Eye opening speech..! Economic Policy Statement made by Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament today

(Lanka-e-News -05.Nov.2015, 10.00PM) 

Hon. Speaker,

On the 08th of January, the people of Sri Lanka elected Maithripala Sirisena as the President in pursuit of much needed change. This was confirmed at the Parliamentary Election held in August.

Our final goal is to improve and enhance the living standards of the people; it is the goal for which we have obtained the approval of the people at the election.

Eye Opening Speech..! Economic Policy Statement Made by Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament... by Thavam Ratna

Proposed reforms to create highly competitive social market economy in Sri Lanka: Harsha

November 5, 2015

Deputy Minister Dr Harsha de Silva says the 3rd generation economic reforms, as referred to and presented by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today in Parliament, has gone beyond even what was expected by most towards restructuring the economy to prepare for the next wave of sustainable growth in Sri Lanka. 

“It provides the platform to create the knowledge based highly competitive social market economy that we promised in the run up to the election to create a million new high-paying jobs,” he said commenting on the PM’s Policy Statement. 

“Now it is up to Parliament to urgently bring in the necessary legislation as proposed by the Prime Minister to give effect to the far sighted and inclusive policy reforms that will see Sri Lanka emerge as the most dynamic and rapidly developing economy between Dubai and Singapore.”

“It is perhaps the first time in modern economic history of the nation such a comprehensive set of reforms that encapsulates the entire economy was enunciated,” the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

He added: “The proposed restructuring of state owned enterprises and the creation of holding corporation to manage them by a board appointed by the constitutional council and the creation of the national wealth fund, inter alia by amalgamating the EPF and ETF, once again, to be managed by an independent body that includes trade unions is a most important break from the past to deal with the past where chronic losses were recouped by regressive taxes on the people while the savings of the hard working people were plundered. 

“The wide ranging reforms of factor markets, in particular the unique proposal to transfer title deeds to those who have been enjoying state property on various permits will create a market both for agricultural land and equally importantly for residential property in the urban and suburban areas. 

“The sharp focus reiterated more than once on the need for Sri Lanka to become a trading nation of high value products and services I feel will become the rallying call for a structural shift upwards in foreign investments. The mention by the Prime Minister for the need to accede to the Trans-Pacific Partnership has a deep meaning both in terms of his thinking on free trade and equally importantly on the need for reforms in external trade in the coming years. 

“Not stopping at industrial products and IT enabled services the proposals to link rural agricultural production with the growing demand for specialized food for the booming middle class in the Indian subcontinent is another path breaking initiative which will help reduce inequalities in the distribution of the new wealth that would certainly get created across the nation. Bringing back the cooperative structure in agriculture in the soon to be reformed land markets will help break the shackles that have for a long time been around the hard working farmers of this country. 

“It was indeed a proud moment for me and others who over several years been associated with the Prime Minister on the need for such reforms to hear the pronouncement today in Parliament.”  

National List Provision (99A) Absolutely Void & No Force In Law

By Ananda Markalanda –November 5, 2015

Ananda Markalanda

The Constitution of Sri Lanka 1978 recognizes Sri Lanka as a Representative Democracy (Preamble to the Constitution) and under the Constitution, sovereignty in Sri Lanka is in the people and this power is inalienable.

The sovereign rights of the people include power of government (Legislative, Executive & Judicial power), fundamental rights and the franchise (Article 3). These rights are absolute and cannot be taken away from the people, unless any such bill brought to deny people’s sovereign rights is passed with two-thirds of majority AND ALSO with a mandate obtained from the people at a Referendum (Article 83 of the Constitution) surrendering their rights, followed by a ratification by the Executive President [(Article 82(5)].

The so-called 14th amendment (Article 99A), which had taken away the franchise vested in the people who exercise their right to elect MPs, have denied the people of their right with party secretaries who are empowered to appoint defeated candidates at the General Election through the National List. One need not know the rocket science and any person with an average common sense would understand that this as a blatant violation of voting rights only vested in the people.

Whole nation knows that there was no such referendum held seeking peoples’ mandate to surrender their power of franchise to party secretaries. Had there been such a referendum, there is no doubt that people of Sri Lanka would have overwhelmingly defeated any such move.

