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Vatican backs military force to stop ISIS ‘genocide'

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pope-francis

by John L. Allen Jr, Crux

In an unusually blunt endorsement of military action, the Vatican’s top diplomat at the United Nations in Geneva has called for a coordinated international force to stop the “so-called Islamic State” in Syria and Iraq from further assaults on Christians and other minority groups.

“We have to stop this kind of genocide,” said Italian Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican’s representative in Geneva. “Otherwise we’ll be crying out in the future about why we didn’t so something, why we allowed such a terrible tragedy to happen.”

Tomasi said that any anti-ISIS coalition has to include the Muslim states of the Middle East, and can’t simply be a “Western approach.” He also said it should unfold under the aegis of the United Nations.

The call for force is striking, given that the Vatican traditionally has opposed military interventions in the Middle East, including the two US-led Gulf Wars. It builds, however, on comments from Pope Francis that the use of force is “legitimate … to stop an unjust aggressor.”

Tomasi issued the call in an interview with Crux on the same day he presented a statement entitled “Supporting the Human Rights of Christians and Other Communities, particularly in the Middle East,” coauthored with the Russian Federation and Lebanon, to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The statement has drawn almost 70 nations as signatories, including the United States.

Tomasi told Crux that in the first instance, he hopes the statement will galvanize nations around the world to provide humanitarian aid to Christians and other groups suffering at the hands of ISIS, “so they can survive and stand up for their own rights.”

Beyond that, Tomasi said, the crisis requires “more coordinated protection, including the use of force to stop the hands of an aggressor.”

“It will be up the United Nations and its member states, especially the Security Council, to determine the exact form of intervention necessary,” he said, “but some responsibility [to act] is clear.”

Tomasi applauded an initiative by France to call a special meeting of the Security Council later this month to discuss the situation facing Christians in the Middle East.

Thousands of Christians are believed to have been killed in various parts of the Middle East, principally Iraq and Syria, since the eruption of the Syrian civil war in 2011 and the declaration of an ISIS-led “caliphate.” Hundreds of thousands of Christians and other minority groups have been driven into exile.

To be effective, Tomasi said, an anti-ISIS coalition must include “the countries most directly involved in the Middle East,” meaning the Islamic states of the region.

 

Pakistan carries out mass executions

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At least 10 convicts hanged, marking highest number in a single day since lifting of moratorium on capital punishment.

Human rights group Amnesty International estimates that Pakistan has more than 8,000 prisoners on death row [EPA]

Human rights group Amnesty International estimates that Pakistan has more than 8,000 prisoners on death row [EPA]

by Al Jazeera

Pakistan has hanged at least 10 convicted murderers, the highest number in a single day after the government lifted a six-year-old moratorium on capital punishment, officials said.

Eight of the convicts were hanged in the Punjab province on Tuesday, while two others were hanged in the southern metropolis of Karachi, according to prison officials.

The latest hangings bring to 37 the number of convicts hanged since Pakistan resumed executions in December after Taliban fighters gunned down 154 people, most of them children, at a school in the restive northwest.

The partial lifting of the moratorium, which began in 2008, only applied to those convicted of terrorism offences, but was last week extended to all capital offences.

Only one person was executed during the period of the moratorium – a soldier convicted by a court martial and hanged in 2012.

Human rights group Amnesty International estimates that Pakistan has more than 8,000 prisoners on death row, most of whom have exhausted the appeals process.

Critical voices

Supporters of the death penalty in Pakistan argue that it is the only effective way to the deal with the scourge of rebel groups in the country.

But rights campaigners have been highly critical, citing problematic convictions in Pakistan’s criminal justice system, which they say is replete with rampant police torture and unfair trials.

“This shameful retreat to the gallows is no way to resolve Pakistan’s pressing security and law and order problems,” Rupert Abbott, Amnesty International’s deputy Asia-Pacific director, said last week.

European Union diplomats have also raised the issue of capital punishment – and the case of one man who was condemned to death as a teenager in particular – in meetings with Pakistani officials focused on trade and human rights.

The EU granted Pakistan the much coveted “GSP+” status in 2014, giving the country access to highly favourable trade tariffs, conditional on Pakistan enacting certain commitments on human rights.

 

Karnataka: Janardhan Poojary urges CBI inquiry into D K Ravi death

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B-Janardhana-Poojary

Mangaluru: In the wake of state-wide protests after the sudden death of IAS officer D K Ravi in Bengaluru on Monday, former union minister B Janardhan Poojary urged the Chief Minister of Karnataka to conduct a CBI enquiry in the case.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said that no person was willing to believe that such a bold and straightforward IAS officer had hung himself. The chief minister should set an example to the entire country by ordering a CBI inquiry in the death of IAS officer D K Ravi and send a message that the government will protect its officers. He should order a CBI probe to give the message that no criminal would go unpunished. There should be a thorough investigation in this regard, he urged.

