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Delusion of secular India!

Kuldip Nayar

The Dalits, still the untouchables, remain at the lowest ladder of Hindu society. Its caste system, even after centuries, remains oppressive. Laws banning discrimination have not helped because the prejudice is too deep. Even conversion has not helped the Dalits. They are more or less treated in Islam, Christianity or Sikhism in the same way as in the Hindus society. The Dalits carry the tag of discrimination and helplessness wherever they go, although the three religions claim equality for the followers. Therefore, the Dalits have not escaped the rigours of caste system even outside Hinduism. The Sachar committee has pointed out the inhuman treatment meted out to them even when they have embraced Islam.

Gandhiji christened the Dalit as Harijan, son of god. But it reflected a patronizing attitude which the Dalit scornfully rejected. Why the dalits, who constitute some 17 percent of India’s population, have continued to stay in the Hindu society despite all the insults heaped on them is beyond me. They have never revolted nor have they taken any step to harm the Hindu society which still does not give them even a modicum of individuality.

A few years ago some Dalits, led by Kanshi Ram, constituted a political party of their own, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). It has won them political recognition but not social status. Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, despite corruption and her authoritarian trait, has given Dalits the feeling that they can go to the police station and register complaints. They are offered even chairs as is the case with members of other communities. Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s advice to Dalits to join major parties to enjoy power does not mean much. They followed the Congress faithfully for 45 years. But their lot has remained the same as it was. Even now the Dalits carry night soil on their head. The government proposes to prohibit the practice which was contemplated 50 years ago. The home ministry issued instructions even at that time. Apparently, very little has happened sincebecause the government is enacting a law to stop the practice. The Dalits would do well if they were to refuse to carry night soil on their head. Yet they are economically so poor that they cannot afford to risk the livelihood. At the same time, crimes against the Dalits have not lessened. There is a proposal to give arms to them in what are called “atrocity prone areas.” Obviously, the government has failed to protect the Dalits and their property. Unfortunately, the police force is also on the side of the landlords and other vested interests who treat the Dalits as their subject like the maharaja used to do.

Official figures reveal that there is a huge backlog of cases relating to the atrocities committed against the Dalits. Had the centre been serious about preventing atrocities against them it would have taken measures like special courts, fast track prosecution and steps to dispose of cases quickly. Strangely, the Patna High Court has acquitted all the 23 persons accused of perpetrating the massacre of 21 Dalits at Bathani Tola in Bhojpur.
It should have been clear by now that no law or no government action can do away with the evil of untouchability. You cannot succeed if the mindset does not change. What the children have grown up with in the name of tradition or religion is prejudiced and cannot be effaced until the society is forced to give up bias which has got entrenched. The country needs a social revolution. Alas, I do not find any meaningful movement to bring it about. Take, for example, the belief that girls are a burden. How many of them are killed either in womb or after birth is not possible to count. That it happens mostly in north India, particularly Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP is no solace. When an Australian editor posed a question the other day to the Indian press why it never had a Dalit, the untouchable, at a top position in journalism, I felt embarrassed. I considered it an omission which should have been rectified long ago and felt confident that it would happen before long.

But after noticing that no attention was paid a few days ago to the 121st anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, a Gandhi for the Dalits, I have come to believe that the discrimination against the Dalits is a prejudice which would take many decades to wear off. They are at the lowest rung of the Hindu society which develops a bias against them at an early age and has no shame in perpetuating it. The only thing to remind Dr Ambedkar was a full-page advertisement sponsored by the central government in leading newspapers. There was also a small function around his portrait in the central hall of parliament which is out of bounds for an ordinary citizen. I did not see television channels showing any programme on Dr Ambedkar, nor did I find any edit or article in any newspaper to recall his services. Dr Ambedkar is the framer of India’s constitution and we owe the parliamentary system to him. This is enshrined in the constitution. I recall how boldly he stood in parliament to have a provision against untouchability, the bane of Hindu society, and how he expressed hope that the prejudice would disappear. Yet the upper caste has proved him wrong.

