Problems faced by recruitment Agents in Lebanon

(Lanka-e-News-15.July.2014, 2.45PM) I am working for a Lebanese recruitment agency for a period 07 years. According to rules we need to obtain approval of the Labour Officer of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Lebanon. Since March 2014 we are facing difficulties in obtaining this approval from the Embassy. Our applications are often rejected giving variety of reasons even though our applications are in perfect order. Very often Mr. Jameel, Counsellor of the Embassy calls our boss to visit the Embassy to discuss about these applications. Delay would affect our business very badly. Mr. Jameel is asking US dollars 50 for each job application to sign. If we do not bribe him we cannot have our documents in time. Our Lebanese boss often asked why does he ask for money for signing applications as we bring a lot of businesses to Sri Lanka? Usually our bosses are very busy and they do not like to visit to get job applications signed. We are visiting the Embassy. Now Mr. Jameel asked all Sri Lankans working recruitment agencies submit a legal document signed in the presence of a lawyer to represent our agencies. Our bosses do not want troubles. They can very easily bring down enough Ethiopian or Bangladesh people for work in Lebanon. We are actually promoting Sri Lankans in Lebanon through our agencies. This is really very bad. This man should be jailed. Because of this problem many have stopped recruiting Sri Lankans to work in Lebanon.

Chairman of Dehiowita PS arrested

July 15, 2014

The Chairman of the Dehiowita Pradeshiya Sabha Amila Ruwan has been arrested on charges of robbery, Police said a short while ago. He is alleged to have robbed a bus on July 4, Police claimed.

The Chairman handed himself over to the police today along with the Dehiowita trishaw owners association President who is said to be his accomplice. The suspects will be produced before the Awissawella Magistrate courts today.

Rajapakas’ Continuous Coaxing Of The Chinese Ruffles Indian Feathers

July 15, 2014 

The Rajapaksa-regime’s desperate need to be in China’s good books has resulted in a significant loss of land as land transfers have been agreed upon to two Chinese firms as charges for their projects in Sri Lanka, the weekly Sinhala newspaper Ravaya has reported.

It has been noted that a Chinese firm has requested for the ownership of the 198-acre land in Gampaha, claiming the expressway construction under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme is not profitable.

The Ravaya report also states that another Chinese company has requested for a large land area in return for constructing a dam to prevent coastal erosion along Colombo South Port to Moratuwa.

Despite pledges made by the Rajapaksa-led UPFA of not allowing a single inch of land to be sold to foreigners, it has already sold 10 acres from the Army headquarters’ premises in Galle Face Green to the Shangri La group and has agreed to handover the ownership of 1/3 of the Port City that is currently being constructed in Colombo on land reclaimed from the sea to another Chinese firm.

Meanwhile, the weekly English newspaper – the Sunday Times reports Sri Lanka’s continuous coaxing of the Chinese has ruffled feathers of Indian authorities. ST Political Column titled ‘UPFA loses friends and influences disasters’ states that Indian External Affairs Minister Swaraj had raised issue with her Sri Lankan counterpart Peiris over a decision by the Government to permit China National Aero-Technology Import-Export Corporation (CATIC) to establish an Aircraft Base Maintenance Center worth 40.3 million USD in Trincomalee, pointing out it violates the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987.

The Column exclusively reports that the project aims at producing indigenous aircraft and will also provide for a large housing block in the picturesque Marble Beach to accommodate the Chinese crew.

President’s media head kills, while in ride with woman

 Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Head of the president’s media unit Wijayananda Herath, disregarding the orders of the president while he was overseas, has forcibly got hold of his official vehicle from the driver and was taking a ride with one of his women, when he had run over and killed one person, say sources at the president’s office.

The president has given strict orders to his staff members not to take vehicles without drivers for official purposes. Despite that order, the president’s media unit head has deceived the driver and obtained the vehicle for a ride with the woman. It is an open secret at the president’s office that every time the president goes overseas, his media unit head has made it a habit of going after women.

