Beginnings of a ... slippery-slope! 

BY RUKSHANA NANAYAKKARA-September 10, 2014 
 

The increase of violence running up to the Uva Provincial Council election is an ominous premonition. The bumpy start of democratic evolution since independence has generously chronicled the erosion of our democratic values since 1970s, and the election process since the 1980s has become an erratic cursor. Although developments in the last 10 years did not bring a sigh of relief, it did record a somewhat upward trend towards a peaceful voting process in the country. However, the Uva election process shatters our hopes indicating we are far from reaching a sustainable platue for our democratic future.

Cops turn blind
eye to Ops in Uva...
Election monitors Peoples Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), revealed that it had received more than 200 complaints of election law violations and election-related violence since 30 July. So far 158 of them have been confirmed. Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) also reports a similar number of election violation cases across the two districts in the Province. In addition to direct violent attack on individuals and property, the presence of organized groups in the region raises serious concerns about a healthy election environment. These groups are reportedly wandering in the Province in vehicles without registration numbers and some in vehicles with Western Province registration numbers.

This projection of power seemingly happens under the blessings of the law enforcement authorities. According to CaFFE, police in the region have done nothing to remove these vehicles from the area despite continuous allegations levelled against these mysterious vehicles and obvious violations of motor traffic regulations and election regulations. Arson attacks and intimidation apparently have taken place in the direct presence of the police. Overall the intentions of the violators are clear. They want to build up a climate of fear leading up to the elections.

The Deputy Election Commissioner's most recent statement that Uva elections may be postponed unless poll law violations are abated indicating the gravity of the issue and the sorry status of the Election Commissioner's office. It is an unfortunate indirect affirmation that the law and order of this country is collapsing.

The violence of Uva elections paints the story of not only present day corruption but also how the future will unravel. If predictions and hopes of Sri Lanka becoming a middle level middle income country are realized as expected, the levels of petty corruption may recede with it. Although far from perfection, according to recent surveys done by international organizations, Sri Lanka has marked a slight progress in reducing petty corruption in the public sector. But the collection of power within a few members of a family over the past few years has opened another perilous avenue for corruption. Grooming of power within a privileged clan is leading such power to be mobilized for the continuation of the same. The unprecedented scale of violence in the Uva election in the avenue of most recent election in Sri Lanka signifies what could result in a context of fear psychosis of this stronghold of power.

When oligarchy
stifles democracy...
Is this the beginning of a slippery slope? The most recent Provincial Council election indicated a slight erosion of popularity of the present regime. Sinhala Buddhist extremism of the government makes it rather unpopular to its existing coalition partners. President Rajapaksa is gearing for another round of mandate seeking. The stakes are high. They are not in a position to give up the power. The on-going violence is a simple indication of the mentality and attitude of the present regime. Corruption is use of power for personal gain and rulers who continued to be in power for long period of time to mobilize their power for their existence beyond democratic norms and will of the people. Plenty of examples across the globe warrant limitation of this power.
The recent attempts of the Cambodia ruling party on dissent and anyone who ally with it indicate the unwillingness to give up power which accumulated a privileged class in the country since 1990s. The same extends to Uganda, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Syria, Azerbaijan and many places around the world. Sri Lanka President's more than 10 years of rule now being added to the list of first 50 world longest ruling non-royal national leaders.

The increasing election violence indicates that any threat to this existence would not be tolerated. Democracy and people of this country are becoming the victims of this paranoia. The attempts of clamming down the civil society which operate within the space politics are a manifestation of this paranoia. It became more evident with the statement of the government's that NGOs should not engage in voter education in the country and the ban of press conferences. It is an attempt of forcefully implanting one set of ideas in the minds of the people.

In common parlance corruption is often identified as a bribe paid to a police officer or a government servant. But it is time that we understand that collusion, State capture and other forms of grand level corruption is what significantly affects in addressing both grand level and petty levels of corruption in a country. Ultimately it is what determines the overall levels of corruption in a country.