Reservations given to the Scheduled Castes, namely the Dalits, are laid down in the constitution. But this was despite his opposition. He was against reservations which he compared with crutches but the then Prime Minister,  Jawaharlal Nehru, and other Congress leaders prevailed upon him to accept the provision for 10 years. Little did Dr Ambedkar realise at that time that political parties on the one hand and the vested interests among Dalits, particularly the creamy layer, on the other would go on prolonging reservations for electoral advantage. So demanding is this consideration that reservations are given extensions decade after decade without a debate in parliament.

The Hindu society should be grateful to Dr Ambedkar that he and his followers embraced Buddhism. He had threatened to convert to Islam along with his Dalit followers to escape discrimination. Mahatma Gandhi beseeched him and even threatened to go on fast unto death. Dr Ambedkar bowed before the wishes of Gandhi but refused to return to the fold of Hinduism.

The writer is a veteran Indian journalist, syndicated columnist, human right activist and author.

TAT'S Songkran Splendors Festival A Great Succees

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced that its 2012 Songkran Splendours festival was a great success. The TAT estimates that over 140,000 international visitors and 1.26 million Thais enjoyed the major events that made up the Songkran Splendours festival in 13 provinces including Ayutthaya, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri; Songkhla, the province in which Hat Yai is located, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nong Khai, Phuket, Samut Prakarn, Sukhothai, and Suphanburi. Estimated tourism revenue generated in these provinces during the Songkran Splendours festival was around 4,572 million Baht.

During the first half of April 2012, when inbound tourism traffic builds up for the Songkran celebration, Suvarnabhumi Airport welcomed more than 611,400 international arrivals, up 12.23% from the same period in 2011. Other international airports across Thailand also saw an increase in international arrivals. Phuket Airport welcomed more than 99,500 international arrivals during 1 to 16 April, up 16.82% compared to the same period last year.

Thailand’s world-renowned Songkran festival is an annual highlight for visitors, with joyful celebrations and heartwarming traditions. The famous Thai sense of this festival which means fun, was demonstrated by the warm welcome extended to the many foreign visitors who joined in the water-splashing festivities throughout the country. There were also plenty of them enjoying the many cultural and entertainment activities at every place where the Songkran Splendours festival took place. This reflects the continued confidence in Thailand as a safe, friendly, and enjoyable tourist destination, said Mr Suraphon Svetrasreni, Governor of the TAT.

This year Songkran celebration was lively as usual in Hat Yai, Songkhla province. In addition to the mass water splashing, the largest city in Thailand south hosted popular Songkran Splendour activities. The Midnight Songkran Festival also on Niphat Uthit Road and Odian Intersection in Hat Yai were especially popular with foreign visitors this year. The TAT anticipates that the momentum in tourist arrival numbers will continue for the remainder of April, which is Songkran, or Thai New Year, month. During the period of 12 to 29 April, 2012, the TAT expects as many as 6.34 million people, including Thais, expatriates, to contribute a total of 53,200 million Baht in revenue to Thailand’s tourism sector as they travel across Thailand during this period.

Thai assistance for painful suffering of blindness

Kathmandu : H.E. Mrs. Kanthong Unakul, the Ambassador of Thailand to Nepal represents the Royal Thai Government presented financial aid of NPR 252, 270.43 to Dr. Siddhartha Ranjit, the Chairman of Youth Eye Service on 2 May 2012.

The given aid will be used for cataract operation to improve the quality of life for  vulnerable and deprived people all over Nepal from the painful suffering of blindness.

Chen Zhili: China committed to supporting Nepal's development

KATHMANDU (Xinhua) --  "China is committed to providing a wide range of developing assistance in terms of economic development, man-power training, and social development to Nepal," said Chen Zhili, vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress of China. "The Chinese government is committed to the development of comprehensive partnership with Nepal", Chen, also president of the All-China Women's Federation, made the remarks while meeting with Nepali President Ram Baran Yadav in Kathmandu on Thursday. She also expressed happiness to be in Nepal at a time when the country is about to complete the historical peace process and constitution drafting and hoped for the timely conclusion of both tasks.

