationship tive response”. take advantage of the China-funded China ment and the people of Pakistan for the con- riyawasam called for an apology from Weer- may acquire a strong economic basis, and Significantly, there was an oblique refer- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) running stant support extended by Pakistan to safe- awansa saying that, not even being a mem- Pakistan may become a factor in Sri Lankan ence to this in the Joint Communiqué which right down his country from the Karakoram guard the independence, sovereignty and ber of the SLPP, Weerawansa should mind Muslim politics. said: “Both sides underlined the importance range in the North to the Arabian Sea in the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. Such sup- his own business, leaving the ruling party to Imran’s intercession on the issue of the of inter-religious dialogue and harmony as South. He described CPEC as the ‘flagship port has great significance now in the context make its own decisions. burial of the COVID-19 dead, might result a key to promote cultural diversity, peaceful project’ of China’s Belt and Road Initiative of Sri Lanka facing a hostile resolution at the There was no apology. Instead, Muruth- in government’s lifting the ban on it, thus co-existence and mutual empathy.” (BRI). Sri Lanka has ports, an airport, and ongoing sessions of the UNHRC, on its al- thetuwe Ananda, the influential monk who bringing the curtains down on the bitter con- Media reports said later Wednesday that the up and coming Colombo Port City which leged failure to atone for “war crimes” in its heads the nurses’ trade union went public, flict between the State and the Muslims, for Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had told China considers part of its BRI, though the fight against Tamil Tiger terrorism. casting aspersions on Mahinda’s ability to do whom burial is a mandated Islamic practice. Buddhist monks there was pressure from dif- Sri Lankan government is yet to portray them However, Imran had one disappointment the job. “He seems to have become lazy and It is clear that from now on, Pakistan-Sri ferent quarters to rescind the ban on burial as such. during his trip –the Sri Lankan government’s lethargic,” he said in a television interview. It Lanka relations will have a major trade and and that the monks had said if the technical But Sri Lanka is well disposed towards backing out of a commitment to let him ad- is worthwhile noting it was this same monk investment component as both countries experts agreed to allow burial, they would the BRI though it has not formally joined it. dress Parliament. He was denied the chance who offered his temple, the Abhayaramaya have pledged to increase two-way trade from have no objection. Foreign Secretary Adm. Prof. Jayanath Co- to be the third Pakistani dignitary to address in Narahenpita to Mahinda for his political the current US$ 460 million to US$ 1 billion. Given the dire need for the support of Pa- lombage had recently said the BRI provides the Sri Lankan parliament after Gen. Ayub work after his defeat in 2015. For the first time, Sri Lanka has been invit- kistan and the Organization of Islamic Co- opportunities to Sri Lanka to grow its inter- Khan in 1963 and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1975. Then came the controversy over Muslim ed to join the China-funded China-Pakistan operation (OIC) in the UN Human Rights national trade and get foreign direct invest- Having got wind of the fact that his plan burials. There was a cloud hanging over Pa- Economic Corridor (CPEC) to reach out to Council (UNHRC) to face a resolution against ments. to speak in parliament was thwarted because kistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s trip to growing markets in Central Asia. Sri Lanka in March, it has become necessary CPEC could also play a role in realizing the the Sri Lankan government feared he might Sri Lanka because Imran is seen the world The China-factor in this matter was evident to accommodate the Muslims’ demand. The joint Sri Lanka-Pakistan aim of taking bilat- raise the Kashmir issue (and raise the hackles over as an ambassador for moderate Muslims when Imran described CPEC as the “flagship OIC had in fact openly asked for the lifting eral trade from the current US$ 460 million in New Delhi, Imran chose not to embarrass and he couldn’t be seen visiting Sri Lanka, a of the Belt and Road Initiative”, President Xi the ban. Reports suggest that the ban will be to US$ 1 billion. his hosts by insisting on the item being on the country which appeared to be discriminating Jinping’s pet scheme with a global reach. lifted shortly. Several MoUs were also signed, includ- agenda. against his community by not allowing buri- Of course, security will remain a key ele- Imran was able to re-affirm, for Pakistan, ing one on tourism promotion and coopera- However, he did mention Kashmir in a als for Muslims who succumb to COVID- 19. ment in the relationship as in the past. But the goodwill of the regime of the Rajapaksas, tion between the Boards of Investment of Sri trade and investment conference in Colom- Ever the savvy politician, Mahinda Raja- that too will be enhanced by a Pakistani with Mahinda Rajapaksa describing Pakistan Lanka and Pakistan were signed, another en- bo, where he said Kashmir was the only dis- paksa, responding to a question in Parlia- credit line of US$ 50 million for Sri Lanka’s as a “close and genuine friend”. Khan, on visaging cooperation between the Industrial pute between India and Pakistan, and that it ment said ‘we will allow burials for Muslims’. defence projects. The two sides have agreed his part, announced a credit line of US$ 50 Technology Institute (ITI) of Sri Lanka and can only be resolved through dialogue, The words made international headlines, was to cooperate on tackling a common enemy - million for Sri Lanka’s defence projects and the International Centre for Chemical and Imran said he offered the Indian govern- described as a reversal of government policy terrorism and religious extremism. In April also extended a grant of US$ 327,916 (PKR Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, ment a chance to hold peace talks with Pa- and was duly picked up by Imran Khan who 2019, Sri Lankan suicide bombers inspired 52 million) for a modern sports facility in Sri Pakistan, and a third locking in cooperation kistan after getting elected but nothing came tweeted his approval. by the Islamic State (IS) had killed over 250 Lanka to be named ‘Imran Khan High Perfor- between the Industrial Technology Institute out of it. “We want to resolve all disputes in That was two weeks ago. Nothing has hap- innocent people, and Pakistan has so far lost mance Sports Centre”. of Sri Lanka and COMSATS University Is- the subcontinent through dialogue.” pened since then because the gazette noti- 70,000 lives in terrorist attacks carried out Other goodies offered were 100 scholar- lamabad. There was also an agreement for fication prohibiting burials for COVID-19 by Islamic bigots. ships for undergraduate medical students; collaborating between the University of Co- victims hasn’t been rescinded. The non- The Joint Communiqué, issued just prior sponsorship of an Asian Civilization and Cul- lombo and the Lahore School of Economics. cabinet minister in charge of COVID-19, to Khan’s departure stressed the need for ture Centre at the University of Peradeniya, Other significant outcomes of Khan’s visit Dr.SudarshaniFernandopulle, has told Par- “stronger partnership for supporting and and encouragement to make use of the ‘Bud- included a decision to forge relations be- liament burials can be allowed only if a tech- coordinating with each other in dealing dhist Trail’ that Pakistan will be putting in tween parliamentarians of the two countries nical committee approves it and that this is with matters related to security, terrorism, place to attract Buddhist pilgrims to ancient who are both law makers and opinion makers not a ‘personal decision’. There was also Min- organized crime and drug and narcotic traf- Buddhist sites in the Gandhara region now and to set up mechanisms for frequent inter- ister UdayaGammanpila saying Mahinda’s ficking as well as intelligence-sharing.” On called Khyber Pakhtunkwa. This will enable governmental consultations. More broadly, assurances were only his ‘personal opinion’. the issue of the burial of Muslims who die of Pakistan to showcase its achievements in the two countries, acknowledging the exist- Mahinda Rajapaksa has remained silent about this since then. The ban on burials meanwhile continues and has now become the focus of attention at sessions of the Unit- By Jehan Perera ed Nations Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva. Last but not least, there was the invitation Cardinal’s wake-up call to the government extended by Mahinda Rajapaksa to Imran Khan to address the Sri Lankan Parliament. That too was vetoed. The official reason, As Sri Lanka heads towards another UN resolution trotted out by Speaker Mahinda YapaAbey- With the Zero Draft in circulation there is no national cricket icon Imran Khan, now Prime violence, and that these trends threaten to re- from one of the suicide bombings on Easter wardena’s office is that Parliament cannot longer any doubt that a resolution on Sri Lan- Minister of Pakistan, to address Parliament. verse the limited but important gains made in Sunday 2019, the Cardinal expressed his dis- create