BILLION RUPEE POTHOLE ON ROAD TO GOOD GOVERNANCE?

by Nirmala Kannangara.-10/07/2016

The good governance administration is now embroiled in a controversy after being exposed that a Cabinet minister had allegedly secured Cabinet approval to get a government contract to a company owned by his offspring.

Minister of Primary Industries Daya Gamage is accused of obtaining a government contract for rural road rehabilitation and renovation in the Kalutara District at a cost of staggering Rs.3.639 billion without mentioning that the company the Cabinet approval was sought is owned by his family.

Although Gamage is a road construction contractor even before he entered politics, it is questionable as to why he obtained these two contracts for his company as it is conflict of interest.

“Being a minister in the good governance regime, what made him to send quotations to the Road Development Authority (RDA) for a contract to rehabilitate around 180km-road network? As we all know, he has a construction company that had rehabilitated and constructed many roads in the country. But being a Cabinet minister now, Gamage should not have got his company to send quotations to a government contract. Although neither Minister Gamage nor his wife who is also a Minister in this Cabinet are not Directors of Olympus Constructions, they may have influenced the Highways Ministry to get the contracts,” RDA trade union member told The Sunday Leader.

The sources on conditions of anonymity said that it is up to the party leaders to decide whether granting these two contracts to Olympus Construction (Pvt.) Limited which is said to be owned by the Gamage family is ethical and in line with the assurances they gave to the people of this country prior to the 2015 presidential election. These two contracts have been offered to the said construction company which is a joint venture with an Indian Company – Rani Constructions (Pvt.) Ltd.

One project is to rehabilitate 89 kilometers of rural roads at a cost of nearly Rs 1.81 billion without taking into consideration the Value Added Tax (VAT).

The second project (cost over Rs. 1,817 billion excluding VAT) which too is to rehabilitate and reconstruct another rural road network (94 kilometres) is also in the Kalutara District.

On June 3, University Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella had submitted a Cabinet paper to obtain Cabinet approval for 18 road projects. Of the 18 projects, the last two projects have been offered to Olympus Construction (Pvt.) Limited which is alleged to be owned by Daya Gamage family. According to the sources, this company was earlier owned by Daya Gamage, but the ownership had been changed after UNP came into power last year.

It is learnt that Daya Constructions, the road construction company that first worked with World Bank loans, got it name changed to Olympus Constructions after UNP came into power last year. Since quotations were called from international bidders, Olympus Constructions had amalgamated with Rani Constructions, India and had submitted their quotations for the bids.

However, Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella when contacted said that Highways Ministry has not violated any government procurement guidelines and had offered the 18 road construction projects for the lowest bidders considering their technical capacities.

“We cannot offer contracts to the lowest bidders if their technical capacities are not on par with our requirements and also to bidders who have the required technical capacities but if their quotations are high. We offered the 89km and 94km rural road rehabilitation contract to Olympus Constructions who have quoted the lowest prices as well as for having the required technical capacity. When we went through the names of the Board of Directors, Daya Gamage’s name was not in the list,” Minister Kiriella said.

According to Minister Kiriella, all these 18 road projects are constructed under the supervision of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

“The ADB monitors these construction works and no one play out the contracts,” the Minister claimed.

Minister Kiriella, however, said that he had to ask Chairman RDA to refer the contract details to the Attorney General for his advice.

“If you call the RDA Chairman, you will be able to get all these details,” the Minister said.

“Of all those who have quoted for the tender, we opened only the applications that have the necessary technical qualifications. These quotations were opened on January 12 this year, and Olympus Constructions had quoted the lowest prices for nine projects. But under the ‘least cost to the client’ system, the 17th and the 18th contracts were given to Olympus Construction and the rest to many foreign constructors,” Chairman RDA Nihal Suriarachchi told The Sunday Leader.

When asked whether RDA was not aware that Olympus Construction was a family business of Daya Gamage, Suriarachchi said that although everyone knew that Daya Constructions changed its name soon after the change of government last year, he was exactly not aware of what the name of the new company was.

“When we selected the 18 companies, we presented a Cabinet paper to obtain the Cabinet approval. Later we published the list of names in State print media. After this only, the media exposed the connection of Olympus Constructions with the Gamage family. When this was highlighted in newspapers and on websites, Minister Lakshman Kiriella immediately wanted me to get the share holding details of this construction company in question from the Company Registrar where the owners name had been given as Gamage’s daughter and son. Then I was instructed to refer all these details to the Attorney General for his observation and recommendation to find out whether it is illegal to offer such a large tender to a company owned by the offspring of a Cabinet minister. So I referred all these documents to the Attorney General on Thursday June 30 and am waiting for his advice,” Suriarachchi said.

When asked, whether the Highway Ministry abide by the directives if the Attorney General instructs not to offer the two tenders to Olympus Constructions, the RDA Chairman said that in such an event, this has to be notified to the ADB. “We have to inform the ADB that these two tenders cannot be offered to this company on the instructions of the Attorney General,” Suriarachchi added.