While holding talks with her, President Yadav expressed Nepal's commitment to upholding the "one-China policy".He expressed happiness over many Chinese private companies' investment in Nepal which will further enhance the development of the nation. "Friendship of Nepal and China dates back to years and years and in the days to come the relation with the big neighbor will be further enhanced with mutual sharing and cooperation," Yadav said.

"Nepal has been in transition of many years as the systems are changing and one of the major challenges as of now is the completion of the peace process and constitution drafting," he added. Chen Zhili arrived here on a five-day visit to Nepal at the invitation of Vice-Chair of the Constituent Assembly, Purna Kumari Subedi.

Wen Jiabao Holds Talks with Polish Prime Minister Tusk

On April 25, 2012, visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw. Both sides reached important consensus on deepening the strategic partnership between their countries.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and Poland have always understood and supported each other on major issues concerning each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and have respected each other's choice of development path, although the two countries and the world at large have changed significantly, Wen said. The friendly feelings between both peoples remain unchanged. Noting that the international political, economic and security situations are undergoing profound changes, he said China highly values Poland's development potential and its influence on European and international affairs. China is ready to strengthen high-level contacts and enhance cooperation in various fields with Poland to push forward the China-Poland strategic partnership, he added.

China, he said, agrees to establish a regular meeting mechanism between the two countries' prime ministers so as to enhance political mutual trust and strategic communications. Meanwhile, China endorses the creation of an inter-governmental commission to coordinate bilateral collaboration in various areas and the formulation of medium- and long-term plans for economic and trade cooperation, he added. Both sides should identify priority areas of cooperation and major projects. The two sides should also take vigorous steps to promote balanced trade growth and double their trade within five years, he said.

Wen also suggested that the two countries set up a steering committee for industrial cooperation and boost collaboration in investment, infrastructure, new energy and high technology. The Chinese premier urged the two sides to promote exchanges on culture, education, tourism and youth and at sub-national levels so as to deepen mutual understanding and friendship.

China highly appreciates the preparations Poland has made for the upcoming leaders' meeting and trade forum between China and central and eastern European countries. He reaffirmed that China is willing to keep close cooperation with Poland and other countries concerned to open a new chapter of friendly cooperation between China and central and eastern Europe.

Tusk, for his part, extended welcome for Wen's visit, which, he said, is of great significance and has far-reaching influence. He said that Poland and China respect each other's choice of development path and have strong desires for strengthening bilateral cooperation. While pointing out that the Poland-China relationship is at its highest level in history, the Polish prime minister said he fully agrees with the measures proposed by Wen on strengthening bilateral relations. Poland, he said, is willing to further promote political dialogue with China and give play to the leading role of the regular meeting mechanism between the two countries' prime ministers in promoting bilateral ties. He urged both sides to encourage their businesses to expand mutual investment, facilitate two-way trade and explore cooperation in such new areas as energy and finance. Active measures should also be taken to expand people-to-people and sub-national exchanges. Poland is also willing to fully tap its influence and advantages to make positive contributions to strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation between China and central and eastern Europe as well as the broader Europe-China relations, said Tusk.

After their talks, the two attended the signing ceremony for some cooperation documents between the two countries and held a joint press conference. Prior to the talks, Tusk held a grand welcome ceremony for Wen. On the same day, Premier Wen laid a wreath at the tomb of unknown soldier of Poland.

Thai assistance for painful suffering of blindness

Kathmandu : H.E. Mrs. Kanthong Unakul, the Ambassador of Thailand to Nepal represents the Royal Thai Government presented financial aid of NPR 252, 270.43 to Dr. Siddhartha Ranjit, the Chairman of Youth Eye Service on 2 May 2012.

The given aid will be used for cataract operation to improve the quality of life for  vulnerable and deprived people all over Nepal from the painful suffering of blindness.

