Brussel Noord – New NMBS rolling stock
Vilvoorde – Stationstraat
Vilvoorde – Stationstraat
Vilvoorde – Stationstraat
Vilvoorde – Lange Molensstraat
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Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue
Bijay Sankar Bora, Tribune News Service
Guwahati, May 16. At least 3,000 children, 500 in Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir and about 2,500 in Naxal-affected states of the country, are working for armed militant/rebel groups. It has been disclosed by the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) in its just released report titled ‘India’s Child Soldiers’.
“The recruitment of child soldiers by the armed groups, including the Naxalites, is rampant and at least 3,000 children currently remain involved in armed conflicts. This estimate of child soldiers is conservative considering that the Maoists follow the policy of forcibly recruiting at least one cadre from each Adivasi family,” stated Suhas Chakma, Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights.
This report which is the first ever comprehensive study on the subject in India, accused the Government of India of defending the records of the armed opposition groups, officially designated as terrorist groups, on the recruitment of child soldiers before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
“India in its first report on the implementation of the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict to the UN Committee in 2011 stated that there is no recruitment of child soldiers, including by the armed groups in India,” the ACHR report states.
The ACHR, besides citing 11 cases of forcible recruitment of child soldiers by the armed groups, presented a number of photographs of child soldiers surrendering with their arms before then Home Minister P Chidambaram and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in 2011 and 2012.
The ACHR report mentions: “Article 4 of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict states that armed opposition groups should not, under any circumstance, recruit or use in hostilities persons under the age of 18 years and the government shall take all feasible measures to prevent such recruitment and use, including the adoption of legal measures necessary to prohibit and criminalise such practices.
The Asian Centre for Human Rights urged the Government of India to inquire as to why the recruitment of child soldiers by the officially designated terror groups was concealed from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and take appropriate actions against the officials who are effectively ended up whitewashing the records of the armed groups on the recruitment of child soldiers.
Thursday, 16 May 2013. Police in London say they are investigating complaints against a UK-based Pakistani politician to see if he has violated UK law.
Altaf Hussain, leader of the MQM party that controls Karachi, addressed supporters from London last Sunday after Pakistan’s general elections.
In response to accusations of electoral fraud, he is alleged to have threatened his accusers with violence.
Mr Hussain says that his remarks were taken out of context.
London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed to the BBC that an investigation had been launched “following complaints concerning comments made in a broadcast” by Mr Hussain.
Since the mid-1980s, the MQM has won every poll it has contested in Karachi and it did so again in last Saturday’s general election.
But this time, it is facing strong and widespread allegations of rigging and electoral fraud.
Half a dozen smaller parties, led by former international cricketer Imran Khan’s Movement for Justice Party (PTI), have been holding rallies and sit-ins to demand a re-run in Karachi.
On Sunday, addressing party workers from London, Mr Hussain responded to the allegations by appearing to threaten protesters with violence, and suggesting that if his party’s mandate was tampered with, Karachi would have no choice but to separate from Pakistan.
During his speech he referred to protests taking place near the Three Swords roundabout in Karachi.
“Those people who are protesting – and grandstanding – near Three Swords – I don’t want to fight or quarrel, but if I order my supporters now, they will go to Three Swords and turn them into a reality.”
He added: “MQM is blamed for everything. I say, oppose us with respect and decency, and with proof, otherwise I will soon unleash my supporters.”
Karachi is wracked with violence – much of it politically motivated.
Mr Hussain has since said that his remarks, which were broadcast on live TV, were taken out of context.
Possible prosecution
On Wednesday, the British High Commissioner in Pakistan, Adam Thomson, told a news conference that the UK took allegations of inciting hatred very seriously.
He said it was up to the police in London to determine whether Mr Hussain’s remarks violated British laws, and whether or not he could face prosecution.
The BBC’s Shahzeb Jillani in Karachi says that Mr Hussain effectively controls the city of 18 million people from his MQM headquarters in north London.
He has lived in the UK since 1991, saying his life would be at risk if he returned to Pakistan.
The MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) is supported mainly by Muslim Urdu-speaking people whose families moved to Sindh province at the time of the partition of India in 1947.
Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service
Amritsar, May 15. The meeting of the Sikh clergy ended on an inconclusive note here today. Terming the controversy over Operation Bluestar Memorial as an internal matter of the Sikhs, the high priests said nobody should be allowed to publicly air views on the matter.
Addressing mediapersons, Akal Takht chief, Jathedar Gurbachan Singh said nobody had the right to issue “unnecessary statements” on the row.
He said the SGPC and the Damdami Taksal would be asked to sit across the table and resolve the issue. He said they had received suggestions from various quarters which too would be discussed before a decision was arrived at.
The chances of the matter being resolved before Operation Bluestar anniversary on June 6 appear slim. On the demand by some political parties that plaques with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s name be removed, he said: “It is our internal matter and we will decide on it.”
Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh and Golden Temple’s Head Granthi Giani Mal Singh, expressing their personal views, said they were in favour of retaining plaques with Bhindranwale’s name.
Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh refused to comment on the matter. He, however, said the young generation of Sikhs was in favour of retaining Bhindranwale’s name.
Asked about the Operation Bluestar anniversary, the Akal Takht chief said it would be observed at Akal Takht and not the memorial. There would be ‘Gurbani path’ at the memorial, which is in the form of a gurdwara, but akhand path would not be held there. He ducked queries on the memorial row apparently, hinting that the clergy did not want another controversy before June 6.
The SGPC and the Taksal have been at loggerheads for the past fortnight over Bhindranwale’s name on plaques installed at the memorial. Earlier, the Dal Khalsa had submitted a memorandum, requesting the Akal Takht Jathedar to resolve the memorial row “keeping the collective will of the community and historical traditions in mind.” Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh blamed SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar for creating the controversy with his “unnecessary statements.”
The Sikh clergy also discussed the demand by non-Sikh communities that they be allowed to perform marriages as per the Sikh rituals (Anand Karaj). The Akal Takht chief said they would put forth the matter before Sikh intellectuals before taking any decision.
New Delhi, May 15. Sixty leading scientists have voiced concern over safety of the Kudankulam nuclear power project and sought “renewed study” of safety issues by an independent panel of experts.
In letters to Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the 60 scientists have expressed doubts, “particularly with reference to possible sub-standard components” used in the plant. Copies of the letters have also been marked to the Prime Minister’s Office and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy.
“These safety concerns are compounded by the fact that Russian authorities arrested Sergei Shutov, procurement director of Zio-Podolsk, on corruption charges for having sourced cheaper sub-standard steel for manufacturing components that were used in Russian nuclear installations in Bulgaria, Iran, China and India,” they said. The scientists said the arrest of Shutov has led to several complaints of sub-standard components and follow-up investigations in Bulgaria and China. (PTI)
Asian Age Correspondent
New Delhi, 16 May 2013. CBI director Ranjit Sinha on Wednesday welcomed the move to ensure the agency’s autonomy, but cautioned this should be coupled with measures to avoid making it a “rogue organisation”. In a democracy, he added, no organisation can be “totally independent”.Indepe
CBI sources said the agency will make a presentation by the end of May before the GoM headed by finance minister P. Chidambaram (charged with drafting a law to make the CBI independent, to be submitted to the Supreme Court on July 10) on ways to ensure its “functional independence”.
The agency is likely to refer to the 1993 Supreme Court Vineet Narain ruling that set guidelines insulating the CBI director’s office.
Mr Sinha told this newspaper: “We all want an independent agency. And we want total independence during investigations.”
He later added: “It will be well if it is accredited to a body overseeing its functioning, but at the same time not interfering in criminal investigations. We can look at organisations in some Western democracies. We can adopt any such model.”
http://www.asianage.com/india/ensure-free-cbi-not-rogue-chief-676
16 February 2013
Sint-Gilles – City Hall / Stadhuis / Hotel de Ville
Vorst – Barrière MIVB Tram 81
Vorst – Wiels MIVB Tram 81
1 March 2013
Packing my belongings for move to Gingelom on 1st April
3 March 2013
Brussel Noord – New NMBS rolling stock
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Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 15. Close on the heels of Nawaz Sharif — who is certain to be the new Pakistan Premier after his emphatic election win —seeking warmer ties with India, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Wednesday said good relations with Islamabad were vital for resolving tricky issues between the two countries.
