BIDEN SIGNALS SHE DID WHAT SHE WANTED HE’S FLEXIBLE ON FEBRUARY IMMIGRATION OVERHAUL 19 - 21, 2021 HIZBULLAH REMANDED FOR INTERNATIONAL CONCERN GROWS VOL: 4- ISSUE 235 ALLEGED ROLE IN EASTER AS SRI LANKA CONTINUES TO . 30 BOMB ATTACKS CREMATE MUSLIM COVID DEAD GLOCAL PAGE 03 RETHINKING AMERICA PAGE 06 COMMENTARY PAGE 07 LITERARY LIVES PAGE 09

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WHO waits on Covid vaccine makers to uphold pledges GENEVA - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thurs- day (18) urged COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to make good on their commitments as the planet's poorest countries await their first doses. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Covax facility - the global COVID-19 vaccine procurement and distribution effort ensuring poorer countries can access doses - was now ready to begin. Around 336 million AstraZeneca-Oxford doses and 1.2 mil- lion Pfizer-BioNTech doses -- the only two vaccines with WHO approval-- are set to start being shipped out later this month through Covax. "At the beginning of the year I issued a call to action to en- sure that vaccination of health workers was under way in all countries within the first 100 days of the year," Tedros told a news conference. Friday (19) "marks the half-way point, and we have made progress, but we are not there yet. "With the emergency use listing of two versions of the Astra- Zeneca vaccine this week, Covax is ready to roll out vaccines and is waiting for several manufacturers to make good on their commitments," he said, without elaborating. On Monday (15), the WHO gave the seal of approval to the AstraZeneca vaccine being manufactured in plants in India and South Korea, meaning it can now be shipped out via Covax. The facility is set to issue its final distribution list for the first wave of deliveries next week. The first doses will be delivered by the end of February, with the bulk in March. Around 145 economies are set to receive enough doses to im- munize 3.3% of their collective population by mid-2021. -AFP

- Kola Sulaimon / AFP United States signals readiness to Empty classroom of the Government Science College a survivor described how students fled gunfire during College in Kagara early Wednesday (17), killing one on Thursday (18), a day after gunmen kidnapped dozens the early morning attack. The kidnapping in Kagara in student and spiriting others into a nearby forest. resume talks with Iran of students and staffs, in Kagara, Rafi Local Government central Niger state was the latest mass abduction in Kidnappers snatched 42 people, including 27 students, PARIS - The United States is prepared to talk to Iran about Niger State, Nigeria. Security forces on Thursday said Nigeria, where criminal gangs known as "bandits" have three teachers and other relatives of school staff, both countries returning to compliance with a 2015 deal that they were tracking the armed gang that kidnapped stepped up violent attacks on communities. Gunmen according to Niger state officials aims to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon, US more than 40 people from the school, as families and in military uniforms raided the Government Science Read more on page 4 Secretary of State Antony Blinken told European allies on Thursday (18). Blinken told his French, German and British counterparts that President Joe Biden’s administration would return to the accord, known as the JCPOA, if Iran fell back into full compli- India joins US, others in raising pressure on ance with the deal. “Secretary Blinken reiterated that, as President Biden has said, if Iran comes back into strict compliance with its com- mitments under the JCPOA, the United States will do the same Myanmar generals and is prepared to engage in discussions with Iran toward that end,” the joint statement said. YANGON - Myanmar's gener- hankar emphasized "upholding of rights violations" following the coup. But after a decade-long flirtation London, Paris and Berlin welcomed Biden’s intention to als came under increased diplo- rule of law and the democratic tran- Canada in turn sanctioned nine My- with democracy, the military has return to diplomacy with Iran. But Iranian Foreign Minister matic pressure Thursday (18) over sition" in Myanmar. anmar military officials and accused justified seizing power by alleging Mohammad Javad Zarif fired back that it was for Washington the coup that deposed Aung San The February 1 putsch - which saw the junta of engaging "in a systemic widespread voter fraud in November to make the first move. Suu Kyi, as India joined the United Suu Kyi and President Win Myint campaign of repression through co- elections, which Suu Kyi's party won Iran began breaching the deal in 2019 after then-President States and other countries in call- detained in dawn raids under the ercive legislative measures and use in a landslide. Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the deal and ing for a restoration of democracy blanket of an internet blackout - has of force". The regime has since imposed reimposed economic sanctions. and Britain and Canada announced drawn international condemnation. Army chief General Min Aung multiple internet shutdowns and Tehran has accelerated its breaches in recent months and sanctions against the junta. Washington was the first to enact Hlaing - who now holds legislative, blocked social media platforms in an become locked in a standoff with Biden’s administration over As the ruling generals pressed on concrete action, announcing target- executive and judicial powers - is al- attempt to stifle dissent. who should move first to save the accord. with a drive to stymie nationwide ed sanctions last week against My- ready sanctioned by Britain, Canada In retaliation, hackers targeted A French diplomatic source said Washington’s shift marked opposition, Myanmar's giant neigh- anmar's generals by cutting off their and the United States for his mili- Myanmar government websites on an opening for Iran but that the path ahead was fraught with bour India called in a joint state- access to $1 billion in funds in the tary's role in a brutal crackdown on Thursday, disrupting the Central obstacles. ment along with the United States, United States. the Rohingya Muslims in 2017. Bank, the military's propaganda Tehran has set a deadline of next week for Biden to begin Japan and Australia - all members Former colonial power Britain A torrent of anger and defiance has page, and state-run broadcaster reversing sanctions imposed by Trump, or says it will take its of the so-called ‘Quad’ alliance - for said Thursday that three gener- surged in Myanmar among young MRTV, among others. biggest step yet to breach the deal - banning short-notice in- strengthening democracy in Asia als - Defence Minister Mya Tun Oo, and old - many of whom remember "We are fighting for justice in My- spections by the UN nuclear watchdog permitted under an Ad- and reversing the coup. Home Affairs Minister Soe Htut the brutal 49 years under military anmar," the hacker group said on its ditional Protocol. India said that External Affairs and his deputy Than Hlaing - will rule before the generals loosened Facebook page. -Agencies Minister Subrahmanyam Jais- be sanctioned for "serious human their grip on power in 2011. -AFP Top Bhutan general and judges NASA successfully lands its NATO defers decision on pulling troops detained for overthrow plot perseverance rover on Mars from Afghanistan by May THIMPU - Police in Bhutan, by the Thimphu district court WASHINGTON - NASA land- Jet Propulsion Laboratory near BRUSSELS - NATO has pushed Afghanistan - has spoken out in favour the Himalayan kingdom famed and remanded in custody until a ed a new robotic rover on Mars Pasadena, California, received back a decision on whether to keep of staying in the country for now. for its happiness index, have first formal hearing on February on Thursday (18), its most am- word from Perseverance that its troops in Afghanistan past a May But the alliance is still waiting for a detained a top general and two 27. According to reports, Tob- bitious effort in decades to di- it had entered the top of the deadline agreed with the Taliban in nod to stay or go from new US Presi- judges over an alleged plot to gay was alleged to have illegally rectly study whether there was Martian atmosphere at a speed a peace deal last year, risking retalia- dent Joe Biden, who is reviewing the overthrow the country's top mili- obtained military documents ever life on the red planet. of more than 12,000 mph. The tory attacks from the radical Islamist policy course set out by his predeces- tary officer and chief justice. on the procurement of vehicles While the agency has landed spacecraft was beginning the group. sor, Donald Trump. The allegations about the con- from the United Nations. other missions on Mars, the $2.7 landing manoeuvres that would "We are faced with many dilemmas, Under the Trump administration, spiracy to take over top jobs in the The Bhutanese newspaper billion robotic explorer named bring it to a soft stop in just sev- and there are no easy options at this the United States signed an agreement army and judiciary have rocked said that while the tender was Perseverance carries a sophisti- en anxiety-drenched minutes. stage," NATO Secretary General Jens with the Taliban that provides for the the tiny country of 750,000 peo- handled publicly and fairly, the cated set of scientific tools that All that anyone on Earth Stoltenberg told reporters following gradual withdrawal of all NATO forces ple jammed between India and documents were to be used to will bring advanced capabili- could do was watch and hope talks with the alliance's defence min- from the country by the end of April. China that prides itself on its cle- undermine the position of the ties to the search for life beyond that Perseverance performed isters on Thursday (18). The 30 NATO In return, the Taliban committed ancut image. Former Royal bod- military number one. Other re- our planet. Perseverance was as designed. At Mars, the fate countries are to remain in close consul- to renouncing violence and entering yguard commandant Brigadier ports said the plot between the the third robotic visitor from of the rover was already deter- tation in the coming weeks, he added. peace talks with the government. Thinley Tobgay, Supreme Court three men was revealed to au- Earth to arrive at the red plan- mined. In view of the perilous security situ- The US invaded Afghanistan and judge Kuenley Tshering and top thorities by a woman detained et this month. Last week, two Mars is currently 126 million ation on the ground, NATO seems with NATO allies ejected the Taliban district court judge Yeshey Dorji a few months ago. The three other spacecraft, Hope from the miles from Earth. Radio signals, poised to stay put. Stoltenberg has re- from power in the wake of the Septem- appeared in court on Wednesday "friends" wanted to take on the United Arab Emirates and Tian- travelling at the speed of light, peatedly argued that the Taliban have ber 11, 2001 attacks in order to stop the (17) after being detained at their jobs in charge of the military, wen-1 from China, entered orbit take more than 11 minutes to reneged on their side of the bargain country from serving as a haven for in- homes. as chief justice of the Supreme around Mars. travel from there to here. That and must cut back on bloodshed and ternational terrorists. Close to two dec- The three have been accused of Court and as attorney general, But NASA’s spacecraft did means that when the message sever ties with terrorist groups. ades of bloody conflict have claimed plotting to overthrow the coun- the reports said. not go into orbit first. Instead it announcing the start of the land- The Taliban has threatened reprisals the lives of more than 40,000 Afghan try's top military officer, Lieu- Batoo Tshering has been Bhu- zipped along a direct path to the ing sequence reached Earth, the if the withdrawal doesn't go ahead. civilians, plus tens of thousands of tenant General Batoo Tshering tan's chief operations officer for surface. At 3:48 p.m. Eastern rover had already been on Mars Germany - which has the second- Afghan and foreign fighters, and cost by implicating him in a corrup- more than a decade. time, controllers at the mission for 4 minutes. largest share of the roughly 10,000 hundreds of billions of dollars. tion scandal. All were denied bail -AFP operations centre at NASA’s -NYT NATO and partner-country troops in -dpa

Trending News Quote for Today There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing Israel: The government says African nation struggles with navirus pandemic and other mis- at least 6,400 extrajudicial killings still. it will extend the closure of its health, political and economic management. and presented them as combat deaths -Franklin D. Roosevelt airports and land borders for 14 crises. France: President Emmanuel between 2002 and 2008, a number Word for Today more days in a bid to stem the Egypt: Aviation officials say Macron proposes rich Western significantly higher than previously coronavirus pandemic. estimated. Prosopopoeia [proh-soh-puh-pee-uh] -noun- personification, Russia will resume flights to the countries transfer 3-5% of their as of inanimate things Israel/Syria: The two coun- Red Sea resorts of Sharm el- stock of COVID-19 vaccines to South Africa: Africa records more tries announce they had swapped Sheikh and Hurghada in March Africa, in an interview with the than 100,000 deaths from COVID Today in History prisoners in a deal mediated by after the lifting of a ban imposed Financial Times. -19, a grim milestone likely to under- 1945 - US troops land on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima -The pho- Russia, with the Jewish state following a 2015 attack on a Rus- Hungary: The European Com- state the real toll, as the continent handing back two shepherds to sian jet. of 1.2 billion people battles a second to showing 4 marines erecting a US flag on the island becomes one mission called on the Hungary to of the best-known images of World War II Syria in exchange for an Israeli Guatemala: Thousands of ru- abide by a ruling from the EU's wave of infections. woman. ral Guatemalans marched on top court that its curbs on for- Canada: The government intro- Algeria: President Abdelmad- the capital to demand the res- eign-funded NGOs violate Euro- duces legislation easing penalties for Today is... jid Tebboune calls for the dis- ignation of President Alejandro pean law. drug crimes such as possession which International Tug-of-War Day solution of Parliament and early Giammattei for what they claim Columbia: A special court says it says disproportionately harm Black legislative elections as the North was a weak response to the coro- and indigenous offenders. A day to enjoy one of the simplest of sports, that dates back to own- the country’s military carried out ership disputes over food and clothing 2 FEBRUARY 19 - 21, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS BUSINESS

By Mohamad Ali Harissi US House revives bill to ban goods from China's Xinjiang Battle of the bases WASHINGTON - The US House of Repre- responsible for labor trafficking of minority upon a foundation of forced labour and re- At the heart of the US bills is a “rebuttable sentatives on Thursday (18) reintroduced a Uighurs or other Muslims in Xinjiang, a lead- pression.” “Many US, international, and Chi- presumption” that assumes goods from Xinji- bipartisan bill that would ban imports from ing producer of cotton and cotton products. nese corporations are complicit in the exploi- ang are made with forced labour and banned Dubai, Riyadh China’s Xinjiang region unless it is certified It would also require financial disclosures tation of forced labour and these products from the United States unless there is “clear they are not produced with forced labour, by listed US companies about engagement continue to make their way into global supply and convincing” evidence to the contrary. head for corporate and allow further sanctions against Chinese with Chinese firms and entities engaged in chains and our country. While the legislation has had strong bi- officials responsible for abuses against Mus- abuses, a provision not included in the Sen- It is long past time for the Congress to act,” partisan support, congressional aides say it lims. ate version. he said. has been the target of lobbying by firms with showdown The updated version of legislation that “We have watched in horror as the Chinese A UN panel said in 2018 that it had re- supply-chain links to Xinjiang. DUBAI - Modern infrastructure and a passed the House 406-3 in the previous Con- government first created, and then expanded ceived credible reports that at least one mil- The Biden administration endorsed a business-friendly attitude have made gress in September is similar to a Senate ver- a system of extrajudicial mass internment lion Muslims had been detained in camps in Trump administration determination that Dubai the regional base of choice for sion that was reintroduced last month, hav- camps targeting Uighurs and Muslim mi- Xinjiang. China has committed genocide in Xinjiang international companies, but Riyadh's ing been held up in the previous session. norities,” said Democratic Representative China denies abuses and says its camps and has said the United States must be pre- remarkable rise has woken a long-sleep- The House bill would authorize the US Jim McGovern in reintroducing the bill. He provide vocational training and are needed to pared to impose costs on those responsible. ing heavyweight competitor. president to apply sanctions against anyone charged that the Xinjiang economy was “built fight extremism. -Agencies The wealthy Gulf emirate has made opening businesses as easy as ordering a meal, in a region choking with bu- Norway freezes aid to Myanmar after coup reaucracy, helping it attract around 140 headquarters in three decades, far more OSLO - Norway said Thursday (18) it Norway's aid to the Myanmar people, than any other Middle East city. was freezing its bilateral aid to Myan- distributed through UN agencies and While Dubai’s business environ- mar following the country's military charities, is not affected by the decision ment flourished, Riyadh, the capital of coup earlier this month. and will continue, the ministry added. the biggest Arab economy, floundered The wealthy Nordic country had The sums frozen concern primar- thanks to ultra-conservative policies, budgeted 66.5 million kroner (6.5 mil- ily the payment of Norwegian experts security threats and corruption. lion euros, $7.84 million) for 2021 to involved in the cooperation programs, The young Crown Prince Mohamed help boost knowhow at Myanmar's and only to a smaller extent payments bin Salman sought to end all that when public institutions in areas including made to Myanmar's institutions. he came to power in 2017, and now the renewable energy, the environment Alleging widespread voter fraud in city surrounded by sand dunes is en- and protection of the oceans. November elections won by civilian joying a relative boom, drawing new "The military coup on February 1 leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party, Myan- businesses from restaurants to tech changed the conditions for the Nor- mar's military ousted her in a coup on start-ups. "Our target is to have Riyadh wegian involvement in Myanmar and February 1 and placed her under house become one of the top-ten largest city is the reason for Norway freezing its arrest. economies in the world," the 35-year- state-to-state programs for profession- The coup has sparked a public upris- old de facto leader said in January. al cooperation between Norwegian and ing, to which the military has respond- But despite the big salary packages Myanmar public institutions," the for- ed with a harsh crackdown. and contracts that are drawing expats eign ministry said in a statement. -AFP and foreign firms to Riyadh, the city's lack of attractions, a no-alcohol policy and other disincentives has slowed the World Bank names former Senegal - Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP shift. Stranded passengers wait for their train as leftist students along with others block the suburban railway Saudi officials have said the kingdom service to protest against the central government's recent agricultural reforms, police brutality in West accounts for less than five percent of the finance minister to head IFC Bengal and the petrol price hike, in Kolkata on Thursday (18) region's HQs -even though it's the big- WASHINGTON - The World Bank on viously vice president for Africa, will gest Arab economy and offers the "lion's Thursday (18) announced that it has start his new role at the IFC on March Sri Lanka share" of business and contracts. selected former Senegal finance minis- 1. To change the status quo, Saudi this ter MakhtarDiop to lead the agency re- As countries struggle to recover week heaped pressure on foreign com- sponsible for private sector finance at from the economic crisis sparked by Stocks extend gains rising 1.9% panies to move their Middle East head- a critical time for the global recovery. the COVID-19 pandemic, and acquire quarters to the kingdom, saying it will He would be the first African to lead enough vaccines, Diop cautioned that COLOMBO – Sri Lanka stocks gained 1.95% John Keells Holdings gained Rs 3.75 to close at stop signing contracts with firms with the International Finance Corpora- "the coming months will be very hard." on Thursday (18) continuing for the second day, Rs 160.00, while Vallibel One fell 10 cents to close hubs in other countries from 2024. tion (IFC), which leverages financing "The private sector has critical role pushed up by LOLC Holdings, Brown Investments at Rs 63.90. The surprise move is a direct chal- to support private firms in developing to play in development," Diop told re- and John Keells Holdings, Colombo Stock Ex- Hayleys Plc closed Rs 4.30 rupees up at Rs 73.10 lenge to Dubai and threatens a heated nations. porters. change said. with key subsidiaries Dipped Products gaining Rs open race between Saudi Arabia and the The announcement comes just days "My goal is to help bring back in- Turnover was Rs 3.3 billion with 136 stocks gain- 1.70 to close at Rs 62.90 and Haycarb Plc gaining United Arab Emirates - neighbours, al- after the World Trade Organization vestment flows in emerging country to ing and 59 falling. Rs 7.75 to close at Rs 119.00. lies and competitors. (WTO) selected Nigeria's former fi- preserve jobs to create long term em- The Colombo benchmark All Share Price Index The Kingsbury Plc closed 20 cents up at Rs 11.70, "I do not think this is the intention, nance minister NgoziOkonjo-Iweala as ployment opportunities, especially the gained 148.02 points to close at 7,736.36. Singer Industries Ceylon closed Rs 8.30 up at Rs but it is how it works out in practice, as its new director-general, the first Af- poorest country." The index fell to a daily low at 7,627.89 in the 98.70 and Unisyst Engineering closed 30 cents up Dubai tends to be the default location rican and first woman to serve in that Malpass said the IFC will play a key first hour into trading, but picked up and contin- at Rs 15.30. for international companies’ regional role. role in the World Bank effort to accel- ued to increase throughout the day on Volatile Ceylon Tobacco Company closed Rs 15.50 down HQs," said Steffen Hertog, associate Noting his "deep development and erate vaccine distribution. Trading. at Rs 1,084.25, Ceylon Cold Stores closed Rs 1.25 professor at the London School of Eco- finance experience," World Bank "Our goal is to have as many people The S&P SL20 index of more liquid stocks gained down at Rs 662.50 while Piramal Glass Ceylon nomics and Political Science. President David Malpass said, Diop's vaccinated as quickly and as fairly ... as 2.30% or 69.57 points to close at 3,097.23. closed 20 cents up at Rs 10.00. Under Prince Mohammed, Saudi "skills at IFC will help the World Bank possible" in the developing world, he LOLC Holdings of IsharaNanayakkara gained Rs Expolanka gain 90 cents to close at Rs 47.90 and adopted a series of once unimaginable Group continue our rapid response to told reporters. 