Tuesday, July 26, 2016

SL in danger of squandering growth window: Sally

IPS Chairman Dr. Razeen Sally – Pic by Upul Abayasekara

Institute-of-Policy-Studies-Sri-lanka-Chairman-Dr-02

Says Govt. has failed to create credible economic plan, macroeconomics remain weak
Insists previous two Budgets were “disasters,” bad appointments and messy decision making halting progress
Warns if situation fails to change country would continue to “drift”

By Charumini de Silva -Tuesday, 26 July 2016

In a hard-hitting evaluation of the Government’s performance, top economist Dr. Razeen Sally yesterday criticised policymakers for failing to formulate a credible economic plan and warned that it was in danger of “squandering” the best opportunity for growth Sri Lanka has had in 40 years.

Highly-respected international economist Dr. Razeen Sally, who is an Associate Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore and Chairman of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) in Sri Lanka, pulled no punches while delivering the keynote address at the AMDISA Regional Management Conference.

Presenting his evaluation on the Government’s activities in the past 18 months Dr. Sally stressed the Government had failed to meet expectations.

“It hasn’t made that much progress, if any, in the past year-and-a-half for all sorts of political reasons. There is cohabitation between the President and the Prime Minister, there is an unwieldy unity Government, there have been several bad appointments, decision making has been rather messy and not as coordinated as it should be. For these and other reasons there has been blockage on economic policy. If things don’t change, then Sri Lanka faces either a future of continued drift, way below its potential, which of course if you like was the norm since Independence or it could get worse and unravel,” he told the gathering.

Dr. Sally was candid about his appraisal of the country’s economic fortunes, pointing out Sri Lanka’s post-war growth had not rested on “solid foundations”.

“If I am to sum up the Rajapaksa years, there would be four points; there was more political authoritarianism, secondly there was what was increasingly becoming a virulent Sinhala-Buddhist agenda at the expense of the minorities, there was a very unbalanced foreign policy.

“And finally there was de-liberalisation of the economy. Growth was fuelled by a debt-creating public spending spree. Sri Lanka’s trade and trade competitiveness declined sharply over those years.”

Since the new Government came into power the positive aspects have been that political liberalism has returned to Sri Lanka, ethnic relations are better and the right symbolic gestures have been made, foreign policy has become positively balanced with China being maintained as a friend but relations with India and the West also being restored, Dr. Sally observed.

“The Government cannot afford to alienate China and friendships have also been restored with India, Europe and United States. The bad news is of the economy; also given expectations not least by the aspirational classes who voted first the President and this Government in, I think there is rising disappointment and frustration that not much has changed. In some aspects we have seen things get worse.”

“Macroeconomic management has always been something close to a disaster in Sri Lanka, it was so under the Rajapaksa regime and that has continued to be the case with two very bad Budgets last year. With public expense increases, salary increases and more expenditure entitlements along the way, which of course made Sri Lanka more reliant on debt including foreign commercial borrowing, which is increasingly vulnerable at a time when interest rates are probably on the rise and money is flowing out of emerging markets such as Sri Lanka,” he said.

Sri Lanka’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of $1.5 billion with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is positive as it has assured tax reforms would be forthcoming but Dr. Sally noted that so far the Government failed to formulate a “credible plan” for reforming the economy. This includes the areas of taxation and expenditure as well as on freeing up the business climate domestically and liberalising Sri Lanka’s foreign trade and investment, according to the economist.

Dr. Sally also warned that if the economy did not perform and if Sri Lankans outside of Colombo continued to be frustrated, then the more liberal political atmosphere that Sri Lanka has enjoyed in the past year and a half could diminish.

“Sri Lanka has the best opportunity in 40 years to develop but that opportunity has not been taken advantage of in the last 18 months. I hope it won’t be squandered.”

Siyambala implies the coal fraud which shocked the conscious of the Supreme Court is a large profit: Stop the catty talks with thieves: Remove Batagoda: hand over the investigation to FCID

Siyambala come forward to cover the fraud of Batagoda and Subramaniam trying to make a deal

(Lanka-e-News -25.July.2016, 11.30PM) When the three benches Supreme Court gave a judgment that they were shocked to hear the serious fraud committed in the coal tender, minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya asserts that the tender has brought a very large profit.

This Siyambala minister is a queer that he brings the ministry secretary who asserts that the Supreme Court has misled the cabinet, rub in front of the civil society and the public stating that there is no fraud committed whatsoever.