This newspaper was not able to contact Minister Daya Gamage since he was out of the country. A text message was forwarded seeking a comment, but he did not respond to our message.
Sunday Leader

Dilemma Between VAT & CAA Tax On Price Controlled Items

By Sarath Wijesinghe –July 10, 2016

Sarath Wijesinghe

It is learnt that the Cabinet will be deciding next Tuesday that VAT will not be added to essential consumer items, and further items will be declared essential so that the Consumer Affairs Authority will be directing traders a maximum price for the identified items. Currently there are 15 such items declared as essential and the decision will be taken by the Cabinet/Minister to increase or decrease the items based on the needs and challenges of the Consumer which gives a broader meaning in Sri Lankan context compared to the definition worldwide. (Section 74- of the Act- Any actual or potential user of any goods or services made available for consideration by any trader or manufacturer) This is a matter that should have taken by the Governance at the introduction of the VAT fiasco to ease the burden to the consumer. Now even the implementation of the budget proposals on Vat is not finalized as the draft bill is to be presented to the Parliament to give legal states. It is tactically a mistake to increase VAT without amending the Tax structure with the approval from the Parliament. This indicates how disorganized the implementation process and the future strategy of both line Ministries concerned namely Finance and Consumer Affairs which comes under Industries. Cabinet may decide but the procedure in declaring the items essential is long cumbersome and complicated procedure subject to litigation. Activist groups are planning to seek redress on VAT fiasco with the Parliamentary process and procedures. It is time for the Finance and Minister of Industries (and Consumer Affairs) to work together with a common plan and strategy to avert the unrest and agitations of the consumer by smooth and careful implementation of the Vat and CAA systems with one voice/word. Concept and procedure of price control under Consumer Practitioner Act, and Control of prices act is replaced by the Consumer Affairs Authority Act which empowers regulation of prices under normal circumstances and special procedure on identified essential items if and when the line Minister declares the item or items essential. This follows that the price control and maintaining standards will be implemented by regulatory process under Section nine to Section thirty three of the Consumer Affairs Act, which deals with issue of directions, determining standards, Inquire into complaints, enter into agreements, acts against refusal to sell and many other regulatory powers not looked into and implemented by the CAA to ease the burden of the Consumer and the Governance.

Photo via Ravi Karunanayake’s Facebook

Concept of Price Control and Regularization of Consumer items and Services

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Children who drank vitamins hospitalized

Jul 09, 2016

Reports confirm that a group of school students attached to the Eheliyagoda Panawala Maha Vidyalaya have been admitted to the Eheliyagoda hospital following drinking a vitamin drink given by the school.

 Since it was a covering day today 9th Saturday the Panawala school has given a vitamin drink for the year five and six students and in addition a kind of noodles has also been given.

Hospital reports confirm that about 25 students have been hospitalized.

Parents of the students said that such vitamins are provided once in a fortnight.

Auditor General report : Dilan has robbed Rs. 3.5 million – has‘sold’ Maha sangha and pregnant women of all people!

(Lanka-e-News- 09.JUly.2016, 8.30PM) It is only recently ( 5 th July ) Lanka e news exposed the fraud amounting to Rs. 925,309.00 under the pretext of blowing  balloons (in truth blowing the cash into his own over blown pockets) committed during the Mahinda Rajapakse nefarious decade by  the present minister of Highways Dilan Perera a notorious crook and member of the Blue Brigand . Now, it has come to light that when he was the minister of foreign employment under the nefarious decade, he had robbed a further Rs. 3.5 million ‘selling’ the Maha sangha members and pregnant women. 

This grave fraud of Dilan Perera has been exposed in the Auditor General’s report No. IS/INV/PC/GDE/2015/14 dated 2015-06-16 pertaining to the SL Bureau of Foreign employment (SLBFE).

A sum of Rs. 2 million has been collected ostensibly to  conduct pinkamas and to make offerings to the Maha Sangha members on behalf of the Middle east job seekers at the People’s playground , Hali Ela on 2013-05-11 from the SLBFE. On the same  day a further sum of Rs. 1.5 million was collected from the SLBFE on the excuse that  offerings  have  to be made  to pregnant mothers. Out of this sum , an advance of Rs. 2 million has been collected for which the permission of the Board of Directors had not been obtained. On a Bank Pay order however this sum has been released to Dilan’s Badulla office on 9 th May 2013.

Dilan had given the excuse  , he was making religious offerings to 1115 monks at a cost of Rs. 2000.00 each , and to pregnant women at a cost of Rs. 1000.00 each.

Believe it or not , though this minister Dilan had collected monies from the SLBFE , on 11 th May 2013, no such pinkamas had taken place at the People’s playground , Hali ela  . However on a day close to that date , Dilan has had a propaganda rally of his at that venue. No pregnant women had been invited , and according to the Auditor General’s report , the record that 1500 offerings were made to 1500 pregnant women is therefore fake. A complaint has been made in this connection to the FCID , but surprisingly this complaint has not been investigated yet.

