Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Doesn’t Ranil deserve the cup?

By Shyamon Jayasinghe, Melbourne-June 30, 2015, 8:30 pm

If it is to benefit from a high-growth region and prosper among other nations in the world, Sri Lanka must drastically switch its focus away from narrow and claustrophobic identity and tribal battles onto modern, secular goals related to the prosperity of its people. We are facing a new version of the old guns versus butter debate central to economics. Do we allocate our time, resources and effort toward guns? Or, are we going to allocate the bulk of them toward the production of "butter?" I say, we must extricate ourselves from spurious battles over identities that only generate negative emotional energy and violence and take us to darkness. Instead, let’s move forward coming to terms with economic realities that are staring us in the face.

Doesn’t Ranil Deserve the Cup by Thavam Ratna

Mr. President, Do Not Take It For Granted!

By MYM Siddeek –July 1, 2015

Dr. MYM Siddeek

The eagerly expected Presidential election was over in January. A tyrant was thrown out of the office by the democratic will of the people. Although the former president made several attempts to get him re-elected by deception and fraud, the peoples’ power won. There was very clear evidence for violence, misuse of the military for campaigning, wasteful distribution of benefits to government employees to ‘buy’ their loyalty and other misuse of state resources, creating confusions by leaflets/media and other violations of election laws. They were also reported by various election monitoring bodies. All his efforts including 18th amendment to the constitution to pave the way for him to contest the presidential election 3rd time had been a waste for him and brought a dreadful results for him and for his future political career.

Now parliament is dissolved because the corrupted and greedy politicians did not allow the democratically elected government to continue on some disagreements known to the country. But it is shame that the defeated President MR is trying his ‘best’ to get into the nomination list and contest the elections. He is trying his lack from every angle. He should learn from gentlemen politicians like Ed Miliban of Labour party and Nick Clerk of Liberal Democratic Party in the UK. As soon as their parties were defeated by the peoples vote in the last elections, they did not even wait a minute to announce their resignations. They are the gentlemen politicians. What a shame we had a President he wants to hang to the power by hook or by crook. He has already revealed in public meetings how he managed to hang on to the power by immorally and illegally satisfying his aides and concealing corrupt practices of some of his MPs. Although some of the reasons for the defeat of MR are corruption, irregularities, lack of good governance, family rule and miss-use of public resources, the main reason was the manner in which he treated minorities of this country. He failed to address the grievances of the Tamils even after the defeat of the LTTE and to protect the Muslims from the false propaganda of the BBS. He also failed to provide remedies to the victims of Aluthgama and Beruwela victims.

Taylor Dibbert-06/30/2015

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena recently dissolved parliament. The election will be held on August 17; a new parliament will gather on September 1.

Yet what happens next is still far from clear.

To complicate matters, Mahinda Rajapaksa could contest in the country's upcoming parliamentary election. Rajapaksa has stated that he'd only be interested in contesting as a member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and has indicated that he'd like to become prime minister. There's also been talk of Rajapaksa forming a new political party, but a clear SLFP split would likely guarantee that the United National Party (UNP) wins the most seats in the parliamentary contest. We can expect to hear more about this in the days to come. Besides, even if Rajapaksa decided against contesting, the former president could use his popularity to influence the outcome.

Sirisena's proclamations on dissolution had become increasingly unreliable and prolonged political uncertainty is never a good thing. It came later than expected, but this move still allows Sirisena to preserve some credibility; it's good that he chose not to wait any longer.

Why else might time be of the essence?

The U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (O.H.C.H.R.) report that focuses on wartime abuses in Sri Lanka will be handed over to the Sri Lankan government towards the end of August. Consequently, the world will be well-aware of the contents of this controversial document before it's officially presented during the 30th session of the U.N. Human Rights Council, which begins on September 14 in Geneva.