Identify Batagoda

Surein Batagoda is a person who have conspired his original name. The Surein part he is using in his name is malicious. His original name is Surasena. Like the Surasena character in the old “Palingu Menike” tele-drama, this ministry secretary Surasena is also similar to “pat pat something” capable of making not small but large illegal underhand deals. This slob Surasena got married to the elder sister of late politician Ossie Abeygunasekara’s elder sister Gayathri. Surasena was lucky to get close to president Premadasa through Gayathri and Ossie. Using the influence Surasena was able to get a scholarship to the US from president Premadasa. He did environment management in the Michigan University in the US. Later he did a doctorate degree in the UK from a commonwealth scholarship. During that time he was able to change his name.

Following his return to Sri Lanka Surein was able to get a training to become a fraud in the ministry of environment. During the Rajapaksa tenure when serving in the environment ministry Batagoda who became a friend with the former finance secretary P.B. Jayasundara who was given a verdict by the Supreme Court the latter not suitable to be in the public service became insane with power and corruption, started an illegal non government organization by the name of Environmental Economic Consultants, not for anything but to acquire the ministry money to his pocket through this NGO. Once he portrayed the ministry work as the NGO work and swallowed 50,000 euro. The evil doom was that he was able to deceive the Prime minister Ranil Wickramasinghe. Ranil was deluded to appoint him to the committee to investigate the attack on university students. Not stopping thereby his wife Gayathri Batagoda has been appointed a member to the Peradeniya senate council. Batagoda, after becoming the secretary of the power and energy ministry, despite the Supreme Court gave a verdict that a shocking conscience fraud has been occurred in the coal tender, the siyambala minister is running around vociferating “no no nothing as such has happened”

The Siyambala minister recently gave a power point presentation in the parliament created by Surasena Batagoda in order to whitewash his name. Recently he presented this presentation to the members of the civil society. By presenting this presentation this Siyambala and Serasena tries to cover the contents in page 25 and 26 which is briefed below.

Page 25
Up to now 2.19 metric tons of coal has been purchased and US dollars 114.008 has been paid
Nobel Resources has presented a quote 68.70 US dollar for one metric tons
According to new castle index and variable price, if the coal was purchased from Nobel Resources the total cost would be US dollars 121,543 million and the profit would be US dollar 7,533 million (Rs, million 1123)

Page 26
The coal purchased from Swiss Singapore Company is 1.0647 metric tons
Total paid US doller 57.93 million
According to new castle index and variable price, if the coal was purchased from Nobel Resources the total cost would be US dollars 58.252 million and the profit would be Us doller 342,833.4 million.

Following the good governance coming to power from August 2015 to May 2016 2.19 million metric tons of coal has been purchased and the total paid is US dollar 114.008 millions. The coal purchased from Swiss Singapore company is 1.067 metric tons and the total paid is US dollar 57.93 million.

Supposedly claimed by Siyambala and Surasena a fraud has not been committed at all and the Supreme Court has wasted its time.

From the total coal, 49% of coal (1064700 metric tons) has been purchased for US doller 57.4 million from the Swiss company, which the Supreme Court gave a verdict an irregularity has occurred, that means 51% has been spent from the total.

While showing the 49% coal purchased they try to cover the 51% of coal purchased for US dollar 1125300 (51%). Factually the electricity board got coal for a good price during the instant purchased made during the first 100 days program.

According to reports one Suresh Subramaniam is behind this coal mafia. He was the person who sold electricity to the electricity board from the diesel power plants. The 100 day government stopped that as soon they came to power. Later Subramaniams business joined with Swiss Singapore company sold coal to the electricity board with the help of Batagoda.

Siyambala’s break dance

Siyambala is trying to play a game going over the Supreme Court verdict by engaging with the mafias of the electricity board.

Siyambala has never seen the procurement appeal board decision the president appointed. (attached below). When Anura Kumara Dissanayake told in the parliament on the 20th that the procurement appeal board decision has been ignored, Siyambala said that he received the decision after he produced the cabinet paper.

That was an utter subterfuge. The procurement appeal board decision was issued on August 5th last year and Siyambala took oaths as the minister after that.