UPFA planning to hold Uva PC polls on two days   Ranil tells Parliament 

By Saman Indrajith-September 10, 2014

UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Parliament yesterday that the government was secretly planning to hold election to the Uva Provincial Council on two days, citing the high incidence of election violence as the reason.

"We have received information that the government is planning to capitalise on election law violations and hold elections in the Uva province over two days. This should not happen. We all should strive to hold election to the Uva Provincial Council on a single day," Wickremesinghe said.

Making a special statement, the Opposition Leader said that both government and Opposition parties should take into consideration that Sri Lanka would be hosting the 8th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) from Sept. 18 to 21 and it would not be good for the country if election law breaches marred the upcoming provincial council polls.

"Both government and Opposition should take all precautions to prevent election law violations. We want to know from the government whether it is not strong and confident enough to hold an election on a single day."

"If you are so sure of the victory, all we ask is to provide maximum security to the Uva Province. The ICAPP assembly would result in foreigners getting a wrong picture of the country," he said.

Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said a government could not postpone or advance elections. It was the Elections Commissioner who was empowered to decide on election dates.

"The Opposition Leader should present his case to the Elections Commissioner. It seems that the Opposition is already getting prepared for an election defeat."

Opposition Leader: "We are aware that it the Elections Commissioner who should do so. But, if the election law violations continue, the Commissioner will be left with no alternative but to postpone elections. The government should take utmost care to prevent violence because postponing this election at a time the ICAPP assembly is scheduled to be held here is not good for the country. We should hold the election and see the results the following day."

Is the Uva - DIG blind? CaFFE asks.

Wednesday, 10 September 2014 

Commenting on a complaint made by the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections' (CaFFE) Roshan Fernando, the DIG of Uva, said that unmarked vehicles are not being deployed for electioneering in Uva. He made this statement at a press conference held yesterday (September 09) in Moneragala.

 https://www.facebook.com/video.php?

v=1548039198742832&set=vb.100006103001405&type=2&theater

CaFFE is saddened about this decidedly false statement by the DIG because we have have repeatedly released images of vehicles without number plates and garage numbers electioneering in Uva. Attached herewith are a few images of such vehicles. CaFFE has already complained about the unmarked vehicle used in Badulla to the Department of Elections and the Assistant Elections Commissioner of Badulla relayed the message to SSP - Bandarawela on September 03, 2014.

However the same vehicle was parked near the Passara Ground, Lunugala, Passara Road yesterday. CaFFE observers photographed the vehicle on Badulla town on September 08. The Nissan cab (C2014-2015,) attached herewith, is parked in front of Moneragala police and parked behind it is the official Jeep of the OIC.

United National Party (UNP) MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara informed CaFFE today (10) that an unmarked jeep was parked in front of Sirigala Hospital, Moneragala around 10.48 am.

Video: I Was A Heart-Breaker: Gnanasara

September 10, 2014

General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Galagoda Atte Gnanasara in an interview has confessed that he has been quite a heart-breaker – both pre and post monkhood.

In an interview with the Sinhala mainstream newspaper Maubima, Gnanasara while reminiscing his memories has stated that he has been wooed by the opposite sex since the ripe old age of 12.

“I have had many girlfriends,” he has told the interviewer, “I was a very talented singer. So I was very much involved in activities organised by the school literary society. My talents used won me the attraction of so many girls who would shower me with toffees, chocolates and tea. . .”

Gnanasara has gone on to state that even presently, despite being a monk he has been pursued by young women and has faced extremely uncomfortable situations as a result.

Recalling one such incident he has stated,”I remember in 2004, when I was involved with the Ama Wessa program during the formation of the Hela Urumaya, one day I realised I was being followed by a very young girl whom I had never met before. She kept following me and staring at me. After sometime I informed the elders about her and it was then I was told that she was following me as a result of the mental anxiety she was undergoing due to her feelings for me. . .She had fallen in love with me and it seems she had said that she cannot live without seeing me although we had not ever even spoken to each other.”