After he had run over and killed the man at Kadawatha, Herath had used his powers and got the incident covered up through Kadawatha police. However, relative of the dead man later complained to the president and the judiciary, and Herath is now finding him in hot water.

He is now looking for an opportunity to catch the president in a good mood, go down on his knees before him and plead for mercy, as he well knows that many drug racketeers, killers and rapists had done just that to get themselves absolved.

Basil advises to cut Wimal and bring Dayasiri to the fore

 Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Minister Basil Rajapaksa has ordered the UPFA’s election propaganda committee not to give any prominent place to minister Wimal Weerawansa at propaganda platforms for future elections.

Minister Basil is fuming over Wimal’s remark after Dr. P.B. Jayasundara resigned as secretary of his economic development ministry that it was useless for the economic assassin to leave a secretary position of an unkonwn ministry. In a fury over Wimal’s reference to his ministry as an unknown one, Basil has mentioned the caste of the NFF leader and abused him in filth, saying that he would teach him the extent of powers of his ministry.

Minister Basil has now advised that northwestern province chief minister Dayasiri Jayasekara be given the place in the UPFA election platform earlier given to Wimal Weerawansa and to get the CM to attend more election rallies and television debates.

It has also been decided to ignore the 12 point proposal submitted to the government by the NFF without giving it any serious response.

Malaysian authorities accused of human rights violations

By Rowena Dela Rosa Yoon Jul 15, 2014

The local police in Gebang, Malaysia have been accused of suppressing basic human rights following the illegal arrests of civilians who are protesting against the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP), an Australian-owned rare earths mining company.

Civilians call for the release of detained protesters. (Photo: Himpunan Hijau)

Over a dozen of protesters were arrested on June 22, including Australian environmental defender Natalie Lowry. She was released earlier and she is now back in Sydney safe and sound.

However, not all the protesters were freed in good faith. Last week, six were released on three conditions – bail amounting to RM 2,500 (€576) each, a ban from posting on social media, and monthly reporting at the local police station.

The six are members of the Himpunan Hijau (Green Assembly), a Malaysian environmental movement protesting against Lynas. They were detained on charges of illegal assembly and rioting following their participation in the protest calling for the company to cease work on the plant and leave Malaysia.

The group opposes the operations of Lynas plant, which the group claims produces tonnes of toxic waste.

A couple joins the rally against Lynas. (Photo: Himpunan Hijau)

Two protesters were hospitalised after the protest and  a human rights defender sustained serious injuries in the head, resulting in concussion, according to reports. All were charged were violating the country’s penal code.

The lawyer for the human rights defenders rejected the conditions, arguing that the injunction is an unconstitutional infringement of  the right to freedom of expression. The case hearing will resume on September 2.

Front Line Defenders is concerned that the charges and bail conditions are targeting the protesters  in order to obstruct and limit their human rights, specifically their campaign to protect the environment of the local community in Kuantan.

A photo taken during the detention of Natalie Lowry. (Photo: Himpunan Hijau)

Front Line Defenders has urged the authorities in Malaysia to immediately drop all charges against the 15 human rights activists.

Israel bombards Gaza after Hamas rejects proposals and resumes rocket attacks

Israel agreed to Egypt-brokered truce but resumes bombing after Palestinian group says its demands were not met

An explosion in the northern Gaza Strip, after Israel resumed air strikes. Photograph: Baz Ratner/Reuters

Harriet Sherwood-Tuesday 15 July 2014 

Israel has resumed its bombardment of Gaza a few hours after agreeing to an Egyptian proposal to end the eight-day military confrontation with Hamas, and in response to continued rocket fire from the coastal enclave.

The Israeli security cabinet had agreed to a "de-escalation" of the conflict, to begin at 9am today, but Hamas rejected the proposal, saying it had not been consulted and its demands were not being met.

