SMC has Monopoly right to sack teachers
-claims Muladha SMC
"We are the appointing as well as the removal authority
of teachers as per the guidelines set by the embassy and approved
by the ministry of education for the BoD and School Management
committees. So there is no right for the board to write such
a letter. "The board which is a third party in this case
have given the letter without giving any notice to us and contains
false statements and hence should be rejected.," jointly
wrote Dr. Muthukumar Ramaswamy, SMC president, Dr.Raju Varghese,
convenor and Dr.Izhar Ahmed Bilgrami, Treasurer, SMC through
their legal consultant. However, the SMC members accepted their
arrogance in sacking thew two teachers overnight, without paying
any compensation."We are willing to pay 3 months salary
to Mr.Biju Mohan and 5 months salary to Mr.Jayaram G.Panicker
as compensation, plus air tickets as proposed by honourable labour
department authorities on 27 July 2003," they said in the
letter. Was the patron and board acting illegally when they interfered
to reinstate former vice principal Benjamin and the ISM President
Joshi? Joshi was sacked overnight -showing mere arrogance of
SMC members.
Why the ISC Kerala Wing Did not Honour
Meena?
A section of the ISC Kerala Wing members is agitated over
the committe decision not to give a decent sent off party to
K M Meena, whom the wing once called the most popular Indian
Ambassador ever to work in Muscat. One of its premier officials
co-convener Preman has resigned in protest for unknown reasons
and even the senior committee members have raised objection to
the fact that the Kerala Wing, claimed to be standing for the
common man, did not do justice to the former ambassador during
his last innings .Obviously the wing was working under external
influence. According to Meena himself, the Kerala Wing leadership
was mysteriously keeping away from him for unknown reasons. "We
could not get a proper date for the send off party. There was
lot of uncertainty and we could not fix a date," claimed
one committee member. This is yet another instance to show the
real affiliation of community associations. Even the association
which claim to be a common man's platform deliberately ignored
Meena. "In his welcome address, (Keralolsavam 2002) the
convener termed the Indian Ambassador as " the most popular
Ambassador" ever to serve the Indian community here . The association which adorned even a businessman
with Ponnada did not find time and resources to organise a send
off party? Just to please the business tycoons? Sham Shame shame.
Even the ISC Malayalam wing, which you call a communal and conservative
wing had the decency of organising a send off party. Come on
friends, peopel are watching your actions and inactions..More
Now where should we go?
writes illegally sacked Indian school teachers
Meena is gone, Long Live the ambassador
- Mr.
Meena is out ..
|
Welcome to His Excellency Talmiz Ahmed |
"By taking 10 per
cent depreciation every year, the book value of Indian School
Al Ghurba is zero. The promoter has been charging very high rent.
The MoU is not a license to exploit the Indian community. By
revoking the MoUs, we are not trying to capture Dr.Mohammed Ali's
private property. Let any private agent evaluate the property
and the embassy or the community is willing to pay the price
for the property," Meena, is believed to have told the new
board members "If
they want to make money, start a private school with a local
sponsor, the same way Dr.Mohammed Ali is running private medical
and engineering colleges," said sources. The embassy did
not ask Dr. Mohammed Ali about the money he makes from the engineering
or medical colleges, which are run legally as per local rules
and regulations. The former ambassador had in fact praiseed the
NRI for making good contribution to Oman's development. However,
Meena was dead against Dr.Mohammed Ali making money in the name
of what he said was an illegal MoU without considering the legal aspects . Full Report
KM offers a warm welcome to the new
Indian Ambassador KM and its readers wish him all success in
doing his duties as the first citizen of the country without
fear or favours.
Board Reinstates Jayaram
G Panicker and Biju Mathew of Indian School Mulada
Labour Department says sacking
of two teachers illegal and not in compliance with Oman's labour
rules, But School SMC is adamant that the teachers should leave!
The arrogance of SMC and
board members is once again reflected in the way in which they
are handling the termination of two teachers of Indian School
Moladha. According to a letter from the Board of directors Manjula
Ramdas to the Labour Department, the entire process of termination
was not fully in compliance with the local labour rules. Accordingly
the reasons for termination is not satisfactory as the warning
letters issued to the two teachers contravened the labour rules.
The board convened a joint meeting with the members of the Indian
School Muladha on July 19, 2003. Even though it was agreed to
reinstate the teachers, the SMC members are still adamant about
the issue. The labour department asked the school to provide
sufficient compensation to the terminated teacher, the SMC is
adamant. "In view of the decision in the meeting, it was
decided by the board members and the school management committee
unanimously to avoid any further delay in settling the matter
and not prolong the case by taking it to the higher court to
the interest of the education of the children. Overnight termination
of teachers is a legacy of the past, which should be forthwith.
Why should the school management members who are not qualified
or competent to indulge in such a job spend the public fund for
litigation? Same situation is facing M M Joshi, the Indian SchooMuscat
Principal who has been put in a state of animated suspension.
Join the heated debate on the Indian School Muladha Discussion
Forum.
Saudi flight Wanted emergency
landing as passenger dies inboard: Ground Staff raise false alarm,
denies permission
Dubai - What happened on last
Wednesday at a Gulf International Airport looks like joke and
false alarm raised by a group of airport ground staff without
knowing the "sky realities". Full Report
Did Hijacked Plane's bid to land in Gulf Airport Disrupt
Air Services?
Indian School Board reinstates
sacked teachers of Indian School Mulada, But SMC member adamant
on taking back the teachers sacked illegally...Watch this space.
Did the business lobby play any role in organising
workers in front of the Indian embassy on the first day of the
new ambassador?
It is rumoured that some vested interest were
behind organising the workers of 3 companies simultaneously in
front of the Embassy to put across a point that the former ambassador
was inefficient in handling labour issues. It may be noted that
a leading Member of Parliament (with clear interest in school
business) had raised a hue and cry about the labour problems
in Oman and the embassy's inefficiency. It is an unprecedented
event in the history of Indian Embassy that workers of three
companies gathered together on a particular day when the new
ambassador took charge. One of the reasons for the premature
transfer of Meena was his questioning the role of a politicians
son to continue in school committee. The lobbying is continuing
and the new ambassador, please take note of this. Workers have
a genuine problem, but let others not utilise them for their
vested gameplans. watch this space.
