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House
sub-committee condemns military WASHINGTON, Oct 28: The US house of representatives Asia-Pacific....more
For civilian rule in
Pakistan WASHINGTON, Oct 28: A house of representatives panel has ..more WB joins 48 countries WASHINGTON, Oct 28: The World Bank has released a ..more US offers to have strategic eco partnership with India WASHINGTON, Oct 28: The Clinton administration has offered ...more |
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Fate
of Sharif to be DUBAI, Oct 28: The fate of deposed Pakistan Prime Minister ....more LONDON, Oct 28: A new dictionary of slang shows drink and ....more
Sri Lanka announces election schedule COLOMBO, Oct 28: The mid-term Presidential elections in ...more House panel wants India as a strategic partner of US WASHINGTON, Oct 28: In one of the most far-reaching resolutions ever..more |
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House sub-committee condemns military coup in Pakistan WASHINGTON, Oct 28: The US house of representatives Asia-Pacific Sub-Committee has condemned the military coup in Pakistan and urged the Clinton administration to refrain from waiving the pressler amendment to reopen the arms supply line or any other military assistance to Islamabad. In a resolution moved yesterday by senior democrat, Sam Gejdenson, the Asia-Pacific Sub-Committee, expressed dismay over the recent coup overthrowing the democratically elected Government of President Nawaz Sharif and urged Clinton not to embark upon any military assistance or sales to Pakistan. The resolution will now go to the full house international committee and later to the full house. Introducing the resolution, Gejdenson, said, it is with great dismay that I introduce this. As the ranking member on the House International Relations Committee, I would rather be introducing legislation that deepens our relationship with key countries in South Asia, including Pakistan. However, when a struggling democracy is in danger of being snuffed out, when the voice of the people is being silenced and the rule of law ignored, we cannot stand by and do nothing. Two weeks ago, he said, the cause of democracy in Pakistan suffered a mortal wound when a military regime displaced the democratically elected Government of Nawaz Sharif. Gejdenson said there are many who, weary of the corruption and cronyism that has plagued Pakistan, would support the coup as a means to an end. They would argue perhaps this coup is an ‘alternate path to democracy.’ But the path of least resistance is seldom the right path in the end. The new military ruler of Pakistan, General Musharraf, has said the military will only stay in power as long as necessary. Another military dictator in Pakistan (General Zia) once said words to that effect and stayed for 14 years. Democracy is an institution built upon the pillars of transparency, rule of law, respect for human rights and perhaps most importantly, respect for the will of the people. These pillars, which took only hours to topple, will take years to rebuild. It is a sad irony that the president just yesterday signed the Defence Appropriations Bill which gives him the authority to waive sanctions against India and Pakistan and we are today making up a resolution asking him to not waive at least the military aspect of these sanctions against Pakistan. And yet that is exactly what we are asking. I believe, as does the president, that democracy is the birthright of every person. History has borne out that democratic societies are inherently more stable, and, ultimately, more prosperous. Stability and prosperity are two things that Pakistan desperately needs. So I would call on Musharraf to put pakistan back on the right path. And until that happens, I would call upon the President, through this resolution, to not embark on any military assistance or military sales with Pakistan. (PTI) |
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civilian rule in Pakistan WASHINGTON, Oct 28: A house of representatives panel has urged US President Bill Clinton against using his newly acquired powers to waive nuclear-related sanctions "to allow the sale of any military equipment or services" to Pakistan "until a civilian, democratically- elected Government is returned to power" there. A resolution, passed by a voice vote at the Asia pacific panel of the International Relations Committee yesterday, expressed concern at the military coup and called for "rapid" restoration of the civilian rule in the country. It, however, deleted the provision, which asked the President "not to consider reinstatement of Pakistan’s eligibility for international military education and training." Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, was the only member who voted against the deletion and insisted on sending a strong message to the military ruler for toppling the democratically-elected Government of Nawaz Sharif. The resolution was moved by democratic Congressman Sam Gejdenson. His party colleagues Gary Ackerman and Tom Lantos were its co-sponsors. Earlier, Mr Gejdenson said the cause of democracy in Pakistan had suffered a mortal wound. It was a sad irony that the president signed a bill a couple of days ago, which gave him the authority to waive sanctions against India and Pakistan and "we are today (Wednesday) marking up a resolution asking him to not waive at least the military aspect of these sanctions against Pakistan," he added. Mr Ackerman, who is co-chairman of the Congressional caucus on India and Indian Americans said, "I