What is even more incredible though it is true is , the bill books prepared to show payments made too are counterfeit .The bottom line therefore is Dilan has done all these jiggery- pokery to ‘sell’ the maha sangha and pregnant women of all people ! leave alone the sale of his moth eaten honor. 

Incredible but true again !  All these rackets are being revealed not by Lanka e news , rather by the all important one and only Auditor General of SL ! and  mind you , that is not against a dishonorable IRC of the country but against a so called  ‘Honorable’ Minister who crept into parliament  to represent the people , and rescue them from crooks , the corrupt and the criminal IRCs. What an irony ? Whither SL ? 

Can such a rascal and rogue of the Blue Brigand taken through the national list and made a minister by the government of good governance enjoy benefits , salaries and perks out of pubic funds ? or should he be put behind bars? Even after learning this bloke is a rogue ,rascal and a parasite on the people , either  the government is mad or the people are mad to tolerate him.

Above all, if the new SLFP leaders who are clamoring for re implementation  of the Bandaranaike policies are going to make this accomplished rogue and shameless scoundrel  the media spokesman  , the tongues of those who propose  that must be examined by a veterinary doctor specialized in treating venomous bites , for certainly they too must have forked tongues if not double tongues.
 

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by     (2016-07-09 15:03:24)

Sri Lanka Army: Four soldiers forced to work for ex-officer’s sordid guest house

( July 10, 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Commanding Officer of an Army unit is in hot water after he failed to recall four soldiers attached to a retired Major General.

The fact that these four soldiers were ‘working’ in a guest house owned by the retired officer, who served in key locations, came to light when Army Commander Lt. Gen. Crisantha de Silva received a telephone call.

The caller, one of those who were ‘deployed’ at the Guest House in the outskirts of Colombo said he and his colleagues were being forced to work on things which were below their dignity. It was alleged that the guest house had been rented out by the hour to young couples.

Lt. Gen. de Silva directed the Military Police to arrest the four soldiers and later a court of Inquiry was appointed to probe the incident.

Meanwhile, Army Headquarters has adopted a new policy in respect of promotions for officers who had been absent without leave (AWOL) before May 20, 2009; the date coincides with the death of Velupillai Prabhakaran and the military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The LTTE leader was killed on May 19. The war years, an Army source said, saw a spike in officers and other ranks being absent without leave, especially as the war intensified in May, 2009.

In terms of instructions sent out by Major General N.J. Walgama, Military Secretary (on behalf of the Commander of the Army), officers in the rank of Majors and below will be considered for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel “if all other perquisites are completed.” However, they will not be considered for career courses/foreign visits/UN deployment. They will still be eligible for non-career courses with duration of less than 90 days.

Officers who have already been promoteof Lieutenant Colonel and commanding a battalion will be promoted to the next rank of Colonel a day prior to their retirement. They will not be considered for further command or granted career or other courses exceeding 90 days.

The Army circular comes after a Board of Officers was named to recommend policy for promotion purposes since such criteria did not exist in an expanding Army. The policy has different criteria for different ranks depending on those who were AWOL for less than 14 days and between 15 and 21 days before 20 May, 2009. ~ Sources; The Sunday Times, Colombo

Thajudeen murder case: Another high-ranking police officer in hot water

 JUL 08 2016

Another high-ranking police officer involved in the investigations into Wasim Thajudeen’s murder is being investigated over his alleged role in the cover up of evidence in the former rugby player’s murder, the Attorney General (AG) yesterday informed Court.

Senior State Counsel Dilan Ratnayake appearing on behalf of the AG informed Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris that the CID has commenced an investigation regarding former Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) Director Senior Superintendent of Police D.L.R. Ranaweera in order to ascertain whether he is involved in the cover up evidence.

Filing a further report in connection with the incident, the CID informed Court that the investigations pertaining to the telephone calls of Wasim Thajudeen were initiated by former CCD Director SSP Ranaweera. The CID told Court that they have recorded a statement from SSP Ranawaka over the incident. In his statement to the CID, the SSP Ranawaka has said that he met former DIG Anura Senanayake following the day of the incident and he was instructed that the CCD should not carry out an investigation in this regard.

Senior State Counsel Ratnayake further told Court that the telephone calls received on two companions of Wasim Thajudeen are being investigated.

Meanwhile, Western Province former Senior DIG Anura Senanayake and former Narahenpita Crimes OIC Sumith Champika Perera arrested over their alleged role in the cover up of evidence in the former rugby player Wasim Thajudeen murder were yesterday ordered to be further remanded till July 22 by Colombo Additional Magistrate.

The Additional Magistrate refused to release the suspects on bail citing he does not have jurisdiction to grant bail on the suspects who had been charged under Section 296 of the Penal Code for conspiring to commit a murder.

