K E R A L A M O N I T O RAugust 16, 2003

PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES MISSION TO MOON

Corporate governance key to boosting investment climate in the Arab World

Government to showcase Indian Fashion Industry: Shahnawaz Hussain

The Ministry of Textiles will organize a fashion week later this year to showcase the Indian fashion industry. The Textiles Minister Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain announced this after inaugurating the "Weaving the World of India's high Fashion" exhibition here today. The Minister said, the fashion week to be known as the NIFT India Fashion week will include the works of all big names in Indian fashion designing. It will also give an opportunity to the new and upcoming designers. Describing fashion as big business, the minister said, the show would also include Indian handlooms and handicrafts, which has been the mainstay of Indian fashion through the ages.

Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said, the government would promote Indian brands in the global market as Indian garments command a premium in the world market. The multinational companies get it manufactured in India and market around the world, he said. For building Indian brands, he said, the government will support Indian fashion designers by holding shows abroad.

"Weaving the World of India's high Fashion" features the works of 14 well known designers including Rohit Bal, Raghuvendra Rathore, Leena Singh, Vidhi Singhania, Kavita Bhartiya and Sonali Mansingka.

19 Eco-tourism projects Okayed by Central Government

Hyderabad: The centre has given okay for 19 Eco- Tourism projects of the Andhra Pradesh Government, which include the much talked about projects like Night Safari, Bird Park and Botanical Gardens on city outskirts. There has been a lot of uncertainty regarding the three projects involving private investment of Rs 62 crore for quite some time as the Union Ministry of Environment withheld permission on the ground that it would affect the reserve forest area in Kothaguda near Madhapur.

The clouds of uncertainty has been cleared with the centre agreeing on the condition that there is not much meddling with forest like raising permanent structures or laying of roads. More importantly, the State government should ensure raising forest in a barren area equal to the space taken up by the eco-tourism projects. The State wanted Night Safari to be set up on the lines of the one existing on Sentosa Islands in Singapore where an electric train passes through a forest area inhabited by animals.

The viewer will have a thrilling experience of being amongst animals with a running commentary. The government handed over an area of 286 hectares in Mahaboobnagar on August 7 to the APFDC where afforestation would be taken up in an of area 110 hectares (equal to the three eco-tourism projects). The government has already made the developers agree to the condition that they would pay the forest development corporation Rs 50,000 per hectare (total Rs 55 lakh) for raising forest in the area. As there would be no transfer of forestland to the private enterprises developing the entertainment facilities, the Centre too has showed interest in allowing the projects.

Bandh in Tripura affects normal life

Tripura: As a protest against the massacre of 30 people on the Independence Day, a 12-hour state-wide bandh was called for by both the ruling party CPI (M) and the opposition congress in Tripura. Congress activists yesterday burnt the effigy of the Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, protesting the killings.

While, Tripura CM has urged the people to raise their voice against the enemies of independence, who killed several innocent people hours before the Independence Day celebrations. He accused the Centre of not helping the state in curbing militancy. The Tripura government demanded deployment of army and central forces in the state. The Opposition Congress has demanded the resignation of Left Front government and sought central intervention. Security has been tightened and patrolling intensified around sensitive areas of North-eastern Tripura. Police suspects All Tripura Tiger Force or the Nationalist Liberation Front behind the massacre. Kerala Monitor.com

Idi Amin Dada Oumee is dead

Jiddah: Idi Amin Dada Oumee, whose eight years as President of Uganda was a period of terror, died today, a hospital official said. Amin was 80, Ugandan officials said, though other sources had him born in 1925, according to media reports.

He has been the Ugandan Field Marshal and politician, who proclaimed himself- "Lord of All Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular". By the time of Ugandan independence, Amin had risen to a major. In 1966, Amin threw his support to Prime Minister Milton Obote when the people of Buganda tried to oust the PM. Amin led the army on an attack of the king's palace in Buganda, forcing the "kabaka" or king to flee into exile in Britain. The attack was bloody with several hundred killed. But, because of it, Obote owed Amin a favor. Despite an impending charge of embezzlement that implicated Amin in the gold and ivory trade with Congo nationalists, Obote promoted him to army chief of staff.