strongly believe that the administration will be doing a great mistake if it in any way initiates measures to ‘accommodate’ the military rulers simply citing the supercilious argument that ‘there is no alternative in sight’." "Notwithstanding General Pervez Musharraf’s moderate words, we should not be lulled into thinking that this will be a moderate Government," he added. He called upon military ruler General Pervez Musharraf to immediately announce a timetable for the restoration of democracy. Earlier, the panel unanimously adopted Congressman’s other resolution, urging President Clinton to " broaden our (U.S) special relationship with India into a strategic partnership." It urged the President to travel to India as it "continues to be a shining example of democracy for all of Asia to follow." It congratulated Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his re-election. Speaking on his resolution, Mr Ackerman said, "the contrasting events in India and Pakistan over a single 24 hour period speak eloquently about the new challenges and opportunities that we face in South Asia. In India, we have seen hundreds of millions of voters enthusiastically exercise their votes in a free and fair election." "It is high time we seriously begin to recognise this fact and graduate from mere platitudes to some tangible policy changes toward India," he added. (UNI) |
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WB joins 48 countries in corruption fight WASHINGTON, Oct 28: The World Bank has released a list of 48 countries including India where it is working with local authorities to combat corruption. It is important to note that this is not a list of countries that the World Bank has singled out to investigate corruption in, a bank statement said yesterday. The presence or absence of a country on this list is in no way indicative of the presence or absence of corruption in the country. Instead, it added, the countries on the list are those that have invited world bank help in mounting a systematic assault on corruption The countries are: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan unspecified Balkan nations, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Burkino Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Latvia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen and Zambia. Yesterday’s announcement made good a pledge in September by World Bank President James Wolfensohn to make available the names of members that have sought its anti-corruption help. He said the bank had conducted seminars and helped train judges and investigative journalists in several countries. (AFP) |
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US offers to have strategic eco partnership with India WASHINGTON, Oct 28: The Clinton administration has offered to have a "strategic economic partnership" with India, describing it as an "emerging high-tech superpower." Deputy US Trade Representative (USTR) Susan Esserman, who will be in New Delhi next week for a three day discussion with Indian officials, said "it is an ideal moment to go to India to promote and strengthen economic partnership. Ms Esserman, who will begin her talks in New Delhi on Monday was briefing Indian newspersons here yesterday about her visit. She said she would discuss both bialteral and global economic issues but her special interest was the agenda of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) conference to be held in Seattle (US) next month. "We see a number of areas of converging interests in WTO and want to have discussions with India," she added. The bilateral issues on which she wanted to exchange views include India’s balance of payment position, its desire to raise agriculture production, its practices and review steps it has taken to meet WTO commitments in the field of intellectual property protection. She intended to have "broad ranging and very productive" discussions on all these matters. Ms Esserman said the US and India were moving in the same direction "in terms of the scope and breadth of the negotiations." the US would tend to agree with India and share its concerns, for example, about launching a full-fledged investment agreement, she added. She said both India and the US wanted a new set of trade negotiations to be launched. But it is to be manageable, enabling the countries to fully participate in the negotiations. It should not be overloaded with too many subjects. "It is in the interest of both India and the US to complete the negotiations on time," she added. The Deputy USTR knew about India’s unwillingness to include non-trade issues like labour, investment and competition policy in the Seattle conference agenda and said, "we want to understand its point of view." She said she would use the opportunity to remove misunderstandings that obtained in India about the US position. "We want to develop most thoughtful impact of trade liberalisation on the working people," she added. She said India and other developing countries had benefitted from the WTO more than those of the developed nations. Since the Uruguay round, India’s exports had grown at an average of twelve per cent a year, she added. (UNI) |