Oman Air reduces airfare to Kerala
by RO 20.
Thanks to an exclusive report in KM about
the unjustifiable difference in airfare charged by Oman Air from
passengers from Dubai and Muscat, theairline has reduced the
rate by RO 20 with immediate effect. The Keralite community in
the Sultanate will benefit from the decision. It is yet another
feather in KM's cap. What will KM write after KM Meena leaves?
Asked our friends. These are the things that we will continue
to do for the common man. Mind you without taking any bribes,
as alleged in your columns.
Oman Air takes Kerala
passengers for a Ride?
Is the Keralite community in Oman taken for
aride by Oman Air? KM learns that the Airline is following a
step motherly treatment towards the Kerala bound Malayali passengers
from Seeb International Airport by adopting a very high airfare
compared to the rate charged from adjacent destination. While
a Muscat Malayali pays a whopping RO 220 for a return ticket
to Muscat -Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram, another passenger who boards
the same plane from Dubai pay just Dhs. 1400 (equvalent to RO
140). ? For a single ticket from Dubai to Trivandrum/Kochi, Oman
Air takes only Dhs 800, where as the same airline charges RO
140 from a Muscat Malayali. While the difference between Bombay
and South Indian ticket fare is just 400 Dhs in the UAE, the
gap widens to RO 80 in case of Muscat Malayalis. Bombay-Muscat
return fare is RO 150 and for South India it is RO 220. Full Report
Protest Online against Chief
Minister Antony
Online Travel Package Booking
through Portal
29 July 2003: In a bid to offer partners and
customers enhanced and value added services continually, myTravelChannel.com,
the Middle East's most popular travel website today launched
a mybooking tab that allows customers to select products and
services to tailor-make as well as monitor the status of their
holiday bookings. Full Report
Defamation Charges against Community Leaders;
Two Sites Blocked
A criminal defamatory case has been lodged against a former
School Board member allegedly for circulating filthy stories
about K M Meena, the former Indian Ambassador, Manjula Ramdas,
the new chairman of the board of directors, Dr. Deepa Raman and
Dr. Dalalal, other in school board. The two sites which propagated
wrong and highly defamatory reports are blocked by the Crime
Busters. A former vice chairman of the board of directors of
Indian Schools was reportedly questioned by the CID. The blocked
site is Omanmonitor. The name of a local reporter is also dragged
into the controversy. Manjula Ramdas has claimed a big amount
as compensation from the culprits for the damages caused to her
reputation and public image -watch this space.
New Free Economic Zone in Kochi,
Gold Hallmarking in
India
Murder Attempt on Six year old Indian School
Muscat Girl Student
It was a murder attempt, say sources.
An unidentified person has assaulted a junior
class girl student of Indian school Muscat Jibro, causing severe
injuries on the throat . According to sources a person approached
the girl who was sitting alone in the bus and allegedly assaulted
her with a sharp weapon. The girl's neck is cut slightly and
is rushed to a hospital where she is recovering. The Indian School
Muscat Student was attacked by an unidentified young man with
a motive to kill her. According to sources, the girl was alone
in the vehicle taking some snacks when the school bus driver
claims that he was sleeping. "The injuries are severe and
there are two cuts on her throat and fortunately the girl's life
is saved. The girl says a man in tea shirt entered the school
bus and attacked her with a sharp knife," added sources
Full Report
Media Monitor
Labourers seek embassy help over unpaid wages Report
by Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief Gulf News
300 workers stage silent protest near Indian embassy,
Special Report by Adarsh Madhavan,Times of Oman
"The Indian workers from Kerala, Tamil
Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, etc., of the Oman Transport
and Contracting Company (OTCO) told the Times of Oman that they
have not obtained their salaries for the last three-and-a-half
months. Other than that, they do not have proper accommodation
and neither do they obtain proper food because the company mess
was supplying them with meagre, and at times, maggot-ridden rations.
Since the camp is without any air-conditioning (the air-condition
units are there, but sans power supply) the workers are forced
to sleep outside,"
reported the scribe
Serial Killer News Create
Panic Among Indian School Students in Saudi Arabia?
DAMMAM, 22 January 2003 —A
hot crime news is circulating among residents through the Internet,
indicating that a new serial killer is active, probably targetting
Indian School Students in Saudi Arabia. "Dammam and Alkhobar
have been buzzing for the past two days with talk that a man
wearing a black abaya and wearing black gloves was on the prowl
in the Doha, Sulatnia and Dana districts during the early morning
hours," said reports from Saudi Arabia. Full Report
Workers of three companies strike in front
of Indian Embassy.
Nearly 700 workers of OTCO, Modern Construction and Dessert
Palm assembloed in front of the Indian Embassy Muscat protesting
against non payment of salary for several months and other issues.
The embassy called police and the agitated workers remained there
for a long time. However, there was no phyiscal attack on workers,
but the black commandoes were present in front of the Indian
Embassy
- Coca-Cola in India accused of leaving farms parched
and land poisoned
-
- The Guardian reportedthat the largest Coca-Cola
plant in India is being accused of putting thousands of farmers
out of work by draining the water that feeds their wells, and
poisoning the land with waste sludge that the company claims
is fertiliser. The plant in the southern state of Kerala is designed
to satisfy the demand for Coke in what has become the multinational
company's fastest growing market.But its huge demand for water
is causing such damage to the local economy that the village
council which had granted the company a licence to operate is
now demanding the plant's closure. More News
-
- New CEO Appointed to
Take Jordan Telecom into Competitive Era
Satyam implements 'Virtual
University' portal for leading global consortium of universities
Sakhr announces a strategic
alliance with SAIL LABS Technology, Europe Media Mining and Management
solutions the first of their kind IS0
9001: 2000 certification strengthens Siemens LLC standing in
Middle East region IBM Business Consulting
Services helps bring e-Governance to the Government of Pondicherry U.N. Warns India On AIDS
Problem As New Figures Released Wholesale-retail sector is
the biggest spender of IT in Saudi Arabia's booming market Indian News No foreign university programme
can be offered against AICTE Regulations Govt to consider model
cinema regulations Managing the
health risks
-
- Troops Accused of Mosul Killing
-
- Witnesses Say Crowd Was Fired On After Hussein
Firefight; U.S. Denies Allegation
Saturday, July 26, 2003: MOSUL, Iraq, July
25 -- It was too much for the 20 men watching. Almost all of
them buried their faces in their hands and sobbed. "Why
did the Americans kill my son?" said Basil Hamed Azawi,
63. "By God, I say to you, I thought it was better to have
good relations with the Americans and repair our country. But
now the Americans have lost any relationship with Iraq. How can
I face them now? What should I do? What can I do?"Neighbors
here said Hamed was killed on Tuesday by U.S. soldiers who fired
into a crowd of young, unarmed Iraqis who were throwing rocks
at the troops, shortly after the fierce firefight in which U.S.
