ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Monday 29 April 2013 19 Jumada II 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5684 Price: QR2 UNDP Report Doha event could hails Qatar’s boost FIBA’s 3x3 reforms Games push Business | 17 Sport | 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Iraq suspends Lankan curbs Al Jazeera operations on workers BAGHDAD: The Iraqi authori- ties announced yesterday that they had revoked the operating licences of the Qatar-based Al Jazeera and nine other satel- lite TV channels, alleging that violating law they are promoting a sectarian agenda, as the country grapples with a wave of violence. Runaway workers to be blacklisted The move, effective immedi- ately, comes as Baghdad tries to BY FAZEENA SALEEM such as non-payment of salaries quell rising unrest in the country and difficult working conditions. after clashes at a protest camp DOHA: Sri Lanka has said it Some of them say they have no last week. will ban its nationals who are proper job contracts. More than 180 people have been runaway workers and have taken “Illegal workers are an increas- killed in gun battles with secu- up employment elsewhere in vio- ing problem. We receive consider- rity forces and other attacks since lation of Qatari laws from tak- able numbers of men and women the unrest began on Tuesday. ing up jobs in other Middle East who have run away from their The violence follows more than countries once they return home. employers and worked outside. four months of largely peaceful The country’s embassy in Doha Their actions affect the credibility protests by Iraq’s Sunni minor- said yesterday it has strict regu- of Sri Lankan workers, so we have ity against the Shia-dominated lations in place now to deal with to take strict action,” the embassy government. runaway Sri Lankan workers who official said requesting anonymity. “We took a decision to sus- are in jobs here illegally — a phe- It is mandatory for every Sri pend the licence of some satellite nomenon the embassy describes Lankan, skilled or unskilled, channels that adopted language as unfortunate and increasing, leaving the country for employ- H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser during a visit to the Horseed School at Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, as part of encouraging violence and sectari- damaging ‘its credibility in the ment overseas to seek approval a fact-finding mission prior to the launch of Educate A Child initiative. anism,” Mujahid Abu Al Hail, a employment market’. from the Sri Lankan Foreign top official in the Communications The rule, however, does not Employment Bureau. and Media Commission, said. apply to Sri Lankan workers who The Bureau runs manda- “It means stopping their work run away from their employers tory short training programmes Educate A Child initiative in Iraq and their activities, so on valid grounds and wish to go for women who want to travel they cannot cover events in Iraq back home. “They should imme- abroad to take up domestic jobs. or move around,” Hail said. diately report to the embassy,” an The training also makes work- helps 600,000 in six months “The fact that so many chan- official said. ers aware of the laws and cus- nels have been hit all at once ... But those who come to the toms of the manpower importing DOHA: The Educate A Child million more people given the Unicef in helping refugee children suggests this is an indiscriminate embassy after working for months countries. (EAC) initiative of H H Sheikha opportunity to fulfill their poten- around the world. Right now, decision,” an Al Jazeera spokes- after their escape from their Some people bypass rules and Moza bint Nasser has helped tial, to realise their ambitions and EAC is helping refugee children in man said. “We urge the authori- sponsors or are found involved in land here on visit and business 600,000 children get quality to contribute fully to their com- 12 countries through these part- ties to uphold freedom for the any other illegal activity will be visas and convert their visas into schooling just six moths after munities, their nations and yes, nerships. EAC is currently tar- media to report the important dealt with sternly. work visas. The Bureau, naturally, its launch. to humanity,” said Sheikha Moza. geting 34 countries that account stories taking place in Iraq,” the Their personal details and fin- doesn’t have their record, the offi- Sheikha Moza is to make an “But it also highlights just how for more than 70 percent of the spokesman said. ger prints will be forwarded to the cial said. “If someone comes here official announcement today much remains to be done to world’s out-of-school children and Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki Sri Lankan Foreign Employment through the proper channel it’s about the achievements of her give this opportunity to all the is already working in 17 countries. said on Saturday that sectarian Bureau in Colombo so that they easy for us to find a solution if he education initiative in a meeting 