For five time-consuming years Amin longed for absolute power. Finally, in 1971, during a military coup, Idi Amin overthrew his protector Obote. He was now the "top man". He insisted that the European residents kneel in front of him and take an oath of allegiance. He began claiming his Moslem heritage. This was particularly apparent after he visited Colonel Quathafi inLibya, and subsequently threw out the Israelis. He started visiting Mosques and encouraging Moslem organizations. He carries on a constant war against the Christian communities in Uganda. His battle against the Christians is hardly the result of a Moslem crusade. It is merely a lashing out at any group or institution that might pose some threat to his regime. However, the main focus of his brutality has been the black people of Uganda. He seemed largely satisfied in humiliating the Europeans residing in Uganda and expelling the Asian and Jewish population. Of course, Idi Amin was responsible for the killing of two Americans, Robert L. Siedle and Nicholas Stroh in July 1971. But that's nothing compared to the torture and murder of over one hundred thousands Ugandans. Amin never hid his admiration for Adolf Hitler his methods however were very similar to Stalin's. He has not only eliminated his adversaries, but also his potential opponents.

Idi Amin's reign has been by fear and diversion. The killings have not only been numerous, but also brutal and torturous. It is the classical example of ongoing genocide. There are those who suggest that he is an African hero. Yet, he has shown no respect for African traditions, nor has he made any efforts to help the poor and afflicted of his country. The enormity of Amin's crimes against human rights and his utter disregard for any form of democracy, even a rudimentary one, is such that he has a well-deserved place in the panoply of ruthless dictators…with a cannibal sui generis touch, of course. It is estimated that more than 200,000 Ugandans were tortured and murdered during his regime.

Amin was forced out from Uganda in 1979 and finally settled in Saudi Arabia. He had been a one-time heavyweight-boxing champion too. He has been in a critical condition and coma in a Saudi hospital and had been suffering from from high blood pressure and his health condition was deteriorating. Kerala Monitor.com

73 Palestinian prisoners set free

Israel set free 73 Palestinian prisoners yesterday as a gesture to a US-backed "road map" peace plan under threat with a ceasefire fraying and Israel continuing to hunt militants. Palestinian militant groups dismissed the release as a `gesture of bad will', as the Israelis arrested more suspected militants almost simultaneously. A Prison Service spokeswoman said the 73 had been imprisoned for minor crimes like theft or illegal entry into Israel. Around 330 were freed on August 6, including militants but none held for roles in violence.

Many of 6,000 Palestinians held in Israel were rounded up for alleged militant activity and are seen by the Palestinian public as heroes of their cause. Palestinian officials want all prisoners freed to boost popular support for the road map. In the West Bank city of Qalqilya, witnesses said Israeli gunfire critically wounded a Palestinian bystander during one of the raids. Israeli troops killed a Palestinian militant commander in a gun battle on Thursday, drawing vows of revenge from militant groups. Israel says it has the right to conduct such operations until Palestinian authorities start disarming and breaking up militant groups, a key requirement of the road map.

In Nablus, Israeli forces demolished a three-storey apartment building that was home to 15 relatives of a Palestinian militant who attacked a Jewish settlement in May and was killed in a gunbattle with Israeli troops. The army has a policy of demolishing the family residences of militants who attack Israelis. Palestinians condemn the practise as collective punishment. After the road map was launched on June 4, Israeli forces withdrew from the West Bank city of Bethlehem and parts of Gaza, restoring security control to the Palestinian authorities, who obtained self-rule under interim deals a decade ago. Palestinian Security Minister Mohammed Dahlan met Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Thursday to propose further handovers, but they did not reach agreement. An Israeli security source said Mofaz pressed for a crackdown on militants. Kerala Monitor.com

Severe criticism against the filing of ESMA cases against top politicians in Tamilnadu

In the past days, a few of the top leaders of TN Opposition were charged with instigation of last month's employees' strike. ESMA cases were filed against them and this has led to the rising of severe opposition. DMK President M Karunanidhi, one of those charged, said the cases had been foisted to divert attention from the ruling AIADMK's inability to run the administration.

Several other leaders have also condemned the action. Apart from DMK President Karunanidhi, others against whom cases have been filed are TNCC Working President E.V.K.S. Elangovan, CPI state Secretary R Nallakkannu and CPM state Secretary N Varadarajan. Karunanidhi said the AIADMK government is neck deep in crisis. It has foisted the cases to divert the people's attention from its inability to run the administration properly.-Kerala Monitor.com