Unctad Offers to Hekoafrucab Union Boost Trade

Doha, Qatar – African Trade Ministers meeting here the day before the opening of the UNCTAD XIII quadrennial conference were offered help by the organization in implementing a new plan intended to boost trade between the continent’s nations.

Members of the African Union adopted an Action Plan to Accelerate the Formation of a Continental Africa Free Trade Area at a meeting in January.  UNCTAD has offered its expertise to help with three aspects of the plan, which is intended to prepare the way for ultimate establishment of a free trade area.  The organization will provide assistance relating to trade policy, trade facilitation, and productive capacity.  (“Productive capacity” is an economy’s ability to produce a broader range of goods, and goods of greater sophistication.)  The plan overall has seven areas of action.

Speaking at the opening of the trade ministers’ meeting, UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi said Africa has 16 per cent of the world’s population but only 2 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product. “Are we really achieving the goals Africa has set for itself?” he asked.  “We are not proceeding as fast as we need to be, and much work lies ahead.”

Intra-regional trade, as it is called, is considered vital for spurring and sustaining economic growth.  European countries, for example, carry out over 70 per cent of their trade with other European nations.

In Africa, by contrast, intra-regional trade accounts for only 11 per cent of overall African trade.  Increasing trade within the continent would provide such benefits as more rapid shipping, potentially lower transport costs, and the fertilizing effect of the spread of technology, innovation, and business methods well-suited to local conditions.  Experience also has shown that intra-regional trade is less vulnerable to international economic shocks – a matter of some importance after Africa was battered by the recent global recession.  It is more effective at creating jobs; and it encourages the expansion of productive capacity, since neighbouring countries share technology and methods, and – with markets close by offering a competitive advantage -- improve their respective abilities to upgrade the products they make.

Cartoon from Calcutta..!

– Robert Clements

Somewhere in West Bengal a woman wearing a cotton sari and rubber slippers stares at newspapers and watches every TV programme  “There,” she shouts. “Where madam?” “That cartoon on page four!” “That is not a cartoon madam that is an Archie comic strip!” “That girl looks like me!” “That is not a girl madam, that is Archie’s friend Jughead’s dog!” “Arrest the cartoonist, send our police to his home, send our workers to thrash him!” “Madam that is a comic strip and the artist is in America ” “ Doesn’t Bengal have an extradition treaty with America?”

 “No madam, states don’t have, maybe the Centre has!” “Draw up a treaty, I want that man who painted that dog which looks like me to be brought for trial to Bengal!” “Okay madam, and madam!”

 “Do not interrupt I am looking at page five!” “Page five does not have cartoons madam!” “Here look, see what a cartoon they have made of me!” “That is photo of you madam!” “But I look like a cartoon!” “No madam, yes madam, no madam, and madam?” ”What is it?” “There are many documents that require your signature, many decisions that need your approval, you have not gone to office for a week now!”

 “Can’t you see I am busy? If I am not alert some cartoonist will get away, do you want that to happen?” “No madam!” “Look at that, look at that!” “Where madam?” “Here on page four, do I look so awful?” “That is not you madam, that is a photo of Manmohan Singh!”

 “Now they are cartooning me to look like him?” “No madam that is him!” “Ban this paper!” “You have already banned it madam!” “Ban it in my house!” “Then how will you find out who is cartooning you madam?” “I know who is cartooning me!”

 “Who madam?” “The rest of India, but I will win, I will hang all the cartoonists, I will crush the journalists.  I will…” “Madam your moustache fell off!” “Quick close the windows,  I don’t want some cartoonist seeing me without my Hitler moochy..!”

—Email: bobsbanter@gmail.com

Wreaths and Floral Baskets Laid in Celebration of KPA’s 80th Birthday

Pyongyang On April 24 wreaths were laid at the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mt. Taesong and the Patriotic Martyrs Cemetery and floral baskets at the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Memorial Tower to mark the 80th founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Army.

Seen at the cemeteries were wreaths sent by Kim Jong Un, Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army.