Under Rajapaksa's leadership, Sri Lanka ended a brutal civil war and his legacy as a man who won the war remains firmly intact. The release of a U.N. report over wartime abuses will likely strengthen extremist Sinhala-Buddhist elements within the country, a constituency whose support Rajapaksa has consistently relied upon. Besides, over the years, Rajapaksa adroitly used international pressure over wartime abuses to strengthen his position domestically. Look for a similar sequence of events to transpire once the media gets its hands on a preliminary copy of that U.N. report.

More generally, a range of Pollyanna analyses has confidently stated that Sirisena is serious about reconciliation and bringing the country together - that he is a man who can be trusted.

How can we be so sure?

Sirisena should be commended for having the courage run against Rajapaksa and for the passage of the 19th amendment, which trimmed presidential powers. That said, there's still little indication that reconciliation or accountability (for wartime abuses) are priorities for him. Public statements are not policy. Besides, Sirisena's had so much difficulty controlling the SLFP. Even if he wanted to make firm progress on controversial issues like accountability, it's unclear that he'd be able to do so.

What are the foreign policy implications of dissolving parliament?

Sirisena's decision to dissolve parliament is certain to be welcomed by the international community, especially the United States and India.

Since Rajapaksa was thrown out of office, the Obama administration has been coddling the Sirisena administration. It's hard to predict how much longer that will continue, although Sirisena had promised to have a new parliament in place by September. Holding parliamentary elections in August ensures that Washington will remain optimistic about the country's recent transfer of power.

When Sirisena challenged Rajapaksa for the presidency, one could have argued that he had the nation's best interests in mind. Most members of the SLFP did not support him and had he lost the election, his days as a party member would have been over. Yet, having won the election and become the official head of the party, party politics and SLFP unity became increasingly important.

As Sri Lanka gears up for another critical election, numerous questions remain unanswered. How active will Sirisena be during the election campaign? Will a divided SLFP finally come together? And what will be Mahinda Rajapaksa's next move?

Rajapaksa's defeat (and the peaceful way in which he left office) really shook up Sri Lankan politics. And yet six months on, so much remains unknown and more drama is sure to come.

Who Is in a Dilemma?

Is the SLFP in a dilemma? Yes it is. The defeat of MR has not taught a lesson to the majority of the SLFP MPs. They have chosen to ignore the fact that MR was defeated for the reasons that his persona was corrupt, nepotistic, cunning and egocentric, his governance was inefficient and ineffective and his politics were destructive and divisive.

by Helasingha Bandara

Is the President in a dilemma?

( July 1, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Recent media reports hinted that President Maithripala Sirisena is in a dilemma regarding the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Is he? A very brief reply to that question is an emphatic “no he isn’t”. His position as the President of Sri Lanka is secured for the next four and a half years. If he does not concentrate in contesting a second term, he has no obvious political calamity in sight. To change the deep-rooted, abhorrent political culture of Sri Lanka he may need the help of like-minded people. Nevertheless, he can do it on his own if he intends to do it. If the king practises Dasa Raja Dharma, others would invariably follow, they have no choice! Only if the king urinates standing, the followers do it running.

Is the UNP in a dilemma?

Yes it is. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksha’s premature Presidential election tactic backfired. Opportunism is not a virtue! Some elements of the UNP claim that 80% of the votes cast in favour of Maithri at the recent Presidential election were the UNP votes. This is misleading. A combination of many factors contributed to the victory of MS. The combination was the UNP, all minority parties, a section of the SLFP, the people who were fed up with the corrupt governance who sought a change etc. The false belief emanated from the results of the Presidential election has led the UNP to be convinced that it can win on its own. This has created a dilemma within the party whether to go alone or to contest as a united front. If the party decides to be opportunistic it can backfire the same way it backfired on MR. The country needs a good bunch of people to rule it irrespective of which party they belong to. The UNP has to be mindful of that.

Is the SLFP in a dilemma?