Champika Ranawaka who was the power and energy minister for the 100 days abolished this tender on the 13th of August by sending a letter to the president (the latter has been attached)

The true story behind the conspiracy and the main convict here is Ranjith Siyambalapitiya. Due to his bad English he blindly signs any document given by Batagoda. (The signed cabinet paper is also attached). Ranjith Siyambalapitiya who appeared for the victory of the bestial Rajapaksa during the rainbow revolution, does not value the good governance. Still he stands with the thieves and Maithri on the fence ready to jump anticipating a collapse.

Ranjith Siyambalapitiya should immediately stop his baila and comply with the decision of the Supreme Court and give a significant time frame to the Swiss Singapore company, nullify the coal tender agreement and call for new quotations following the procurement regulations according to the competitive market rates. When the Supreme Court has given a verdict that a corruptions has taken place it is not relevant for the Siyambala minister to appoint any more committee to investigate the corruptions. Siyambala should consider the tender as a crime and hand over the investigations to the FCID. Before that Siyambala should remove the secretary Batagoda and the deputy manager from their posts. There is no country in the world which keeps the heads of thieves in position and investigate crimes.

---------------------------
by (2016-07-26 01:38:27)

Monday, July 25, 2016

Politics Of The Middle Finger

By Sarath de Alwis –July 21, 2016

Sarath de Alwis

“We know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don’t know we don’t know.”~ Donald Rumsfeld

‘Coitus whilst concealing cojones is a risqué but a refreshingly apt Sinhala quip which ridicules blatantly obvious subterfuge of charlatans. Cojones in context is courage to do something. The absence of cojones implies undersupply of courage. The relevance of the pithy expression compels me to use it to anchor this commentary on the UNP led good governance of the past eighteen months.

There is nothing wrong with Arjuna Mahendran making a comeback in the admiration of Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe. If the Prime Minister wishes to tell the president ‘up yours’ it is his privilege. That does not mean that we the people who voted for the change of 8th January 2015 should remain silent.

Time has come for plain and honest speaking. There was a time when we mistakenly believed that the change of 8th January would help people understand how the government operated. We hoped that it would encourage people’s participation in political decisions. We hoped that government officials and ministers would be held accountable.

President watching the vote on the 19th amendment

A president wavering between quid pro quo politics and the promise of good governance has painted himself to a corner. The grand alliance he hoped to forge when he announced his candidacy at the new town hall on 22nd November 2014 has not unfolded in the manner he and former President Chandrika Kumaratunga planned. They reckoned that a defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa would ipso facto deliver them control of the SLFP. It turned out to be dreadful delusion.

People of Koggalle block roads asking for drinking water!

Jul 25, 2016

In the Ambalatota Ruhunu Ridigama area Karabagalamulla Godakoggalle within two grama seva division people have protested blocking the Matara-Tissmaharama main road on the 25th instant from 11 am asking for drinking water.

As a result of this protest blocking the road had created a huge traffic jam along this route.

The people had commenced the protest close to the pumping plant of the Ridiyagama water project close to the Ridiyagama reservoir. As no official had come to that spot the protestors had made the decision to block the road in Ambalantota town area..

It is reported that there are 540 dwelling families which includes about 2500 persons in this area. Owing to lack of drinking water they have been severely handicapped for six days.

Unemployed graduates protest over lack of jobs in Jaffna

25 July 2016

Unemployed Tamil graduates from across the Northern Province protested against the lack of e government jobs available to them on Saturday.

The graduates staged their protest outside the Jaffna government secretariat.

Following police intervention at the protest, eventually a meeting was set up between the protesters and the government agent, N Vethanayakan, who pledged to raise the issue with the Sri Lankan government.

Pilots Cry Foul On Unfair Business

by Nirmala Kannangara-Monday, July 25, 2016

The Airline Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka (APGSL) will take stern action against the management of SriLankan Airlines if they fail to accord them the use of business class lounge facilities and its privileges both at Colombo and overseas airports which the employees had

enjoyed from the very inception.

The management of SriLankan Airlines has come under severe criticism for their unilateral decision to stop business class lounge facilities and other privileges given to eligible employees and their eligible dependents on seat availability basis from July 1, 2016. However, to the utter dismay of staff, the Chairman, the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Commercial Officer have been exempted from this restriction.

