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Asian Tribune is published by World Institute For Asian Studies|Powered by WIAS Vol. 12 No. 393

News

Sadam Hussein’s half brother and former head of Iraq's Revolutionary Court were hanged this morning

Mon, 2007-01-15 17:34 — admin

Already executed former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's half brother and the former head of Iraq's Revolutionary Court were hanged before dawn Monday, 16 days after the former Iraqi dictator was executed in a chaotic scene that has drawn worldwide criticism. Iraqi Government spokesman emphasized that all laws and rules were respected during the proceedings. Earlier Saddam’s execution brought worldwide criticism of the Iraqi government as video of the execution, recorded on a cell phone camera, showed the former dictator being taunted on the gallows.

India’s position on Sri Lanka's second coal-fired power plant in Sampur – Sri Lanka’s Minister clarifies

Mon, 2007-01-15 15:06 — admin

Neville de Silva - Diplomatic Editor Asian Tribune

Rohitha BogollagamaHas India formally objected to building Sri Lanka's second coal-fired power plant in the island republic's Sampur area in the troubled northeastern Trincomalee district? No says Sri Lanka's minister for enterprise development and investment promotion who is due to launch the Indo-Sri Lanka Partnership Summit in Bangalore tomorrow. Enterprise development minister Rohitha Bogollagama who was in London last week to attend the internationally-known Wilton Park Conference on "Investing in Peace" told this correspondent that officially there has been no negative communication from New Delhi.

Government to send food to uncleared areas of Vakarai

Mon, 2007-01-15 04:34 — admin

By Vandana Jayasinghe - Reporting from Colombo

While having discussions with the armed forces to get access to Vakarai, in which a serious humanitarian crisis is looming, the government is awaiting a response from the Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) through international organizations to send necessary items to people trapped in the uncleared areas of Vakarai. In Vakarai, according to UNHCR and Ministry of Disaster Management, over 20,000 people are in the brinks of starvation due to lack of access to the area due to fighting. The government has sent 20 lorry loads of essential items including food items and medicine before the Christmas and after that no stocks have been sent to Vakarai.

China and Russia oppose UN Security Council resolution on Burma

Mon, 2007-01-15 03:20 — admin

Daya Gamage – US National Correspondent Asian Tribune

Draft resolution jointly sponsored by the United States and United Kingdom to the United Nations Security Council calling Myanmar (formally known as Burma) to release all political prisoners including the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 10 years, and to allow the National League for Democracy and other political parties to operate freely was opposed by China and Russia using their veto power.

Separation among Israelis and Palestinians even in vehicles

Mon, 2007-01-15 03:17 — admin

By Mohammed Mar'i*

On 19 January 2007 the Palestinians in the West Bank will add another suffering to their lives by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). Beside the Separation Wall that shatters the West Bank and more than 400 roadblocks, the (IOF) will implement the discriminatory Israeli order which prohibits Israelis and tourists from using their vehicles to transport Palestinians in the West Bank without an army permit. Violating human rights and international law, Israel build the separation Wall, prohibited Palestinian vehicles on certain roads in the West Bank, and forbidden Israeli citizens from entering Palestinian controlled areas to separate the Palestinians from Israelis. The new (IOF) order penetrates into the private space of the vehicle to separate its passengers.

'Political solution to end war in next two- months' – Minister de Silva

Mon, 2007-01-15 03:12 — admin

By Vandana Jayasinghe - Reporting from Colombo

The government chief negotiator and Minister of Health Nimal Siripala de Silva said to the Italian State Minister for Foreign Affairs Gianni Vernetti that the government would bring a political solution to the North and East problem within next two- months. He said that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two major political parties – United National Party and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party – would help to get the required mandate from the majority of people of the country to find a lasting solution for the North and East issue.

Sri Lanka: Large scale exodus from LTTE controlled areas continue unabated

Mon, 2007-01-15 01:34 — admin

Munza Mushtaq – Reporting from Colombo

The large scale exodus from LTTE controlled areas continued unabated with more than 200 civilians fleeing several Tiger controlled villages during the past few days alone. A spokesman attached to the media centre for national security said that about 97 displaced persons who were living in LTTE controlled Vaharai had escaped to the government controlled area on Friday evening.

Bank of Ceylon increases its profits

Mon, 2007-01-15 01:30 — admin

By Quintus Perera – Asian Tribune

Bank of Ceylon (BOC) increased its annual profits before VAT and income tax increased to Rs 5.93 billion from Rs 3.59 billion in 2005. At a press briefing held at its Head Office to announce its financial results for last year indicated that its income grew by 32 percent from Rs 26.78 bilion in 2005 to Rs 35.39 billion in 2006. Its subsidiaries showed an increase in annual turnover (up to November) of 26 percent from Rs. 1.91 billion in 2005 to Rs. 2.40 billion in 2006 and their profit after tax (up to November) showed an increase of 13 percent, and dividends from subsidiaries (up to November) showed an increase of 98 percent from Rs. 0.13 billion in 2005 to 0.26 billion in 2006.

Income recovery program of the ILO continues to provide technical assistance for tsunami livelihood development projects

Mon, 2007-01-15 01:00 — admin

Sunil C. Perera - Reporting from Colombo

Income Recovery Technical assistance Programme [IRTAP]of the International Labor Organization will continue to provide their technical support to the Reconstruction and Development Agency [RADA] Livelihood Unit in 2007 to cater for the outstanding livelihood needs of the tsunami victims. Chief Technical Advisor of the IRTAP, Doekle Wielinga says that RADA and the ILO are conducting a micro finance needs assessment to find out is micro enterprises have already been served or that more credit is need. As part of RADA's lobbying that led to the requisition of 70 Million Euros of fresh funds. This fund t will be disbursed though the Central Bank (20 Million euros) and the DFCC Bank (50 million euros). "We will monitor this project closely", Doekle Wielinga said.

Sri Lanka needs definite political process & vigorous international Public diplomacy to defeat Tamil Tigers – Prof.Hangawatte

Sun, 2007-01-14 07:54 — admin

Daya Gamage – US Bureau Asian Tribune

Devoid of any fresh proposals to lead the way to break the impasse in the serious national dialogue that could help to address the National Question, the one year old Rajapaksa administration has simultaneously failed to undertake an international public diplomacy campaign to match and defeat Tamil Tiger misinformation and propaganda that have found direct links to the policy makers of leading western nations.

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