Yes it is. The defeat of MR has not taught a lesson to the majority of the SLFP MPs. They have chosen to ignore the fact that MR was defeated for the reasons that his persona was corrupt, nepotistic, cunning and egocentric, his governance was inefficient and ineffective and his politics were destructive and divisive. They have not realized that parliamentary elections are different from the Presidential election that the voting pattern can be influenced by very many external factors. The insistence on bringing back Mahinda is understood by right minded people as a means to avoid indictments and to retain corrupt practices because MR allowed all that to happen during his reign. The dilemma of the party is whether it is wise to remove all those who are clamouring for the return of MR and go along with a new breed.

Winning

President Maithripala Sirisena has the greatest opportunity to change the destructive, stale and undesired political culture of Sri Lanka. Being the head of the SLFP he has the authority to make changes within the party. Making drastic changes to an existing entity on his own is a frightening prospect. In this case he has the backing of the former President Chandrika Bandaranaike who is the daughter of two former prime Ministers. Her father was the founder of the SLFP. It is foolish to write off the support for the Bandaranaike name within Sri Lanka at any given time. In addition he has the support of some brave politicians who rocked the MR boat at the previous election.

Failing to contest the parliamentary elections as a united front of the people who fought MR at the election, MS should make his own list for the SLFP candidates. That list should exclude Mahinda Rajapaksha, Basil Rajapaksha, Chamal Rajapaksha, Namal Rajapaksha, Mervin Silva, Duminda Silva, Johnston Fernando, Sajin Vass, SB Dissanayaka, Muthu Hettigama, and all others who are known to be criminals. Also exclude everyone who actively participated in the campaign to bring Mahinda back.

When a drastic change is made, it would wake the people up, provoke their thoughts and ignite their rational faculties. People have shown that they can distinguish between good and evil and they will no doubt recognize that the change has been made for the better. Fortune favours the brave. President, you should not be another Ambanwela Rala who let Rajasingha II, the killer king, go unscathed when he overran Rajasingha’s palace in Kandy and finally paid with his life for the folly. Therefore, go for the kill!

One More Huge Corruption of Rajapaksa Regime: Hyatt Heist!

01/07/2015

-Initial cost of Rs. 13 b doubles due to massive mismanagement including .
-Rs. 5 b EPF funds.
-Former board had no formal meetings, contracts doled out with no tender procedure.
-Rs. 300 m spent on H’tota Hyatt even before start, project to be cancelled by new officials.
-Colombo Hyatt to open by 2017 after three-year delay.

A forensic audit into the Hyatt hotels in Colpetty and Hambantota has uncovered mass fraud resulting in initial cost estimates more than doubling from Rs. 13 billion to Rs. 27 billion and the company facing a shortfall of nearly Rs. 9 billion to complete the project, its new director board said yesterday.

Canwill Holdings Ltd. is a fully state-owned public enterprise that was initiated under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure. It was entrusted with Rs. 18.5 billion in equity sourced from its key shareholders Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation, which contributed Rs. 8.5 billion as well as Litro Gas and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) that provided Rs. 5 billion respectively.

Forty-six percent of the shares were held by Sri Lanka Insurance while the rest was divided between Litro Gas and EPF.

Canwill Holdings then invested its equity in two subsidiaries, Sinolanka Hotel and Spa, which was behind the Hyatt hotel in Colpetty and Helanco Hotels and Spa that backed the proposed Hyatt in Hambantota.

Hemaka Amarasuriya

“The Hyatt in Colombo has been under construction for over three years. During the audit we uncovered instances of massive wastage and mismanagement right from the inception of obtaining the land. Three additional properties were acquired by paying Rs. 40 million more than was suggested by the Government Valuer at the behest of the company,” new Chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya told reporters but assured the company has sufficient funds to “carry on for now.”

The main land was leased for 99 years from the Urban Development Authority (UDA) after the former Ceylinco property was controversially expropriated by the previous government. Canwill Holdings was previously managed by former Chairman Gamini Senerath and former Managing Director Piyadasa Kudabalage and the audit report found no regular board meetings had been held with major decisions taken via email, Amarasuriya said.

