Yemen suicide bombings kill 67 people

Blasts target supporters of Shia rebels, soldiers

The Associated Press Posted: Oct 09, 2014 

Two suicide bombings in Yemen killed nearly 70 people on Thursday, with one targeting an anti-government rally by Shia rebels who control Sanaa, leaving body parts strewn across a street in the heart of the capital and escalating sectarian tensions in a country gripped by turmoil.

The suicide bomber in Sanaa detonated his explosives-laden belt as he approached a security checkpoint run by Shia rebels, known as Houthis, outside the anti-government rally, killing 47 people and wounding 75. Hours later, a suicide car bomber rammed a security outpost on the outskirts of the Arabian Sea port city of Mukalla, killing 20 soldiers and wounding 15.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, but they bore the hallmarks of al-Qaeda's powerful local affiliate, which for years has waged a campaign of suicide bombings and other attacks against security forces and government facilities despite U.S. drone strikes targeting its leaders.

The Sunni extremist group al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula had warned it would target the Houthis, and the attack in Sanaa threatened to set off the kind of sectarian bloodletting that is ravaging Iraq and Syria.

Yemen, an impoverished country whose rugged landscape and tribal society has long limited the reach of the central government, has been navigating a bumpy transition since long-ruling President Ali Abdullah Saleh agreed to step down following a 2011 uprising inspired by the Arab Spring.

Houthis expand territory

Over the last several months, the Houthis had moved south from their northern stronghold, winning a series of battles against tribal and other forces allied with the Islamist Islah party and ultimately seizing the capital on Sept. 21.

The Houthis insist they want a greater share of power in a new national government, but their critics view them as a proxy of Shiite Iran bent on seizing power.

Shortly after the Houthis seized the capital, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula claimed a suicide car bombing that killed one person at a Houthi field hospital and warned: "You will see your bodies scattered and your heads flying."

It would prove an eerie foretelling of the carnage visited upon Sanaa on Thursday.

The attacker mingled among protesters as they approached the venue of the planned rally in the city's landmark Tahrir Street before detonating his explosives, according to security and health officials. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to media.

The regional Al-Arabiyah news channel broadcast footage apparently taken by a security camera showing the exact moment of the blast. Many of some two dozen people shown in the video, all wearing long robes with jackets on top, dropped instantly, while others somehow ran away, apparently unscathed.

The Houthis had called the Sanaa rally to protest President Abed RabboMansour Hadi's choice for new prime minister, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak. As the crisis escalated, the prime minister-designate asked Hadi early on Thursday to relieve him of the post.

But despite the suicide bombing and bin Mubarak's declining the premiership, the rally went on later Thursday, with some 4,000 Houthis calling on Hadi to step down and chanting slogans against the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Rebel leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi had delivered a televised statement on Wednesday night, calling on supporters to rally against the choice of bin Mubarak. He said the nomination came after Hadi met with the U.S. ambassador to Yemen, and called the president a "puppet" in the hands of foreign powers.

"Blatant foreign interference is a form of circumventing the popular revolution," he said.

US criticism of settlements is empty rhetoric

Posted on October 9, 2014

In keeping with typical imperialist swagger, the US has criticised Israeli settlement expansion while continuing to give the Zionist state political and military support at all levels. This apparent contradiction demonstrates that even when it attempts to differentiate between forms of colonial violence, America employs empty rhetoric which amounts to continued and absolute support for Israel’s colonial expansion and aggression. White House spokesman Josh Earnest declared America’s “unwavering support of Israel” by having us believe that such support represents “US values” portrayed through “criticism” of illegal settlements and praise for Iron Dome.”When it comes to American values,” said Earnest, “it’s America values that led to this country’s unwavering support of Israel.

It’s American values that have led us to fund and build an Iron Dome system to protect the lives of countless Israelis.”Reported by the Times of Israel, his words also indicated America’s supposed opposition to further settlement expansion in East Jerusalem. This was a reference to US President Obama’s statement that the decision to expand would serve to alienate Israel from “even its closest allies” and shed doubts upon possible “peace” negotiations with Palestinians.As usual, the flawed statements are disseminated and taken at face value by the media and politicians. Beneath the hypocrisy, though, it is apparent that the US administration does not differentiate between what are two aspects of Israel’s colonial project. The prime concern remains America’s unflinching support for the settler-colonial state as a bastion of imperialist expansion. Hence, Earnest’s apparent differentiation is nothing but diplomatic jargon to be quoted within the usual context of alienation from the reality of US-backed colonial violence.