Therefore, as it stands today, this provision of law (Article 99A), which introduced National List with power vested in the party secretaries to appoint defeated candidates without adhering to the laid down procedure, has no force in law and shall not be interpreted or construed or deemed to amend the Constitution [(Article 83 (6)]. Therefore, and any action taken under that invalid provision law absolutely void.

Therefore, all MP appointments through the National List, made by the party secretaries from the rejected candidates, without a scant respect to the sovereign rights of the people and the published ‘‘National List’ during the nomination period for the information of the voters, are VOID from the day such appointments are made.  And this cannot be corrected by any means now, that is, by Legislature, Executive or the Judiciary, unless and until people approve such a move at a Referendum.

Shirani Bandaranayake’s tenure during good terms with Rajapaksa appointed her husband as chairman of the Savings Bank, betrayed the sovereign power of the people, surrendering the judicial independence to President Rajapaksa with approval of the 18th Amendment. Later she paid a heavy penalty for the crime committed when she opposed and got impeached.

Independence of Judiciary compromised by the Judges            Read More

Tale of two govts or Two of the same!

Sadly the government is trying to belittle the Paranagama Report to prevent MR from scoring points… the previous administration’s high officials’ and its few Cabinet Ministers that could read English were lazy to read a lengthy text.... That is the kindest excuse  ...
2015-11-04

Fortunes of a nation lie on a trunk of a leader. If the heart of Mahinda Rajapaksa were attached to the mind of Ranil Wickremesinghe, the nation could come smelling of roses after the war. Patriotic sentiments blended neatly with worldly wisdom. It was not to be. Becomes a land of a splintered torso.

Tale of Two Govts or Two of the Same! by Thavam Ratna

Leader of FSP behind student protestsKumar remanded

By Saman Indrajith-November 4, 2015, 9:24 pm 

Leader of the JVP-splinter group Frontline Socialist Party Premakumar Gunaratnam alias Kumar Mahattaya was arrested at his ancestral house in Kegalle by police yesterday.

The arrest had been made around 1.45 pm at Gunaratnam’s house at No 211/26, Anguruwella, Kegalle by a team of policemen from the Kegalle police on charges of violating immigration regulations, police said. Gunaratnam has been remanded till Nov. 18 by the Kegalle Magistrate.

Gunaratnam was an Australian citizen and he would be handed over to the Controller of Immigration and Emigration to be deported to Australia, police said.

He was being questioned at the Kegalle Police Station at the time this edition went to press.

Gunaratnam arrived in Sri Lanka on Jan. 01, this year using an Australian Passport (N 1016123) bearing the name, Noel Mudalige.  He had been granted a visa till Jan. 30, 2015 but did not leave the country. He did not make public appearances. His name has been included in the FSP’s national list accepted by the Elections Commissioner for the August 17 general election. Gunaratnam’s name has been listed along with his real NIC No 653231890 V.

Born in Kegalle on 18.11.1965 to a Sinhalese mother and a Tamil father, Gunaratnam played a major role behind the scene in JVP revival in the aftermath of its top leaders being wiped out during anti-insurgent crackdown by the then UNP government in the 1987-90 period.

He was educated at St. Mary’s College, Kegalle, and Pinnawala Central College, Rambukkana. He entered the University of Peradeniya Faculty of Engineering and became a student leader. He did not complete his degree and married a doctor, Champa Somaratna. His family is currently resident in Australia.

Gunaratnam arrived in Sri Lanka on Sept. 4, 2011 using his Australian passport and engaged in clandestine JVP operations until the party faced a split paving the way for the creation of FSP.

He claimed he had been abducted by a group who came in a white van from a house at No: 291, Gemunu Mawatha, Kiribathgoda on April 06, 2012 and dumped near the Colombo Crime Division head office at Dematagoda in the early hours of April 09, 2012. The Australian High Commission intervened to secure his release. Then Australian High Commissioner, Robyn Mudie, met top defence officials after Gunaratnam’s wife Champa had requested the Australian government to intervene on behalf of her husband. The following day, he was deported to Australia, where Gunaratnam alleged that he had been abducted, interrogated and tortured by men attached to the state intelligence agencies.

UPFA Galle District MP Manusha Nanayakkara participating in an adjournment debate in Parliament yesterday asked the government to reveal all the details pertaining to the arrest of Gunaratnam. "Gunaratnam was born in this country. He engaged in active politics though his politics was not digestible to some sections. Gunaratnam has a birth right. We demand to know whether the government does not recognise his rights?"