“We were told that this decision was taken as a cost-cutting measure. If the Board of Directors is so keen to generate income, then it is they who should set the example from the front by refusing all the facilities given to them. By stripping us, the permanent employees, of what we were accorded from the beginning but giving the facility to political appointees is questionable. As employees in the permanent grade, we want to see the airline thrive but the political appointees do not have such a vision but are using whatever facility they are entitled to and enjoying the perks to the maximum without caring whether their action is detrimental to the institution or not,” reliable APGSL sources said.

Minister of Public Enterprise Development Kabir Hashim, who is the Subject Minister of SriLankan Airlines, recently travelled in economy class with his wife and although the airline crew had repeatedly wanted to upgrade him to business class, Hashim had gracefully declined to accept.

“This is a good example for the Sri Lankan management. Why cannot they follow their minister and save millions every month by travelling in economy class?” sources queried.

The sources on condition of anonymity accused the good governance administration of appointing people who are not qualified in the airline field to the board of directors.

“Not all those who have been appointed are unqualified to hold a director post at an airline; there are one or two who, despite not having the qualifications nevertheless have knowledge of how to lessen the debt. But most of those in the director board only have knowledge in incurring more losses to the company than generating profits. To our knowledge the only chairman SriLankan Airlines ever had with a vision to generate profits was Harry Jayawardena. He was strict to his fingertips but he also ensured that all his staff members were well looked after. He took to task employees who were not performing well and did not leave any stone unturned to make this airline a profitable venture. As pilots we have to be on board one hour before the passengers board but as a habit we did not comply with this regulation. But during Harry Jayawardena’s tenure no one could play out as he knew what was going on. He did not work for the airline to get a better vehicle, regular free tickets or any other perks; instead, his was an honorary service. If he was there on the board now, he would have got all perks given to the board members curtailed and given the facilities to the employees,” sources claimed.

The sources further said how a former SriLankan employee, who later worked for many foreign airlines where some had to be closed down due to his ‘efficiency’ and is now back at SriLankan, is taking decisions detrimental to the almost cash-strapped national carrier.

“When there are many eligible in-house officials who could have easily been promoted to the post of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), it is alleged that on the recommendation of R. Paskaralingam, 61-year-old Siva Ramacahndran was recruited. This in itself is against company regulations. Other than a few senior pilots, none of the other employees can work after the age of 60. However the present management recruited a person above 61 years to the post of CCO who was instrumental in closing down the Frankfurt and Paris flights a few weeks earlier. To our knowledge the London flight incurs more losses than the Paris and Frankfurt flights. Despite this, the present management and the CCO in particular do not want to stop the London flight as they will miss their regular free rides to London,” sources added.

According to the sources, it is alleged that it was the CCO that brought up the idea to stop the business class lounge facility given to all managerial level employees.

The sources further accused the government of appointing Captain Suren Ratwatte as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after the regime changed and queried how many years of experience Capt. Ratwatte has as a CEO in any large business organisation.

“Just because he is the brother of Charitha Ratwatte, who is a buddy of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, he was appointed as the CEO of SriLankan Airlines. He has no experience as a CEO in running an establishment before. We too are pilots. Can we also get CEO posts? To hold such a responsible post the person should have a good knowledge in managing the organisation and not using abusive language on the pilots,” sources claimed.

The circular dated June 30, 2016 curtailing the use of business class lounge facilities for employees and their eligible dependents who possess AD/ID tickets states, ‘This is to inform you that with effect from July 1, 2016, the following policy guideline shall be implemented in connection with providing lounge facility for passengers holding AD/ID tickets at system-wide airports. All passengers holding AD/ID tickets will not be entitled to lounge facility at the Colombo and overseas airports. The affected categories are – all SriLankan airline staff and their dependents (active staff and ex-UL staff) travelling on duty or vacation excluding Chairman/ Board of Directors and their eligible dependents travelling on duty or vacation will be entitled to lounge facilities at Colombo and overseas airports, Chief Officers travelling on official duty will be entitled to lounge facilities at Colombo airport only and all other staff members entitled to business class firm tickets travelling on official duty will be entitled to lounge facilities only at the Colombo airport.’

Accusing the management, the sources said that the policy decision was taken without consulting the employees and accused the Board of Directors of not keeping the APGSL members informed until their members were barred from entering the business class lounge. The sources further accused the management of curtailing the privileges given to its employees due to lack of funds.