Among the host of irregularities and mismanagement highlighted by the audit were payments of Rs. 10 million to a lawyer with no agreement, Rs. 16 million losses in steel purchases, fittings supplier given Rs. 80 million without board approval, international tender for $ 37 million signed with an international contractor the day before the presidential elections and Rs. 12.8 million spent on a signing ceremony. An additional Rs. 300million had been spent from Rs. 5 billion earmarked for the Hambantota Hyatt without even the foundation stone being laid for the project. The new board plans to revert the remaining funds to complete the Colpetty Hyatt and cancel the project in Rajapaksa’s hometown. Many of the contracts were handed on personal basis without open tenders, the audit report found.

A bag of foreign consultants were also appointed to the interior design, restaurants, food services, laundry, lighting, lifts, landscape and facade that have been combed through by the new board and largely dismissed. A foreign engineering consultant was also hired at Rs. 16 million a month, which the new board has terminated. A corporate credit card with a limit of Rs.1.5 million was issued to the former managing director and both his children were employed by Canwill Holdings with special perks, charged Amarasuriya. The results of the audit will have handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police.

“So far we have saved about Rs.150 million by cancelling and renegotiating contracts. This work will continue and we hope to save an additional Rs. 100 million. Tenders have already been called for fresh work and we will work to ensure transparency. It is essential for the public to know about this wastage as it involves public funds,” he added.

A foreign general manager was hired for a salary of Rs. 1.4 million but he has been sent back to Hyatt by the new board of directors as his services would not be immediately needed. However, Amarasuriya was quick to assure no oversights had been found in connection to the management and profit sharing agreement signed between Canwill Holdings and Hyatt International. The new opening date for Hyatt Colombo has been extended to 2017. The agreement was initially entered to by Hyatt Hotels Corporation in 2012 and it was to have been completed in 2014.

(Courtesy –Daily FT)

Gnanassara embraces cobra –party symbol ; crawls with it after a ‘ kassipu shot’

(Lanka-e-News -30.June.2015, 10.30) The Bodhu Bala Sena (BBS) including Kasippu Gnanassara better known as the robed terrorists have launched a new political party ‘Bodhu Jana Sena,’ and chosen a most appropriate symbol ‘ Cobra’ for its party . In Sri Lanka serpents and cobras are not confined to the jungles after the advent of the BBS brutes . The sting of these serpents are more vicious and venomous than the serpents in the jungles.

These stupid idiots are either so venomous or so foolish that they have chosen Cobra as their party symbol. Needless to mention the snake is a most virulent crawling serpent.

It is a universal truth that people are frightened of snakes, and they ought to be killed unmistakenly with a rod. In addition it must be burnt until it is charred in fear that it might revive. Certainly anybody who has even minimum grey matter or human emotions will not therefore select cobra as their party symbol.

The Bebedhusena (drunkard) secretary of the Bodhu Bala sena the self proclaimed ‘Doctor’ had told Lanka deepa that they have chosen the snake as a symbol for the new party Bodhu jana peramuna , and they will field laymen only at elections , while the robed monks will serve as advisors . In other words they are striving hard as monks to rid themselves of their pet name ‘junk’.

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by (2015-06-30 18:32:43)

Comparing Numbers; USA & Sri Lanka

By Mano Ratwatte –July 1, 2015

Mano Ratwatte

USA is Sri Lanka’s new Best Friend Forever(BFF); USA has done a lot of preaching on racial diversity and representation and democracy. Thus it might be a good place to look at Uncle Sam’s numbers. Is there any nation where there is tremendous diversity of population such as in the US where there is single State Assembly or Federal institution that has equal numbers representing different ethnic groups?

The 114th Congress of the United States has the following makeup.

