CHINA PASSES GMOA CALLS FOR THE HEART-BREAKING WEDNESDAY SECURITY LAW WITH INCREASED TESTING, BELONGINGS THAT JULY 01, 2020 SWEEPING POWERS WARNS OF COVID-19 COVID VICTIMS LEFT VOL: 4 - ISSUE 388 OVER HONG KONG SECOND WAVE RISKS BEHIND 30. PAGE 02 HOT TOPICS PAGE 03 GLOCAL PAGE 04 REALITY CHECK

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Coronavirus toll 505,652 deaths at 1100 GMT yesterday PARIS - The coronavirus has killed at least 505,652 people since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT yesterday (June 30). At least 10,322,400 cases of coronavirus have been registered in 196 countries and territories. Of these, at least 5,187,300 are now 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 coun- try with 126,141 deaths from 2,590,582 cases. At least 705,203 people have been declared recovered. After the US, the hardest-hit countries are Brazil with 58,314 deaths from 1,368,195 cases, the United Kingdom with 43,575 deaths from 311,965 cases, Italy with 34,744 deaths from 240,436 cases, and France with 29,813 deaths from 200,667 cases. China - excluding Hong Kong and Macau -- has to date declared 83,531 cases (19 new since Monday –June 29), includ- ing 4,634 deaths and 78,469 recoveries. Europe overall has 196,686 deaths from 2,694,400 cases, the United States and Canada 134,751 deaths from 2,670,500 in- fections, Latin America and the Caribbean 113,933 deaths from 2,530,877 cases, Asia 34,338 deaths from 1,276,020 cases, Mid- dle East 15,968 deaths from 746,780 cases, Africa 9,843 deaths from 394,503 cases, and Oceania 133 deaths from 9,328 cases. -AFP In Sri Lanka Five individuals were confirmed as COVID-19 positive by 5:00 p.m. yesterday (June 30), taking Sri Lanka’s tally of the novel coronavirus infection to 2047. Thirty three patients were deemed recovered and discharged from hospitals across the country, moving up the number of COVID-19 recovered cases to 1711. Three hundred and twenty five are now recorded as active cases receiving treatment. - STEPHANIE LECOCQ / POOL / AFP A participant in a costume made of cans attends cel- for Belgium’s colonial past by a reigning monarch, quent colonial period “caused suffering and humilia- ebrations marking the 60th anniversary of Demo- the royal palace said. “I want to express my deep- tion,” Philippe said. Statues of Leopold, whose troops Fauci fears 100,000 daily cratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) independence est regret for these past injuries, the pain of which killed and maimed millions of people in Congo, have from Belgium in the district of Matonge, in Brussels, is regularly revived by the discrimination that is still been defaced or removed in Belgium after global yesterday (June 30). Belgium’s King Philippe ex- all too present in our societies,” the letter said. The anti-racism protests sparked by the police killing of cases in the US pressed deep regret yesterday for the “suffering and DRC achieved independence in 1960 after the Cen- black American George Floyd swept across Europe. NEW YORK -The top US infectious disease expert Dr Antho- humiliation” inflicted on the DRC during its 75-year tral African country had been a Belgian colony for 52 Philippe pledged to “continue to fight every form ny Fauci said the country could see 100,000 new coronavirus period under Belgian rule. The letter to DRC presi- years and, before that, the personal property of King of racism” and welcomed the Belgium Parliament’s cases daily unless action is taken to reverse the epidemic. dent Felix Tshisekedi to mark the 60th anniversary Leopold II for 23 years until 1908. During Leopold’s move to launch a reconciliation commission to ad- Appearing before the Senate health, education, labour and of independence is the first such expression of regret rule “acts of cruelty were committed, while the subse- dress racism and the country’s colonial past pensions committee yesterday (June 30), Fauci warned that the US is “going in the wrong direction” over handling the coro- navirus, and said the death toll “is going to be very disturbing”. He appeared a day after the White House insisted the out- Scientists warn break had been reduced to “embers” but the principal deputy director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr Anne Schuchat, insisted: “This is really the beginning.” New virus in pigs has potential pandemic risk Speaking on Capitol Hill, Fauci was asked about the increase in new cases of coronavirus – the US last week reported 40,000 BEIJING - A new flu virus found in authors said, adding that "close moni- University of Nottingham. The study viruses and called for "systematic sur- in one day – and whether the pandemic was under control. pigs in China has become more in- toring in human populations, especial- highlights the risks of viruses cross- veillance" of the problem. “The numbers speak for themselves,” he said. “I’m very con- fectious to humans and needs to be ly the workers in the swine industry, ing the species barrier into humans, China took action against an out- cerned, I’m not satisfied with what’s going on, because we’re watched closely in case it becomes should be urgently implemented. especially in densely populated areas break of avian H1N1 in 2009, restrict- going in the wrong direction. “Clearly we’re not in total con- a potential "pandemic virus," a new "Pigs are intermediate hosts for the where millions live in close proximity ing incoming flights from affected trol.” Fauci said that without a more robust response, the daily study has found. generation of pandemic influenza vi- to farms, breeding facilities, slaughter- countries and putting tens of thou- number of cases could more than double. A team of Chinese researchers rus. Thus, systematic surveillance of houses and wet markets. sands of people into quarantine. “I would not be surprised if we go up to 100,000 a day if this looked at influenza viruses found in influenza viruses in pigs is a key meas- The novel coronavirus that caused The new virus identified in the study does not turn around,” he said. pigs from 2011 to 2018 and found a ure for pre-warning the emergence the COVID-19 pandemic is believed is a recombination of the 2009 H1N1 Fauci said he could not provide an estimated death toll, but "G4" strain of H1N1 with "all the essen- of the next pandemic influenza," the to have originated in horseshoe bats variant and a once prevalent strain said: “It is going to be very disturbing, I guarantee you that.” tial hallmarks of a candidate pandemic study said. in southwest China, and could have found in pigs. The stark warning came after Schuchat told the Journal of virus", according to the paper, which The peer-reviewed study was au- spread to humans via a seafood mar- But while it is capable of infecting the American Medical Association: “What we hope is that we was published in the US journal, Pro- thored by academics at the China Agri- ket in Wuhan, where the virus was first humans, there is no imminent risk of can take it seriously and slow the transmission. We have way ceedings of the National Academy of cultural University, Shandong Agricul- identified. a new pandemic, said Carl Bergstrom, too much virus across the country for that right now, so it’s very Sciences (PNAS). tural University, the Chinese Centre for The PNAS study said pigs are con- a biologist at the University of Wash- discouraging.” Workers on pig farms showed elevat- Disease Control and Prevention, the sidered important "mixing vessels" for ington. -The Guardian ed levels of the virus in their blood, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the the generation of pandemic influenza -Agencies New law says China has jurisdiction Iran sentences opposition EU formalizes reopening, for ‘serious' HK security cases journalist to death barring travellers from US HONG KONG - China will have ju- China might take over a prosecution TEHRAN - An Iranian opposition count had more than one million BRUSSELS — The European tion’s handling of the coronavirus risdiction over "very serious" national - complicated foreign interference journalist who played an active role followers, and he used it to post Union will open its borders to visi- crisis. Travellers’ country of resi- security crimes in Hong Kong with of- cases, "very serious" cases and when in widespread protests that en- information about Iranian officials tors from 15 countries as of today dence, not their nationality, will fenders facing up to life in prison, ac- national security faces "serious and gulfed the country in 2017 and 2018 and share logistics about the pro- (July 1), but not to travellers from be the determining factor for their cording to the text of a new law pub- realistic threats". has been sentenced to death, Irani- tests that rocked the country. the United States, Brazil or Russia ability to travel to countries in the lished late yesterday (June 30), hours Both the national security agency an authorities said yesterday (June Telegram shut down the channel or Sri Lanka, putting into effect a EU, officials said, and while the after it was imposed on the financial and Hong Kong "can request to pass 30), months after he disappeared in at the request of Iranian authorities complex policy that has sought to policy will not be legally bind- hub. the case to mainland China and the neighbouring Iraq and ended up in in December 2017. Zam created a balance health concerns with poli- ing, all 27 member nations will be The controversial law also empow- prosecution will be done by a procu- his home country under murky con- new channel, according to Report- tics, diplomacy and the desperate under pressure to comply. If not, ers China to set up a national security ratorate designated by the Supreme ditions. ers Without Borders, which Tel- need for tourism revenue. they risk having their European agency in the city, staffed by officials People's Procuratorate and the trial The activist, Ruhollah Zam, was egram refused to close down. The list of nations that EU peers close borders within the who are not bound by local law when will be in a court designated by the found guilty by a court in Tehran Zam’s own story of how he ended countries have approved includes bloc, which would set back efforts carrying out