FSP Propaganda Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda said that his party would do everything in its power to secure the release of their leader and his right to engage in politics here. "According to our legal consultants, Gunaratnam has not done anything illegal. He is engaged in politics fulltime. He is being harassed for political reasons."

Gunaratnam was one of the first to reveal to the country that Presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena and the JVP had a deal prior to the Jan. 8 polls. He made the revelation in an exclusive interview with The Island, though none confirmed Gunaratnam’s statement then.

The Inter University Students’ Federation now under the control of FSP led by Gunaratnam was behind recent student agitations. The IUSF organised protest last Thursday ended with police using force to disperse them, which resulted in over 70 students and several policemen receiving injuries.

Sri Lanka: What are You Babbling, Mr. Marapana?

Like other subjects, maritime affairs are the country’s assets, not the boggy man trick to plunder the national economy. The Avant Garde case must be investigated in detail, at the least from the date that the United Nations security council came up with very  sensitive statement against Sri Lanka on the based on slanders of a hypocrite, on their fact finding reports on Maritime Security in African seas. 

EDITORIAL

( November 5, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Minister Tilak Marapana was nowhere to be seen when the struggle against the state power & resources abused regime, started. But now, as the National List MP, he has come forward to “protect” the country! Oh no, more than that. He has come forward as a guardian of the “truth” and telling the other side of the story. Somewhat, this is what we can understand on what he has attempted to portrait yesterday in the Parliament.

According to the Minister Marapana, there is nothing wrong with Avant Garde, and the head of the Avant Garde did the most patriotic task in recent history. He did not stop there, he went further and pointed the finger at those who exposed Avant Garde and claimed it is as yet another Millennium City raid, where our LLRP ( The Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol ) located.  In fact that it was in his tenure as the Minister of Defence when the safe house located in Millennium City was raided. He may probably have another theory to offer.

Who is suffering from amnesia?

Who is using their underwear to hide the money received from bribes to cover up the story and portray it as the most ridiculous exposure in recent past as the”patriot” of this nation?

Let’s not talk about that utterly painful experience of the betrayal of our spy agency which fought against brutal terrorism.

We can no better than take the historic political tricks by Joseph Goebbels who died in 1945 after “respectfully” serving as Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda.

 “The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” ( quoted)

Isn’t it true, Mr. Marapana?

The case against Avant Garde is a tragic drama which many media outlets attempted to cover-up, and many personally benefited. This is precisely a matter of the national security and territorial morality of maritime relations of this island nation. We must be proud about the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Real Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne, for using his moral spine to protect the nation, and launching an independent investigation. Others who are involved with this without personal benefit are also must be credited for their honour.

While addressing the high level segment of the Conference of State Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption in the Russian City of St. Petersburgh, Dr. Harsha De Silva, Deputy Minister of External Affairs bragged about the efforts taken to fight corruption, from the time he took office. He was not being rhetorical. We are just happy by hearing such statement before such distinguished guests.

Like other subjects, maritime affairs are the country’s assets, not the boggy man trick to plunder the national economy. The Avant Garde case must be investigated in detail, at the least from the date that the United Nations Security Council came up with very  sensitive statement against Sri Lanka on the based on slanders of a hypocrite, in their fact finding report on maritime security in African seas.

Let’s recall Albert Camus here, ‘……killing off our inquiring minds by accepting easy, stock answers to life’s fundamental questions (quoted)’ is the most dangerous factor of humanity. Mr. Minister, we believe you are well understand that the country and its citizen well remember your contribution to the country.

Let the investigation be completed! Let the investigators to draw the facts which did tremendous harm to this nation. Let the investigators find who is fooling whom.  Let the investigators draw the lines on how to restore the dignity of the serving security officers and the country in general.

However, is this yet, another example of bad choices to the National List? Over to you, Mr. Prime Minister?

TI Places Sri Lanka In ‘Very High Risk’ Category For Corruption In Defence Sector

November 5, 2015

A Transparency International report from London has placed Sri Lanka in the high risk category for corruption in the defence and security sector. Sri Lanka’s 2015 the Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index* (GI) ranking in Band E places it in the very high risk category for corruption in the defence and security sector.

