Shahzad linked to Yemeni cleric: Report
May 7, 2010 by SAF Desk
NEW YORK – Faisal Shahzad, the failed Times Square bombing suspect, told investigators that he drew inspiration from Anwar al-Awlaki, a Yemeni-American cleric whose militant online lectures have been a catalyst for several recent attacks and plots, according to a leading American newspaper.
The 30-year Shahzad, a US citizen of Pakistani origin, was inspired by Awlaki, The New York Times said, citing an unnamed official, who would speak of the investigation only on condition of anonymity.
“He listened to him, and he did it,” the official said, referring to Saturday’s attempted bombing on a busy street in Times Square.
Friends of Shahzad have said he became more religious and somber in the last year or so, and asked his father’s permission in 2009 to join the fight in Afghanistan against American and NATO forces. Investigators believe he was trained by the Pakistani Taliban, a militant group that previously focused mainly on Pakistani government targets.
A senior military official said Thursday that Shahzad has told interrogators that he met with Pakistani Taliban operatives in North Waziristan in December and January. Later he received explosives training from the same operatives, said the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the case.
Counterterrorism officials want to know how Shahzad, who had earned an M.B.A., married and had children and worked in several corporate jobs, came to embrace violence……
US mulling to troop expansion in Pakistan: NYT
May 7, 2010 by SAF Desk
The Obama administration has intensified its debate about expanding America’s military presence in Pakistan, with some officials making the case to increase the number of Special Operations troops working with Pakistani forces in the country’s western mountains, The New York Times reported Friday.
some inside the administration believe that the C.I.A. programme of killing militants from the air is insufficient for preventing attacks on the West, and that an expanded training mission might raise confidence in Pakistan’s military enough to launch an offensive in the militant sanctuary of North Waziristan, in the tribal areas.
“There is a growing sense that there will need to be more of a boots on the ground strategy,” an unnamed Obama administration official was quoted as saying.
Officials, who requested anonymity to discuss strategy surrounding a programme that is technically secret, emphasized that any new troops in Pakistan would serve as advisers and trainers, not as combat forces…..
Declining security, terrorism affect Pakistani economy: UN
May 7, 2010 by SAF Desk
NEW YORK: Pakistan’s economy has been affected not just by the global economic crisis but also by the declining security situation and intensification of conflict linked to terrorism, local media reported Friday.
Industry, especially large-scale manufacturing, suffered the worst of all sectors from the drop in international demand, while also having to cope with acute shortages of electricity, said the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) report which was launched Thursday.
In Pakistan, GDP growth fell from 4.1 percent in 2008 to 2.0 percent in 2009 while inflation rose sharply from 12 percent in 2008 to 20.8 percent in 2009 mainly because of food price increases, it said…..
China to provide $180 mln aid to Pakistan: Malik
May 7, 2010 by SAF Desk
ISLAMABAD: China will grant US$180 million aid to Pakistan for enhancing the capacity of its law enforcement agency.
Interior Minister Rehman A. Malik Friday held a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Meng Chiang in Chinese capital, said a message from Beijing.
The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere in which matters of mutual interest came under discussion.
In addition, Beijing also offered training facilities for Pakistani LEAs personnel and RMB (Chinese currency) 2 million for police equipments…..
Foil plot against democracy: Sheikh Hasina
May 7, 2010 by SAF Desk
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday urged the people to remain alert against any plot by undemocratic forces to destroy the democratic process in the country.
“In the past, evil forces for lust of power repeatedly denied people’s democratic rights and their right to vote,” she told journalists at Gano Bhaban on the occasion of the 3rd anniversary of her homecoming from the United States during the army-controlled caretaker government…..
Rushanara becomes first Bangladeshi MP in UK
May 7, 2010 by SAF Desk
Rushanara Ali, a Bangladeshi living in the UK, has made history, as she became a lawmaker of the Commons on Friday.
Rushanara contested in the UK General Election 2010 with Labour Party ticket.
A British paper earlier described Rushanara Ali, 35, as a politically rated, eloquent, beautiful and a very crucial figure for Bangla Town as this area is vastly populated by Bangladeshis…..
High growth expected
May 7, 2010 by SAF Desk
Stable macroeconomic environment :
Inflation must remain at single digit level:
Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA
Sri Lanka’s actual potential growth rate is above eight percent and can reach even nine to 10 percent by 2015 like India and China, a senior economist said.