duties. Supreme Court," the law stated. of “corruption on earth,” a term up in Iranian detention remains Australia, Canada and New Zea- to restart the free travel-and-trade The new suite of powers radically "No matter whether violence has often used to describe attempts to murky. He left France on October land, while travellers from China zone that is fundamental to the restructures the relationship between been used, or the threat of violence overthrow the Iranian government, 11, according to the French for- will be permitted if China recipro- club’s economic survival. Beijing and Hong Kong, toppling the used, leaders or serious offenders will according to Gholam Hossein Es- eign ministry. Iran’s Revolutionary cates. Still, some European countries, legal firewall that has existed between be sentenced for life imprisonment maili, a judiciary spokesperson who Guard said days later that Zam had The plan was drawn up based especially those in the south that the city's independent judiciary and or a minimum of 10 years in jail," the announced the death sentence at a been arrested in a complex opera- on health criteria, and EU officials see millions of visitors from all the mainland's party-controlled law declared. news conference yesterday, Iranian tion, according to Iranian news out- went to great lengths to appear over the world throng to beaches courts. "The Hong Kong government has news outlets reported. lets. Zam’s wife, Mahsa Razani, who apolitical in their choices, but the and cultural sites during the sum- It outlaws four types of national se- no jurisdiction over the national se- Zam ran Amad News, a website is living in Paris with the couple’s decision to leave the United States mer, have been eager to permit curity crimes: subversion, secession, curity agency in Hong Kong and its and popular channel on the mes- child, said he had disappeared not off the list — lumping travellers more travellers in a bid to salvage terrorism and colluding with foreign staff when they are discharging duties saging platform Telegram, out of long after arriving in Baghdad from from there in with those from Bra- their ravaged, and vital, tourism forces to endanger national security. provided in this law," the text added. France, where he had lived since Paris. zil and Russia — was a high-profile industries. The text gave three scenarios when -AFP 2011 as a refugee. His Telegram ac- -NYT rebuke of the Trump administra- -NYT

Trending News Quote for Today Science may never come up with a better office EU: Officials say the European Union humanitarian challenges of the nine- blames Afghan forces for firing mor- Global: UN says the coronavirus cri- communication system than the coffee break. Aviation Safety Agency has barred Pa- year crisis. tar shells that struck a busy market in sis has taken a much heavier toll on -Earl Wilson kistan International Airlines from the the southern province, killing at least jobs than previously feared, warning Word for Today Angola: Prosecutors seek a seven- European Union for six months after 23 civilians. that situation in the Americas is par- year jail sentence for the son of former Bolide [bohlahyd, lid] –noun – Astronomy. a large, bril- the state-run carrier grounded nearly ticularly dire. president Jose Eduardo dos Santos Sri Lanka: The UN High Commis- liant meteor, especially one that explodes; fireball a third of its pilots for holding fake or for allegedly embezzling $500 million sioner for Human Rights, Michelle Vatican: Police seize documents dubious licences. from state coffers. Bachelet, notes concerns on Sri Lanka and computers from the department Today in History Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran in her opening speech at the 44th ses- tasked with maintaining St. Peter's Ethiopia: At least four people are 1997 - United Kingdom returns Hong Kong and the New Khan blames India for a deadly at- sion of the UN Human Rights Council Basilica as part of an investigation Territories to the People's Republic of China tack on the stock exchange in Karachi, killed as protests spread across sever- in Geneva. into potentially illegal dealings. al cities after a prominent singer from saying there was "no doubt" who was Lebanon: State media reveals the China: 27 countries sign a joint state- Today is... responsible. the country's largest ethnic group is shot dead. army has scrapped meat from all ment urging China to reconsider its Syria: The EU announces inter- meals it offers to soldiers on duty as sweeping national security law im- Joke Day national donors have pledged 6.9 Afghanistan: The United Nations food prices skyrocket because of a posed on Hong Kong which "under- The perfect day for you to share laughs and put a smile on billion euros to face the ongoing Assistance Mission in Afghanistan deepening economic crisis. mines" the city's freedoms. people’s faces, including your own 2 WEDNESDAY, JULY 01, 2020 DAILY EXPRESS HOT TOPICS

By Bhuvan Bagga By Secunder Kermani TikTok denies sharing Coronavirus overwhelms Indian user data with Afghanistan’s China Pro-China war-ravaged hospitals supporters display NEW DELHI - TikTok yesterday (June 30) de- Chinese and KABUL - When Ahmad Shah's wife developed nied sharing users' data with the Chinese govern- Hong Kong flags coronavirus symptoms, he tried to take her to ment, after India banned the wildly popular app during a rally near one of Kabul's government hospitals. But free as ties with Beijing deteriorate sharply following beds are in short supply in the city, and resourc- a deadly border clash. the government headquarters es are desperately stretched. Even though she Blaming each other for the brutal hand-to-hand was experiencing breathing difficulties, doctors battle on June 15 as talks make little headway, the in Hong Kong yesterday (June advised Shah to treat her at home himself. Asian giants have been bolstering their border "One told me, 'If you truly love her, please take forces as anti-China sentiment grows in India. 30), as China passed a sweeping her home and do the treatment there," Shah re- As India reportedly considered hiking tariffs called. He bought his own oxygen supply and and with some Chinese imports held up at ports, national security law for the city mask. Demand has been so high during the pan- Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on demic that the price of cylinders has doubled in Monday (June 29) banned 59 Chinese apps in- recent weeks. They now cost around £200. cluding TikTok, WeChat and Weibo. "It's very hard to find oxygen these days," The ministry of information technology said Shah said. "It's not just expensive but you need the apps "are engaged in activities... prejudicial to know someone in the company selling it to be to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of able to buy it." India, security of state and public order." - Anthony WALLACE / AFP Doctors say the already weak healthcare sys- The move mirrored growing unease about Chi- tem in the war-torn country is struggling to cope nese tech firms in other countries, in particular By Chris Buckley and Keith Bradsher with the pressure of COVID-19. Concerns have regarding telecom giant Huawei. been raised about the supply of oxygen and oth- TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, allows er resources to government hospitals. users to upload and share short videos and is China passes security law with sweeping A doctor in Kabul described patients' fami- spectacularly popular in India - its 120 million us- lies having to "fight for oxygen" when cylinders ers have made it the app's top international mar- arrived, before bringing it to the intensive care ket. Yesterday, the head of TikTok India issued unit themselves. a statement saying the firm has "not shared any powers over Hong Kong There are issues with testing too. Low levels information of our users in India with any foreign of testing suggest there are "substantially" more government, including the Chinese government." BEIJING - China passed a contentious Opposition politicians quickly criticized this point forward.” The law calls for Hong new law for Hong Kong yesterday (June the law for its power to silence dissent. Kong’s government to establish a new COVID-19 cases than the official figures, accord- "Further if we are requested to in the future ing to World Health Organization (WHO) rep- we would not do so," Nikhil Gandhi said, adding 30) that would empower the authorities to Claudia Mo, a pro-democracy lawmak- agency to oversee enforcement of the new crack down on opposition to Beijing, risk- er, cited local news reports that the law rules. Beijing will create its own separate resentative for Afghanistan, Dr Rik Peeperkorn. that "hundreds of millions of users, artists, story- About 31,000 infections have been recorded tellers, educators and performers... (depend) on it ing deeper rifts with Western governments would introduce hefty prison sentences for security arm in Hong Kong, empowered to that have warned about the erosion of free- vaguely defined political crimes as sources investigate special cases and collect intel- to date. Close to half of all tests conducted so for their livelihood." far have been positive, one of the highest rates It remains unclear, however, how the bans doms in the territory. of concern. ligence. The law’s swift approval in Beijing sig- “It’s meant to suppress and oppress, and Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s top official, has in the world. Dr Peeperkorn said number of test would work, with Indians who have downloaded laboratories would be expanded from 11 to 21 TikTok on their phones still able to use the app nalled the urgency that the Communist to frighten and intimidate Hong Kongers,” said the law will target only an “extremely Party leader, Xi Jinping, has given to ex- Mo said. “And they just might succeed in small minority of illegal and criminal acts in the "coming months" and called for greater yesterday. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman "global solidarity" in ensuring a regular supply Zhao Lijian told a regular press briefing that Chi- panding control in Hong Kong after the that.” and activities,” and will make the territory territory was convulsed by pro-democracy Xi has driven the security law through safer for most residents. of the necessary equipment. na is "strongly concerned" about the announce- One doctor, who wanted to remain anony- ment and looking into the situation. protests last year. despite the challenges his government But critics say that the new security The law underscores Beijing’s resolve faces with the coronavirus pandemic, a lin- agencies and politically shaded categories mous, described a worrying lack of staff in a crit- He said the country has always asked Chinese ical-care unit he worked at in a major state-run firms to abide by international rules and local to achieve a political sea change in Hong gering economic downturn and visa bans of crime, such as “inciting separatism”, Kong, a former British colony with its own from the Trump administration aimed at could send a chill across Hong Kong soci- Kabul hospital. laws as they work with foreign parties, adding "One night many patients died because there that China-India cooperation is mutually benefi- legal system and civil liberties absent in Chinese officials involved in Hong Kong ety. Activists are worried that the law could mainland China. It could be used to stifle policy. target those who peacefully call for true au- was no staff to look after them," the doctor said. cial and damaging this is not in India's interest. He said the patients' relatives were "furious" and China and India have long had a prickly rela- protests like those that last year evolved “Xi Jinping is looking at more compre- tonomy for the territory. into an increasingly confrontational, and hensive control over Hong Kong, and the “Potentially, the security law penetrates broke windows at the hospital in anger. tionship. The doctor, now working in a private hospital, But the border clash was the first deadly vio- sometimes violent, challenge to Chinese national security law will go a long way a lot of activities that contribute to the vi- rule. to achieving that control,” Willy Wo-Lap brancy of Hong Kong’s civil society and added that many families were reluctant to seek lence on their disputed Himalayan border in 45 treatment at public institutions. years, claiming the lives of 20 Indian soldiers. The Chinese legislature approved the law Lam, a long-time commentator on Chinese the character of this international city and a day before July 1, the politically charged politics and an adjunct professor at the financial centre,” said Cora Chan, an asso- "They don't trust the quality of the treatment," Chinese casualties are unknown. the doctor said. "They say, 'take as much money The Indian deaths triggered outrage on social anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to Chinese University of Hong Kong, said in ciate professor of law at the University of China in 1997, which regularly draws pro- an interview. Hong Kong who has studied China’s drive as you want but get our patient admitted.'" media with calls to boycott Chinese products. Chi- But private hospitals too, he added, are rou- nese flags were set on fire and traders destroyed democracy protests. On the anniversary “It will be a new ballgame, affecting for security legislation. last year, a massive peaceful demonstra- schools, affecting the media, and many The new law delivered a blow to Hong tinely having to turn patients away due to a lack Chinese goods at scattered street protests. of beds. Another doctor said even staff members Ties were strained last August when New Delhi tion gave way to violence when a small other arenas of Hong Kong life.” Kong’s opposition forces even before it of- group of activists broke into the Hong The security law was approved by the ficially went into effect. Four senior mem- at his private hospital were unable to get their revoked the semi-autonomous status of Indian- own family members treated. controlled Kashmir and split off Ladakh - parts of Kong legislature, smashing glass walls and National People’s Congress Standing Com- bers of Demosisto, a political organization spray-painting slogans on walls. mittee, an elite arm of China’s party-con- in Hong Kong that has drawn disaffected "A doctor rang and said, 'One of my relatives which are claimed by China - into a new adminis- is having breathing problems, we are sending trative territory. Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong’s repre- trolled legislature, in a process that drew young people, announced that they were sentative to the top legislative body in criticism for its unusual secrecy. quitting the group, citing the threat from him to you, please admit him.' I asked him for India shares US unease about growing Chinese forgiveness… We couldn't look after his relative, influence in the Indian Ocean and New Delhi has China that reviewed the law, confirmed Breaking from normal procedure, the the new law. They included Joshua Wong, its passage yesterday. Two Hong Kong committee did not release a draft of the law a leader of the 2014 pro-democracy dem- so think what happens to ordinary people who bolstered defence cooperation with Washington come here?" as well as Australia and Japan. newspapers that serve as conduits for of- for public comment. Hong Kong’s activists, onstrations known as the Umbrella Move- ficial policy from Beijing, Wen Wei Po legal scholars and officials were left to de- ment. Afghanistan's healthcare system was already India has also been irked by China's backing under-resourced before the pandemic - those of arch-rival Pakistan and the construction of an and Ta Kung Pao, said the vote, taken less bate or defend the bill based on details re- On Sunday (June 28), the Hong Kong than two weeks after the lawmakers first leased by China’s state news media earlier police arrested 53 people at a protest needing medical care would often travel to economic corridor going through parts of Kash- neighbouring Pakistan or India for treatment if mir controlled by Islamabad but claimed by India. formally considered the legislation, was this month. against the security law. The police force unanimous. “The fact that the Chinese authori- also earlier denied applications from three they could afford it. Many of the doctors blamed Since the latest clash, the nuclear-armed neigh- corruption for the current lack of staff and bours have reinforced the border between Ladakh “Those who have stirred up trouble and ties have now passed this law without the groups to hold protest marches today (July broken this type of law in the past will people of Hong Kong being able to see it 1), the anniversary of the handover, mak- equipment in government hospitals. and Tibet. India has deployed thousands more One described the situation as "frustrating troops and is conducting extra military flights hopefully watch themselves in the future,” tells you a lot about their intentions,” said ing it the first time the authorities have Tam said in a television interview. “If they Joshua Rosenzweig, the head of Amnesty refused to allow a demonstration on that and depressing." over the mountainous region. There has been a spate of investigative reports "Those who cast an evil eye on Indian soil in continue to defy the law, they will bear the International’s China team. “Their aim is date. consequences.” to govern Hong Kong through fear from -New York Times in local media in the past few weeks, and public Ladakh have got a befitting response," Modi said anger is rising. Officials are investigating a story in his weekly radio address on Sunday. by Pajhwok Afghan News, alleging that 32 venti- He was due to address the nation again at 4:00 By Rebecca Ratcliffe lators were stolen from the Health Ministry and p.m. (1030 GMT) yesterday. smuggled to Pakistan for sale. With Asia's third-biggest economy dealt a suck- In another case, an employee of the health de- er punch by the coronavirus, the apps ban fits in In the Philippines partment was arrested for allegedly demanding with Modi's vision outlined in May of a "self-re- an $80,000 bribe in order to complete a contract liant India" able to produce all it needs at home. with a company producing protective equipment But New Delhi has a trade deficit of around $50 ‘War on drugs’ kills at least 122 children for medical staff. billion with China, with India's pharmaceutical, LotfullahNajafizada, head of Tolo News, said electronics and automotive sectors hugely reliant BANGKOK - At least 122 children, in- nessed another killing, or claiming they had “permission to kill”. Rights groups corruption was "a huge issue" across the gov- on imports of Chinese raw materials and compo- cluding a one-year-old, have been killed were acting in self-defence. In other cases, have urged the human rights council to ernment, but in particular at the moment in the nents. during President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war children were killed as proxies when the order a further independent inquiry into Health Ministry because of the extra resources Chinese electronic firms also have a major on drugs” in the Philippines, according real targets could not be found, as a result abuses in the Philippines, as it has previ- that have been recently allocated to tackle Cov- presence in India, with cellphone brands like Xi- to a report that concluded some children of mistaken identities, or were hit by stray ously done for atrocities in Venezuela and id-19. aomi - which manufactures in India - enjoying a have been deliberately shot at and target- bullets, the report says. Myanmar. "The ministry never managed this amount of market share of almost 65 percent. ed as proxies. The 122 deaths documented are likely The Philippines government “firmly re- money in the past," he said, adding that the ur- The ban on the apps "is fine as a gesture of pro- The study, by the World Organization an underestimate, since relatives are often jects” the allegations of human rights gency meant "you can't put an efficient oversight test but we should be very careful with escalation Against Torture, adds to growing calls for threatened by police and told not to con- There is growing concern about Du- process in place". right now," said Manoj Joshi from the Observer the UN human rights council to establish tact human rights groups for help. Activ- terte’s continued crackdown on human It's difficult to assess the true scale of corona- Research Foundation, an Indian think tank. an independent investigation into abuses ists also face constant harassment. Civil rights, and his attempts to silence activists virus in Afghanistan. "Right now I don't think there are any easy op- committed under Duterte. Rights groups society groups were told by Duterte last and independent media. A doctor working in Kabul suggested the tions for New Delhi." estimate that tens of thousands of people year: “I will kill you along with drug ad- The government has increasingly filed health system might be overwhelmed largely be- -Agence France-Presse may have died as a result of unlawful kill- dicts. I will decapitate you.” criminal charges against people criticizing cause "capacity is so low". However, anecdotal ings during anti-drug operations launched Only one of the deaths, the killing of the authorities online, sometimes using reports from graveyards suggest they have seen after his election in 2016. 