a COVID-safe environment for the ka will be presented at the UN Human Rights For the reason that Sri Lanka is important to recent years and with the recurrence of poli- appointment at the government’s inquiry into visiting leader. Of course, it is an open secret Council later this month. This resolution will all these countries, and to the world, it may cies and practices that gave rise to the grave those bombings that specially targeted the that this is not true. Whatever the real rea- be presented by a core group of countries led become an example for others to learn from. violation of the past.” Catholic community. He participated in a si- son, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s invitation to Im- by the United Kingdom and will be supported The government has a duty to do its best by its Some key parts of the resolution are as lent protest by hundreds of Catholics includ- ran Khan to address Parliament was ignored, by the United States which, though not a cur- citizens and being a small country this will be follows: Concern about the decision to man- ing families of the victims, to oppose the cabi- deferred, cancelled, postponed- depending rent member of the UNHRC, has opted to re- best done without antagonizing any powerful date cremations for all those deceased from net committee appointed to study the reports on how you choose to look at it. turn to it under the presidency of Joe Biden. country or bloc of countries. COVID-19 which has prevented Muslims and compiled by the Presidential Commission This brings us to the real question that This will be a powerful combination for a The government’s successful election cam- members of other religions from practising probing the April 21st attacks. The Cardinal underlies all this- Is Mahinda Rajapaksa not small country like Sri Lanka to challenge. It paigns of November 2019 and August 2020 their own burial religious rites; A compre- pointed out that the Presidential Commission primus inter pares or first among equals any- does not appear that Sri Lanka will present its highlighted the issues of national sovereignty hensive accountability process for all viola- of Inquiry which comprised five intellectual more? How much does his opinion count in own counter resolution. There was perhaps and the resolve not to permit international tions and abuses of human rights committed judges gave their recommendations and deci- the inner-circle of government when political a miscalculation of the waning power of the intervention detrimental to the national in- in Sri Lanka, including those by the Libera- sion so that the government and the Attorney pygmies such as Weerawansa, Gammanpila western countries in the face of the rise of terest. The emergence of the new government tion Tigers of Tamil Eelam; The importance General can take action. He added that he and even Fernandopulle dare to defy him in China. The western powers continue to domi- with a large majority gave a sense of confi- of democratic governance and independent would call for an international investigation public? Are they all echoing the sentiments of nate international institutions. The absence dence that Sri Lanka would be able to forge its oversight of key institutions and ensure that if the national investigation was undermined. their Master, who is now vested with all ex- of a coherent foreign policy is reflective of the own path in international politics. The leaders all provincial councils are able to operate ef- He has subsequently added that he would ap- ecutive powers? Is Mahinda’s star fading in much greater power of the countries that Sri made promises not to brook any foreign inter- fectively in accordance with the thirteenth peal to the Vatican, which is the power centre the twilight of his political life, at the hands Lanka is having to contend with. ference in internal affairs. The government’s amendment to the constitution of Sri Lankan; of the worldwide Catholic Church. of his own kith and kin? President Biden has made it his adminis- withdrawal from Sri Lanka’s co-sponsorship Requests the Office of the High Commission- Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith’s recent position There is certainly a great deal of evidence tration’s policy to work in tandem with his of UNHRC Resolution 30/1 of 2015 was a er to enhance its monitoring and reporting is a reversal of his previously held position on to suggest that. The government has, unlike country’s traditional and like-minded allies vindication of that promise. There was hope on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, similar issues. In the aftermath of the war in during Mahinda’s time, been through ga- on issues requiring international cooperation. that the majority of countries in the UNHRC including progress on reconciliation and ac- 2009 he was a staunch opponent of interna- zette’s and Generals. Retired military officers Sri Lanka would be an example or test case would accept this withdrawal, which was countability. Recently the cases against the tional interventions in support of accounta- have been posted to key government depart- of the new US administration’s foreign policy bolstered by the pledge by China and Rus- security forces have been withdrawn or rec- bility for human rights violations. He consist- ments in the guise of promoting productivity priorities. The indications are that they will sia not to permit other countries to take any ommended for withdrawal with no reference ently took the position that Sri Lanka had the and efficiency and eliminating corruption, a be oriented towards human rights and the UN-sanctioned collective action against Sri to judiciary at all by the Political Victimization internal resources in terms of history, culture laudable objective no doubt, but one that is strengthening of international institutions set Lanka. However, the question is, if a country Commission which is a matter of controversy. and integrity to find its own solution based on yet to be realised. President Gotabaya Raja- up over the past several decades. President had invited assistance from many countries The silver lining in this draft resolution justice to post-war issues and challenged the paksa, after more than a year in the job, re- Biden’s early appointees have been weighted to sort out their internal armed conflict could from the government’s perspective is that it double standards of the international commu- mains a distant, aloof figure. He is not the in favour of those with internationalist per- they now assert that this was an internal mat- does not mention the intention to take the nity. The change in the Cardinal’s position is rambunctious type to mingle with the masses spectives and a significant number of them ter only. In fact, the countries that gave assis- country to the International Criminal Court a wake-up call to the government that it risks and guffaw with them. That was Mahinda’s are of South Asian origin, the most important tance may themselves be held accountable for (ICC) or any international or hybrid tribunal. losing the support of even those civic and reli- niche. Gotabaya, when he attempted to do so of whom is Vice President Kamala Harris. the violations that took place. The draft document seems to expect the na- gious leaders who have been supportive of its in ‘Gama samagapilisandarak’ (a conversa- They are likely to consider Sri Lanka to be a The draft of the forthcoming UNHRC res- tional, or local, judicial system to deal with efforts to keep the international community at tion with the village), came a cropper: once country of special interest. olution and its operative paragraphs have these issues. However, the draft document arms-length with regard to finding solutions he said that ‘what I say is the law’; on another In itself Sri Lanka is an interesting and im- made their appearance in the media. The also has a section in which it calls on the UN based on justice. occasion, he tried to ‘interview’ a lady who portant country for world politics at present. overall political context that the drafters of system to ensure that evidence of violations of Instead of trying to combat the forthcoming was seeking a position as an English teacher. This can be seen in the changes the govern- the resolution see is “accelerating militariza- human rights are preserved and analysed for UNHRC resolution, the government needs to He copped a tremendous backlash in both ment is making in rapid succession in its tion of civilian government functions, erosion future use. This suggests that if the national take actions that win back the confidence of instances. Of course, Mahinda would have dealings with foreign powers which appear to of the independence of the judiciary and key judicial system fails to meet their obligations, those who presently call for international in- excelled in such situations. be pressuring it on all sides. The geopolitical institutions responsible for the promotion there will be the option to resort to the inter- tervention out of frustration that justice is not Regardless of the inner machinations in location of the country makes it important to and protection of human rights, ongoing im- national system to fill the gap. available within Sri Lanka. This may be done government and despite all the flaws that he the security of both neighbouring India and punity and political obstruction of account- This approach is not dissimilar to that of by the government acting upon the pledge of