Mahinda Rajapaksa

“The country scored Band E across four risk areas: Political, Finance, Operations and Procurement. Operations scored slightly higher in Band D. While newly elected President Maithipala Sririsena has overseen a series of anti-corruption reforms since his ascension to power in January 2015, it is unclear how these will remedy corruption vulnerabilities stemming from an absence of legislative scrutiny of defence issues, allegations of nepotism in the appointment of key military personnel, and a lack of formal regulations for defence procurement.” said the Transparency International.

Transparency International has suggested the following reforms of the security sector to minimize corruption risk.

Enhance Legislative Scrutiny

Under the previous administration, President Mahinda Rajapaksa oversaw the entire Defence Sector and faced little to no effective oversight and scrutiny by the legislature. After assuming power in January 2015, President Maithipala Sirisena’s government passed the 19th amendment to the constitution. In addition to replacing Sri Lanka’s executive presidential system with a more balanced parliamentary system, the amendment has sought to establish an independent National Audit Commission that will report directly to Parliament.

To build upon Rajapaksa’s reforms, TI recommended that the government establish a parliamentary committee tasked specifically with the oversight of defence and security activities, strategy and spending. This committee should have access to a fully detailed defence budget and internal audit reports, be able to call expert witnesses, scrutinise defence agencies and institutions; meet regularly and publish reports on its activity.

Increase Budget Transparency

The Ministry of Public Finance publishes a budget for security sector finances. However, few details aside from total revenue and total expenses are included. To increase transparency and civilian oversight TI has recommended that the government publish an annual defence budget that includes detailed information on expenditure across functions including research & design, training, salaries, acquisitions, disposal of assets, maintenance and personnel expenditures to help ensure that the budget is spent on equipment that meet Sri Lanka’s strategic priorities and needs.

Establish Clear Protocols for Promotions

Evidence suggests that political interference, nepotism and lack of objective criteria for appointments and promotions have been a consistent issue in military appointments. President Rajapaksa chose his brotherGotabaya Rajapaksa to be the Defence Secretary and his other brother Basil Rajapaksa to head the Finance Ministry.                                                                 Read More

Ranil wants George Soros ‘the economic war criminal’ in Sri Lanka

THURSDAY, 05 NOVEMBER 2015

Billionaire businessman George Soros would be invited to visit Sri Lanka says Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. He said this while making a special statement in Parliament today (5th).

Soros, Hungary born US businessman, is accused of being responsible for the financial crisis that occurred in Eastern Asia in the 90s.

Former President of Malaysia Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad had publicly accused him of bringing down economies of countries in Eastern Asia by instantly withdrawing money invested in these countries.

In his native Hungary Soros is accused of supporting illegal migration. Soro also wants more power for groups such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. A large part of Soros’ multibillion-dollar fortune has come from manipulating currencies. In Thailand he was called an “economic war criminal.”

Soro, known as “The Man who broke the Bank of England,” initiated a British financial crisis by dumping 10 billion sterling that forced the devaluation of the currency. However, he gained a billion-dollar profit.

It is such a man that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has invited to Sri Lanka. The man he first invited from abroad to be in charge of finances in the country has been charged of the biggest fraud that has taken place in the country.

Identify the latest fraudster toeing the line of ‘Sakvithi’… after posing with president in photographs !

(Lanka-e-News- 04.Nov.2015, 11.55PM) Like how the notorious fraudster Sakvithi Ranasinghe posed for photographs with ex president Mahinda Rajapakse , and used those photographs to defraud people in many millions of rupees, Lanka e news is now in receipt of reports that another scoundrel , toeing Sakvithi  line  is getting ready to cheat on the public in millions using photographs after his  posing with the incumbent president Maithripala Sirisena.

This unscrupulous  scoundrel , who is imitating ‘Sakvithi’ is Dr. Hiran Hettiarachchi the owner of Blue Mountain property sales Co. that commenced business five years ago. 

Like Sakvithi , this swindler  too via newspaper and television  advertisements is carrying on   bogus publicity campaigns. According to his advertisements , the Blue mountain Co. has  a staff of 2100 members, and purchasers of their plots of land  are  200,000.It is also falsely  portrayed  that the assets of the company amount to Rs. 14 billion , and in Sydney , Australia too they own multi  storied apartment complex .