Present at the rites of laying wreaths and floral baskets were senior officials of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the state and the army, the secretary general of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, vice premiers of the Cabinet, the chairman of the Central Committee of the Korean Social Democratic Party, leading officials of Party, armed forces and power organs, public organizations, ministries and national agencies, service personnel of the KPA and the Korean People’s Internal Security Forces and working people in Pyongyang.

The  participants  placed  bouquets  and  flowers  before  the statue of anti-Japanese war heroine Kim Jong Suk at the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mt. Taesong and observed a moment’s silence to the memory of the woman commander of Mt. Paektu.

Wreaths in the names of the WPK Central Committee, the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly and the DPRK Cabinet were laid at the wreath-laying stands of the martyrs cemeteries and a basket of flowers in the joint name of the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission of the WPK in front of the main statue “Victory” of the memorial tower. Wreaths and floral baskets also came from the Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces, the Ministry of People’s Security, public organizations, ministries, national agencies, KPA units, institutions of science, education, literature and the arts, public health and the media and Party and power bodies and farms in Pyongyang.

The participants observed a moment’s silence to the memory of the martyrs who devoted their all to the country’s liberation, the people’s freedom and well-being and national reunification, true to the ideas and leadership of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il.

They paid high respects to the KPA service personnel who performed heroic feats in the great Fatherland Liberation War. The guards of hounour of the KPA marched in file.

The participants looked round the martyrs cemeteries and the memorial tower.

That day the Kimilsungia-Kimjongilia exhibition opened with splendour and a grand performance “Glory to the heroic officers and men of the Korean People’s Army!” was given at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium in celebration of the 80th founding anniversary of the KPA.

Photo Session with Participants in Military Parade

Pyongyang Kim Jong Un, First Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army, had a photo session with the participants in the military parade for celebrating the centenary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung.

Present there were senior officials of the Party, the state and the army, including Kim Yong Nam, Choe Yong Rim, Choe Ryong Hae and Ri Yong Ho.

He expressed his expectation and belief that the participants in the military parade would fulfil their mission as standard bearers and shock brigades in invariably preserving the revolutionary nature of the KPA just like the character of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il and fully demonstrating the fighting method of the powerful revolutionary army of Mt. Paektu holding aloft the red flag of the WPK as its first colours.

Kim Jong Un Pays Tribute to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il

Pyongyang (KCNA) -- The dear respected Kim Jong Un together with the participants in the Fourth Conference of the Workers' Party of Korea visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun Wednesday and paid high tribute to President Kim Il Sung and general secretary Kim Jong Il.

Kim Jong Un together with them entered the hall where portraits of smiling Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are displayed.

A floral basket in the name of the participants of the Conference was placed before the portraits.

Written on the ribbon of the floral basket were letters "The great Comrade Kim Il Sung and Comrade Kim Jong Il will always be with us".

Kim Jong Un together with the participants in the Conference paid respectful homage to the portraits of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in the humblest reverence.

Hall of Wax Sculpture of Kim Jong Suk Inaugurated

Pyongyang A hall of the wax sculpture of anti-Japanese war heroine Kim Jong Suk has been newly opened in the International Friendship Exhibition House. In the hall a wax sculpture of Kim Jong Suk, woman commander of guerrillas, stands and gifts presented to her by figures of several countries are on display. Its inaugural ceremony took place on April 24. The wax sculpture was designed by the Great Man Wax Museum of China.

Raising for Climate-Friendly Investments

Launched its first green bond in the U.S. market, raising $500 million for climate-friendly investments in emerging markets. This is the first IFC green bond targeting U.S. investors. “IFC is a leader in promoting climate-friendly investment in developing countries,” said IFC Executive Vice President and CEO Lars Thunell. “This bond will strengthen our ability to invest in innovative energy-efficiency and renewable-energy projects that can help these countries confront climate change.”

Funds raised from IFC green bonds are set aside in a separate account for investing exclusively in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and other climate-friendly projects in developing countries. Through IFC green bonds, investors can directly support climate change-related projects in the developing world.