In a statement issued by his office, the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, said: "Hamas's rejection of the ceasefire gives Israel full legitimacy to expand the operation to protect our people. No country would sit idly by while its civilian population is subjected to terrorist rocket fire. Israel is no exception."

According to the Israeli military, about 50 rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel in the six hours that Israel stopped air strikes. No one was injured.

There were numerous reports of explosions in Gaza following the announcement. The total death toll among Palestinians was expected to top 200 with the resumption of action.

Israel's deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, suggested that Israel may escalate military action to include a ground invasion as well as aerial and sea bombardment. "If Hamas does not accept a ceasefire by 9pm tonight, my estimation is that the IDF [Israeli Defence Force] will have to enter," he tweeted.

However, there were signs of division within Hamas. Conflicting messages were delivered by the Hamas leadership within Gaza, and its international leadership. The organisation's military wing also took a more defiant stand than the political leadership.

The al-Qassam Brigades issued a robust rejection of the truce plan, saying: "Our battle with the enemy continues and will increase in ferocity and intensity." It described the proposal as a "surrender".

Hamas spokesmen in Gaza said the Islamist group had not received an official ceasefire proposal, and its demands must be met before it lays down its weapons.

But Mussa Abu Marzuk, a senior Hamas leader based in Cairo, wrote on Facebook that "we're still in consultations. The movement has yet to take an official position on the initiative," according to Agence France-Presse.

Although Egypt has been a key player in brokering ceasefires to end previous conflicts between Israel and Hamas, the Islamic leaders of Gaza deeply distrust the Cairo regime that has been in place since a military coup a year ago. President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas's ideological parent organisation, and attitudes towards Gaza and its rulers have hardened.

Hamas and other Palestinian leaders are also likely to be suspicious of the role of Middle East envoy Tony Blair, who has been acting as an interlocutor between Israel and Egypt. Blair is seen as a staunch defender of Israel's interests and an enthusiast for Sisi's regime.

Hamas has set out its key demands for ending rocket fire, which include the lifting of Israel's eight-year blockade on the Gaza Strip, the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and the release of more than 50 Palestinian prisoners Israel recently rearrested after freeing them in exchange for kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011.

The continuation of military action will dismay the US secretary of state,John Kerry, who had urged all parties to support a ceasefire. Speaking in Vienna before Israel resumed its air strikes, he said: "I cannot condemn strongly enough the actions of Hamas in so brazenly firing rockets in multiple numbers in the face of a goodwill effort to offer ceasefire."

However, he added: "I still think, perhaps, reason could prevail. If the political wing can deal with the military wing."

Egypt had proposed a 12-hour period of "de-escalation", to be followed by a full ceasefire and talks between the two parties and mediator on a long-term agreement.

Despite the resumption of action, Israel may be anxious about getting drawn deeper into a military confrontation in Gaza. There has been no loss of Israeli life in the past eight days, but the chances of civilian or military deaths increase the longer the fighting continues, especially in the event of a ground invasion.

Israel may also have calculated that its bombardment of Gaza has achieved its principal goal of weakening Hamas and punishing the people of the coastal enclave. It does not want to deal a fatal blow to Hamas, for fear that more radical groups would fill a power vacuum in Gaza.

Previous military confrontations between Israel and Hamas – Operation Pillar of Defence in November 2012, and Operation Cast Lead in 2008-09 – ended in ceasefire and negotiated agreements that eventually broke down. Most diplomats believe the cycle will continue unless the fundamental underlying causes of the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict are addressed and resolved.

Israel, Palestinians battle as Egyptian-proposed Gaza ceasefire collapses

1 OF 13. Israeli tanks and armoured personnel carriers (APCs) are seen at a staging area outside the central Gaza Strip July 15, 2014. 

BY NIDAL AL-MUGHRABI AND JEFFREY HELLER- GAZA/JERUSALEM Tue Jul 15, 2014 

(Reuters) - Israel resumed air strikes in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, six hours after agreeing to an Egyptian-proposed truce that failed to halt Hamas rocket attacks.