“We understand the restrictions we have to face due to the airline’s financial situation. If it is so what made the SriLankan management book a hospitality box at Lord’s cricket grounds in London during Sri Lanka-England final test match and spend a few millions on food and drinks? In addition the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer and the CCO too travelled to London for this occasion. What made them spend money on unnecessary events when the airline is suffering? There are so many other events this airline has sponsored without taking into consideration that we are running at a loss,” sources added.

According to the sources, although the policy decision taken states that the Chairman and the Board of Directors and their eligible dependents can use the lounge facility and Chief Officers and other staff who are entitled to business class firm tickets are entitled to use the lounge facility only at the Colombo airport and their eligible dependents are not entitled, any exceptions to the policy stipulated above could be authorised only by the CEO or the CCO, questions have been raised as to how certain it is that these two officials would not authorise their kith and kin to use the lounge facility not only at Colombo but also overseas airports as well.

“We know what they are up to. They drafted the policy decision just to show us that only the Chairman and the Board of Directors together with their families can enjoy the lounge facility but not even the CEO and CCO. But in reality they all are in one boat and enjoy all the perks,” sources said.

Although the sources said that APGSL wrote to Chairman Ajith Dias seeking his clarification as to why a new policy was introduced on the use of the business class lounge only for the staff but not for the management, for the past three weeks neither the Chairman nor the CEO or CCO have replied clarifying their stance.

Speaking further, the sources explained how the airline will suffer more strife due to the cancellation of one A350 aircraft and added that if the government wants to cancel the order for the other seven aircraft as well, it would be a huge loss to the already suffering airline.

“Although the Prime Minister said that the government has to pay US $ 12 million to cancel one aircraft and it had been done, we understand that to cancel one aircraft order we have to pay nearly US$ 16 million. Unless they are bought and could be leased out to break even, the country in general and the airline in particular are going to suffer immensely,” sources added.

Chief Executive Officer, SriLankan Airlines Captain Suren Ratwatte was uncontactable for a comment. Although a text message was forwarded seeking a comment from him on the allegations levelled against the management, Ratwatte had not responded at the time of going to press.

A High court conspiracy to make a ‘hero’ out of zero – Basil’s shackles to be removed to allow him to join the march

(Lanka-e-News -25.July.2016, 11.30PM) The notorious Medamulana brigand of rogues have planned a ‘courts conspiracy ‘ to pedestal another crook Basil Rajapakse as a ‘hero’ (counterfeit) on the day the Kandy to Colombo march is staged, based on Lanka e news courts inside information division reports.

It is to be noted that Basil the notorious fraudster is now in remand custody on grave charges of misuse of public assets . So this is the Basil who has been made the zero by court decision , his brigand is trying to make a hero on the day of the march ! Interestingly , since this ‘zero hero’ has cheated on public property and therefore the people , he can be enlarged on bail only by the High court and not the magistrate court. Basil has filed a bail application on the 22 nd in High court.

It is a practice when an application for bail is made to the high court , it is only about a month later the date for hearing is fixed , but as there are pro Rajapakse slaves and lickspittles in the High court too , the date of hearing was fixed for the 1 st of August following a special unscrupulous fast forward system so as to coincide with the day the March nears Colombo .The surreptitious plan is to release him on bail on that day. If the underhand plan succeeds , it is the aim of the den of Rajapakse rogues to make Basil the ‘critical patient’ currently in prison a ‘hero,’ who would then come out fully recovered mysteriously to join the march . That is ,Basil the criminal who robbed public assets outrageously when outside and turned critical mysteriously when inside prison , finally joins the march as ‘hero’ after coming outside the prison !

(Lanka e news foretold that Basil who was as fit as a fiddle when remanded will feign sickness and get admitted to hospital the following day)

---------------------------
by (2016-07-26 01:18:27)

Govt. tug-of-war over cornering Gota!

Jul 25, 2016

A tug-of-war within the government is delaying the arrest of former defence secretary Nandasena Gotabhaya Rajapaksa over several allegations, including the MiG deal, reports say. Although there is adequate evidence for his arrest, it is getting delayed to arrest him due to objections raised by the SLFP side.

Gotabhaya faces a serious accusation of having bought four MiGs without quality at high prices, and preliminary investigations have revealed that the relevant Air Force documents have gone missing. An agreement has been reached with Ukraine to investigate this financial irregularity, following a request made by the foreign minister during a visit to that country.

