K E R A L A M O N I T O R Fujiarah Media Landscape Unveiled November 29, 2005 Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah, Fujairah Media, a major media initiative whose offerings include ownership and operation of Television Channels, Radio Stations and Newspapers in addition to Media Services, which will include "Creative City", an innovations cluster that will attract local, regional & international professionals and companies to set up operations & facilitate creative offerings, was launched today (Tuesday November 29, 2005). Fujairah Media (www.fujairahmedia.com), which is a joint venture between Fujairah Investments, the investment arm of the Government of Fujairah, and Arab International Media Services, consists of four core divisions; Television, Radio, Publishing and Services.Terrestrial broadcasting will be from a dedicated transmission center located amongst the high peaks of the Fujairah Mountains (The Al Rufaisa Mountains are amongst the highest peaks in the UAE) with some of the most advanced technology, delivering coverage across the country. Fujairah Media launches with an Arabic language based commercial radio service called "FM", which will start transmission in December on 98.4 MHz. Describing what to expect from FM 98.4, Mr. Mekki Abdulla, Director of Radio & Marketing, said "FM is ground breaking on many fronts. In addition to a well structured music format, we will have world class up to the minute news with access to nearly 100 correspondents and journalists around the globe through our unique tie up with Radio Monte Carlo (Moyen-Orient), which many Arabs recognize as the leading & most trusted international Arabic news radio service. FM in an unprecedented step in UAE radio broadcasting will broadcast a one hour segment, co-produced in the UAE with Radio Soleil, on various international radio stations, to reach Arab audiences in Europe, N. America & Africa, and to a large part of the Middle East. We were able to do this through alliances with Radio Monte Carlo (MO), Radio Soleil & other unique broadcast partners. The station has further unique offerings for listeners in the UAE, but to find out more about that, you are going to have tune in". Mr. Mohammad Saeed Al Dhanhani, General Manager of Fujairah Investments, Director of the Emiri Court of Fujairah, and Member of the Board of Directors of Fujairah Media, said "these partnerships will carry the voice & message of the UAE to Arabs in all parts of the world, & will create a stronger awareness of the region. This will enhance the growing interest in the region & bring about further growth of Foreign Direct Investment."The Publishing titles are currently under development, & will be revealed in the months to come. Services offered by Fujairah Media will include Creative City, Jebelcom and a special News Service. Located on the new Fujairah highway, that, upon completion, will connect Fujairah to the Emirates Road in Dubai via a 40 minute drive, Creative City will complement existing media clusters in the region, & further facilitate creativity in all fields, for both freelancers as well as companies in a variety of specialties, such as training, media production, media services and technology. Jebelcom will be the first terrestrial Digital Video Broadcasting platform in the Middle East (DVB-H). This is the new media growth industry, which offers free & pay-per-view, interactive television streams direct to simple setup boxes in homes across the UAE as well to the new range of hand held mobile telephones. Mr. Habib Hammoud, CEO of Fujairah Media, commented on the Television offerings, "We are currently preparing the programs for our new satellite Television station, Dunia TV, targeting Arab families, which will go on air in the middle of 2006. Additionally, we have interest from three companies who are setting up base at our Creative City, & that will be launching a television station each. The first company is Zoal TV, which is the first television station targeting a large population in Sub-Saharan Africa (such as Sudan, Chad, Somalia & Eritrea). The Second Channel is Eez TV, themed around Falcons & Horses. And the third is Marina TV, specializing in yachts & boating community as well as the Marina Life. As in radio, we will ensure significant European partnerships, with special emphasis on the Francophone, in our television production, to bring about a fresh new outlook to the regional media scene." Hammoud continues, "We have ensured a unique position for Fujairah Media from day one. Our products and services reflect the creativity that is necessary to take media to the next level in the UAE, & in this regard, we will have many more developments coming. Stay tuned, it will be music to your ears." Iraq: Rights groups urge fairness in Saddam trial BAGHDAD, 29 November (IRIN) - Deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants, whose trials in Iraqi law courts have recently resumed, must be guaranteed a fair trial and respect