possesses, Mahinda Rajapaksa remains the to the sea lanes that all the big powers uti- ability for crimes and human rights violations Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith who has unexpect- President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to be the presi- best advertisement for the government. If he lize. This can be the only explanation for the in “emblematic cases,” policies that adversely edly become an advocate of international jus- dent of all Sri Lankans and be willing to cor- is relegated to the role of a ‘peon’, as Ranas- sudden reversals of decisions such as in the affect the right to freedom of religions or be- tice. The Cardinal effectively gives leadership rect the wrongs done to any section of the Sri inghePremadasa once described his Premier- case of the denial to India and Japan of the lief, surveillance and intimidation of civil to the Catholic Church on political issues. It is Lankan population. ship, the government is making an embar- Eastern Terminal at Colombo port, the in- society and shrinking democratic space, ar- a clear warning that there is something that - Dr.Jehan Perera is the Executive rassing and potentially fatal mistake: they ability to proceed with the Chinese bid for a bitrary detention, allegations of torture and has gone wrong in the state of Sri Lanka. In his Director of the National Peace Council and are killing the goose that lays the golden egg. solar power project on three islands off Jaffna other cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment recent pronouncements, and in leading a pro- this article was originally featured on -This article was originally featured on and the withdrawal of the invitation to inter- or punishment and sexual and gender based test at the Katuwapitiya church that suffered peace-srilanka.org counterpoint.lk 8 FEBRUARY 26 - 28, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS FOCUS ON RIGHTS

Statement by Michelle By Mujib Mashal Bachelet, UN High Fading hopes Commissioner for Human Rights for justice The families of the missing hold small road- There are clear side sit-ins or canvass the scarred villages of Sri Lanka’s ravaged North, hugging photos of the tens of thousands who disappeared during the warning signs country’s brutal civil war. In each place, the par- This is a key juncture for the Council’s ents and grandparents ask authorities a simple engagement with Sri Lanka. As my re- question: Where are our children? port (A/HRC/46/20) indicates, nearly The protests have continued virtually unin- 12 years after the end of the armed con- terrupted for more than four years, allowed by flict, domestic initiatives have repeat- a government open to an accounting of the hu- edly failed to ensure justice for victims man toll of the war. Now the already desperate and promote reconciliation. Despite protests seem hopeless. Sri Lanka has a new commitments made in 2015, the current government that has turned even remembering Government, like its predecessor, has into an act of resistance. failed to pursue genuine truth-seeking Since Gotabaya Rajapaksa took charge as or accountability processes. president in late 2019, authorities have raided The impact on thousands of survivors, news outlets, harassed and investigated jour- from all communities, is devastating. nalists and activists, and dragged human rights Moreover, the systems, structures, poli- lawyers and writers to jail and held them for months without charges, rights watchdogs cies and personnel that gave rise to such - Chamila Karunarathne/EPA like Amnesty International and Human Rights grave violations in the past remain – and Sri Lankan civil rights activists and trade union members protest in Colombo on June 16, 2020. They say quarantine Watch say. have recently been reinforced. laws violate the freedom of speech, assembly and protest Investigators looking into wartime abuses Addressing grievances and redressing have been jailed, forced to flee the country or past violations are critical prevention By Karen McVeigh put under travel bans, in a clear message that tools at the core of the Council’s work. the government sees accountability for past Our report highlights disturbing trends crimes as an affront. over the past year, which warn of a seri- That is no coincidence. Sri Lanka’s new gov- ous deterioration in key areas. ernment is led by the same people who brought The space for civil society and inde- Sri Lanka at ‘tipping point’ the three-decade war to a brutal end in 2009, pendent media, which had grown sig- then squelched discussion of it for a half-decade nificantly, is now rapidly shrinking. after. During the final, brutal phase of the civil The independence of the judiciary, the With risk of return to past atrocities, activists warn war, Rajapaksa, a former army officer, served as Human Rights Commission of Sri Lan- and truth about the fate of their loved groups had been forced to disclose the defence secretary. ka, the National Police Commission and UN commissioner Michelle Bachelet has warned of ‘worrying trend’ of re- ones, Bachelet said. information, including staff home ad- “We don’t have hope anymore,” said Leelade- other key bodies has been deeply eroded pression under President Gotabaya A number of UN officials and inde- dresses and phone numbers, and had viAnandanadaraja, secretary to the Association by the recently adopted 20th Constitu- Rajapaksa. pendent experts, including four former been asked for bank details, to check for the Relatives of the Enforced Disappear- tional Amendment. Sri Lanka could descend swiftly back high commissioners signed a letter de- funding sources. ances, whose own 34-year-old son went missing The growing militarization of key ci- into violence and human rights abuses scribing Bachelet’s report as a “com- “They want all charitable organiza- after his arrest by the military in 2009. “That vilian functions is encroaching on demo- unless decisive international action is pelling case” for decisive international tions and NGOs to register with the na- is why we think we need international interfer- cratic governance. taken, the UN high commissioner for action and praising its focus on preven- tional secretariat for nongovernmental ence in this issue.” The continued failure to implement human rights and civil rights groups tion. organizations, which comes under the The government’s critics want Sri Lanka comprehensive reforms – or to vet per- warned. They wrote: “In 2009 the interna- defence secretary,” Saroor said. to return to its recently abandoned commit- sonnel – leaves in place security and mil- In a speech to the human rights tional community failed Sri Lanka. We The defence secretary is Gunaratne, ment to cooperate with the investigation of war itary officers who have been implicated council on Wednesday (24), Michelle must not fail again.” who was a unit commander at the crimes committed by all sides during the war. in alleged grave crimes and violations. Bachelet issued a stark warning that Bachelet’s report documents a pat- end of the war, and is accused of war They also hope to curb the heavy-handedness Tamil and Muslim minorities are be- the Sri Lankan government has “closed tern of surveillance and harassment of crimes. of a government dominated by the largely Bud- ing excluded by divisive and discrimina- the door” on ending impunity for past civil society organizations and human “They are forcing us not to take for- dhist Sinhalese ethnic majority. tory rhetoric including from the highest abuses and is facing a return to State rights defenders, which was echoed by eign funding, unless we register with Human rights groups have accused Raja- State officials. repression of civil society and a milita- activists who spoke to the Guardian. the defence secretary and we will need paksa’s government of alienating and discrimi- The policy of forced cremation of rization of public institutions. One said the situation for human rights defence ministry approval for the work nating against ethnic and religious minorities, COVID-19 victims has caused pain and In January, the UN high commis- and the rule of law was worsening on a we do,” Saroor said. She has been told including the predominantly Hindu Tamils in distress to the minority Muslim and sioner for human rights expressed “daily basis”. that her work with war-affected com- the north. Such policies evoke some of the same Christian communities. alarm over “worrying trends” in the DharishaBastians, a Sri Lankan munities is now “illegitimate”. tensions that fuelled the civil war in the first In other words, long-standing, struc- country since President Gotabaya Ra- journalist who wrote for the New York Melissa Dring, campaign director of place, when Tamil rebels responded to oppres- tural and systemic issues persist in Sri japaksa took office in 2019. Times before being forced into exile by the UK-based Sri Lanka Campaign for sion by trying to establish a breakaway state. Lanka, and now there are clear warn- In a damning report published last harassment and threats shortly after Peace and Justice, said the situation on The UN council will consider the findings ing signs that past patterns of violations month, which was formally presented the 2019 election, said she hoped UN the ground for human rights was “get- of Michelle Bachelet, the high commissioner could be repeated. to the council, Bachelet documented member states would heed Bachelet’s ting worse on a daily basis”. for human rights, who