America’s history of support for settlement expansion is evident primarily in its support for the settler-colonial state itself. It has vetoed numerous resolutions at the United Nations to protect Israel, thus preventing any possible international deterrence for its illegal activities. However, the stance adopted by the US with regard to settlement expansion is also in accordance with UN dictates, particularly within the repetitive and erroneous context of Israel’s alleged “right to defend itself”.The phrase, heard regularly whenever Israel’s colonial violence exhibits itself, such as in Operation Protective Edge, has broad significance despite its use being restricted to massacres in which Palestinians are depicted as the aggressors in order to sustain the deception. Nevertheless, with the wider context of preserving settler-colonialism, the same phrase has been applied repeatedly by both the US and the UN indirectly in reference to all forms of colonial violence that allow the continuation of Israel’s settler-colonial expansion and ideology.Hence, in the same way that Iron Dome is credited with safeguarding Israel’s civilians (most of whom are army reserves), which includes the illegal Jewish settler population, settlement expansion continues to provide the means by which colonisation is being completed. The differentiation attempted by Earnest is, therefore, irrelevant; the record of both the US and the UN is proof enough of staunch support for the Zionist colonial project by any means, including expropriation and alleged diplomatic and military protection. As usual, the attempt to introduce contradictions is a direct attack on Palestinian history and memory; an effort to separate the current reality of illegal settlements from decades of colonial violence.

India and Pakistan trade warnings over heavy Kashmir fighting
1 OF 4. A villager holds a pot with metal propellers of mortars, that locals say was fired from the Indian side of the Pakistani border town of Dhamala Hakimwala, near Sialkot October 8, 2014. 

3 OF 4. A Pakistani villager, who was injured during the recent exchange of fire between Pakistan and India, lies on a hospital bed at a military hospital in Sialkot October 8, 2014. 

BY SANJEEV MIGLANI AND ABU ARQAM NAQASH-Thu Oct 9, 2014

(Reuters) - Pakistan said on Thursday it was capable of responding "befittingly" to Indian border shelling, and warned against an escalation of the worst fighting between the nuclear-armed rivals in more than a decade.
India and Pakistan Trade Warnings Over Heavy Kashmir Fighting by Thavam

1 killed, 13 injured in Malaysian night club blast

Oct 9, 2014, 11.33

A bomb disposal robot (front) is deployed after a grenade exploded in front of the Sun Complex in Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysian police say one person died and 13 others injured when a hand grenade blew up om Thursday outside a night club at a popular tourist belt in the country’s largest city Kuala Lumpur.

A senior police official, who declined to be named as he isn’t authorized to speak to the media, says the pre-dawn explosion in the Bukit Bintang area was believed to be due to gang fight and was “not a terrorism act.”

He says police also found a second hand grenade under a car after it failed to explode.

Another police official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said on Thursday that a Malaysian succumbed to his injuries and died, while 13 others including foreigners from Thailand, China and Singapore were hospitalized.

Thai pilot of missing helicopter found alive in Burma

Burma’s highest mountain Hkakabo Razi, where the helicopter disappeared two weeks ago. Pic: AP.

By AP News Oct 09, 2014

YANGON, Burma (AP) — The Thai pilot of a helicopter that went missing in a mountainous part of Burma almost two weeks ago has been found and taken to hospital.

The pilot — identified by Thai media as Chatchawal Thanthong — arrived in Yangon late Wednesday. He’d been flown from northern Kachin state after a search party discovered him earlier in the day.

His helicopter disappeared Sept 27 as it was delivering supplies to rescuers looking for lost climbers on one of Burma’s tallest mountains. Two other men were on board, both from Burma.

Hope was fading for the crew when one of the men walked into a small town Tuesday. He said his crewmates were still alive, prompting the search that found the Thai pilot. The other crew member is still missing.

Ebola outbreak simulations to be tested in UK hospitals

Department of Health confirms weekend real-time response tests in unnamed hospitals in the north and south of England 

A nurse demonstrates the facilities at the Royal Free Hospital in north London.Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

Robert Booth and Matthew Weaver

Thursday 9 October 2014 

War game-style simulations to test Britain’s ability to cope with an outbreak of Ebola will be staged this weekend in hospitals in the north and south of England.