17-year-old Kian delos Santos, which was C-19 special powers laws. significant rises in the number of burials. The report, which examines child captured on film, has led to a conviction. The report by World Organization A sense of stigma attached to the disease No compensation deaths between July 2016 and December With near total impunity, the deaths con- Against Torture warns not only about the means many families are reluctant to acknowl- 2019, reports that police were responsible tinue: since the start of this year, seven growing number of children detained on edge deaths from coronavirus. One doctor from Tokyo court rejects damages for just over half of the killings document- more children have lost their lives. drugs-related charges, but also the recent the southern city of Kandahar said it was clear ed. Others involved unknown individuals, A recent report by the UN high com- targeting of children during the corona- even from his own social circle that a large num- for man forcibly sterilized at often wearing masks or hoods, some of missioner for human rights, due to be virus lockdown. Throughout quarantine, ber of people are dying. whom allegedly had links to the police. presented to the human rights council children have been arrested for curfew "If you look at Facebook, on a daily basis there age 14 Some of the children were deliberately yesterday (June 30), warned that rhetoric violations, and allegedly in some cases de- is an increased number of deaths," he said. killed according to the report, with police by the highest officials had potentially em- tained in dog carriers or coffins. He said in most cases the deaths were said to TOKYO - A Japanese pensioner forcibly steri- potentially targeting those who had wit- boldened police to behave as though they -The Guardian lized as a 14-year-old under a now-defunct eugen- be the result of "typhoid" - a bacterial infection ics law failed yesterday (June 30) in a legal bid for - or "unknown causes", but that he was "100% $280,000 in state compensation. sure it was due to COVID-19." According to local media, Tokyo District Court The doctor, who normally treats victims of Af- found the government was not obliged to pay the Possible Russian bounties ghanistan's war, said years of conflict and trag- man compensation because the 20-year statute of edy had desensitised some of the city's residents limitations had passed. to the deaths, which they described as "the will A local official confirmed to AFP that the court Trump got written briefing of God." Meanwhile, the violence in the country con- had rejected the 77-year-old's claims. WASHINGON - American officials pro- the matter and portraying the conclusion declined to comment on any connection The sterilization operation, which happened tinues, with an increase in Taliban attacks and vided a written briefing in late February to as disputed and dubious. between the Marines’ deaths and the sus- targeted killings by unknown militants in the without any explanation, took place in 1957. President Donald Trump laying out their But that stance clashed with the disclo- pected Russian plot. Despite rejecting the pay-out bid, the court re- capital Kabul. Healthcare workers are at times conclusion that a Russian military intel- sure by two officials that the intelligence The White House press secretary, Kay- directly affected. Earlier this month, the charity portedly recognized that the forced sterilization ligence unit offered and paid bounties to was included months ago in Trump’s Pres- leigh McEnany, did not answer when had violated the constitutional right of an indi- MSF announced it would withdraw from a ma- Taliban-linked militants to kill US and co- ident’s Daily Brief document — a compi- pressed by reporters Monday whether the ternity unit in Kabul that was attacked by mili- vidual to free choice. alition troops in Afghanistan, two officials lation of the government’s latest secrets intelligence was included in the written At least 16,500 people were sterilized without tants in May, killing sixteen expectant mothers, familiar with the matter said. and best insights about foreign policy and President’s Daily Brief, and the Security among others. The UN has also documented a their consent under the law, which targeted those The investigation into the suspected national security that is prepared for him Council spokesman pointed to her com- with disabilities, and remained in force until dozen other violent incidents, including the re- Russian covert operation to incentivize to read. One of the officials said the item ments when asked later about the Febru- peated abduction of medical staff by the Taliban, 1996. such killings has focused in part on an appeared in Trump’s brief in late Febru- ary written briefing. Last year, the government passed legislation of- and one instance of government security forces April 2019 car bombing that killed three ary; the other cited February 27. Late Monday, John Ratcliffe, the di- looting medical supplies. fering the victims 3.2 million yen each ($29,700), Marines as one such potential attack, ac- Moreover, a description of the intel- rector of national intelligence, issued a an amount campaigners slammed as "failing to Concerns are also rising about the impact cording to multiple officials familiar with ligence assessment that the Russian unit warning that leaks about the matter were of coronavirus on both levels of poverty in the meet the seriousness" of the issue. the matter. had carried out the bounties plot was also a crime. The legislation, and an apology from the prime country, and efforts to tackle other diseases. The new information emerged as the seen as serious and solid enough to dis- The disclosures came amid a growing Afghanistan is one of only two countries in the minister, only came after victims had begun filing White House tried Monday (June 29) to seminate more broadly across the intel- furor in Washington over the revelations lawsuits in recent years over their experiences. world yet to eradicate wild polio, but vaccina- play down the intelligence assessment ligence community in a May 4 article in in recent days that the Trump administra- tion campaigns have been suspended. In recent The Tokyo ruling came in the second such case, that Russia sought to encourage and re- the CIA’s World Intelligence Review, a tion had known for months about the in- after a court in the northern city of Sendai reject- weeks polio cases have been discovered in prov- ward killings — including reiterating a classified compendium, two officials said. telligence conclusion. inces that were previously considered polio free. ed a compensation claim in May 2019. claim that Trump was never briefed about A National Security Council spokesman -New York Times -Agence France-Presse -BBC DAILY EXPRESS WEDNESDAY, JULY 01, 2020 3 GLOCAL

Express Newspapers (Cey) Pvt. Ltd., 185, Grandpass Road, Colombo 14, Sri Lanka Canadian HC in his Canada Day Telephone: 0117 322 705 (Editorial) 0117 322 731 (Advertising) message urges 0117 322 789 (Circulation) Email – [email protected]/[email protected] Embrace diversity as a Epaper - http://epaper.newsexpress.lk Facebook –News Express Sri Lanka strength COLOMBO - David McKinnon, High Commis- sioner of Canada to Sri Lanka and the Maldives in GMOA calls for increased testing, warns of COVID-19 his Canada Day message, reiterated his country’s commitment to the reconciliation process saying, “Canada continues to support the reconciliation process through our long-standing collaboration second wave risks on national languages and by assisting with demi- COLOMBO - The Government Medical In a press release issued yesterday, the the community. “These tests must cover started about restarting the tourist industry ning work.” Officers' Association (GMOA) yesterday GMOA requested the Epidemiology Unit of the whole country,” the GMOA said, adding by admitting foreign tourists to the country Urging, “In these difficult times, we must stand (June 30) warned there was a significant the Ministry of Health to conduct a mini- that it had also had made a formal request from August, the Association warned that together and embrace our diversity as a strength,” risk of a second wave of the coronavirus be- mum of 68,000 PCR tests per month to for testing to the Secretary to the Ministry of strict protocols would have to be observed he said Canada will also continue to advocate for ing created in the country and called on the ascertain the complete eradication of the Health and detailed the necessary measures to admit tourists. It said it will appoint a LGBTIQ2 rights. government to increase random testing for virus from within the community, even that are required to be taken to carry out committee of its members in the next two The message in full: COVID-19 among the general public to get a though the Ministry of Health has con- the large volume of PCR tests per month, weeks to make recommendations in this re- Today (July 1) is a special day for Canadians better estimate as to whether the disease is firmed the spread of the coronavirus has keeping in mind the upcoming parliamen- gard to the government. in Sri Lanka, Canada and around the world. This spreading in the community. been completely eliminated from within tary polls. Noting that a discussion has been -ENCL year, as we find ourselves celebrating Canada Day virtually, we dedicate this day to the celebration of diversity, inclusion and hope. Pompeo and Dinesh talk about MCC deal COVID-19 knows no borders, and its impact on COLOMBO– Minister of Foreign Rela- countries which have signed similar deals our health systems, our economies and our lives tions, Dinesh Gunawardena, on Monday have become ‘tragic.’ have been devastating – particularly for seniors, (June 29), briefed his US counterpart, Mike The media release also said Gunawarde- the marginalized and the most vulnerable. The Pompeo, about the Review Report of the na briefed Pompeo on the forthcoming pandemic has highlighted the importance of work- Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) parliamentary elections and thanked the ing together both to respond to the crisis and for compact, the controversial deal bitterly op- US for the support extended to the recon- the long-term recovery. posed by the Sri Lankan Podujana Peramu- ciliation and resettlement processes in Sri The bilateral friendship between Sri Lanka and na during the presidential election. Lanka. Canada goes back many decades and is strength- The minister briefed the US State Sec- The two had also discussed US-Sri Lanka ened by our deep people-to-people ties. Over the retary during a telephone conversation cooperation in COVID response-supply past few months, this partnership has been further on Monday evening, a media release from of PPEs to the US, donation of ventilators strengthened as we worked with ministries and the Ministry of Foreign Relations said yes- to Sri Lanka and COVID related bilateral civil society partners to provide assistance and re- terday (June 30), not going into details assistance amounting to US$ 5.8 million- lief to the most vulnerable communities, including about the Report, which brought up several economic recovery initiatives, defence and women and children. contentious issues about the compact and security matters, counter terrorism and in- Livelihoods and economic activities around the - Handout claimed the deal would interfere with the ternational economic cooperation. globe have been disrupted by the pandemic, and Stranded Sri Lankans prepare to board a SriLankan cargo flight in Hong Kong on Monday sovereignty of the Sri Lankan Parliament. The release said Gunawardena also con- Canada is committed to work with partners to build (June 29). A group of 26 Sri Lankans stranded in China were repatriated by a Sri Lankan The Review Report, written by a panel of veyed Sri Lanka’s felicitations for the forth- back better. We are extending support to strength- Airlines cargo flight, UL 1425, from Hong Kong on Monday, in a mission carried out in experts appointed by President Gotabaya coming US Independence Day on July 4. en the capacities of the cooperative sector and Mi- Rajapaksa, also noted that the situation of -ENCL cro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in coordination with the Presidential Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Relations, SriLankan Sri Lanka impacted by COVID-19. In international Airlines and the Sri Lanka Consulate in Hong Kong fora, Canada is working with international finan- cial institutions to address the debt sustainability Remittances down 23% in May but up from April India discussing debt rescheduling with and financing challenges faced by middle-income countries, including Sri Lanka. COLOMBO– Sri Lanka’s foreign remit- inward arrivals were banned from all coun- In difficult times, we must stand together and tances fell 23.3% from a year earlier to US$ tries after March 19. Sri Lanka COLOMBO –The High Commissioner of arrangements. It said the matter had been embrace our diversity as a strength. Canada contin- 431.8 million in May 2020, but has picked Since then Sri Lankans are being brought ues to support the reconciliation process through up from a low of US$ 375 million in April back according to the availability of quaran- India to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay, has held taken up at the leadership level and has several rounds of senior level discussions in been followed up by senior functionaries our long-standing collaboration on national lan- amid a coronavirus pandemic, official data tine facilities. guages and by assisting with demining work. We showed. “We believe that around 1.3 million Sri Colombo the past two days on rescheduling bilaterally. It also noted on Monday (June the country’s loan repayment to India and 29) and yesterday, the High Commissioner will also continue to advocate for LGBTIQ2 rights. Sri Lanka was under strict lockdown in Lankans or more may be working abroad,” After nearly three years on this remarkable and April with banks only operating a few hours Information Minister Bandula Gunawar- other debt relief facilities. of India to Sri Lanka held discussions at The Indian High Commission in Sri senior levels in Colombo on progressing the beautiful island, I continue to be struck by the and postal services also not operating. Ex- dane said recently, adding, that 52,401 from warmth, creativity, and resilience of individual Sri patriate family members in the Middle East 117 countries had informed Sri Lankan mis- Lanka, in a statement yesterday (June 30), ongoing official discussions regarding Sri responding to media query on India-Sri Lanka’s requirements. Lankans. This is apparent wherever I travel here and elsewhere send money either through sions abroad that they wanted to come back and in the many very successful people of Sri Lan- bank drafts over the post or through a trans- by June 16. Lanka discussions on debt relief, quoted the The statement reiterated that in the post- spokesperson of the mission as saying the COVID world, India remains committed to kan origin, from all communities, who have made fer, which may cost more. “We have brought back about 10,000 per- their homes around the world, including in Can- Sri Lanka’s official remittances, which sons so far,” he said. two countries have been engaged in close partner Sri Lanka closely for the country’s and constructive discussions on reschedul- sustained economic recovery and shared ada. Canadians of Sri Lankan heritage help make were trending down in 2019, started to pick Based on foreign ministry data, by the Canada the diverse and vibrant country it is today, up from December. third week of June 9,580 persons have been ing Sri Lanka’s repayment to India, and on prosperity. currency swap under bilateral and SAARC -ENCL something I want to recognize this Canada Day. In January 2020, remittances grew 6.5% brought back from 38 countries. Happy Canada Day! to US$ 580.9 million. In February remit- Foreign missions were also distributing tances were up 5.4% to US$ 527 million. dry rations to persons who had lost jobs, Many Sri Lankans whose contracts had ex- Gunawardane said. President calls for joint committee to monitor pired were unable to come to Sri Lanka after -economynext.com NPC calls for better failed finance companies COLOMBO–President Gotabaya Raja- Monday (June 29) to review the process on ethnic and religious Briton found guilty of assaulting Italian over paksa has called for a four-way joint com- repaying depositors of ETI Finance and The mittee to monitor the resolution of failed Finance Company. representation in decision Sri Lankan girlfriend finance companies and asked the central Governor of the Central Bank, W. D. Lak- COLOMBO - A British man was sentenced the fine he will be sentenced to one more bank to get legal advice on insolvent compa- shman had said measures would be pre- making bodies to six months suspended imprisonment af- month of imprisonment, and if he fails to nies, his office said. sented at the next Monetary Board meeting ter pleading guilty to assaulting an Italian pay the compensation he will be issued an- “President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has di- to give solutions to complaints. The National Peace Council (NPC), yesterday man, who had befriended his Sri Lankan other six months’ jail term. rected the officials of the central bank to “In addition, the governor assured he will (June 30) called for non-partisan professional girlfriend, and had arrived at his hotel. Police said the defendant’s girlfriend, re- deliver justice to the depositors of the ETI address shortcomings at the central bank, Muslim and Tamil representation in the Presiden- Galle Chief Magistrate Harshana ported to be from Ambalangoda, had had Finance and The Finance Company PLC af- which directly impact the general public, tial Task Force for Archaeological Heritage Man- Kekunawela on Monday (June 29) sen- an affair with the complainant, who is an ter seeking legal advice regarding those in- and restore its dignity as an institution,” the agement in the Eastern Province, warning failure tenced the defendant to six months impris- Italian, and had arrived at a hotel in Un- solvent companies immediately,” the presi- statement said. It also noted that President to do so could create another flashpoint further onment, a fine of Rs 10,000 and a payment awatuna to have drinks with him on March dent’s office said in a statement. Rajapaksa had said that the assets of the damaging inter-ethnic relationships. of Rs 20,000 as compensation to the victim. 