in a Feb. 9 assessment Successive government commissions deepening impunity and obstruction of call. Time was running out for the vic- expressed deep concern about the direction of have failed to credibly establish truth justice for atrocities committed during “None of us expected this crackdown tims and survivors, she said. Since the the country and even floated the possibility that and ensure accountability. the brutal civil war of 1983–2009. to happen so quickly,” Bastians said. beginning of the roadside protests by the case could be referred to the International Indeed, the Government has ob- In the report, Bachelet said: “Sri Lan- “It is very disturbing and unfortunately families of the disappeared, 78 people Criminal Court (ICC). structed investigations and judicial pro- ka’s current trajectory sets the scene it is a pattern we have seen before. Sri have died, she said. “Developments over the past year have funda- ceedings into emblematic human rights for the recurrence of the policies and Lanka is at a tipping point. “The resilience and determination of mentally changed the environment for advanc- cases. practices that gave rise to grave human “It is clear this government has no these protesters, the majority of whom ing reconciliation, accountability and human The latest commission of inquiry, rights violations.” interest in advancing the cause of jus- are women, who have continued their rights in Sri Lanka, eroded democratic checks appointed in January 2021 to review Since 2020, the former army officer tice. On the contrary, every effort has protests over years and often been sub- and balances and the civic space, and permitted the resurfacing of a dangerous exclusionary and the findings of previous commissions, Rajapaksa has appointed at least 28 been made by this government to ob- jected to intimidation and harassment majoritarian discourse,” Bachelet wrote in the promises to repeat this cycle without serving or former military and intelli- struct justice. The president has set up by the security forces and other state gence personnel to key posts, her report a commission for political victimiza- officials, is amazing,” she said. report. meaningful result. In opening remarks to the Human Rights By repeatedly failing to advance ac- found. Some are senior officials impli- tion which has exonerated every sin- MeenakshiGanguly, the south Asia cated in alleged war crimes and crimes gle military officer accused of human director of Human Rights Watch, said: Council on Tuesday (23), Sri Lanka’s foreign countability for past human rights viola- minister, Dinesh Gunawardena, called the tions committed, and by withdrawing its against humanity during the final years rights violations, without even hearing “If, now, the international community of the civil war, including army chief from victims or hearing about the in- fails to act, starting with a strong reso- scathing UN report the work of “elements work- support for the Council’s resolution 30/1 ing against Sri Lanka” and decried it as infring- and related measures, the Government Shavendra Silva and defence secretary vestigations. lution at the UN human rights council, Kamal Gunaratne. “In some of the cases, the officers are there is every chance that there will be ing on the country’s sovereignty. has largely closed the door on the pos- Gunawardena called on member states not to sibility of genuine progress to end impu- Rajapaksa, who was defence secre- already on trial in court. The attorney a repeat, even a rise, in the targeting tary when his brother Mahinda was general is being pressurised to drop of activists, critics, victim families and adopt a resolution against Sri Lanka based on nity through a national process. the report, as it would result in a “loss of mo- For these reasons, I call on the Council president from 2005 to 2015, oversaw cases, witnesses are being pressurised minority communities.” Amnesty International said in a re- rale among countries engaged in the struggle to explore new ways to advance various the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in 2009. into recanting evidence and families are being harassed.” cent report it had witnessed an “alarm- against terrorism.” types of accountability at the interna- During this period, unlawful killings and forced disappearances were wide- This was a “‘tragedy” for the families ing crackdown” on civic space and the “The council must hold the scales even,” he tional level, for all parties, and seek re- spread. It has been estimated that of the disappeared, she said, urging targeting of minorities, including Mus- said. dress for victims, including by support- about 40,000 Tamils were killed. the international community to act. lim communities, which make up 10% For a brief period, Sri Lanka, along with My- ing a dedicated capacity to collect and The previous government had taken “The continued focus on impunity for of Sri Lanka’s population. anmar, was seen as a success story for emerging preserve evidence and information for some steps towards accountability and attacks against journalists will help to Earlier this month, a group of Mus- from the shadows of conflict as a blossoming future accountability processes, as well war crimes tribunals, but these halted keep my colleagues safer on the ground lim families launched a complaint to democracy. as to support relevant judicial proceed- after Rajapaksa was elected in 2019. in Sri Lanka. The spotlight would send the UN human rights committee about In 2015, an unlikely political coalition de- ings in Member States. Last year, the government said it would a message to the Sri Lankan govern- Sri Lanka’s policy of enforced crema- feated Mahinda Rajapaksa, the sitting president My Office stands ready to continue no longer honour its commitments to ment that the world will not turn its tion of all those confirmed or suspected whose government had crushed the Tamil in- monitoring the human rights situation, a consensus agreed in 2015 to ensure eyes away.” to have died with COVID-19, saying it surgency in 2009, and the older brother of the including progress towards accountabil- truth, justice, reparation and an ac- Activists and campaigners said in- breaches their religious rights and is current president. ity and reconciliation. countability mechanism for past abus- timidation and harassment of civil causing “untold misery”. The new government committed to account- - 46th session of the es. society in Sri Lanka had led to the The Sri Lankan government has dis- ability for wartime abuses, began addressing Human Rights Council The failure to deal with past atroci- shrinking of civil space, and had had a missed Bachelet’s findings of credible wartime grievances and opened space for civil Report of OHCHR on promoting ties continues to have “devastating “chilling effect”. allegations of war crimes against senior society to emerge, putting the country on the reconciliation, accountability and effects on tens of thousands of family ShreenSaroor, a rights activist who government figures as “baseless”. path to healing some of the wounds of the dev- human rights in Sri Lanka members from all communities”, who works with women’s groups in the -This article was originally featured astating war. The families of those who had dis- (A/HRC/46/20) persist in seeking justice, reparations North and East of Sri Lanka, said on theguardian.com appeared during the war began to clamour for an accounting of what had happened. “The surveillance didn’t exactly stop com- pletely. They did not demilitarize,” AmbikaSat- kunanathan, a former member of Sri Lanka’s human rights commission, said of the security structures during that period. “But because there was the space, the civil society felt em- boldened to challenge it.” Preconceived, politicized and prejudicial But the next four years were marked by messy infighting within the coalition, which paralyzed Sri Lanka rejects the High Commissioner’s Report the government. That discord contributed to a lapse of security that allowed a major terrorist The OHCHR Report which is present- Sri Lanka categorically rejects the edented propaganda campaign on it standing our continuous cooperation attack on Easter Sunday in 2019, when coordi- ed today (Wednesday –Feb 24), ema- conclusions and recommendations in and refused to publish our Comments and engagement with this Council and nated bombings killed more than 250 people. nates from the Resolution 30/1 and the High Commissioner’s Report. on the report as an addendum. This has all UN bodies, can pose numerous chal- In that moment of fear, Gotabaya Rajapaksa 40/1, from which the Government of The call for asset freezes, travel bans, deprived Sri Lanka and members of lenges and such processes could set projected himself as the strongman the country Sri Lanka announced its withdrawal of references to the ICC and the exercise equal visibility of Sri Lanka’s views on a dangerous precedent affecting all needed. He won elections later that year, de- co-sponsorship, at the 43rd Session of of universal jurisdiction by individual the report. member states of the UN. spite criticism of his defenseministry leadership this Council last year. States, based on evidence that up to Sri Lanka refutes the allegations We regret the disproportionate at- during the war. His brother, Mahinda, the for- Sri Lanka rejects the High Commis- date has been denied access to and re- that have been reproduced in the High tention drawn to Sri Lanka by