Officials at the Department of Health are drawing up details of at least two simulations which will involve people posing as victims of the deadly virus to assess the real-time response of hospitals, the ambulance service and local authorities. The exercise will take place on either Saturday or Sunday and details of which hospitals will be chosen to handle the mock cases are being kept confidential to minimise disruption to the exercise, an official said.

They may include the Royal Free hospital in north London which has an isolation unit and a dedicated team of nurses, doctors and laboratory staff specialising in dealing with infectious diseases. The Royal Liverpool, Royal Hallamshire hospital in Sheffield and the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne also have infectious disease units that are expected to receive cases. Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has acknowledged that it was “entirely possible” Ebola could reach Britain.

“We are planning as we speak,” said a Department of Health spokesperson. “It is going to test the emergency preparedness of the NHS and a number of hospitals are going to be involved. We will pretend there is an Ebola case in this country to test the response of the NHS, ambulance service, local authorities and police to make sure everything works in real time. There may be more exercises, but there will be at least one in the north and one in the south.”

Details of the exercises came amid calls for new screening of passengers arriving at UK airports from west Africa where the virus has claimed at least 3,879 lives according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs select committee, which scrutinises border controls, has called for tests at airports, railway stations and ports as well as greater support for immigration officers to make sure they have the training to deal with the outbreak.

“Our immediate response should be to tighten regulation and introduce measures such as screenings at airports, train stations and ferry ports to ensure that this deadly disease cannot take more lives,” he said.

On Thursday the government resisted such a move, pointing to WHO advice that suggests screening for people with fevers or temperature is better conducted in the exit country.

“The World Health Organisation advice is that it is better to screen on exit from a country to make sure that people who are leaving are not infected, rather than trying to screen people who arrive,” said Michael Fallon, the defence secretary. “At the moment there are no direct flights from Sierra Leone to the United Kingdom. It is very hard to be able to track people who are changing planes and arriving by different means in the United Kingdom. It is particularly difficult because the symptoms may not be obvious for a number of weeks after you actually catch the disease. It is not straightforward.”

A spokesman for Public Health England said it was important to recognise that the chances of infection increase as symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting worsen. Corpses are the most dangerous cause of transmission.

“If you are symptomatic [of Ebola] and infectious you are not going to be in a position to be hopping on a plane,” he said.

Earlier, one of the world’s leading experts on the virus played down the risks of a serious outbreak in the UK. Prof Peter Piot, a Belgian microbiologist who is part of the World Health Organisation’s Ebola science group and was part of the team that identified Ebola in 1976, told the BBC: “I’m not concerned about an outbreak in western Europe, in the UK, like we are seeing in west Africa.”

But he added: “We will see other cases in Europe, this is unavoidable. People travel, people come back, people get infected in west Africa – volunteers. So we need to be prepared for more cases like this.”

Public Health England has moved to quell concern among parents about the threat the virus poses to school children after it emerged on Wednesday that a school in Stockport had cancelled a planned school placement of a nine-year-old from Sierra Leone after complaints from parents. Public Health England stressed that the risk of Ebola arriving in the UK is “very low”. And it has told all education and childcare organisations not to restrict the teaching or activities of anyone who has travelled to affected countries if they show no symptoms of the deadly disease.

It has urged school staff to look out for Ebola symptoms including fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, and weakness. Next, if such symptoms are apparent, teachers must establish whether students or children have spent time in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone or Nigeria in the last 21 days. If they have the student or child should be immediately separated from others and an ambulance called. Education staff are also urged to inform emergency staff that a case of Ebola is suspected to ensure that protective equipment is used.

Universities UK, the body that campaigns for higher education organisations, said its members were “closely monitoring” students for signs of Ebola. It said latest advice has been circulated to heads of department, student services, accommodation staff, estate managers and student health centres. It said it was not aware that any restrictions being placed on students who had travelled to affected countries.

SRI LANKA: Prageeth Eknalogida’s case exposes lack of consensus against enforced disappearances

October 8, 2014

To date, no credible investigation into the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda has taken place. Prageeth Eknaligoda disappeared on 24^th January 2010 and to this day there has been no credible investigation into his disappearance, despite many interventions by the United Nations Human Rights agencies, other international organizations, and by local Sri Lankan organizations. 

SRI LANKA Prageeth Eknalogida’s Case Exposes Lack of Consensus Against Enforced Disappearances by Thavam

UN Human Rights Committee Raises Concerns Over Blocking Colombo Telegraph

October 8, 2014

Concerns have been raised at the ongoing review of Sri Lanka’s human rights record about blocking news websites including Colombo Telegraph, Sri Lanka Mirror and Lankaenews.