for their civil liberties, say rights groups."Saddam has to be tried," said Nicole Choeiry, spokeswoman for human-rights watchdog Amnesty International. "But in the meantime, he and all other prisoners should have their human rights respected while in prison and have the right to meet with lawyers to ensure due process." The trial was adjourned on Monday, the same day it resumed after more than a month's hiatus, for a one-week period to allow the accused parties to replace two lawyers murdered in recent weeks.Citing safety concerns, the legal defence team had earlier threatened to boycott the proceedings, but decided to carry on after receiving security guarantees. Saddam, along with his co-defendants, have been charged with crimes against humanity in relation to the deaths of 148 men from the town of Dujail, some 60 km north of the capital, Baghdad, in 1982. They deny all the charges. The former president could also face accusations of using poison gas against villages suspected of supporting Kurdish separatists in northern Iraq in 1988 and of brutally suppressing Shi'ite uprisings in southern Iraq in 1991. New York-based lobby group Human Rights Watch declared recently that Saddam, who ruled Iraq with an iron fist, had been responsible for the deaths of "several hundred thousand people" over the course of his time in power.Many of his victims' bodies were found in mass graves shortly after his overthrow by US-led coalition forces in April 2003. During Monday's proceedings, Saddam complained of poor treatment while in prison, as members of his legal team criticised the overall fairness of the trial."Saddam is unhappy with the treatment he is getting in prison," said Khalil al-Dulaimi, one of Saddam's lawyers. "International human rights organisations should intervene to guarantee his safety." Last month, Human Rights Watch expressed concern that Saddam's international team of lawyers would be unable to mount its case "in conditions equal to those enjoyed by the prosecution," and that judges were likely to entertain political biases.Saddam, along with seven former senior officials of his Ba'ath regime, is being tried by a Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal - established expressly for the occasion - under a blend of Iraqi and international law.The trial is taking place in a former palace that once served as Saddam's military command centre in Baghdad's heavily-fortified Green Zone. One More Keralite girl Escapes from Dubai Prostitution Ring DUBAI – One more Malayali girl has n expatriate lady has escaped from a prostitution ring one and half years after she was trapped in the racket run by a Malayali couple. The young lady is with the immigration authorities for deportation to India after completing the legal proceedings. She was brought to Dubai via Muscat from the Coimbatore Airport, offering a housemaid job in an Arab family. The sex racket agents have sold the girl to another agent for Dhs.6,000 (Equivalent of Rs.75,000). The lady was taken directly from the airport to a flat in where six other young ladies and four men were present. The same day landed in the room, they forced her to do serve customers using condom. The sex racket in a Diera flat was run by an Indian lady, whose goons used to physically assault the inmates. This is the latest in a series of sex slavery cases involving Keralite woman who are trafficked in large numbers through a Gulf wide network of agents and sub agents who trade the ladies. Despite many such crimes reported by the visual and print media in the Gulf and Kerala, the cold approach followed by the Indian immigration authorities and the Indian missions in the region is helping the criminals to continue sex trade without any hindrance. The agents don’t allow girls to go out of the room or contact their family. Girls are given inferior quality food and clothing. Even the small tips offered by the customers are taken by the lagents who was running the prostitution ring with the help of a man nick named as Abudhabi Suresh. Ladies who are in his trap have to entertain twenty to thirty customers per day. Even when the girls are taking food, they have to entertain the customers first. Harsh torture methods are used, if they refused to work as required by the customers. Customers with different fantasies ask for different type of "work". "They kicked a lady who tried to escape so badly that she was urinating without any controls. I was beaten with iron rode and even burned with an electric iron," she added. Whenever girls try to escape, the agents will not let them leave. They always threaten them for the money owed by the girls, - the price paid to buy them from other agents. "We see the outside world only when they take us to flats for night duty. After serving 30 customers per day, the ladies are taken out for doing the night shift," the lady added. Even during the menses period we have to take pills and serve customers. Journalist Biju Abel Jacob with the escaped lady... The