Economic growth in 2010 will be closer to six percent and to make this growth sustainable and move to a higher growth of seven percent in 2011 and to an even higher level beyond 2011.
Sri Lanka should bring down the budget deficit and create a stable macroeconomic environment, Institute of Policy Studies Executive Director Dr Saman Kelegama said.
“Sri Lanka has been growing at average five percent during the first two and a half decade under the open economy and averaged around six percent during 2005-2008 period,” he said at the launching of Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific report yesterday.
The two key impediments to achieve high growth – war and lack of political stability is now out of the way……
Journalists To Declare Assets
May 7, 2010 by SAF Desk
Sri Lanka’s Media Ministry now of course under new management has begun sending Declaration of Assets and Liabilities forms to every journalist in the country.
According to a circular issued by the Ministry last month every journalist in the country from cub reporters at provincial newspapers to the chair persons of major news organisations will now be compelled to declare their assets to the Ministry.
Given that the vast majority of the country’s ministers who make millions from state assets have not yet declared their assets, the idea that cub reporters earning 10,000 rupees a month at private news organisations need to declare their assets seems patently absurd……
The Parliamentary Elections of 2010: Reconfiguring Power Relations in a Changing Political Landscape
May 7, 2010 by SAF Desk
Prof. Sisira Pinnawala reflects on last month’s General Elections
The general election 2010 concluded with the expected results. The ruling coalition though did not get the two thirds majority it was asking for, came very close to achieving it failing only by a whisker. The opposition can, as it has been doing since the defeat, console itself that it prevented the ruling party getting the two thirds majority they wanted. More than that it also finds solace in the fact that the turnout was low.
They argue, hopefully they do not believe it for their own good, that the poor turnout is indicative of voters not having faith in the system, which for the opposition is the government. They do not want to accept the fact the system includes them too and that the poor turnout is equally due to the fact that the opposition failed to give the voter a credible alternative.
The 2010 Parliamentary election has clearly established the dominance of the PA’s successor the UPFA. It is no longer a party of the majority Sinhalese and neither it is dependent on the rural voter. At the Parliamentary election of 2010 the UPFA made inroads even in the North and East. The 2010 parliamentary elections thus confirmed the total and complete domination of the PA in all districts and all sectors.
Weakening of the ethnic minority parties with a separatist agenda and extending foothold of the national parties in the north and east are very important realignments and reconfiguration of political power resulting from 2010 Parliamentary election. The movement in this direction, one could argue, began with the Presidential election which saw Mr. Rajapaksa making considerable gains in the North and East, in spite of the Ilankei Thamil Arasu katchi (ITAK) which has the dubious distinction being LTTE proxy, putting its entire weight behind the opposition candidate. With the Tamil voter not being pressurized to vote for the LTTE proxies this time national parties had a better chance in the North and the East.
Maoists riding a tiger: Can’t call off stir, can’t go on
May 7, 2010 by SAF Desk
AKHILESH UPADHYAY
KATHMANDU, MAY 06 -
On the fifth day of their indefinite strike on Thursday, Maoists faced retaliation across the country, with at least three violent incidents reported in the Capital. Curfew was clamped in Parbat (West), Jumla (Mid West) and Dhankuta (East). Timely intervention by the police stopped the confrontation between Maoists and pro-Hindu activists in Birgunj (Central Tarai) from getting out of hand. Still, sources say, the danger is far from over and that the Central and Eastern Tarai could see major flare-ups in the near future.
Opinion is divided over whether these incidents have been engineered or are spontaneous. It could be both.
Organised forces seem to have tapped on the growing public anger over a strike that has severely crippled life and shows no early sign of ending. An informed source had told this correspondent as far back in February that “strong ground preparations” were on to counter the Maoists across the country and that the anti-Maoist surge would be especially evident in the Tarai where “they will be completely annihilated.”
The major bone of contention has been the modalities (and the number) for the integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants. Agreement on the issue and commitment to a date, say NC and UML leaders, will go a long way in convincing them that the Maoist party is committed to transforming itself to a civilian party. Non-Maoist parties also want an agreement on a framework and quick action on returning seized property; this is especially urgent for the NC. “Those two issues and dismantling the barracks of YCL would go a long way in assuring us that the Maoists are serious about keeping their pledge to past accords,” says Pradeep Gyawali, a UML central committee leader ……….