SAUDI TO ALLOW KARUNA INFORMS CID 8 HOSPITALS WEDNESDAY AROUND 1,000 HE IS UNWELL IN 15 HOURS JUNE 24, 2020 PILGRIMS TO VOL: 4 - ISSUE 384 PERFORM HAJ PAGE 04 REALITY CHECK 30. PAGE 02 HOT TOPICS PAGE 03 GLOCAL

Registered in the Department of Posts of Sri Lanka under No: QD/146/News/2020

Coronavirus toll 472,173 deaths at 1100 GMT yesterday PARIS - The novel coronavirus has killed at least 472,173 peo- ple since the outbreak emerged in China last December, ac- cording to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT yesterday (24). At least 9,116,250 cases of coronavirus have been registered in 196 countries and territories. Of these, at least 4,437,300 are considered recovered. The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national au- thorities and information from the World Health Organization (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections. Many countries are testing only symptomatic or the most serious cases. The United States is the worst-hit country with 120,402 deaths from 2,312,302 cases. At least 640,198 people have been declared recovered. After the US, the hardest-hit countries are Brazil with 51,271 deaths from 1,106,470 cases, United King- dom with 42,647 deaths from 305,289 cases, Italy with 34,657 deaths from 238,720 cases, and France with 29,663 deaths from 197,251 cases. China - excluding Hong Kong and Macau - has to date de- clared 83,418 cases (22 new since Monday -22), including 4,634 deaths and 78,425 recoveries. Europe overall has 193,274 deaths from 2,549,769 cases, the United States and Canada 128,883 deaths from 2,413,939 in- fections, Latin America and the Caribbean 97,782 deaths from 2,101,188 cases, Asia 29,902 deaths from 1,068,963 cases, Mid- dle East 13,887 deaths from 656,651 cases, Africa 8,314 deaths from 316,820 cases, and Oceania 131 deaths from 8,928 cases. -AFP -NOEL CELIS / AFP In Sri Lanka Rescued dogs at a shelter on the outskirts of Beijing organization, which keeps around 200 canines in keep the animals as pets. The COVID-19 outbreak run by the NGO ‘No Dogs Left Behind’ yesterday large wire enclosures on the outskirts of the Chinese appears to have further reduced the appetite for dog Forty individuals were confirmed as COVID-19 positive yes- (23). Dozens of dogs bound for a controversial dog capital and re-homes them. Activists save hundreds meat after the disease was linked to a market in the terday (23), taking Sri Lanka’s tally of the novel coronavirus in- meat festival under way in southern China this week, of dogs every year by raiding slaughterhouses and central city of Wuhan selling animals for food. Amid fection to 1991. All are returnees from the US and India. Twenty have been rescued by the NGO. The annual event intercepting trucks. They say traders steal pets and growing concerns about hygiene, China fast-tracked two patients were deemed recovered and discharged from hos- in Yulin city always provokes outrage from animal strays and transport them long distances, mostly to laws banning the consumption and trade of wildlife. pitals across the country, moving up the number of COVID-19 rights activists, but this year they hope the corona- the country's south. Dog meat is traditionally be- While the law does not apply to dog meat, Shenzhen recovered cases to 1548. Four hundred and thirty two are now virus epidemic will be the death knell of a tradition lieved to be good for the health in certain parts of and Zhuhai - southern cities not far from Yulin - recorded as active cases receiving treatment. they see as cruel. It is "inhumane and barbaric," said China, but the habit has been in steady decline as banned the consumption of dogs in April, becoming Jeffrey Bari, founder of the ‘No Dogs Left Behind’ more and more affluent urban dwellers choose to the first cities in China to do so Djokovic, seven Pakistani cricketers test positive for Virus pushing millions of South Asian COVID-19 children into poverty, says UN BELGRADE/KARACHI - Novak Djokovic, the world’s top- ranked male tennis player, and seven more Pakistan players due to tour England in August, tested positive for COVID-19 Survey shows 30% of families in Sri Lanka had cut their food intake yesterday (23), becoming victims of the fast spreading virus that shows no signs of abating. KATHMANDU – More than 100 including the economic and social could destroy the hopes and futures keep up with their education, par- Djokovic said yesterday, he and his wife, Jelena, had tested million children in South Asia could consequences of the lockdown," the of an entire generation," UNICEF's ticularly those in rural households positive for the coronavirus, after days of growing criticism slip into poverty as a result of the report by the UN children's agency South Asia regional director Jean without internet access - or even over a tournament he organized after which other players and coronavirus pandemic, a UN report UNICEF said. Gough said in a statement. electricity. coaches were also found to be infected. said yesterday (23) of the long-term South Asia - which includes India, Progress in healthcare - such as "There are concerns that some dis- The exhibition tournament, called the Adria Tour, was sup- impact of the crisis. Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bang- immunization, nutrition and other advantaged students may join the posed to bring some of the world’s best players to Balkan na- Cases across the densely populated ladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and services - were being "severely dis- nearly 32 million children who were tions, including Serbia, where Djokovic is from, and provide region - home to almost a quarter of Bhutan - is home to some 600 mil- rupted." already out of school before COV- some income for the participants and some welcome entertain- the world's population - have risen lion children, with around 240 mil- In Bangladesh, UNICEF said it ID-19 struck," the report added. ment to tennis fans who have not seen professional games since in recent weeks even as the region lion already living in poverty, the found that some of the poorest fami- Other major concerns include the March. No one wore face masks and social distancing was not lifts its lockdown to revive economies agency said. In a worst-case scenario, lies could not afford three meals a risks of domestic violence, depres- enforced in the stands during the series. badly shattered by the virus. the virus could push another 120 mil- day, while in Sri Lanka its survey sion and other mental health issues Besides the Djokovics, at least three prominent players — "While they may be less susceptible lion into poverty and food insecurity showed that 30% of families had cut with youths spending more time at Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki — and two to the virus itself, children are being within six months, it warned. "With- their food intake. With schools shut, home. coaches tested positive, prompting fears among the authorities profoundly affected by the fallout, out urgent action now, COVID-19 poorer children have struggled to -AFP in Croatia and Serbia that the athletes may have triggered a new wave of infections. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board said yesterday, seven more players due to tour England in Au- Indian and Chinese military agree to disengage on disputed Himalayan gust had tested positive for the virus, taking the total to 10 since the first results were announced this week. Pakistan are due to depart for England on Saturday (27) ahead of a series that will border see them play three Tests and three Twenty20 internationals NEW DELHI/BEIJING - Indian measures to ease tensions. “There month, and the clash in the Galwan Ladakh were discussed and will be against England, starting in August. and Chinese military command- was a mutual consensus to disen- valley last week was the deadliest in taken forward by both the sides,” the Despite the new cases, the Pakistan Cricket Board's chief ex- ers have agreed to disengage forces gage,” the Indian source said, com- more than five decades. Indian source said. ecutive Wasim Khan insisted the tour would go ahead. facing off over a disputed stretch of menting on the outcome of a meeting Yet, the Indian source said Mon- In previous rounds of talks, China Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Wahab Riaz, Imran border where a clash last week left between commanders on border on day’s parley on the Chinese side of had asked India to stop all construc- Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Kashif Bhatti 20 Indian soldiers dead, an Indian Monday (22) that lasted almost 11 the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the tion work in what it says is Chinese are the latest to be diagnosed with the virus. government source in New Delhi said hours. de facto border, was conducted in a territory. It comes after three cricketers Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf and yesterday (23). Troops from the nuclear-armed “cordial, positive and constructive at- For its part, India has been push- Haider Ali tested positive on Monday (22). Speaking in Beijing, Chinese for- neighbours have been facing-off in mosphere.” ing China to withdraw its troops back The team's massage therapist has also tested positive. eign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian several areas in the Ladakh region “Modalities for disengagement to where they were in April. NYT/AFP said the two sides had agreed to take in the western Himalayas since last from all friction areas in Eastern -Agencies 7.5-magnitude quake rattles Mexico India tells Pakistan to cut embassy staff by half, says MEXICO CITY - A 7.5-magni- memories of a 2017 earthquake reported to us,” he said. “We don’t tude earthquake has rattled large that felled buildings and killed have communications with Oax- will do same swaths of southern and central more than 300 people are still aca.” The earthquake’s epicentre NEW DELHI - India told Pakistan capital.The men returned to India on High Commission in New Delhi by Mexico, according to the country’s fresh. was just east of Huatulco, one of yesterday (23) to slash its embassy Monday (22), where they "provided 50%." national seismological service. Claudia Sheinbaum, the