Dr. Anja Seibert-Fohr

UN Human Rights Committee member Dr. Anja Seibert-Fohr had addressed concerns over the blocking of news websites that carry dissenting views and sensitive information and had inquired about the legal framework that has been used to enforce the blocking of websites.

The reviewing of Sri Lanka’s human rights record before the 18-member independent expert committee commenced yesterday and is ongoing today as well.

Related posts;

President Rajapaksa Phoned TRC Palpita To Ask Colombo Telegraph Blockade

Ranil Demands Rajapaksa Unblock Web Sites

TRC Head Palpita ‘Selective’ And ‘Inconsistent’

Dhanapala Steps Down From Dialog Board

Fears For Ad Revenue From Dialog Stops Sri Lankan Print Media From Taking Dhanapala Issue

Dhanapala Must Take A Stand And Resign From Dialog, Condemn Its Illegal, Unethical Behaviour – Kumar David

‘I Give Dhanapala The Benefit Of The Doubt’ Says Radhika

Calling Jayantha Dhanapala A Liar, Or The Tragedy Of Lankan Public Life

Swedish Govt. Appointee Dhanapala’s Unethical Behavior Embarrassment To The SIPRI

‘Dhanapala Must Choose’ Says Saravanamuttu

Picture Evidence: After Dhanapala Addressed BASL Meeting Dialog Blocked Colombo Telegraph Again

Unlawful Restrictions On Media By State Or Private Actors Is A Matter Of Serious Public Concern And Must Be Questioned – Bishop Chickera And Prof. Savitri

Dialog Unblocked Colombo Telegraph For Dhanapala To Address A Public Meeting

Jayantha Dhanapala Is A Liar; Caught Lying Over Silence On Colombo Telegraph Blocking

Jayaratne Says Dhanapala Will Stand By Best Practices, Dhanapala Pussyfoots On Illegal Web Blocking

International Press Institute Urges UN To Ensure Interference With Colombo Telegraph Ends

Colombo Telegraph Has Every Right To Raise Dhanapala’s Conflict Of Interest; Friday Forum Member Speaks Out

Article 19 Slams Ban On Colombo Telegraph Website

Dialog Board Director And Friday Forum Member Jayantha Dhanapala Fails To Stop CT Blockade On Dialog Network

Dhanapala May Be Influenced By Large Payment He Receives From Dialog – Professor Kumar David

‘Dhanapala’s Position Ethically Untenable’ Says Dr. Pradeep Jeganathan

Sara Says ‘Dhanapala – WebBlocking’ Issue Needs To Be Resolved Within The Framework Of Good Governance

Subtle Business Interests More Damaging Than Anti–Democratic Regime: Dhanapala Should Answer Conflict Of Interest Questions – Dr. Nirmal Ranjith

Sri Lanka Blocks Websites And The President Lies On Twitter

Once Again Colombo Telegraph Blocked; Dialog And Etisalat Tamper DNS Responses 

TRC Blocks Colombo Telegraph, Warns Service Providers To Maintain It’s A ‘Technical Glitch’

Colombo Telegraph Blocked, How To Reach Us Now: Sri Lanka Telecom And Mobitel Joins The DPI Club!

Sri Lankan Govt. Periodically Blocked Colombo Telegraph In 2013: US Human Rights Report

History of Colombo Telegraph blocking

First -December 26, 2011 - We are blocked but we will not be stopped

Second - May 8, 2012 - Colombo Telegraph Blocked Again

Third - March 29, 2013  - Sri Lanka Blocks Colombo Telegraph and Selected Tweets: Colombo Telegraph Unblocked

Fourth - August 23, 2013 - Colombo Telegraph Blocked, How To Reach Us Now: Sri Lanka Telecom And Mobitel Joins The DPI Club!

Other attempts 

President Rajapaksa Phoned TRC Palpita To Ask Colombo Telegraph Blockade

October 26, 2012 - Colombo Telegraph Was Hacked

August 9, 2012 ColomboTelegraph Password Cracking Attempt Blocked

Freedom House Report: Freedom On The Net 2012, Sri Lanka Is A Country At Risk

Geneva Human rights Committee questions government on ban imposed on Lanka e News

(Lanka-e-News- 08.Oct.2014, 11.00PM) Arya Siebert Forr , a member of the UN human rights committee stated, she has received information that news websites such as Lanka e News and ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ as well as other news websites which post news regarding Sri Lanka (SL) have been banned in that country . Since there is no clear indication on what legal basis the bans have been imposed and the grounds are obscure , she had requested the SL representatives to give an elucidation and explanation in that regard.