The Centre also has a responsibility as much as the state government in this regard. There are only a handful of worthy officers in the state and country. Is it possible for such a brave IAS officer who took on the sand mafia and land mafia tax evaders, to have committed a suicide? Hence, there should be a thorough probe in his death, he reiterated, adding that even if the death was proved a suicide, there was a law that sought punishment for abetment to suicide.

Mr Poojary also urged that the media should highlight the issue to the extent that the central government took cognizance of the mysterious death since the deceased IAS officer had been selected and appointed by the Centre.

No culprit involved in his death, powerful or otherwise, should be allowed to go unpunished. Corruption should be tackled at all costs, he urged, stating that the young IAS officer had been loved and respected by all for his sincere work and sense of justice towards the common man and the poor.

He advised activists and protestors to conduct peaceful protests against the death of the young officer so that the law and order would not be disrupted in the state.

(Agencies)

Haryana Assembly Passes Bill Banning Cow Slaughter, Sale of Beef

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REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade

REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade

Chandigarh: The Haryana Assembly on Monday evening unanimously passed a bill under which cow slaughter and the sale of beef have been banned in the state. The new law will also promote conservation and development of indigenous breeds of cows and establish institutions to keep, maintain and take care of the infirm, injured, stray and uneconomic cows.

As per the Haryana ‘Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan’ Bill, 2015, which was passed with two amendments, a person found guilty of cow slaughter can get rigorous imprisonment not less than three years, which may extend upto 10 years along with a fine ranging from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 1 lakh.

Any person who exports cows for slaughter either directly or through somebody can get rigorous imprisonment not less than three years which may extend upto seven years, along with a fine from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 70,000.

However, the killing of a cow in an accident or self-defense will not be considered as slaughter under the Act.

The sale of beef will be completely banned in the state; the offence will be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for not less than three years and upto five years with fine of upto Rs. 50,000.

The government will also establish laboratories for differentiation of beef from that of the meat of other species of animals, and testing and identification of various constituents of milk.

Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar told mediapersons that the previous law was weak and had several loopholes.

“We have come up with a more stringent law… this will enable cow protection and development at the same time,” Mr Khattar said.

The opposition Indian National Lok Dal’s legislator Zakir Hussain said he had suggested a couple of amendments but the government has accepted only one.

“There should have been a provision for transport of cows within the state to avoid harassment of transporters, also similar punishment should be in place for corrupt officials who are found involved in beef trade. Government has accepted the latter suggestion,” Mr Hussain said.

(IANS)

Hassan: Deve Gowda turns emotional, offers to resign from Lok Sabha

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deve-GOWDA

Hassan: Alleging lack of concern among the ruling class about the interests of poor people and farmers, former prime minister (PM), H D Deve Gowda, who represents this constituency at the Lok Sabha, in an emotional outburst, offered to resign from his Lok Sabha membership.

Deve Gowda, who was participating in discussion on budget at the Lok Sabha on Monday March 16, noticed that some MPs seated in the seats located in his back, were speaking among themselves in low tone. Deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha, Tambidurai, who was in the chair, asked the members of parliament who were not interested in the proceedings, to leave the hall.

Deve Gowda, who appeared to have been charged with emotion, said that it could he his last address as a Lok Sabha member, and that he could decide to resign from the post. ‘No one shows interest about people like me, who are from rural background. I had resigned from this post twice in the past,’ he said.

Gowda also came out with strong words against the union budget for failing to moot any proposals for the upliftment of farmers of the country.

(Agencies)

Pioneering fighter Swaminathan who was in the forefront of the struggle to force the giant Coca Cola to quit Kerala is no more

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Veloor Swaminathan

by K.P. Sasi

Veloor Swaminathan is no more. He left Plachimada forever on March 14, 2015. Swaminathan along with Mylamma were the initial foundations of the historic struggle of Plachimada in Kerala. The struggle initiated by a small group of these Adivasis with Dalits and farmers forced one of the largest corporate powers in the world, Coca Cola to bend down and quit Plachimada. If anybody asks, how did such a small force of marginalised people achieve such a herculean task, I would say, study Mylamma and Swaminathan, for any strategy for any people’s movement raising issues of marginalisation.