Israel, Palestinians Battle as Egyptian-proposed Gaza Ceasefire Collapses by Maria Anderson

Afghanistan: Market Suicide Car Bomb Kills 89 in Paktika Province

An Afghan policeman is seen through the broken windows of a vehicle after it was hit by a remote-controlled bomb in Kabul 

At least 89 people have been killed and dozens wounded by a car bomb blast at a busy marketplace in eastern Afghanistan's Paktika province, according to the district's governor.

The suicide bomber drove a four-wheel drive vehicle into the market in Orgun district before detonating the explosives, officials said.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, where the market was full of people doing their shopping.

"The bazaar was packed with civilians," said governor Mohammad Raza Kharoti.

A spokesman for the Afghan defence ministry said soldiers were assisting the relief effort from the blast.

"Our soldiers are still trying to recover bodies. Almost all of the shops have fallen," General Zahir Azimi said.

The eastern province of Paktika shares a border with Pakistan's fractious tribal areas.

The attack follows the deaths of two staff members of outgoing Afghan president Hamid Karzai in a roadside bomb blast in Kabul. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

William Hague quits as foreign secretary in cabinet reshuffle

Newsnight's Allegra Stratton looks back at William Hague's political career

William Hague has stood down as foreign secretary, but will stay in the cabinet as Leader of the Commons, Downing Street has said.

At least 12 men will leave their posts in the significant reshuffle, including Ken Clarke who is standing down.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson is leaving the cabinet and is expected to be replaced by education minister Liz Truss.

Philip Hammond has accepted the role of foreign secretary.

William Hague leaves Downing Street after a brief visit on Tuesday morning

William Hague Quits as Foreign Secretary in Cabinet Reshuffle by Maria Anderson

Mocking of teen rape victim prompts major internet backlash

Photos of a 16-year-old American girl, who was allegedly raped, have been passed around social media and mocked by teens, using the hashtag #jadapose. Now, Jada and her supporters are fighting back

#IAmJada: Jada chose to wave her anonymity and speak out about rape 

By Claire Cohen- 15 Jul 2014

Have you heard about Jada? Over the past few days, the 16-year-old girl from Houston, Texas has become something of a social media presence.

But not for the reasons you might think.

A few weeks ago Jada went to a house party with school friends. While there, she says her drink was spiked by the teenage male host. She fell unconscious, was stripped naked and allegedly raped.

Then pictures of her – bottomless, unconscious, splayed out on the floor – began to appear on social media, where they went viral.

Other teens began shaming Jada. They mocked her pose and posted pictures of themselves mimicking it under the hashtag #jadapose and using the message 'hit that'.

Other teens began shaming Jada. They mocked her pose and posted pictures of themselves mimicking it under the hashtag #jadapose and using the message 'hit that'.

^{One of the images posted on Twitter - now removed}

Her the alleged rapist bragged about not raping her, calling Jada a "hoe" and saying that she "snitched". His account has since been deleted, but his friends have made fun of it and others have questioned why she didn't report the incident immediately.

Jada says she doesn’t remember anything at the party after having her drink. In fact, she didn’t know anything was wrong until friends started asking whether she was OK and she saw the images of herself being circulated online.

Now, the backlash has begun.

Jada decided to wave her anonymity (asking to be identified by her first name) and speak out against what happened to her and - she believes - teens all over America (such as in the Steubenville rape case).

“Everybody has already seen my face and my body,” she told KHOU news, “but that’s not what I am and who I am.”

^{Jada has waved her anonymity. Photo: Khou.com}

Twitter has also kicked into action...

☮ @keeleyporter

Follow

How can people be so ignorant to think rape culture doesn't exist when a 16 year olds sexual assault became a meme to replicate #jadapose

6:03 AM - 15 Jul 2014

Women and men have been posing pictures on social media in a show of solidarity with Jada - raising their fists and holding signs, as she did in a picture with the hashtag #IAmJada. They also appear under hashtags such as #StandWithJada, #JusticeforJadaand #Jadacounterpose and demand a change in rape culture, education - and for arrests to be made in Jada's case. They have slammed those who made fun of her and sent the photos viral.