White: 79.8%

Black or African American 10.1%

Hispanic 7.8%

Asian 2.3%

The Senate which elects two Senators from each State (all having equal power). Percentages are the same as numbers because there are only 100 Senators.

Tamil Vote Photo CREDIT- REUTERS:DINUKA LIYANAWATTE

White 94

Black/African American 2

Hispanic 3

Asian 1

Obama didn’t win a majority of white votes in most states but he won a significant minority percentage of the majority race; he won 98% and 95% of the Black votes in the States that mattered and a similarly high percentage of Hispanic voters. Similar to Mr. Sirisena.

Census statistic on Gender says the percentage of women in the US population is 50.8% yet the house is made up of only 19.4% Female Congressmen. Senate has 20 Female Senators; lopsidedly unequal and sexist. Similar to Sri Lanka. USA only uses FPP; is that terribly sexist, racist and unequal considering ethnic and gender percentages of the population?

Not the PM post, they should be in jail by now, says Chandrika

July 1, 2015

Despite our lives are in danger, we will fight any battle for the sake of the country, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga said.

The observation was made at a special event held in Negombo today (01).

“It is the responsibility of the people to safeguard the freedom of this country. Despite our lives are in danger, we will fight any battle for the sake of the country,” she said.

Kumaratunga also pointed out that there is no political party in Sri Lanka, other than the SLFP, which never used ‘violence’ as a weapon to promote a political propaganda, expect during the past decade.

“If the judicial system functioned correctly, some persons who demand the Prime Ministerial post should be in jail by now,” she added.

Polls chief’s intervention sought to stop formation of Drug Regulatory Authority

By Shamindra Ferdinando-July 1, 2015

The Government Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) has sought Election Commissi oner Mahinda Deshapriya’s immediate intervention to thwart the Health Ministry moving to establish a Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) in violation of the Parliamentary Election law. The DRA is formed in accordance with the new National Medicinal Drug, Devices and Cosmetic Authority policy.

GMOF Secretary Dr Jayantha Abeyratne yesterday told The Island that new appointments as well as transfers couldn’t be made in the wake of President Maithripala Sirisena calling for fresh parliamentary elections.

Dr Rukshan Bellana heads the GMOF at logger heads with the ministry over several contentious issues.

Responding to GMOF’s written complaint, the Elections Commissioner Deshapriya, too, has confirmed that such appointments couldn’t be made though there was no issue in case appointments were made within the health department. The Elections Secretariat has raised GMOF’s concerns with Health Secretary Dr D.M.R.B. Dissanayake and Director General of Health Services Dr Palitha Maheepala.

The Elections Secretariat confirmed receiving GMOF’s letter and follow-up action taken by the Secretariat

Dr Abeyratne alleged that in spite of the Elections Secretariat taking it up, the health ministry was going ahead with planned appointments today (July 2). The GMOF spokesperson said that Prof. Lal Jayakody and Prof. Crishantha Weerasooriya would receive appointments as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DRA.

They are in their 60s and currently with the University of Colombo, with Prof. Weerasooriya nearing 70.

Acknowledging that the duo had the required qualifications, Dr Abeyratne alleged that qualified pharmacologists were deprived of an opportunity to join the proposed DRA. Alleging that Messrs Jayakody and Weerasooriya had been handpicked by Health Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne, Dr Abeyratne said that no one should be allowed to take unilateral decisions.

Dr Abeyratne pointed out that Prof. Jayakody and Prof. Weerasooriya had been with the high level; Technical Advisory Committee as well as Drug Evaluation subcommittee for many years, therefore there could be a conflict of interests. The spokesperson said that a major industry player, namely Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) had strongly objected to the two appointments on the basis that they were well over the retirement age.

However, the Health ministry yesterday said that Minister Dr Senaratne was scheduled to participate in an official function today (July 2) at the DRA auditorium near Central Hospital. The Health Ministry media unit said that the event would take place as planned.