troops killed the two sons of former president Saddam Hussein,
Uday and Qusay. Full
Report
Ajith Kumar removed as Indian School Muscat
President
Hardly one month after Ajith Kumar was given
the much coveted post of Indian School Muscat President, he is
terminated at the last minute for changing his affiliation towards
the business lobby. A new president is appointed hours before
the Indian Ambassador K M Meena is to leave Muscat. C M Sardar,
an office bearer of Indian Social Club is the new ISM president
. Like a former school board chairman who showed dual contradictory
face Ajith Kumar too became a pawn in the hands of the bsiness
lobby. More soon. Earlier Report
Recent Reports on Indian Schools
Tale of two sparring dotcoms, Special Report
about km in Gulf News
|By Sunil k. vaidya | 24-07-2003
The lack of official information on various
issues and keen interest among the Indian expatriates in their
community school management affairs have given rise to Oman-based
websites at a time the dot com business has seen a major slump.The
two much talked about web sites deal mostly with issues related
to Oman yet they are named keralamonitor.com and newkeralamonitor.com.
The keralamonitor.com started first and with reports of labour
woes, thefts, suicides, crimes and other stories that the local
papers would not touch, the number of visitors to the site grew
steadily. Interestingly, a scribe working with the official daily
Oman Daily Observer is
the brain behind the keralamonitor.com. Somewhere along the line
the site took up the cudgels on behalf of the Indian ambassador,
K. M. Meena, who began asserting his authority as the patron
of the Indian School Board. Hitherto, the ambassadors had not
interfered in the running of the schools.
Full Report
KM IN NEWS ALWAYS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS
Corruption due to Business Interest in School
System has been Shaken
The Parents and the Indian community should
vigilantly monitor school reform and continue to demand transparency
and accountability from the school board and management committees.During
the last two years, the lopsided and corrupt systems which prevailed
in the Indian School Scenario for the last one decade has been
temporarily shaken by the outgoing Indian Ambassador K M Meena,
who is likely to be posted in New Delhi. It is likely that the
entire process in the Indian education scenario can go back to
square one . Corruption and malpractice could resurface. The
whole reform process can be reversed in a single day and private
schools may continue to charge high fees without any transparency
of operation. Indian School Muscat, the largest community school
should reduce the deposit at least by half as there is sufficient
fund in theschool. Keeping more funds in community schools would
make them proneto misapprorpriation. As happened in Kuwait Indian
schools , this may lead tomore corruption. The community leaders
action should not damage the reputation of the Indian community.
--Watch this space for
KM Meena's Departure Message to the Indian community in Oman.
European lady and gang smartly rob South Indian
Salesman
A gang in the Ruwi area of Muscat smartly
robbed a South Indian expatriate salesman. The expatriate salesman,
who withdrew RO 3,000 from the Ruwi Branch of Oman International
Bank (OIB), Ruwi branch was robbed in a smart manner by the gang
comprising a lady, with European features and one or two men.
Full Report
Harassment of Indian Girls Continues in Beauty
Parlous, Polyclinics, Garment Factories, Brothels and even ..Watch out
We have no reason to keep mum on
any issues
Dear Sir,
I am surprised to see that you are mum on
the Wadi Kabir Beauty parlour issue? Is it because the owners,
are close to your heart? Even TOO (sic) reported in Citylights
and Asianet reported that the establishment was closed down.
Such news should be given with details of the businessmen behind
the issue, to protect poor people, who go unpaid for 10 months
and all.- letter from a KM visitor. Read our Reports
Iraq: Continuing failure to uphold human rights
(Baghdad) After more than 100 days of occupation,
the promises of human rights for all Iraqis have yet to be fulfilled,
Mahmoud Ben Romdhane Amnesty International's head of delegation
to Iraq said.Speaking at the launch of a Memorandum on concerns
relating to law and order (full report online at http://amnesty-news.c.tclk.net/maabhFeaaZnvcbb0hHSb/
), he continued: "The Iraqi people have suffered for long
enough - it is shameful to still hear of people who are being
detained in inhumane conditions without their family knowing
where they are and with no access to a lawyer or a judge - often
for weeks on end." More
Duscussion Forum Active
- Muladha School
He has always for any reason and purposes
used the TERMINATION NOTICE as a sword over us teachers. To please
some of you members(past and present) and some influential parents,
he has abused us and harrassed us in the worst possible manner.The
many teachers he has sacked in the past are such wonderful,dedicated
and experienced teachers. Many of their records(performance)
will prove their efficiency and this school actually stands on
the legacy they left behind. Yes in front of him(principal) we
have to stand ignorant and shake our heads for anything and everything
he says cause thats what he wants from us. Approaching you all(SMC
members) once again is solely to improve the only service we
can provide for our children that is "Good education"
in a pleasant atmosphere. Could you please give us a new Principal?
Join
the Discussion Forum
Kelly had converted to Baha'i faith,
which rejects suicide :Russian Newsportal U.S.
promises proof of Saddam sons' deaths Also, top Republican Guard
commander captured Two
U.S. Soldiers Killed After Death of Saddam Sons Kelly
had converted to Baha'i faith, which rejects suicide :Russian
Newsportal
KM Salutes the Sultan of Oman
KM editor and readers wish the Kind Ruler
of Oman Sultan Qaboos and his people continued prosperity and
happiness under the able leadership of His Majesty on the occasion
of the country's 33rd Renaissance Day today.
