ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER 24 May 2014 25 Rajab 1435 - Volume 19 Number 6075 Price: QR2 ON SATURDAY Tweeters from GCC to gather for conference DOHA: A number of bloggers, tweeters and other social media users, as well as writers and intellectuals from across the GCC region will descend here on May 26 for the second conference of tweeters, entitled ‘Tweeting: Between freedom and accountability’, being organised by Al Sharq Arabic daily. A highlight will be large attendance by Qatari tweeters and social media users as well as writ- ers and thinkers. There will be two sessions of the conference — one on new media and the other on its future. The event will be held under the patronage of the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Al Sharq said on its website. Thai army detains former PM Yingluck BANGKOK: Thailand’s military rulers detained former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday, a senior officer said, after summoning her for talks a day after the army overthrew her caretaker govern- ment in a coup. As the army moved to consolidate its grip on the country, its chief, General Prayuth Chan- ocha, set out his plans for the country, say- ing reforms were needed before an election. But some Thais defied martial law to protest against the takeover. See also page 10 Iran addresses nuclear bomb allegations MISSION VIENNA: Iran has for the first time in six years addressed concerns about the so-called “possible military dimensions” of its nuclear programme, a new IAEA report showed yesterday. Tehran handed over information related to detonators that can be used for several pur- poses but also for a nuclear weapon under a key November interim nuclear deal, the quarterly report showed. “This is the first time that Iran UNACCOMPLISHED has engaged in a technical exchange with the agency on this or any other of the outstanding issues related to possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear programme since 2008,” it said. THE ISSUE See also page 5 Syria video shows Under the glare of the That was the day Doha announced plans services to match efforts being made by the chlorine gas in streets international media, Qatar to change its sponsorship and exit permit Qatar government to improve labour rights. rules for foreign workers. Indians were particularly critical of their BEIRUT: Opposition activists have posted a has been taking a number Guardian writer Pete Pattison and embassy not doing enough to solve the video of what they say is chlorine gas float- of steps to improve labour Amnesty International’s James Lynch problems of their low-income compatriots Design: Abraham Augusthy ing through the streets of a Syrian village rights and working conditions answered questions from readers across the who approach the embassy to get their and they accuse President Bashar Al Assad of world on the issue. work-related woes (labour problems, in mounting a chemical weapons campaign. of foreign workers. Significantly, in reply to a question about other words) redressed. Activists and medical sources said the village why embassies of major manpower exporting Many Indians lauded the embassy for its of Kfar Zeita, in the central province of Hama he Qatar government recently countries were unable to engage with Qatar efficient consular services, but added that 200 km north of Damascus, has been the focus proposed a number of changes on the issue of labour rights, Pattison said more staff and counters were needed to of a two-month-old assault in which chlorine gas in sponsorship and exit permit the embassies did try. cater to large crowds of people. canisters have been dropped out of helicopters. Trules for foreign workers, and it is He said that as far as the embassy of Nepal “It’s as though every working day a See also page 5 expected that many of the proposals would was concerned, it was under-resourced. Rajnikanth (a South Indian film star) movie be incorporated into a new law. About the other embassies, Lynch said has been released at the embassy,” an Indian Protest demands However, while Qatar is doing much to that in his opinion remittances sent home said, asking not to be named. improve the lot of foreign workers, the by migrants were an important source There was criticism of the embassies of Guantanamo closure majority of them, who come from South of income for the governments, so their Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal Asian countries like Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, embassies felt they were in a delicate as well by expatriates from the respective WASHINGTON: Demonstrators converged Pakistan and Bangladesh, feel the embassies position as they didn’t want to jeopardise countries. on the White House yesterday to demand of their countries need to improve their recruitment opportunities for their nationals People of different nationalities this that US President Barack Obama make good services, too. by derailing relations with Qatar. newspaper spoke to requested anonymity, on his promise to close the Guantanamo Bay PAGEA debate was 6triggered by London-based A number of expatriates from these saying they didn’t want to be quoted as detention camp. newspaper The Guardian, which conducted countries representing a cross section of they feared they could be reprimanded for Representing about a dozen organizations, the a live online chat on the issue of migrant occupations and age groups said they felt criticising their embassies. protesters also called for an end to the indefinite workers in Qatar on May 14. their embassies needed to improve their See also page 2 detention of foreign terrorist suspects. AGENCIES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 MAY 24, 2014 ON SATURDAY 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Home Pics: Qassim Rahmatullah, Salim Matramkot, Abdul Basit Many Asians unhappy with embassies A random survey by this newspaper shows that it’s time for missions to improve their services BY PENINSULA TEAM premises and there should be there we are treated as outsiders, been to the embassy to speak name), an Indian who recently They are not required to get a more counters for consular serv- we are sort of lost at times. They about problems we face with the became a father, said: “A so-called token and wait in queue to get DOHA: A rapid increase in ices. Currently, visitors are forced should look at people’s problems employer. The embassy didn’t birth certificate is issued against their work done.” the number of foreign workers to wait for two to three hours. more seriously and guide them by take any firm step to solve the a fee of about QR85 on a simple The most annoying thing for recruited from Asian countries, The Indian Cultural Centre is not giving correct information, “said problem. If our embassy is strong A4-sized sheet by our embassy, Bangladeshi expatriates was the especially in the construction providing all consular services,” a Bangladeshi professional living employers will fear them.” while a similar certificate is time consumed in getting their sector, ahead of the 2022 Fifa he said. here with his family. offered by Women’s Hospital for a work done. According to them, World Cup, has put the embas- The population of Indians here token money of QR20, that too on the embassy should embrace new sies of their countries here in has increased substantially while INDIANS much better paper that is more technology to serve expatriates a not-so-comfortable situation, the embassy remains challenged SRI LANKANS Indians who responded to this presentable.” better. with more pressure on consular by its limited capacity in terms of None of the 17 Sri Lankans The survey said they were mostly dis- “In my experience, I found the “Overall, I am satisfied with services and a rise in workers’ staff and premises to cater to the Peninsula spoke to said they were satisfied with the services of the Qatari establishment, especially my embassy. When I went to the complaints. community, said the Indian. satisfied with the services of their embassy because of several rea- the Labour Department, more embassy for some work I did not A random survey conducted by Most Sri Lankans this daily embassy. Nor do they think that sons, mainly a lack of facilities supportive than my own embassy,” find anyone demanding money to The Peninsula among members spoke to were bitterly critical the embassy would come to their despite an unprecedented growth said Samrat Bhattacharya (not do my work. But it takes a long of different Asian communities of their embassy, its staff and rescue at a moment of crisis. in the size of the Indian commu- his real name), who recently quit time for us to get our work done. shows that very few are satisfied services. Some alleged that the The majority of them said the nity here. a leading India-based engineering At a time when the whole world with the performance of their embassy staff showed favours to embassy staff was cordial but not Most of those interviewed said company in Qatar. is adopting new technology, our embassies. some visitors and ignored others. efficient, either because they did quality and efficiency in services Some Indian expatriates embassy is still doing work manu- Most respondents were criti- The respondents didn’t want to their jobs as a routine or they had had deteriorated as the authori- appreciated the embassy’s quick ally. Expatriates still wonder what cal of what they said were poor disclose their full names. limitations which they could not ties had not done much to keep response in doing their work.