city’s Mexico’s top tourist destinations, staff in New Delhi by half - saying it graphic details of the barbaric treat- The ministry said it would also "re- The quake struck the southern mayor, tweeted: “So far no major where beaches had only just reo- would do the same in Islamabad - as ment that they experienced", the for- ciprocally reduce its own presence in state of Oaxaca at 10:29 a.m. lo- incidents [reported].” The situ- pened last week after closing be- a diplomatic spat continued between eign ministry claimed. Islamabad to the same proportion". cal time (1429 BST) yesterday ation near the quake’s epicentre cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. the nuclear-armed rivals. "The behaviour of Pakistan and Pakistan's foreign ministry said it (23) but was felt more than 400 in Crucecita, Oaxaca, was not im- Reuters said yesterday’s quake The fractious relationship between its officials is not in conformity with "completely dismisses" allegations miles away in the capital, Mexico mediately clear. In a social media set off a tsunami warning for a the neighbours has worsened since the Vienna Convention and bilateral its staff in New Delhi had violated City, where buildings shook and “message to the Mexican people” radius of 1,000 km (621 miles) on New Delhi expelled two Pakistan em- agreements on the treatment of dip- any diplomatic conventions. panicked residents fled on to the president Andrés Manuel López the Pacific coasts of Mexico and bassy officials over spying claims in lomatic and consular officials," the "Pakistan also rejects the insinua- streets. Obrador said officials were strug- Central America, including Mex- late May. After that, New Delhi ac- ministry said in a statement. tions of intimidation of Indian High Mexican newspapers said gling to make contact with people ico, Guatemala, El Salvador and cused Islamabad of torturing two In- "Therefore, the government of In- Commission officials in Islamabad," there were no immediate reports in Oaxaca to verify the situation Honduras. dian diplomats arrested following an dia has taken the decision to reduce a Pakistan ministry statement read. of damage in the capital, where there. “So far no damage has been -The Guardian alleged hit-and-run in the Pakistani the staff strength in the Pakistan -AFP

Trending News Quote for Today Confusion is a word we have invented for an order which is not understood. USA: Dr. Anthony Fauci, the coun- to advance a narrow bill to change Brazil: Court orders President enforced shutdown, adding that -Henry Miller try’s top infectious disease expert, policing practices, rejecting the Jair Bolsonaro must wear a face international travellers would be tells House lawmakers that the na- measure as “woefully inadequate.” mask in public in the federal dis- welcomed to the Indian Ocean hol- Word for Today Ad hominem ‐] – – tion is experiencing a “disturbing Singapore: Prime Minister Lee trict of the capital Brasilia or face iday hotspot. [ad homuhnuhm nem, ahd adjective surge” of coronavirus infections a fine of 2,000 reais (387 dollars) attacking an opponent's character or motives rather than Hsien Loong dissolves Parliament South Africa: More than 200 answering the argument or claim as states reopen too quickly, with- and announces the city-state would per day. pupils and staff who returned to a out adequate plans for testing and hold the first elections in Southeast Bulgaria: Prime Minister Boyko boarding school the country’s im- tracing contacts. Asia since the coronavirus pan- Borisov is to be fined for not wear- poverished Eastern Cape Province Today in History - President Donald Trump says demic began, on July 10. ing a mask while visiting a monas- test positive for coronavirus. 1950 - Apartheid: The Group Areas Act is passed in South Africa, formally segregating races he has authorized the government Germany: Hundreds of police of- tery, even as his government re-im- Yemen: Houthi rebels say they to arrest anyone caught trying to ficers are deployed to the district of posed anti-coronavirus measures have carried out their largest-ever Today is... tear down monuments or statues, Guetersloh and lockdown restric- following a surge in cases. military operation against neigh- threatening they could be jailed for tions reinforced as concerns grow Maldives: President Ibrahim Mo- bouring Saudi Arabia, targeting Upcycling Day 10 years. over a coronavirus outbreak at an hamed Solih says the country will the defence ministry and a military A day that’s all about taking old objects and furniture, and -Senate Democrats signal they abattoir and meat-packing plant in open its tourist resorts from mid- base in the kingdom's capital, Ri- adding your own creativity and craft to make it something would block Republicans’ attempts the region. July after a months-long virus- yadh. new, unique and beautiful 2 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 DAILY EXPRESS HOT TOPICS

By Ana Swanson By Michael D. Shear and Miriam Jordan Trump defends China A few worshippers Trump targets foreign performing al-Fajr prayer at the Kaaba, trade deal Islam's holiest shrine, workers with new visa at the Grand Mosque After adviser says it’s ‘over’ complex in Saudi freeze WASHINGTON — White House trade ad- Arabia's holy city of WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump viser, Peter Navarro, said Monday (22) night Mecca yesterday on Monday (22) temporarily suspended new that the trade deal between the United States (23). Saudi Arabia work visas and barred hundreds of thousands has announced it will of foreigners from seeking employment in the and China was “over”, briefly causing stock " " markets to dive before he and President Don- hold a very limited United States, part of a broad effort to limit the ald Trump quickly walked back the remarks. haj this year, with entry of immigrants into the country. “The China Trade Deal is fully intact,” pilgrims already in In a sweeping order, which will be in place at Trump wrote on Twitter after Navarro, a not- the kingdom allowed least until the end of the year, Trump blocked ed China critic, had appeared on Fox News. to perform the visas for a wide variety of jobs, including those “Hopefully they will continue to live up to the annual ritual as it for computer programmers and other skilled terms of the Agreement!” moves to curb the workers who enter the country under the H-1B The events underscored the sensitivity of biggest coronavirus visa, as well as those for seasonal workers in the the ‘Phase 1’ trade deal that the United States outbreak in the Gulf hospitality industry, students on work-study and China signed in January, which buoyed summer programs and au pairs who arrive un- stock markets and brought to a close a pro- der other auspices. longed and bruising trade war. But tensions -STR / AFP The order also restricts the ability of American have been rising sharply between the coun- companies with global operations and interna- tries over the origins of the coronavirus pan- Saudi to allow around 1,000 pilgrims to tional companies with US branches to transfer demic and China’s assertion of power over foreign executives and other employees to the Hong Kong, putting that pact into an increas- United States for months or years-long stints. ingly precarious position. And it blocks the spouses of foreigners who are Trump’s tweet was his firmest defence of his perform haj employed at companies in the United States. Officials said the ban on worker visas, com- signature trade deal in weeks. While some of RIYADH/BEIRUT - Saudi Arabia such restrictions have been placed on At night, many sleep close together the president’s advisers believe that he has lit- bined with extending restrictions on the issu- will allow around 1,000 pilgrims resid- the haj. The event is so closely linked to in tents or other crowded accommo- ance of new green cards, would keep as many as tle to gain politically from scrapping it, others ing in the kingdom to perform the haj the king’s international standing that dations and share meals. At the end, have said that his dissatisfaction with China is 525,000 foreign workers out of the country for this year, a minister said yesterday (23), he bears the title ‘the custodian of the many return home to grand receptions the rest of the year. growing, raising the question of whether the after it announced the ritual would be two holy mosques,’ a reference to the with crowds of family and friends. United States would challenge China’s com- Stephen Miller, the White House aide and the scaled back due to coronavirus. holy cities of Mecca and Medina where In addition to its religious signifi- architect of Trump’s immigration policy, has pliance with the pact. "The number of pilgrims will be the haj takes place. cance - the haj is a must for able-bodied Trump has also turned increasingly critical pushed for years to limit or eliminate the work- around 1,000, maybe less, maybe a lit- The pilgrimage has been cancelled Muslims at least once in their lifetime er visas, arguing that they harm employment of China because of the spread of the coro- tle more," Haj Minister Mohammad many times throughout history because - the pilgrimage is a money-maker for navirus, which originated in a city there, and prospects for Americans. And in recent months, Benten told reporters. of wars and disease, but has faced no the kingdom and especially for the holy Miller has argued that the economic distress its damaging effects on the US economy. And "The number won't be in tens or hun- significant limits on attendance since cities of Mecca and Medina. agricultural groups that were intended to caused by the virus has made it even more im- dreds of thousands" this year, he added. the mid-1800s, when outbreaks of The haj and a lesser pilgrimage called portant to turn off the spigot. benefit from the trade deal have complained The pilgrimage, scheduled for the cholera and plague kept pilgrims away the umrah, which can be performed to the Trump administration that China is But the directive, which has been expected end of July, will be limited to those be- for a number of years. year-round, earn the kingdom about for several weeks, is fiercely opposed by busi- lagging significantly behind targets in its low 65 years