This joyous occasion marks the successful
completion of three decades of development that transformed a
group of tribal society into one of the most modern nation states
in the Arab world. Oman has achieved remarkable progress in various
fields, which even some of the democratic countries failed to
match. The expatriate community too played an important role
in this transformation. KM wishes him good health, happiness
and a long life.
|
Sultan Qaboos Thanks to the Wisdom and long sighted
vision of the Sultan the Sultanate is also developing into a
democratic country. |
2 Filipinos Sentenced to 350 Lashes
RIYADH, 22July 2003 — Two Filipino workers
have been sentenced to 350 lashes each for retracting their previous
statements in a murder case before the Riyadh Emergency Court,
while another Filipino suspect implicated in the same case has
been acquitted without corporal punishment, the Arab News reported.
The case involves the murder of a Saudi official named Fahad
Al-Otaibi working for a Saudi law enforcement agency. More
|
Click Here to
have Real Shopping Experience Click
|
60,000 page views
a month, Most popular portal among expatriates. Consistent traffick
; Make your home page for just nothing contact
editor@keralamonitor.com
|
Land to landless
adivasis of Kerala more News
Homosexual Prosecutions Overturned Internet
Arrests, Harassments Continue
(New York, July 22, 2003) -- The acquittal
by a Cairo appeals court of eleven men earlier convicted of consensual
homosexual conduct is a step forward, but arrests and harassment
of men who have sex with men continue in Egypt, Human Rights
Watch said today. The appeals court overturned the convictions
on July 20."Men remain imprisoned in Egypt for private acts,
in a continuing crackdown which violates international law,"
said Scott Long, a researcher for Human Rights Watch. "What
is needed is to repeal the provisions of a law which invite repressive
enforcement." The men were among sixteen who had been charged
in February 2003, when police tapped the phone of a private apartment
in the Giza district of greater Cairo after an informer reported
that the owner was visited by other men. Police arrested the
men whose recorded conversations suggested that they had engaged
in homosexual acts..Full Report
Mysterious Diseases Haunt U.S. Troops In
Iraq
BAGHDAD - Several mysterious diseases were
reported among a number of American troops within the vicinity
of Baghdad airport, a military source closely close to NATO unveiled.
U.S. soldiers deployed around Baghdad airport started showing
symptoms of mysterious fever, itching, scars and dark brown spots
on the skin, the source, who refused to be named, said in statements
published Thursday, July 17, by the Saudi Al-Watan newspaper.
He asserted that three soldiers who suffered these symptoms did
not respond to medical treatment in Iraqi hospitals and were
flown to Washington for medication. The military source reported
a media blackout by U.S. officials to hide such information from
the public. More
Mystery of the eight
missing hours before the body was found Bangladeshi Put on Trial
for Screening Porn Movies in Saudi Gloves off in village
that wants answers on death Gunman Opens Fire on People in a
Local Mosque Nigeria: No Justice
For Kaduna Killings
African Union: Adoption of the Protocol on the Rights
of Women - positive step towards combating discrimination and
violence against women
KM Discussion Forum Witnesses Heated
Debate on Indian School Moladha Principal Vs Teachers Vs Parents
Joint appeal to SMC Members- Indian
School Muladha
Name: Teachers Indian School Muladha
Date Posted: Jul 21, 03 - 2:15 AM
Message: You are very much aware of the unfortunate happenings
in our school and the negative effect its having on our children.
The letters to this site is itself enough to jolt us all. We
are sure you will soon act in a positive way to help set things
right and give this school a new lease of life by appointing
a Principal with a vision and a positive approach. We teachers
have many grieveances too. The working atmosphere is extremely
bad and we feel demoralized and often dissappointed in the manner
we are treated by the principal. We are very sorry to send such
an open letter but we are forced to do so because of the 'never
care' attitude of the Principal. We have approached him many
times and so also your goodselves. Our basic requirements itself
are not provided by this principal. Though our requirements like
furniture and basic amenities are menial compared to the Himalayan
problems our children are facing in the school, yet we wish to
bring this too to your notice. We are not able to understand,
why the principal has so many excuses and reasons for not providing
us(Teachers) adequate furniture in our quarters but is always
willing to provide more than required furniture in the House
occupied by his sectretary. More
Postings
Indian Dies in Hospital After Falling
from Terrace, while sleeping
Shamsudeen (28 years) from Cherupalakkada,
Kozhikkodu who has been undergoing treatment at the Khoula Hospital
following a mysterious fall while sleeping on a building terrace
in Sur died on Monday atthe Khoula hospital. According to his
well wishers, the unmarried Keralite workers hospital bill is
about RO 3,000 which his company or sponsor are not able to pay.
The sponsor is in the UK and the local manager is unable to foot
the hospital bill. He was admitted in
the hospital about one month ago. While nobody knows how he fell
from the terrace, sources said he was sleeping on theterrace
because of the heat inside the room. Anybody willing to help
the family can contact Shamsudeen on 00968-9436861.
Why Not Malayali Principal and Teachers in
Indian Schools
why are the parents and students of moladha
school weep bitterly about the malayalee teachers,principal and
smc members?is it for style and fashion.aren't malayalees indians?
is their language in any way inferior to other indian languages?or
are the minorities in the school prejudiced.?it is learnt that
80% of the students of the school are malayalees. the rest 20%makes
the students from the other states + pakistan, Bangladesh, Srilanka,egypt,philipines,sudan
etc etc.definitely 80%of the smc should b malayalees.they support
the school and they are looked down.for what?if the school has
a rule to converse in english, let all the staff follow that
irrespective of the regional langages.let our children be masters
of english and that doesn't mean we should degrade our mother
tongues.it is true that some malayalees are allergic to malayalam.let
us pity them.they don't have self respect.during my visits to
the school i have heard teachers talking in tamil,hindi malayalam
and whatever they know and the principal too.this is an indian
school and everything indian has to b respected.regionalism and
communalism should not be entertained and such elements should
be removed.soon omanisation will push us back to our states and
we have to b rehabilitated there for good.