45.75 or 13.38% to close at Rs 387.75. Melstacorp Holdings closed Rs 1.10 up at Rs 50.90. social changes and abolished some of its the global crisis and help build a green, He said the World Bank expects to LOLC Finance, gained 40 cents to close at Rs Net foreign sales for the day is Rs 123.1 million. draconian laws. resilient, inclusive recovery." have $3 billion committed to vaccine 7.20, Browns and Company gained Rs 20.25 ru- The Capital Goods Industry was the most active, Riyadh, a city of 7.5 million once seen Diop, currently World Bank vice purchases by the end of March. pees to close at Rs 199.00, while Browns invest- gained 2.5% on Thursday. as a bastion for ultra-conservative poli- president for infrastructure and pre- -AFP ments closed 50 cents up at Rs 5.50. -economynext.com cies, opened its doors for entertainment and investment, the notorious religious police were side-lined and anti-corrup- tion campaigns embarked on. Facebook shares dip as Wall Street The reputational revamp was derailed by the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist ponders Australia news fallout Jamal Khashoggi's murder inside the NEW YORK - Facebook Inc shares now controls more than half of the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul, and fell 2% on Thursday (18) as Wall digital advertising markets globally. a crackdown on dissent that has left Street assessed the wider ramifica- Last year alone, Facebook raked in peaceful critics behind bars. tions of its move to block all news more than $84 billion in ad sales. But the new-look capital has never- content in Australia. Summit Insights Group analyst theless drawn many hoping to cash in Jonathan Kees said Facebook does on multi-billion-dollar projects like the The surprise escalation of the bat- futuristic NEOM megacity planned for tle over a law which would require not rely on news unlike Google and so the kingdom's Red Sea coast. Facebook and Google to reach deals its advertisers would stick as long as Saudi entrepreneur Haya Akhdar and to pay news outlets was denounced by its community of users stay engaged her husband Ugo Baudez, a French na- media, politicians and human rights with the platform by posting and tional, launched their Dubai-based con- groups as it became clear that official sharing content. sultancy specialising in luxury brands in health pages and emergency warnings The company's shares, up 33% last 2017. For the young couple, now is the had been scrubbed along with news year even as the platform was widely right time to open a new office in Ri- sites. criticized for its handling of hate yadh, but like many they will keep one Bernstein analyst Mark Shmulik, speech and misinformation related to foot in each city. however, said investors were likely COVID-19, dipped 2.2% in early trade "We have witnessed the growth of the to judge Facebook's stand against the in New York. market and the shift of many brands' at- legislation as "prudent", given the po- Among other big technology firm, tention to KSA, specifically in Riyadh... tentially wider implications of similar Apple Inc Microsoft Corp, Amazon. We need to be close to our clients in moves following in other big global com Inc , and Alphabet Inc were all both important markets," Baudez said. markets. down between 0.6% and 1.3%. Like The UAE has responded quickly to "While I believe Facebook said that others of the "stay-at-home" stock the new competitive mood. news links only account for 4% or so market winners from the past year's The country of one million citizens of content, the danger here is conta- COVID-19 lockdowns, Facebook has and nine million expats lifted a ban on gion if other countries pursue similar soared in value and is now worth al- unmarried couples living together, loos- legislation with broader definitions of most $800 billion. ened restrictions on alcohol, offered who is a publisher - could this spiral Filings show that in the past three long-term residency, and struck a nor- into Facebook paying influencers for months, company insiders have sold malization deal with Israel to harness their posts?", Shmulik said. $788 million of shares. Another ana- the power of the two major economies. Facebook has flagged commercial lyst, Mirabaud Securities' Neil Cam- To stay competitive with Saudi Ara- risks around copyright and content pling, contrasted Facebook's "PR bia, a powerhouse with a youthful moderation consistently to investors disaster" with Google's unveiling this market of 34 million, the UAE has to in recent years, while successfully rid- week of a multi-year deal for news "accelerate some reforms that are still ing out the public relations fallout as content with Australian tycoon Ru- unthinkable for Saudi Arabia," said its advertising revenue surged. Along pert Murdoch's News Corp Ryan Bohl, a Middle East analyst at risk with Google owner Alphabet Inc, it -Reuters consulting firm Stratfor. Saudi cities still lack proper infra- structure in key areas like transport and banking, and some ministries remain Ford puts projects with Mahindra on hopelessly mired in bureaucracy. "Riyadh and Jeddah remain light years behind Dubai and even Abu Dha- hold as it reassesses India strategy bi in terms of social liberalism, housing, NEW DELHI/DETROIT - Ford Ford’s independent operations in In- schooling and entertainment venues," Motor has frozen all projects it was dia, was called off on Dec. 31. said Bohl. The other "hard reality is that working on with Mahindra & Mahin- Since Farley became CEO in Oc- Saudi Arabia still has 19 million largely dra while it finalizes a new India strat- tober, Ford has pushed harder to conservative citizens who are going to egy, three people familiar with the US remake itself globally as part of an be less amenable to copying the rela- carmaker’s plans said, weeks after $11 billion restructuring, including tively Westernized social mores of the the two companies called off their ending manufacturing in Brazil, and UAE for many years to come," he added. planned joint venture. speeding up the rollout of electric ve- Those aren't the only challenges. “The options could include working hicles. With so much on Farley’s plate While Dubai is seen as one of the saf- out a new relationship with Mahindra and limited financial resources, India est cities in the region, Riyadh faces a or ending the relationship and re- is a lower priority, the first source threat from rebels and extremists in lated vehicles completely,” one of the said. Yemen where its forces have been fight- sources said. Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford ing since 2015. And its efforts to buff up The two other sources said they ex- entered India 25 years ago, but it has its image will come under strain from pect Ford to make a decision in about just 3% share in a market dominated the new administration in the United a month on whether to proceed with by Suzuki Motor Corp’s and Hyundai States, after President Joe Biden threat- Mahindra in a different form or not, Motor’s extensive line-up of mainly ened to make the kingdom a "pariah". adding Ford Chief Executive Jim Far- low-cost cars. "Companies and banks operating ley wants to see a path to greater prof- The tie-up with Mahindra would from Dubai for 30 years chose it be- itability in India. have given Ford a better chance cause of the quality of life, competitive Ford and Mahindra had proposed against rivals by allowing it to launch advantages, a legislative and social en- a joint venture to develop at least new vehicles faster, at reduced costs vironment and a unique infrastructure", three sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and with lower investment, company tweeted Emirati professor of political for India and emerging markets, as officials and analysts previously said. science Abdulkhaleq Abdulla. well as share suppliers, powertrains Ford said its independent Indian "They will not leave it. Yet, a million and technology. The $275 million operations will continue. welcomes to the competition." deal, which would have ended most of -Agencies -AFP WEEKEND EXPRESS FEBRUARY 19 - 21, 2021 3 GLOCAL

Express Newspapers (Cey) Pvt. Ltd., 185, Grandpass Road, Colombo 14, Sri Lanka Sowing the seeds of Telephone: 0117 322 705 (Editorial) 0117 322 731 (Advertising) 0117 322 789 (Circulation) conflict Email – [email protected]/[email protected] Former UN officials and Epaper - http://epaper.newsexpress.lk Facebook –News Express Sri Lanka independent experts call on the international community to take immediate steps towards justice Hizbullah remanded for alleged role in Easter and accountability to end Bomb attacks Sri Lanka’s cycles of violence The recently released report on Sri Lanka by UN COLOMBO – Lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah been directed to produce a principal of a The PTA permits the Sri Lankan govern- access to his lawyers since September. In High Commissioner for Human Rights underlines, was remanded until March 3 by the Co- Madrassa school, Mohamed Shakeel, before ment to detain a suspect without any charg- the Petition, Hizbullah’s lawyers stated they yet again, the country’s lack of progress on justice lombo Magistrate on Thursday (18), taking a Magistrate under the same charges. es for 18 months. Hizbullah’s detention or- were given access to their client only four and accountability. Based largely on an analysis of him out of detention in the CID after ten Shakeel was also remanded until March der was renewed on October 14, 2020, and times and that the authorities were present emerging trends, it makes a compelling case for de- months. 3. the listing of his case before a Magistrate on on all occasions. cisive international action to ensure justice and ac- The Attorney General on Wednesday (17) Hizbullah was arrested by the Criminal October 28, 2020, was postponed to Febru- During the Appeal Court hearing on De- countability for mass human rights violations and ordered the Police Department to produce Investigation Department (CID) on April ary, reportedly due to the COVID-19 crisis. cember 15, the Attorney General agreed to atrocities in Sri Lanka as a central element of the detained lawyer Hizbullah before a Magis- 14, 2020, and placed under a detention or- In January his lawyers filed a writ peti- grant Hizbullah confidential access to coun- search for sustained reconciliation and the preven- trate’s Court on charges under the Preven- der by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, un- tion before the Court of Appeal seeking sel. tion of the recurrence of rights abuses and conflict. tion of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the Inter- der the PTA for allegedly “aiding and abet- release from detention and access to their The Bar Council of Sri Lanka and several The High Commissioner’s report raises the alarm national Covenant on Civil and Political ting” the Easter Sunday bombers and for client. international organizations have called for regarding, specifically: the militarization of civilian Rights (ICCPR). The announcement also engaging in activities deemed “detrimental The lawyers submitted and the court not- justice for Hizbullah. government functions (including the appointment said that the Inspector General of Police has to religious harmony among communities.” ed that Hizbullah did not have confidential -economynext.com and promotion of senior military officials identi- fied in earlier UN reports as perpetrators of alleged By P. K. Balachandran war crimes and crimes against humanity during the final years of the conflict); the reversal of constitu- tional safeguards (which undermine, among other India refutes claim Indo-Lanka MoU on things the independence of the judiciary and key oversight commissions on the police and human Trincomalee oil tanks is scrapped rights); new sources of political obstruction of ac- countability for crimes and human rights violations COLOMBO - The Indian High Commis- discussions on the matter, and expedi- (including by new Commissions of Inquiry that sion on Thursday (18) clarified what it tious implementation of their outcome to have intervened in ongoing cases); an increase in claimed were ‘misquotes’ about the MoU mutual benefit. majoritarian rhetoric and exclusionary policies tar- on Trincomalee oil tanks, noting that the Minister Gammanpila had caused a geting Tamil and Muslim communities; unceasing Sri Lankan Minister for Energy, Udaya flutter in the media and dismay in Indian surveillance and intimidation of civil society and Gammanpila, had not said the 2017 MoU diplomatic circles when he reportedly shrinking democratic space (including the contin- would be scrapped and that the Ceylon declared that the 99 giant oil World War ued use of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Petroleum Corporation (CPC) would hold II-era oil tanks in Trincomalee, which had Act, despite years of commitment to its repeal and a majority stake in the Indo-Lankan Joint been given to India by Sri Lankan govern- replacement by an Act complying with interna- Venture (JV) to be formed to develop and ment in 2003, had been “retrieved” and tional standards). All of these give rise to new and run the tanks. Issuing a media statement, that the Indian High Commissioner had exacerbated human rights concerns that are already the High Commission said: “There is no agreed to scrap the 2017 MoU on a Indo- reflected in reports of ongoing harassment, intimi- truth in reports in some sections of the Lankan joint venture to develop and run dation, torture, abductions and sexual violence. media that the understanding between the tanks. The MoU had said nothing The High Commissioner’s report is to be praised India and Sri Lanka on jointly develop- about stake-holding in the proposed JV. for its preventive focus. In 2009 the international ing and operating the Upper Tank Farm Out of the 99 tanks, 15 were refurbished community failed Sri Lanka. We must not fail again. at Trincomalee has been scrapped. Not- by the Lanka Indian Oil Corporation Since then, much has been learned about preven- ing that the reports did not correctly por- (LIOC) and 14 are being used by it and tion. A consensus has emerged on the need to tray the remarks made by Gammanpila one by the Sri Lankan Air Force. broaden and to upstream prevention work. Agree- on Wednesday (17), it said the minister Successive Sri Lankan governments -AFP ment has been reached that the brunt of prevention has himself clarified the matter in detail have been trying to retrieve the 84 non- work is borne by national institutions. Buddhist monks tie a saffron robe around the trunk of the only known specimen of a legume through a press briefing on Thursday. rehabilitated tanks either partially or fully But it has been stressed that this presupposes tree to symbolically ordain it in an attempt to stop it from being felled to make way for a “As indicated in the minister’s briefing but have not succeeded because India in- sincere and effective commitment to addressing motorway, at the Gampaha district on the outskirts of the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. Sri also, the two governments have consulted sists that since the 2003 transfer to India the root causes of violations and conflict, including Lankan authorities on Wednesday (17), agreed to save the world's only known wild specimen each other to explore mutually accept- is based on a government to government through the implementation of transitional justice of a legume that was due to be chopped to clear the way for a four-lane expressway able modalities for jointly developing and agreement, nothing can be done arbitrari- measures of the sort that the Sri Lankan govern- operating the facility in accordance with ly and unilaterally. In 2017 however, both ment had committed itself to establishing as long existing bilateral understandings, includ- governments agreed to develop and run ago as 2015 under Human Rights Council Resolu- Sri Lanka records 70% drop in dengue cases ing the MoU of 2017,” the statement said, the tanks as a Joint Venture. tion 30/1. The previous government lacked the adding that India looks forward to formal -ENCL ability or the will to achieve sustainable progress amid pandemic in the implementation of these commitments. De- Death of 26- year-old spite limited progress in some areas, especially the COLOMBO - Dengue cases in Sri Lanka numbers are on par with the dengue statistics establishment of the Office of Missing Persons, and dropped by 70.67% in 2020 compared to the for the years 2011, 2013 and 2015 at 28,473, the Office of Reparations, the promised truth com- previous year amidst a drop in pollution and 32,063 and 29,777 respectively. Court dismisses petition for 2nd PCR mission and special court for international crimes restriction on movements. With 12% of the country total being re- were never established. The current government Dr. Indika Weerasinghe of the Health Min- ported from Batticaloa, the district recorded without hearing has explicitly rejected these commitments, argu- istry’s National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) the highest incidence of dengue in 2020 with ing the Sri Lankan state committed no crimes in said that 30,802 dengue cases were record- 700 cased per 100,000 people surveyed. COLOMBO - The Court of Appeal on were prepared to conduct a post mortem need of acknowledgement or accounting. Instead ed in 2020, a steep decline compared to the Since the 39th week of last year, the district Thursday (18) dismissed without hear- examination to determine the cause of of completing ongoing investigations into human 105,049 cases recorded in 2019. has contributed to 66% of the cases reported ing a petition filed calling for a second death, but the parents of the deceased had rights violations, the president, just weeks before Deeming the drop a ‘considerable improve- island wide. PCR test to be conducted on the body of failed to extend support in this regard. the Human Rights Council meets to consider the ment’, he attributed it mainly to the restric- In January 2021, Sri Lanka recorded 1,360 a 26-year-old, identified as a COVID-19 However, Attorney-at-Lawyer Faizer High Commissioner’s report, appointed yet another tions imposed during the lockdown, which dengue cases with the highest number record- victim. A Sinhala language daily said a Mustapha representing the petitioner not- ad hoc commission, this time tasked with examin- gave people an opportunity to concentrate on ed again in the Baticaloa district amounting two- judge bench dismissed the petition ing that the World Health Organization ing the findings and recommendations on human their surroundings, clean their environment to 794. Colombo recorded 97, while Gampaha without heart after taking into considera- had said PCR tests could be faulty, hence rights violations of the plethora of previous com- and prevent mosquito-breeding. and Kurunegala recorded 44 and 43 respec- tion the objection raised by the Attorney the request from court to provide an op- missions. This is an exercise of ‘meta investigation’ A health ministry study showed that of the tively. In February so far 1,002 patients have General, stating that there was no legal portunity to conduct a second PCR test to that drives Sri Lankan reliance on ad hoc commis- 105,049 dengue cases in 2019, nearly 50% been reported island wide. basis for the petition, which had been ascertain if the youth had died due to the sions to a point that would be laughable were it not were recorded in the fourth quarter. This in- The study noted in its report that, despite filed by the parents of the deceased male. coronavirus. The deceased, a 26-year-old for the seriousness of what is at stake, the long-de- crease was continued to the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic situation prevail- The lawyer representing the respond- Physiotherapist had died upon admission layed respect for the rights of victims. the following year, when nearly 50% of cases ing in the country, the regular dengue con- ent pointed out that the report of the PCR to the Colombo South Teaching Hospital Meanwhile, the Presidential Commission of In- for 2020 were reported during January and trol measures were carried out uninterrupt- test conducted on the deceased was flaw- in Kalubowila on January 31, 2021. quiry into Political Victimization, after actively February. ed through the central, provincial, district less, and the defendant had not produced The PCR conducted on the deceased obstructing investigations into serious cases of ab- However, starting in March 2020, a rapid and Medical Officers of Health (MOH) level any evidence proving otherwise. had determined the body to be COVID-19 duction, disappearance and assassination, has rec- decrease in cases was observed through- health teams In this context, it is unfair to file a pe- positive. The body remains at the mortu- ommended not just that the charges against every out the year, totalling at 30,802. Last year’s -economynext.com tition requesting for a second PCR, he ary of the Hospital. accused in the emblematic cases highlighted by the pointed out, noting that respondents -NewsWire UN should be dismissed and that those that were accused be given compensation, but that charges SJB questions failure to table report on Palestinian Ambassador urges should be filed against complainants, investigators, and prosecutors. The Commission also recommended the estab- political victimization lishment of a further, and rarely used, Special Presi- COLOMBO - The Opposition Samagi Jana dential Task Force appointed by the Presi- Build strong bridges of peace dential Commission of Inquiry, with the power to Balawegaya (SJB) on Thursday (18) ques- dent had submitted a report within three COLOMBO - Ambassador of the State in the part of the shield of solidarity with punish ministers in the previous government, and tioned the government’s failure to table in months of its appointment to take future of Palestine Dr. Zuhair Dar Zaid, urged Palestine and its People,” he said. allied parliamentarians, who devised new mecha- Parliament the report submitted on inci- measures based on the report. Sri Lankans to find more ways of build- The meeting was chaired by outgoing nisms for the investigation and prosecution of cor- dents of political victimization. Premadasa questioned why the govern- ing strong bridges of peace and harmony Co-Chairman Imthiaz Bakeer Markar ruption and backed police inquiries into some of Sri SJB Leader, MP Sajith Premadasa, told ment was delaying tabling the first PCoI among communities, noting that local is- MP, who has supported the Palestin- Lanka’s most notable political killings and abduc- reporters that despite multiple requests the report in Parliament, why they had failed to sues and internal problems of Sri Lanka ian freedom struggle and headed the Sri tions. Those targeted, who now form the core of government has refused to publicize the legally publicize the report, and what they should be solved by local strategy and Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Pal- the political opposition, face the prospect of being report. The final report by the Presidential were attempting to conceal through the ac- through a suitable internal mechanisms. estine for the last 16 years. banned from holding public office for up to 7 years. Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe tion. Stating that the report contains very Dr. Zaid, who was addressing interim Bimal Ratnayaka was elected as the Under these circumstances, and despite the con- incidents of political victimization has been important information that should be re- AGM of the Sri Lanka Committee for Soli- new Co-Chairman of the Committee along viction that redress and prevention are the primary handed over to President Gotabaya Raja- vealed to the public, Premadasa also ques- darity with Palestine (SLCSP) at the Em- with Athauda Seneviratne. Others elected responsibility of individual states, the fact is that paksa. tioned why the government feared publi- bassy of the State of Palestine, Colombo, to the Committee include Mahinda Hat- Sri Lanka has made its justice institutions una- Premadasa said the government has re- cizing the report. He said the government’s on February 12, said the issue of Palestine taka, Ameen Izzadeen, N. M. Ameen and vailable to its own victims. We therefore echo the fused to table the report in Parliament dis- attempt to delay the tabling the report on had always been supported by the Sri Mujibuir Rahman MP, Vice Chairmen; High Commissioner’s recommendation to member regarding repeated requests by the Opposi- political victimization was a violation of the Lankan Communities, by all governments Fawzer Farook, General Secretary; Lak- states to work with victims and their representa- tion, and that it had also refused to set a date rights of politicians in Sri Lanka. past and present and opposition parties shman Gunasekara and Daya Lankapura, tives to pursue justice through universal or extra- to debate the matter in Parliament. “This is an act of violation of democracy, for a just State of Palestine. Assistant Secretaries; Hameed Ashraf, territorial jurisdiction. Existing international av- The government keeps promising to pro- and is being done with a view to abolish “Our close friendship and strong rela- Treasurer and Althaf Iqbal, Assistant enues for accountability such as the International vide a date to debate the report after sub- the rights of the Opposition politicians,” he tionship with Sri Lanka’s political par- Treasurer. Sukumar Rockwood, Tharin- Criminal Court should be considered, in the face of mitting it to Parliament, which they clearly charged, urging the government to table the ties and communities have stood by the du Uduwaragedara and M. B. M. Fairooz, Sri Lanka’s opposition to ending impunity. We also do not intend to do at present, Premadasa report at the next sitting of Parliament. freedom struggle of Palestine, and I must Media and Propaganda Secretaries. support the High Commissioner’s suggestion of im- charged. He pointed out that a special Presi- -CG/ENCL thank all the Sri Lankan efforts of being -ENCL posing targeted sanctions against credibly alleged perpetrators ofinternational crimes and strength- ened monitoring and reporting by a dedicated Spe- PCCSL handled 312 complaints in 2020 cial Rapporteur. Finally, we join the High Commissioner in her The Press Complaints Commission of Sri call to establish a dedicated mechanism to collect Lanka (PCCSL) handled 312 complaints and preserve evidence and to initiate an independ- in 2020, of which 29 were violations of ent study of international accountability options. the Editors’ Code monitored by the PC- And of course, we reiterate the calls made to the CSL and 76 were sent by complainants. Government of Sri Lanka to pull back from its cur- The majority 207 complains were resolved rent aggressive policies towards Muslims and Tam- with Editors’ directly reciprocating to ils, to desist from using the Prevention of Terrorism complaints through right of reply. Act as if it were a basic public order law, to refrain The PCCSL set up under the Arbitration from instrumentalizing the justice sector, and to Act No. 11 of 1995 promotes self regula- cease the threats and harassment of opposition pol- tion through a Code of Professional Prac- iticians and human rights and civil society groups tice structured by The Editors’ Guild of Sri – these are the triggers or vehicles for future violent conflict and rights abuses. Lanka (TEGOSL) and resolves complaints Whether Sri Lanka continues on its trajectory through a three-tier structure of concilia- towards renewed violence or finally breaks with its tion, mediation and arbitration. tragic history and firmly embarks on the path of The Dispute Resolution Council (DRC) sustainable development hinges on international of the PCCSL comprises 11 members, six The DRC along with the PCCSL Secre- and Daya Lankapura. Standing from left: action now. Given the continued reluctance of the of them non journalist including an At- tariat met on, February 10, 2021. Seat- Javid Yusuf, Lucille Wijewardene, Dion Sri Lankan Government to meaningfully uphold the torney-at-Law who is the chairman of the ed from left: P. Balasingham, Rajitha Schoorman, Pramod de Silva, Sukumar human rights of all, only decisive, international ac- Council. The balance five members are Weerakoon, Gnana Moonesinghe, Nihal Rockwood, CEO, PCCSL and Kamal Liya- tion to ensure justice and accountability can inter- journalists. Seneviratne, Chairman, Siri Ranasinghe naarachchi, Complaints Officer, PCCSL. rupt Sri Lanka’s periodic cycles of violence. - Former UN officials and independent experts 4 FEBRUARY 19 - 21, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS HOT TOPICS