The SL  media too has allowed this fraudulent activity to operate without let or hindrance , which is aimed at cheating  the public , in spite of the fact  that this  is a country which  insists on a death certificate even to publish an obituary via its media. When this Co.  has portrayed it has assets to the tune of Rs. 14 billion  , the SL media without calling for a valid certificate from a recognized  auditing Co. to testify to  the company’s  grandiose and spurious  claim  has published these advertisements. Owing to these blunders or calculated deceitful practices,  it is  the people who  are at the receiving end of these frauds perpetrated  by these confidence tricksters and fraudsters ,and finally  it is the  public and the Central bank that are found fault with, while the media Institutions which  published these to make  a fast buck  , simply to earn their daily livelihoods are not held liable.

The Central bank taking a lethargic attitude and the Inland revenue department preferring  a deep slumber to conscientious attention to work without keeping a surveillance on these small   time businessmen who are  trying to become sharks at the expense of the people and the country, is providing the necessary climate and encouragement to these fraudsters and confidence tricksters.

When Lanka e news probed into this massive scam , it was discovered that although the Co. claims it has a staff strength of 2100, the EPF payments are being made by the Co. only in respect of  less than 200 members of the staff .If there are 200, 000 buyers of lands within five years as claimed by the Co. , 110 plots of land each 5 acres at least in extent  should have been sold every day . This is therefore a blatant brazen lie  solely and wholly aimed at duping and deceiving the public. The claim that Blue mountain has assets valuing Rs. 14 billion is another absolute falsehood, for even for a bank in SL  to collect that amount of funds it will take about ten years.

In short the modus operandia of Dr. Hiran Hettiarachchi is:  after establishing a company in the name of Blue Mountain  , he is draping the Sakvithi within  him in  Sil robe to look a monk , and  making grandiose advertisements in order to portray he is a holy man   with a view  to collect advance payments fraudulently from the public while announcing multistoried  apartments are being constructed  for them . This fraudster who has collected advance payments in relation to over 15 projects  has only just started construction of a storied complex at Kohuwala . He has however not paid monies for purchase of other lands in respect of other projects .Hence those who paid advances relying only on paper will have to commit suicide sooner or later .

Although this modern Sakvithi has sold lands in congested Colombo Municipal and urban council limits after blocking them , the revenue stamp duty due to the western provincial council has not been paid.That is he has committed a huge fraud thereby in keeping with his overriding swindling traits. Even his deeds are written by a team of lawyers who are his bosom pals.

This fraudster registers the first copy of the deed relating to a plot with the land registration depatment , but the second copy that should bear the revenue stamps is not registered .Thereby, the Western PC is deprived of its revenue in many millions via this illegal calculated omission .Those who recieved lands this way , although had a deed given by Blue Diamond , have not obtained a legal title even  after making represnetations to the lands department in ths regard .This is because the stamp duty in respect of these deeds have not been paid and therefore these deeds have not been duly registered .

There are countless charges against Blue Mountain owner ,  Dr. Hiran Hettiarachchi and his board , as well as the CEO .After joining hands with an individual who came out after defrauding the People’s bank ,  one of the chiefs of this swindling Co. secured a massive loan via wrongful channels by  forwarding a false estimate after inflating the value of the lands .

It is the duty of the government of good governance even at this belated stage to take immediate measures to forestall the creation of more Sakvithis in the name of Blue mountain or any other. By the proliferation of these fraudsters , racketeers , swindlers and confidence tricksters  , it is the hard earned monies of  the law abiding citizens carefully collected through life long sacrifices that are made to go down the drain , when these scoundrels and their bogus companies  dupe and deceive the public .It is the inescapable duty of the officials to uproot such fraudsters and their establishments at the very outset by nipping it in the bud. The media Institutions too should act with responsibility when publishing advertisements that aim at collecting public funds instead of fixing the gaze on the profits they derive from publishing such advertsements . The people too must think a hundred times before they make investments ., for it has been proved now without doubt  that the so called millionaire businessmen in Sri Lanka are the biggest faudsters . Their visible honesty is only that invisible dishonesty not yet known. The SL’s business climate currently is so sordid  , a businessman’s  Prado is only synonymous with fraud, unlike in the days gone by when a Prado was synonymous with prestige. This is all because politicians lately became pawns in the hands of rich spurious businessmen, after coming into power on the votes of the genuine masses. 