However, he has asserted that he has been able to mange several such situations due to following the words of Buddha as they have been instructed to think of females who pursue them as their own sisters, mothers, daughters etc.

In the same interview, he had confessed to having a weakness for perfumes and fragrances as well.

Meanwhile, he has stated that he has never consumed alcohol or smoked as a layperson responding to a query during the interview. However, Colombo Telegraph revealed how he had pleaded guilty to nine charges including hit-and-run, drunk driving, speeding, driving without a valid licence and failing to report the accident filed against him by the Grandpass Police in 2000.

People’s Bank, knows ‘pulse of the people’& gives gal arrack & pack of grams

Wednesday, 10 September 2014 

The People’s Bank held its sports festival at Asgiriya stadium in Kandy at the weekend and at its conclusion, the invitees and the winners of the competitions were given a very amusing hamper as prizes, reports say.

 The bank’s CEO Wasantha Kumara distributed the hampers  - containing a bottle  of gal arrack, a packet of grams and a packet of cream cracker. Winners of the competition had an additional item - a loaf of bread. For area managers, the hamper contained half a bottle of Mendis in addition to the gal arrack.

 Everybody is happy that a leading local state bank is implementing to the full the ‘Mathata Thitha’ concept in Mahinda Chinthana of president Mahinda Rajapaksa. This hamper was an idea of one Ajith, secretary of the bank’s sports society. CEO Wasantha Kumara was totally unaware of what the hampers contained.

Defence secretary met NGO's

 Wednesday, 10 September 2014 

Representatives from eleven non-governmental organisations who were engaged with CHOGM 2013 and the associated Commonwealth People’s Forum met with Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and other officials from the NGO Secretariat and Ministry of Defence.   This meeting was facilitated by Dr Lalith Chandradasa from the Presidential Secretariat.  On the positive side, this meeting revealed a opening for a dialogue to commence between the government and NGOs.  The discussion between the Defence Secretary and officials present and the NGO representatives was cordial and covered the areas of interest of the NGOs that participated in the meeting as well as the concerns and perceptions of NGOs in general.

There was a discussion on the issuance of the NGO Secretariat circular on the need for NGOs to work within their mandates and the Finance Ministry advertisement that the general public and government officials should check on the credentials of NGOs prior to working with them.  The discussion also extended to the government’s surveillance of NGO activities, the devolution of power, the problem of missing persons and the unwillingness of NGOs to dialogue with the government.  The issue of government regulation of NGOs through the NGO Secretariat was also discussed and the need for a regular programme of meetings and consultation between the NGO Secretariat and representatives of NGOs was agreed upon.

The Defence Secretary explained his position on each of the problems that the NGO representatives brought up. He urged the NGOs present to discuss their problems with the government rather than internationalizing them. He also proposed that the NGO Secretariat’s liaison officers in the District Secretariat’s could be called upon to resolve any problems encountered in the field. He also stressed his commitment to environmental protection in urban development activities and on the possible role that can be played by NGOs working in the environmental sector.

Two matters for follow up were also agreed upon at the meeting.  The first was to regularize meetings between the NGO Secretariat and the NGOs to collect relevant information and to iron out problems. The second area was to bring the Defence Secretary into dialogue with those NGOs that are more strongly and openly critical of the government.  

The NGOs that attended the discussion were Colombo District Business Development Co-op Society, Maternity & Child Life Development Foundation, Eco friendly Volunteers (ECO-V), The Sarvodaya Movement, Seva Lanka Foundation, Vanni Cultural Fund, National Peace Council, Centre for Poverty Analysis, Oferr Ceylon, Manawa Shakthi Padanama and the Human Rights Organization of Sri Lanka. 

Nameless racketeers

Editorial-September 9, 2014

The much-maligned Customs Department has, of late, received plaudits for a series of detections. Attempts to smuggle in large quantities of narcotics, cigarettes, gold etc have been foiled and many culprits nabbed at the Bandaranaike International Airport and the Colombo Port. However, the fact that the country is still awash with narcotics makes one wonder whether the Customs are only scratching the surface.