By Sabrina Tavernise and Abby Goodnough As protesters jam Yangon roads A grim measure of COVID's toll Anti-coup hackers target Facebook Life expectancy drops eliminated not Myanmar Govt. sites just Australian YANGON - Hackers targeted Myanmar govern- dramatically in US news content, ment websites Thursday (18) to protest against but also pages the military coup, as the junta pressed on with its Life expectancy in the United States fell by a for government attempts to stymie nationwide opposition with full year in the first six months of 2020, the internet blockades and troop deployments. federal government reported on Thursday agencies, non-profits The cyberattacks came a day after tens of thou- (18), the largest drop since World War II and sands of people rallied across the country to pro- a grim measure of the deadly consequences of and political candidates test against the generals toppling Aung San Suu the coronavirus pandemic. Kyi's civilian government earlier this month. A Life expectancy is the most basic measure of group called Myanmar Hackers disrupted web- the health of a population, and the stark de- sites including the Central Bank, the Myanmar cline over such a short period is highly unusual military's propaganda page, state-run broadcast- and a signal of deep distress. The drop comes er MRTV, the Port Authority, and the Food and after a troubling series of smaller declines driv- Drug Administration. en largely by a surge in drug overdose deaths. "We are fighting for justice in Myanmar," the A fragile recovery over the past two years has group said on its Facebook page. "It is like mass now been wiped out. protesting of people in front of government web- Thursday’s data gives the first full picture of sites." State-run newspaper New Light of Myan- the pandemic’s effect on American life spans, - Saeed Khan/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images mar also confirmed military websites were "un- which dropped to 77.8 years from 78.8 years By Damien Cave der attacks" with delays on Wednesday (17). in 2019. It also showed a deepening of racial Cybersecurity expert Matt Warren from Aus- and ethnic disparities: Life expectancy of the tralia's RMIT University said it was likely the aim Black population declined by 2.7 years in the Facebook blacks out news in Australia was to generate publicity. first half of 2020, slicing away 20 years of "The sorts of attacks they would be undertak- gains. The life expectancy gap between Black But retains pages dedicated to aliens and UFOs ing are denial of service attacks or defacing web- and white Americans, which had been narrow- sites which is called hacktivism," he told AFP. ing, is now at six years, the widest it has been SYDNEY — A digitally savvy nation woke ised to revive vital public service pages, — with higher taxes or fees that could help "The impact will be potentially limited but what since 1998. up Thursday (18) to a shock on Facebook: which seemed to roll back online gradually. pay for expanded public broadcasting or they are doing is raising awareness." “I knew it was going to be large but when I The news was gone. But by that point, many Australians were other public service reporting. Internet access was severely curtailed for saw those numbers, I was like, ‘Oh my God,’” The social media giant had decided to already dividing into opinionated groups — “High-quality news and analysis is a the fourth night running at about 1:00 a.m. on Elizabeth Arias, the federal researcher who block journalism in Australia rather than all outraged, but with very different views public good, and that’s why we fund NPR Thursday (1830 GMT Wednesday), according to produced the report, said of the racial dispari- pay the companies that produce it under of what went wrong and what should hap- and the ABC,” said Jim Minifie, an econo- NetBlocks, a Britain-based group that monitors ty. Of the drop for the full population, she said, legislation now before Parliament, anger- pen next. mist with Lateral Economics, a consulting internet outages around the world. “We haven’t seen a decline of that magnitude ing a country of arguers who had grown Josh Frydenberg, Australia’s federal firm that specializes in digital public policy, It said connectivity had dropped to just 21% in decades.” used to Facebook as a regular forum for treasurer, who would oversee implementa- referring to the Australian Broadcasting of ordinary levels, and was restored eight hours Still, unlike the drop in life expectancy politics or culture. And then Australians tion of the law, was among the first Thurs- Corp. and to National Public Radio in the later ahead of the start of the working day. caused by the long-running, complex problem discovered it wasn’t just those staples that day to declare that Facebook’s actions United States. “If you want to do the same "The practice is detrimental to public safety of drug overdoses, this one, driven largely by were missing. Pages for state health de- revealed the kind of abusive tactics that with private news providers, fine, do it with and incites confusion, fear and distress in diffi- COVID-19, is not likely to last as long because partments and emergency services were demanded government intervention. tax revenue.” cult times," NetBlocks tweeted. deaths from the virus are easing and the popu- also wiped clean. The Bureau of Meteorol- “What today’s events do confirm for all Under the proposed law, the incentives For a second day, motorists in Yangon block- lation is slowly getting vaccinated. The last ogy, providing weather data in the middle Australians is the immense market power are not aligned with producing the most aded roads with vehicles, leaving their bonnets time a pandemic caused a major decline in life of fire season — blank. An opposition can- of these digital giants,” he said. meaningful journalism — payments are up and pretending they were broken down to stop expectancy was 1918, when hundreds of thou- didate running for office in Western Aus- Many people said they believed that Fa- tied more to quantity and traffic. security forces from moving around Myanmar's sands of Americans died from the flu pandem- tralia, just a few weeks from an election — cebook had wiped away as much as it did Facebook’s broad approach to block- biggest city. Buses and cars could be seen on live ic. Life expectancy declined by a whopping 11.8 every message, gone. to make that very point — to show that ing news has effectively slapped Australia feeds parked around a bridge at North Dagon on years from 1917 to 1918, Arias said, bringing Even pages for non-profits providing tussling with the world’s largest social net- in the face. Johan Lindberg, a professor Thursday morning, as protesters chanted: "Don't average life spans down to 39 years. But it fully information to domestic violence victims work would hurt more than just the big of media, film and journalism at Monash attend the office, leave it. Join the civil disobedi- rebounded the following year as deaths eased. fell into the Facebook dragnet, along with players in Australian publishing. University in Melbourne, said its “incred- ence movement." "We need the US Army to save Even if such a rebound occurs this time, the those for organizations that work with the Australia’s legislation aims to compel Big ibly heavy-handed strategy” would backfire our situation," read a sign held by a monk in saf- social and economic effects of COVID-19 will poor and vulnerable. Tech platforms to negotiate with news pub- because the public and politicians were fron robes. Dozens of police patrolled the vicinity linger, researchers noted, as will the dispro- “It’s quite scary when you see it happen,” lishers with the threat of rapid, final arbi- now even more united in disgust. of Myaynigone junction as motorists also blocked portionate effects on communities of colour. said Elaine Pearson, the Australia director tration if they cannot reach a deal. Critics, “You can see Frydenberg and Morrison roads. "We are doing this to cause difficulties for This is all happening against a backdrop of at Human Rights Watch, which lost its own speaking more loudly than usual Thursday, smirking,” he said, referring to the treas- police. If they come and it's a little bit tense, we declining life expectancy that had only briefly Facebook posts with in-depth reports on contended that the law mistakenly ac- urer and Prime Minister Scott Morrison, leave then," said a 30-year-old taxi driver. recovered from the drug epidemic; some re- deaths in Australian police custody, on the cepted as fact that Google and Facebook who released a statement — on Facebook Thousands of protesters crowded key junc- searchers said that drug deaths, which began coup in Myanmar and on many other top- had stolen ad dollars from newspapers and — condemning its “actions to unfriend tions, shouting slogans at the police and flashing surging again in 2019 and 2020, may continue ics. More frightening was what remained: other media companies. That may be the Australia.” a three-finger salute. Nationwide protests con- to tug life expectancy rates downward. pages dedicated to aliens and UFOs; one argument made by Rupert Murdoch, who “They know they’re on a winner,” Lind- tinued Thursday, despite overnight tensions in Dr. Mary T. Bassett, a former New York City for a community group called ‘Say No to is cozy with Australia’s conservative gov- berg continued. “There’s little love lost for Myanmar's second biggest city Mandalay where health commissioner and professor of health Vaccines’; and plenty of conspiracy theo- ernment. And, yes, Facebook is in a lonely Facebook among the public, especially af- police and soldiers broke up a protest blocking and human rights at Harvard University, said ries, some falsely linking 5G to infertility, position as Google has already backed ter it’s ramped up its bully tactics.” the railway, according to two sources. that unless the country better addressed in- others spreading lies about Bill Gates and down, agreeing to pay tens of millions of One possible result is that Facebook us- A member of a local emergency rescue service equality, “we may see US life expectancy stag- the end of the world. dollars to Murdoch’s News Corp. and other ers look elsewhere. Crikey, an independ- said security forces opened fire, though it was not nate or decline for some time to come.” Australians could hardly believe what publishers. ent news outlet, has been encouraging that clear whether rubber bullets or live rounds were She noted that life expectancy in America they were seeing. For most of the day, But many economists question those with a simple message: “Don’t get Zucked. used, adding one person was injured. Four train began to lag behind that of other developed millions of them seemed to be wandering underlying assumptions, as well as the gov- Get news straight from the source.” drivers participating in the anti-coup movement countries in the 1980s, a divergence that has around Facebook, dazed as if after a flood, ernment’s proposed solution. They contend Some small publishers will find that dif- were arrested at gunpoint, the Assistance Asso- puzzled researchers. One theory is that grow- looking to see what had been washed away that a lot of the advertising that once filled ficult. Naomi Moran, the vice chair of First ciation for Political Prisoners said. The group has ing economic disparities have also made their and what was still around. newspapers has fled not to the giant digital Nations Media, an association of news or- reported close to 500 people have been arrested way into the health of Americans. Life condi- Facebook initially blamed the proposed platforms but to real estate apps and other ganizations in Aboriginal and Torres Strait since the coup. In the early hours of Thursday tions that have led to worse COVID-19 rates, law (which is expected to pass within days) sites, some of which provide better services Islander communities, said that many of morning 11 foreign ministry officials in Myan- such as overcrowded housing and inadequate for the disappearances, including what it than old media companies that misman- its outlets specifically focused on Facebook mar's capital Naypyidaw were arrested for taking virus protections for low-wage workers, will called the legislation’s too-broad definition aged their digital transitions. There may distribution — “and now it’s gone.” part in the anti-coup movement, a colleague told only exacerbate that trend, Bassett said. of news. Later in the day, Facebook prom- also be better ways to finance journalism -New York Times AFP. Later in the day, some protesters painted a Life expectancy represents the average num- massive white "Save Myanmar" sign on a Naypy- ber of years that a newborn is expected to live idaw street. After they were done, police washed if current death rates do not change. Declines By Sodiq Akelakun it off. Police also deployed water cannon on pro- tend to signal grave societal problems, like the testers in the capital. sharp drop in Russia after the collapse of the Nigeria hunts school kidnappers as families call for help "They sprayed water at houses as well... The Soviet Union. Declines in developed countries roofs were damaged. Signboards fell down," one are rare, but the United States experienced KAGARA - Nigerian security forces on being pressed. We have security agents on the gunmen pretended to be army, but witness told AFP. "This is inhumane -- we had them from 2014 to 2017 as the opioid epidemic Thursday (18) said they were tracking the their heels. We are hoping we will rescue students quickly ran when they realized it no weapons." Up in Myanmar's northern city of took its toll. Before that, demographers had armed gang that kidnapped more than 40 the students in a very short time." was a criminal gang. The latest mass ab- Myitkyina, local media showed armed soldiers in not seen an outright decline since 1993, during people from a school a day earlier, as fami- President Muhammadu Buhari, 78, or- duction came just two months after 300 rows of military trucks looking on as thousands the AIDS epidemic. lies and a survivor described how students dered security forces to coordinate the res- students were kidnapped from a school in of protesters marched by. The massive show of But those declines, while unusual, were fled gunfire during the early morning at- cue, his office said. On Thursday, Nigerian Kankara in nearby Katsina, Buhari's home force comes the same week Myitkyina police fired small — measured in small fractions of a year. tack. army and police with a surveillance heli- state, while the president was visiting the tear gas and shot into a crowd of protesters late Researchers knew there would be a decline last The kidnapping in Kagara in central Ni- copter were conducting a massive opera- region. The boys were later released after Sunday night, briefly detaining journalists before year, but the sheer magnitude in the first six ger state was the latest mass abduction in tion, Police Inspector General Mohammed negotiations with government officials, but releasing them the following day. The military months left them reeling: The drop brought Nigeria, where criminal gangs known as Abubakar Adamu said in a statement. the incident triggered outrage and memo- has justified its power grab alleging widespread life expectancy to the lowest level since 2006. "bandits" have stepped up violent attacks In Kagara, families appealed for the ries of the kidnappings of Nigerian school- voter fraud in November elections won by Suu The last major decline was 2.9 years between on communities. government to help free the victims and girls by jihadists in Dapchi and Chibok that Kyi's party in a landslide. Western powers and 1942 and 1943, after the United States entered Gunmen in military uniforms raided the described students fleeing gunfire after shocked the world. Kidnappers have made the United Nations have repeatedly condemned World War II, Arias said. Government Science College in Kagara ear- armed men arrived at the school, where no ransom request for the Kagara abduct- the coup. Suu Kyi has been charged with possess- Researchers say Thursday’s numbers are ly Wednesday (17), killing one student and hundreds of pupils were staying in dormi- ees and authorities would not pay any, Ni- ing unregistered walkie-talkies as well as holding important because they are a numeric repre- spiriting others into a nearby forest. tories. ger state official Idris said. an election campaign event last year which the sentation of the magnitude of the coronavirus Kidnappers snatched 42 people, includ- "I heard kidnappers come to our hostel Kidnappings are just one security chal- junta claims breached coronavirus restrictions. crisis. They may not represent a trend that will ing 27 students, three teachers and other and they started shooting guns," student lenge facing Africa's most populous coun- Her lawyer Khin Maung Zaw has not been able continue in the future, but they speak volumes relatives of school staff, according to Niger Caleb Samaila told AFP, his knee gashed try, where militants are waging a jihadist to meet with his client and is worried about the about the sheer scale of the suffering many state officials. "We are doing whatever we from the escape. "Students that were inside insurgency in the northeast and ethnic confidentiality of discussions if he is only allowed American communities are experiencing in the can to free the students and the teachers," started running anywhere... They told us tensions are simmering in some southern to speak to her by phone or video call ahead of a present. Niger state information commissioner Mu- if you don't stop I will shoot you." Ayuba regions. March 1 hearing. -New York Times hammad Sani Idris told AFP. "They are Bawa, uncle of one of the survivors, said -Agencies - Agence France-Presse

By Thomas Fuller By Adam Rasgon New storm threatens to keep Texans cold for days Gaza Strip gets its first vaccine doses TEXAS - The lack of power and safe water in the days ahead, and Maryland’s governor, JERUSALEM — The first doses of coro- clined sharply after a surge in December. The Several right-wing lawmakers had demanded for millions of people in Texas was com- Larry Hogan, gave a similar warning, telling navirus vaccine arrived in the Gaza Strip on vaccines were delivered amid a heated debate that the government make their delivery con- pounded Thursday (18) by a band of foul residents to keep their phones charged and Wednesday (17) after Israel approved their over whether Israel bears responsibility for ditional on the return of two Israeli citizens weather stretching from the Rio Grande to to prepare themselves for the coming snow delivery. the health of Palestinians living in occupied and of the bodies of two soldiers believed to be New York. and ice. Mai al-Kaila, the health minister of the Pal- territory. held by Hamas. The National Weather Service said a ma- Several inches of snow were expected estinian Authority, said that 2,000 doses of While human rights groups have argued in- “It is forbidden for Israel and its leader to jor winter storm would bring freezing rain, in the New York City area, where Mayor the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine had been ternational law requires Israel to provide Pal- abandon the fate of captive citizens and give snow and temperatures that were “much Bill de Blasio said on Wednesday that the shipped to the territory. estinians with access to vaccines on a par with up an opportunity to bring back the bodies of below average,” a gut punch for Texans who weather had delayed shipments of corona- She said the vaccines would be allocated to what it makes available to its own citizens, the fallen soldiers,” Zvi Hauser, a member of have resorted to stoves, barbecue grills, gas- virus vaccine doses and prevented officials frontline medical teams, but the territory’s supporters of Israel’s policies have contended Parliament, told a parliamentary committee oline generators and their vehicles to keep from scheduling more than 30,000 vaccina- Health Ministry said the first priority would that the Palestinians assumed responsibility that discussed the matter on Monday (15). themselves warm. tion appointments, complicating a rollout be dialysis patients and people undergoing for health services when they signed the Oslo A Hamas spokesman rejected the idea as Days of glacial weather have left at least already constrained by a limited supply of transplants, followed by medical workers. Accords in the 1990s. “an attempt at extortion.” 38 people dead nationwide, made many doses. The Palestinian Authority exercises limited The vaccines delivered to Gaza were not However, an Israeli government official roads impassable, disrupted vaccine distri- The loss of power was perhaps the most self-rule over parts of the West Bank, while supplied by Israel but by the Palestinian Au- said that senior Israeli officials had recom- bution and blanketed nearly three-quarters brutal consequence of the storm, although the Hamas militant group controls Gaza. In thority. mended that the request be approved. It was of the continental United States in snow. the number of outages declined overnight. Gaza, with a population of about 2 million, Still, their transfer required Israeli approval on Wednesday. Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas warned resi- Early Thursday, there were about 500,000 the number of recorded COVID cases has de- and provoked a debate in Israel’s Parliament. -New York Times dents to brace for continued misery. customers in Texas without electricity, the “Most of the state will be below freezing,” lowest such number in days according to Abbott said in a media briefing Wednesday Bluefire Studios, a company that tracks out- Rihanna angers Hindus with ‘disrespectful' Ganesha pendant (17), adding that a respite from the cold snap ages. NEW DELHI - The singer Rihanna has and the pendant around their neck?” “I hope alist social media hashtags and comments, would come only on Saturday (20). Water has also emerged as a major prob- angered the Hindu community with a “dis- she returns the necklace because she clearly especially when resorted to by celebrities and The storm forced the postponement of lem, with almost 7 million Texans, including respectful” Instagram picture in which she doesn’t know how to wear it because it’s mad others”. a planned trip by President Joe Biden on the cities of Arlington, Austin, San Antonio wears a diamond-studded pendant featuring disrespectful,” wrote another. Traditionally, It’s not the first time Rihanna has been ac- Thursday to a Pfizer facility in Michigan that and Houston, advised to boil their water for the Hindu god Ganesha. Ganesha represents success and wisdom and cused of cultural appropriation and specifi- produces the coronavirus vaccine. safety. About 263,000 people were affected Commenters on her Instagram account statues and paintings of him are widely avail- cally orientalism. In October the singer apolo- “It’s going to be a mess,” Laura Pagano, by nonfunctioning water providers. have called the wearing of the likeness of the able in India. gized for using a song that sampled Islamic a meteorologist with the National Weather Hospital officials at St. David’s South Aus- god around her neck cultural appropriation. Another in the comments section suggested text in her Savage X Fenty fashion show. The Service, said of the storm, which was ex- tin Medical Center scrambled Wednesday “You’re wearing a deity necklace and a she was wearing it on purpose. “This ain’t co- song Doom by Coucou Chloe included a re- pected to extend from the Plains to the Mid- night to fix a heating system that was failing Murthi [image of a deity] of my culture that’s incidence … this is after she supported that mixed verse from the Hadith (a narrative re- Atlantic and Northeast. because of low water pressure. They were already been culturally appropriated enough,” farmer protest,” wrote one. cord of the sayings or customs of the prophet Several inches of snow and sleet were forced to seek portable toilets and distribute wrote one commenter. Earlier this month the singer angered the Muhammad and his companions) and the text forecast for the Washington area. Duke En- bottles of water to patients and employees “How is this OK when a person has more Indian government by tweeting about the is considered sacred. Rihanna said it was an ergy warned its customers in the Carolinas so they could wash their hands. than enough resources to at least find out farmers’ protests taking place there. The gov- “honest, yet careless mistake”. that there could be 1 million power outages -New York Times the meaning and significance of the chains ernment replied condemning the “sensation- -The Guardian WEEKEND EXPRESS FEBRUARY 19 - 21, 2021 5 REALITY CHECK