Ms. Siebert Forr raised this issue when the human rights situation in SL was assessed at the 112 th session held on 12 th and 13 th October at the High Commission office pertaining to human rights at the UN, Geneva , Switzerland.

Human rights committee which is comprised of independent specialists of countries which are signatories to the international pact. These specialists are appointed to probe ways and means to implement the agreement concerning civil and political rights .

The states that are parties to this pact are bound to forward reports daily to the Committee on how the pertinent rights have been implemented . As a rule , these reports are presented every four years .

The committee examines the reports individually , and sends them to the states that are parties to the pact with its recommendations and quoting examples. In addition , under section 41 of the pact , there are provisions for one state to lodge complaints internationally in relation to another state.

Moreover , the committee is empowered to conduct inquiries into complaints made by the Sates ( signatories) to the first optional organization alias first optional protocol linked to the international pact ,of violations concerning civil and political rights .

The Human rights committee meets in Geneva and generally holds three sessions annually. The Committee on 7 th and 8 th October is examining the fifth covering report presented by SL , a member state of the pact in connection with civil and political rights , and how the committee can translate them into action.

The SL government is due to give answers in a short while. We shall give you an up- date soon. 

UK strongly supports the international inquiry reiterates FCO minister, meeting with Tamil diaspora
Photograph Nov 2013 - FCO minister Hugo Swire meets with Tamil diaspora groups along side UK Prime Minister Cameron ahead of CHOGM.

08 October 2014
The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Minister of State, Hugo Swire reiterated the UK's strong support for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL) during a meeting with representatives of Tamil diaspora organisations on Tuesday in London.

UK Strongly Supports the International Inquiry Reiterates FCO Minister, Meeting With Tamil Diaspora by Thavam

Experimenting Federalism In Sri Lanka

By Ayathuray Rajasingam -October 8, 2014 

Ayathuray Rajasingam

Though it is five years after the LTTE was defeated, Mahinda Rajapaksa-led government failed to place a meaningful solution to the satisfaction of the Tamils as well as of the international community. On the contrary, Mahinda Rajapaksa & his siblings have achieved a systematic and calculated murder of innocent Tamils, which demonstrates genocide on different pretexts. Murdering innocent citizens is discouraged in religious teachings to defeat an enemy. The TULF has continuously sent a hot signal in respond to the international community for truce, but Mahinda Rajapaksa is still reluctant to place an acceptable meaningful solution while reiterating that Federalism has no place in Sri Lanka, without realizing the benefits of Federalism.

The suspicion of the people in every Province that they would be oppressed by the majority community, using the powers of the government, should be allayed without any reservations. The results of the Northern Provincial & Uva Provincial Council elections demonstrate that the government failed to allay the suspicion of the people that they were oppressed by the ruling party using the powers of the government, thus signaling the frustration of the people.

Recognizing one’s basic rights does not necessarily mean conceding to the demands of the minority, but the willingness to share power in a civilized manner. Recognition of the fundamental rights of the ethnic community is only possible through the incorporation of the obligations in the Constitution. Such obligations on the part of the central government towards the Units and the obligations of the Units toward the Central Government can only be found in Federal constitutions. Thus it signals the expansion of democracy. It is these obligations which symbolize as constitutional guarantees which will ensure the people of each Province some sense of security. Even the late Dr. N.M. Perera and J.R. Jayewardene once said Federalism is suitable for Sri Lanka.

In a democratic country especially in a plural society, the system of Checks and Balances and the civil liberties are inter-related for the maintenance of peace. The quest for peace revolves round the concept of the freedom to live from any fear whatsoever from any quarters. Freedom to live from fear symbolizes the freedom of speech, opinion, movement, the right to life, etc. Such civil liberties discourage the military rule. The legislators should realize that freedom of the press is the live-wire of democracy. The government should guarantee the freedom of criticism, so that a citizen would know what is right and wrong. There should not be any censorship. It is through exchange of views that peace can be brought. Peace discourages senseless violence and murder. Peace brings joy and happiness and allows room for unity and prosperity. It develops friendship and brotherhood all over the world.                                                       Read More