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by     (2015-11-05 00:02:29)

Health and Urban Development Ministers Threatens to Quit Government

Nov 05, 2015

In a stormy cabinet meeting today presided by President Maithripala Sirisena. Two strong and vocal government who spearheaded the campaign for Mahinda Rajpakse's ouster in January Minister Rajitha Senarathne and Champaka Ranawake threatend to quit the government if the investigations into the Avan Garde Arms Armory issue is not properly investigated immediately and concluded by charging those guilty.

They observed that it was not right for Chit Minister Thilak Marapane to investigate the Armory when he appeared for ex Major Nissanka Senathipathy. The Prime. Minister during the commotion had walked out according to a Minister and the President had agreed to have a special session of the cabinet to discuss these issues.

 

MP Sumanthiran questioned in parliament as to how Marapana could speak when he was the lawyer retained by Nissanka Senathipathy. Political sources say Ministers Marapane , Malik Samarawickrama and Vajira Abewardana operate together and are all in it together. Most say Minister Marapane did not deserve to be nominated to Parliament.

 

The next one to blow up in cabinet soon would be the allegation that Governor Mahendren was aware of the ill gotten cash deposits at NDB Bank Dubai where he worked prior to January and the Rajapakse family were introduced to Mahendren by his famous son in law Arjuna Alosius. It is alleged that he was their Wealth Manager at NBD Dubai. That investigation has also made no progress, other than the usual noise in the media. 

 

Good Governance Group

Maldives arrests Sri Lankan sniper after weapons bust

MALE, October 31, 2015: Maldives police showcase on October 31, 2015 several weapons including an assault rifle seized during a raid on an island in Baa Atoll, which is being developed as a resort, in connection to the blast aboard the presidential speedboat in September. HAVEERU PHOTO/ MOHAMED SHARUHAAN

Mohamed Visham, Haveeru Online-Nov 04, 2015

Police have arrested a Sri Lankan sniper from the Maldives days after a sniper rifle bullet was found in the biggest weapons bust in the country's recent history.

Haveeru has found that the sniper who had served in the Sri Lankan military was arrested a week ago and remains in custody.

 

Maldivian authorities, neither confirmed nor denied the arrest.

 

The weapons had been seized from Hibilhadhoo island in Baa Atoll being developed as a resort.

 

The army confirmed Saturday that two assault rifles found in the biggest weapons bust in Maldives' recent history belonged to the state armoury.

 

The items showcased during a press conference earlier Saturday included several hand guns, a T56 assault rifle and a MP5 sub-machine gun. In addition, a large quantity of bomb making material were also displayed at the press briefing.

 

Security forces cautioned the public Wednesday to be wary of more illegal weapons on the loose.

 

At a joint press conference with the police, Captain Ali Ihsan from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) said there was credible intelligence to suggest some people were in possession of more weapons. Those weapons had the potential of endangering the lives of the people, he warned.

 

“We can confirm that these weapons would be used in a general attack or utilised to launch an attack on particular individuals,” Ihsan said, during the press conference held a few minutes before the declaration of state of emergency.

 

Assistant police commissioner Abdulla Nawaz assured that every effort was being made to find those weapons. He asked the public to notify the police of any information that could lead to the discovery of those weapons.

 

 

The joint warning by the armed forces and the police came a few minutes before the Maldives declared a month-long state of emergency in what has been extraordinary security measures following an explosion on a speedboat carrying the president and subsequent discovery of an arms haul.

 

In the declaration of emergency, which was read out to journalists at the President’s Office by Attorney General Mohamed Anil, President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom said he had reached the decision after consultations with his national security council. Several explosive devices have been discovered in two separate operations carried out by the army and there is credible intelligence of an imminent attack using explosives and weapons, he added.

 

Such an attack would endanger the lives of the public, the president said.

 

The declaration of emergency comes a day after security forces discovered an explosive device near the presidential palace.

 

Maldives military had confirmed that the suspected device found in a vehicle parked near the presidential residence of Muliaage in capital Male was an improvised explosive device which had been subsequently been diffused.

 

The discovery of the IED came just over a month after an explosion aboard the presidential speedboat carrying President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom now confirmed as an attempt to kill the president.