By Hannah Ellis-Petersen By Mark Landler I feel vindicated With a new pregnancy and an Oprah interview Priya Ramani cleared of defamation over sexual The spotlight is back on assault accusation against former foreign minister Harry and Meghan

NEW DELHI - A court in Delhi has acquit- ted a journalist of defamation after she ac- cused a former government minister of sex- ual assault, in a landmark ruling for India’s #MeToo movement. Indian journalist PriyaRamani had faced up to two years in jail for criminal defama- tion over an article she had written accusing Mobashar Jawed Akbar, a former foreign minister and newspaper editor, of sexually assaulting her in a hotel room during a job interview. Ramani had initially written the article for Vogue in 2017 without naming Akbar, but decided to go public in 2018 at the height of the #MeToo movement. Following Ramani’s statement, over 20 other women came forward with allegations against Akbar, ranging from rape and assault LONDON — Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, to systematically using his senior position to chose Valentine’s Day to announce they were expect- harass young female journalists. ing their second child, confirming the happy news Akbar was the founder and editor of sever- with a dreamy black-and-white photo of themselves al Indian newspapers as well as serving as a posed under a tree — a barefoot Harry stroking politician in the Congress party government Meghan’s hair, her baby bump only slightly smaller between 1989 and 1991 before joining the than her smile. Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) government in -Ivor Prickett/The New York Time Within a day, Britain’s tabloids were griping. It was an undignified display for a prince who is still sixth in 2014 when they took power. Refugees, who were displaced during a Syrian regime offensive in nearby Idlib last year, live in a sprawling tent camp on a hill line for the throne, they said. A podiatrist consulted In the aftermath of the allegations, Akbar above the city of Afrin, Syria, on Feb. 1, 2021. Three years ago, Turkey was widely criticized when it sent forces into Syria. But by the Daily Mail went so far as to say that Harry’s resigned as a junior external affairs minister, today, the Syrians they protect are glad the Turks are there, despite their hardship feet looked mildly deformed, with bunions that could one of the most high profile #MeToo resigna- be the result of his rigorous military training. tions in India. As Harry and Meghan mark the anniversary of He dismissed the allegations as “false, By Carlotta Gall their acrimonious split with the British royal family, baseless and wild” and in 2018 filed a crimi- it is clear that the wounds have yet to heal — between nal defamation suit against Ramani. The them and the tabloid press or even, according to peo- court on Wednesday (17) ruled that he did In Turkey’s safe zone in Syria ple with ties to Buckingham Palace, between them not prove his criminal case against her. and members of the House of Windsor. Akbar famously brought 97 lawyers with Harry will soon be stripped of his honorary mili- him in his first submission to the court. As tary commands and patronage appointments, the the case continued for over two years, Ram- outcome of a 12-month review of the agreement that ani refused to settle with Akbar out of court Security and misery go hand in hand codified the couple’s withdrawal from duties as full- and in September 2020 told the Delhi court time royals. Meghan will also lose her appointments, she had shared her experience in order to en- AFRIN, Syria — In a tented camp on a the rebel fighters evacuated in a con- still in rebel hands. “Northwest Syria and which include patron of the National Theatre. courage other women to speak out. hilltop above the city of Afrin, 300 Syr- voy of buses from the Damascus suburb Idlib is key to the whole,” he said. With None of this is surprising to people who follow “It feels amazing, it truly does,” said Ram- ian families struggle to keep warm in of Ghouta and brought to Afrin under a 4 million people, 1 million of them chil- the royal family. Queen Elizabeth II made clear she ani, speaking to reporters outside the court- the rain and mud. Displaced three times peace deal arranged between Russia and dren, crammed into an ever shrinking would not tolerate a half-in, half-out arrangement room after Wednesday’s verdict. “I feel vin- since they fled their farms near Damas- Turkey three years ago. space, Idlib represents both a humanitar- with the couple, who have begun a lucrative new life dicated on behalf of all the women who have cus seven years ago, they survive on slim “We were forcibly displaced,” Mu- ian and strategic necessity, he said. “Idlib in California with podcasts and programming deals. ever spoken out against sexual harassment in handouts and send the children out to hammad said. Refused a chance to join alone, if attacked, would double the refu- But it is still bruising to Harry, who served as a heli- the workplace. scavenge. the Turkish-backed security forces, they gees in Europe.” copter pilot in Afghanistan and reveres his military Sexual harassment has got the attention it “The situation is very bad, rain comes were demobilized and left to make a liv- The Turks’ control, though welcomed ties, according to a person with ties to the palace who deserves despite the fact that it is me, being into the tent,” said BushraSulaiman al- ing how they could. “I swear to God some by many Syrians who have fled from As- spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss palace af- the victim who had to stand up in court as Hamdo, 65, lifting the ground sheet to people go to sleep hungry. We don’t know sad’s government, is not uncontested. fairs. the accused.” show the sodden earth where her bed- how we are surviving.” Turkey’s task in Afrin, in fact, has since “Anyone with any sense knew this was inevitable,” Ramani said she hoped that the verdict ridden husband lay. “There’s not enough Turkey has set up its own administra- been bedevilled by persistent terror at- said Valentine Low, royal correspondent of the Times would make “powerful men think twice be- food, there is no assistance organization, tion, trained and incorporated friendly tacks — 134 in 2 1/2 years — including of London. “They’ve done these commercial deals fore they take victims to court”. no drinking water.” Syrian militias into a military police four car bombs in the region this month. with Netflix and Spotify. But this confirms the per- After the #MeToo movement swept India President RecepTayyip Erdogan of force and set up compliant local Syrian Security forces have thwarted hundreds manence of the split.” in 2018, hundreds of women took to social Turkey was widely criticized by the councils to run things. The city has been more, Akturk said. Under the terms of the severance agreement, ham- media to speak out against sexual miscon- United Nations and Western leaders connected to the Turkish electricity grid, The Turkish police chief in Afrin said mered out in January 2020 at the queen’s country duct and some named their alleged harass- three years ago when he ordered Turkish ending years of blackouts; uses Turkish 99% of the attacks were the work of the residence, Sandringham, the couple agreed to give ers. troops across the Syrian border into Af- cell phones and currency; and has reg- PKK, the Kurdish separatist movement, up the titles His Royal Highness and Her Royal High- However, many of those who spoke out rin, an action seen as opportunistic and istered 500 Syrian companies for cross- and its affiliate in Syria, the YPG, which ness. They also dropped the royal from their charita- found themselves facing legal threats, in- destabilizing. Thousands of Kurdish fam- border trade. is allied with U.S. forces in combating the ble foundation and social media accounts. But they cluding for criminal defamation. ilies fled the Turkish invasion, along with “Our main aim is to make their life Islamic State. continue to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Many hope the verdict in this case will set the Kurdish fighters. In their place came more normal,” said OrhanAkturk, deputy The recent car bombs were concealed Sussex, titles bestowed on them by Elizabeth. an important precedent. Ramani’s lawyer, hundreds of thousands of Syrians from governor of the adjoining Turkish prov- in trucks brought in from the Kurdish- As if to reinforce their new independence, the Rebecca John, called it “the most important other areas, who have swollen the popu- ince of Hatay, who is also responsible for controlled area of Manbij by unwitting couple agreed to a prime-time interview with Oprah case of my lifetime”. lation, taking over homes and camping Afrin. “Keep schools open, and hospi- traders, one of whom lost his own son in Winfrey, which will air in the United States on March The judgment by JudgeRavindra Kumar on farming land. tals working so people can resume their an explosion in Afrin’s industrial area, 7. Palace officials are steeling themselves for embar- Pandey drew praise from many, in particular Another Turkish intervention in 2019, lives.” Akturk said. rassing disclosures about how Meghan, a 39-year-old its emphasis that “even a man of social status further east in Syria, met still more op- But Turkey is also in Syria so that the Turkey will raise the issue of US sup- American former actress, felt isolated and unwel- can be a sexual harasser”. probrium amid accusations of human Syrians do not end up in Turkey. Already port for the Kurdish militia as a priority come after her fairy-tale wedding to Harry at Wind- “Victims of sexual abuse sometimes do not rights violations under Turkey’s watch. the host of the largest Syrian refugee com- with the Biden administration, Defense sor Castle in 2018. speak up for many years because she might But as an end to the decade-long Syr- munity in the world — 3.6 million Syrians Minister HulusiAkar said last week. Tell-all interviews have tended to be train wrecks have no idea that she is a victim of such ian civil war still confounds the world, are registered inside Turkey — Erdogan In Afrin the Turks have handled secu- for the royal family, going back to Prince Charles’ abuse. Turkey has become the only international has long called for the establishment of rity like any NATO force, surrounding confession in 1994 that he had been unfaithful to She may believe she is at fault,” Pandey force on the ground protecting some five a no-fly zone, or an internationally pro- their administration building with high Princess Diana, Harry’s mother. A year later, Diana told the court in Delhi. “The right of reputa- million displaced and vulnerable civil- tected safe zone, in northern Syria. concrete blast walls and sealing off a told an interviewer, “There were three of us in this tion can’t be protected at the cost of the right ians. Today, the Turkish soldiers are As it stands, his forces have carved it “green zone” that encompasses the main marriage.” In 2019, Prince Andrew’s clumsy defence to dignity.” all that stand between them and poten- out for themselves. While the UN sup- shopping street in the center of the city. of his friendship with the convicted sexual predator, The decision to clear Ramani of defama- tial slaughter at the hands of President plies much of the assistance to the Syr- Said Sulaiman, the leader of the local Jeffrey Epstein, hastened his banishment from pub- tion charges was met with relief and triumph Bashar Assad’s forces and those of his ians, Turkey has forced out many inter- council, pleaded for more assistance be- lic life. by women across India. Russian allies. national aid groups to keep closer control yond what Turkey can provide. “We need Winfrey is friendly with Harry and Meghan, so her Indian writer Sonia Faleiro, author of ‘The Turkish officials recently escorted jour- itself. more international support and more questions are unlikely to be as probing as those posed Good Girls: An Ordinary Killing’, said: “In nalists on a rare visit to Afrin, a district of Turkey first intervened in Syria in 2016 nongovernmental organizations to help,” to Andrew by the BBC journalist, Emily Maitlis. Still, north-western Syria, where Turkey has in a joint operation with the US Army he said. For millions though, Turkey of- their choice of arguably the most famous American India it takes immense personal courage to celebrity interviewer for their big post-royal reveal speak truth to power, especially when the in- created its own de facto safe zone along against the Islamic State group, then in fers the only opportunity. the border. The Turks were keen to show Afrin in 2018, and again in 2019, after Syrian students are busy learning the has set teeth on edge in London’s media establish- dividual in question is a member of the gov- their achievements in infrastructure, ed- then President Donald Trump abruptly Turkish language and seeking ways to get ment. ernment who will likely use every means at ucation and health services. withdrew U.S. forces from the region. to Turkey to study or work, said NourH- The timing could also be awkward after news that their disposal to destroy you.” But they also did not hide the con- Erdogan’s agreement with Trump al- allak, a Syrian activist living in the Turk- Prince Philip, the queen’s 99-year-old husband, had Describing Akbar as “a Goliath convinced tinuing plight of the Syrians under their lowed Russia and the Syrian govern- ish-controlled part of Aleppo province. been admitted to a London hospital Tuesday (16) of his invincibility”, Faleiro said Ramani’s charge, who despite their evident hard- ment to regain a footing in northeastern “It’s something that makes me laugh and with an unspecified illness. Buckingham Palace said court victory was “a success for India – a ship made clear that they were glad the Syria, which was disastrous for the op- cry at the same time,” he said. “Turkish Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, did not have the coro- success for every woman and indeed every Turks were there, at least for now. position. But then Ankara took an unex- language is spreading, it’s the choice of navirus and that his hospitalization was precaution- person. “Here, at least I can stay alive,” said pected stand against a Russian and Syr- the people.” ary. He and the queen were given their first doses of At a time when free speech in India is un- Amar Muhammad, 35, a porter in the ian government offensive last year in the For the families in the tented camp the coronavirus vaccine in January. der severe threat, she embodied David and market in Afrin. A former rebel fighter province of Idlib, showing the Turkish above the city, seeking protection from It also didn’t help that CBS announced the inter- gave us all hope.” from Damascus, he said he risked death military was not only willing but able to Turkey was their only option. view only days after the duchess won a legal victory KarunaNundy, a Supreme Court lawyer or detention by the Syrian government. defend the line. “If we were not scared, we would not in a privacy case against the Mail on Sunday. A High who helped shape India’s anti-rape bill, said: “There, I would be dead. There, I would Setting a red line in Idlib turned Tur- have come here,” said JarirSulaiman, one Court judge ruled that the tabloid had illegally pub- “This victory is significant because it pre- be thinking all the time, ‘Will they arrest key from a bad actor in the region to of a group of elders leaning on canes out- lished a letter that Meghan sent to her estranged fa- serves women’s right to speak and have pub- me?’” a good one, or at least one that shares side their communal tent. ther, Thomas Markle. The decision was a victory over lished their true #MeToo accounts of sexual The Turkish intervention in Afrin was mutual interests with Washington, said Once a wealthy landowner, he said the those who “create their business model to profit from assault and harassment, even if they choose not selfless. Turkey always had its own MouazMoustafa, executive director of Syrian government had cut down his ol- people’s pain,” she said in a statement. not to file cases against their harassers. Many interests in mind. Its main aim was to the Syrian Emergency Task Force, a ive groves after seizing control of their The British media was genuinely excited about won’t, until we strengthen the system.” root out Kurdish forces it considers a Washington-based organization involved village, Khiara, south of Damascus. He Meghan’s pregnancy, particularly given that she had Dozens of journalists and writers also security threat and provide a space for in advocacy for Syria. ruled out returning home while Assad re- suffered a painful miscarriage in July, an experi- spoke of the significance of the ruling. “This the residual rebel forces fighting against He called for the Biden administration mained in power. ence she wrote about in stark terms in The New York is a big win for all women in India and a huge Assad, a loathed rival. The Syrians who to restart military-to-military communi- “We won’t go back to our villages un- Times in November. But the slick way this happier step forward for gender justice in the work- settled around Afrin have fled Syrian cation with Turkey and provide it with til Turkey gives us protection,” he said. news was announced played into criticisms that the place,” tweeted journalist Sagarika Ghose. government forces. Muhammad and his logistical and intelligence support to bol- “Without the Turks we cannot survive.” couple abhor intrusive press coverage, unless it is on -theguardian.com cousin Muhammad Amar were among ster its defense of the part of Idlib that is -New York Times their own terms. To shoot the photo under the tree, they hired a Ni- gerian-born British photographer, Misan Harriman, who has photographed Black Lives Matter protests as well as a cover of British Vogue. He is a friend of the couple. By Alex Fraser, Philip Pullella “They left Britain ostensibly to get away from the relentless publicity,” said Penny Junor, a royal biog- rapher. “They couldn’t stand the lack of the privacy, A year on, Italian doctor reflects on surviving COVID-19 yet at every turn, they seem to have sought publicity for themselves.” CODOGNO - Every time Francesco Tursi Codogno and 10 nearby towns in the extreme fatigue, not explained by his long no, this time with even more empathy for Royal watchers say tensions between the couple’s throws his six-month-old son Antonio into Lombardy region, which became the hard- shifts. Then came strong chest pains. COVID-19 patients. “It was an additional old and new lives were inevitable — and have actually the air and catches him, he realizes that est hit in Italy, and another town in the He had contracted the virus and was weapon that I could use,” he said. “Finally been masked by the pandemic. Travel restrictions he almost did not live to savour one of the bordering Veneto region, were isolated sent to a hospital in the regional capi- I was able to fully understand what a pa- have spared Harry any questions about why he did simple joys of being a father. from the outside world. Checkpoints were tal Milan. “My world collapsed,” he said, tient was feeling.” not show up for the wedding of his cousin, Princess Last year on Feb. 21, the 47-year-old set up, train stations abandoned. speaking at his home in the nearby town A year on, Tursi is still treating COV- Beatrice, a daughter of Andrew, in July. pulmonary disease specialist at Codogno Then COVID-19 victims overwhelmed of Lodi. ID-19 patients in Codogno, which has re- But after sheltering in their castles and palaces hospital was thrust into the vortex of the the hospital in Codogno. His wife, Valentina Mondini, 34, was turned to a semblance of normality. Young over the last 11 months, the royal family is turning out coronavirus pandemic when a man from “I saw these patients succumb to seri- five months pregnant with their first child, people shop for clothes and pensioners in the summer for a series of celebrations that will be the town became the first person in Italy ous breathing problems and I would apply one he feared he might never see. reminisce in bars. Everyone wears masks hard for even a prodigal prince to miss: the queen’s to test positive for the virus. everything that I had studied, everything “I thought maybe the whole year was go- and respects social distancing rules. 95th birthday and Prince Philip’s 100th birthday, The town of 15,000 residents became I knew, but sometimes these patients just ing to be terrible for me, that maybe my “I want to live, I want to live for Antonio, both celebrated in June; and the installation of a stat- ground zero for the virus, the unwitting didn’t respond,” he said. “This just left our life would end,” he said. for Valentina, I want to live for everyone,” ue of Princess Diana at Kensington Palace on July 1, “capital” of the first area in Europe to be hearts in pieces and our heads devastat- Instead, he recovered after about six he said. “I want to live for my patients.” what would have been her 60th birthday. locked down. ed.” A few weeks later, Tursi began feeling weeks and was back on the job in Codog- -Reuters -New York Times 6 FEBRUARY 19 - 21, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS RETHINKING AMERICA