The Additional Magistrate instructed the defence to seek bail for the suspects from High Court through revision applications. 

DIG Lalith Jayasinghe pressurizes AG’s Dept.! 

Jul 09, 2016

Batticaloa senior DIG Lalith Jayasinghe is exerting pressure on the Attorney General’s Department through politicians and other persons to avoid his being arrested in connection with charges of giving police protection to murderers, concealing evidence of a crime and aiding the murderers to flee, in relation to the rape and murder of schoolgirl Vidya Sivaloganathan of Pungudutivu, Jaffna last year, say sources in the department.

Those pressurizing the AG’s Department on behalf of Jayasinghe have told its officials that continued arrests of police officers would cause a breach of their trust in the government and that the entire police service could collapse as a result, and that such matters should be resovled through an internal inquiry.

Responding, the AG’s Department officials have said that it was not the AG’s task to advice the Police Department to hold disciplinary inquiries. Also, the corrupt should be punished under any difficult circumstances, in order to reverse the law of the jungle and to ensure justice, they have added.

The other person due to be questioned with regard to the above matter is Colombo University’s dean of law Prof. Thamil Maran. He says these allegations are part of a conspiracy by the TNA to prevent his entry to politics.

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Prof. Thamilmaran, senior DIG Lalith Jayasinghe to be arrested soon!

Power and energy procurement Committee via its mafia had duped Cabinet and cheated in a sum of Rs.3123 million on coal tender !

Landmark verdict of SC hereunder….

(Lanka-e-News- 2016.July.09. 10.00PM) The mafia of the State officers who were taking shelter under the corrupt Rajapakse reign during its nefarious decade and robbing the country wholesale had been  so powerful that even after the Government of good governance came into power , the robbery of  a staggering  Rs. 3123 million approximately by these cuprits  !  from coal supply came to light only after the verdict of  the Supreme court (SC) was delivered on the 24 th of June. 

Believe it or not , to expose  this massive scam , it was not the government of good governance of Sri Lanka  that filed the fundamental rights petition case , rather it was the Singapore Co. All the members of the Cabinet being  made respondents in this case will go down in history as a landmark.

As there was no Sri Lankan  representative in that Co. and the petition filed was not certified by a Sri Lankan , the Attorney General posed a technical issue  , and wished the Supreme Court (SC) to dismiss this petition . However , the three judge panel of the  SC said , if that request is heeded , the ‘conscience’ of the honorable court would be usurped given the colossal amount of money involved in the alleged fraud , and the case shall therefore be heard. On the 24 th of June the SC delivered its verdict on this case No. SC FR NO.394/2015.

During the  hearing of this case it surfaced that while it was possible to purchase the coal at US $ 46.62 per metric ton , 1,064,724 tons of coal had been purchased at US $ 54.41 per metric ton.

The case was filed by Noble Resources that offered the lowest bid of US $ 46.62  per metric ton. The worst part is even when this decision was being delivered this racket was continuing to the detriment of the country  without let or hindrance , and the SC had to order that this tender be put aside, and to call for fresh tenders.

This mafia comes under the Procurement committee accepted  by the Cabinet , and comprises the secretary of the ministry of power and energy ,and deputy general manager of the Electricity board.  The SC verdict clearly pointed out that this group had duped the minister and thereby the cabinet. 

Besides , they have with the aim and objective of awarding the tender to the Co. of their friend  on a higher  bid,  the tender specifications were changed by them again after calling for  tenders ;have opened the accomplice’s tender bid and based on the new invitation to bids  given the award to their friend and accomplice. 

In a country where the procurement committee itself is engaged in robbery , is there a deity  to whom the complaint could  be lodged ? One can imagine from these machinations and deceitful practices what amount of rogues and what unbelievable criminal State officers (BureaucRATS) the Rajapakse regime had spawned during its nefarious decade. 

The monumental robbery

The colossal loss incurred , and the monumental losses that would have resulted to the government in the future but for the SC verdict , and because the aforementioned  coal tender was not duly awarded with transparency are as follows :

* The quantity of coal purchased during the period 2015-2016 from the Swiss Singapore Co. after amending the tender procedure and by substituting the NEWC index with API  4 , changing the size of the coal without due  regard to quality as well as  changing its price is 1,06,724 metric tons.

* The sum of money paid to Swiss Singapore Co. for the purchase of  1,064,724 metric tons of coal ( FOBT/after all the indices and quality amendments ) is US $ 57,932,356.96 !

* If the 1.064,724 metric tons of coal were purchased by the Technological procurement committee from the lowest bidder , that is from the recommended Noble Resources Co. in accord with the quality standard  (FOBT/ after all the indices and quality  amendments), based on   the tender requirements ,the total payment would have been US$ 49,632,134.70 

* Based on these figures , the loss owing to  the purchase of coal from Swiss Singapore Co. following   unwarranted over payment is US $ 8.300,222.26 !