The Customs also help the state rake in millions, if not billions, of rupees by way of fines on racketeers. But, it is puzzling why they are wary of sharing with the media or at least posting on their website the names of the smugglers who are fined and released. The law doesn’t prevent them from naming the culprits and the public has a right to know who those lawbreakers are. After all, no less a person than Director General of Customs Jagath P. Wijeweera said in answer to a question raised by this newspaper when he met the press prior to the grand opening of the new Customs building last July that there is no reason why the smugglers who are found guilty and fined shouldn’t be named. But, all our efforts to obtain such information from the Customs have been in vain.

Why can’t the Customs make the process of nabbing and fining smugglers transparent? Is it that the lawbreakers throw money around to avoid being named and shamed? If a poor villager, troubled by hunger pangs, steals a few coconuts, he is hauled up before courts and his identity revealed forthwith. The same goes for boutique keepers who sell goods past the shelf life. But, the names of wealthy crooks who deprive the state coffers of billions of rupees through their well-organised smuggling rackets remain closely guarded secrets!

Let the Customs Chief be urged to instruct his subordinates to cooperate with the media and name the smugglers found guilty and fined so that the public will know who the culprits are. Perhaps, these racketeers are posing as respectable citizens with the help of their ill-gotten wealth and preying on unsuspecting people. They have to be unmasked and the Customs are duty bound to help the media do so.

Fearing another 9/11

Eleven aircraft are reported to have gone missing in Libya. Defence experts believe that terrorists have taken them away to launch strikes similar to the 9/11 attacks, the 13th anniversary of which falls tomorrow.

The situation in Libya is so chaotic that nobody knows what is happening there and opinion is divided on the reportedly missing aircraft, but a section of the international media insists that they have actually been removed from the Tripoli airport which has come under attack on several occasions during the last few years. This is a frightening proposition for the world powers threatened by al-Qaeda and IS.

The slain dictator Gaddafi was also accused of sponsoring terrorism and he incurred international opprobrium for giving a bear hug to the Lockerbie bomber when the latter arrived in Tripoli after being released from a UK prison purportedly on medical grounds. The international community, however, had some control over that eccentric dictator who held his country together though the methods he used for that purpose were frowned on by the civilized world. But, today, anarchy reigns in Libya, which is riven by tribal violence. It has become one of the most dangerous places in the world so much so that even the westerners who backed the anti-Gaddafi forces are scared of visiting it.

There may be doubts about the veracity of the story of missing aircraft, but the fact remains that anything is possible in Libya. It is high time those who engineered Arab Spring uprising in that country and backed militiamen to overthrow the Gaddafi regime, promising the Libyans a better future, did everything in their power to bring order out of chaos in that strife-torn country. And fast.

Sleeping child ABDUCTED 

BY PREMALAL WIJERATNE-September 10, 2014 

A gang had sneaked into a house at Nikadalupotha, Ambakolawewa, in the Kurunegala District, around 2:30 a.m. yesterday and abducted a four-year-old girl who was fast asleep with her mother, police said.
Police mentioned that the child was a twin and she had a brother. This was the second abduction of a child in the Kurunegala District in just under ten weeks.
 
The gang had gained entry to the house through the window that the occupants had used only polythene sheets to cover them.
Wellawa Police identified the child as Thamara Keshali Bandara, the second in a family of three children. The house the family live in is yet under construction.
 
Police said the mother of the victim had suddenly woken up and noticed that the polythene cover on the window had been cut and had been shocked when she found her little daughter was missing.
Police said the poor family solely depended on the income gained by sale of string hoppers.
Police believe the abduction may have been carried out by more than one individual.
 
Neighbours have told the police that the mother of this child was reported to be possessed by an evil spirit and was under treatment by an exorcist. The exorcist had visited the house on several occasions previously, police were told.
Her elder brother, W. M. Binul Javinu Bandara, who had been sleeping close to the abducted child, told our sister paper Mawbima ... "My other sister and I slept by the side of the wall. My father, mother and the sister who was abducted slept on the bed. While asleep, I felt an arm going over my body. I thought it was my Loku Nangi. Then I felt a cold breeze woke up. Then I saw my Nangi (sister) was missing. I woke up my father and asked whether my Nangi had come to bed. Then only we realized that Nangi was missing".
 