By David E. Sanger By Frank Bruni Biden and When you don’t have Netanyahu finally talk Trump to hide behind But no details are revealed In case you hadn’t noticed, the Lincoln Project — an organization as pointedly anti-Trump as about what any other, its rise and political relevance symbi- otically tied to his — is unravelling. President Joe Biden and Prime Minis- It's unravelling because one of its founders, ter Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel had an John Weaver, was using his position to proposi- hour-long phone conversation on Wednes- tion young men. It’s unravelling because peers day (17), four weeks after Biden took office of his in the organization apparently sat on and at a time of clear disagreement over complaints about that, too pumped up by their the new administration’s effort to re-enter currency as Trump slayers to let accusations the nuclear deal with Iran. against Weaver impede their mission and kill Both countries issued official descrip- their buzz. tions of the call that described it in the It’s unravelling because it can no longer hide vaguest terms and gave no details of the what a financial boondoggle it was for some conversation, especially on Iran. of its central players, who spoke of principle The White House statement said simply while lining their pockets. Yes, they made dy- that “together, the leaders discussed the namite ads and an eloquent case about former importance of continued close consulta- President Donald Trump’s betrayal of America. tion on regional security issues, including Their firms also made money from the hero sta- Iran”. tus that they were accorded by Trump haters That statement was notable because Is- the world over. raeli officials still often express resentment But the Lincoln Project is unravelling for that President Barack Obama kept them in -Doug Mills/The New York Times an additional reason. It’s unravelling because the dark about early approaches to Iran in President Joe Biden speaks during a CNN town hall event at The Pabst Theatre in Milwaukee on Tuesday (16). After two Trump is out of office, and that not only de- the run-up to the negotiations that ulti- prives the organization of its fiercest mission mately resulted in the 2015 accord. decades of failure, advocates for the broadest possible overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws are considering a new strategy: pressing for piecemeal legislation and tight focus. His departure also opens the The two negotiators who conducted that political actors there — and political actors eve- secret diplomacy were Jake Sullivan, who rywhere — to more scrutiny and more reproach is now Biden’s national security adviser, By Michael D. Shear than they received when he was still around. and William J. Burns, his nominee for CIA Trump urgently demanded and rightly sopped director. up so much of the public’s contempt and the Netanyahu actively lobbied against the media’s attention that there wasn’t all that accord in Congress and urged President Biden signals he’s flexible on much space left over for other scandals. In that Donald Trump to abandon it, which he did way he was like a concealer slathered over pox in 2018. and warts beyond his own. Biden told reporters that the call with He was also in instances a get-out-of-jail-free Netanyahu was a “good conversation” but immigration overhaul card. If you raged against him, your past was offered no details. Israeli officials had been wiped clean. Your own preening and avarice concerned that it was so delayed, and that WASHINGTON — President Joe For those like Sharry, that is a major Bush, the Senate and House failed to were laundered by your denunciations of his. it occurred after Biden had spoken not Biden has said repeatedly that he shift, and it could herald fierce debates reach a compromise in 2006, and leg- The Lincoln Project isn’t the only example of only with leaders of other allies, but also wants to create a path to citizenship for over whether Democrats should use islation in 2007 was defeated in the this, but it may be the best one, and I say that with adversaries like President Xi Jinping all of the 11 million immigrants living parliamentary tactics in the Senate to Senate. In 2013, Obama secured bi- as someone who had his own hand in celebrat- of China. American officials said there was in the United States illegally. ram through individual immigration partisan Senate passage of an immi- ing it. I wrote a column in July about the Lin- no significance in the delay, but officials But even as he prepares to push hard measures without any Republican sup- gration overhaul, 68-32, only to see it coln Project’s founders as the quintessential were clearly trying to settle on an Iran ne- for the broadest possible overhaul of port. ignored by the Republican-controlled NeverTrumpers, which was the designation for gotiation strategy before engaging Netan- the nation’s immigration laws, he and The activists are mobilizing on be- House. Over the past four years, some Republicans who had broken with their party, yahu. his aides have started to signal open- half of separate bills that would legal- of the conservative side of the equation permanently or temporarily, because of Trump. The prime minister’s office described ness to more targeted approaches that ize Dreamers, farmworkers, immi- — border security — was secured by My take on them was flattering. the conversation in personal terms, saying could win citizenship for smaller, dis- grants granted temporary status after President Donald Trump in the form of I expressed some scepticism, noting that in a statement that “the two leaders noted crete groups of immigrants living in fleeing war and natural disasters, and tough restrictions on asylum-seekers they possibly had a mix of motives that they their personal ties of many years and said the United States without legal per- “essential workers” living in the Unit- and partial construction of Trump’s had found themselves “in high demand as com- they will work together to continue bol- mission. At a CNN town hall Tuesday ed States illegally who have been on border wall. mentators and book authors” and that “through stering the strong alliance between Israel (16), he said such efforts would be ac- the front lines of the coronavirus pan- Biden won the presidency in part by some of their anti-Trump organizations, funded and the US”. ceptable “in the meantime.” demic. pledging that he would bring back bi- by donors, some of them have arranged em- The White House description, in con- In a private telephone call with ac- Publicly, the White House is insist- partisanship and saying that his long- ployment no longer available to them in con- trast, mentioned the strength of the alli- tivists Wednesday (17), top immigra- ing that Congress should pass the pres- standing relationships in the Senate ventional Republican circles.” ance but said nothing about the relation- tion aides to Biden said they supported ident’s broad immigration overhaul. would help him bridge the partisan But I cast them as patriots who knew that ship between Biden and Netanyahu, part what they called a “multiple trains” Jen Psaki, White House press secre- divides that have grown deeper in re- they’d never get their party back and had con- of an effort by the new administration to strategy, which could target citizenship tary, said this week that Biden was cent years. Psaki said the president has signed themselves to that. “They’re not fighting depersonalize interactions between the for “Dreamers,” the young immigrants pushing for comprehensive changes outlined “the tenets of what we think to come in from the wilderness,” I wrote. “The two countries. brought into the country illegally as because “they all need to be addressed the proposal should look like” in the wilderness is a given. They’re just fighting to get “The president affirmed his personal children; farmworkers who have toiled — that’s why he proposed them to- hopes of addressing the root causes of rid of this one sun-hogging, diseased redwood history of steadfast commitment to Is- for years in US fields; and others. gether.” immigration problems. — or orangewood, as the case may be.” rael’s security and conveyed his intent Smaller bills could move forward And the chief backers of Biden’s But immigration advocates say the And that was true. But like many other jour- to strengthen all aspects of the US-Israel as the president tries to build support legislation in Congress — Sen. Bob history of failure is driving a change in nalists, I didn’t get into the ugliness in some partnership, including our strong defence for the broader legislation, which is Menendez of New Jersey and Rep. strategy this year. founders’ pasts, such as a 2002 ad by Rick Wil- cooperation,” the White House statement scheduled to be introduced Thursday, Linda Sanchez of California — say “You’re talking about a fight that son that tied Max Cleland, a Democratic sena- said. according to two people who were on abandoning the broader effort before we’ve had for over three decades at this tor who lost both legs and part of one arm dur- It reaffirmed Biden’s decision to build on the call. it has even begun would be a mistake. point,” said Lorella Praeli, president of ing his military service in Vietnam, to Osama the Abraham Accords, the regional agree- If he chooses to move step by step, Menendez and Sanchez are expected Community Change Action. “I’m not bin Laden. ments Israel reached with the United Arab Biden appears unlikely to anger the to reveal details about the president’s interested in a dance. I’m committed Also like many other journalists, I skimmed Emirates and Bahrain — two key Arab al- most powerful pro-immigration legislation Thursday morning after it is to seeing this through and delivering over questions about the extent to which the lies of the United States — at the end of the groups, which are embracing a more introduced in the House. on concrete changes.” Lincoln Project was enriching its leaders. Some Trump administration. pragmatic strategy after spectacular A Democratic aide familiar with the Praeli and other proponents praised answers have recently emerged. The Lincoln The conversation with the two leaders defeats under Presidents George W. legislation said if immigration activists Biden, Menendez and Sanchez for Project “raised more than $87 million in the took place before Biden’s secretary of state, Bush and Barack Obama. ask for only “half a loaf,” they should their broader bill. But they also called 2020 election cycle,” as Miranda Green re- Antony Blinken, is scheduled to speak this For more than two decades, activists not be surprised when they end up on the president to promise that he ported in New York magazine last week, and week with Britain, Germany and France, have tried and failed to secure passage going home with just a single slice of would also use a budgetary tool known “much of the money was paid to firms run by the European nations that participated in of a broad overhaul of the nation’s im- bread. as reconciliation to enact smaller com- the Lincoln Project’s co-founders, including the Iran negotiations. But administration migration laws that would create a path How to successfully revamp the na- ponents of the legislation even as he nearly $25 million to Summit Strategic Com- officials do not appear to be in a rush to to citizenship for most immigrants liv- tion’s immigration system has for dec- pushes ahead with the larger effort. munications,” run by Reed Galen. A firm run by engage directly with the Iranians or to feel ing in the United States without legal ades eluded policymakers in Washing- Under Senate rules, legislation that another founder, Ron Steslow, received more compelled by deadlines being set in Teh- permission, a faster path for Dream- ton. The last time a major immigration significantly affects the nation’s budg- than $20 million. ran. ers, expanded visa access for highly bill was signed into law was in 1990, et can be passed with only a majority We have such specific information now be- The Iranian government told the Inter- skilled workers and a new program for when President George Bush expand- vote, avoiding filibuster rules that re- cause the filing of financial disclosure forms lags national Atomic Energy Agency on Tues- seasonal agricultural labourers. ed legal immigration into the United quire the support of 60 senators. With the collection and dispersal of funds by many day (16) that starting next week Tehran They are betting that Biden will States, before an explosion of illegal the current 50-50 Senate, that would months. And the Weaver scandal broke only re- would no longer be bound by the “addi- struggle even more than his prede- crossings at the southwestern border give Democrats the ability to pass rec- cently not because journalists had known about tional protocol,” an accord with United cessors did to win support from a in the following 20 years. onciliation bills without Republican and ignored his behaviour but because the re- Nations inspectors that allows scrutiny Republican Party that became more The surge in illegal border crossings support and with Vice President Ka- porters who were tipped off to it finally had the of undeclared nuclear facilities. Allowing anti-immigrant during the Trump ad- prompted demands for increased en- mala Harris casting the tiebreaking interviews and evidence that they needed. those deeper spot inspections was a key re- ministration. forcement from conservatives even as vote — if they can stay united. But the just determination to nail down when quirement in the Iran nuclear agreement. While the activists are willing to let backlogs in legal immigration created Immigration proponents say some Weaver’s colleagues were warned about him, In an interview on NPR on Tuesday, Biden try for a bipartisan deal this a growing crisis for businesses looking more targeted efforts to legalize some the widespread belief that they’re lying about Blinken made clear that even if the Unit- year, they have warned that they will for workers and for families seeking immigrants living in the United State that, the infighting between them, the exodus of ed States was able to re-enter the deal, it not wait forever. refuge in the United States from vio- illegally would pass muster under the many of them and the coverage of it have a post- would have to be the first step in a broader, “We want 11 million people legal- lence and disasters at home. sometimes baffling rules of recon- Trump feel. His monopoly on our conversations longer-lasting agreement, not just a replica ized. That is our North Star,” said For nearly three decades, those in ciliation, which are supposed to bar and our fury has been broken up. of what the Obama administration agreed Frank Sharry, executive director of favour of immigration have argued pure policy measures from bills that Also, consider this: If the Trump of today to nearly six years ago America’s Voice and a veteran of im- for a single, comprehensive bill with are supposed to deal with govern- were the Trump of yore — which is to say, if he “Time has passed,” Blinken said. “And migration wars in the nation’s capital elements that could unite Democrats ment taxation and spending. Because had won the election, hadn’t been kicked off so- so if we’re to get back into the deal, if Iran for more than 30 years. “But we can’t and Republicans, labour unions and newly legalized residents would affect cial media and was still tweeting to his spleen’s returns to compliance and we do the same, come home empty-handed. We’re not big businesses, security-minded con- tax revenue and government benefits, content — he would have fired off such exces- we need to work on an agreement that’s going to adopt an all-or-nothing ap- servatives and liberal immigration the groups say immigration legislation sively cruel, overwrought nastiness about the longer and stronger than the original one.” proach. We have to achieve a break- supporters. But none of those efforts could be tailored as budget measures. Lincoln Project that these attacks would have -New York Times through.” succeeded. Despite support from -New York Times competed with the organization’s sins for notice and censure. But Trump is off Twitter, which puts others on the spit. That dynamic may be having an impact on Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Would his concealment By Jesse Mckinley and Luis Ferré Sadurní of COVID-19 deaths among New York’s nurs- ing home residents be sparking as much out- rage if Trump were still in the White House to mismanage the pandemic and lie more ex- Cuomo faces revolt as legislators move to strip him of pandemic powers travagantly about it than anyone else — and to ALBANY, NY — The Democratic leaders matically for Cuomo since March 2020, fully sooner than later.” “We need to re- commission, made up of members of the deflect criticism of his own failings with hyper- of the New York state Senate are moving when he emerged as a prominent voice in mind them that state government is not Assembly and Senate, to evaluate any fu- bolic rants about Cuomo’s? Recall that Cuomo to strip Gov. Andrew Cuomo of unilateral the health crisis, using his daily briefings one big branch: There’s three of them,” he ture pandemic-related directives by Cuo- won acclaim during the first chapter of the pan- emergency powers granted during the and invocations of his family to inform added. mo, as well as suspensions of laws. demic in part by specifically styling himself as pandemic, setting up a remarkable re- and calm a nation of viewers who turned The tension was laid bare Wednesday, The move to shift some of the gover- Trump’s public-relations antonym and holding buke for the governor from members of to him as the virus began to spread. Now, with Cuomo attacking critics, singling out nor’s authority to state lawmakers, many news conferences that were (supposedly) as fac- his own party. much of that good will has evaporated. Assemblyman Ron Kim, a Queens Demo- of whom are working remotely from tual as Trump’s were fantastical. He no longer The Senate’s measures, which could be The Senate’s action also illustrates a crat, who said the governor had threat- their home districts, has raised concerns has that counterpoint and counterpart to bur- voted on as soon as next week, underscore deepening fatigue in the Democratic- ened him last week — an accusation the among some dissenting Democrats about nish him. Trump, sadly, isn’t going away: He the deepening division between Cuomo controlled state Legislature over Cuomo’s governor’s staff said was a lie. hampering the state’s ability to make retains more sway over the Republican Party and state lawmakers since the governor broad use of powers, which have enabled Earlier this week, a group of Assembly quick decisions as it continues to battle than any other individual. Candidates who have admitted to intentionally withholding him to control nearly every facet of the Democrats, including Kim, circulated a the coronavirus, which has killed more his blessing, mirror his positions and even try critical data on virus-related deaths from state’s response to the virus, from order- letter among colleagues seeking support than 45,000 people state-wide. to mimic his style will shape political debates, the Legislature. ing widespread shutdowns to managing for the revocation of Cuomo’s powers that But the Senate majority leader, Andrea keep Trumpism alive and give anti-Trumpism The moves came even as it emerged the distribution of vaccines to feuding suggested the administration had broken Stewart-Cousins, a Westchester County continued relevance. that the FBI and the US attorney for the with state health officials. federal law — an accusation the governor Democrat, said that her chamber’s ac- But as a yardstick by which everyone else Eastern District of New York had opened Lawmakers had been discussing lim- stridently denied Wednesday. tions reflected the changing nature of the measures bigger and better than they other- an inquiry into the Cuomo administra- iting the governor’s powers earlier this That came just days after 14 Senate pandemic. wise might, he won’t be as prevalent. As a crisis tion’s handling of nursing homes during year, but those efforts were given new Democrats signed a statement saying that “I think everyone understands where through which to define one’s political iden- the pandemic. It was not known whether momentum as the controversy over nurs- “it is clear that the expanded emergency we were back in March and where we are tity, he won’t be as present. And as a monster the inquiry, which was confirmed by three ing homes engulfed the Cuomo admin- powers granted to the governor are no now,” Stewart-Cousins said. “We certain- against whom people on different points of the people familiar with the matter, was fo- istration over the past month. And on longer appropriate.” ly see the need for a quick response but ideological spectrum can unite, he won’t be as cused on Cuomo or any individual, only Wednesday (17), state Sen. Gustavo Rive- Senate leaders now intend to pass a bill also want to move toward a system of in- handy. that it was in its earliest stages. ra, the Democratic chairman of the health that would limit the governor’s ability to creased oversight and review. The public The post-Trump landscape is a profoundly The inquiry was another clear indica- committee, said that the time had come supersede state laws to combat the pan- deserves to have checks and balances.” changed one. Proceed with caution. tion of how the climate has shifted dra- for the Legislature to take action, “hope- demic and would establish a 10-person -New York Times -New York Times WEEKEND EXPRESS FEBRUARY 19 - 21, 2021 7 COMMENTARY