of age and with no chronic On Monday, the kingdom made clear $12 billion per year, according to gov- promised purchases of farm goods, and that ness leaders, who say it will block their ability to illnesses, Health Minister Tawfiq al- it was not cancelling the event outright ernment statistics. Crown Prince Mo- recruit critically needed workers from countries Chinese buyers are bypassing US soybeans for Rabiah said. but drastically reducing the total num- hammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Brazilian ones. But in testimony before Con- overseas for jobs that Americans are not willing The pilgrims will be tested for coro- ber of pilgrims for safety. de facto ruler, has spoken of boosting to do or are not capable of performing. gress last week, Robert Lighthizer, the United navirus before arriving in the holy city In a statement published by the State- pilgrim numbers to help diversify the States trade representative and the deal’s pri- “This is a full-frontal attack on American in- of Mecca and will be required to quar- run Saudi Press Agency, the Ministry of economy away from oil. novation and our nation’s ability to benefit from mary architect, forcefully defended China’s antine at home after the ritual, Rabiah Haj and Umrah, which oversees the pil- The kingdom needs that income even progress in fulfilling the pact. He said that he attracting talent from around the world,” said added. grimage, said the event this year would more now because low oil prices have Todd Schulte, the president of FWD.us, a pro- was in frequent contact with Chinese officials Benten did not specify how the pil- welcome only pilgrims from Saudi Ara- deprived the state of income and cre- and that they were working hard to live up to immigration group supported by technology grims will be selected. bia and from other nationalities who ated a budget deficit. companies. their agreements. But he said the government will work are already inside the kingdom. Saudi Arabia has struggled to contain “Every indication is that in spite of this “Putting up a ‘not welcome’ sign for engineers, with various diplomatic missions in “This decision is taken to ensure Haj the virus while balancing lockdowns executives, IT experts, doctors, nurses and other COVID-19, they are going to do what they the kingdom to select foreign pilgrims is performed in a safe manner from a with the damage they have caused to say,” Lighthizer said. workers won’t help our country, it will hold us residing in Saudi Arabia who fit the public health perspective while observ- the economy. back,” said Thomas J. Donohue, the chief execu- In an interview Monday evening, Martha health criteria. ing all preventative measures and the In March, the government imposed MacCallum of Fox News asked Navarro about tive of the US Chamber of Commerce. “Restric- The kingdom announced Monday necessary social distancing protocols strict round-the-clock curfews in many tive changes to our nation’s immigration system the president’s desire to maintain the deal as (22) that the 2020 haj would welcome to protect human beings from the risks parts of the country, with exceptions long as possible. “He wanted them to make will push investment and economic activity “very limited numbers” of pilgrims in associated with this pandemic,” the only for medical care and essential abroad, slow growth and reduce job creation.” good on the promises because there had been order to prevent the spread of the coro- statement said. shopping. It began a phased reopening progress made on that trade deal, but given Administration officials said the president’s navirus. Last year, of the 2.49 million pilgrims last month and lifted the last remaining order would not affect people outside the United everything that’s happened and all the things The dramatic shrinkage of the larg- who performed the haj, 1.86 million restrictions Sunday (21). you just listed, is that over?” she asked. States who already have valid visas or seasonal est annual rite in Islam could hit Saudi came from outside Saudi Arabia, ac- But the number of coronavirus cases farm workers, whose annual numbers have “It’s over. Yes,” Navarro responded, adding Arabia particularly hard, with a re- cording to the Saudi General Authority has continued to rise, with the govern- that the “turning point” was China’s failure to ranged from a low of about 50,000 to a high of duced pilgrimage delivering a further for Statistics. ment reporting more than 160,000 about 250,000 in the past 15 years. There will warn the United States about the dangers of financial blow to a kingdom already Nor did the statement specify what total infections and more than 1,307 the coronavirus, which was spreading even as also be a narrow exception for certain medical grappling with low oil prices and an precautions would be taken to prevent deaths. workers dealing specifically with coronavirus they concluded the pact. economic slowdown caused by the lock- viral spread among the pilgrims who In an effort to slow the virus’s spread, “It was just minutes after wheels up when research, officials said. downs aimed at preventing contagion. did attend. the kingdom closed the holy sites in The order will ban au pairs who come to the that plane took off that we began to hear about It could also disappoint Muslims The pilgrimage’s conditions can lend Mecca and Medina to non-Saudis in this pandemic,” he said. United States to care for children, though of- from around the world who have saved themselves to the spread of contagious February, and in April, a Saudi official ficials initially told reporters they would be ex- Shortly after the interview, Navarro issued a for years to perform a once-in-a-life- diseases. Pilgrims fly, drive or sail in warned pilgrims planning to travel to statement recanting the remarks, saying they empt. Later, two senior administration officials time religious experience. from countries across the globe and the kingdom for this year’s haj to delay said parents could seek waivers to the ban on a had been taken “wildly out of context.” The Saudi statement Monday marked often form dense crowds while per- making plans. “They had nothing at all to do with the case-by-case basis, with no assurance that they the first time since the founding of the forming a series of religious rites over -Agence France-Presse/ would be approved. Phase 1 trade deal, which continues in place,” modern Saudi kingdom in 1932 that a number of days. New York Times Navarro said. “I was simply speaking to the In the order, Trump described suspension of lack of trust we now have of the Chinese Com- the visas as a way to ensure that Americans are munist Party after they lied about the origins By Sarah Mervosh, Mitch Smith and Lucy Tompkins first in line for scarce jobs — an assertion that of the China virus and foisted a pandemic immigration advocates say does not reflect the upon the world.” reality of a dynamic and changing workforce. -New York Times Bars, strip clubs and churches “Under the extraordinary circumstances of the economic contraction resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak, certain non-immigrant By Alan Feuer US virus outbreaks enter unwieldy phase visa programs authorizing such employment PITTSBURGH — After months of And in Las Vegas, just weeks after ca- tion’s South and West. Hospitalizations pose an unusual threat to the employment of The enemy within lockdown in which outbreaks of the sinos reopened, a handful of employees for the coronavirus reached their high- American workers,” Trump wrote in the order. coronavirus often centred in nurs- from casinos, restaurants and hotels est levels yet in the pandemic in Arizona The effort to restrict entry from foreigners US soldier admits plotting to ing homes, prisons and meatpacking have tested positive, and frightened and Texas, and Missouri reported its into the United States was at the heart of one plants, the nation is entering a new and workers Monday (22) begged guests to highest single-day case totals over the of the president’s key promises during the 2016 kill fellow troops uncertain phase of the pandemic. New wear masks in a news conference con- weekend. campaign and is certain to play a central role COVID-19 clusters have been found in ducted over video. “This is exactly what most people as Trump seeks to energize his core supporters during his re-election campaign this year. NEW YORK - An Army private confessed to a Pentecostal church in Oregon, a strip The newly emerging clusters — which would expect when you lift stay-at- Immigration restrictionists who have had the sharing secret information with a satanic neo- club in Wisconsin, and in every imagi- vary in size from a handful of cases to home orders and isolation orders,” said ear of the Trump administration applauded the Nazi group in a plot to attack his own military nable place in between. hundreds and have cropped up in large Rebecca Christofferson, an infectious- announcement. Combined with recent meas- unit while it was overseas and to cause “the In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at least cities as well as small towns — reflect disease expert at Louisiana State Uni- ures, “the work visa suspensions will put the deaths of as many of his fellow service mem- 100 people tested positive for the vi- the unpredictable course of the coro- versity, who said that reopening along thumb on the labour market scale in favour of bers as possible,” federal prosecutors in Man- rus after visiting bars in the Tigerland navirus. They also underscore risks with fatigue over social distancing for US workers,” said Jessica Vaughan, the policy hattan said Monday (22). nightlife district, popular among Loui- that experts say are likely to persist as many Americans were creating new director at the Centre for Immigration Studies, The private, Ethan Phelan Melzer, was siana State University students. long as states try to reopen economies sorts of virus clusters. which advocates curbing immigration. charged in an indictment unsealed this week At a Christian summer camp near and Americans venture back into public “All of those things combined just “It’s really heartening to see the president with collaborating with the Order of the Nine Colorado Springs, at least 11 