61 million children who through Today, 17 government minis- strife “came back to Iraq, because could be banned from taking up faces a problem.” at the Qatar National Convention no fault of their own are being ters and representatives of tar- it began in another place in this employment in any other Middle Qatar is one of the largest Centre. Speaking ahead of the deprived of one of their most get countries are in Doha for an region,” in an apparent reference Eastern country in future as a employers of Sri Lankans in the meeting at which she will wel- basic human rights. This meeting intensive two-day programme of to Syria. punishment. region. The number of Sri Lankan come ministers and senior gov- will seek to build partnerships to networking, regional seminars and The civil war in neighbouring The embassy is receiving on an workers here is estimated at a ernment officials from 18 states, get millions of more children into troubleshooting clinics, designed to Syria pitting mainly Sunni rebels average five runaway workers a whopping 150,000. Last year alone, Sheikha Moza said that while this school,” she added. help participants find and explore against the regime of President day. Most of them are domestic Qatar received some 56,900 skilled was an outstanding start, much One of EAC’s most striking affordable, local, culturally relevant Bashar Al Assad, a member of and unskilled workers employed and semi-skilled Sri Lankans, work remains to be done. successes in the past six months solutions to this problem. the Alawite offshoot of Shia, has by private companies and they according to the mission official. “Half a million more children has been its partnership with Continued on page 5 killed more than 70,000 people. come complaining of problems THE PENINSULA in the classroom means half a organisations like UNHCR and THE PENINSULA AGENCIES Egyptian negotiator with IMF resigns Parallel road to ease traffic on February 22 Street CAIRO: A key Egyptian nego- DOHA: Plans are afoot to Reacting to public complaints local Arabic daily. He said Ashgal mistakes. All the new projects addressing public complaints, tiator with the International develop a parallel road to about the heavy traffic jams on is now working to develop entry have been designed with the sticking to project deadlines and Monetary Fund (IMF), said February 22 Street that links the February 22 road, Ashghal and exit points at Duhail bridge requirements for the next 50 selecting the best international yesterdayday he has resigned the Midmac underpass on the chairman Eng Naser Al Mowlawi and this would be completed in years in view,” he added. companies. as first deputy finance minister, D-Ring road with Shamal road said the proposed highway is part two months. Tenders for the first phase of “We are facing problems in in a potential blow to Cairo’s to address the heavy traffic con- of a series of measures being “We have expanded the the Industrial Area development coordinating with other con- prospects of an early IMF deal. gestion on this major highway. taken by Ashghal to address the Midmac and Passport rounda- project, that has been delayed, will cerned bodies. Sometimes it Hany Kadry Dimian has been The road starting from Woqod issue. The design has been final- bouts to the maximum possible be invited by the middle of this becomes difficult to move other the crucial point man in Egypt’s roundabout in Abu Hamour and ised for some important part of levels. There are other solutions year. The project has been divided service providers from the work- protracted and so far fruitless leading to Al Rayyan through Al this project. planned including new exit and into six parts—roads, sewages, site. And there are also mistakes negotiations to obtain a $4.8bn Waab will be developed with flyo- “The February 22 street was entry points at Umm Lakhba services, beautification and an in the designs. It is important is loan needed to help combat a vers and underpasses, according designed in 2000 and opened after Intersection,” said Al Mowlawi. integrated security system. The to discover the mistakes in the severe economic crisis. A senior to a senior official of the Public 10 years due to delays caused by He said Ashghal is currently project includes 220km roads and early stages,” said Al Mowlawi. technocrat appointed in 2007, Works Authority (Ashghal). the contracting company. The working on 10 major projects 160 intersections. He said Ashghal For the next seven years, Kadry survived five finance This highway will link number of cars in Qatar in 2000 which include the second phase will soon introduce an electronic Ashghal has undertaken projects ministers in office since the 2011 the Woqod roundabout with was about 170,000 but now in of Salwa Road, F-Ring Road, system to receive complaints and worth a whopping QR100bn that uprising that overthrew former Mukafahat roundabout in Al 2013 there are more than 900,000 East Industrial Area road, main suggestions from the public about will see construction of more president Hosni Mubarak.