* The loss incurred by the purchase of coal from Swiss Singapore Co. without  purchasing from the open competitive market while its price was plummeting in the world market , is US $ 4,941,043.48 during the period 2015-2016

* If the SC had not delivered its verdict , there was a possibility to lose a further sum of over US $ 8,300,222.26 via the purchase of 1.1 million metric tons of coal in this same way during the period 2016-2017 .

* Then why didn’t the government take a decision against these corrupt BureaucRATS who had been gnawing at the very root of the country’s economy most selfishly and traitorously  ?

At any rate one thing is very clear from this verdict , that is , it is because of the changes which  are being effected by the government of good governance , the judiciary had been able to act independently without interference and intervene . Besides , it is now rendered possible to a  company to  file action citing the cabinet as respondents. This is a positive sign and a most welcome landmark judgment , which the courts had the ability to  deliver only because the government of good governance is in power as opposed to the  previous brutal , criminal. lawless  and corrupt regime.

* It is to be noted , this corruption crime exceeds the treasury bond scam of the Central bank , as the amount  involved is US $ 21,541,487.00 ( which is Rs. 3123, 515,615.00 @ Rs. 145.00 per dollar) . 

* What is the action the government is going to take in this connection? Are these bureaucRATS  and bandicoots going to be permitted to continue robbing and pilfering the people’s monies? 

* The secretary to ministry of power and energy is due for retirement in two years. Hence it was  his aim to earn billions and trillions by that time by awarding this tender to Swiss Singapore Co. Though the low rung officers of the ministry are fully aware of the activities of these bandicoots , they are helpless and are therefore silent. The other culprit the deputy General manager too is to retire in a few months . Therefore probing into these frauds after the bandicoots have vanished without trace  will be like locking the stable after the horses have bolted. Unlike the horses these crooks have enough nooks and crannies to hide being bandicoots in human form.

* By retaining these crooked notorious members of the procurement Committee appointed by the cabinet including  the secretary to ministry of power and energy , secretary of foreign employment bureau  and  General Manager of Electricity board even after this , is the government wishing that it shall be duped on and on?

* Is it only after and because of  the court verdict which exposed  that  the Establishment code , financial regulations and other circulars have been violated , the country’s laws are  going to be enforced and the Establishment code going to be abided by , to safeguard the country’s financial resources ?

Are the people’s representatives who claim they are opposed to corruption and are vociferous against it unable to notice these monumental and glaring corruption ?

The landmark judgment delivered by the SC can be accessed here.

http://www.lankaenews.com/home/downloads/39/Supreme_Court_order_Rgd_Coal_Corruption.pdf
 

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by     (2016-07-09 16:41:49)

“We want to stay”

Ahlam Khalil stands in front of structure demolished by state authorities in the unrecognized Naqab village of Atir in 2014.-Children play outside their home in Umm al-Hiran. The nearest school for the children in both villages is in the nearby recognized Bedouin township of Hura.

A view of Atir. In the background, the Jewish National Fund’s Yatir forest. An extension of the forest has been approved for planting on top of the lands of Atir.-Muntaha Khalil, Ahlam’s sister, holds her baby Naima in Atir. “The state must recognize our village, we like living here, like this,” says Ahlam.---The mosque in Umm al-Hiran. “The is no justification, neither moral nor legal, for demolishing the villages,” says Suhad Bishara, an attorney with the rights group Adalah.--A home in Umm al-Hiran, where despite the lack running water and electricity, residents have built a thriving community.---A view of Hura, where the Israeli government wants to forcibly transfer the residents of Atir and Umm al-Hiran. Hura is one of seven townships planned by the government to urbanize the agrarian Bedouin population since the 1960s. “The future of the Bedouins is in their villages. Israel should recognize them and the rights of the Bedouins as citizens,” said Kaed Abu al-Qian, the deputy mayor of Hura.

Silvia Boarini-5 July 2016

Ahlam Khalil, 19, rejects the future that the Israeli government has laid out for her.

“We want to stay. The government is trying to take from us all that we love. How do you think we will feel? It will be the hardest thing to face,” she says, sitting on her porch in the Bedouin village of Atir in the Naqab desert in the south of present-day Israel.

Following more than a decade of litigation, the Israeli high court ruled in May last year that the state is legally authorized to demolish Atir along with neighboring Umm al-Hiran.

Atir will become an extension of the planted forest of Yatir, while Umm al-Hiran will become theJewish settlement of “Hiran.”

Unrecognized

The villages, their populations totaling approximately 1,000 inhabitants, are two of approximately 40 Palestinian Bedouin communities in the Naqab, which Israel calls the Negev, that are not recognized by the state and do not receive basic services such as water or electricity.

In many cases, these villages pre-date the State of Israel. In the case of Umm al-Hiran and Atir, its residents were forcibly transferred there in 1956 by military order from their original village of Khirbet Zubaleh, “which they had cultivated for centuries,” according to the rights group Adalah.