More and Join the Discussion Forum
The Kelly affair A haunted
man But why did Kelly have to die? Exclusive Report from Observer
about the mysterious death of a biological weapons scientist
Embassy revokes MoU of Indian School
Al Ghubra, Indian School Wadi Kabir
Recent Reports
from KM Click Here
Manjula Ramdas is the Chairperson of Indian
School Board of Directors
The restructuring of the board of Indian schools,
which is approved by the Ministry of Education, makes Manjula
Ramdas, an active female member of the Indian community the Chairman
and Dr. Dalal the Vice Chairman. The ministry has also approved
the induction of four new members - Mr. Durgaprasad (the Bahwans
group), Hakeem ( Ideal Marines), Mr.Chaudhury (Oman Computers)
and one Bhupendra. More
American Soldiers
looted Baghdad Airport, duty free Shops
Much has been written about how Iraqis complicated
the task of rebuilding their country by looting it after Saddam
Hussein's regime fell. According to an interesting report in
the Times about the international airport outside Baghdad, theft
and vandalism were conducted largely by victorious American troops.Quoting
U.S. officials, Iraqi Airways staff members and other airport
workers, the Times said American troops stole duty-free items,
needlessly shot up the airport and trashed five serviceable Boeing
airplanes. What was then called Saddam International Airport
fell to soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division on April 3. For
the next two weeks, airport workers say, soldiers sleeping in
the airport's main terminal helped themselves to items in the
duty-free shop, including alcohol, cassettes, perfume, cigarettes
and expensive watches. More News
More Culprits facing Investigation?
Following the recent interrogation of the KR family members,
more people have been reportedly brought within the purview of
law enforcement agencies. According to KM sources, two senior
businessmen have been nabbed in connection with certain white
collor crimes. Certain sections of the community who have close
business association with the Gujarathi family are also being
monitored. Some senior bank officials are also being questioned
in connection with the bank fraud.
Police seize two million tapes in Egypt's biggest ever
piracy raid
- 65Convicts on Death Row
in Makkah Region
- JEDDAH, 5July 2003 —
Sixty-five people of various nationalities convicted of crimes
punishable by death are presently awaiting execution in the Makkah
province. Only if the next of kin of the victims pardon them
— a practice not uncommon in Saudi Arabia — will the
lives of the criminals be saved. The pardon sometimes takes places
at the last minute, when the convict has been brought to the
place of execution. According to Okaz newspaper, the majority
of those on death row have been convicted of drug-related crimes
or murder. Saudis make up 80 percent of those who have been convicted
of murder. Full
Report
-
-
- Watch this space for more spicy
reports from some of the polyclinics where female staff have
been allegedly subjected to sexual harassment by ...?
-
- Iran's successful missile
Shihab-3 ground-to-ground missile test puts Israel within range
India-Tanzania share Low Cost Housing Technology, Women Empowerment
-
Iraq Oil Flowing to Kuwait to pay for the
war expenses?
According to Hank Brandli, 63, the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology alumnus, some of his most recent photo
showed a blazing corridor of light running the length of Kuwait,
south to north, all the way to the Iraqi border. The image wasn't
there on May 3. "It's going right up to Iraq's oil fields,"
says the retired Air Force colonel from his home in Palm Bay.
"Maybe I'm full of s---. Maybe all they're doing is building
a highway to put in McDonald's and sell hamburgers. But why go
that way? I think we're in bed with Kuwait. I think we're pumping
oil out of Iraq to pay for this war. "If you're building
pipelines, you've got to have power, you've got to have light
-- trucks and personnel and food and all sorts of support. If
I had to bet, I'd say it looks like we're running Iraqi oil through
Kuwait. It would make sense, because Kuwait's got its infrastructure
intact." At the State Department in Washington, D.C., David
Staples on the Future of Iraqi Projects desk says he doesn't
know if Iraq's oil is flowing into Kuwait. He referred the query
to the Defense Department. A DoD spokesman suggested contacting
the Office of Coalition of Provisional Authority (OCPA) in Baghdad.
OCPA was not immediately available for comment.
Full Report
So where is Iraq's oil, especially the oil in its
rich south eastern fields, going?
The same place it went before Gulf War
I. To Kuwait.
Except this time, instead of slanted drilling
(going under the Iraqi-Kuwait border), the Bush family's old
friends, the Kuwaitis are taking it out in broad daylight...if
you have access to the satellite photos: In case you missed the
story the first time, here's the short story of why Iraq invaded
Kuwait ten plus years ago:"The whole dispute started because
Kuwait was slant-drilling. Using equipment bought from National
Security Council chief Brent Scowcroft's old company, Kuwait
was pumping out some $14-billion worth of oil from underneath
Iraqi territory. Even the territory they were drilling from had
originally been Iraq's. Slant-drilling is enough to get you shot
in Texas, and it's certainly enough to start a war in the Mideast.Even
so, this dispute could have been negotiated. But it's hard to
avoid a war when what you're actually doing is trying to provoke
a war"
Iraq: No Amnesty for Mass murderers U.S. and
U.K. Should Not Offer Immunity for Information
(New York, July 3, 2003) -- U.S. and U.K. officials should
not offer former senior Iraqi leaders amnesty or immunity from
prosecution in exchange for providing information on Saddam Hussein
or weapons of mass destruction, Human Rights Watch said today.Full Report
Contracting Company delay salary, but hastens
new recruitment
Modern Construction & Trading company is currently
recruting staff from Kerala. Even though some sources say that
the company is not giving salary and workers suffer from mental
tension. However, the company's senior staff is not concerned
and the Keralite wife of the Managing Director and the company
staff are least bothered..Join Discussion
Forum.
Immoral Students Behaviour due to Parents Fault, not
Principal's
More importantly - the parents who sent their
children to Indian Schools should keep some moral standards -
they have no time for anything, they are very busy in partying
and get-togethers, executive'w wifes driving posh cards, putting
all make-ups and wandering here and there so they fail to educate
their sons/daughters for a proper life. Their children wander
here there like stray dogs. They don't how to dress-up properly,
how to talk The parents should understand (may be purposely act
ignorant due to plenty of conveience of comfortable life in the
Gulf)that their children are the assets of a great country, they
should represent the image of the country Anyone can see absolute
chaois in their life patterns irrespective of girls or boys.