“When Nawaz Sharif’s party was leading in majority of seats, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had congratulated him and in return Sharif had invited the Prime Minister to attend his swearing-in. It’s a good initiative. Such initiatives can greatly help in resolving tricky issues,” Shinde told reporters here.
On being asked if government agencies have made an assessment of the situation in Pakistan after elections, Shinde said: “It was too early to make a review”.
In December 2012, Shinde had to face an embarrassment when his then Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik during his visit to India had equated Babri mosque demolition to terror attacks. Malik at that time had even claimed that 26/11 mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed had been arrested in Pakistan. Later, it was revealed that Saeed had never been arrested. Shinde had told Malik that it was of “paramount importance” to bring perpetrators of terror strikes to justice for smoother Indo-Pak ties.
The Home Ministry, meanwhile, has asked all states to set up fast-track courts to take up cases of youth jailed for suspicion of being involved in terror cases. The Centre has sent an advisory to states and was also trying to find out how many Muslim inmates (involved in terror cases) were in jail.
“We are trying to ascertain the facts. It will take time. We have asked the states to set up fast-track courts,” Shinde said. Minister of State for Home RPN Singh had informed Parliament recently that under the NIA Act, the Central Government had set up 39 special courts to take up terror-related cases. About three months ago, Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan had expressed concern over “wrong arrests” of Muslim youths in different parts of the country in terror cases. He had taken up the matter with Shinde and had proposed setting up of special courts to ensure speedy trial in such cases.
No decision on Bhullar
On demand for commuting the death sentence of terrorist Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, the Home Minister said he had received a number of representations but no decision has been taken yet. “We are still looking into these demands,” he said.
Zahir Shah Sherazi
Peshawar, 16 May 2013. Nowshera police, in an operation on Thursday, have rescued an individual, Abdul Wahab, who claimed that the son of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was being held captive along with him, DawnNews reported.
DPO Nowshera Waqar Ahmed was quoted as saying that based on this information, Nowshera police had started a massive operation in Misri Banda area of Akora Khatak to rescue Ali Haider Gilani.
Ali Gilani’s private secretary and guard were killed in the incident.
According to Dawn.com’s Zahir Shah, DSP Jahanzeb also confirmed that the operation is still ongoing and that two suspects were arrested during the first raid in which Wahab was rescued.
Six alleged kidnappers including to women have been arrested by the police, according to the police.
The alleged kidnappers belong to Afghanistan.
Police has launched a frantic search in the area to recover Ali Gilani who is believe to be kept in the same area.
http://beta.dawn.com/news/1011647/police-raids-nowshera-house-misses-ali-gilani
Operation Bluestar Memorial
Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service
Amritsar, May 14. The Sikh clergy will meet here tomorrow to deliberate on the Operation Bluestar Memorial controversy that has brought the SGPC and the Damdami Taksal at loggerheads.
The Taksal had dedicated the memorial to Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale before handing over its management to the SGPC on April 27, the day the memorial was thrown open to devotees. The Taksal move was opposed by the SGPC.
Sources said the row was on the agenda of the Sikh priests. There are reports that the kin of those killed in Operation Bluestar have contended that the memorial be dedicated to all those killed in the Army operation and not a particular person.
On the other hand, the Taksal claims that they’ve named the memorial as per a resolution passed by the SGPC executive committee. Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa has already met Akal Takht chief Jathedar Gurbachan Singh and urged him to ensure that there is no “tampering” with the memorial and that the wall clock with Bhindranwale’s photograph be re-installed.
The Taksal’s move to dedicate the memorial to Bhindranwale has been opposed by the SAD’s alliance partner, BJP, as well as the Congress.
The SGPC had replaced the clock with Bhindranwale’s photograph, besides turning around the ‘golak’ inside the memorial with Bhindranwale’s name inscribed on it. There are still five sites where his name is engraved- two marble plaques atop the entrance of the memorial, two aluminum plaques on either side of the staircase leading to the memorial and a board mentioning the history of the Army operation on the left of the memorial entrance.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130515/punjab.htm#7