“The U.S.-dollar market is an integral part of our strategy to support the development of the private sector,” said Jingdong Hua, IFC Vice President and Treasurer. “Green bond issues in the U.S. market have been rare, compared to Europe and Asia. IFC green bonds are an alternative investment opportunity for this market, offering both development impact and a safe investment vehicle of a top triple-A issuer.” The issue was well-received and supports IFC’s strategy of broadening its appeal to the U.S. domestic investor base. Some investors include BlackRock, TIAA-CREF, California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) and United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund.

DPRK FM Spokesman Slams US Undisguised Double Standards

Pyongyang (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK issued the following statement: The hypocrisy and shamelessness of the double standards applied by the U.S. recently under the pretext of ensuring world peace and security have been brought to light to become the target of the international community's criticism. The U.S. malignantly slandered the DPRK's satellite launch for peaceful purposes which was conducted in a transparent manner from A to Z as "a long-range missile launch" and spearheaded a campaign for "protesting" against it for no reason. The U.S., however, backed other country's open launch of a long-range missile, sparking off international furor.

When the U.S. came under fire by world people for this behavior, it let loose such sophism as that country posed no problem as it properly abided by international law but the DPRK posed a problem as it failed to do so. As far as the observation of international law is concerned, it is the U.S. that took the lead in meeting its own interests in disregard of the UNSC resolution, its own making, and much-touted NPT when something runs counter to its interests.  What matters here, in essence, is the U.S. application of its double standards whereby it asserts any country which does not obey it should be barred from developing anything for peaceful purposes, to say nothing of bolstering defence capability while any country friendly to it is allowed to have access either to nuclear weapons or long-range missiles.

No wonder, even Western media deplored American logic that what matters is not what one does but who does anything and termed its attitude of distinguishing legality from illegality according to the difference between systems as a clear expression of double standards.  It is the trite method of the U.S. that it resorts to high-handed and arbitrary practices in defiance of international law and the UN when it considers any situation unfavorable to it and when it wants to pull up others, it cooks up unreasonable resolutions in a coercive manner by abusing the authority of the UNSC.  A typical example of this is UNSC Resolutions 1718 and 1874 fabricated by the U.S. These are the height of the application of the double standards as they were illegally cooked up in wanton violation of the universally accepted international law stipulating that "space shall be freely developed and used by all states without any distinction" and the principle of equal sovereignty provided for in the UN Charter.  The U.S. application of the double standards is, in the final analysis, a product of its hostile policy towards the DPRK. It is the inveterate habit of the U.S. to view everything done by the DPRK from a conception of confrontation. It has systematically abused the UN for internationalizing its hostile policy which calls for unconditionally holding in check both the DPRK's use of nuclear energy and space development for peaceful purposes under the pretext that they may lead to bolstering up its military capability, a threat to the U.S.

The UNSC is abused for implementing the hostile policy towards the DPRK under the influence of the U.S. high-handed and arbitrary practices and the UN Secretary General reelected, backed by the American master, plays the role of a shock brigade in attacking the DPRK, revealing the true colors as a servant of the U.S. This is the present regretful reality.

All facts go to prove that only when a country is strong enough, it can defend justice and dynamically promote global independence and that the road of independence, the road of Songun chosen by the DPRK is entirely just.

Letter to Editor

Dear Mr. Editor,

Dambulla and its picturesque, historical environs are very sacred to Buddhists. Muslims ought to know this, and accordingly close down their mosque.

Instead, they have become belligerent and threaten retaliation. But first, a simple question must be posed to Sri Lankan Muslims and to Muslims in the wider world for some perspective, fairness and balance. Would Saudi Arabia and other Gulf sheikdoms, Iran included, allow Buddhism, the worship of Buddhism, let alone the construction of Buddhist temples, on their soil, in their lands?

The answer is a loud and categorical “NO”! Only Islam is allowed in the whole of the Gulf Region. All other religions or worship are banned. Yet Muslims the world over are freely allowed to worship anywhere, any place, in airports, in Malls, in Oxford Street, or in Galle Face Green. Many of our poor Buddhist maids in the Muslim Middle East have been tortured, raped, their Buddha statues smashed, and even murdered by their Muslim employers in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. There have been no beheadings for Muslim murderers of Lankan maids.