employees without a vaccine. make it a complex problem — human stand up to the special interests that pull out Angles, or O9A, a group that prosecutors de- fell ill just before the season’s opening, New known virus cases were on the behaviour, contact and virus,” she said. the stops to lobby for these visa programs,” said scribed as “an occult-based neo-Nazi and ra- leading the camp to cancel overnight rise in 23 states on Monday as the out- “You put it all in a big pot, and boom!” Vaughan, who said she had been regularly con- cially motivated violent extremist group.” stays for the first time in 63 years. look worsened across much of the na- -New York Times sulted by White House aides on the issue. “Ethan Melzer, a private in the US Army, In addition to the temporary suspensions, ad- was the enemy within,” said Audrey Strauss, By Rebecca Ratcliffe ministration officials said Trump was directing the acting U.S. attorney in Manhattan, a job Black Lives Matter protest the government to make permanent changes she moved into over the weekend after her to a broad array of immigration regulations in predecessor, Geoffrey S. Berman, resigned Smelly durian forces evacuation order to discourage what they said was unfair under pressure from Attorney General Wil- reaches the Arctic competition for American jobs from foreigners liam Barr. Melzer, Strauss added, had tried COPENHAGEN - A statue of a Danish-Norwegian of Bavarian post office looking to come to the United States. “to orchestrate a murderous ambush on his colonizer in Greenland’s capital Nuuk was vandalized Among those changes will be new meth- own unit by unlawfully revealing its location, SCHWEINFURT - An over- Last year it prompted the evacu- with red paint and the word ‘decolonize’ on Sunday ods of ensuring that high-skill visas in the fu- strength, and armaments to a neo-Nazi, anar- whelming smell coming from a ation of a library at the Univer- (21) in a sign that Black Lives Matter movement has ture are awarded to the highest-paid workers chist, white supremacist group.” suspicious package at a Bavari- sity of Canberra, after “a strong reached the Arctic island’s indigenous people. and of preventing companies from contracting The FBI and the Army foiled the plot in late an post office caused six workers smell of gas” was reported. The incident could help inflame old tensions with large numbers of midlevel foreign workers to May before it could be carried out, prosecu- to be taken to hospital and many Often referred to as the ‘king former colonial power Denmark less than a year after perform accounting, programming and other tors said, and Melzer, 22, of Louisville, Ken- more to be evacuated – only for of fruit,’ Durian’s smell and US President Donald Trump offered to buy the vast is- technology-assisted jobs that Americans might tucky, was arrested on June 10. police to discover that durian taste divide opinion. Some say land. be able to do. Other changes would be aimed at While he was in custody, he declared him- fruit, and not a dangerous gas, its creamy texture is similar to The statue of Hans Egede, a missionary whose ar- discouraging immigrants from applying for asy- self to be “a traitor against the United States” was the reason for the panic. that of a cheesecake with a hint rival in Greenland in 1721 marked the beginning of the lum as a way of obtaining a work permit in the and said his plan to stage an assault against an Police and firefighters rushed of almonds. Others draw less island’s colonial era, was vandalized in the early hours United States. It was unclear when those regula- unidentified military base was “tantamount to to the scene in Schweinfurt on flattering comparisons, ranging of Greenland’s National Day, police said. tory changes would go into effect. treason,” prosecutors said. Saturday (20) over fears that from unwashed feet to rotten Pictures of the vandalized statue posted on social Amid the pandemic, the Trump administra- Federal prosecutors said that O9A, which, a parcel was releasing a harm- onions. media drew hundreds of mostly approving comments. tion has seized on the threat to public health as a like other extremist groups, often commu- ful substance. Twelve postal The fruit, which has grown “Inuit are constantly silenced and never given the op- pretext to issue a series of policy changes affect- nicates via encrypted apps like Telegram, workers received treatment for in popularity among Chinese portunity to process the traumas that have been passed ing almost every aspect of the immigration sys- espoused “a diabolical cocktail of ideologies nausea, including six who were consumers, is a big earner in down for generations,” Paninnguaq Lind Jensen, who tem, including asylum and green cards. While laced with hate and violence.” taken to hospital as a precau- Thailand. In 2018, the country runs a traditional Inuit tattoo shop in Nuuk, wrote on many changes have been announced as tempo- Experts have said the group, which is based tion, the German broadcaster produced 600,000 tonnes of Facebook. rary, they could remain in place indefinitely. in Britain, overlaps to some degree with bet- Bayerischer Rundfunk reported. durians, mostly for export. The Greenland, home to only 56,000 people, was a Dan- In the weeks leading up to the announcement ter-known neo-Nazi organizations like the Officers cleared 60 people market has so far been unaffect- ish colony until 1953 when it became a formal part of on Monday, a diverse coalition of businesses Base and Atomwaffen, whose members have from the building, but later de- ed by the coronavirus pandemic. the Nordic kingdom. and research universities had lobbied fierce- also been prosecuted by the federal govern- termined the package was a de- There are about 200 specially In 2009, Greenland was granted broad self-govern- ly, flooding the White House with letters and ment. O9A’s followers have expressed admi- livery of four Thai durian fruits, bred durian cultivars, each with ing autonomy, including the right to declare independ- phone calls, in an attempt to limit the scope of ration not only for Adolf Hitler but also for sent to a 50-year-old resident by differing textures, flavours and ence from Denmark. the executive order. Islamic terrorists like Osama bin Laden, pros- his friend in Nuremberg. smells. Few Greenlanders see independence as viable in the But the opponents failed to block the meas- ecutors said. The pungent smell of Du- In Schweinfurt, the resident short-term given their economic dependence on Den- ures, which they had argued were counterpro- It was unclear on Monday whether Melzer rian is so strong that the fruit has reportedly now received his mark, but polls show a majority support it as a long- ductive to economic recovery. had a lawyer. is banned in many hotels, and package. term goal. -New York Times on public transport across Asia. -The Guardian -Agencies -New York Times DAILY EXPRESS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 3 GLOCAL

Express Newspapers (Cey) Pvt. Ltd., 185, Grandpass Road, Colombo 14, Sri Lanka Harin says remarks on Telephone: 0117 322 705 (Editorial) 0117 322 731 (Advertising) 0117 322 789 (Circulation) Cardinal taken out of Email – [email protected]/[email protected] Epaper - http://epaper.newsexpress.lk context Facebook –News Express Sri Lanka Issue clarification on Easter Karuna fails to show up at CID attacks COLOMBO - Former sports minister Harin Informs he is unwell, unable to appear until recovered Fernando has said his remarks on Archbish- op Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith on Sunday (21) COLOMBO – Former LTTE commander election related event on Friday (19). Po- Amman claimed he was “more danger- IGP C.D. Wickramaratne on Monday (22) were taken out of context. Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karu- lice Spokesman SSP Jaliya Senaratne said ous than the coronavirus because the directed the CID to launch an immediate In a clarification statement issued earlier na Amman, who created a furore with his Karuna, through his lawyers, informed virus had killed only 11 and they (LTTE) police investigation into the claims. Later yesterday (23), the Samagi Jana Balavegaya claims about killing several thousand sol- the CID in writing that he is unwell and had killed between 2000 and 3000 Sri the same day SSP Senaratne said Karuna (SJB) candidate said the remarks made were diers, was a no show before the Criminal will not be able to make an appearance Lankan soldiers in one night at Elephant has been summoned to the CID and his entirely his own and did not reflect the views Investigations Department (CID) yester- until he recovers. pass.” statement will be recorded yesterday. of his party. day (23), claiming he was unwell. SSP Senaratne said the lawyers had also The controversial claim led to a number Karuna, however dismissed the police Excerpts of the statement: Karuna Amman was asked to appear requested for an alternative day for Karu- of individuals, including politicians call- action saying he “cannot be arrested for A 45 minute speech made by me at a rally before the CID to record a statement na to appear before the CID. Addressing ing for Karuna’s arrest and an investiga- anything he did in the war.” in Polonnaruwa was edited into a one minute about the controversial claims made at an a public gathering in the East, Karuna tion to be launched into the matter. Acting -ENCL clip and released by certain media institu- tions with vested interests. The edited clip distorts my message. I have now made my 242 stranded Indian nationals repatriated, 202 Trapped in a snare entire speech available to the public, so that anyone wishing to understand my speech in One leopard dead, another injured its entirety can do so. Sri Lankan’s return Although the views expressed at the politi- COLOMBO - One leopard has died and treatment, he said. Sooriyabandara also cal rally were entirely my own, some media another has been injured after getting said that legal action will be taken against institutions have edited what I said, in order trapped in a snare in the Heloboda Estate those who disregard laws pertaining to to create tensions between members of my in Pusselawa yesterday (23). wildlife conservation. own Catholic community and my