Feminist Campus @feministcampus

Follow

We're taking back #JadaPose. Rape isn't funny; respect survivors.

10:56 AM - 11 Jul 2014

CenterforReproRights @ReproRights

Follow

RT @taasa: Create counter stories to #jadapose that challenge #rapeculture. http://bit.ly/1tvMFAP  #jadacounterpose

12:25 PM - 11 Jul 2014

Krystal Ball @krystalball

Follow

Jada's courage is unstoppable. #StandWithJada #IAmJada @RonanDaily @RonanFarrow

2:14 PM - 14 Jul 2014

This protest has also been circulating on Facebook.

Houston police are now investigating the case. While Twitter and Instagram have removed the original pictures, although some GIFs remain.

And it's not just Twitter that's fighting back. Jada's family is fighting for justice. "I'm just angry," Jada said, calling for her attacker to be jailed and explaining that she now wants to be schooled at home.

While her mum, who chose not to be identified, added simply; “No human being deserved this.”

War is over, but not Sri Lanka’s climate of violence and threats

Australia’s defence of Sri Lanka’s human rights record disregards an ingrained culture of violence as part of that country’s political landscape. EPA/M.A. Pushpa Kumara

Kasun Ubayasiri-13 July 2014

The Australian government has become the great defender of Sri Lanka’s post-war human rights credentials, it seems. But Sri Lanka’s (and Australia’s) insistence that the end of the civil war means an end to persecution ignores considerable anecdotal evidence of continued ethnic intimidation and a rise in Buddhist-nationalist violence.

War is Over, But Not Sri Lanka’s Climate of Violence and Threats by Maria Anderson

THE NEED TO CREATE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR NGOS TO ENGAGE WITH GOVERNMENT-JEHAN PERERA

Created on 14 July 2014

The ambiguously worded directive from the government’s NGO Secretariat responsible for monitoring non-governmental organizations, and which calls on NGOs to operate within their mandate, has led to strong criticism from a range of actors. These include the main opposition party, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and the international community.

The Need to Create a Positive Environment for Ngos to Engage With Government-jehan Perera by Maria Anderson

TNA too, wants executive presidency scrapped

DEW hopeful grand coalition in the making

Sumanthiran

by Shamindra Ferdinando-July 13, 2014, 9:59 pm 

The five-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has thrown its weight behind efforts by the Opposition to abolish or at least dilute powers of the executive presidency.

TNA frontliner and attorney-at-law M. A. Sumanthiran, MP, yesterday said that his grouping would fully support the ongoing campaing for the abolition of the executive presidency. When pointed out the TNA had not given any indication recently as regards its position on the executive presidency, MP Sumanthiran said that the media had never raised the issue with the party.

The TNA comprises the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi, TELO, PLOTE, EPRLF and TULF.

Asked whether the TNA was ready to work with other like-minded political parties and groups to achieve that end, MP Sumanthiran said that if there was an effort to mobilise political parties against a common objective, the TNA would willingly support the effort.

At the last presidential election in January 2010, the TNA joined the UNP and the JVP in supporting the candidature of former Army Chief, General Sarath Fonseka against incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa. At the Nov. 2005 presidential election, the TNA urged Tamil speaking voters to boycott the presidential poll. The request was made on Nov 10 that year in Kilinochchi on behalf of the LTTE.

CP General Secretary and Senior Minister Dew Gunasekara told The Island that Tamil political parties and groups realised the need to do away with the executive presidential system, though they were supportive of it over the years. Minister Gunasekera said that the UPFA constituent, the MEP, too, recently sought a meeting with the Socialist Alliance (SA) to discuss constitutional reforms. The minister asserted that except for a few, the vast majority supported the call to do away with the executive presidency. The minister said that a grand coalition against executive presidency was in the making.