First General Election result from Rathnapura

Wednesday, 01 July 2015

Before handing over the nominations for the 2015 General Election the first election violence murder was reported from Dela area in Rathnapura. Former minister Thalatha Athukorala’s supporter Thushara

Dewalegama was killed. When the latter has travelling in his motor bicycle to organize the election campaign has been murdered.

Following the pronouncing of the date for the General Election this would be the first murder reported and there were few minor incidentsreported from Kurunegala and Anuradapura.

Photos by lankadeepa.lk

Hindu extremists beat up Muslim man in northern India: Video

In this picture, a Muslim man, identified as Riyaz, is being thrashed by Hindu extremists from the Bajrang Dal organization in Muzaffarnagar, northern India, June 19, 2015.

Mon Jun 29, 2015

Footage has been released online purportedly showing members of an extremist Hindu organization thrash a Muslim man in India’s northern and most populous state of Uttar Pradesh.

Videos posted on social media networks show radicals from the Bajrang Dal organization, whose ideology is based on fundamentalist Hindutva, verbally abusing the victim as a fanatic mercilessly beats the man, identified as Riyaz, with a belt in the city of Muzaffarnagar, situated approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of the capital, New Delhi, and in front of a large number of onlookers.

The ill-fated Muslim man is being tormented on the accusations that he was attempting to slaughter a cow in Shamli district of the city. Riyaz, however, has dismissed the claims and said he was just present at the site, where the cow was allegedly being slaughtered.

The video further shows Indian police forces arresting the victim, while taking no actions against Bajrang Dal extremists.

Meanwhile, local civil groups have blamed Samajwadi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party – the two major Indian political parties – of rekindling sectarian strife in Muzaffarnagar.

In September 2013, clashes between Muslims and Hindus in the Shamli and Muzaffarnagar districts of Uttar Pradesh state killed more than 50 and left 50,000 displaced. Many among the Muslim community fled their homes seeking shelter at relief camps.

A total of 294 people were arrested over the violence, despite nearly 6,000 being named as suspects.

Displaced Indian Muslims said their makeshift homes were being demolished by the state government in order to avoid negative media attention, following a report that revealed 34 children had died in the relief camps.

MP/NN/HMV

ISIS-affiliated militants launch wave of assaults in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula

In this Nov. 6, 2014, file photo, an Egyptian army armored vehicle stands on the on the Egyptian side of border town of Rafah, north Sinai, Egypt. Islamic militants on Wednesday, July 1, 2015, unleashed a wave of simultaneous attacks, including suicide car bombings, on Egyptian army checkpoints in the restive northern Sinai Peninsula, killing dozens of soldiers, security and military officials said.(AP Photo/Ahmed Abd El Latif, El Shorouk Newspaper, File) (Ahmed Abd El Latif/AP)

By Heba Habib and Loveday Morris-July 1

CAIRO — Islamic State-affiliated militants unleashed a wave of coordinated strikes on security checkpoints in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on Wednesday, in one of the most significant attacks on the restive province in recent years.

At least 10 soldiers were killed in the large-scale assault in the restive region, the Egyptian army said. However, other sources put the casualty figures much higher. The Associated Press reported that at least 50 soldiers were killed.

The north Sinai town of Sheikh Zuweid appeared close to slipping out of state control, with reports that gunmen were roaming the streets. Egyptian jets strafed the area as clashes continued on Wednesday afternoon, and Israel closed its border crossings with Egypt as a precautionary measure.

The breadth of the attack demonstrates the ability of militants in Egypt to maintain their reach in the country, despite years of battles with security forces. It came just two days after the country’s top prosecutor was assassinated in a bombing in the capital, Cairo.

The Islamic State has called for a “month of fire” during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, urging suicide bomb attacks. Strikes by the group and its affiliates or suspected sympathizers have since shaken France, Kuwait and Tunisia.