party. The Director General of the Depart- The Department is continuously edu- This is typical of the conduct of certain ment of Wildlife Conservation, M. G. C. cating and creating awareness to people media institutions. These are the same me- Sooriyabandara, said officials from the living in and around forest areas on the dia institutions that were quick to demonize Department were engaged in retrieving protection and conservation of wildlife, Muslim minorities in Sri Lanka soon after the injured leopard yesterday afternoon. he added. the Easter Sunday attacks and the same me- Doctors have sedated the animal, and Recently a rare black leopard that was dia institutions that went with cameras into once retrieved, will ascertain the extent injured after being trapped in a snare in houses of COVID-19 patients and shamed of injury sustained by the animal, follow- Nallathanniya, Hatton had died. victims of a deadly virus. I am a Catholic and ing which, arrangements will be made for -CG will have nothing to gain by insulting or dis- respecting my own church and its leadership. The Easter Sunday attacks are a black PHIs to go on strike mark on the history of our nation. It was an - Handout attack against my own people and the church COLOMBO –Another group of 242 In- The Indian nationals were bid safe Say will withdraw from COVID, dengue and election duties I believe in. My words following that hor- dian nationals stranded in Sri Lanka journey at the Bandaranaike Interna- rific date were, unfortunately, immediately were repatriated on a special Air India tional Airport by High Commissioner of from Monday distorted and politicized. At a time when we (AI 02802) flight from Colombo to Del- India in Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay, who should have come together as a nation, some hi-Lucknow-Gaya on Monday (22). The also thanked the government and people COLOMBO - The Public Health Inspec- lic health inspectors, despite them being were quick to play politics with the suffering flight, which is part of the ‘Vande Bharat of Sri Lanka for their continued coopera- tors Union (PHIU) will launch trade un- brought to her attention on various occa- of others. More than a year after that tragic Mission,’ a Government of India initiative tion in the repatriation of stranded Indian ion action from Monday (29), over a num- sions, compelling them to resort to trade and reprehensible act of terror, I want to to repatriate Indian nationals stranded nationals. Nearly 1500 Indian nationals ber of unresolved issues, including the union action. share my story. across the world due to travel restrictions have been repatriated from Sri Lanka so measures taken to combat the COVID-19 Rohana said Wanniarachchi had, dur- On Saturday, April 20 last year, I was at and airport closures, also brought back far, including the group that left on Mon- outbreak. ing a discussion last Tuesday (16), prom- my electorate in Badulla to attend a series of 202 Sri Lankans stranded in India. day President of the Union, Upul Rohana, ised to resolve all issues faced by the meetings. On April 21, Easter Sunday, I at- said all PHI officers will refrain from PHIU by the end of Sunday (28), but tended church in Badulla alone for mass. COVID-19, dengue and other communi- noted it was regrettable that there are no When the news broke of the terror attacks Over 47,000 postal vote applications rejected cable diseases, and election-related duties signs of the issues being resolved as yet. I rushed to Colombo as soon as I could. On COLOMBO - Over 47,000 postal vote ap- polling stations on Election Day. Some had as part of the campaign. Rohana said the Executive Board of the my way back, my sister called to mention plications for the 2020 general elections also been rejected due to multiple applica- In a press release issued yesterday Public Health Inspectors Union had de- that our father had told her something to the have been rejected, the Commissioner tions from the same individual from differ- (23) Rohana accused Minister of Health, cided to take trade union action until the effect that churches would be attacked, when General of Elections said yesterday (23), ent offices, lack of sufficient information, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, of failing to re- issues are resolved. she had visited him the day before. When I noting that in total 753,037 public servants incorrect information and numerous other solve the many issues faced by the pub- -ENCL visited him before a press conference, I asked had applied for postal voting privileges. shortcomings. him what he had told my sister. His reply was In a media release issued yesterday, Sa- Postal voting is set to take place in stages brief and being his true self said he knows man Sri Ratnayake, Commissioner General between July 14 and 21 and the ballot pa- SriLankan eyeing flights to Korea, China, everything. My dear and loving father was of Elections, said a majority of the applica- pers are to be handed over on June 30, and dying at the time. He was heavily sedated tions were rejected as the officials were not July 1 and 2. Australia, Maldives from August under a lot of medication. Therefore, no one part of the group named as being on duty at -ENCL COLOMBO - SriLankan Airlines is plan- would be a ‘fantastic’ market for tourists, in my family took him seriously when he had ning to fly to Korea, China, and Australia Pathirage said. SriLankan is also plan- first made the statement. I wish we had. But if the airports are re-opened for passen- ning to start flights into Sydney, in addi- it doesn’t justify the insensitive comments Cinemas likely to open on June 27 under strict gers from August as planned in the COV- tion to Melbourne which it was already made by people of my dead father. ID-area, amid ongoing efforts to boost flying to. The Maldives, which is expected I must assure my Catholic and Christian health guidelines cargo and slash costs to survive, officials to re-open for tourists in July is another community that if I had been privy to any COLOMBO– Sri Lanka is considering vices, also published in the official website said. destination SriLankan is looking at. prior information relating to the Easter at- reopening cinemas from Saturday (27), of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Sri Lanka is planning to re-open the The airline has played the role of a sur- tacks on our churches, I would most certainly subject to movie theatre owners and ad- Medical Services, the release said cinema airport for tourists without mandatory rogate carrier to the Indian Ocean tour- have brought it to your attention and to the ministrators strictly adhering to the hy- halls can be opened only after a declara- quarantine but multiple PCR tests from ist paradise in the past, routing flights relevant law enforcement authorities. giene guidelines issued by the health au- tion of consent completed by the head of August 1. The national carrier, which through Malé, the capital, or transiting I have given my statements to the CID and thorities. the hall administration is handed over to is planning a revamped route network, through Colombo. the Presidential Commission with regard to A media release from the Director Gen- the Public Health Inspector of the area, used to operate 140 flights a week to India “We are impatiently waiting (for the the conversations that took place with my eral of Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, ensuring adherence to the health guide- before the coronavirus crisis hit, bringing airport to re-open),” Pathirage said. “Our father. I remain shocked that if such infor- said as COVID-19 epidemic is now under lines provided. It said a copy of the dec- about 30-40% of revenues, but the coun- job is flying and our staff is very keen.” mation had in fact been available with the control, it was imperative a systematic laration should also be furnished to the try still remains closed with cases still SriLankan is already operating cargo law enforcement agencies, why the relevant program be established for the opening of respective LocalAuthorities. going up. It was also planning to re-start flights to Seoul and over 20 other desti- officials did nothing about it? The feeling I cinema halls to prevent the re-emergence The guidelines for cinemas were issued flights to Frankfurt and Sydney. nations. expressed at the press conference was just of the epidemic. upon a request made by Secretary to the “We plan to resume flights from August But passengers could also be carried that. How was it that, if a citizen like my fa- Noting that guidelines on cinema halls Ministry of Buddhasasana, Cultural and 1, but we may not go back to the same des- where airports are permitting, Chief Ex- ther heard this rumour, the president and have been issued under Guidelines No. Religious Affairs, Bandula Harischandra. tinations,” SriLankan Chairman Ashok ecutive Vipula Gunatilleke said, adding responsible officers didn’t? 48 by the Director General of Health Ser- -ENCL Pathirage said, explaining, “Our idea is that SriLankan had also examined the After the attacks I immediately tried to to fly to destinations like China, which is possibility of selling travel vouchers but contact the Archbishop through an associate much safer and we are also looking at new feedback from travel agents indicated of his. I was told he was in the chapel praying destinations like Korea, Seoul.” Korea weak demand. and will contact me when he was done as he In Brief has Sri Lankan expatriate workers but it -economynet.com too was deeply disturbed with what had hap- Bus fare hike? spector General of Police (IGP) to promote pened. Soon after, His Eminence had stated Private bus owners have sought permis- them to the rank of Sub Inspector as they in a media briefing that “the father saved sion from the government to increases fares, have completed 30 years of service. The Act- Rupee ends firmer, bond yields ease the minister-son.” When I finally spoke to claiming the rates had not been revised in ing IGP and the Attorney General, among His Eminence, I explained to him the back- COLOMBO– Sri Lanka rupee closed The bills will be split in to Rs 7.5 bil- ground to my statement. nearly two years. They have also said they several others have