8. It also noted that President Rajapaksa ETI Investments and The Finance Company In a statement issued yesterday, it expressed The Magistrate also issued a suspended The defendant had been at the adjacent called for the setting up of a committee rep- will be assessed and taken over without liti- concern about Pottuvil, in the Ampara district, be- jail term of five years and decided to cancel table and had later assaulted the complain- resenting the presidential secretariat, the gation and the money owed to the general ing potential flashpoint, warning the dispute over the travel ban imposed on him. The verdict ant following a disagreement. central bank, the treasury and the deposi- public will be returned. the Muhudu Maha Vihara temple land has the po- also specified, if the defendant fails to pay -Newswire tors to monitor the future course of action He had also warned that that stern action tential to lead to the displacement of Muslim com- on the issue. would be taken against persons who fail to munities living in the contested areas. President Rajapaksa had summoned a repay their loans. The statement in full: TISL urges meeting at the presidential secretariat on -ENCL The government has recently been appointing ad hoc bodies to find answers to issues of governance. Prosecute those misusing public property One of these recently established bodies is the COLOMBO – The Program for the Protec- servers at the electorate level and 25 observ- Presidential Task Force for Archaeological Herit- tion of Public Resources (PPPR), the elec- ers at the district level to monitor and report In Brief age Management in the Eastern Province. This tion monitoring arm of Transparency Inter- on election law violations. comprises high level security forces personnel and national Sri Lanka (TISL), renewed its call It has also opened two hotlines for the Action against living terrorists sels, it had not yet considered opening a few others who will be tasked with dealing with yesterday (June 30) on law enforcement public to report incidents of misuse of pub- Venerable Andaulpatha Buddhasara the region for countries that have not yet complex issues of history, identity and land use. authorities to prosecute offences of misuse lic property during election campaigning. Thera who sustained critical injuries in the opened airports nor accepted visitors from The task force on Archaeological Heritage Manage- of public property during the 2020 parlia- The public can report abuses by calling Aranthalawa Massacre in which 33 Buddhist the EU region. The embassy had also been ment in the Eastern Province has been mandated mentary election. 076-322-344-2 or 076-322-366-2. TISL monks and four civilians were massacred by informed the list will be progressively ex- to identify sites of archaeological importance in the TISL’s Executive Director Asoka Obeyes- also encouraged members of the public to the LTTE, filed a Fundamental Rights peti- panded depending on the progress made in Eastern Province and identify the extent of land ekere, while welcoming the recent acknowl- share photographic evidence of alleged mis- tion at the Supreme Court yesterday (June the epidemiological situation in countries, that should be allocated for such archaeological edgement by the Chairman of the Election use of public property via WhatsApp to 076- 30) requesting legal action be taken against the ability to apply containment measures sites and take necessary measures to allocate them Commission of Article 104GG of the Con- 322-344-2 or via e-mail to pppr@tisrilanka. living LTTE members who were involved during travel and whether or not that coun- properly and legally. However, this presidential stitution, which allows for the prosecu- org. in the incident. He also requested the Su- try has lifted travel restrictions towards the task force has no minority representation although tion of public officials who fail to comply Noting that the misuse of public property preme Court to issue an order to provide EU countries. the Eastern province has a population that is over with directives issued by the Commission, was one of the most commonplace viola- compensation of Rs 20 million for the inju- Revised office hours 75% Tamil and Muslim. called upon the Commission, the Attorney tions of election law, Obeyesekere said, ries he sustained in the attack. The Attorney New office hours for State and private in- In the aftermath of the thirty year war against General’s Department and the Sri Lanka “When such offences are left unprosecuted, General, Acting Inspector General of Police stitutions – 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. for the Tamil separatism in 2009 and the Easter bombing Police to acknowledge the growing discon- it erodes public trust in the integrity of our (IGP), and Director of the State Intelligence State Sector and 9:45 a.m. to 6: 45 p.m. for by suicide bombers from the Muslim community tent amongst the public over the perceived elections. Whilst we commend the prompt Service were named as respondents in the the private sector – are set to come into ef- who were influenced by international Islamic ide- absence of prosecutions and convictions for preventative actions that have been taken petition. fect shortly. The staggered hours are aimed ologies in 2019, the containment of extremist eth- election law violations. by authorities, which often escape the atten- Why SL not in EU list at maintaining social distance to prevent nic and religious minority influence has become an TISL, which is the only election monitor tion of the public eye, we re-iterate the need The Ministry of Foreign Relations said the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, avoiding important part of State policy. There has been a with a sole focus on the misuse of public for accountability for offences committed.” yesterday the European Commission had traffic congestion and improving the effi- rise in insecurity amongst the ethnic and religious property, has deployed a network of 160 ob- -ENCL informed the Sri Lankan Embassy in Brus- ciency of public and private services. majority population. However, the lack of minority representation in the new and ad hoc institutions of governance can itself be a cause for disaffection that the government intends to contain. If sections Ravindran heads top international charity foundation of the people feel that they are not being included COLOMBO- Sri Lankan business a well-recognized evaluator of is working with the Medical Re- in decision making, and that decisions being made leader K.R. Ravindran will assume charities, as the best of charities search Institute (MRI) in auto- exclude them, there can grow an alienation of heart the Chairmanship of the Board of in the world in their 2019 rank- mating many of its facilities and and mind that cannot be stopped by more security Trustees of the Chicago based Ro- ings, awarding the highest rat- outfitting it with modern equip- measures and more intelligence gathering alone. tary Foundation from today (July ing - four stars - for the 11th con- ment. This is aimed at increasing It is in this political context that land is being 1). secutive year. With net assets and the Institute’s ability to do sub- transferred from minority usage to be used to A product of St. Thomas’ Col- expectancies in excess of US$ 2 stantially more tests per day, give protect ancient archaeological sites. The National lege, Mt. Lavinia, Ravindran is the billion, the Foundation earned very accurate results and also pro- Peace Council is concerned about potential flash- co-founder and CEO of Printcare the maximum of 100 points for tect the lab staff from any source points such as in Pottuvil, in the Ampara district, PLC. In 2015, he became the first demonstrating both strong finan- of contamination. The total value professionals, Rotary set where the dispute over the Muhudu Maha Vihara Sri Lankan and 11th Asian to serve cial health and commitment to ac- of equipment, PPEs and other ma- up a protocol that would temple land could increase in intensity as it has as the global President of Rotary countability and transparency. terial to MRI and other hospitals enable companies that the potential to lead to the displacement of Muslim International, one of the world’s Sri Lanka has been the recipient exceeded Rs 120 million. are compliant with health communities living in the contested areas. We be- best known international non- of Rotary cash grants in excess of Joining Rotary in this project guidelines to be certified lieve that if the presidential task force has been ap- profit organizations. Previously, US$15 million over the past few and adding much needed strength as a COVID controlled pointed for the purpose of problem solving in the Ravindran served as its director years. Rotary has funded vital were the Dilmah charitable foun- environment, helping in- Eastern province, then it needs to have more non- and treasurer. equipment for hospitals, set up dation and the Carson’s group. dustries, business prem- partisan professional Muslim and Tamil represen- In 2017, he was conferred with a human heart valve bank, built Realizing that in a post-COVID ises, educational institu- tation, and in more than token numbers, if its rec- the title ‘Sri Lanka Sikhamani’ (Sri tsunami destroyed schools and is world radical behavioural changes tions, supermarkets, and ommendations are to be seen as based on objective Lanka's precious gem) for service working with the government to will become necessary to keep Sri other retailers across the truth and unbiased. Failure to do so will be seen to the nation, by the Government eradicate cervical cancer. The Ro- Lankans safe as they go about day country to make their es- by the affected minority communities that this is of Sri Lanka. tary Foundation has donated gen- to day living, Rotary also launched tablishments safe, both another ethnic nationalist agenda thereby creating The Rotary Foundation was erously to these projects. a nation-wide ‘Stop the Spread’ for themselves and to another flashpoint further damaging inter-ethnic ranked by Charity Navigator, In the COVID -19 era, Rotary project. Working with experts and their customers. relationships. 4 WEDNESDAY, JULY 01, 2020 DAILY EXPRESS REALITY CHECK