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Fate of Sharif to be decided by judicial authorities: Musharraf DUBAI, Oct 28: The fate of deposed Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be decided by judicial authorities, according to Pakistan’s new military ruler Parvez Musharraf. "I am not the one to decide. There were huge embezzlements, a waste in the state’s funds and misuse of power over security issues and the judicial authorities alone will decide his fate", Gen Musharraf was quoted as saying in the Gulf today. He was on a day-long visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after his two-day tour of Saudi Arabia. The remarks of the General, who seized power on October 12, came amid reports from Islamabad that Mr Sharif spoke to his family members yesterday for the first time since his Government was overthrown. Gen Musharraf said the charges were yet to be determined but investigations were under way. "I will not comment on the punishment but I say the judiciary has the authority to decide on the nature of punishment." On contacts by European countries to allow its representatives to meet Mr Sharif, he said "I have not received any official request for a meeting with him." He said the new leadership had not taken any decision on the fate of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who had expressed her desire to return home. Ms Bhutto had many problems, he said. On Kashmir, Gen Musharraf called for American intervention, saying the issue was complicated and could not be resolved by unilateral decisions of any country. On the Western powers demand that democracy be restored in Pakistan, he said "I do not want to lie about the date of the return of civil life. So far, a date has not yet been set. Definitely, it will not be for months. I, personally, would like civil life for Pakistan but it is difficult to talk about this now. We have a lot of issues which need organisation and solutions and it is too early to talk about that (civil life)." Gen Musharraf has said the world was gradually beginning to understand the situation in Pakistan. He said he had briefed the leadership in Saudi Arabia and the uae on the circumstances under which the Nawaz Sharif Government was overthrown. Gen Musharraf said he would shortly announce the new cabinet to run the affairs of the country. The number of ministers would be reduced from 27 to twelve. In provinces also, the Governors would be assisted by small cabinets. The General asserted that he would not bow to international pressure and all his actions would be dictated by the interests of Pakistan. Gen Musharraf, who also addressed the Pakistani expatriate community, said he was committed to creating an environment conducive for investments in Pakistan. He said he would ask overseas Pakistanis to invest in the country of their origin after he had put economy back on the rails. "If overseas Chinese can build China, overseas Pakistanis can also build Pakistan", he said. Gen Musharraf said Pakistan was visibly a poor country because it had not realised its full potential. The country had a fertile land, water reources, potential for generating power,gas,coal and oil. "Pakistan is like a rich man living like a poor man,having kept all its fixed deposits in banks...We will take out these deposits and invest in the country", he said. (UNI) |
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LONDON, Oct 28: A new dictionary of slang shows drink and drugs spawn the most street synonyms — 65 for alcohol alone — and nicknames for sex and money don’t lag far behind. Starting with ‘Aarvark’ (hard work) and ending at ‘Zymotic’ (repellent), the dictionary contains some 8,000 words to prove contemporary slang is alive, kicking — and often very rude. "The main obsessions among slang users of all ages, as revealed by word counts, have not changed intoxication by drink or drugs throws up, no pun attended, the largest number of synonyms," according to Tony Thorne, author of Bloomsbury’s "dictionary of contemporary slang". From ‘bollers’ to ‘squirt’ to ‘beer token’, Mr Thorne lists a whole range of obscure synonyms for money, saying such nicknames have spread far and wide since the materialistic 1980s. Less explicable is a growing interest around the English speaking world in fluff balls, animal droppings and wigs. "Why do speakers in post-industrial Britain and Australia still need a dozen or more terms for flakes of dung that hang from the rear of sheep?" asked Mr Thorne, who is director of the language centre at London’s King’s College. Amongst the terms cited for dangling dung are dags, dangelberries, dingleberries, jub-nuts, winnets and wittens. "Other obsessions are more curious," said Thorne. "Is it the North American housewife’s Hygiene Fetish which has given us more than a dozen words (dust bunny, dust kitty, ghost turd etc) for the balls of fluff found on an unswept floor, where British English only has one, beggars velvet?" Mr Thorne, who trawled the club culture, criminal world, fanzines and internet to compile his dictionary, said the constant evolution of slang meant his work was never done. Some ‘new’ words date to times long past: punk became an underground term in the 17th century, luka is a modern twist on "filthy lucre", or money, and the rhyming slang that gained popularity in victorian times is thriving in both Britain and Australia. Other words are genuinely new and gain currency via the football stadium, computer room or the trading floor, far removed from the breeding grounds of old. "Once dominated by language originating with the armed forces, the underworld and public schools, it (slang) is now cropping up in unexpected places," Mr Thorne said. "There is now a middle-aged slang that is used by parents and teachers regional slang travels the country almost instantaneously and South African and Australian slang is becoming as important as British and American varieties." (REUTERS) |