We blame managements, principals and not bothered to set a standard
for their children and not bothered to teach them what is life,
what is education and what it gives you. So start from each one's
home first and set an example for others.
New Procedures for Nomination of Seats from
the Central Pool for MBBS/BDS admission
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
is receiving a large number of requests from various sources
either for allotment of MBBS/BDS seats from the Central Pool
or recommending their names under the scheme of All India Entrance
Examinations for MBBS/BDS and MD/MS/MDS seats conducted by CBSE
and AIIMS respectively. The selection of candidates in All India
Entrance Examinations conducted by CBSE and AIIMS on the basis
of scheme devised and approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court
is made purely on merit basis and as such, no nomination under
the scheme is feasible.Full Report
Iraqis Defy Bush, Wound Seven U.S. Soldiers
in Attacks
BAGHDAD - Seven American soldiers were wounded
in two separate attacks on occupation forces in Iraq on Thursday,
a day after President Bush said there were enough U.S. troops
in Iraq to deal with the militants.
More
Public Sector Oil PSUS report 83 per
cent profit growth -Intenet Facility in Railway Stations
Saudi Government Should Stop Death Penalty of
Migrant Women" Rights Body
Asian Women Migrant
Workers on Death Row
(New York, July 2, 2003) --
The government of Saudi Arabia should impose a moratorium on
executions until all death penalty cases are independently reviewed,
Human Rights Watch said today. The review should also examine
practices of the justice and interior ministries that may have
violated basic due process rights of Saudi citizens and foreigners
sentenced to death. Human Rights Watch said the cases of two
Asian women migrant
workers sentenced to death for allegedly killing their employers
raise troubling questions about the transparency and fairness
of the Saudi justice system in capital punishment cases. Neither
woman had access to a lawyer or any other form of legal assistance,
and consular officials were not present at their trials. Both
women were convicted on the basis of confessions, a common feature
of the kingdom's justice system. "Innocent people may be
on death row in Saudi Arabia facing imminent execution,"
said Virginia Sherry, associate director of the Middle East and
North Africa division of Human Rights Watch. "Two Asian
women migrant workers now on death row are persuasive examples
of the need for review and reform: they did not speak Arabic,
did not have lawyers,
and may have been forced to sign confessions." -- More
Man buried baby girl, but she lives
Asian Age Special
Bhopal, July 3: When 30-year-old farmer Sudama
Patel decided on June 29 to cycle down to the local health centre
near Kailashpur village, in a remote corner of Rewa district,
with his pregnant wife Gulabkali in tow, little did he expect
to be languishing in jail 24 hours later for burying his newborn
baby girl. That the infant would miraculously survive may also
have been beyond the contours of his crude imagination. “Phir
ladki (A girl again)” exclaimed Sudama in disappointment
when the sex of the new born became clear. Seething in anger,
he slapped Gulabkali, picked up the baby, walked a few paces
and deposited her in the bushes in between two trees. And to
ensure that she did not live to see another day, he covered her
face with stones. Then, grabbing his cycle, he slipped off into
the woods, leaving his wife alone in the lengthening shadows
in the forest.
Full Report
Indian Shaikh Resigns
from Bank Board Membership
A leading Indian business family in Muscat is being monitored
by the law enforcement authorities for alleged money laundering
charges. One of the family members who was on the board of a
leading commercial bank since 1997 resigned from the board, following
investigation into various charges including illegal money transfer
. "He is not allowed to sign any major financial deals...The
escape of a former bank Chief Executive from the Caribbean is
also being investigated," said sources. Unconfirmed reports
say drug money from the western hemisphere was transferred through
some non-banking channels. They have to their credit not only
the local cheating case, but the Caribbean connection too. The
Shaikhs have been smartly duping banks, financial institutions,
ministries and even their local partners. It is also learned
that the payment pending from various parties is not being released.
Fearing the unknown, another Indian Shaikh started slowly pulling
out from Oman and is trying to build up a political career. Watch
this space.
Bengali's Life Saved by Kerala Doctor, the story of
Cleaning Rectum
MUSCAT — The ingenuity displayed in the
removal of a soft drink bottle, which seems to have accidentally
found its way into the rectum of an expatriate, has put a young
doctor and the local polyclinic where he works in the spotlight.
While many are still wondering how a nearly eight-inch, 2.5cm
diameter bottle (bottom) got stuck in a 37-year-old man’s
rectum, the rest are marvelling at the sheer resourcefulness
of Dr S. Deepak, specialist general and laparoscopic surgeon,
at Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, reported Adarsh Madhavan in the
Times
of Oman.
Crown Prince of Ras Al
Khaimah tours Dubai eGovernment offices and commends their achievements
UK Armed Forces raped hundreds of Kenyan women?
Six hundred and fifty allegations of rape
have so far been made against members of the UK army posted to
Kenya for training over a period of more than 30 years, Irene
Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International said today.
"The fact that so many rape claims over such a long period
of time were neither investigated nor prosecuted shows a systemic
failure of the UK army and may amount to institutional acquiescence
which encouraged a pattern of grave human rights violations by
members of the UK army."Full
Report
Gujarat Massacre Cases Sabotaged
(New York, July 1, 2003) - The ringleaders
of massacres committed in 2002
are still roaming free in Gujarat, Human Rights Watch charged
in a new
report released today.More
Eight Saudi Nationals Arrested in India
for Visa Norm Violations, Preaching Islam
Baroda, July 1: The police in Bharuch, Gujarat,
arrested nine foreigners for violating visa and immigration norms
by making "inflammatory" speeches and preaching Islam
in various parts of Bharuch since May 22. Eight of the arrested
men are from Saudi Arabia and the ninth is from Sudan Full
Report
An alleged Sexual Abuse of minor female
Student in School is said to be the real reason for sacking someone
important in the Indian schools? Those who detect such immoral
activity and molestation by influential people get marching orders?
Watch this space.
Join Discussion Forum.
Sacking orders are immoral, illegal, Moladah
School teachers. School could be fined upto huge amount for violating
labour rules.-Molada school teachers case postponed..More
Secret meeting in Kuwait could signal that
Iran is next on the chopping block, says report.