this mer president, became prime minister. sioner’s Report which has unjustifi- tained by the High Commissioners Of- Commissioner’s report, from the highly Council, driven by political motiva- The civil space that had emerged “is gone ably broadened its scope and mandate fice with some of it unreleased for thirty contentious Report of the Panel of Ex- tions. Sri Lanka calls upon the mem- now,” said Satkunanathan, adding that the re- further, incorporating many issues of years, particularly in relation to a coun- perts (PoE) on Accountability and the bers of this Council that any resolu- cent return of Myanmar to full-fledged military governance and matters that are essen- try like Sri Lanka which has consist- Report of the High Commissioner’s Of- tion which is based on this Report, be dictatorship was a warning. tially domestic for any self-respecting, ently and constructively engaged with fice Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL), rejected by the Council and be brought “The lesson is that sometimes being satisfied sovereign country. This is in complete the UN and its mechanisms, points to a which have been rejected by Sri Lanka to a closure. with scraps and not calling out a government violation of Article 2 (7) of the Charter distinct and eminent danger which the for reasons explained to this Council We remain open to engaging con- when they don’t meet agreements — that does of the UN that states: “Nothing con- international community as a whole before. structively with the UN, including this not work,” she said. tained in the present Charter shall au- need to take note of. Such unilateral ac- The contents of the Report, which Council, and the international com- Much of the fear for the direction of the coun- thorize the United Nations to intervene tions by certain countries are unaccep- have been drawn from the said dis- munity in mutually agreed areas, in try stems from the increasing intolerance of free in matters which are essentially within table and a violation of the principles of puted reports are rife with factual inac- conformity with the Constitution and speech and remembrances of past atrocities. the domestic jurisdiction of any state…” natural justice. curacies that appear to equate atroci- in keeping with domestic priorities and Gotabaya Rajapaksa paints the continued pro- The trajectory that has emerged with In addition to the progress made ties committed by the LTTE, a terrorist policies. tests for the disappeared and the calls for jus- regard to the recommendations and since last March, Sri Lanka has pro- organization proscribed internation- -Excerpt of the statement tice as disrespect for a military that defeated an conclusions reflects the preconceived, vided written comments on instances ally, with legitimate action taken by the by Foreign Minister Dinesh insurgency that resorted to brutal acts of terror. politicized and prejudicial agenda of erroneous information, miscon- government to safeguard the territorial Gunewardene at the Interactive Activists say harassment by security officers which certain elements have relent- ceived and arbitrary assessments in integrity of the country and the right to Dialogue on the OHCHR has caused the ranks of protesters to dwindle, lessly pursued against Sri Lanka. These the Report. It is regrettable that the life of our people. Report ‘Promoting reconciliation, though many persist in their campaign to get recommendations are based on ill- High Commissioners Office published Insistence on ever-expanding exter- accountability and human rights in answers about the fate of their loved ones. founded allegations. its Report, accompanied by an unprec- nally driven prescriptions, notwith- Sri Lanka’ (A/HRC/46/20) -New York Times WEEKEND EXPRESS FEBRUARY 26 - 28, 2021 9 LITERARY LIVES The wisdom of A. A. Milne Sir Christopher Ondaatje explores the life and work of the English author, whose reputation as a serious writer was undermined by Winnie-the Pooh, a ‘bear of little brain’ who earned him millions but erased the memory of all the work he’d done before

“The third-rate mind is only happy Milne is most famous for his two Pooh when it is thinking of the majority. A books about a boy named Christopher second-rate mind is only happy when it is Robin after his son, Christopher Robin thinking of the minority. A first-rate mind Milne. is only happy when it is thinking.” -A.A. Milne The books were inspired by his son’s stuffed animals, particularly the bear Alan Alexander Milne was born in Kil- named Winnie-the-Pooh. The bear was burn, London on January 18, 1882 to originally named Edward but was renamed John Vine Milne and Sarah Marie Milne Winnie after a Canadian black bear named (née Heginbotham) and grew up at Hen- Winnie (after Winnipeg), which was used ley House School, Kilburn – a small in- as a military mascot in World War I, and dependent school run by his father. One left to the London Zoo during the war. of his teachers there was H.G. Wells. ‘The Pooh’ comes from a swan the young Milne went on to Westminster School and Milne named ‘Pooh’ – which was trans- then on a scholarship to Trinity College, ferred to the bear. The other Christopher Cambridge where he studied mathemat- Robin Milne’s toys: Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, ics. He edited and wrote for Granta – a Roo and Tigger were also incorporated into student magazine. Milne’s writings were Milne’s stories. Milne later added Rabbit discovered by Punch magazine where he and Owl. was to become a contributor and later an assistant editor. He played cricket with The ‘Hundred Acre Wood’ in the Pooh J.M. Barrie, Arthur Conan Doyle and P.G. stories is the five hundred acre wood in Wodehouse. Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. Milne lived in Cotchford Farm at the northern Book Covers Milne joined the British Army in World edge of the forest where he took his son War I and served as an officer in the Royal walking. Warwickshire Regiment. His commission was confirmed on December 20, 1915. On All four ‘Pooh’ books were illustrated by July 7, 1916 he was injured in the Battle E.H. Shepard. of the Somme and invalided back to Eng- land. After recuperation he was recruited “You can’t stay in the Forest waiting for to Military Intelligence for MI7 between others to come to you. You have to go to 1916 and 1918, but was discharged on them sometimes.” February 14, 1919 and settled in Mallord -A.A. Milne Street, Chelsea.

The incredible success of Milne’s chil- – Wikipedia After the war Milne wrote Peace with dren’s books was soon to become a source A. A. Milne with Christopher Robin and ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ Honour (1934) and War with Honour of appreciable annoyance to Milne, who (1940). He was critical of P.G. Wode- had already earned a considerable repu- house who was captured by the Nazis tation as a playwright on both sides of the and made questionable broadcasts for Atlantic. 2001 the other beneficiaries sold their in- call it what you will – than any book ever the Germans. terest in the estate to the Disney Corpora- written; it has emptied more churches Having written a total of approximately tion for $350 million. than all the counter-attractions of cin- Milne married Dorothy ‘Daphne’ de seventy thousand words (the length of his ema, motor bicycle and golf course.” Sélincourt in 1913, and their son Christo- four children’s books) he gave up writ- The UK copyright on the text of the pher Robin Milne was born in 1920. In ing for children primarily because his son original Winnie-the-Pooh books expires His books however contain many bril- 1925 Milne bought a country home, Cotch- Christopher Robin was growing older, and- on January 1, 2027; at the beginning of liant and witty observations: ford Farm, in Hartfield, East Sussex. Dur- he was amazed and disgusted by the pub- the year after the 70th anniversary of the ing World War II Milne was a captain in licity his son was exposed to. His publisher author’s death, and has already expired in “Organisation is what you do before the British Home Guard in Hartfield and Methuen in London continued to publish those countries with a fifty-year rule. In you do something, is that when you do it, Forest Row. anything Milne wrote including a long the United States, copyright will not expire it’s not all mixed up.” poem ‘The Norman Church’ which was in- until ninety-five years after publication for During the period after 1903 when Milne cluded in an assembly of articles already each of Milne’s books first published be- “Good judgement comes from experi- had graduated from Cambridge and worked published -Year In, Year Out. fore 1978. ence, and experience – well that comes for Punch, he published eighteen plays and from poor judgement.” three novels including the murder mystery In 1930 Milne adapted Kenneth Gra- “One of the advantages of being disor- The Red House Mystery (1922). It was hame’s novel The Wind in the Willows ganised is that one is always having sur- “If the person you are talking to doesn’t very well received and was in print for over (1908) for the stage as Toad of Toad Hall. prising discoveries.” appear to be listening, be patient. It may sixteen years. Alexander Woollcott, the A special Introduction written by Milne is -A.A. Milne simply be that he had a small piece of fluff critic, called it one of the three best mys- included in some editions of Grahame’s in his ear.” tery stories of all time. Milne admitted he novel. In 2002 Forbes magazine ranked had a passion for detective stories. How- Winnie-the-Pooh the most valuable fic- “How do you do nothing? Well, it’s ever, he was a noted writer, primarily as a “The best thing to do is to stop writing tional character. Winnie-the-Pooh mer- when people call out at you just as you are playwright, before the huge success of the Introductions and get on with the book.” chandising products alone had annual going off to do it. ‘Pooh’ books completely overshadowed all -A.A. Milne sales of more than $5.9 billion. In 2005, his other work. Winnie-the-Pooh generated $6 billion, a ‘What are you going to do?’ Unfortunately Milne and his wife became figure only surpassed by Mickey Mouse. He was an early screenwriter for the estranged from their son, who grew to re- And you say,‘ Oh, nothing’, and then budding British film industry and wrote sent his father’s exploitation of his child- “The things that make me different are you go and do it.” four stories for Minerva Films (1920): The hood and came to hate the books that had the things that make me.” Bump; Twice Two; Five Pound Reward; thrust him into public attention. Christo- -A. A. Milne “Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom and Bookworms. The actor Leslie Howard pher Robin’s marriage to his first cousin rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the starred in Milne’s play Mr Pim Passes By Lesley de Sélincourt further distanced him The bulk of Milne’s papers are housed river slipping slowly away beneath you, in London. from his parents. at the Harry Ransom Centre at the Uni- you will suddenly know everything there versity of Texas at Austin, Texas. The col- is to be known.” “The only excuse which I have yet dis- “I suppose that every one of us hopes se- lection, established at the Centre, consists covered for writing anything is that I cretly for immortality; to leave, I mean, a of manuscript drafts and fragments from “It’s more fun to talk with someone want to write it; and I should be as proud name behind which will live forever in this over a hundred-and-fifty of Milne’s works, who doesn’t use long, difficult words but to be delivered of a Telephone Directory world, whatever he may be doing, himself, as well as correspondence, legal docu- rather short easy words like ‘What about ‘con amore’ as I should be ashamed to cre- in the next.” ments, genealogical records, and personal lunch?’” ate a Blank Verse Tragedy at the bidding -A.A. Milne effects. of others.” “What I say is that, if a man really likes -A.A. Milne After Milne’s death the rights to his The original manuscripts for Winnie- potatoes, he must be a pretty decent sort ‘Pooh’ books were left to four beneficiar- the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner of fellow.” In 1924, four years after his son was ies: his family, the Royal Literary Fund, are archived separately at Trinity College born, Milne produced a collection of chil- Westminster School and the Garrick Club Library, Cambridge. “A quotation is a handy thing to have dren’s poems When We Were Very Young, in London. His widow sold her rights to about, saving one the trouble of thinking which were illustrated by the Punch car- Stephen Slesinger, whose widow sold her A.A. Milne did not say much on the for oneself, a laborious business.” toonist E.H. Shepard. A Gallery of Chil- rights after Slesinger’s death to the Walt subject of religion in his lifetime, his best dren, and other stories that became part Disney Company – which created cartoon known comment being: The wisdom of A.A. Milne lives on in of the Winnie-the-Pooh books were first movies, a Disney Channel TV show, as well his marvellous children’s books and po- published in 1925. as other ‘Pooh’ related merchandise. In “The Old Testament is responsible for ems. more atheism, agnosticism, disbelief –

Short Story Silma’s Muse The Shawadi She clutches her shawadi to her bosom, her. She is crying now, softly, still mum- more words poured all over me. Rahee- and all, and then Rs 8,000 for the ashes. my shawl. I stop, my heart pounding with cradling it as if it were the most precious bling, rocking and holding her shawadi to ma still holding me and crying. That day Money. We would have paid double that, joy. This is unusual. She had never acted thing she has. her chest. I wrap my arms around her, feel- rolled to the next. We had been brought or even four times that. We could afford this way for a long time. I turn towards her “Thangachi…”, I gently call her. ing her warm body shudder against mine. to Raheema’s home. My cousins and my it. But not for his ashes. We would pay and look into her eyes. She doesn’t respond. I see her hands Oh my dearest darling Raheema, what can husband, and my male relatives were in that or anything for our Wazeer, to bury “Thangachi..” tighten around her shawadi with clenched I do to ease your pain? I have failed you my hospital, trying to bring Wazeer home. We him the way we have known, the way he But instead of empty eyes, there is fear fists that show her knuckles white. She little one. I, your Dhatha, who has always had to wash him and shroud him, and take have been taught to always do. Some told today. She tugs my shawl and grips my rocks herself, I’m not sure if she is com- been protective over you, doted on you him to the mosque. The final prayer had to us we should not pay. But our neighbours wrist. Terrified, she whispers.. “Shameem, forting herself or her shawadi. This neck- and wanted you to always smile, I couldn’t be done, to be buried in the burial ground said we should, so we at least get his ashes, Samuel Mudalali took him in his car..” lace was what was placed on her by her do anything to stop them from cremating by the side of the mosque. As soon as pos- so we can have a place we know where his Samuel Mudalali? What would he want husband on her wedding night, while she your dear husband, who also had beena sible, people say before 24 hours. ashes rest. They said an important Mufthy with our Shameem? He was feared by sat as a bride, beautiful and demure. A brother to me, a brother I never had. But it didn’t happen. In a daze, these too had said we could. many in the village, and people only whis- beautiful gold shawadi, with tiny white I remember that fateful day.He had been cousins were telling us that they couldn’t We signed. We paid. We buried his ash- pered bad things about him. He was rich, stones that sparkled in an intricate de- so full of life, when he had declared that he bring him home for one last time. They es. Our neighbours comforted us. Then a we never knew how he amassed so much sign. She had treasured it all her life, care- was going to cut the branch of that mango can’t wash him. They can’t shroud him. barrage of praise, comfort and blamer- wealth these past few years. He was a busi- fully screwing on the top plate that holds tree which loomed over your roof. That call Worse, they can’t pray the janaza prayers ained on us for weeks. We grew numb to nessman everyone saluted, and whispered the stones to the base when she went out you made, and your hysterical screams and and lower him to the grave that had been what others told us, eventually. All that behind his back. He was a close friend of anywhere. At other times she only wore sobs on the phone I can never forget. The prepared at the burial ground. But the mattered to us, me, was my Raheema and a politician in the big city who people said the base, which was attached to the chain. terrible news that he fell, and was rushed most painful and shocking words were that Shaheem. was up to no good. She never took it off. Not even when she by yourneighbours to hospital, lifeless, al- he was to be cremated. Why? He had been I had seen Raheema withdraw and with- “Thangachi, tell me, where is Shameem bathed or slept. That was until that fateful ready dead. such a pious man. A good man, our Wa- er these past months. She seemed to move now?” day seven months ago, when her husband I had rushed to hospital to find you there zeer. A good husband to my Raheema, a further from me every day. Buried in her I could hardly hear what she said, she died. too. You cried on my shoulder, inconsol- doting father to Shaheem. He had Corona, own world, her laughter cremated, there was whispering. But I heard her! My poor baby sister Raheema, my able, while I stood in shock, not knowing they said. How could it have been? He was was only the ashes that were her eyes, “His golayas take him in the night. I’m thangachi, she is still so young, so beau- what to say, frozen. Your son, my darling so healthy, so full of life, no sign of a cough emotionless, grey. I would often find her scared Dhatha. Look under his bed. They tiful, but looking so frail and vulnerable. Shaheem, stood there trying his best to or cold. He had only fallen off that tree. Co- clutching her shawadi, the shawadi she gave him a gun.” These last seven months since her hus- silently console you, wet eyed, trying to rona? His test had come positive they said. had hoped to give her granddaughter some -Fathima Silma is therapeutic band died has wrought such a change in make you sit. No one was shown that report. Our family day. But Shameem is only a child yet. Who Counsellor, Imago Therapist, Energy her. She isn’t herself anymore. Always Everything else is a blur. A host of faces, had pleaded and begged to repeat the test, knows how long my Raheema would have Healing Practitioner and talkative, joking, laughing, and so full of known, unknown, family, friends, stran- to be met with only a refusal. to wait to see that day. Teacher who life. Now she sits as if the life in her has gers. I don’t know or remember, if they They had asked us to sign those papers Shameem, seventeen, was still in school. experiments in poetry and drained away. were hospital staff or relatives of other pa- to cremate him. Our neighbours told us it I sighed. I turn towards the kitchen. It was more recently in short story “Thangachi…”, I gently stroke her hair tients. A blur. Words. Faces. Words. Sooth- is ok. They wanted us to sign, and collect time to make lunch for Raheema and Sha- writing. 'Shawadi', captures and she looks up at me. Her eyes are vacant, ing, advising. Suggestions, advice. Ideas. the ashes and bury at the mosque. Those meem. Raheema rarely did anything now, the many issues facing the expressionless. She mumbles something, Comfort. Someone gave me a little prayer people in the hospital had wanted mon- only stared vacantly most of the time. As Muslim community in Sri incoherent. I draw a chair and sit close to book which I clutched in my hand while ey. Rs 50,000 to cremate, for the coffin I move away from Raheema, she clutches Lanka at the moment 10 FEBRUARY 26 - 28, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS SPORTS