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Sri Lanka announces election schedule COLOMBO, Oct 28: The mid-term Presidential elections in Sri Lanka will be held on December 21, the island’s Election Commission announced here today. Ending a week-long speculation over the poll dates, the Commission announced that the nominations for the Presidential polls would be accepted for a day on November 16 and the nation-wide ballot would take place on December 21. Campaigning would end two days before the polling date. The polling date was preferred as the newly elected President could assume office on the eve of the new millennium, Commission sources here said. The announcement of the poll schedule comes a week after President Chandrika Kumaratunga issued a proclamation asking for snap polls, almost a year ahead of schedule. The term of the Sri Lankan presidency is for six years. Earlier, the Government has dropped fair hints about the Christmas eve schedule by advancing the country wide college level examinations. The official media here today carried the last night’s government’s order announcing the advancement of the GCE’O’ level exams by five days. According to the new schedule, the exams would be held between December 2 and 17. The advancement of the election dates helped the Elections Commission to hold the polls any time after December 17 as it could use the schools and college buildings as polling stations. However, the local media earlier had projected January 11 as the polling date preferred by Kumaratunga as it was astrologically most auspicious day for her to seek re-election. (PTI) |
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House panel wants India as a strategic partner of US WASHINGTON, Oct 28: In one of the most far-reaching resolutions ever adopted in an attempt to transform indo-us relations, the US House of Representatives Asia-Pacific Sub-Committee has unanimously urged President Bill Clinton to broaden our special relationship with India into a strategic partnership. The resolution moved yesterday by democratic Congressman Gary Ackerman, Co-Chairman of the House India Caucus, will now be placed before the full International Relations Committee and later the full House and Senate for approval. The resolution, co-sponsored by democrats Sam Gejdenson and Tom Lantos, expressed strong support of the Congress for the recently concluded polls in India and urged the President to travel to India....And broaden our special relationship with India into a strategic partnership. The resolution also expressed dismay over the recent turn of events in Pakistan, where the military overthrew the democratically-elected Government of Premier Nawaz Sharif on October 12 and assumed the reins of power, and urged an immediate return to democracy. Introducing the resolution, Ackerman told the subcommittee headed by Douglas Bereuter it is high time we seriously begin to graduate from mere platitudes to some tangible policy changes towards India. I believe, said Ackerman, it is time to re-examine our basic premise regarding us policy in South Asia. We should abandon old paradigms and cold war hangups and see that India, a democracy, is our natural ally in the region. This resolution, said Ackerman, is a manifestation of the deep anguish many of us feel at the most unfortunate turn of events in Pakistan. Even as the winds of democracy are sweeping through much of the developing world, the men in uniform have chosen to abort democracy in Pakistan with the barrel of the gun. This strangling of democratic principles and values is unaceptable to the international community. And this murder of democracy must be reversed. I strongly believe that the administration will be doing a great mistake if it in any way initiates measures to ‘accommodate’ the military rulers simply citing the supercilious argument that ‘there is no alternative in sight.’ the Pakistani people’s wishes, their democratic wishes, is the real solution. Ackerman said notwithstanding General Pervez Musharraf’s moderate words, we should not be lulled into thinking that this will be a moderate Government. After all, he has suspended the constitution and the elected national and provincial Assemblies, dismissed the Government and declared a state of emergency. He is also the author of Pakistan’s ill-fated invasion of India last summer. I am concerned, as is the administration, over what we did not hear from General Musharraf. We did not hear a single timetable for new polls and the re-establishment of democratic Government. We issue a call upon the Pakistani rulers to immediately announce a timetable for restoration of democracy. I believe that we must remain engaged with Pakistan, but that we should do so on the side of the Pakistani people. We must identify and support democratic elements within Pakistan so that the people of Pakistan can again enjoy their democratic rights. The people of Pakistan are not celebrating the demise of democracy they are, at best, celebrating the demise of an allegedly corrupt Government. The demise of democracy in Pakistan, Ackerman warned, spells danger to the whole of South Asia. I am deeply concerned that the military rulers of Pakistan may turn out to be as reckless as they have proved to be in aborting democracy in their nation, in their dealings with neighbouring democracy, India. I strongly support Secretary Albright’s call yesterday that Pakistan should, in a bid to build confidence with India, pull back its forces from the Line of Control in Kashmir. (UNI) |
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