The government has been accelerating development in the Naqab. New roads, industrial zones, military bases and railway lines are being built to transform this once marginalized region into an “Israeli Silicon Valley.”

Forcible transfer

But these plans aren’t to the benefit of indigenous Bedouin communities. Adalah’s Suhad Bishara says that “most of [Israel’s] development plans are directed to bringing Jewish communities to the area, especially in the Naqab.”

Instead of providing them with badly needed services, in recent years the Israeli government has sought to forcibly transfer tens of thousands of Bedouins living in unrecognized communities in the Naqab — a scheme known as the Prawer Plan.

Mass protests scuppered this plan, but Adalah says that the high court ruling on Atir and Umm al-Hiran “gives the state broader legal scope for destroying these communities.”

And so residents like Ahlam Khalil insist on recognition — not demolition.

Silvia Boarini is a photojournalist based in Bir al-Saba and is currently working on a documentary about Naqab Bedouins.

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At least 40 killed as Islamic State suicide bombers attack Shiite shrine in Iraq

At least 35 people are killed and 60 others wounded in a triple suicide attack near a Shi'ite mausoleum north of Iraq's capital, the latest assault in a bloody week claimed by the Islamic State group. (Reuters)

By Mustafa Salim and Loveday Morris July 8 at 3:34 PM

BAGHDAD — At least 40 people were killed in a suicide bombing at a Shiite shrine north of Baghdad, medical officials said Friday, as Iraqis took to the streets of the capital to demonstrate against a government they say is failing to protect them.

Three suicide bombers dressed in military uniforms opened fire on worshipers gathered at the shrine in Balad late Thursday, said Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasoul, a spokesman for the Iraqi military. Two then detonated their explosives at the shrine’s gate, and the third was killed before he could trigger his device, Rasoul said.

By Friday afternoon, the death toll had climbed to 40 people, said Saib al-Shami, deputy head of Balad hospital. He said 74 people were wounded. Seven of those killed were not immediately identified because they were burned beyond recognition in the fire that followed the bombing, Shami said. The Health Ministry confirmed the figures.

[How corruption led to deadly Baghdad attack]

The incident comes less than a week after the Islamic State’s deadliest single suicide bombing in Iraq, which killed at least 292 people in the Karrada neighborhood of Baghdad early Sunday. A spate of attacks in several countries have been linked to the group during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a surge of violence that has coincided with Islamic State losses in Iraq and Syria.

The killings have triggered protests in the capital, where there were already mass demonstrations against the government. Amid growing discontent, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi sacked the head of security for Baghdad on Friday, according to a statement from his office. Other security officials were also fired, the statement said, without providing further details.

“Our blood became cheap in Karrada and Balad,” said Hadi Talib, 40, as he marched from a main square in Baghdad to the bomb site. However, he said demonstrations felt futile.

“The solution is to protest inside the Green Zone and burn it like they are burning our cities and killing our sons,” he said. The Green Zone is a fortified area in central Baghdad in which government ministries and parliament are located.

Protesters have stormed the Green Zone twice this year as Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr rallied his supporters against government corruption. Those protests paused during Ramadan but have been building since the Baghdad bombing.

Hussein Ali, 34, said “civil disobedience” was the only answer. “I wish Saddam wasn't removed,” he said, in reference to Iraq’s former leader. “I was against him, but now I understand why he was executing people like those who are in power now. These people are not fit to lead sheep.”

As bodies were still being identified from that attack, the militants struck again.

On Thursday night, the shrine in Balad, about 55 miles northwest of Baghdad, was packed with pilgrims visiting to mark Eid al-Fitr, a festival held at the end of Ramadan, said Ali Bandar, 27. Most of the dead were pilgrims, he said.

The Islamic State, which considers Shiite Muslims heretics, asserted responsibility in a statement circulated online. Its suicide bombers killed the guards at the shrine and then fought with Shiite militiamen who arrived at the scene, it said. An eight-hour standoff ensued, after which several fighters detonated explosive belts, causing “great destruction,” the statement said.

Sadr ordered his militiamen to deploy to protect the shrine.

[Under strain, Islamic State takes battle to Baghdad]

The loss of life over the past week increases pressure Abadi, who has been trying to quell months of street protests calling for reform.

Sadr, who has positioned himself as a champion of reform and has hundreds of thousands of supporters, said the bombing underscores the need for a cabinet reshuffle.

Interior Minister Mohammed Ghabban has already submitted his resignation in the wake of the bombing, though he has not yet been replaced.

Morris reported from Beirut.