The victim's father, W. M. Anura Bandara said; "My son woke up and asked me whether his sister was with me. I woke up and the time was 2:00 a.m. I saw the moonlight coming into the house. The polythene sheet that covered the window had been cut in two places. I called 119 and informed the police. If my daughter had screamed we would have woken up. She may have been fast asleep."
 
Police visited the scene and inspected the room in which the child had been sleeping. The house does not have electricity, police said. Police are looking out for a man who had come to that vicinity in search of a house the previous evening. One of the keys in the front door had gone missing, police said.
 
Special police teams have been deployed to search for the missing child.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Jagath Abesirigunawardene is directing further investigations.

SL boat issue- TN court issues summons to S. Swamy

September 10, 2014 

A Tamil Nadu court on Wednesday issued summons to BJP leader Subramanian Swamy asking him to appear before it in connection with a defamation case filed by state’s Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa against him.

The court has directed Swamy to depose before it on October 10 in the defamation case filed by Jayalalithaa over his comment on fishermen issue.

The Tamil Nadu CM had on Monday filed a defamation case against him and a leading daily for publishing his alleged defamatory statement against her.

In his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Swamy had reportedly alleged that most of the boats apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy belonged to Jayalalithaa’s aid Sasikala Natarajan and DMK leader T R Baalu.

A Tamil daily, which published a related article on September 5, was also been slapped with the defamation case. City public prosecutor ML Jegan filed the case against Swamy and the Tamil daily on behalf of the Chief Minister.

The article was highly defamatory, false, malicious and directly impeached the reputation of the chief minister, said Jegan in his petition before the principal district and sessions court, Zee News India reports.

Lee Kuan Yew: “From Third World To First” – Some Excerpts

By S. Sivathasan -

S. Sivathasan

Selecting excerpts from Lee Kuan Yew is as difficult as selecting from Thirukkural. The whole work may need to be quoted. The difference with the former is that to understand in context, the whole requires to be read. Anyone wishing to be initiated in politics, particularly Tamils from Sri Lanka wherever they may reside have a compulsion to digest both volumes of his autobiography. I read them only a few months after publication and that too by borrowing because availability for purchase was difficult. I thought a few Sri Lankans would have read them. I now know that only a miniscule might have.

Lee Kuan Yew | Photo courtesy The Age

Volume I of about 700 pages deals principally with the politics of creating Singapore as a separate state, the emotional trauma Lee experienced in doing it, how adroitly he managed his mission and the way he   gathered around him men of intellect, scholarship and character. Volume II of equal size is a textbook on political consolidation, economic growth and social integration of a small state. Unswerving and dedicated leadership launched a new state into the comity of advanced economies and of modernized societies. More significantly 2050 will see Singapore among the most advanced states, in multiple respects.

Without doubt one man’s initiative and persistent surveillance achieved it. Years back he said famously “Even when I am being lowered into the grave, if I see something going wrong in Singapore, I will get up”. His greatest emphasis is on character and he had the credentials to dwell on it. He has drawn much on Confucius. Tamils have Thiruvalluvar to benefit from. The story of Singapore has been an unqualified success. The world knows who the architect was. Some excerpts from his writing to provide the lure.

Page:

73.           The  foundations  for  our financial centre were the  rule of Law, an independent judiciary, and a  stable,  competent  and  honest  government  that  pursued sound macro-economic policies, with budget surpluses almost every year.                                    Read More

World War I and Ceylon

• Consequences of conflict-September 10, 2014 

August 2014 marked a very sombre anniversary for most of Europe and the world. It was in this month that the Great War, or First World War as it was later known, broke out among the world’s great powers.
Sadly, this is a conflict that is totally neglected in our schools. In this writer’s time, no mention was made of it in any textbook or classroom and it was only through personal interest in history that my interest in the subject has been sated.