lady ran out when the agents were trying to take her to another flat. Every week the ladies are taken to different flats. "I was caught in a raid but the agents managed to get us back in their custody. Then they threatened us with dire consequences because they paid additional money to get out of custody," she added. "I have managed to escape by running away from the bus. She ran through the small lanes when the gang members chased her. She reached a safe destination with the help of a taxi driver. My Wife is Missing for Seven Days: Says Desperate Husband By V.M.Sathish DUBAI – An expatriate man has been frantically trying to locate his wife who has been missing for the last five days. Prince, an Indian expatriate from Trivandrum, Kerala, says a few days ago he received a desperate call from his wife, a housemaid, saying that she is in jail. She has been working in Al Ain as housemaid. “I am worried about her health because she suffers from epilepsy. I am unable to contact her and she needs to take medication regular,” says Prince who is here on visit visa. “She suffers from epilepsy and needs to take medicine regularly. If she cannot take tablets she will suffer from epilepsy attack,” he added. “It happened a few times in the past and I am really worried about her health and mental status,” the husband added. Mother of two, the missing housemaid appears to be imprisoned for overstaying two months. Evening Post could not speak to the jail authorities about her legal status. Her name is Cleri and passport number is E 3576020. “She has been working as a housemaid and due to family and health problems she was in India for sometimes. As we are poor and there is no money to pay back debtors, she came back to work here,” the man told Evening Post. According to him, the lady’s visa expired last month and was trying to meet the sponsor to return home. “My wife called me from Al Ain Immigration jail. After that there is no communication. I am unable to go there or locate her because my company does not allow me to take leave. I dont know what to do,” he added. He approached social workers in Dubai, who are trying to locate the missing lady. Other social workers are also requested to help locate the missing young lady. “I found her in the Emmigration jail in Al Aim where I went to meet some of my friends arrested for overstaying. She wanted to make a phone call from my mobile phone. Even though it was not allowed to give mobile phone to the prisoners, I gave her my phone. She caller up her husband and informed about her plight,” said Nasir from Al Ain. “I was not allowed to give phone and she could have been taken to any other jail in Al Ain,” he added. “Her visa expired only two months back and she requested the sponsor to send her home. She took an air ticket with the help of an employer with whom she was doing part time work,” says the husband. She bought a housemaid visa spending huge amount and has been working outside. “The sponsor called her to his house and said she will be send back home. However, she has been missing. She has her passport and air ticket with her,” he added. “I don’t have money to pay her fine or to take another visa. I am desperate to get help from social organizations,” he added. Anticipation, excitement at program unveiling as DIFF team announces 6 world premieres Dubai, November 27, 2005 – Seven days, 98 films from 46 countries and a galaxy of the film elite from the Arab world, Asia, Europe and the Americas – the building blocks of the second Dubai International Film Festival generated much excitement today when Festival organizers unveiled the entire 2005 line-up for the first time at DIFF epicenter Madinat Jumeirah. Building rapidly on the success of the 2004 inaugural edition, the December 11 – 17 Festival features a wide array of programming, with six world premieres and seven international premieres confirmed for the week-long event. This year’s program roster, almost 30 percent larger than its predecessor, includes award-winning films from the top international film festivals of Cannes, Berlin, Toronto, London and Sundance, as well as several contenders for the next Academy Awards. Festival Director and CEO Neil Stephenson said the global diversity in this year’s programming was a major step in reinforcing the “cultural bridge” theme underpinning the entire event. “Our cultural bridge is a two-way bridge, and we are reinforcing it in both directions by bringing the best of world cinema to Dubai, and taking the best of Arab cinema to the world from Dubai,” Stephenson said. “Our new Africa, Asia and Europe sections, and two new Arab sections have been put in place as a testament to our dedication to bridging cultures through film.” “Cinema is a universal language meant to illuminate and educate, not just entertain,” Stephenson added. “Our program aims to hit all of these notes, and reflects both the changing state of our world and the lessons we learned from our first festival last year.” Leading