Dhaka Carnage – A Wake up call for Realism

The problem of Islamic radicalism and terrorism is deeply enmeshed in the political current in Bangladesh. The problem goes as far back as 1971 when Bangladeshis fought Pakistan at great human cost and created an independent Bangladesh. But there was a minority at that time that still supported Pakistan against the vast majority opinion.

by Bhaskar Roy

( July 9, 2016, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) The siege of the Holey Artisan Café by a group of young Jihadis on July 1 evening was something waiting to happen. Twenty guests dining in this up-market restaurant in Dhaka’s diplomatic area were killed by these terrorists. Most of them were foreigners. Two police officers also lost their lives. The terrorists were killed in a mixed forces commando raid later.

It was the last Friday before Eid, considered very holy. Ramadan, a period of fasting for Muslims is supposed to be a period of peace and prayers. In a manner, the terrorists who believed they were killing infidels to save Islam had themselves desecrated the very same religion. It may be noted that in the last two weeks more than three hundred people in different countries have been killed either by the Islamic State (IS) or sympathisers of IS.

The profile of these radical Islamic groups is changing very quickly to suit the needs of the technical world. As terrorism goes global, the old madrassa indoctrinated Jehadis are giving way to well-educated tech savvy recruits. This does not mean that the Madrassa influenced products have become redundant. They are foot soldiers to be utilised on the streets to counter opponents and institutions, and storm the bastion. From the strategic ideology of global Jehadis like the IS, Bangladesh, India and some other secular countries have not reached this stage yet. Formation of a Caliphate army in Bangladesh to penetrate India and the rest of South Asia will come later, unless checked.

The profiles of some of the killers at the Holey Artisan Café support the above. Nirbas Islam (22) studied in the well reputed Turkish Hope School in Dhaka. He also studied in Monash University, an Australian-Malaysian education enterprise in Malaysia. He was quiet and religious, his friends say. He went missing in January, without informing his family.

Rohas Imtiaz went to the high profile Scholastica School in Dhaka, and then to Monash University. He became untraceable after returning to Dhaka.

Mir Soameh Mubasser was also a student of Scholastica. He also disappeared in February without informing his family and friends.

All three came from wealthy families who had no connection with radical Islam. They were also information technology enthusiasts. Two of the others were from lower income families but educated.

In an earlier case, security personnel arrested two persons in May 2015 suspected to be members of Islamic State. One was Animul Ialam Beg, a computer science graduate and head of the IT department of a multinational company. The other was Sakib bin Kamel, a teacher in an English medium school in Dhaka. Obviously, Bangladesh intelligence agencies had sniffed the growing influence of the IS in the country, through the government remained in denial.

The problem of Islamic radicalism and terrorism is deeply enmeshed in the political current in Bangladesh. The problem goes as far back as 1971 when Bangladeshis fought Pakistan at great human cost and created an independent Bangladesh. But there was a minority at that time that still supported Pakistan against the vast majority opinion. Subsequent developments in Bangladesh like the assassination of Sk. Mujibur Rahman in 1975, political rehabilitation and empowerment of those who were against independence, re-emergence of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) by President (Gen.) Ziaur Rehman in 1977-78 and, thereafter, Islamization of the Constitution by President (Gen.) H. M. Ershad overturning the original secular constitution of 1972, were the major springboards for radical Islamization.; with the creation of the BNP by Zia in 1978 and its partnership with JEI there was a sharp tilt towards Pakistan.

This introduced a deep divide in the country between the pro-Pakistan and Islamic lot, and the freedom fighters and moderate Muslims of Bangladesh (Sunnis with Sufi characteristics). The Awami League, which led the freedom movement and was the repository of freedom fighters and secularists, was sabotaged. The Awami League under Sk. Hasina, elder daughter of slain leader Sk. Mujibur Rahman fought back and returned to power in 2008 December. It still continues to be the ruling party. In the last few years the country has been flourishing, with a GDP of over 6 percent and creation of jobs. But a bitter division has remained, and seems to be getting worse.

The period between 1975 and 1990 was a period of political turmoil, judicial murders, extrajudicial executions and the return of Bangladesh to the Pakistani orbit.

The period between 2001 and 2006 saw the establishment of Islamic radicals-cum-terrorists in the country with official patronage. The BNP-JEI combine along with two other small radical parties known as the four-party alliance was in power. The high profile Islamic terrorist organisation Jamatul Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB) under Abdur Rehman established itself firmly. This group struck its roots in the country in 1998 when the Awami League was struggling to retain its power, which it lost comprehensively in the 2001 elections to the BNP-JEI combine,

The “9/11” incident, bombing of the New York World Trade Center by the Al Qaida on September 11, 2001, encouraged the Mullahs and the JEI to a sense of invulnerability. The secularists went into psychological disarray and lost their initiative. A large majority of the people also tried out the BNP-JEI alliance. Later, these same people changed their decision after witnessing the rule of this combine for five years.

The JMB, which was established in 1998, comprised fighters who had returned well indoctrinated from the Afghan Jihad against the Soviet Union. By 2004-05 it had around 50,000 trained cadres with financial assistance from Al Qaida and Pakistan’s ISI. Other major Islamic organisations that sprouted almost simultaneously included Harkat-ut-Jihad-al-Islami (HUJI) Bangladesh, Hizbut Touheed, Shadat-e-Hikma and Shadat-e-Nabuwat. Funding came from Saudi and Gulf NGOs to promote Wahabism.