By Aishwarya Kumar By Hannah Summers On India's virus front line As hospitals prioritize young An army of women COVID-19 intensifies health workers elder abuse globally A combo showing Rafael MEERUT -Unprotected and poorly paid, Eli's belongings, which When Souzi Bondeko’s grandfather started an all-women army of health workers con- were collected and showing symptoms of COVID-19 and was strug- front suspicion, anger and the threat of in- gling to breathe, she took him to a hospital in the fection as they go door-to-door searching stored by Mount Sinai Hospital in New York after Democratic Republic of the Congo’s capital, Kin- for coronavirus sufferers in India's poor shasa, where he was put on a ventilator. communities. his death of COVID-19 in April 2020. When She dashed home to get some food and returned About a million accredited social health to be told by a member of staff that he had been activists, or ASHAs, are deployed in cities coronavirus patients died, New York hospitals taken off the machine as it was needed elsewhere. and villages to administer basic medical “There were only three ventilators in the hospi- care such as vaccinations and delivering were faced with a sensitive problem: what tal and they were in great demand,” she said. “Five babies. minutes later, my grandfather died. Staff told me But as the number of confirmed infec- to do with thousands of personal items? they had to give the ventilator to a younger man tions in India soars past 500,000, the as it is their policy to prioritize younger patients.” women find themselves on the front line of The 33-year-old market trader reported her the battle against the contagion, identify- grandfather’s treatment to Anatole Bandu, the ing potential cases and educating locals in country representative for the charity HelpAge In- the hope of slowing its spread. ternational. He said: “Unfortunately this is not the ASHA workers told AFP they had noth- first instance of older people dying as a result of ing except their headscarves to protect ventilators being given to younger people. Sadly, them from the virus and were often abused older people are seen as dispensable in DRC.” by people angry about the government's Discrimination against older people has been handling of the outbreak, which is one of on the rise since the pandemic, according to the the worst in the world. organization. It has heard reports from many "I have been an ASHA for 14 years now countries of older people left to die from COV- and never have I been as scared to knock ID-19 as younger patients are prioritized – or - Christopher Gregory/The New York Times on a door with my bare hands. We don't simply refused treatment amid fears they would have gloves, not even masks," said Alka, By Andrea Salcedo infect others. who asked AFP not to use her surname. At the Cox’s Bazar refugee camps in Bangladesh, Alka and her colleagues visit households for example, health workers were afraid to treat and ask the occupants to fill out a question- older people with seasonal flu in case they had naire on any virus symptoms they might The heart-breaking belongings COVID-19. In Cameroon, Paa Mathieu, an older have and their recent travel histories. disabled man from Koa village in Centre region, Many of the residents are among the was turned away from hospital despite suffering millions of migrant workers left jobless from pneumonia. He said: “They did not take care and destitute by the months-long virus of me, saying there is no bed for people like me.” lockdown imposed by the government in that COVID victims left behind While accessing healthcare has been a challenge March. faced by older populations during the crisis, the If someone looks like a potential case, NEW YORK — Rafael Eli, 68, stopped Desiree Conway, a patient representa- “She said that was the last thing that breathing in the early hours of April 16 tive with Mount Sinai who began her job her mother had worn,” James Andino, pandemic has also amplified violence and abuse the ASHAs report them to authorities. of older people around the world. Some ASHAS have been physically at- after having spent 18 days on a ventilator in January and was still training when associate director of security and morgue at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. the pandemic hit, said her team was mak- manager at St. Barnabas, said of the jack- Chris Roles, the managing director of Age In- tacked by villagers who fear they are carry- ternational, said: “Regrettably, the pandemic has ing the virus or are government spies. Every day, his sister Myriam Eli, who ing so many phone calls during the city’s et. lives in Florida, had called Mount Sinai to death surge that the department had to About a week after Eli last called the highlighted and exacerbated the abuse and ne- During a recent door-knock in a village glect older people were already facing. in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, Alka inquire about her brother, who had been extend its weekday hours and remain hospital to track her brother’s items, diagnosed with COVID-19 after having open during the weekend. she got a call from a patient representa- “Too often, elder abuse is kept hidden and not and her two colleagues were spotted by reported; older people may fear retribution or eight men in a store who came out and sur- been hospitalized in March. “The job became, I would say, much tive who said Rafael Eli’s belongings had After his death, Eli called the hospital bigger than I would have expected,” Con- been located. Myriam Eli, who was un- stigma, may not recognise what is happening to rounded them. them as abuse or national bodies may not even re- The men shouted at the women about several times to inquire about the where- way, 25, said. able to travel to New York from Florida, abouts of her brother’s belongings. SUNY Downstate Medical Centre faced authorized Joe Schramm, her brother’s cord abuse over a certain age.” the shortage of basic food and protection He added: “Based on experience, we are con- against the virus. “They couldn’t find them for a while,” challenges in tracking down patients’ best friend and business partner who Eli, 66, said. friends or relatives. Often, patients ar- lives in Long Island, to collect them. cerned that older people will be sidelined as coro- Standing her ground, Alka said she told navirus continues to shape the world in 2020, de- the men: "Even we don't get gear and Across New York, workers in patient rived at the hospital in an ambulance and Schramm had been one of the people services at hospitals have had to figure with no personal documentation or infor- Rafael Eli called March 29, hours before spite clear evidence they are among those most at grains. Where will we get it for you?" risk from this disease.” Such harassment is bearable, she told out what to do with the thousands of cell mation about their next of kin, said Dawn being put on a ventilator, to tell him that phones, chargers, walkers, canes, hearing Skeete-Walker, associate vice president doctors said he was likely to die from the Before COVID-19, it was estimated that one in AFP. "Recently some locals tore the clothes six older people were subject to abuse but emerg- on one woman while she was working." aids, dentures, glasses, clothing, shoes, of communications and marketing. virus; going on a ventilator was his final wallets, Bibles and jewellery, among “Sometimes we had very limited info,” chance. He was calling to say farewell. ing evidence suggests this has sharply increased Given the lack of contact tracing in India, since the crisis, the charity has reported. the ASHAs were "critical elements" in In- other items, that have been left behind by Skeete-Walker said. After several calls trying to schedule a patients who have died after contracting Once the relatives were found, sched- time to pick up his friend’s belongings, Such abuse includes physical, financial, psy- dia's fight against COVID-19, said AnantB- chological, verbal and sexual assault. Women and han, a leading public health expert. COVID-19. uling appointments for families to re- Schramm was told by a member of the One hospital had so many of these trieve their loved ones’ belongings also hospital’s security team that they could those with disabilities are worst affected. The women know their communities In Nepal, calls to the police about the abuse of well, Bhan said. But their work is difficult items in April that the staff stored them posed a challenge. Many, like Eli, were not locate the items. in a room that had been previously used not allowed to visit the hospital and did With so many deaths, keeping track older people more than doubled between March and poorly paid despite a 1,000 rupee ($13) and May compared with the previous three coronavirus bonus. to keep the belongings of patients sched- not want to set foot there because of fears of the patients’ belongings as they were uled for surgery. of contracting the virus, several health transferred between units became very months. Alka supports her husband - who does Domestic abuse is reported to have worsened not approve of her work and often calls her By early May, another hospital, St. care workers at different hospitals said. difficult, said Conway, the patient repre- Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, stored Others, still mourning, were not ready to sentative at Mount Sinai. as families have been forced to spend more time names - and three children with a monthly together due to quarantine measures. salary of Rs 6,000. But she has to pay for about 140 unclaimed items — some kept collect items left behind by loved ones. But eventually the hospital found the in bags used for biohazard material — in At one of the hardest-hit facilities, items. On an afternoon in May, a cou- A crisis centre in Kyrgyzstan that received 29 her own transport to and from the commu- calls from older people reporting domestic abuse nities she is helping. a room adjacent to its morgue. Queens Hospital, a member of NYC rier, wearing a mask and gloves, arrived “There was no room for either the de- Health + Hospitals, the city’s public hos- at Schramm’s house, offered his condo- said many of those seeking help had complained Sometimes she has to walk home because that family members were taking their pensions, she has run out of money or there are virus ceased or the property,” said Demetrius pital network, the emergency manage- lences and carefully placed the box on the Long, 60, director of security at St. Barn- ment staff met relatives of the deceased driveway. especially those with relatives who were depend- restrictions affecting public transport. ent on alcohol. Alka and her team say they have formed abas, who oversaw the hospital’s corona- outside for safety reasons, said Marzy- “I was emotionally affected in a way virus fatality management plan. aSdrewski, who oversees the Office of that I did not expect,” Schramm, 66, said. In Jordan, the Solidarity is Global Institute a "sisterhood" that keeps them going. reported 812 requests for urgent help during the "Our supervisors