So why should we put up with Muslim double standards? Muslims sound hypocritical when they clamor for religious rights, freedom of religion, tolerance,… when they absolutely deny the very same to others in the majority of Muslim countries, with perhaps the exception of Turkey.

Enough is enough. Their double standards must be exposed. Muslims must know their place in Sri Lanka. They have always acted in their own selfish interests first, and not that of the country. Many Sri Lankans of other ethnic and religious groups also deem them to be unprincipled and opportunistic, parasitical on the Sinhala nation by their political expediency, devious trading relationships, and exploitation of poor Sinhala, especially in poor rural Sri Lanka.

Sincerely
Uditha Abeywickrema
Women for Justice Peace, Sri Lanka

DPRK Warns Lee Myung Bak Group of Its Extreme Confrontation Hysteria

Pyongyang (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry Sunday issued the follow statement:

Prevailing on the Korean Peninsula is such emergency situation that the Lee Myung Bak group of traitors' confrontation hysteria has gone beyond a tolerance limit and should not be allowed to go on any longer. The despicable group which has committed the worst evils went the lengths of recklessly hurting the dignity of the supreme leadership of the DPRK again.

It is the unanimous human nature and noble sentiment in the world to regard the cherished mental mainstay as dignity dearer than one's own life and not to tolerate any act of hurting it.

It is, at the same time, the universally accepted morality to respect the dignity of the supreme leadership of each country and nation irrespective of idea, system, religion and political view.

Traitor Lee Myung Bak, however, let loose a string of such malignant invectives that can be uttered only by a shark that the north might spend a ridiculous amount of money for the celebrations of the centenary of the birth of President Kim Il Sung and that amount of fund would be enough to buy a large quantity of food. This was, indeed, a hideous provocative act of seriously hurting the noble feelings of the Korean people.

The centenary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the benefactor of the national resurrection, the great sage of mankind and the eternal President of the DPRK, is the greatest holiday of the nation in history and the great jubilee in human history. Lee is no more than human scum of the times as he so malignantly desecrated this significant holiday, far from congratulating the compatriots in the north on it. It is certain that he went through an ill-famed course before being reduced to human scum.

Looking back on history, it was none other than Lee who drove the inter-Korean relations into the lowest ebb though they had developed thanks to the growing desire for reunification after the publication of the June 15 joint declaration and he was the arch criminal who escalated only the tensions on the peninsula and in the region.

The group of traitors was busy with the groundless false propaganda that "the north was stockpiling food for feasts on the Day of the Sun," not content with making desperate efforts to deter the international moves for food aid to the DPRK last year. At that time we had already branded him as an underwit.

The service personnel and people of the DPRK are shaking with irrepressible resentment at the group which defamed the father of the nation whom they are holding in high esteem as the sun. They are now eagerly waiting for the issue of an order so that they may mercilessly punish the traitor. Loud shouts of slogan "Let us beat to death the group of rat-like Lee Myung Bak" are also heard even from the women of the country known as a country of courteous people in the East from olden times.

As the Lee group is making last-ditch efforts to seek a way out in escalated confrontation with fellow countrymen, the service personnel and people unanimously hold that this group should be eradicated as early as possible for being a cancer-like entity disturbing the peace and stability in the peninsula and the region. The situation on the peninsula is so tense that it may go beyond control due to the desperate frenzy of the traitor on the deathbed.

In view of the prevailing situation, the DPRK Foreign Ministry solemnly declares that in case something happens on the peninsula now, the responsibility will entirely rest with traitor Lee.

If any country intends to interfere in the internal affairs of the Korean nation under the pretext of being an ally or partner, patronizing the above-said human scum which wantonly violates human ethics and morality, it will not be able to escape the strikes of the extremely infuriated service personnel and people of the DPRK.