been named respond- stronger at 186.55/65 to the US dollar lion maturing in 3-months, Rs 3.5 billion It was in this context that I questioned the do not receive a proper income as the buses ents. yesterday (23) while bond yields contin- maturing in 9-months, and Rs 16 billion conduct of the Archbishop in making public have to operate under health guidelines is- No copies of complaint ued to fall in mixed market trade, dealers maturing in 12-months. pronouncements on the matter. sued by the government and the public has Former ministers Rajitha Senaratne and said brokers said. A 2-year bond maturing on 15.12.2022 If I had done something wrong, it was the reduced the use of public transport due to Arjuna Ranatunga, and Leader of the Jana- Rupee closed on Monday (22) at closed at 6.15/23% yesterday, sliding duty of my Chief Shepherd in Colombo, His the COVID-19 pandemic. tha Vimukthi Peramuna, Anura Kumara 186.60/70 against the greenback. Liquid- from 6.18/23% at Monday’s end, while a Eminence the Archbishop, to confront me Constitutional Council meet Dissanayake, who appeared before the Presi- ity in the overnight money market was Rs bond maturing on 15.01.2023 closed at (a member of his flock) with it personally. If A Constitutional Council meeting is sched- dential Commission appointed to probe in- 204.74 billion yesterday, marginally up 6.25/33%, stable from 6.25/30% and a that failed he could have counselled me along uled to be held at the Speaker’s Residence to- cidents of political victimization, yesterday from the previous day’s close. bond maturing on 15.09.2024 closed at with other leaders of the church. day (24) under the patronage of its Chairman (23), left a few hours later saying they had There was no repo auction for the day. 6.88/95%, easing from 6.90/7.00 percent I do not think it was in keeping with the and former Speaker of the Eighth Parliament not received copies of the complaint. The In the secondary government securities at the previous day’s close. teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ for His Karu Jayasuriya. Issues to be discussed in- former parliamentarians were summoned to market, yields came down in an active A bond maturing on 01.05.2025 closed Eminence to publicly malign me, without clude the nominations sent by President appear before the Commission to testify in market, dealers said, adding that almost at 7.05/15%, down from 7.10/17% at even first verifying the facts from me. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa for the two vacancies connection with a complaint filed by Chair- all maturities were highly liquid while Monday’s close, and a bond maturing In Polonnaruwa, I expressed my personal at the Monetary Board of the Central Bank. man of Avant- Garde Security Services, Ni- bond yields eased in the morning market on 01.02.2026 closed at 7.17/25%, down opinion that former president Maithripala A demand for promotion sanka Senadhipathi, who had claimed that trade however it picked up before close. from 7.25/30%, while a bond maturing Sirisena needs to take responsibility as he Over 350 disgruntled Police Sergeants his company suffered massive losses due to Sri Lanka’s debt office is offering Rs 27 on 15.10.2027 closed at 7.30/40%, down was the Head of State, Head of the Govern- have filed a petition in the Court of Appeal arbitrary decisions taken by the former gov- billion up in a weekly auction to be held from 7.35/45% at the previous day’s close. ment, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed seeking a writ order issued on the Acting In- ernment. today (24). -economynext.com Forces, the Minister of Defence, and also in charge of Law and Order. It is well known that President Sirisena excluded the Prime TISL launches Integrity Icon Sri Lanka 2020 Minister and State Minister of Defence with regard to matters of national security, and COLOMBO - Transparency Interna- for their favourite amongst the five short- Deputy Commissioner of Local Govern- had not invited them for National Security tional Sri Lanka (TISL) yesterday (23) an- listed integrity icons. ment (Western Province), Dharmasiri Na- Council meetings. nounced the launch of the 2020 edition of TISL said nominations for Integrity nayakkara, CEO of the Federation of Sri I should also mention (though I did not the Integrity Icon Sri Lanka awards saying Icon Sri Lanka 2020 can be submitted Lankan Local Government Authorities, say so in my speech in Polonnaruwa) that nominations were now being accepted to until August 31 and that the Integrity Hemanthi Goonasekera and Senior Jour- the friction that existed in the 2019 govern- “name & fame” honest public officials. Icon handbook and nomination forms can nalist & Media Trainer, M. S. Thevagowry. ment was due to the failed coup of 2018. Initially conceptualized by Accountabil- be downloaded from the official website TISL said ay permanent employee of the All those who tried to unlawfully overthrow ity Lab, a global organization that seeks www.integrityicon.lk, or by contacting State with more than five years of experi- our government in 2018, including those to support change-makers to develop and 0711 295 295 or [email protected]. ence and at least five years of service left who unconstitutionally and unethically as- implement positive ideas for integrity in Once nominations are closed, a panel of until retirement can be nominated for In- sumed posts in those infamous 52 days must their communities, Integrity Icon was five judges will begin the task of review- tegrity Icon Sri Lanka 2020. share responsibility for the unprecedented held in Sri Lanka in 2018 and 2019 under ing the applications and conducting inter- Over 100 nominations were received instability and division in government led the theme ‘Honouring Honesty’. views to finalize the shortlist of five integ- in 2019 from across the country. P.A.C. by Maithripala Sirisena that allowed for this The campaign seeks to recognize pub- rity icons. Priyadarshani, the Principal of St. Mary’s carnage. lic officials who carry out their duty with The campaign will culminate in the College, Mathugama, emerged as the It is a matter of great regret that inno- integrity notwithstanding external and grand finalé to be held in December 2020, overall winner of Integrity Icon Sri Lanka cent people including mainly Catholics internal pressures. A key component that where following a SMS voting period, the 2019 polling the highest from over 20,000 paid the price for the president’s negligence differentiates the Integrity Icon award winner of Integrity Icon Sri Lanka 2020 votes cast in the SMS poll. and greed for power. His shortcomings ad- from similar campaigns is the element of will be announced. Globally, the Integrity Icon campaign versely affected our electoral prospects. But, public participation, where the public are The judges, led by former Deputy Au- this year is also being held in Nepal, Pa- by a wicked twist of fate (or by design) that called upon to nominate public officials ditor General, M.D.A. Harold, and com- kistan, South Africa and Mexico amongst Maithripala Sirisena is now the Chairman of whom they see as deserving of the title prising former Commissioner General other nations. the SLNPP and a candidate of the SLPP. and are then given the opportunity to vote of Elections, M.M. Mohammed, former -ENCL -ENCL 4 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 DAILY EXPRESS REALITY CHECK

In Myanmar conflict By Joe Dyke and Guillaume Lavallee More children getting Losing sight of the ‘killed, maimed' future YANGON - The escalation in fighting be- A family photo Palestinians blinded in one eye tween Myanmar's military and ethnic Rakhine from 2018 shows rebels in recent months has triggered a surge Bijendra Singh GAZA CITY -When Jacqueline Shahada was in violence against children and left some vil- and Neelam blinded in one eye during a Palestinian dem- lagers facing starvation. Kumari Gautam onstration along the Gaza border, she never The humanitarian group, Save the Children, with their son, thought she would lose her husband and chil- said in a report yesterday (23) that the conflict Rudraksh dren too. in the far west of Myanmar has left children It was November 2018 and like every Friday increasingly exposed. for more than six months, thousands of Palestin- "The widespread use of mines and impro- ians gathered along the Gaza-Israel border de- vised explosive devices poses a specific threat manding the right to return to lands their ances- to children," Duncan Harvey, Save the Chil- tors fled in 1948 with the creation of Israel. dren's top official in Myanmar, said in a state- - The new York Times Protesters burned tyres and threw stones and ment. By Jeffrey Gettleman and Suhasini Raj Molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers on the oth- "The numbers paint a stark picture," Har- er side of the heavily-guarded border, who re- vey said, pointing to the report, which verified sponded by opening fire. dozens of incidents of children being killed or Amid the thousands of onlookers was Jac- maimed. 