give us orders over the Many items have remained unclaimed, Property. A package containing relatives’ The courier instructed him to wait sev- in many cases because hospital officials belongings also included handling in- en days to open the large bag of items and first two months of lockdown – more than it usu- phone from the comfort of their offices or ally receives in an entire year. A fifth of calls re- homes. We sacrifice our family lives and have been unable to locate the next of structions, a face mask, gloves and hand to do so outside his house. kin. In turn, they have become a symbol- sanitizer. On a sunny afternoon, Schramm lated to domestic violence and many of those were take daily risks to educate and help peo- from older people. ple," said Alka. ic reminder of the toll wrought by a pan- But for the workers, the effort went opened the bag. Inside, he found his best demic that has killed more than 20,000 beyond sorting through thousands of friend’s clothes, a pair of sneakers, an AsmaKhader, the organization’s CEO, said that "We are the heroes." most elder abuse went under the radar because During a recent visit to the village of Ba- New Yorkers. bags, placing hundreds of phone calls Adidas backpack, about a week’s worth When the number of casualties started and scheduling the deliveries or pickups. of kidney medication, two books (a copy victims had no access to a telephone or were hadarpur, Alka used a homemade flour- afraid to speak out. based glue to stick up a poster outside a rising in mid-April, the Bureau of Funer- They understood that items carried an of ‘The Art of Spiritual Healing’ by Joel al Directing in the New York City Health emotional value. Goldsmith and ‘House of Gold’ by Nata- She said: “Often abuse is perpetrated by fam- home explaining the need to wash hands ily members they are dependent on, they have no and take other precautions against the vi- Department and the Office of the Chief “That was the last thing they were sha Solomons), an uncharged cell phone, Medical Examiner issued guidelines out- wearing before they went into the hospi- a navy blue toothbrush and a tube of means to support themselves or they fear they rus. would be threatened.” "The glue on the poster is not strong lining the best practices for health care tal,” said Jo-Ann Delgado, supervisor of toothpaste. On page 46 of Goldsmith’s facilities to safely manage the belongings patient relations at NYU Langone-Tisch book, Eli had circled this sentence: ‘Let Only 4% of cases of elder abuse are actually re- enough," she said. ported, according to the World Health Organiza- "But if I have to use even a rupee from of patients who died of COVID-19. Hospital. God fill your mind.’ To deal with the surge of items, many A man whose mother died at Queens Inside another small plastic bag, Sch- tion. my salary for glue, it's a huge dent in my “Governments need to acknowledge that elder budget." hospitals quickly adjusted their property Hospital rushed to pick up her jacket, ramm found Eli’s credit cards, keys, an management services. which contained a treasured locket in its unused ticket for ‘72 Miles to Go’ at the abuse exists and ensure that laws are in place and The women's pleas for people to wear used to prosecute perpetrators,” said Georgina face masks and self-isolate if they have At St. Barnabas, a deceased person’s sleeve. A man who lost his father at NYU Roundabout Theatre, his driver’s licence items no longer accompanied them Langone-Tisch Hospital was elated when and $63 in cash. He also found cuff links Veitch, the global adviser on violence and gender symptoms are often not welcomed, espe- equality for HelpAge International. cially in impoverished communities where to the hospital’s morgue. Instead, the a worker told him they would mail him inside a fanny pack. items were stored in the morgue’s view- his father’s tefillin, a pair of cubic black Retrieving his best friend’s belongings Often the abuse is tolerated as older people who many are day labourers. have been disproportionately hit by the financial "I'll stay home if you guarantee me that ing room, where a team of three hospital leather boxes with leather straps that go was the last and only bit of Eli that Sch- workers would list them in a spreadsheet, around the arm that Jewish adults, espe- ramm could keep, he said. impact of the pandemic are reliant on relatives for my kids won't die of hunger," a man told support. Those living in low- and middle-income the ASHAs during a visit accompanied by said Long, the hospital’s security direc- cially Orthodox men, use during Morning He plans to keep a sweatshirt and the tor. Prayer. phone and will wear the cuff links. Some countries are worst affected, especially women AFP. who were already socially and economically dis- Alka said it was not easy to get people to Several hospitals, including St. Barna- A woman in a nursing home, who did other items, including the driver’s licence bas and NYU Langone-Tisch Hospital in not have the opportunity to say good- and the ticket, are sitting in a drawer. advantaged before the pandemic. heed their advice. In India, a former school teacher in Bihar told "People are struggling to feed their fami- Manhattan, extended their normal 30- bye to her mother before she died at St. “I just wanted to have a little touch of day policy for family or friends to retrieve Barnabas, asked the hospital’s security what he had at the very end,” Schramm how her income dried up as private tuition was lies," she said. suspended because of the pandemic. "What can we do?" items. department to mail her a jacket, a purse said. “It was the only thing I could hang Hospital staff often spent days trying to and other clothing her mother had left onto.” Namita Mishra, 67, told a helpline for older - Agence France-Presse locate next of kin. behind. -New York Times people: “I can’t afford any rent, so I stay with my relatives who verbally abuse me. I have become a skeleton as I eat less in order to save food. I feel depressed and lonely as there is nobody to talk to and listen to me.” There is no universal social security system in We’ll have to eat only one meal a day India and older people have to work. But across the country, 65% of older people have lost their Nepal families face hunger as coronavirus crisis hits remittances livelihoods and income due to lockdown, accord- ing to a survey of 5,099 people aged 60 carried out KATHMANDU - Nepali housewife Shi- money home. More than 56% of Nepal's trafficking and prostitution could rise," income dried up, the 43-year-old had no across 17 states. About 61% of those affected were ba Kala Limbu grimaced as she recalled estimated 5.4 million households receive said Gurung, an expert on migrant issues option but to turn to a local lender and from rural areas compared with 39% from cities. how she went hungry in order to feed her remittances that are a vital lifeline for at the Nepal Institute of Development pay crippling interest rates to ensure she Regarding health, 62% of respondents reported five-year-old daughter after the corona- families with no other source of income, Studies think-tank. and her 15-year-old son can survive. suffering from chronic diseases and 42% reported virus pandemic cost her husband lost his official figures show. Limbu, the housewife, used to receive "If the corona [virus] situation does not a worsening health condition due to lockdown. job as a mason in the Gulf state of Qatar. Remittances totalled $8.1bn last year, up to 20,000 Nepali rupees ($165) every improve, we'll have to eat only one meal a Rohit Prasad, the chief operating officer of Hel- The 25-year-old said she had no money or more than a quarter of Nepal's gross month before the pandemic. day," Marasini said. pAge India, said older people risk being forgotten. for rent after the payments from her hus- domestic product, but are likely to drop But in the last six months, she has re- The virus has caused 13,248 infections “Most of them are unskilled, casual workers who band, Ram Kumar, stopped. 14% in 2020 because of the global reces- ceived only 40,000 Nepali rupees ($330) and 29 deaths in Nepal. earn a meagre daily wage to survive. These people "It is painful," she said, as she peeled sion caused by the virus, as well as a fall from her husband, most of it borrowed Some migrants, like Limbu's husband were hit hard by lockdown … a coordinated action potatoes in a dimly lit kitchen that dou- in oil prices, the World Bank says. from his friends. Ram Kumar, are staying overseas despite play by the government [is needed].” bles as her bedroom in the Baniyatar lo- Millions of Nepali migrants work in the "That's all he has managed to send this losing their jobs, in hopes the situation The charity says it is vital governments do not cality of the Nepali capital. oil-rich Gulf countries and Malaysia. year," she said. will improve and they can resume work. discriminate against older people and put them at "I skipped several evening meals to Remittances are crucial for lower-mid- "I used some of it to pay for the rent "It is traumatic to be away from the further risk of ill-health as strategies to exit lock- save whatever little food I had for my dle-class Nepali families that have moved and the rest to buy groceries." family," Kumar said from Qatar, which down are devised. daughter." to city centres and rely on them to pay for In the southwestern town of Gajedah, plans a limited re-opening of restaurants, * Some names have been changed to protect The spread of the coronavirus has rent, groceries, school fees and utilities, Radha Marasini said her husband, Indra beaches and parks from July 1. identities choked economies worldwide and said analyst Ganesh Gurung. Mani, lost his job as a security guard at "If there was any hope for finding a job pitched millions of migrant workers out "Without remittances, these families a textile factory in India's northern city in Nepal, I would go." -This article was originally featured on of jobs, leaving them unable to send will get poorer, and crimes like human of Ludhiana after the outbreak. As her -Agencies theguardian.com PUBLISHED BY EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS (CEY) PVT, LTD. NO - 267, RAJA MAWATHA, EKALA - JA - ELA