In addition, Gotabhaya stands accused over the murders of Wasim Thajudeen and Lasantha Wickramatunga and the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda. Also, there are accusations against him over white van abductions, misuse of state property and engaging in politics while being a public servant.

Police say he could be arrested over the misuse of state property and interference as a public servant charges alone.

UNP politicians ask as to why Gotabhaya could not be arrested over the same charge (misuse of state property), over which Basil was taken into custody.

Most SLFP ministers are against Mahinda, Basil and Namal and other members of the Rajapaksa family, but they are loyal to Gotabhaya, and are making attempts to bring him to lead the SLFP in the future. In the event the incumbent does not contest again, their choice as the candidate at the next presidential candidate is Gotabhaya. They have made hints about their intentions on several occasions, and not even president Maithripala Sirisena is much averse to it. That is why SLFP ministers are opposing his arrest. The tug-of-war is due to the fact Gotabhaya is not anti-Maithripala and the president is not anti-Gotabhaya.

Rajapaksa Bigwig Misappropriated US $400,000 Annually From SriLankan Aircraft Lease Deal

July 25, 2016

A bigwig is alleged to be involved in a massive financial fraud during the term of President Mahinda Rajapaksa with a recent investigation revealing that someone of authority has misappropriated US$ 400,000 annually in an aircraft lease deal in connection to SriLankan airlines.

Rajapaksa

The investigation has further revealed that the sum of US $400,000 was ‘pocketed’ for several years. The disclosure comes amidst reports that the government was also in discussion with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to lease a SriLankan airlines aircraft to PIA in an effort to help generate income for the national career due to it’s massive debt.

State Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim disclosed that under the previous management several aircrafts were leased for a cost of US $ 1.4 million annually, even though they could have been leased for US $ 1 million. “So we wonder who has pocketed the money and why an additional US$ 400,000 was paid when it was possible to get it for lesser,” Hashim said.

Meanwhile, in an effort to streamline the airline further the national carrier has also decided to suspend several European flights. The government is still hunting for a foreign airline to partner with, which will take over and manage the country’s debt ridden national carrier.

In April, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that the government had decided to absorb the SriLankan Airlines debts amounting to a staggering US$ 3.2 billion, in a last ditch attempt to ‘save’ the carrier.

A woman waits at Rafah crossing in December 2015.Abed Rahim KhatibAPA images

Rami Almeghari- 25 July 2016

It has been a long time since my family has had reason to celebrate.

For nine years my wife Faten and I have been intermittently separated from our school-age children as we traveled back and forth between our home in Gaza and Cairo as Faten needed brain surgery and radiotherapy treatment unavailable here.

Palestinians in Gaza are not able to travel freely as Israel has imposed total closure for nearly a decade, and Egypt has kept the Rafah crossing, the main exit and entry for the vast majority of Gaza’s nearly 1.9 million residents, closed. Only for rare exceptions is it opened.

We were in Cairo, where Faten began receiving cancer treatment, when Israel suddenly closed Rafah in 2007. After her surgery, we were stranded in Egypt for months, along with thousands of other Gaza travelers. We only made it back home after the Egyptian authorities took the extraordinary measure of opening a commercial crossing it operates in coordination with Israel to let stranded people back into Gaza.

Egypt’s closure of Rafah eased after the Tahrir Square uprising in 2011 and during the presidency ofMuhammad Morsi, voted into power during Egypt’s first democratic national election. But all that changed in summer 2013 after the overthrow of Morsi’s government and the installment of General Abdulfattah al-Sisi.

Egyptian unrest

At that time, Faten and I were about to leave for Egypt. A few days before al-Sisi’s takeover, we were in a bus, just in front of the gate to Egypt at Rafah crossing, when we were informed that the Egyptians were no longer letting in anyone from Gaza.

With Rafah closed, Faten needed to find treatment elsewhere. The only option was occupied East Jerusalem, off limits to Palestinians in Gaza without an Israeli permit. Time passed, but Faten underwent one more round of radiotherapy there in late March to mid-April.

Only three months after the radiotherapy treatment, an MRI scan found cancer. Faten needed another urgent referral to a hospital outside of Gaza. It was decided that she should go back to Jerusalem. Her hospital appointment was scheduled for mid-July of 2014.

Israel launched a massive assault on Gaza about a week before her appointment.

In the midst of the relentless Israeli bombing, I received a phone call from the Palestinian authorities informing me that Faten and I could go to the Erez checkpoint in Gaza’s north and then on to Jerusalem.