8 hospitals in 15 hours queline, a slight, veiled woman in her early 30s. Between January and March this year in the Even though the protests were male-dominated, central part of Rakhine State alone, 18 children she told herself women also had a right to par- were killed and 71 children were physically in- A pregnant woman’s futile bid for a hospital bed in coronavirus hit India ticipate. jured or maimed, according to the report. In "Suddenly, I felt something burning in my eye comparison, there were three recorded cases NEW DELHI — Neelam Kumari Gau- tal they tried was the ESIC Model Hos- Ravi Mohta. “We did what we could.” and I lost consciousness," she said. She had been of children being killed and 12 others injured tam woke up at 5:00 a.m. with shoot- pital, a sprawling government facility The couple hobbled back to the rick- hit by a rubber bullet, and despite medical atten- between October-December 2019. ing labour pains. Her husband put her in Noida. Singh said the first thing the shaw. Gautam was fading. She stopped tion, doctors couldn't save her left eye. Killing, maiming as well are extortion are gently in the back of a rickshaw and doctor said to her was, “I’ll slap you if talking and began heavily sweating. She Her injury is hardly visible now - just a slight the top three abuses affecting children in cen- motored with her to a hospital. Then you take off your mask.” clung to her husband’s hand. glossiness from a tear in the iris - but her life in tral Rakhine, the report said, noting that the another. Then another. Her pain was They were shocked, Singh said. But It wasn’t simply that the doctors Hamas-controlled Gaza was destroyed. real number of casualties could be higher be- so intense she could barely breathe, but Gautam was having trouble breathing. couldn’t help her, her husband said. It "I wish I had been killed, it would have been cause of "severe under-reporting" and the re- none would take her. They didn’t argue. She begged for oxy- was as if they didn’t want to help her. easier," she said. strictions placed by the military on independ- “Why are the doctors not taking me gen, which the hospital had, along with “They didn’t care if she was dead or Her experience has become all too common, ent observers. in?” she asked her husband, Bijendra ventilators. But instead of helping, the alive,” he said. and AFP met with 10 Palestinians who lost an Myanmar's armed forces, also known as Singh, over and over again. “What’s the doctor told them to go to another gov- At a fourth hospital, a branch of eye after being shot by the Israeli army, in Gaza, Tatmadaw, have been battling the Arakan matter? I will die.” ernment hospital, on the other side of Fortis, an Indian health care giant, he Jerusalem or the West Bank. Army, a rebel group seeking greater autono- Singh began to panic. He knew what town. There, too, she was turned away. pleaded for a ventilator. Singh said the Some were taking part in clashes, others were my for the country's western region. Clashes he was up against. As India’s corona- An administrator at the first hospital doctor’s response was, “She’s going to simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. All in Rakhine and neighbouring Chin state have virus crisis has accelerated — India is declined to comment, and a doctor at die. Take her wherever you wish.” were left scarred and with their lives wrecked, lefts dozens dead and thousands displaced. now reporting more infections a day the second hospital said Gautam need- In a statement, the hospital said they even though in Palestinian society being wound- Rakhine is also home to tens of thousands of than any other nation except the United ed intensive care, which the hospital had no space for her. ed while standing up to Israeli occupation is of- mostly Muslim Rohingya, many of whom were States or Brazil — the country’s already couldn’t provide. They tried three other hospitals, ten lionized. forced to flee to Bangladesh after a brutal mili- strained and underfunded health care Even before COVID-19 arrived, In- hurrying from one to the other, losing Along the border of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli tary crackdown in 2017. system has begun to buckle. dian hospitals were beleaguered. The precious time. When all refused, Singh army uses snipers who, according to instruc- John Quinley III, Senior Human Rights Spe- A database of recent deaths reveals Indian government spends less than Rs called the police. tions, open fire only when the soldiers are at risk cialist at Fortify Rights that monitors the wel- that scores of people have died in the 2,000 (about $26) per person per year He said that two officers met him at from intensifying violence from Palestinian riot- fare of Rohingya said that in recent months, streets or in the back of ambulances, on health care. The hope during India’s the entrance of the Government Insti- ers. there have also been instances that Rohingya denied critical care. Gautam’s odyssey lockdown, which began in late March tute of Medical Sciences, a large public Asked about Jacqueline's case as well as the communities were caught in crossfires be- through eight different hospitals in 15 but was mostly lifted by early June, hospital, and tried to persuade the doc- use of live fire, the Israeli army highlighted the tween the military and the Arakan rebels. hours in India’s biggest metropolitan was that the restrictions would slow the tors to admit his wife. But the doctors "security challenge" they faced. He also noted that the deadly landmines area serves as a devastating window spread of the virus and give cities time wouldn’t listen to the police officers, Jacqueline, who studied maths, found herself and other explosive ordinances laid on the into what is really happening in the to scale up hospital capacity before the either. stigmatized. Her children were teased at school ground both by the military and rebels in con- country. worst hit. Administrators at that hospital de- about their disabled mother and her husband flict zones do not discriminate who it could Indian government rules explicitly That didn’t happen, or not nearly clined to comment. grew colder and angry. kill, including women and children. call for emergency services to be ren- enough, and Delhi now finds itself After that failed, they raced in an am- "Society and people blame me, they say: 'Why Save the Children's report mirrors an earlier dered, but still people in desperate need thousands of beds short; the central bulance to Max Super Specialty Hospi- (as a woman) did you go to the protest?'" report by the UN which recorded at least 432 of treatment keep getting turned away, government just repurposed hundreds tal in Ghaziabad, more than 25 miles "I expected my family and husband would be incidents of "grave violations against children" especially in New Delhi, the capital. In- of railway cars to be used as sick bays. away. It was now late afternoon, still proud of me, but I paid a high price," she said. in recent months, including the killing of at fections are rising quickly; Delhi’s hos- And still there is great confusion about bright, around 100 degrees outside. "My husband divorced me and I lost my kids." least 41 children and maiming of 120 others, pitals are overloaded; and many health admitting patients who don’t have the More than eight hours had passed since In the Gaza Strip, the cramped territory of two some as young as six months old. care workers are afraid of treating new coronavirus. Gautam and her husband had set off million people controlled by the Islamist mili- The UN had also reported 12 attacks against patients in case they have the coronavi- Some hospitals say they need to test from their home, eager to meet their tant group Hamas and under Israeli blockade, schools, and the abduction of 12 children by rus, which has killed more than 13,000 every patient before treating them. Oth- new baby soon. residents have grown accustomed to traumatic non-state armed actors. Previously, the UN people in India. ers simply perform a quick temperature But the Max hospital — their eighth wounds after three wars with Israel in 2008, had accused Myanmar's military of recruit- “There is currently little or no chance check. that day — gave them the same heart- 2012 and 2014. ing child soldiers, as well as employing child of admission to hospitals for people Several Indian doctors said that pri- breaking answer: no beds. But even when there is no full-blown conflict, labourers to carry bricks and harvest rice at with COVID-19, but also for people vate, profit-driven hospitals were terri- Gautam closed her eyes and whis- violence erupts. More than 8,000 Palestinians their barracks. with other intensive care needs,” read a fied to accept new patients — particu- pered, “Save me.” were hit by Israeli fire during the often violent The report described as "shocking" the de- warning just issued by the German Em- larly those with breathing problems Singh told the ambulance to rush ‘March of Return’ protests which began in March cision of UN Secretary-General Antonio Gu- bassy in New Delhi. — because they didn’t want to risk get- back to the Government Institute of 2018, according to UN figures. terres to delist Myanmar's military for "grave After watching reports on Indian ting shut down, which has happened to Medical Sciences. Of those injuries, 80% were to the lower body, violations" of recruitment and use of children, television showing dead bodies in the private clinics if one of their patients He hunched in the back, leaning over with only around 3% to the head. and called for an independent assessment on lobby of a government hospital and cry- tested positive for the coronavirus. his wife, pleading with her not to give In Jerusalem, despite there being no full-scale the decision. ing patients being ignored, a panel of “Government policy has created this up. He looked down at her face. She conflict, tensions remain in neighbourhoods The UN was expected to debate the issue in judges on India’s Supreme Court said, chaos,” said Rajesh Kumar Prajapati, reached up and clutched his shirt. Her like Shuafat and Issawiya, parts of the predomi- New York late yesterday. “The situation in Delhi is horrendous, an orthopaedic surgeon and former hands tightly clenched the fabric. nantly Palestinian eastern part of the city Israel "We cannot forget the children of Myanmar horrific and pathetic.” medical school professor. As they finally pulled into the hos- captured in 1967. who continue to face daily risks to their safe- The bigger picture is that Prime Min- As complaints began to pile up that pital, she stopped breathing. Her neck There residents complain of increasing vio- ty, health and wellbeing," Save the Children's ister Narendra Modi’s government is hospitals were turning away sick peo- slumped. Singh jumped out of the lence from the Israeli police, which says it is re- Harvey said. struggling with overlapping crises. Last ple, the powerful home ministry issued ambulance, grabbed a wheelchair and sponding to growing unrest by the population. "The only way forward is for all parties to week, Chinese troops beat 20 Indian a directive reemphasizing that all hos- frantically wheeled her into the emer- In recent years police there have used spongy the conflict to stop the killing and maiming soldiers to death along their disputed pitals should remain open for “all pa- gency room. synthetic rubber bullets, deemed in theory to be