They welcomed all shades of people with dissent against Coca Cola and made them comfortable under the shades of the struggle, in front of the Coca Cola plant. Thus, people belonging to diverse political parties, NGOs, religious groups, radical left groups, Gandhians, Lohiaites, environmental groups of different shades, representations from other people’s movements, middle class activists, film makers, journalists, intellectuals, researchers from India and abroad flowed to Plachimada in support of the struggle. But both Mylamma and Swaminathan were sitting there protesting against the plant along with villagers for hundreds of days. Looking back, one can rightly say that it is this `inclusive’ character of the movement for which both Mylamma and Swaminathan deserve major credits, which brought the tentative success of the struggle, inspiring many people’s movements and activists all over the world.

Veloor Swaminathan had an innate and organic political and intellectual search. He had strong convictions on Adivasi identity as well as rights. He was open for discussions on all these areas. With strong convictions on Adivasi identity, he spoke in Malappuram when activists organised a public programme in memory of film maker Sarat Chandran, soon after Sarat died. He said: `We Adivasis never felt that Sarat Chandran was from an outside community. We always felt that he was an Adivasi like us.’

I have listened to many people speaking in public about Sarat Chandran, who along with P. Baburaj made a number of documentary films on people’s movements and screened them widely. But I had never heard something like this coming from an Adivasi who had strong convictions on Adivasi identity. When he was speaking these words about our dear friend Sarat, Swaminathan was cryng in front of the mike. For the long standing work of film activism and by being part of many people’s movements, this was Sarat Chandran’s life time achievement award, for no Adivasi will normally tell that in public, about anyone who belonged to an outside community. No film maker in India has received this historical award as per my knowledge. And ultimately, Adivasis like Swaminathan, Sarat Chandran and Mylamma reached their destination.

Swaminathan had a small workshop in Plachimaada. His wife and two children were supported from meagre earnings from this small workshop. As far as I understand, during the later stages of his life, he was extremely bothered about the ill health of his elder child and the expenses for treatment. These freedom fighters do not get any pension for their survival, unlike the freedom fighters of the earlier times. Therefore I guess, compassion from those who relate with the sufferings of those who struggle, is the need of the hour.

The people of Plachimada are still struggling, with the support of the crystal clear foot prints of many who left us. These footprints must not be rubbed by history. These footprints must be preserved for the new generations who try to learn to walk on the roads of struggles for justice. It is from such footprints that new roads will emerge.

I request all my friends to preserve these foot prints, for the sake of the unborn and newly born children, who are yet to confront the pains and pleasures of walking.

In memory, respect and solidarity with the foot prints of Swaminathan.

K.P Sasi is an award winning film director and a political activist. He is also an Associate Editor of Countercurrents.org. He can be reached at kpsasi36@gmail.com

Modi government may spy on officials, parties, media: Congress

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congress

Ranchi: Congress today demanded a probe into the alleged snooping on party vice-president Rahul Gandhi as it claimed that the next targets could be persons from the bureaucracy, political parties and media.

“We demand a judicial commission or a Parliamentary committee to probe the surveillance on Rahul Gandhi as it is aimed at suppressing democracy,” AICC spokesman Ajay Kumar said at a press conference here.

Next, he claimed, the snooping could be on government officials, political parties and media.

Even former Delhi police commissioners Ved Marwah and B K Gupta denied that any such procedures had been there, Kumar said.

On the controversy surrounding absence of Gandhi Jayanti from the list of holidays in Goa, Kumar refused to accept Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s logic that dropping of October 2 from the list could be an act of mischief or a typing mistake.

“The BJP has a habit to set off balloons to see public reaction. It denies the action if the reaction is strong and it goes ahead with its action if everything is quiet,” alleged Kumar, a former IPS officer.

Slamming the Narendra Modi government on the amendment to Land Acquisition Act, he said, “The BJP government is for only one per cent of the population, protecting the super rich. It is not bothered about farmers and the poor.”

If the bill was passed, he claimed, even houses in cities would go in the name of creating infrastructure.

(Agencies)

Young IAS officer DK Ravi found dead in Bengaluru: Suicide or Murder?

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Bengaluru: Young IAS officer DK Ravi, posted as Additional Commissioner (Enforcement) of Commercial Tax Department, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his St. John’s Wood apartment in Kormangla, Bengaluru.

The 2009-batch IAS officer was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his ninth-floor flat (Number 903, E block) at Prestige St John’s Wood apartment at Suddguntepalya on Tavarekere Main Road by Kusuma, his wife, at around 6:30 pm. Police Commissioner M N Reddi said: “Prima facie, it looks like a case of suicide. Until the inquest is conducted, we cannot come to a conclusive understanding.”