There is hard evidence that senior leaders of BNP like Air Marshal (Retd.) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, BNP Home Minister, Lutfozzaman Babar, another Home Minister and Successor of Choudhary, Deputy Minister Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu, and BNP Chairperson’s elder son and currently the party’s Senior General Secretary, Tareque Rehman accorded those terrorists protection and used them for political work including assassination of political opposition. Sk. Hasina barely escaped with her life in a grenade attack in 2004 in Dhaka. An atmosphere of terror reigned over Dhaka those years.

Pakistan is a factor in Bangladesh and will continue to be. The Pakistani military establishment is still nursing the wound of defeat in 1971. They have their supporters in Bangladesh in the last year at least two members of the Pakistani High Commission in Dhaka were caught giving funds to JMB activists to conduct terrorism.

Following the Holey Artisan Café attack on July 1, another attack took place on an Eid congregation in Solakia, killing four including two policemen, one woman and one of the attackers. This attack comes two days after three Bangladeshi men appeared in an IS video warning that the Holey Artisan attack was just the beginning and more attacks would take place till Bangladesh comes a country ruled by Sharia.

The Islamic State has not established an organisation in Bangladesh. Tactically and strategically, that opportunity has not come yet. But they have succeeded influencing and winning franchises. JMB, which was allied to Al Qaeda, appears to have shifted its allegiance to IS. The IS claims it has territory and a caliphate, fighting and killing perceived “enemies” of Islam. It is far more “attractive” than Al Qaeda. The Ansarullah Bangladesh Team (ABT) is following the same line. In a fluid situation shifting from one mentor to another can be seamless. The target is common – Sharia law, caliphate and the killing of non-believers who include Shias, Ahmedias and even moderate Sunnis.

What Bangladesh must seriously consider now is to look squarely at the larger threat than from the narrow prism of party politics. If political parties or individuals are involved, pinpointed action against them is required. The BNP supported and reared terrorists groups for political gains, Khaleda will have no space in a Sharia ruled society. She would have to rethink her political strategy very carefully, otherwise she and her party will be used and thrown away like a dirty rag. The JEI is a harder met to crack as they support Sharia law and segregation of women. They need utmost scrutiny, especially their students’ wing the Islamic Chatra Shibir (ICS). The ICS is involved in the current episodes against the minority and free thinkers.

The formation of organisations like the Olemea (Olema) League by the Awami League may help for a short time. But they also believe in the ultimate goal of Shariat.

Finally, give liberals and free thinkers space. Otherwise, their space will be taken over by the fundamentalists. The confidence of foreign investors is being shaken by these killings. It is time to act and not miss the wood for the trees. If there can be street protests against Israel’s attack on Palestinians, then why not similar people’s protest against the terrorists?

(The writer is a New Delhi based strategic analyst. He can be reached at e-mail grouchohart@yahoo.com)

British government rejects petition calling for second EU referendum

People hold banners during a 'March for Europe' demonstration against Britain's decision to leave the European Union, in central London, Britain July 2, 2016. Britain voted to leave the European Union in the EU Brexit referendum.REUTERS/TOM JACOBS

Sat Jul 9, 2016

The British government has rejected an online petition signed by 4.1 million people calling for a new referendum on whether to leave the European Union.

Britons voted by 52 to 48 percent, or 17.4 million votes to 16.1 million, to leave the EU in a June 23 referendum, a result which most politicians have said should be respected but which some who voted "remain" are struggling to accept.

The petition called for the government to enact a rule that there should be another referendum if the vote for "remain" or "leave" was less than 60 percent based on a turnout of less than 75 percent.

The Foreign Office, the ministry that had steered through parliament the EU Referendum Act setting out the rules, responded that the legislation did not set a threshold for the result or for minimum turnout.

"The Prime Minister and Government have been clear that this was a once in a generation vote and, as the Prime Minister has said, the decision must be respected," it said.

"We must now prepare for the process to exit the EU and the Government is committed to ensuring the best possible outcome for the British people in the negotiations."

Both candidates to replace David Cameron as leader of the ruling Conservative Party and prime minister have said the result of the referendum should not be questioned and Brexit should be delivered.

"Brexit means Brexit," front-runner Theresa May, the interior minister, said in a speech announcing her bid. May had advocated staying in the bloc, but was not a leading figure in the "remain" campaign.

Her rival, junior energy minister Andrea Leadsom, was one of the most passionate advocates of Brexit ahead of the referendum and has said that Britain would flourish outside the EU.

Despite such assurances, some who voted "remain" have continued to hope that there could be a way for Britain to stay in the EU despite the referendum result, and there has been international speculation that Brexit may not materialise.

(Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Gareth Jones)