By Meenakshi Ganguly Everything is A growing rights crisis impermanent but in Sri Lanka not Ranil? Everything, The Buddha said, is imper- Indian leaders have committed to support- manent. At the risk of sounding sacrilegious, ing the rights of minority Tamils in Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe wasn’t around at that to “live with equity, equality, justice, peace and time as the leader of the United National dignity”. In pledges to the United Nations, the Party (UNP). Indian government has also vowed to uphold Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of Sri global human rights. Lanka more than anyone else, five times to be These commitments have become crucial. The precise, but never President, continues to be human rights situation in Sri Lanka has wors- leader of the UNP, once the most dominant ened since Gotabaya Rajapaksa became Presi- party in the country but now reduced to ruins dent in 2019. At its next session starting Febru- under his leadership. Even so, he is not quit- ary 22, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) ting. It is not for nothing that the UNP was will face a crucial test in taking action for pro- known as the Uncle Nephew Party. Wickrem- tecting vulnerable Sri Lankans and upholding esinghe’s uncle was J. R. Jayewardene who international law. India, as a council member, introduced a shy and awkward 25-year-old will have a key role. as the organizer for the newly carved out Bi- Rajapaksa was the defence secretary in the yagama electorate. Wickremesinghe waltzed government led by his brother Mahinda from into Parliament with a resounding majority 2005 to 2015, a period marked by particularly in the 1977 UNP landslide. egregious human rights abuses. Critics of the For the next 17 years, while JR changed government were murdered, tortured, and for- constitutions, became Executive President, cibly made to disappear. Tens of thousands of disenfranchised Sirimavo Bandaranaike, civilians were killed in the civil war which ended postponed general elections and held a ref- in 2009 between government forces and the erendum before finally passing on the baton separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to Ranasinghe Premadasa, Wickremesin- (LTTE), with both sides responsible for numer- ghe remained in government, finally land- ous war crimes. In the final months of the war, ing the plum job of prime minister by default the armed forces indiscriminately shelled civil- following the assassinations of Premadasa ians and summarily executed suspected LTTE and Lalith Athulathmudali and by virtue of fighters. Gamini Dissanayake not being in the UNP When Mahinda Rajapaksa lost the 2015 presi- at that time. When Dissanayake returned dential election, there was hope for change. to his rightful place in the UNP under D. B. There was greater freedom of expression. The Wijetunge’s presidency, Wickremesinghe repressive and heavily militarised situation in was ousted, both as Leader of the Opposition Tamil-majority areas began to improve. The and presidential candidate, the former by a new government supported a consensus resolu- secret ballot. Unfortunately for Dissanayake, tion at the Human Rights Council that offered the candidacy was a poisoned chalice- he was victims of abuses and their families’ truth, jus- - Journalists for Democracy assassinated a few weeks later and Wickrem- tice, and reconciliation. A Muslim boy holds up a placard protesting the compulsory cremation of Covid dead esinghe returned to lead the UNP after Wije- But now, fear has returned. Tamil communi- tunge’s retirement. That was, believe it or ties in the North and the East fear increasing not, almost twenty seven years ago. abuses. By Arjuna Ranawana Wickremesinghe’s achievements are no Since last year, singing the national anthem mean feat: he contested the presidential elec- in Tamil has been dropped from Independence tions twice, in 1999 and in 2005 and lost to Day celebrations. The religious rights of mi- Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mahinda Raja- norities are under attack, including interference paksa. To be fair, on both occasions, he could with Hindu temples. International concern grows as Sri Lanka consider himself unlucky. Kumaratunga was In January, the authorities bulldozed a me- wounded in a bomb attack just before the morial at Jaffna University that commemorated poll, swinging the sympathy vote towards Tamil civilian victims of the civil war. People her. Velupillai Prabhakaran prevented some who participated in a protest march in February continues to cremate Muslim COVID dead 700,000 voters from voting in the North and are now facing criminal investigation. East when Wickremesinghe lost to Rajapaksa The Rajapaksa government, in 2020, re- Human Rights activists and Western 46th session of UN Human Rights Council solve and address their concerns while pro- by 180,000 votes. nounced its commitments under the 2015 Hu- countries are expressing concern that Sri (UNHRC). viding equal treatment to all,” it added. Since then, Wickremesinghe has not con- man Rights Council resolution and is threaten- Lanka is walking back on an apparent The Council is due to discuss a new reso- PM Khan is highly respected by Muslims tested a presidential election despite being ing victims’ families and activists who supported promise to allow Muslim victims of COV- lution on Sri Lanka based on a highly criti- around the world for taking up cudgels UNP leader, ‘outsourcing’ the task to Sarath- it. ID-19 to be buried. cal report mandated by the High Commis- against Islamophobia, criticizing French Fonseka, Maithripala Sirisena and, in 2019, A presidential commission set up to investi- Currently, the remains of all victims of sioner for Human Rights. The government President Emmanuel Macron and other at the eleventh hour to Sajith Premadasa after gate supposed “political victimisation” of of- the pandemic are cremated whatever reli- of Sri Lanka has been criticized for forcibly European leaders for taking aim at Mus- a desperate attempt to be nominated against ficials by the previous government has recom- gion they and their families belong to. cremating the corpses of suspected and lims. Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Not co-incidentally, the mended the exoneration of those implicated The controversial stand taken by the COVID-19 infected Muslim persons. He wrote a letter to Muslim countries UNP has not won a presidential poll for the in cases of abuse. Numerous people who were government of Sri Lanka against scientific In a statement, SAHR said it “believes the around the world to join him in stopping last thirty-two years and six elections! involved in war crimes have been appointed to advice and World Health Organization Pakistan Prime minister’s visit is to garner Islamophobia. When Wickremesinghe entered Parlia- senior roles. (WHO) approved standards has brought support from the Organization of Islamic As a result, Khan’s support for Sri Lanka ment in 1977, the UNP was at its zenith, win- The Rajapaksa government has shown out- about a storm of protest from many coun- Cooperation (OIC) to vote against a resolu- was considered vital for Sri Lanka to get ning a five-sixths majority, or 140 out of 168 right disdain for accountability. In September tries of the world as well as Human Rights tion on Sri Lanka that is due to come up on the support it needs in international fora seats. Under Wickremesinghe the UNP (or last year, Sri Lanka told the Human Rights organizations on the island. February 23. Further, Prime Minister Khan, to battle the Western countries support for alliances led by the UNP) secured 89 seats Council that allegations against senior military Last week Prime Minister Mahinda Raja- during his visit, is expected to address the the protection of the Human Rights of eth- in 2000, 109 seats in 2001 (when it formed officers are “unacceptable” and without “sub- paksa was heard telling Parliament the gov- human rights concerns of Muslims and will nic and religious minorities in Sri Lanka. a government), 82 seats in 2004, 60 seats in stantive evidence”. ernment will allow burial, but the Leader hold talks with key government officials On , Pakistan’s leading newspaper the 2010, 106 seats in 2015 and just the solitary Last March, Rajapaksa pardoned former army of the ruling Sri Lanka NidahasPodujana- and party leaders.” ‘Dawn’ carried a column written by Amnes- National List seat in 2020- for which a parlia- sergeant Sunil Ratnayake, who killed eight Ta- Sandhanaya was shot down a few days later The organization says it learns that Khan ty International campaigner RimmelMohy- mentarian is yet to be nominated. mil civilians, including children. In October, the by Cabinet Spokesman Minister UdayaG- will address the issues faced by the Sri Lan- din in which she said Khan should raise the By 2020, the UNP has disintegrated into government amended the Constitution to re- ammanpila who said the PM “was express- kan Muslim minority during his visit, and issue of rampant Islamophobia in Sri Lanka smithereens. Sajith Premadasa, the obvious move constraints on political interference in Sri ing his personal opinion.” adds, “We are also apprehensive of the im- and take it up with his counterparts. heir apparent, sick and tired of being margin- Lanka’s courts. Gammanpila said the health depart- pact these talks would have on the Tamil Mohydin said on the issue of Muslim cre- alized by Wickremesinghe, formed the Sama- Since 2012, the Human Rights Council has ment would take the decision on the matter minority in the country.” mations, Khan had publicly welcomed PM gi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) and hardly a couple sought to work with Sri Lanka to promote rec- based on a report from the expert commit- In February 2020, Colombo withdrew its Rajapaksa’s statement that burials would of months after being recognized, managed onciliation and accountability, efforts that India tee convened to examine the issue. In fact, co-sponsorship of resolutions which calls be allowed. “He must now push them to ga- to win a decent 54 seats. has backed. the expert committee has reported to the for a process of transitional justice promot- zette the step.” The UNP, which secured 37% of the vote at Sri Lanka is now rejecting that endeavour, health minister that burial can be allowed ing reconciliation, accountability and hu- “He must consider his responsibility as a the 2010 general election even in the after- instead proposing a new domestic commission on December 28, according to its Chair, man rights, and instead, to pursue a domes- Muslim leader. He must recognize that by math of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s war victory in that UN experts have dismissed as lacking cred- Senior Professor Jennifer Perera. tically designed and executed reconciliation not raising this issue with his counterpart, 2009 and then enhanced that percentage to ibility or independence. On Thursday (18) US Ambassador to Sri and accountability process. “Support from he would be seen as complicit in the indif- 46% to win the 2015 general election, plum- The UNHRC should recognise the govern- Lanka, Alaina Teplit,z tweeted expressing Pakistan and other countries would permit ference that often lets realpolitik trump meted to just 2% in 2020, polling less than ment’s actions for what they are — an effort to disappointment “to see that the govern- the Sri Lankan government to deliberately standing up for what’s right. Otherwise, 250,000 votes in the entire country, less than impede justice. A new resolution is urgently ment and PM are backing away from end- bypass the proper process of transitional all of his promises will turn to ashes” she even the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. The needed to protect vulnerable minority commu- ing discriminatory cremation policy. Peo- justice deserved by the victims who are wrote. UNP-by-proxy infant in the political arena, nities in Sri Lanka, by upholding the principle ple, including loved ones recently passed, mainly the Tamil and Muslim minorities in Khan was scheduled to address the Sri the SJB, polled 23%, a clear indication that of accountability for the worst crimes. India deserve more respect for their rights from the country,” SAHR said. Lankan Parliament, an honour that had the ‘hard-core’ UNP voter had switched al- should join other member states in supporting a democratic government.” “We believe that such bilateral occasions been extended to PM Narendra Modi of In- legiance to Premadasa. All that is left of the a resolution to reduce the growing risk of future The Rights watch group South Asians should not be used to address issues of one dia when he visited. However, even though Grand Old party now are the buildings at atrocities. for Human Rights (SAHR) also expressed minority community while overlooking the all arrangements were made, Parliament ‘Sirikotha’ and a few hangers on such as Ravi -Meenakshi Ganguly is South Asia concern over “the timing and purpose of concerns of another. Therefore, SAHR calls was abruptly told that what was to be the Karunanayake, forever tainted with the Cen- director at Human Rights Watch and this the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s upon the Governments of Pakistan and Sri highlight of the visit had been cancelled due tral Bank bond scam. Ruwan Wijewardene article was originally featured two days visit to Sri Lanka” next week Lanka to respect the rights of all minorities to a “tight schedule.” is the nominal ‘deputy leader’ but he must on thehindu.com which coincides with the virtual launch of guaranteed in the Constitutions and to re- -economynext.com surely be wondering who or what he is indeed leading or whether it is he who is being led up the garden path. Soon after the general election results were By P. K. Balachandran announced, there was speculation that Wick- remesinghe would resign forthwith, paving the way for a successor to take over. Navin- Dissanayake made some public statements Will the Civil Disobedience Movement bring lasting peace to Myanmar? that he would put his hat in the ring. That The on-going Civil Disobedience Movement not addressed to their satisfaction, Myanmar Right from independence from Britain in military pressure. No Myanmar leader has so never happened and the official explanation (CDM) in Myanmar against the imposition will continue to be restive and violent and the 1948, nationalism has been confused in My- far been willing to look at the problem of mi- is that Wickremesinghe would stay on until of military rule on February 1, has assumed military will continue to control the govern- anmar with ethnicity, race, language and re- norities with a broad vision with the aim of the New Year to ensure a ‘smooth transition’ unprecedented proportions. Into its 20th ment, as indeed it has, since 1962. ligion. Only the Bamar are considered to be settling the ethnic question once and for all. of the leadership. The New Year dawned and day on Friday (19), the CDM appears to be Aung San Suu Kyi’s short-lived democratic properly Myanmarian, entitled to all rights Their approach has typically been piecemeal surprise, surprise, there was yet another an- denting the determination of the junta, al- government’s persecution of the Muslim Ro- of citizenship including positions of govern- and reactive rather than proactive and com- nouncement: Wickremesinghe would stay on beit only slightly thus far. The military rulers hingyas and other minorities is ample indi- mental power. Within a year of independ- prehensive. The leaders fear that if the major- for a further six months. This time, the expla- have promised elections in one year and the cation that the minorities’ issue will remain ence, the commander of the army, Gen. Smith ity Bamarsee any concession to the minorities nation was that it is to ensure that the party charges they have slapped on the deposed rul- even after the military yields to the CDM. And Dun, a Karen-Christian, was replaced by Gen. as a “sellout” they may be unseated. was ‘restructured and reorganized’. Accord- er, Aung San Suu Kyi, personally, are minor. the unrest arising from intolerance and lack Ne Win, a Bamar Buddhist. If Ne Win was a Aung San SuuKyi was as much a victim of ingly a new set of officials- the same ‘yes men’ Possessing illegally imported walkie talkies is of accommodation will ensure that the mili- successful military ruler later in his career, it this fear psychosis as other civilian or military holding different titles- have been appointed. one of them. And despite the mass turnout in tary remains the driver of the government, was because he was thought to be a hardcore rulers before her. This is why she went out of Where to from here, not for Wickremes- demonstrations across the country, military whether sitting in the driver’s seat or the back Bamar Buddhist, the majority community. the way to persecute the Rohingyas and de- inghe, not for the UNP, but for the political action a la Tiananmen Square seems unlikely. seat. Myanmar’s democratization in 2008, 2011 fend herself in the International Court of Jus- opposition? The SJB, the single largest party One of the major reasons for the junta’s Misrule by civilian governments, lack of and 2015, was defined essentially in ethnic tice showing no sign of remorse. in the opposition has an unenviable role to inability to do its worst is that China, its good civilian leaders and unbridled corrup- terms as democracy for the Bamar, and not all Peter Popham, who has written two biog- play. It has to grow up quickly-by 2024, when principal backer, is showing signs of embar- tion have been grounds for the periodic mili- communities in Myanmar. raphies of Aung San Suu Kyi has said that the next presidential elections are due- and rassment if not remorse. After describing the tary take overs in Myanmar. However, suc- The internationalization of the concept of during the 2015 election her National League become the UNP reincarnate. Premadasa has coup as nothing but a “major cabinet reshuf- cessive regimes’ lack of willingness to give the democracy in ethnic terms has led to splits for Democracy (NLD) rejected very capable a massive challenge ahead of him, having to fle”, Beijing is now saying it does not desire to minorities their rights and suppressing them among the minorities themselves. For exam- Muslim candidates only to please the major- confront the might of the Rajapaksas and see what it is now seeing. One of the reasons violently, have led to many armed revolts, ple the Shan State has smaller ethnic groups ity community. In 2015, Suu Kyi confessed in their now well-oiled propaganda machine. for this volte face is that workers in Chinese- which, in turn, have led to military take overs. which fight each other for their rights with an interview: “I am just a politician. I am not Had Wickremesinghe left the UNP soon af- owned mines in Myanmar have also joined An issue which no Myanmar government, arms. The Arakanese did not defend the Ro- quite like Margaret Thatcher, no. But on the ter the 2020 debacle, history may have been the CDM. Work in the Kyisintaung and Let- whether civilian or military, has addressed, is hingyas when the latter were attacked by the other hand, I am no Mother Teresa either. I kind to him despite all his failings as a prime padaung Taung copper mines stopped after the pernicious linking of citizenship with eth- Myanmar military. This is despite the fact have never said that I was.” minister. He did not. By lingering on like a thousands of employees joined the move- nicity. The link became law in 1982 and was that both share Rakhine State and face dis- Her civilian successors will not be any dif- bad smell, he has polluted Sri Lanka’s demo- ment. In Yangon, students have been openly not repealed even by the Nobel Prize winning crimination by the Bamars ensconced in the ferent. Therefore, despite the enthusiastic cratic environment by presiding over the de- blaming China for the coup as it is the mili- democracy icon, Suu Kyi. The Muslim Roh- capital Yangon. participation of the minorities in the CDM, struction of the UNP, thereby providing an tary’s main arms supplier. ingyas for example are not Myanmar citizens Since 2018, there has been vicious fighting there is no light at the end of the tunnel for alibi for the Rajapaksa regime to create may- Compromise between the junta and the because they are unfairly dubbed as Bengali between the military and the Arakan Army them, and genuine, lasting peace, will still be hem, without being held accountable. leaders of the CDM cannot be ruled out and immigrants of recent origin, which is incor- in Rakhine State. The Arakanese in Rakhine a far cry in Myanmar. It is ironical that Sri Lanka’s Constitution peace might eventually return to Myanmar. rect. consider themselves distinct from the Bamar, can be changed- and is indeed amended quite But there is doubt as to whether it will be a The inability of successive governments though they are also Buddhist. The other re- frequently- but the UNP’s constitution which lasting peace and peace for all ethnic groups. to address minority grievances has created bellious tribes like the Shans, Kachins and Ka- allows one man to run the party to ruin can- The fear among Myanmar watchers is that it a deadly arms race with almost 20 armed rens are Christians who feel discriminated by not be changed. Unfortunately for the UNP, may be peace only for the majority Bamar (or minority groups actively battling the gov- the Buddhist Bamar. what D. S. Senanayake fathered, what the Burman) community. It is doubtful minori- ernment military. Some of the armed tribal Governments in Yangon hold discussions likes of John Kotelawela and Dudley Sena- ties like the Arakanese, Kachins, Shans, Ka- groups sharing a border with China have be- on ethnic rights only with those ethnic groups nayake nurtured, what J. R. Jayewardene rens, Mons, Rohingyas and numerous other come tools in the hands of Beijing, which uses which have military strength. There are about and Ranasinghe Premadasa strengthened tribal groups, will secure peace and equality them to twist the arm of the Myanmar govern- 20 of these. This gives the others the impres- has been killed off by Ranil Wickremesinghe. with the Bamar. If the minorities’ issues are ment when necessary. sion that the powers-that-be talk only under - counterpoint.lk 8 FEBRUARY 19 - 21, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS RIGHTS FOCUS

Amnesty International says government Suffocating dissent and obstructing justice for historic crimes The Sri Lankan government has launched a renewed crackdown on dissent that is severely curtailing civil society freedom and obstruct- ing efforts to deliver justice for conflict-era crimes under international law, said Amnesty International, in a new report published on Thursday (18). The report, Old ghosts in new garb: Sri Lanka’s return to fear, exposes how the Sri Lankan government has targeted human rights organizations, media, lawyers, political opponents, and law enforcement officers in a concerted bid to suppress opposing voices and hamper the transitional justice process for crimes committed during the country’s 30-year armed conflict. “Over the past year, the Sri Lankan gov- ernment has radically transformed the coun- try’s civic space, which is now defined by an increasing hostility and intolerance towards -justicehub.org dissenting voices,” said David Griffiths, Di- Navi Pillay says it is time for the HRC to make a drastic departure from its customary complacency over the failures of the Sri Lankan government and rector of the Office of the Secretary General at hold it to account Amnesty International. “People from all walks of life have been threatened, intimidated, harassed and jailed, Interview simply for expressing views or doing their jobs in ways that displease the authorities. By Laurel E. Fletcher The Sri Lankan government must cease this campaign against dissent and respect its ob- ligations under international law to protect freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, the right to personal security, and A question of accountability freedom from arbitrary detention.” Since withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council-driven justice and reconcilia- Navi Pillay wants the UNHRC to act on Sri Lanka, now tion process for conflict-era crimes in Febru- ary 2020, the authorities have cracked down Former UN High Commissioner for The Security Council set up commis- A: The HRC has adopted the course of raised by the high commissioner to dan- on those pursuing justice while deliberately Human Rights Navi Pillay says the Sri sions of inquiry in conflicts in former encouraging Sri Lanka to undertake do- gerous trends such as “exclusionary and hindering ongoing efforts to secure justice Lankan government has made clear it Yugoslavia and Rwanda before setting mestic investigations and reconstruction majoritarian discourse,” giving rise to and accountability. has no serious intention of pursuing ac- up the ad hoc international tribunals initiatives. This is in accordance with the risk of recurrence of grave violations Amnesty International is calling on the UN countability for alleged war crimes and there, and mandated an inquiry into international law, which places primary of the past must be heeded. Human Rights Council to implement the rec- crimes against humanity during the the Central African Republic. The Gen- responsibility on the state concerned Such a dire prediction of new viola- ommendations of a damning report on Sri country’s civil war that ended in 2009, eral Assembly recently established the to undertake justice and accountability tions to come from the failure of account- Lanka published by the UN High Commis- and that as a result, the UN Human International, Impartial and Independ- measures. The international community ability for the past crimes was made by sioner for Human Rights last month, when it Rights Council (HRC) must act. Suc- ent Mechanism (IIIM) for the conflict in will only intervene when the state is un- Zeid and me when we were in office. It meets from February 22 to 23 March. This in- cessive high commissioners have made Syria and the Investigative Team to Pro- willing or unable to comply. The 2015 is time for the HRC to make a drastic cludes more robust monitoring and reporting increasingly strong statements calling mote Accountability for Crimes Commit- HRC resolution was welcomed at the departure from its customary compla- on the human rights situation, and the collec- for a comprehensive process of account- ted by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) in Iraq. time as an example of comprehensive, cency over the failures of the Sri Lankan tion and preservation of evidence for future ability, she said, based on successive UN The HRC established numerous inter- domestic transitional justice, with the government and hold it to account for its prosecutions. reports outlining what she describes national commissions of inquiry, includ- UN playing a supportive role. The reso- non-compliance with HRC resolutions. “The international community must not as “credible evidence that the Sri Lan- ing for Gaza, Syria, DPRK, Eritrea, and lution received the support of the Sri The bona fides of the government, in turn a blind eye to the deteriorating human kan state itself committed international Libya, and ordered investigative reports Lankan government, together with their its commitment to establish a domes- rights situation in Sri Lanka, which is being crimes.” on Sri Lanka and Ukraine. repeated undertakings to comply in full. tic judicial process for past crimes, was abetted by the government’s regressive moves “It is time for the HRC to make a dras- Twelve years on from the end of the always in question, but is more so now on justice and accountability. The Human tic departure from its customary com- Q: There have been numerous UN war, the Sri Lankan government has with Gotabaya Rajapaksa assuming the Rights Council must take steps to end the placency over the failures