Two weeks ago, a prince of the Kuwaiti
Royal family received a phone call from an aide to Secretary
of Defense Donald Rumsfeld asking if the complex was available.
The prince already suspected it was needed for one of those secret
meetings, which Washington has taken to holding in the Gulf.
The next day a Hercules transport landed at Kuwait’s international
airport. From it emerged a group of pale-faced, middle-aged men
in drill shirts and chinos. They carried laptops and bulky briefcases.Full Report
Ambassadors Come and
Go...KM Will Continue its mission
- Kuwait
Indian School Iran
Indian Schools
Sacked Tehran Indian
School Teacher Becomes Principal in India
Jerry Thomas, Crusader of Teachers Right in Indian Schools
"You might remember me. I am Jerry Thomas,
legally dismissed teacher of the Indian School - Tehran, Iran.
Because of you and your brave portal I was able to get some justice
from my detractors, but not for long. By then they had gotten
to you and forced you to stop the crusade against evil. Anyway
that is all right. At present I am in India and I am working
in a reputed school as a Principal. (I won't disclose the name
due to obvious reasons) Please do not stop the crusade. The world
has hardly any brave and conscientious people nowadays. You were
one; do not go the way of ordinary people. Let us stand firm
in the face of injustice and evil. Let us overcome injustice
and evil with truth. Please do something to help the poor Indian
community being victimized in Tehran. Grave injustice is being
done to the Indian community living in Tehran, by the Indian
Embassy. Please do something to protect them and their interests.
Please do not allow evil forces to triumph like this, when you
have the power to do something. Your news portal was a crusader
and a powerful weapon against injustice. Please continue to be
so. I don't know whether Mr. XXX is still there in Kerala Monitor.
He was an ace and a go getter. Please take some action against
the evil doings of the Embassy of India.--More
Letters to the Editor Jerry Thomas, Crusader of Teachers Right
in Indian Schools IBM Unveils
New ThinkCentre Desktop Family Travel
with peace of mind this summer HolidayGuard Travel Insurance
now available on mytravelchannel.com Al
Alamiah Electronics prepares the Islamic University for the e-Government
Project Report
from American Free Press Top U.S. Officials
Discuss Expanding ‘Terror War’ to Iran, Beyond Halliburton
World Business Empire
Eleven Injured as Helicopter Crashes in Saudi
Asir Mountains
ABHA, 1 July 2003 — Eleven policemen
were hurt when their helicopter crashed while chasing a suspect
who on Saturday shot and seriously injured a security man. Security
sources said the helicopter was damaged when it made an emergency
landing in the mountains of Asir province, near the borders with
Yemen, at sunset on Sunday.Full
Report
Civil Defence
also announces the launch of a new portal offering for online
services
Dubai - The Department of Civil Defence today
(Sunday, June 29, 2003) signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the Dubai eGovernment to implement change management
programme within the department. Colonel Ali Al Sayed Ibrahim,
Director, Department of Civil Defence and Salem Al-Shair, Director
of eServices, Dubai eGovernment, signed the MoU. The Civil Defence
Department also re-launched its portal, which has been fully
integrated with the Dubai eGovernment portal www.dubai.ae, at
a press conference.
UNFT Revises Controversial Food Safety Standards
Rome - The Codex Alimentarius Commission opened
its 26th session today
with representatives from 169 countries coming together to decide
on the
adoption of a number of controversial new food safety standards
designed
to safeguard the health of consumers worldwide, while improving
global
agricultural trade opportunities.Full
Report
Nigeria: Strike against fuel prices shut down
cities
LAGOS, 30 June (IRIN) - Nigeria was shut down
on Monday by a general strike called by trade unions to protest
at a stiff increase in fuel prices. Banks, schools, government
offices and businesses were closed and the normally bustling
streets of major cities were devoid of traffic.Full
Report
Abuse Worsens AIDS Crisis Drug users, sex
workers targeted in one of world's worst AIDS epidemics
(New York, June 30, 2003) - Human rights abuse
against injection drug users
and sex workers in Kazakhstan is fueling one of the fastest growing
AIDS
epidemics in the world, Human Rights Watch said in a new report
released
today. More
Iraq: The US must ensure humane treatment
and access to justice for Iraqi detainees
Amnesty International called on the United
States today to give hundreds of Iraqis detained since the beginning
of the occupation the right to meet families and lawyers and
to have a judicial review of their detention. The organization
also called on the US to investigate allegations of ill-treatment,
torture and death into custody.
Explore Multi billion Oil and Gas
Contracts in Iraq
According to a recent Deutsche Bank report,
there could be as much as US$1.5 billion in contracts to upgrade
wells and pipes around the oil production facilities in Iraq.
The country which has 112.5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves,
used to earlier produce 2.8 million barrels of oil per day. With
the modernisation and repair of its infrastructure, experts say
that Iraq could be producing an additional million barrels of
oil per day. Full Report
Missing US Soldiers body Found in Iraq
BAGHDAD, 29 June 2003 — US forces in
Iraq recovered the bodies of two soldiers missing for three days
after apparently being abducted, the military said yesterday,
while a separate attack left one soldier dead and four wounded.
Full Report
14 UK Lesbians Get
Pregnant through the Internet
London, June 28: Fourteen lesbians have become
pregnant with the help of a British company selling sperm over
the Internet., the Asian Age
reported. ManNotIncluded.com, whose sperm donor introduction
service for lesbians and single women began a year ago, said
on Friday that Britain’s first online baby would be born
within four weeks. One of the company’s lesbian customers,
Jaime Saphier, 26, said she was expecting a child in January
after she and her partner paid more than £1,300 for a sperm
sample that they chose from a list of anonymous donors on the
website, said the Asian Age Report. Full
Report
Father's Negligence Cause Tragic Death
of a 3 year old Girl
MUSCAT - An Arab family witnessed the tragic
death of a three year old daughter due to mere negligence of
parents. According to informed people, an Omani picked up his
kids from a summer school and when they reached home (Al Hail
near Seeb,) the father took out all the children, locked the
car and went inside the villa at around 2 p.m. Unfortunately
one of the kids, a three year old girl, was sleeping in the backseat.