COUNTER PUNCH India crush England inside two days By The Line Judge AHMEDABAD - India on Thursday (25) nings target of 49 without losing a wicket their Test debut in Bangalore in 2018 and Ravichandran Ashwin who went past 400 Beware Ides of March completed an emphatic 10 wicket win over in the world's biggest cricket stadium in there have been less than 25 in Test history. Test scalps in England's second innings af- England in their day-night Test in a rare Ahmedabad. England's last two-day Test was when ter he trapped Jofra Archer lbw for nought. As Vaas Rocks victory inside two days. Spinners ruled the contest claiming 28 they beat West Indies at Headingly in 2000. Ashwin claimed seven wickets in the Spinner Axar Patel took 11 wickets over of the 30 wickets that fell on the viciously But this time they were skittled for 112 match and said after that the home side had Sri Lanka Cricket two innings as India outplayed their rivals turning track. and 81 and Patel has now taken at least five "bowled beautifully" throughout. in all departments to take a 2-1 lead in It was only the second Test in India's wickets in three of the last four innings of The fourth match begins on March 4 at It has been a tumultuous week for Sri Lan- the four match series. Rohit Sharma hit a cricket history to end in two days. The last the series. India scored 145 in their first the same venue. ka Cricket (SLC) even as the national team six to see India to their meagre second in- was India's thrashing of Afghanistan on innings. Patel was brilliantly supported by -AFP embarked on a postponed tour of the Carib- bean. There was plenty of drama within and outside the portals of SLC’s Maitland Place headquarters.Even as rival camps were jockeying to find suitable candidates for Ashwin becomes fastest Indian to the May 20 elections of Sri Lanka Cricket, a group of civic-minded individuals includ- 400 Test wickets ing former Sri Lanka stars, former cricket AHMEDABAD - India off spinner Ravi- The 400th wicket was Jofra Archer, who administrators and some civil society activ- chandran Ashwin became the fastest Indi- missed with an expansive sweep shot as the ists moved Court to direct the Minister of an bowler to 400 Test wickets on Thursday ball hit him low on the pad. India appealed Sports to restructure SLC’s governance and (25). Ashwin, playing his 77th Test, was on and the on-field umpire gave it out. voting structure, which they claim is behind 397 wickets at the end of England's first in- Ashwin's moment was briefly interrupt- all ills plaguing the country’s national pas- nings of Ahmedabad Test and dismissed ed as Archer reviewed the decision only for time. England batsmen Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope DRS to return three reds and complete a The Court issued notice to respondent and Jofra Archer in the second innings to well-deserved feat for India's premier off Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, SLC get to the milestone. Ashwin is only behind spinner. office-bearers and its Executive Commit- Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan in the list Ashwin picked three wickets in Eng- tee to appear before it on March 15. The of fastest players to 400 wickets in Tests. land's first innings where the visitors were petitioners call for the implementation of Muralitharan got there in just 72 matches. bowled out for 112. late Justice Prasanna Jayawardena’s rec- Other Indians to have picked more than The 34-year-old has been in good form ommendation in 2015 that SLC be incor- 400 wickets are Anil Kumble (619), Kapil with both bat and ball in this series, having porated by an Act of Parliament, as a Body Dev (434) and Harbhajan Singh (417). picked up 23 wickets in the series thus far Corporate, which has perpetual succession Ashwin opened his account in the second and scored 176 runs including a century in and can hold property in its own name and innings by trapping Stokes lbw and then the second innings of the second Test. sue and be sued in its own name. Among followed it with bowling Ollie Pope. -NDTV the petitioners are spin legend Muttiah- - Marty MELVILLE / AFP New Zealand's Glenn Phillips is bowled out during the 2nd cricket T20 match between New Zealand Muralitharan, former cricketer and Interim Committee Chairman Sidath Wettimuny, Rugby and Australia at University Oval in Dunedin on Thursday (25), where veteran batsman Martin Guptill former Sri Lanka captain Michael Tissera, returned to form with a blistering 97 as New Zealand held on for a nail-biting win over Australia in renowned banker and former Interim Com- the second Twenty20 international. Guptill's Black Caps set Australia a challenging target of 220 mittee Chairman Rienzie Wijetilleke, for- France's Scotland clash postponed after after losing the toss but were made to sweat as Australia came within four runs of victory. Both mer cricket board president under whom sides took advantage of University Oval's short boundaries in a thrilling match that featured 30 Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996, Ana another player virus case sixes and 434 runs at an average of 10.9 an over Punchihewa, and former Board Secretary Somasundaram Skandakumar. PARIS - France's Six Nations match ing and the appearance of a positive case Cricket The court noticemust have come as a against Scotland was postponed on Thurs- within the squad of players, the FFR medi- hammer blow for SLC in the midst of a pan- day (25) after another Les Bleus player cal committee met this morning and decid- demic. Ironically they have been asked to tested positive for coronavirus ahead of the ed to suspend training today," the FFR said England ask match referee for ‘consistency' appear in Court on the Ides of March, which fixture, taking the tally of confirmed cases in a statement. has historically been chronicled as a day of among the French squad to 16. "The entire group is in isolation in ac- amid third-umpire frustrations bad omen. It begs the question whether it Tournament organizers said a new date cordance with health protocol. The FFR is AHMEDABAD - England's captain and coach provided more certainty. By contrast, when will spell doom for SLC or the beginning of for the match, which was due to take place in close contact with the Six Nations com- have asked the match referee to ensure "con- Jack Leach edged a low chance earlier in the a new era for the sport bedevilled by allega- at the Stade de France on Sunday (28), mittee." sistency" in the process by which the TV um- day, Shamshuddin was provided with various tions of corruption, mismanagement, lack would be announced "in due course" after Apart from Ollivon and Dupont, France pire comes to decisions after more contentious angles - including one from a stump camera - of transparency and a flawed voting system. having previously announced on Wednes- will also be without backs Arthur Vincent, moments on the first day of the third Test in before coming to his decision. Sadly there were no farewells to two out- day (24) that it would go ahead. GabinVilliere and Brice Dulin as well as Ahmedabad. These incidents follow those in the second standing servants of Sri Lanka cricket – fast "The Six Nations testing oversight group the entire front row of Cyril Baille, Julien Joe Root and Chris Silverwood went to see Test where AjinkyaRahane survived a review bowler Dhammika Prasad and left hand met today to review the situation in the Marchand and Mohamed Haouas. JavagalSrinath, the ICC match referee, after for a bat-pad catch when the TV umpire on opening batsman Upul Tharanga – who bid French camp. They unanimously recom- Scotland were eager to play the game as the end of the first day's play to register their that occasion, Anil Chaudhary, failed to review adieu to the game after 15 years of interna- mended the postponement of the France v scheduled, with a postponement to next frustrations after two decisions - both of which the correct passage of play. Rohit also survived tional cricket. Prasad’s announcement did Scotland match," the Six Nations said. week potentially seeing 10 away players went India's way - were made, in their view, another close