By then, every moving object on the roads was vulnerable to Israeli air strikes or tank fire. Faten and I decided not to go.

Near miss

During a three-day ceasefire, I received another call saying that Rafah was reopened and that medical patients could travel to Egypt. Faten and I stayed with a relative in Rafah before departing to Egypt as Israeli warplanes buzzed overhead and missiles hit areas around us, breaching the ceasefire.

The next morning, we reached the Rafah crossing terminal just as an Israeli warplane fired a missile at an exterior wall of the waiting hall.

We made it to Cairo while our children remained in the care of relatives in Gaza, without protection from Israel’s merciless military. Leaving them so my wife could get urgently needed treatment was a heartrending decision no parent should ever have to make.

The stress of our family’s ordeal peaked again last December. Faten and I had been back in Cairo since late June for medical care, including brain surgery, radiotherapy and follow-up. Meanwhile, our daughter Aseel was in her last year of school, preparing for her matriculation exams, the results of which would greatly determine her next chapter in life.

“Father, please come back, we are terribly fed up of being lonely and we are in bad need of both of you,”

Aseel told me as we talked over the Internet. She sounded tired and sad, sighing more than once.

“May God help her, Munir, Nadine and Mohammad during these difficult times,” I whispered right after I spoke to Aseel. I could not do anything for my children but make that little prayer.

Back in Gaza

Two months after that conversation, my wife and I returned to Gaza in mid-February of this year. By then, Aseel had already been in school for five months without us present. The pressure on her mounted as summer neared and the time to sit for exams grew closer. Whether or not she would succeed became a matter of concern for our extended family.

After she finished her exams in mid-June, we waited anxiously for the results.

Earlier this month, the scores were finally published.

“Is this a good result, Dad?” Aseel asked, her eyes tearing up.

She had scored 86 percent.

“Of course it is, my dear daughter. It is even great,” I replied, to Aseel’s relief.

The news spread like wildfire among our family in Maghazi refugee camp. My mother, sisters, sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces poured into our home to congratulate Aseel who has chosen to study English.

My wife, who still struggles but is able to hold up with medication and painkillers, became flush with joy and looked more like her old self than she has in a long time.

She rushed into the kitchen and instructed our son to run out to buy some ingredients so that she could bake a cake for the occasion.

We had a party at our home to celebrate. Our family in Maghazi came over, as did relatives from elsewhere in Gaza, to congratulate Aseel and bring her gifts.

My little nieces and nephews danced to the music that filled our home, which we decorated with balloons. I offered chocolates to our neighbors, who offered their congratulations on my daughter’s success.

“Thank you God for creating a little light of hope. May you bring some more happiness to our long-troubled family,” I thought to myself as our guests enjoyed cake, fruits and peanuts, full of joy despite it all.

Rami Almeghari is a journalist and university lecturer based in the Gaza Strip.

Tunisians rally against bill that would pardon corruption

Human Rights Watch also spoke out against the bill this month, saying it would set back Tunisia's transition to democracy

Tunisian lawyer and human rights defender Radhia Nasraoui (R) and her husband, the Front Populaire party's spokesman, Hamma Hammami (C) take part in a demonstration against a bill being discussed in parliament to grant amnesty to people accused of corruption on 25 July 2016 on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in the capital Tunis (AFP)

Monday 25 July 2016

Hundreds of Tunisians demonstrated on Monday in the capital to protest against a bill being discussed in parliament to grant amnesty to people accused of corruption.

If the so-called "economic reconciliation" bill is passed, people accused of corruption would not be prosecuted but would instead pay a fine and reimburse embezzled funds.

When the bill was submitted to parliament last year by President Beji Caid Essebsi it sparked outrage, with demonstrators taking to the streets to denounce it.

Demonstrations against the bill have continued in Tunis and other cities as the bill is debated by a parliamentary commission.

On Monday, protesters chanted "No to reconciliation" and "The people want the fall of corruption," echoing the 2011 Arab uprisings' famous chant, "The people want the fall of the regime".

Tunisian NGOs, civil society groups and international organisations have denounced the bill, and in mid-July launched a campaign to block it dubbed "It will not pass".

The argue that the law could "intensify corruption" in Tunis, cradle of Arab Spring revolts that has seen many autocratic regimes in the Middle East toppled.