 

President Yameen was unhurt but his spouse and two others were hurt in the explosion.

 

The primary suspect in the blast appears to be Vice President Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor who was arrested on October 24 as soon as he arrived from an official trip to China.

 

He is accused of high treason, a charge he denies.

 

The government has intensified its crackdown on the vice president and his associates. 

 

Before and since the vice president’s arrest, police jointly with armed soldiers have been carrying out raids across capital Male. Most of the houses and offices searched so far had direct links to the vice president. 

South Sudan plane crash: Dozens killed near Juba airport

A cargo plane has crashed on take-off near the international airport in South Sudan's capital Juba, killing at least 36 people.

The plane came down on the east bank of the White Nile River

5 November 2015

Two people were pulled from the wreckage alive but one of them later died, leaving a young girl as the only survivor, the Red Cross said.

The Antonov An-12 plane was heading to Paloch, Upper Nile State, and crashed 800m (half a mile) from the runway.

In a statement, Ukraine-based Antonov said the plane had not been airworthy.

South Sudan Plane Crash Dozens Killed Near Juba Airport by Thavam Ratna

Two Palestinians killed by Egypt and Israel in Gaza and West Bank

A young fisherman in Gaza was shot while he was on his boat, while in the West Bank, an alleged stabber was killed Palestinians carry the body of Ibrahim Sukafi, 22, who was shot dead by the Israeli soldiers near the village of Halhul in Hebron, the West Bank on 5 November 2015 (AA) 

Thursday 5 November 2015

Egyptian forces shot dead a Palestinian teen who was on a boat fishing in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, on Thursday evening.

Firas Meqdad, 17, was rushed to the hospital but died half an hour later from his wounds.

Dr Ashraf al-Qidra, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, confirmed Meqdad’s death.

“Firas Meqdad, a fisherman, was shot in the stomach by a bullet from the Egyptian army, which led to his death,” Qidra said.

Nizar Ayyash, the head of the fishermen's union, stated that the boat Meqdad was on was in Palestinian territorial waters, and that access to the Egyptian side was impossible. The shooting of the young man, Qidra said, was without justification.

The Egyptian army has not yet commented.

This is not the first time that the Egyptian army has targeted Palestinians in Gaza over the past two years. Fishermen in Gaza are also subjected to similar attacks by the Israeli army.

In 2010, Mohammed Ibrahim al-Bardawil died from injuries sustained after an Egyptian gunship repeatedly rammed his boat, causing it to capsize. Bardawil was fishing with his son, who suffered from light wounds.

As recently as January of this year, 17-year-old Zaki al-Houbi was shot by Egyptian forces near the Gaza-Egypt border. Ambulances were prevented from arriving to the site, and Houbi bled to death.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot dead 22-year-old Malik Talal al-Sharif on Thursday near a bus stop by the Gush Etzion settlement bloc southwest of Bethlehem. According to the army, Sharif tried to carry out a stabbing attack before he was shot. No soldiers were injured.

Israeli sources revealed that soldiers tried to arrest Sharif as he approached them near the bus station, but he allegedly took out a knife and was subsequently shot and killed immediately.

“A Palestinian armed with a knife attempted to stab a soldier,” said an Israeli army spokesperson to Maan News Agency. “Forces on the site shot the assailant.”

Since the beginning of October, 73 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces. Ten Israelis were killed in the same time period.

- See more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/two-palestinians-killed-egypt-and-israel-gaza-and-west-bank-2113025655#sthash.cxIgG24N.dpuf

France now more repressive of boycott calls than Israel

Recent court ruling adds to France’s repression of Palestine solidarity activism. (Flickr)

PA leader Mahmoud Abbas joined world leaders in Paris on 11 January to march for free speech, including the right of French cartoonists to depict the Prophet Muhammad in a bestial manner.-Philippe WojazerReuters

Ali Abunimah-4 November 2015

On 20 October, France’s highest court of criminal appeals upheld the conviction of a dozen Palestine solidarity activists for publicly calling for the boycott of Israeli goods.

The ruling by the Court of Cassation adds to growing concerns about the harsh crackdown on free speech,backed by French President François Hollande, since the murders of journalists at the offices of the magazineCharlie Hebdo in January.

France Now More Repressive of Boycott Calls Than Israel by Thavam Ratna