the pack are the six world premieres, including the eagerly anticipated Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World; war documentary Kosovo: The Hand of Friendship, Indian arthouse film Sringaram (Dance of Love), Sri Lankan post-tsunami drama From Dust, Palestinian short film Yasmin’s Song and UAE-based Arabian wildlife documentary Under a Desert Sun. DIFF organizers also announced the six gala films that will crown the Festival. The Festival will open at 8 pm on December 11 with the award-winning Palestinian suicide bomber drama Paradise Now, and subsequent galas include the controversial Indo-Canadian film Water, Cannes Palme D’or winner L’Enfant (The Child), brand new American thriller Edison, and the stirring African smash hit U-Carmen eKhayelitsha (Carmen in Khayelitsha), before the closing double-bill gala of musical comedy West Bank Story and powerful French drama Joyeux Noel. Each gala film is drawn from a DIFF flagship program. The list of international celebrity attendees is evidence of the international confidence in the Dubai Film Festival, Stephenson added. That list is currently topped by Oscar-winning American actor Morgan Freeman, making his second appearance at the Festival; legendary Indian producer Yash Chopra; and Egyptian superstar Adel Imam. Other A-list names include Egyptian actors Noor Sherif, Yousra, Hanan Turk and Mona Zaki, Tunisian star Hind Sabri, French-Algerian rai singer Faudel, Greek director Constantin Costa-Gavras, British director Michael Caton Jones, American actors Albert Brooks, Dylan McDermott and Jon Tenney, British actor Hugh Dancy, Indian actors John Abraham and Lisa Ray and international activist-musician Bob Geldof, KBE. The all-star list is expected to grow in the coming days, as confirmations and travel schedules are finalized. DIFF organizers also announced the opening of Festival Box Offices today, in locations including the Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai Media City, Deira City Centre and Mall of the Emirates. Tickets can also be purchased on the Dubai Film Festival web site www.dubaifilmfest.com or by calling the Festival hotline on (04) 367-6701. The Dubai International Film Festival 2005 will be held between December 11 and 17, 2005, and will feature 98 films including features, retrospectives and short films. DIFF 2005 is divided into 12 distinct programs - including five brand new additions - each focusing on a particular category of film.The Festival is presented by its founding sponsors Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Properties, Emirates, Etisalat and the Madinat Jumeirah – the Arabian Resort. Yemen Study highlights local journalists' complaints SANA, 28 November (IRIN) - There is an urgent need to train professional journalists in Yemen, a recent study conducted by the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS) and the International Federation of Journalists has found."Training is a pressing need for all Yemeni journalists because most of them have not studied media in college," said YJS Secretary-General Hafiz al-Bukari. "Even graduates of media colleges receive more theoretical than practical education." The study, published on 22 November, found that a lack of professional standards represented a major problem for Yemeni media, and noted that training was essential to enhancing the professionalism of the fourth estate."Senior journalists find it difficult to cope with the new technology necessary to their work, like computers and the internet, while junior reporters lack training in basic journalism," al-Bukari added.The study was conducted in five governorates of Yemen in which the bulk of national media is concentrated, including Sana'a, Aden, Taiz, Hodeidah and Hadramut. Financed by the Danish government as part of a "Joint Yemeni Media Development Programme," the survey was carried out in June, when 276 journalists responded to survey questions. Around 211 journalists of those surveyed are employed by the state. While broadcast media is still entirely controlled by the government in Yemen, local print media can boast a small but significant number of private players.Nevertheless, the Ministry of Information remains responsible for granting licences for newspapers, printing presses and publishing houses. Three of the four national daily newspapers as well as most national and regional weeklies are owned and/or controlled by the government, the army or the ruling General People's Congress. Of those journalists interviewed, 93 percent also complained that their salaries were insufficient to meet basic needs, with some saying second jobs were vital to supplementing meagre incomes. Average monthly salaries for journalists range between $77 and $154, while few are provided with long-term contracts. The study noted, however, that salaries for journalists working in the capital were considerably better than those working in other areas.Meanwhile, 36 percent of the female journalists interviewed