Human Rights Watch also spoke out against the bill this month, saying it would set back Tunisia's transition to democracy.

"The law would sabotage the mechanism Tunisia already put in place to address economic crimes through a mix of public truth-telling, restitution, and judicial flexibility," the watchdog said.

"Just as impunity gives human rights violators a green light to continue their abuse, letting economic criminals off the hook will lead to more corruption," said HRW's Tunisia office head Amna Guellali.

Essebsi has said the bill could help improve Tunisia's beleaguered economy.

Monday's estimated 400 protesters rallied outside the headquarters of Tunisia's main UGTT labour union before marching on Bourguiba Avenue in the city centre.

"The draft law will not pass," the demonstrators chanted.

'Jihadi Jack': 'If they want to bomb me, they'll bomb me'

MONDAY 25 JULY 2016

Twenty-year-old Jack Letts also says that, under the "English Government's definition", because he "opposes a non-Islamic system", he would be viewed as "a terrorist".

Letts had a comfortable upbringing in Oxford, before converting to Islam and travelling to Syria around two years ago.

His parents, John Letts and Sally Lane, are awaiting trial after being charged with terrorism offences relating to allegedly sending him money.

In the exclusive audio interview, Letts said: "I came here searching for the truth, and people of the truth, and I don't regret that I came."

Peppering his speech with Arabic phrases, he adds: "I searched for the people of truth, and I found a lot of them here. I found people that act on what they learn and teach, and benefited a lot from them, alhamdulillah {praise be to God}.

"So it was an odd choice, but it was a very good choice, alhamdulillah, because if I didn't come here I wouldn't have met some very good knowledgeable people."

'They'd say I'm a terrorist'

Asked if he's a terrorist, he replies: "Do you mean by the English Government's definition, that anyone that opposes a non-Islamic system and man-made laws? Then, of course, by that definition, I suppose they'd say I'm a terrorist, khalas {done}."

Asked if he is a fighter: "Khalas, they'll say what they want. Currently I'm not. But, khalas, they'll say what they want."

But he insisted he is not a member of Isis. He said: "I'm not and nor do I agree with a lot of what they follow."

Letts has also released an online statement in Arabic that goes so far as to criticise Isis. It reads: "I oppose so-called Islamic State, but that doesn't mean I am with you, the dirty non-Muslims."

The bold statement could potentially put his safety at risk, and he wrote that it should be remembered as his final words if he were killed.

He also revealed he narrowly survived an airstrike with just a "scratch", as the Isis-controlled area has come under bombardment from British, American, French and Russian forces in recent months.

'Everyone is going to die on their day'

But he insisted he is not afraid to die, adding: "I'm not worried. Everyone is going to die on their day. Whether it's by a drone strike, a Muslim understands that his life is between the hands of Allaah. So if they want to bomb me, they'll bomb me."

Letts' parents have been charged with a series of terrorism offences after allegedly trying to send £1,700 to their son.

The couple have been charged with three counts of arranging the availability of property or money to another person, knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect it could be used for the purpose of terrorism.

His mother has been charged with two further counts of attempting to provide money or property knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect it could be used for the purpose of terrorism.

They were originally remanded in custody for five days in early June, but were later released on appeal. They are due to stand trial in January.

The couple have previously spoken to Channel 4 News claiming their son had a history of mental health problems and they feared for his life. They deny all the charges against them, and insist any money was for food and spectacles.

'Die in your rage'

Asked about his parents' ordeal, Letts called on them to convert to Islam. He said: "I call them to Islam, if they understand Islam they'd understand what they're in and why what's happened to them has happened. So inshallah {God willing}, I hope that they follow the path of all of the Prophets."

In another online statement, he said he "hated" his parents "for the sake of Allaah" because they are non-believers. He added: "They reject the religion of truth, so I reject them. I hate the Kuffaar, and am free from them. Die in your rage."

Letts adds that he has no plans to try to come back to the UK. "No, I don't plan on going back to England," he said. "If I came back to England I don't think I'd be very welcome. But I don't plan on coming back anyway, alhamdulillah. I don't want to come back."

But he admits missing the treats he used to enjoy back at home in Oxford. He said: "Not big things, small things like kebabs, and Krispy Kreme doughnuts, but other than that, not really."

He also insists he does not suffer from mental health issues, such as OCD - as has been reported - and has not been brainwashed or radicalised.