of the Sri Lan- reports about the atrocities com- failed to make any meaningful progress office of the president. He was the de- cycle of impunity by holding the Sri Lankan kan government and hold it to account,” mitted during the conflict. How towards accountability for international fence secretary and commander of the government fully to account, and launching Pillay said. have you seen these used to ad- crimes, reparation for victims, or ac- armed forces during the conflict and is a new internationally agreed justice process,” I interviewed the former high commis- vance accountability mechanisms countability for disappearances and land named in various reports as the individ- said David Griffiths. sioner, who served from 2008 to 2014, in the case of Sri Lanka? dispossessions. Only a single perpetra- ual most responsible for mass violations Amnesty International’s findings reveal a about the role of her office in addressing A: There have been numerous fact- tor was convicted — in 2015, Army Ser- during the final attack in 2009. In my pattern of targeting those who have played the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka in based reports of atrocities committed geant Sunil Ratnayake was sentenced for meeting with him in 2013, he proudly an active role in investigating, documenting, the final stages of the war and since that during the conflict in Sri Lanka from the the murder of eight civilians including a laid claim to having ended terrorism in litigating, or reporting on human rights vio- time, and her views on what the council UN, as well as credible reports from in- 5-year-old child in 2000. Both convic- Sri Lanka. His exploits are recorded in a lations and abuses, and advocating on behalf should do at its upcoming session. ternational and national NGOs and jour- tion and sentence were confirmed by book about him, titled ‘Gota’s War- The of the victims, including at least six incidents Excerpts of the interview nalists. The UN reports serve as impor- the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in May crushing of Tamil Tiger Terrorism in Sri where lawyers were targeted. tant levers to maintain the issue on the 2019. Yet the president pardoned Rat- Lanka’. Indeed, the LTTE was respon- The country’s draconian Prevention of Ter- QUESTION - The last six months HRC agenda and are persuasive in mo- nayake, in wilful defiance of internation- sible for a reign of terror, but now that rorism Act was used, among others, against of Sri Lanka’s civil war inflicted tivating states to take action to protect al law against impunity. terrorism has ended, why is ‘Gota’s war’ Hejaaz Hizbullah, a prominent minority mass numbers of civilian casual- against the excesses of the Sri Lankan continuing to be waged against human rights advocate and lawyer, who has been de- ties and caused international out- Q: What do you think of the most authorities and to advance accountabil- rights defenders and democratic insti- tained for 10 months, without a shred of evi- rage. What was your role as high recent OHCHR report’s recom- ity mechanisms. tutions? (A copy of the book was gifted dence of wrongdoing produced before a court. commissioner in responding to mendation to establish an interna- The US ambassador to the HRC at the personally by Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to Attorney Achala Senevirathne, who ap- this crisis? tional investigative mechanism for time, Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, said a high official in the South African For- peared on behalf of families of the disap- Sri Lanka to collect evidence for eign Ministry, who in turn passed it on peared in an enforced disappearance case, has ANSWER: The last six months of Sri that, “In light of the facts that came out international or foreign prosecu- Lanka’s civil war in 2009 were played in the report (of the UN Panel of Experts) to me.) been threatened with violence and sexualized tions under principles of universal abuse not only on social media but also by of- out live on world television screens. the US delegation simply felt compelled jurisdiction? Q: How should the HRC address International humanitarian law (IHL) to help support a process of transitional ficials accused in the case. Sri Lanka at the upcoming meet- Criminal investigators who pursued justice protects the lives of civilians in armed justice in Sri Lanka.” The ambassador A: In her recent report, the high com- ing? conflict. The two firm principles of “dis- played an influential role in securing missioner for human rights makes sever- for crimes under international law have also tinction” and “proportionality” of the support for the early Sri Lankan reso- al recommendations to states to exercise A: As the world watches in awe and come under increased scrutiny. The former Geneva Conventions and Additional lutions, stating, “We felt that the clear collective international action. The HRC, respect, the swift action taken by the director of the Criminal Investigations De- Protocols apply to both governments and substantial evidence of war crimes as a subsidiary body of the General As- US Congress to impeach the departing partment was demoted and later arrested for and non-state actors in all situations of and crimes against humanity committed sembly, does not have authority to make strongman for insurrection and attacks allegedly fabricating evidence in a case. He armed conflict. Direct, indiscriminate, during the final days of the Sri Lankan a direct request to the Security Council on democratic institutions, lessons can remains in custody and believes he is being and disproportional military attacks civil war simply could not be ignored.” for a referral of the Sri Lanka situation be drawn for the HRC. It should simi- targeted in reprisal for leading investigations violate the principle of proportionality for investigation of international crimes larly act decisively and accept the recom- in cases of abuses allegedly committed by the where they exceed the anticipated con- Q: In 2015, the Sri Lankan govern- by the International Criminal Court. The mendations made by the HC for justice armed forces. crete and direct military advantage. Dis- ment co-sponsored a resolution report invites individual member states and accountability in Sri Lanka, and Members of the military leadership that tinction dictates that parties must distin- with the UN Human Rights Council to support such a referral. unequivocally hold the perpetrators of were in command during the last phase of the guish between civilians and combatants. that laid out a comprehensive tran- The OHCHR report also calls for the grave human rights violations against war, when allegations of human rights and Sri Lanka informed the international sitional justice framework for the exercise of universal jurisdiction by the Tamils accountable. “Gota’s war” humanitarian law violations are widespread, community that it was exercising its country, including criminal prose- states, and recommends the establish- against terrorism must not be allowed were rewarded with promotions and posi- sovereign right to contain terrorism in- cutions with limited international ment of an international investigative to become a war against the rule of law tions of power under the new administration, side its territory; and so no international involvement. What is the role of mechanism, such as the IIIM (the In- and International standards of conduct including to civilian positions. This has had a forum — not the UN Security Council, the Office of the High Commission- ternational, Impartial and Independent towards defeated peoples. chilling effect on victims demanding justice. not the UN General Assembly, nor the er for Human Rights (OHCHR) Mechanism) and UNITAD (the U.N. The report also details how legislative Human Rights Council — addressed the and the council to ensure the gov- Investigative Team for Accountability) Q: What do you think the United amendments brought by government have situation until June 2, 2009 when, in my ernment lives up to these kinds of established by the UNGA for Syria and States can and should be doing undermined any credible avenues locally capacity as high commissioner for hu- commitments? Iraq. Such a body will ensure the col- at the forthcoming HRC session, available for justice, and how President-ap- man rights, I placed the matter on the lection and preservation of evidence for since it is not a member of the pointed Commissions of Inquiry are attempt- A: Successive high commissioners, in- council? ing to reverse accountability for perpetrators agenda of the Human Rights Council cluding ZeidRa’ad Al Hussein and the future investigations or prosecutions by (HRC). I reported serious human rights states under the principle of universal of human rights violations. current high commissioner, Michelle A: I referred above to the important lead The Sri Lankan government did not waste violations to the HRC, including loss Bachelet, together with independent UN jurisdiction. This is an important step taken by the US in the adoption of the of thousands of civilian lives, rape and in the preservation of evidence and will any time in introducing new instruments and experts, have made even stronger calls first resolutions against Sri Lanka in the techniques to muzzle dissent. sexual violence against women and girls, than I did in 2009, calling for a com- enable an ICC prosecution in the event HRC. Although the US is not a member and forced dislocation of Tamils. The of a Security Council referral, or in the State actors have led smear campaigns prehensive process of accountability. All of the HRC and does not have the right against NGOs and human rights organiza- HRC and UN bodies have a role in the three UN reports on Sri Lanka (report of event of the establishment of an interna- to vote, it has the right to address the protection of human rights in crisis situ- tional criminal tribunal or for national tions, while journalists have received death the UNSG’s Panel of Experts, the inter- council as an observer state. There is a threats and have been summoned for investi- ations. I recommended that the council nal review report and the OISL report) prosecutions. It is hoped that the threat role for the US to continue to press for establish an independent international of universal jurisdiction cases will move gations and interrogations after exposing hu- state that there is credible evidence that justice and accountability even though man rights abuses. inquiry into grave violations of Interna- the Sri Lankan state itself committed in- the Sri Lankan government to at least President Trump withdrew from the tional Human Rights Law (IHRL) and prosecute the emblematic cases. Visits by state security officials to the offices ternational crimes. council. The Biden-Harris administra- of human rights NGOs have increased over International Humanitarian Law (IHL). tion should seize the opportunity to rein- All of us drew attention to the failure Q: We often talk about the need to the past fourteen months. In the absence of national investiga- force its support for justice and account- on the part of the government of Sri end impunity, not just for victims Amnesty International recorded 18 such tions, international inquiries establish ability and make known to the world its Lanka to honour its own obligations and of past crimes, but to improve hu- visits in that period, during which officials the facts and determine whether there the undertakings it made to the HRC to return to values-based leadership. is evidence of the commission of inter- man rights conditions in the pre- made enquiries about registration details, set up any kind of judicial mechanism to sent. To what extent are we seeing staff and donors’ bank details. Some staff national crimes. Commissions of inquiry prosecute international crimes, let alone -Laurel E. Fletcher (@LaurelE- established by national and internation- this in Sri Lanka today? Fletcher) is Clinical Professor of Law at members were even visited at their private a domestic process. We drew attention residences. al bodies make critical contributions by to growing authoritarianism, intru- A: The high commissioner’s report UC Berkeley, School of Law where she providing independent factual accounts co-directs the International Laws are also being misused to stifle free sion by the military into civilian activi- paints a graphic picture of a rapidly de- speech, including the International Covenant of events to inform international action ties, attacks on democratic institutions, teriorating human rights situation in Sri Human Rights Law Clinic and the and ensure accountability for serious hu- Miller Institute for Global Challenges on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act, and persisting violations of the rights of Lanka. Whereas previous reports of high which was used to arrest and detain Ramzy man rights crimes. Tamils. We warned of recurrence and commissioners recorded failures of com- and the Law and this interview was If international experts find evidence featured on-justsecurity.org as part Razeek for more than five months without pressed for urgent action from the HRC. pliance with HRC resolutions by the Sri charge or proper access to a lawyer, for a Fa- of crimes, then states have a duty to in- Lankan government, the current report of a series on the likely spotlight to be vestigate and prosecute the perpetrators. Q: What are the trade-offs between placed on allegations of war crimes cebook post in which he criticised the forced goes much further in detailing not just cremation of COVID-19 victims and called for International accountability mecha- domestic versus international ac- failures to act, but active obstruction by and other abuses in Sri Lanka during nisms are considered appropriate when countability mechanisms, and how the next session of the United an ideological struggle using the pen and key- the government of any effort to secure board as weapons. states are unwilling or unable to take ac- have these played out in the Sri justice and accountability. The alarm Nations Human Rights Council, tion. Lankan context? beginning Feb. 22 -Amnesty International WEEKEND EXPRESS FEBRUARY 19 - 21, 2021 9 LITERARY LIVES

Peggy Guggenheim –1898 - 1979 By Jeremy W. Peters Rush Limbaugh’s She did what she wanted legacy of venom As Trump rose, ‘It all Sir Christopher Ondaatje focuses the spotlight on the extraordinary life of the American born self-described ‘art addict’ sounded familiar’ who dedicated her life to supporting the art of her time, acquired one of the greatest art collections in the world and Rush Limbaugh was a uniquely merciless me- converted her home in Venice into a museum – one of the most visited attractions today dia voice whose influence frightened and awed presidents for three decades — often at mo- ments of trauma for the nation and of political upheaval that they could trace back to some- thing uttered through the radio host’s micro- phone. In 1992, as President George H.W. Bush faced a revolt from the right led by Pat Buchanan, a rival Limbaugh had promoted, Bush extended an olive branch by inviting the host to stay over- night in the Lincoln Bedroom. Limbaugh re- turned the favour by leaking that the president had been so gracious, he carried his guest’s bag upstairs. In 1995, after Timothy McVeigh killed 168 people with a fertilizer bomb in Oklahoma City, President Bill Clinton called out the “promoters of paranoia” on the airwaves in a rebuke that was widely seen as directed at Limbaugh. And within minutes of the announcement of Limbaugh’s death on Wednesday (17), for- mer President Donald Trump called Fox News to offer his condolences on live television. He -qt.com.au - Pinterest praised his friend, a golfing buddy in Palm In Venice, where she opened her home as a Marino Marini Sculpture ‘Horse and Rider’ Beach, Florida, for backing up his spurious museum to the public overlooking the Grand Canal in Venice claims about having been cheated of victory in last year’s presidential election. Limbaugh wasn’t the first conservative media star to endorse Trump for president. But he was among the first to popularize — and normalize, for many Republican politicians and voters — the style of politics that would become synony- mous with the Trump name. There was no person or subject that was off- limits for Limbaugh’s ire. Black people, gay men and lesbians, feminists, people with AIDS, the 12-year-old daughter of a president, an advo- cate for victims of domestic violence: All found themselves the subject of denigrating put- downs by Limbaugh over the years. He spun conspiracy theories about the sup- posed involvement of Bill Clinton and his wife, - Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation - guggenheim.com Hillary, in the death of former deputy White Peggy Guggenheim wearing a pair of earrings made for her by House counsel Vince Foster, and spread lies about former President Barack Obama’s birth- Alexander Calder; 1950s place. He insisted in 2009, for instance, that Obama “has yet to have to prove that he’s a The fourth section, the front room, was citizen” and almost always referred to him on “I look back on my life with great joy. “I was much more interested in liter- the air by using the former president’s middle I think it was a very successful life. I ature than I was in art. I just got into a commercial gallery. She was only in- name, Hussein, a trope that right-wing com- always did what I wanted and never art by mistake.” terested in new art and was responsible mentators used to evoke the false impression cared what anyone thought. Women’s -Peggy Guggenheim for spawning the careers of the Ameri- that he was not an American and was possibly Lib? I was a liberated woman long be- cans Jackson Pollock and William Con- a Muslim. fore there was a name for it.” In January 1938, instead of a pub- gdon, the Austrian Wolfgang Paalen, Book Cover: ‘Out of This Century’ Few media stars were as crucial in making -Peggy Guggenheim lishing enterprise, Guggenheim opened the sound poet Ada Howell, and the Confessions of an Art Addict by Peggy disinformation, false rumours and fringe ideas her first modern art gallery, Guggen- German painter Max Ernst, whom she Guggenheim the right’s new reality. And toward the end of Marguerite ‘Peggy’ Guggenheim was heim Jeune, on 30 Cork Street in Lon- married in December 1941. the Trump presidency, Limbaugh’s willing- born on August 26, 1898 in New York don. Her first show featured drawings ness to indulge the paranoia among Trump’s City. Both of her parents were of Ash- by Jean Cocteau, and she determined “Peace was the one thing that Max most ardent supporters was especially powerful kenazi Jewish descent. When she was to buy at least one object from each (Ernst) needed in order to paint, and in misleading people to believe that bad news twenty-one, in 1919, she inherited $2.5 of her exhibitions. Marcel Duchamp, love was the one thing I needed in or- about their president — like his loss in Novem- million, $40 million in today’s money. whom she had met when she lived in der to live. As neither of us gave the ber or his mismanagement of the coronavirus Her father, Benjamin Guggenheim, a Paris with her first husband Laurence other what we most desired, our union response — was simply made up by his enemies member of the wealthy Guggenheim Vail, introduced Guggenheim to the art was doomed to failure.” or the result of a nefarious plot. family, died in the sinking of the RMS world and it was through him that she -Peggy Guggenheim In turn, Limbaugh rarely apologized for his Titanic on April 15, 1912. met many French artists in Paris. He comments and often attacked those who called taught her about the developing con- In 1942 Art of This Century opened him out, arguing that they were taking him too Guggenheim worked in a cutting temporary art world, and he helped the first exhibition solely devoted to seriously or twisting his words out of context. edge bookstore in New York where conceive many of the exhibitions at women artists. Although successful, Often, Limbaugh denied he had said what his she became entranced with the bo- Guggenheim Jeune. the show had unexpected personal con- critics claimed. hemian artistic community. In 1920 sequences. One of the women artists Trump’s widespread appeal with voters ini- she went to Paris and became friendly Her second show in London was an was Dorothea Tanning – with whom tially confused many people in politics. But any- with avant-garde writers and artists exhibition by Wassily Kandinsky – his Max Ernst fell in love. This was how - Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation one who was a regular listener of Limbaugh’s in Montparnasse, including Man Ray first in England. This was followed the marriage ended. In her characteris- In the Venice Palazzo three-hour weekday radio program, which (who photographed her), Constantin by shows that included works by Yves tic ironic way Peggy Guggenheim said: reached roughly 15 million listeners each week, Brâncusi and Marcel Duchamp. She Tanguy, Wolfgang Paalen, Antoine Pe- would have been less surprised. became close friends with Natalie Bar- vsner, Henry Moore, Henri Laurens, “I should have had thirty women – “To conservatives, it all sounded familiar,” ney, Romaine Brooks, Djuna Barnes Alexander Calder, Constantin Brâncu- not thirty one. That was my mistake.” In 1951 Peggy Guggenheim opened her said Nicole Hemmer, a media scholar at Colum- and Emma Goldman, and became a pa- si, Jean Arp, Max Ernst, Pablo Picasso, -Peggy Guggenheim home as a museum to the public, and in bia University and the author of a book on Lim- tron of both Barnes and Goldman who Georges Braque and Kurt Schwitters subsequent decades she loaned out her col- baugh and other conservative media figures, were impoverished at the time. and John Tunnard. After World War II and her divorce lection to various museums in Europe and ‘Messengers of the Right’. from Max Ernst, Guggenheim closed the United States. Despite her successful “The insults, the nicknames, the really out- At the age of twenty-three, wanting The gallery Guggenheim Jeune was her New York Gallery in 1947, pub- life as a collector, and a number of liaisons rageous statements — they had been enjoying to lose her “burdensome” virginity, she a cultural success, but made a loss of lished her autobiography Out of This with young Italian men, she was a lonely that as a form of political entertainment for a became involved with Laurence Vail £600 in her first year,so she decided Century: Confessions of an Art Addict, figure. quarter-century before Donald Trump,” Hem- – one of the leading bohemians. For instead to create a Museum of Modern and returned to Europe. Just in time. mer added. But it was more than their behav- Guggenheim, sex and art were intrinsi- Art in London together with the art his- “God forbid my ever getting too attached iour. The way their fans were similarly eager to cally linked. torian and critic Herbert Read. In this Her book created something of a again in my life to anyone. So far everyone defend the most indefensible conduct of both she was influenced by her uncle Solo- scandal as it revealed many of her sex- men was a sign that the nation’s political divide I loved has died or made me madly unhap- was hardening into something more personal “I had a collection of photographs mon R. Guggenheim, who had created ual encounters and affairs she had had py by living. Life seems to be an endless of frescos I had seen at Pompeii. They his own foundation to collect and to with writers and artists. Her wealthy and tribal. Limbaugh’s most loyal listeners de- round of miseries.” veloped a capacity to excuse almost anything he depicted people making love in various promote abstract art which led to the family tried unsuccessfully to buy up -Peggy Guggenheim positions, and I was very curious and opening of the Museum of Non -Objec- all the copies of her book and the Chi- did and deflect, saying liberals were merely be- cago Tribune caustically wrote that the ing hysterical or hateful. And many loved him wanted to try them all out myself.” tive Painting: The Solomon R. Guggen- When asked how many husbands she had even more for it. -Peggy Guggenheim heim Museum. book should have been titled Out of had, she answered: Allie Beth Stuckey, a conservative writer and My Head. Guggenheim wanted a fresh podcast host, responded to news of his death Vail and Guggenheim married in Peggy Guggenheim closed Guggen- start. “You mean mine, or other peoples?” Wednesday by saying, “Rush was hated by all 1922 and had two children: Sinbad and heim Jeune on June 22, 1939 and made the right people.” Pegeen. The marriage was a disaster plans for her Museum of Modern Art in She decided to live in Venice. One of In 1962 Venice bestowed on her an Hon- Limbaugh’s