Ravi, 35, had moved to this official flat, provided by the department, just one-and-a-half months ago. He had married Kusuma, daughter of former Rajarajeshwarinagar CMC president Hanumantharayappa, four years ago.

Ravi, from Tumakuru, used to visit his father-in-law’s house in Mallathalli, off Nagarabhavi, on weekends. This weekend, too, he was at his in-laws’ house, and left for office from there on Monday morning.

At 10:35 am, he left office for his apartment. His driver waited for him at the parking lot from 10:45 am.

The police said it was only in the evening that his wife and other family members grew suspicious when there was no response to repeated calls on Ravi’s cellphone.

Kusuma opened the door to their flat using a duplicate key around 6:30 pm. “His wife and father-in-law found him hanging from the bedroom ceiling fan by a cloth. A special team led by DCP (Southeast) Rohini Katoch Sepat, a qualified medical doctor, will probe the case,” said Reddi.

The young bureaucrat had hit headlines when, as deputy commissioner of Kolar, he initiated a drive to clear encroachments on government lands. Kolar residents had observed a bandh to protest his transfer last November.

From the day he took charge as Additional Commissioner (Enforcement South) on November 14, 2014, Ravi led several raids on various business establishments—especially real-estate majors—for tax evasion.

While there were reports that Ravi was being receiving threats from the underworld over the raids, the police commissioner said Ravi had informed neither the police nor his superiors of any such call.

“He did not contact anyone after 11 am. He was not in the habit of returning to his flat early. Also, he used to have lunch at office. We have not found any suicide note from the apartment. Naturally, his family is not in a position to respond to our queries. Forensic experts have examined the spot and have stated that prima facie it is a case of suicide,” said Reddi.

The IAS officer’s body was shifted to Victoria Hospital where the post-mortem will be conducted on Tuesday.

Hundreds of people from Kolar and Kunigal gathered at the hospital and protested, saying that the corrupt system had led to Ravi’s death.

(Agencies)

"Stop killing our Christian brothers"

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by Dawn

Horror and anger dominated protests across Pakistan on Monday, as members of the Christian community took to the streets in Faisalabad, Lahore, Gujranwala and other urban centers following Sunday’s Taliban attack on two churches.

The protests turned violent in Lahore when demonstrators clashed at different points during the day with dozens of baton-wielding policemen. One protester was killed while several were injured when a car hit them at Ferozpur Road.

People from the Christian community attend a protest, to condemn suicide bombings which took place outside two churches in Lahore, in Peshawar. — Reuters

People protest holding placards which asks for peace in Pakistan.— Reuters

Policemen carry bamboo sticks during a protest by Christians mourners in Lahore.— AFP

Christians chant slogans during demonstration to condemn the suicide bombing attack on two churches.— AP

People from the Christian community attend a protest, to condemn the suicide bombings.— Reuters

Members of the Pakistani Christian community chant slogans during a protest rally in Peshawar. — Reuters

People from the Christian community attend a protest to condemn suicide bombings.— Reuters

Christians pray for victims of suicide bombings that struck two churches the day before, in Lahore.— AP

Christians pray for victims of suicide bombings that struck two churches the day before, in Lahore.— AP

Protesters blocked roads Monday in protest over the bombings that killed more than a dozen people in the latest attack against religious minorities.— AP

UN: $35 million weekly needed for Syrian refugee aid

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Syrian refugee children sit outside their tent near the hills of Ersal. Al-Akhbar/Marwan Tahtah

Syrian refugee children sit outside their tent near the hills of Ersal. Al-Akhbar/Marwan Tahtah

by Anadolu Agency

Displaced Syrian refugees across the Middle East need some $35 million in aid every week as the conflict in their country enters its fifth year, a UN official said Monday.

“We currently need $35 million on a weekly basis to help Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Iraq and inside Syria. This is a large amount of money,” Jonathan Campbell, the World Food Program (WFP)’s emergency coordinator for the Syria Refugee Operation in Jordan, told The Anadolu Agency.

Campbell noted that only $225 million had been designated for the WFP’s programs in Jordan this year, down from $306 million last year.

“At least 97 percent of the Syrian refuges in Jordan have been affected by the cut in aid. They’re only able to get rice and legumes, but not meat,” he said.

“Some of them can only have one or two meals [a day],” he added.

Syria has been in the throes of civil war since mid-2011, when a peaceful uprising against President Bashar al-Assad escalated into an armed insurrection following a violent government crackdown.

Around 1.3 million Syrians currently seek refuge in Jordan, according to official data.

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