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Keralamonitor 2002

Media Monitor (Special for Indian Journalists Abroad - Media Freedom)

City to be Enlightened Again

Adarsh Madhavan

The popular "Citylight" Column, in the Times of Oman, which was discontinued for a short period will be resumed soon, KM learns. Adarsh Madhavan, the hidden columnist of "Citylight" is back in action after a month long holiday in Kerala. Muscat City has been missing the column, which is quite a new experiment in Gulf journalism. No other publication in the region has such an off the track item, which literally thorws light on many issuees

1800 Construction Workers Not Paid Salary for five Months

Hotel employees agitated over sacking

Dubai-February 4, 2003 Around 1,800 construction workers in the UAE have complained that their wages had not been paid for five months - a regular feature of the construction sector in the GCC countries. The construction workers walked en masse to the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs - but police intercepted them halfway and persuaded them to continue with just a small delegation of ten representatives. More Gulf News

Elite Dominated Indian Social Clubs in poor Limelight as Dubai Police plans punishing Indian Club

 

Shetty Murder

 

 

Dubai - The Dubai Police is likely to close down the controversial India Club where Sharad Shetty, an alleged underworld gangster with Dawood Ibrahim, link was shot dead. According to reports, the Dubai police authorities have alerted the concerned entities to act against clubs suspected to be involved in organised crime and intelligence activities. Major-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, said it was apparent that some community clubs had been attracting gangsters rather than performing cultural, social and entertainment roles. It is common for all the Indian community organisations, which have been reserved for the upper class elite, who amass wealth through dubious means. While large number of ordinary Indians are kept away from these clubs using subtle methods, their membership is restricted to such criminal elements. Indian Club Dubai, like some other Indian Social Clubs in the Gulf, was not giving membership to Indians for a long period. However, there was no restriction on giving membership to gangsters who reached Dubai on visit Visas. A numher of Shettiars, Alis and others with direct links to criminal gangs are controlling the so called social clubs..More.

Global Investors Meet, Kochi -Public Personalities, Private Interests

 

Enron was a foreign company and there is no comparison with the NRIs. Some of the patriotic NRI businessman have been talking about investing several thousand crores of rupees in various projects in Kerala, but the major chunk of the funds would have to come from state financial institutions or a fund raising campaign from ordinary NRIs. There are lot of state government assets waiting to be given to private parties on a platter. It is doubtful whether the Antony Government would have any hesitation in selling the "air, water and even the State Secretariat. Full Report

Manipulation of Document with Official's Help

Changing Date of Birth by senior Indian School Muscat Staff could take place only with the tacit support of an Official who approved an affidavit which was just signed in the presence of a judicial personality in India. It is difficult to believe that changing someone's date of birth or other crucial information in a passport was done carelessly. As in the past, KM brought the issue to the notice of the Indian community, but some senior board members are apparently upset about KM reporting for obvious reasons. It is learned that the official has been removed from the consular section, but is that step enough to prevent recurrance of such cases in future?