call for a stumping with only one not come as a surprise, failing to deliver his The French Rugby Federation (FFR) miss out due to their commitments with unusually quickly. angle of the incident available to the TV um- best since being plagued by a shoulder in- did not name the latest player to contract non-Scottish clubs. In the first instance, Shubman Gill was re- pire, while the on-field umpires chose to re- jury and last playing for Sri Lanka in 2015. the virus, but they were already without "We made our case quite clear to the Six prieved by the TV umpire, C Shamshuddin, view Virat Kohli's dismissal after he was clean He claimed 107 international wickets - 75 star scrum-half Antoine Dupont, captain Nations about why we wanted the game when replays suggested Ben Stokes, at slip, bowled. in Tests and 32 in One-Day Internationals Charles Ollivon and coach Fabien Galthie played this Sunday and we look forward to may have failed to complete a catch cleanly. As a result, Root and Silverwood went to see (ODI). who contracted the virus following their a great contest," said Scottish Rugby Union In the second, Rohit Sharma was adjudged not Srinath after stumps. "The England captain and Tharanga was unfortunately labelled as February 14 win over Ireland in Dublin. chief executive Mark Dodson on Wednes- out after an appeal for a stumping. head coach spoke with the match referee after a one-day batsman, although he was one of France's Thursday training had been day. On both occasions, Shamshuddin appeared play," an England team spokesperson said. the elegant and technically gifted batsman cancelled and the entire French group On Wednesday, French sports minister to come to his decision surprisingly quickly and "The captain and head coach acknowledged to grace world cricket. Tharanga averaged placed in isolation just three days before Roxana Maracineanu also demanded FFR without recourse to the numerous angles which the challenges the umpires faced and asked re- 31.89 in 31 matches with a tally of 1,754 the fixture's original date. president Bernard Laporte launch an in- usually accompany the decision-making pro- spectfully that in making any decisions there runs with a career-best 165 against Bang- "Following the RT-PCR tests carried out vestigation into the outbreak. cess. At one stage, Root could be heard on the was consistency in the process. The match ref- ladesh in Tests. It was in the ODI format this Wednesday, February 24 in the even- -AFP stump mics asking the on-field umpires why eree said the captain was asking the right ques- that he flourished ending with 6,951 runs only one camera angle had tions of the umpires." in 235 matches at an average of 33.74. His been utilized when he felt The ICC have been contacted for comment. 17 centuries places him as Sri Lanka's fifth- a different one could have -espncricinfo.com highest centurion in ODI history, behind Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, T. M. Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene. Af- Athletics fected by the 2004 tsunami as a teenager, he showed great resilience to bounce back when the chips were down and resurrect- Holloway breaks world indoor 60m ing his career to lead the Sri Lanka ODI and T20 teams in 2017. Just as all good things must come to an end, Tharanga who turned hurdles record 36 earlier this month decided to call time MADRID - American Grant Hollo- tographer. “They lied to me, they said on his career after having played his last way broke the world indoor 60m hur- it was 7.32 at first,” the 23-year-old international game for Sri Lanka back in dles record that had endured since Holloway joked in an interview with 2019. He played in 31 Tests, 235 ODIs and 1994 on Wednesday (24), finishing Spanish television. 26 Twenty20 Internationals. in 7.29 seconds to shave 0.01 seconds “I wouldn’t say it was a perfect race, Another southpaw Chaminda Vaas off the previous mark set by Briton but I tied my PR in the heat and that rocked the establishment when he demand- Colin Jackson. Holloway, the 110m usually means I run faster in the final. ed a small wage hike after being appointed hurdles world champion, won the “I just went out there and executed as fast-bowling coach for the Windies tour race at the Villa de Madrid by 0.22 my race.” after David Sekar decamped without notice. seconds, extending his victory streak Holloway said the outdoor 110m Sri Lanka’s fast bowling legend who was in indoor sprint hurdles to 54 races. hurdles world record of fellow US serving as Bowling Consultant with the SLC World indoor champion Andrew sprint hurdler Aries Merritt, set in was accused of holding the Board to ransom Pozzi of Britain finished second in a 2012, was now in his sights. after resigning from the position just hours time of 7.51 seconds. “But I want to let all this soak in before the team’s departure. Holloway’s initial time was record- first, then my priority is win the His decision to quit became a subject of ed as 7.32 seconds but was changed Olympic Trials and then the Olympic national debate and discussion even more to 7.29, and the athlete was informed gold medal.” than the failure of three players including of his record achievement by a pho- -Agencies Kusal Janith Perera to make the flight to West Indies after faltering in the 2km fit- By Bill Pennington ness test. “The issue is that Chaminda Vass announced his decision and demanded a pay hike at 5:00 p.m. when the team was Golf without Tiger Woods? set to depart at 11:00 in the night on the same day,” said Sports Minister Rajapaksa His fellow players can barely imagine in Parliament rebuking Vaas’ decision. “If the SLC had at that time agreed to his re- BRADENTON, Fla. — As a golf part of it,” McIlroy said, “and that’s quest, then tomorrow right before entering prodigy growing up in Northern Ire- going to be just something that the the pitch in West Indies, another coach or a land, Rory McIlroy not only yearned game of golf and the tour is going to cricketer could make similar demands and to compete against his idol Tiger have to deal with and adapt to.” threaten to withdraw,” he added appearing Woods but also hoped to become his McIlroy holds out hope that Woods to speak on behalf of the SLC who described good friend. Both dreams came true. will return to the tour, yet he con- Vaas’ move as “irresponsible”. In fairness That might explain why McIlroy ceded: “It may be the end of seeing to Vaas, his only request was to increase the was miffed when asked Wednesday the genius at work with a club in his match day allowance to $200, up from $75, (24) if he thought that Woods, giv- hand. But there’s still a lot of other an increase of $125. Vaas was only getting en his history of rallying from past ways that he can affect the game in a a pittance compared to the $15,000 sal- physical setbacks, might be especially great way.” ary Sekar was paid. He was not demanding suited to overcome the extensive leg McIlroy, who has assumed a role a salary on par with Sekar. However, SLC injuries he sustained in a harrowing as an influential voice for players took umbrage at his request by issuing a car crash Tuesday (23). on the PGA Tour, may have been statement that “it is particularly disheart- “He’s not Superman,” McIlroy re- more forthright than any of his peers ening to note that in an economic climate sponded. “I think everyone should Wednesday, but on the subject of how such as the one facing the entire globe right just be grateful that he’s here, that much the tour will miss Woods, he now… based on personal monetary gain.” he’s alive, that his kids haven’t lost was not alone. But they have no qualms about hiring for- their dad.” On the grounds Wednesday at mer Sri Lanka head coach, Australian Tom At the same time, McIlroy was per- the Concession Golf Club, where Moody, as Director of Coaching for a whop- fectly positioned to address the loom- the Workday Championship began ping salary of $30,000 a month. A true pro- ing question as Woods begins yet Thursday (25), the mood was somber fessional who bent his back to spearhead Sri another long, arduous recovery: Will as the players absorbed the meaning Lanka’s attack, the public will judge wheth- golf, and the sports world in general, of what will be a lengthy absence for er Vaas has acted unethically even as SLC be prepared if Woods cannot sum- Woods. attempts to taint his image by claiming that mon yet another comeback? “Very quiet on site today, every- he “has resorted to holding the administra- “We’re all sort of heading towards one’s head was down,” said Xander- tion, the cricketers, and indeed the game at that day that Tiger wasn’t going to be Schauffele, who is ranked fourth in ransom” with his stance. a part of the game,” McIlroy said as the world. May be it’s the first sign of the Ides of he prepared for a PGA Tour event this “It’s kind of strange to share the March for Sri Lanka Cricket who face chal- week in central Florida. “I’m not say- same idol as everyone else out here, lenges on multiple fronts with Sri Lanka’s ing that that was soon.” but we all do for a good reason. He first Test captain Bandula Warnapura But McIlroy saw the wreckage of is the reason a lot of us are playing handing over his nomination to contest the the SUV Woods was driving. “It’s in- golf.” May 20 elections for the first time. evitable that one day he won’t be a -NYT -ENCL PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS (CEY) PVT, LTD. NO - 267, RAJA MAWATHA, EKALA - JA - ELA