[The hidden hand behind the Islamic State]

A group named the Sinai Province, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in November, claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s assault. Its fighters attacked 15 checkpoints and carried out three suicide bombings, the group said in a statement circulated on social media. One blast hit an officer’s club in the city of Arish, it said.

An Egyptian army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Samir Abdel Aziz, said in a statement that around 70 militants launched attacks on five checkpoints in the north Sinai town of Sheikh Zuweid. Thirty-nine militants were killed, according to the army.

The militants said they had surrounded the police station in the town. The siege was confirmed to Egyptian media by a local police commander.

The army dispatched reinforcements to the area, but highways were laced with roadside bombs, Egypt’s al-Ahram newspaper reported. It said injured soldiers were evacuated in armored vehicles because ambulances could not reach the town.

North Sinai, which borders Israel and the Gaza Strip, has been the site of heated battles between the military forces and militant Islamists for years. But attacks have been increasing in frequency since the military backed the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood, in July 2013. According to some military experts, the attacks also have been increasing in sophistication.

Sinai Province launched a similarly deadly attack in January on checkpoints in Arish and Sheikh Zuweid, resulting in the deaths of 44 army and police personnel.

The nature of the latest attack on Sheikh Zuweid is “new and worrying,” said Zack Gold, a visiting fellow at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies who specializes in the Sinai Peninsula.

“This isn’t one of their regular hit-and-run attacks; they seem to be setting up for a longer haul,” he said, adding that it is currently unclear whether the group is attempting to take the town or draw the military into urban warfare. “Either one is unprecedented,” he said.

However, if the group is looking to take territory as the Islamic State has done in Iraq and Syria, it is unlikely to be able to hold its captured ground, Gold said.

“Egypt isn’t Iraq; this isn’t Anbar,” he said, referring to the Iraqi province where Islamic State militants have seized major cities. “The military is more cohesive and has more firepower and has the capability to get them out. The question is how many civilians will be harmed in the process?”

Morris reported from Baghdad.

Loveday Morris is a Beirut-based correspondent for The Post. She has previously covered the Middle East for The National, based in Abu Dhabi, and for the Independent, based in London and Beirut.

North Korea’s new airport opens to much fanfare… and controversy

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his wife tour Pyongyang's new international airport. Pic: AP.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his wife Ri Sol-ju tour Pyongyang’s new international airport. Pic: AP.

By Asian Correspondent Staff Jul 01, 2015

North Korea opened its new airport in Pyongyang Wednesday. The reclusive state likes to showcase its achievements, and this week’s grand opening was no exception as it showed off the new airport’s fancy duty free shops and chocolate fondue fountain.

The event was somewhat overshadowed, however, by reports that leader Kim Jong-un executed the airport’s architect last year because of “defects” in the building.

The unveiling Wednesday underscores an effort to attract more tourists and to spruce up the country ahead of the celebration of a major anniversary of the founding of its ruling Worker’s Party in October this year.

North Korean Premier Pak Pong Ju officiated at the opening ceremony, which marks the completion of years of work at Pyongyang’s main Sunan airport.

But the event was overshadowed by the murkier side of life in North Korea, not least that Ma Won Chun, North Korea’s director of the Designing Department of the National Defence Commission and the airport’s architect, vanished last year and is believed to have fallen victim to one of Kim’s purges.

(READ MORE: Follow these Instagram accounts for a look inside the real North Korea)

‘The Diplomat’ reported he was killed “for corrupt practices and a failure to follow orders”.

Ma’s disappearance coincided with the discovery of problems with the airport, when Kim was quoted as saying: “Defects were manifested in the last phase of the construction of the Terminal 2 because the designers failed to bear in mind the party’s idea of architectural beauty that is the life and soul and core in architecture to preserve the character and national identity.”

Kim seemed to have put that all behind him last week when North Korea’s propaganda machine released images of him touring the new facility with his wife Ri Sol-ju touring the new facility. They look like they’re having a grand old time, apparently sporting US$600 Movado watches.