of civilians, commit to a ceasefire and take border in the Himalayas, triggering the tients, COVID and non-COVID emer- At 8:05 p.m., after eight different less lethal. But when fired at close range, they all necessary steps to hold the perpetrators of most dangerous showdown between gencies.” hospitals and 15 hours, Gautam was have been known to cause deaths. grave violations accountable for their crimes." the two nuclear powers in decades. But clearly not everyone has been lis- pronounced dead. The baby also died. In February, MalekIssa, a nine-year old box- Quinley III of Fortify Rights also appealed At the same time, India’s economy is tening. A 13-year-old boy in Agra died A preliminary government investiga- ing enthusiast, was hit by a rubber-tipped bullet to the Myanmar military to talk to the rebels. nose-diving, and the coronavirus pan- of a stomach ailment in April after be- tion said, “Hospital administration and after buying a sandwich at a shop in Issawiya. "The Arakan Army has political aims, not demic has cost the country more than ing turned away from six hospitals, his staff have been found guilty of careless- He was on his way home from school and his just military aims, so the Myanmar military 100 million jobs. Desperate to turn the distraught family said. Another boy, in ness.” older sister, Tala, immediately rang their father, should be able to meet them at the table, economy around, Modi has rejected Punjab, with an obstructed airway, was She has not been the only pregnant Wael, to say Malek had been shot in the fore- and they should be able to discuss together health experts’ counsel to put the coun- rejected from seven hospitals and died woman to die in labour after being head. Malek was rushed to hospital where his and end this ongoing conflict," Quinley said, try back under lockdown, saying that in the arms of a family friend, who hap- turned away. The same thing happened parents found him, head gaping and his left eye while urging the military to immediately stop India must “unlock, unlock, unlock”. pened to be a doctor but was not given to a young mother in Hyderabad and hollowed out. the stockpiling and the laying down of deadly When things got better, Singh and his any help to save him. another in Kashmir. In that case, the "My son is polite, clever and got good grades landmines. wife had hoped to buy an apartment in “This is inhuman,” said Dheeraj Sin- family said, the hospital staff were so at school. But this soldier came and shot him. He Meanwhile, the Chin Human Rights Organi- a gated community in Noida, a satellite gh, the doctor in Punjab. uncaring that they didn’t even help with didn't shoot just my son, he shot the whole fam- zation (CHRO), which monitors the conflict in city of New Delhi crammed with tall Cases like these caught the eye of an ambulance to take the body home. ily," said Wael. Rakhine and Chin states, says that more than glass buildings, many malls and many Thejesh G. N., an electronics engineer The woman’s family had to wheel her Malek, who now has a glass eye, sprawled dis- 12,000 displaced civilians are facing starva- hospitals. She worked on an assembly in India’s tech hub, Bangalore. He body down the road, in a stretcher, for interestedly on a sofa next to his father. tion due to the blockade imposed by the mili- line producing electrical wire. He ser- helped build a database tracking pub- several miles. "This is not the Malek that we knew, he tary. viced machines at a printing press. licly reported deaths and found that As authorities consider criminal changed a lot," added Wael, who works in a res- The group said the Tatmadaw is concerned Together, Singh, 31, and Gautam, 30, at least 63 people have died in recent charges in Gautam’s case, her husband taurant in Tel Aviv. "At night Malek cries out 'I that the food items heading towards the region earned a respectable $8,000 a year, weeks from being denied critical care. spends his days at home looking af- want my eye, I want my eye back.'" will end up in the hands of the rebels. putting them solidly in India’s rising Most health experts believe that the ter his son, Rudraksh. The boy asked Contacted by AFP, the Israeli justice ministry In Ann Township in Rakhine, at least 42 vil- middle class. number is far higher. him to throw away all of his mother’s said it had opened an "internal investigation" lages with an estimated population of 12,139 Their son, Rudraksh, turned 6 just The third hospital that Gautam went clothes. into the case. For years freelance cameraman are facing food shortages due to an ongoing before their new baby was due. to, Shivalik Hospital, was the one that “They remind me of her,” he said. Muath Amarneh covered numerous protests in blockade imposed since the beginning of this As Gautam entered her ninth month, had treated her for her prenatal trou- The spark has gone out of Rudraksh’s the occupied West Bank. year. CHRO is appealing for "systematic relief she ran into some health problems and bles. This time, doctors gave her a lit- eye, Singh said. On November 15 last year, he grabbed his and response team" to address the impending spent five days in late May and early tle oxygen, but her husband said they A few days ago, he told his dad that video camera and, wearing his helmet and a vest crisis, pleading with the government to give June in the hospital for pregnancy- feared she might have the coronavirus when he grows up, he wants to be a doc- inscribed with the word 'Press', rushed to a Pal- them special access to the villages caught in related high blood pressure, bleeding and abruptly ordered her to leave. tor, so “I can make dead people come estinian demonstration in the southern village of the conflict. and possibly typhoid. On June 5, as she “We are a small mother and child alive.” Surif. -Al Jazeera began to go into labour, the first hospi- hospital,” said the hospital’s director, -New York Times "There was a sniper on the ground readying his weapon, saying something to the officer I didn't By Thomas Erdbrink understand, but they were laughing," he said. "I felt that something was going to happen to one of us. The soldiers were provoking us jour- Sweden tries out a new status: pariah state nalists. Every summer for the past 13 years, twice as many infections and five times have been stigmatized by an internation- testing, and that such talk misses a ma- "Then I felt something hit my face, I thought fans of Nordic culture have gathered on as many deaths as the other three nations al campaign to prove Sweden was wrong jor point. “When you see 5,000 deaths in my head had been knocked off," he said. the Norway side of the border with Swe- combined, according to figures compiled and warn their neighbours that they are Sweden and 230 in Norway, it is quite in- "I saw there was blood on my face. I fell to my den for the outdoor festival Allsang pa by The New York Times. going to be much more vulnerable if a credible,” said Gro Harlem Brundtland, knees." Grensen, which translates roughly to, While reporting differences can make second wave of the virus hits in the fall. a former prime minister of Norway and Witnesses said he was hit by a rubber bullet ‘Singsong Along the Border.’ comparisons inexact, the overall trend is “We are really confident that our im- the former director of the World Health which had metal inside. And scans show some But this summer, there will not be any clear, as is Sweden’s new status as Scan- munity is higher than any other Nordic Organization, during a digital lecture at metal remains inside the excavated eye cavity, Swedish singers in the live broadcast dinavia’s pariah state. country’s,” Tegnell said during a news the Norwegian Academy of Science and which now holds a glass eye. event, nor will therebe any Swedish fan “We will miss the Swedes this year,” conference last week. He added that Letters in May. “It will take a lot to even Israeli authorities say they did not target the in the audience, singing and clapping said Ole Evenrud, a Norwegian pop star while Sweden was not striving for herd out this difference a year or two into the journalist, but Muath is convinced his injury is a along. This year, Swedes are forbidden to who goes under the stage name ‘Ole immunity, the higher level of immunity future.” metaphor for a conflict others don't want to see. enter Norway. i’Dole’, or Ole the Idol, and is a regular “is contributing to lower numbers of pa- Long considered the lucky holders of "My injury sends a message that our lives de- And Norway isn’t the only Scandina- performer at the festival in Halden, a tients needing hospitalization, as well as one of the best passports for seamless pend on the pictures we take. 'Either you will vian neighbour barring Swedes from vis- Norwegian border town. “But I’m OK fewer deaths per day.” global travel, Swedes now find them- work as we like or you might die'." iting this summer. Denmark and Finland with the borders being closed. We have Tegnell also said that infections in selves with few options for moving about Months later, Muath, who is in his 30s, hasn't have also closed their borders to Swedes, been pretty clever about the way we han- Sweden “had peaked,” and were now the European Union. Most countries in returned to work, still suffers from mysterious fearing that they would bring new coro- dled corona.” falling, a trend reflected in The Times’ the bloc have reopened their borders to migraines and feels his "life is finished." navirus infections with them. Swedish officials, including the archi- figures. member nations, but only France, Italy, "As a cameraman it is impossible to work with While those countries went into strict tect of the country’s measures to stop the Experts in the other Scandinavian Spain and Croatia are welcoming Swedes one eye. You need one eye on the camera lens lockdowns this spring, Sweden famously spread of the coronavirus, Anders Teg- countries say the higher immunity levels without restrictions. and one outside," he said. refused, and now has suffered roughly nell, are not amused. They say Swedes have not been proven through rigorous -New York Times - Agence France-Presse PUBLISHED BY EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS (CEY) PVT, LTD. NO - 267, RAJA MAWATHA, EKALA - JA - ELA