complained that they regularly faced discrimination in terms of training and professional advancement.The survey also noted that most journalists felt the YJS wasn't doing enough to improve their working conditions, opining that YJS representatives should have a presence in the state-run media to defend journalists' rights. The YJS board, which has almost 1000 members, was first elected in 1999. Since then, the organisation has often complained of government interference in its activities, leading several of its board members to resign.Yemen is one of the Middle East's poorest countries and is currently struggling to implement market reforms, jumpstart the economy and fight widespread corruption. According to the latest World Bank report, 42 percent of Yemen's 19.7 million people live on less than $2 per day.The national unemployment rate in 2003 was figured at as high as 37 percent. Biased Special Prosecutor Kicked Out of Ice Cream Sex Scandala Case The Kerala High Court today directed the state government to remove K V Joseph from the post of Special Public Prosecutor for his "transgression" in the ice-cream parlour sex case. Justice Thankappan said Joseph had "transgressed the post of SPP whose duty was to prosecute culprits without fear or favour. The shadow of doubt which arose out of Joseph's action compelled the court to take such a decision".Admitting petitions filed by Leader of the Opposition V S Achutanandan and 'Anweshi' (a social organisation) president, K Ajitha, alleging that the SPP had made attempts to help former Minister P K Kunhalikutty and other accused, the court directed the state government to pass a final order in this regard and to appoint an SPP within 15 days.Claiming that the Joseph had made statements which "cast aspersions on the Sessions Judge conducting the trial" at a press conference, Ajitha produced the CD of the press conference.In another writ petition filed by one of the accused, the court ordered that the trial be conducted in camera.It was also made clear that the prayer of the petition for a direction to prohibit the media from publishing the case proceedings can be raised before trial court, reported Press Trust of India. Waseel contributed towards the development of health care institutions and provider firms by eliminating the need for paper-based insurance processing with fast, secure electronic transactions November 28, 2005 Waseel, the first medical applications service provider (ASP) serving the Saudi and Gulf region, is revolutionizing the transaction process in the regional healthcare insurance industry by eliminating the need for paper-based insurance processing with fast, secure electronic transactions. The company is providing state-of-the-art technology solutions to healthcare and healthcare insurance companies in the region in an effort to enable them to reduce their paperwork and move towards electronic transaction. Waseel offers a wide range of electronic services that benefits the healthcare insurance sector, moving to an online platform processes such as medical approvals, claims as well as the process of checking the validity of the insurance cover, limits and details of beneficiary coverage information.Wassim Khashoggi, Chief Executive Officer, Waseel said, "We are focused on promoting the concept of electronic services for all healthcare-related transactions, replacing traditional processes that involve time-consuming process, high claims rejection rates by the insurance, and delay of payments for more than 6 months at some cases". With the fact that the number of insured members will increase dramatically with the implementation of the new medical insurance regulation in Saudi, problems of time-consuming processes, claims rejections and delay in payments will negatively affect the providers, cash flow, operations and customer care. It is crucial for Healthcare firms and hospitals to optimize and automate a very important part of their business processes related to payment cycle leading to higher productivity, profitability and better cash flow. The Health care insurance market is expanding and both payers & providers have to work towards decreasing their operational costs and improve their customer service.Using the latest technologies and internet solutions, Waseel has successfully launched a wide range of advanced electronic interaction services (Web Services) that facilitate online exchange of Financial information's like claims between insurance companies and healthcare providers. Waseel is committed to push the healthcare insurance industry to break free from paper transactions that slows the development of companies operating in such an aggressively growing vital sector. Waseel's technologically advanced solutions also contribute towards providing a more efficient ways of providing healthcare service to hospitals, sparing them the hassle of time-consuming procedures still being adopted at a large number of healthcare institutions in the Arab world.