World War I and Ceylon by Thavam

Ukrainian president: Rebel areas offered greater autonomy but stay part of country

By Anthony Faiola, Michael Birnbaum and Daniela Deane September 10 at 7:12 AMMARIUPOL, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Wednesday that rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine could be granted greater autonomy, but vowed they will always remain part of the country.

In a wide-ranging speech to his cabinet in Ukraine’s capital Kiev, Poroshenko stressed that pro-Russian rebels must consider potential political compromises as the next step after a tenuous cease-fire took hold last week.

The “fate of peace” depends on it, Poroshenko said.

He also made clear, however, how far Ukraine was willing to go: Rejecting any kind of federal-style special status for the contested region.

Poroshenko gave no firm details about the possible expanded autonomy plan, which could be outlined in draft legislation as early as next week.

But a previous peace plan proposed protection of the Russian language, joint patrols of national and local police and more power for Russian-speaking locals to choose their representatives in Kiev.

The separatists have demanded full independence, and it’s unclear whether the autonomy proposals would go far enough.

The cease-fire, meanwhile, appeared largely to hold after nearly a week despite sporadic clashes. Poroshenko also noted progress in prisoner exchanges, saying about 700 captured Ukrainians had been released by the rebels and another 500 could be freed later this week.

Poroshenko insisted the cease-fire pact makes no provisions for Kiev to weaken its sovereignty over rebel-controlled areas.

“Ukraine has made no concessions with regards to its territorial integrity,” he told the
cabinet meeting.

Poroshenko said Ukraine was “regrouping” all its armed forces, claiming it was for defensive action and not a prelude to another offensive. Ukraine’s defense industry was providing up to 30 armored vehicles a day to troops, he added.

But rebel leaders insisted Ukrainian troops were provoking them into opening fire since the cease-fire began.

Ihor Plotnytsky, the head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, said rebels
were only responding “when fired upon and don’t advance ourselves," according to the Interfax news agency.

“It looks like this truce is unlikely to be long, judging by how the Ukrainian army is
rotating and regrouping its forces," he added.

Poroshenko took advantage of the drop in fighting Monday for a symbolic visit to Mariupol, a strategic port city which came under rebel shelling last week. The area is a key prize in the territorial showdowns in Ukraine, since it occupies a strip that connects the mainland with Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in March.

Ukraine and the West accused Russia of actively fomenting the rebel surge with both troops and firepower. Russia denies it.

The Ukrainian leader, a billionaire who swept to power during the current conflict, also said he has signed a law paving the way for the imposition of economic sanctions against companies and individuals suspected of supporting and financing the pro-Russian rebels.

Birnbaum reported from Moscow. Deane reported from Rome.

Anthony Faiola is The Post's Berlin bureau chief. Faiola joined the Post in 1994, since then reporting for the paper from six continents and serving as bureau chief in Tokyo, Buenos Aires, New York and London.

Michael Birnbaum is The Post’s Moscow bureau chief. He previously served as the Berlin correspondent and an education reporter.

Islamist militants leave signed note on beheaded corpse in Sinai - residents

BY YOUSSRI MOHAMMED-Wed Sep 10, 2014 

(Reuters) - Residents in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula said on Wednesday they found a beheaded corpse bearing a note signed by an Islamist militant group linked to the Syria and Iraq-based Islamic State, accusing the victim of being an Israeli spy.

The beheading is the eighth claimed by the group in Sinai in under a month in a surge of brutal killings seemingly inspired by Islamic State, which has been internationally condemned for its atrocities and has been the target of U.S. air strikes.

Residents from a village south of the town of Sheikh Zuweid in northern Sinai told Reuters by phone that the decapitated body bore a note signed by Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, saying he was an agent for Israeli spy agency Mossad.

"This is the fate of all who prove to be traitors to their homeland," the group said in the note, according to the villagers.

A senior Ansar commander told Reuters last week that Islamic State, an al Qaeda offshoot that controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq, had been advising the Sinai-based group on how to operate more effectively.

Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, the most powerful and ruthless militant group in Sinai, said last month it had beheaded four Egyptians for providing Israel with intelligence for an airstrike that killed three of its fighters.

The group posted a video on Twitter showing the beheadings which resembled images posted on the Internet by Islamic State.

Islamic State has caused international alarm over its rapid expansion and extremely violence, including the beheadings of two U.S. journalists and the killing and burying alive of hundreds of Iraqis from the Yazidi minority.

Egyptian intelligence officials have said Islamic State is also influencing Egyptian militants based just over the border with Libya.

DAKAHLIA ATTACK

Hardline Islamist militants have stepped up attacks on police and soldiers since the army toppled President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood last year after mass protests against his rule.

The government accuses the Muslim Brotherhood of turning to violence following Mursi's ousting, but the movement has publicly condemned violent extremism in the past and says it remains committed to peaceful means of bringing down the government.

But with hundreds of Brotherhood members killed and thousands arrested in a crackdown now entering its second year, older members fear that the youth could turn to extremist groups that seem more effective than the silenced Brotherhood.

In the north eastern Dakahlia province, a security officer's son was killed in an apparent attempt on the officer's life, the state news agency reported on Wednesday.

Mahmoud Saad and his son were driving in the provincial capital of Mansoura when an unknown gunman opened fire on their vehicle, MENA reported.

Militant attacks initially targeted security forces in Sinai -- a remote but strategic part of Egypt located between Israel, the Gaza Strip and the Suez Canal -- but they have since extended their reach, with bombings and shootings on the mainland.

The violence has hurt tourism, a pillar of Egypt's economy.

(Writing by Shadi Bushra; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)

8 Facts about China's Investments in Africa

Modi invites all 54 African heads of state to third India-Africa Forum Summit -Special Report

 May 20, 2014 

"Considering the low priority of Africa in China's overall foreign strategic mapping, a disproportionate level of international attention, publicity and scrutiny is paid to China's Africa engagement," writes Yun Sun, in a recent John L. Thornton China Center/Africa Growth Initiative paper, "Africa in China's Foreign Policy."

Below are selected data from her paper. Download it to read her thorough analysis of China's interests in Africa and how China's internal bureaucracy makes political, economic and security decisions regarding Africa policy.

1. By the end of 2009, 45.7 percent of China's cumulative foreign aid of ¥256.29 billion had been given to countries in Africa.
2. China is Africa's largest trading partner, surpassing the United States in 2009.
3. In 2012, China's trade with Africa reached $198.5 billion, while U.S.-African trade in 2012 was $99.8 billion.
4. China's trade with Africa is only 5 percent of its global trade total.
5. More than 80 percent of China's $93.2 billion in imports from Africa in 2011 were crude oil, raw materials and resources.
6. In 2011, China's investment in Africa was 4.3 percent of its global total (Asia represented 60.9 percent, Latin America 16 percent, and Europe 11.1 percent).
7. In 2012, the China Development Bank agreed to provide $3 billion in loans to Ghana, which was almost 10 percent of Ghana's GDP.
8. South Africa is China's largest trading partner in Africa, at a volume of $20.2 billion. Yet this is 4 percent of China's trade with the European Union.

"[O]verall," writes Sun, "Africa's strategic importance for Beijing remains low."

In the years to come, China's engagement with Africa is expected to grow. The system will adapt and adopt easy fixes for some problems, for instance, by increasing spending on training African human resources or by enhancing corporate social responsibility programs for local African communities. However, given China's priority of fueling domestic economic growth with African resources and market potential, a more profound reconsideration of China's overall strategic engagement with Africa will be required to resolve the most fundamental problems in Sino-African relations. The inertia that currently characterizes China’s policy approaches to Africa will most likely remain unchanged in the near future. This situation deserves effective responses—from Africa and from the rest of the world.

Download the paper here, and visit both the China Center and the Africa Growth Initiative for additional research on related topics.

Mingwei Ma contributed to this post.