recklessness with the truth and because of intense conflicts and Vail’s France. In August 1939 she left London the reasons for her decision was that orary Citizenship. lack of any evident concern for the danger posed physical abuse. They divorced in 1928 for Paris to negotiate loans of art works in 1948 she was invited to exhibit her by feeding paranoia on the right served him well after which custody arrangements be- for the Museum’s first exhibition. She collection in the disused Greek Pavilion Guggenheim returned to New York in once Trump became the Republican nominee in came chaotic. They were not reliable had set aside £40,000 for Museum of the Venice Biennale. She entrenched 1969 when the Solomon R. Guggenheim 2016 and later the president. Limbaugh, who parents. expenses, but things did not work out herself in 1949 in the Palazzo Venier Museum, founded by her uncle, invited her worked with his producers to carefully comb quite the way she had planned. Shortly dei Leoni (unfinished Palace of the Li- to show her Collection. through calls and emails from his fans, listened Pegeen, addicted to drugs and alco- after her departure for Paris, the Sec- ons) on the Grand Canal. to his audience but rarely went out on a limb hol, killed herself in Paris in 1967; and ond World War broke out and the Seven years later she donated the Palazzo where he couldn’t be sure it would follow. And Sinbad who worked in a Paris insur- events following September 1, 1939 In Venice, Guggenheim soon became Venice dei Leoni to the Solomon R. Guggen- he was not initially all-in on Trump. ance company, and later was editor and forced her to abandon her plans. At a celebrity, known for her butterfly heim Museumwith the proviso that her Col- But that changed after Trump won the nomi- publisher of a literary magazine, died in a loss as to what to do she decided to sunglasses, designed by Edward Mel- lection would always remain in Venice. nation. Limbaugh’s loyalty to the president, 1986. buy as many paintings as she could by carth, which she wore everywhere, and whose Mar-a-Lago club in Florida is not far from all the artists on Herbert Read’s recom- for riding the canals of the city in her “It is not only one of the premier collec- his own oceanfront estate, only grew stronger Her following relationships were mended list for the Museum. Having private gondola with her dogs. tions of modern art in the world, featuring as Trump’s conduct during the 2016 campaign also difficult, marked by infidelity, all the Museum’s funds at her disposal, over three hundred works by over one hun- and in office became the subject of multiple in- and by lovers who felt threatened by and time on her hands, she set about She promoted several young Ital- dred of the most influential artists of the vestigations, a special counsel inquiry and two her wealth. She eventually fell in love to buy at least one picture a day, and ian artists – one of whom was Marino 20th century, but it has also played an in- impeachments. with the writer John Ferrar Holms, to house them in a new museum site in Marini, whose ‘Horse and Rider’ (Angel tegral part in turning Venice into a Mecca Last year, Trump awarded him the Presiden- and the two did little else but travel for the Place Vendôme. She purchased ten of the City) statue was placed promi- for contemporary art.” tial Medal of Freedom at the State of the Union two years. Holms, who was a serious Picassos, forty Max Ernsts, eight Mirós, nently at the entrance to her museum, -Allison McNearney address and had Melania Trump, the first lady, alcoholic, died suddenly following an four Margrittes, four Ferrens, three overlooking the Grand Canal. Editor and Art Critic hang it around the ailing host’s neck. anaesthetic before a routine surgical Man Rays, three Dalis, one Wolfgang And Limbaugh stood behind the former procedure. Paalen and one Chagall. “There was also a Marino Marini, Peggy Guggenheim died in 1979, and her president right up until the end, fanning the which I bought from him in Milan. I ashes remain in the grounds of the Venetian political flames. He compared the rioters who In 1934 Guggenheim moved in with Again things did not turn out the went to borrow one for the sculpture palazzo that houses her Collection. stormed the Capitol last month, furious because Douglas Garman, a younger friend of way she had planned and, a few days show, but ended up buying the only they believed the lies about the election from Holmes, whom she had met a year ear- before the Germans reached Paris, she thing available. It was a statue of a The Palazzo Venier dei Leoni remains Trump and media personalities like himself, lier. had to abort her plans and flee to the horse and rider, the latter with his the most visited Italian museum of modern to Revolutionary War-era patriots. And on the South of France where, after months of arms spread way out in ecstasy, and art, and the second most visited museum in day President Joe Biden was inaugurated, Lim- Garman was the assistanteditor of safeguarding her collection, and some- to emphasise this, Marino had added Venice. baugh was still claiming that it was all a fraud. Calendar of Modern Letters and a times the lives of her artist friends, in a phallus in full erection. But when “I think they know that this is something that’s member of the Communist Party of the summer of 1941 she left France for he had it cast in bronze for me he had been arranged rather than legitimately sought Great Britain. That relationship ended the safety of New York. Determined the phallus made separately so that it and won,” he said, referring to Democrats. too after some turbulent years. to open a gallery she opened Art of could be screwed in and out at leisure. Limbaugh’s rise as a gatekeeper of conserva- This Century Gallery on 30 West 57th In Venice a legend spread that I had tism and kingmaker in the Republican Party Moving to London Guggenheim be- Street in 1942. The new gallery was di- several phalluses of different sizes, like helped accelerate the trend in GOP politics away gan thinking of starting a publishing vided into four sections. Three of the spare parts, which I used for different from serious and substantive opinion leaders company with the inheritance she had four were dedicated to Cubist and Ab- occasions.” and politicians, and toward figures who were provocative, entertaining and anti-intellectual. received after her mother died in 1937. stract art, Surrealism, and Kinetic art. -Peggy Guggenheim -New York Times 10 FEBRUARY 19 - 21, 2021 WEEKEND EXPRESS SPORTS

Tennis COUNTER PUNCH By The Line Judge Naomi Osaka into Australian Open final as Serena Williams makes Enhancing the tearful exit overall sporting MELBOURNE - Serena Williams’s quest for a rors,” Williams later said. “It was a big error day record-equalling 24th grand slam continues after for me.” This panoply of mistakes contributed to a potential of Sri Lanka the American veteran lost her Australian Open staccato rhythm with only one rally extending be- semi-final in straight sets to Naomi Osaka. The yond eight strokes. The action was a series of false Schools are the cradle of any sport and third-seeded Japanese is now the overwhelming fa- starts without a race ever breaking out. The Flo-Jo the development of talented juniors is vourite to collect her fourth major title, and second inspired catsuit proved ultimately in vain. essential if the country is to progress in at Melbourne Park, on Saturday (20) night against The absence of a vocal crowd did not help. De- the international arena. Jennifer Brady, who outlasted Karolina Muchová spite Melbourne emerging from its snap five-day Sri Lanka cricket and rugby once upon in the second semi. lockdown on Thursday (18) Rod Laver Arena was a time boasted of a healthy school struc- Defeat clearly stung the 39-year-old, who left her barely one-quarter full. ture serving as a feeder base to the na- brief post-match press conference overwhelmed. In losing the opening two games of the match tional team. This solid pathway has how- Asked to explain how she’d had such a bad day at Osaka looked twitchy. Williams had already un- ever dwindled over the past decade for the office, she replied, “I don’t know.” Then, chok- leashed the kind of ferocious return winner that different reasons, one of which is com- ing back tears, added, “I’m done,” and exited stage knocked Simona Halep off her stride in the quar- mercialization of sport. It is not due to right. ter-finals, but it proved a false dawn. The third a dearth of talent but a lack of resource This was a pairing fit for a grand slam decider, game of a match is too early to be a turning point, management and failure on the path of never mind a semi-final, but the quality on paper but at 30-30 Osaka double-faulted after a poor ball authorities to nurture the nursery brim- never materialized on court. This was the fourth toss. She responded in sparkling fashion, opening ming with a wealth of talent. meeting between these two modern greats, all of her shoulders, shrugging off her anxieties and hit- There have also been many conflicts which have failed to live up to expectations. ting her way to the next three points, sparking a run between the education ministry which At the end of an error-strewn first set both players of five consecutive games. regulates school sports and the sports were serving below 50% and both had struck more “It’s always an honour playing her,” Osaka said ministry which is the guardian of na- unforced errors than winners – Williams fourfold. afterwards about Williams. “I didn’t want to go out -William WEST / AFP tional sports associations. Then there is Remarkably, the seven-time champion had a stats without trying my best.” She tried her best. She Serena Williams of the US serves against Japan's Naomi Osaka during their women's the apex body controlling Olympic dis- sheet featuring no winners but 10 unforced errors didn’t go out. singles semi-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in ciplines – the National Olympic Com- on her forehand side. “The difference today was er- -The Guardian Melbourne on Thursday (18) mittee (NOC) – which determines who has the right to represent the country at major international events such as the Olympic, Commonwealth and Asian Pain-free Djokovic ends Karatsev run to Woman is chosen to succeed Tokyo Olympics chief Games. TOKYO — The Tokyo Olympic organizing com- switched course, responding to an outcry on so- Just over a year ago there was a cold mittee on Thursday (18) appointed Seiko Hashi- cial media over Kawabuchi’s age, his apparent war between the sports ministry and reach ninth final NOC before the Sri Lanka contingent MELBOURNE - Defending champion final. “This is the best I felt during the en- moto, Japan’s cabinet minister in charge of the support for corporal punishment of children and Olympics and gender equality, to replace Yoshiro the fact that he had been hand-picked by Mori landed in Kathmandu for the 2019 South Novak Djokovic declared himself fighting tire tournament,” he told Jim Courier on Asian Games (SAG). Although Sri Lanka fit for the Australian Open final after end- court.“Felt great, I could swing through the Mori, 83, who resigned last week in the wake of himself. After Mori’s resignation last Friday (5), an international firestorm over sexist remarks. Toshiro Muto, chief executive of the organizing reaped a harvest of over 250 medals off ing the incredible run of Russian qualifier ball, no pain, just best match so far, and it all shades, an inquiry was launched into Aslan Karatsev with his “best match” of the came at the right time and I’m thrilled to The selection of Hashimoto, 56, an Olympic committee, announced the formation of a new medallist in speed skating, represents a stark selection committee, comprised half of men and the administrative blunders and allega- tournament on Thursday (18). feel this way. tions of throwing matches. The findings The Serbian world number one eased “Recovery is priority right now. I’m feel- generational and gender shift for the commit- half of women, to choose a successor. tee, which had initially planned to name another A number of names had surfaced in the Japa- of the committee headed by Gregory de into his ninth decider at Melbourne Park ing the ball well, I’m playing well, I had Silva were swept under the carpet with with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win under the lights at enough match playand enough practice so octogenarian male leader, SaburoKawabuchi, a nese media, but Hashimoto always seemed to former head of the governing body for Japanese be the clear leader. Hashimoto is a member of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rod Laver Arena and will battle either Ste- right now it’s just gathering all the neces- Nonetheless, the NOC headed by fanosTsitsipas or Daniil Medvedev for the sary energy for the most important match soccer, as Mori’s replacement. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s governing Lib- But last week, after Kawabuchi, 84, told re- eral Democratic Party and has served in the up- Suresh Subramaniam went about their title. of the Australian Open.” task of gearing up for the Tokyo Olym- Djokovic’s tournament appeared on a Djokovic has never failed to win the tour- porters that he was prepared to accept an offer to per house of Japan’s Parliament since 1995. succeed Mori, the organizing committee swiftly -NYT pics, which was postponed and came knife edge when he suffered an abdominal nament after making the semi-finals and he up with a great initiative of finding the injury during his third round match against will be heavily favoured to claim a record- next Olympic champ in partnership with Taylor Fritz less than a week ago. extending ninth title at his favourite Slam Cricket Crysbro last year. More recently they Yet he has put that aside and will have on Sunday. launched www.NextOlympicHope.com, two days off to recover before Sunday’s (21) -Agencies a novel digital funding portal that ena- Morris smashes IPL record as teams splash out bled the public to financially sponsor ru- CHENNAI - South Africa all-rounder Chris ter being released by Rajasthan. Three-time IPL ral athletes, school sports associations, Morris became the most expensive player bought champions Chennai Super Kings, led by Mahen- and sports clubs and chambers across Cricket for the Indian Premier League when Rajasthan dra Singh Dhoni, got England spin bowler Moeen the island. Royals paid $2.25 million as part of a spending Ali for over $950,000 -- more than three times The requests published on the portal spree by the world's richest Twenty20 tourna- the fee paid when he was last at auction in 2018. are pre-reviewed thoroughly, and can Sri Lanka coach quits ahead of West Indies tour ment. Moeen, 33, returned to England this week after range from sponsoring a pair of new A host of stars from top cricket nations picked playing a key role in the second Test defeat by In- shoes for a needy athlete with potential COLOMBO - Sri Lanka's fast bowling before Sri Lanka is set to leave for the West up million dollar-plus contracts for the 10-week dia in Chennai. Off-spinner Krishnappa Gowtham to secure international victories or con- coach David Sekar resigned Thursday (18), Indies to play two Tests, three one-day in- tournament that is expected to start in April. was the costliest Indian after he went to Chennai tributing towards a new sports complex just days before the national team is due ternationals and three Twenty20 matches. "Serious money" was laid out, said England for $1.25m. Arjun Tendulkar, son of Indian cricket at a rural school unable to provide this to leave for a West Indies tour, the cricket The West Indies tour was postponed by wicketkeeper batsman Jonny Bairstow. icon Sachin Tendulkar, was picked by Mumbai In- facility to their children. At the end of the board said. over a week after Sri Lanka's head coach The fee for the 33-year-old Morris smashed dians, in the last transaction of the day. day, the principal goal for this initiative Sri Lanka Cricket said the 54-year-old Mickey Arthur and opening batsman La- the record $2.2 million paid for Yuvraj Singh by Morris took centre stage however with a pro- is to ensure the overall sporting potential Australian, who joined them as the fast hiruThirimanne contracted coronavirus Delhi in 2015. Australian bowler Pat Cummins tracted bid battle between Rajasthan, Bangalore, of Sri Lanka is enhanced and elevated to bowling coach in December 2019, had cited earlier this month. had previously been the most expensive foreign reigning champions Mumbai Indians and Pun- Olympian levels by reducing some of the "personal reasons" for quitting with imme- Both will be joining the team, which is player, costing Kolkata Knight Riders $2.17m jab. "The most expensive player in IPL history financial burden that can often create diate effect. Sekar has not yet commented leaving on Tuesday (23), the board said. in 2019. The IPL clubs opened up their cheque is now a Royal," Rajasthan said as it trumpeted great barriers to achievement. publicly. His resignation comes five days -AFP books as they seek to rebound from the corona- bringing in Morris, who will join a team includ- The NOC has gone a step further by virus pandemic which forced ing England stars Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes. teaming up with the Ministries of Sports them to play behind closed "It was quite a high price, but at the same time, and Education to launch a Junior Devel- doors last year. the role in the team and the demand for the role opment Program targeting the upcoming New Zealand all-rounder plays a large part," Royals' director of cricket Ku- Youth Olympics. Through this program, Kyle Jamieson went to Royal mar Sangakkara said. the NOC Junior Development commit- Challengers Bangalore for $2 Morris is a fast bowler and hard-hitting lower tee intends to overlook the selected ath- million, 14 times his start price order batsman. He played for Rajasthan in 2015 letes’ performances and their needs up at the auction. Bangalore also and since then had been with Delhi and Banga- until the age of 18. They will be looking bought Australian all-rounder lore taking 80 wickets in 70 IPL matches. at athletes targeting the next three Youth Glenn Maxwell for $1.95m Jamieson, six feet 8 inches (2 metres) tall, Olympic Games and also who have the after another bidding battle. was another stunning buy to bring him in for his potential to develop into medal winners Maxwell, 32, was released by maiden IPL season in a team where India captain in the future. The three-tier time frame Punjab Kings -- who paid $1.5 ViratKohli is looking for his first success. of 4, 8 and 12 years will be focusing on million for him in 2020 -- af- Officially, each team is allowed to spend nearly all Games and Championships falling ter just one season. $12 million in salaries. Many have a high number within the stipulated time period. Punjab snapped up Austral- of retained players who are never on the auction This is a great pathway to nurture and ian quick Jhye Richardson for list. Kohli is believed to have the biggest IPL sala- foster talented junior athletes who were $1.9 million. The 24-year-old ry, earning some $2.7 million a year at Bangalore caught between the devil and deep blue has played just two Tests and in 2018. He has never been part of the auction. sea when it came to national represen- nine T20 matches. Meanwhile Chinese phone maker Vivo re- tation. School boys and girls are at the They also spent $1.1 million turned as the IPL's lead sponsor after the deal mercy of Education Ministry officials for Australian fast bowler Ri- was suspended last year following a deadly bor- even when they get selected for interna- ley Meredith, who has never der clash between India and China. tionals because they have to grant ap- played for his country. Vivo had signed a five-year contract in 2017 proval for them to take part in age group Former Australia captain worth more than $330 million to sponsor the tournaments. Steve Smith went to Delhi IPL. Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) for instance Capitals for just $300,000 af- -AFP has been carrying over a deficit balance spent on junior age group tours in the Cricket past with the schools rugby body finally relenting to be aligned with the sponsor of the parent body. Even the Boxing As- Dhammika Prasad announces sociation of Sri Lanka invests a lot on jun- ior boxing talent but the Schools Boxing international retirement Association is in sync with their mother COLOMBO - Sri Lanka fast bowler down, or threatening their wickets. association. Football has also drawn up a Dhammika Prasad has announced his "I also remember something to laugh blueprint for the development of junior retirement from international cricket about. In 2015, when we played India at talent by conducting coaches and refer- at age 37. home, he had a heated argument with ees education programmes and support- Prasad played the last of his 25 Tests Ishant Sharma on the field. At the time ing academies. The way forward for de- in October 2015, following which a seri- we all thought it would be something velopment is by focusing on grassroots ous shoulder injury impeded his career. that went on for a long time. But that talent. Prasad eventually made a first-class same evening, we saw him and Ishant Schools sports associations should in comeback, following surgery, but could having a coffee together at the hotel. fact function under the umbrella of their not quite break back into the national They hadn't waited for the end of the national sports association in order for team. match - they made up that evening it- talented athletes to benefit. The com- Before that injury, however, he was self." Marvan Atapattu, another SSC mittee will discuss in detail how to pro- one of Sri Lanka's premier quicks, re- stalwart, and Prasad's coach in 2014 vide financial support, look at nutrition, membered with particular fondness for during that memorable Headingly coaching assistance (physical, technical his second-innings 5 for 50, at Head- spell, was also effusive in his praise. and mental), overseas coaching con- ingly in 2014, which led to Sri Lanka "Generally fast bowlers like to bowl sultancy and sending athletes for world winning their first series in England. with the new ball first thing in the day ranking tournaments. Can this function That was his only five-wicket haul in when the conditions suit them, but be performed by the school body? Tests, but he was nevertheless impres- Dhammika was someone you could call The NOC president must be lauded for sive at home in 2015, taking four wick- on anytime," Atapattu said. bringing together 34 federation’s related ets in an innings consecutively against "He'd want the ball at all times of the to Olympic disciplines in which Sri Lan- India. Prasad finished with 75 Test day, no matter what condition it was in. ka have the potential to win medals at wickets at an average of 35.97, and If it was 5pm, and he was bowling with future Youth Olympic Games. “We don’t also took 32 ODI wickets at 30.50 in 24 an old ball, and there was a batsman want to bypass federations. We have to games. He has a further 276 first-class batting on 150, he'd still take the ball, work with federations,” said Subrama- wickets, largely for his Sinhalese Sports because he wanted to get that break- niam. Club side, whom he has played for since through for the team. Those are rare This is another feather in the cap for 2002. Rangana Herath, a long-time Sri qualities from a cricketer." Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa who Lanka team-mate, paid tribute to Pras- Prasad had spent the last few years has been pro-actively engaging with ad's exploits on Thursday (18). attempting to make a comeback for Sri Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris to "We had never won a series in Eng- Lanka, but his bowling had not quite bring school sports under one roof. The land, and when Dhammika took wick- been the same since the shoulder injury change in the political landscape may ets on that fourth day in Leeds, it set us and consequent surgery. He hopes to have helped. It is believed that through up for victory and that was a remark- play another domestic season for SSC this strategic program and limited re- able thing," he said. "When he and I before quitting entirely, though this sources available for sports, it would bowled together, I knew he would be year's season may not be played, due to prudently manage to achieve the greater putting pressure on the batsman from COVID-19. objective on the international medal po- the other end - either keeping the runs - espncricinfo.com dium. - ENCL PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS (CEY) PVT, LTD. NO - 267, RAJA MAWATHA, EKALA - JA - ELA