Full Report
Oman Forum
Discusses Chedi Hotel Scandal
Founder
Promoter Allegedly took 10 percent Cut for Every deal including
Royalty paid to Singapore Hotel Chain
-
- Media Freedom
in 2003 UAE Kuwait,
Qatar,
Bahrain Saudi Arabia Egypt
Internet Freedom
Global tensions,
lack of democracy keep Gulf media cowed
Newspapers in Saudi Arabia are privately-owned
but their publishers and editors are appointed or must be approved
of by the government. The powerful Higher Media Council is headed
by interior minister Prince Nayef, who is the true master of
the media. Local television is deliberately under-equipped. Satellite
receiver dishes are everywhere, though they are frowned on by
the government. The Internet is another source of information
, but since its belated arrival in the country in 1999, access
has been restricted by the government's Internet Services Unit.
A survey by Harvard Law School said access to more than 2,000
website was blocked, not just pornographic or ordinary film sites,
but those to do with politics, health, women's rights and education.
The Internet is the bane of all dictatorial regimes, but even
in democracies, new anti-terrorism laws have tightened government
control of it and undermined the principle of protecting journalistic
sources. This report is about attitudes to the Internet by the
powerful in 60 countries, between spring 2001 and spring 2003.Full Report
X-rays in International Airports to strip-search
travelers
June 27, 2003 A new
security scanning X-ray system which is being tested in the US
will effectively strip passengers to detect whether they are
carrying any explosives. The controversial anti-terrorist measure
could dramatically boost travel safety, but passengers will have
to pass through an uncomfortable position of being stripped in
airports and customs clearance . More
News
Cyber-dissident wins the first Cyber-Freedom
Prize awarded by Reporters s@ns frontières - Globenet
for 2003
Saudiazation of Supermarkets boomerangs?
According to senior manager of one of the
oldest supermarkets on Takhassusi Street the store had to fire
20 out of 50 new Saudi recruits within a short period due to
frequent absenteeism, lack of punctuality and excessive use of
mobile phones at counters
Two journalists physically attacked in the
UAE
Reporter Abdelhay Mohamed and photographer
Mohamed Omran Shahed, of the daily paper Al-Ittihad, were attacked
by two employees of a construction firm. Several dozen Egyptian
immigrant labourers had complained to the paper about their living
and working conditions, saying they had no contracts, had not
been paid for a long time and were forced to live in tiny rooms.
The paper sent the two journalists to investigate. While they
were taking photos of the cramped living quarters, two of the
firm's employees attacked them, tearing up the reporter's notebook
and smashing the photographer's camera. Full
Report
Thousands
of refugees displaced by unrest at Kenyan camp
NAIROBI, 25 June (IRIN) - About 30,000 Sudanese
refugees have been displaced from their homes within the Kakuma
refugee camp in northwestern Kenya, due to fighting with the
local Turkana people which has claimed 11 lives. .
US orders nuke labs to improve security levels
WASHINGTON, June 24 -- US Energy Secretary
Spencer Abraham ordered Tuesday the nuclear weapons laboratories
across the country to improve security in response to recent
security problems."In light of recent security incidents
at the labs ... improved security must be aggressive and far
reaching," said Abraham. More
news
Global Healthcare
Standards
Expatriate Patient dont get
timely treatment in Governemnt Hospitals.
An Indian expatriate who has been suffering from serious
pain recently approached a health center for free treatment as
provided in his job contract. As the disease apparently could
not be handled in the Health center, the doctor referred him
to a hospital with better infrastructure and facilities. The
aged patient who approached the health center in the first week
of June 2003 was shocked to receive a medical advise to meet
the specialist doctor in the recommended Government hospital
after six months!!! God only knows whether some critical patient
will survive six months to meet the doctor at all. While one
can understand the pressure in government hospitals due to limited
resources, especially for expatriates, giving an appointment
after six months is not a good health care practice for a country
which boasts of the best health care protection in the world.
Even expatriates who work for the government machinery are excluded
from the health care facilities? Earlier reports said pregnant
expatriate women could not be accommodated in government hospitals
and were forced to approach the private hospitals. Media reports
said the concerned ministry denied any such discrimination in
Government hospitals.- KM Special.
Recent
KM Special Reports and Exclusives (Click)
Four dead, two injured in explosion
at Bhuj more Indian News
|
Trishul Testfired in Orissa
Balasore, Orissa, June 25For the fourth time
in a row since last Sunday, the indigenously built sophisticated
short range Surface-to-Air missile ''Trishul'' was testfired
from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea, about
15 km from here today. The Missile, especially designed for the
sea-skimming exercise for the Indian Navy, was testfired from
a mobile launcher at 1345 hrs, ITR sources said.more |
Buddham Sharanam Gachaami,Is
Vajpayee trying to please Lord Buddha to smile again?
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
offering prayers at White Horse Temple at Louyang during his
visit to China on June 25, 2003 (Wednesday). keralamonitor.com |
NORKA Warns NRKs about dubious
Agencies Collecting money for Welfare Schemes, Roots is the only
authorised agency. but why a number of unknown agencies are given
recognition? . More News from
Kerala
Saudi Airline
recommended to lay off 2 , 880 Employees as KLM announces new
job cuts
Man Who Sold Fake IDs to 9/11
Hijackers Allegedly Had Wider Terror Ties
U.S. Punishes People With Power, Water Cut-Offs:
Iraqis Should more UK troops be sent to Iraq? US
journalist officially arrested in Aceh U.S.
Department of State issues new report on Iran
Sakhr Software Co. reinforces its
partnership with Ultimus
automating business processes in the Middle East
Iraq: Human rights must be foundation for
rebuilding
Amman - On the eve of a major conference being
organised by the World Economic Forum, where the future and reconstruction
of Iraq will be discussed, Amnesty International today expressed
concern over the current human rights situation in Iraq, saying:
" respect for human rights must be the foundation to achieve
security, peace and freedom in Iraq."More
News
British Forces Hunt for Gunmen
in Iraq; Strengthening Public distribution System, PM toconvene
meeting, India-China Relationstoimprove; New Fiber Optic cable
network for Railways More
News
DNRD felicitates officers and staff
from IT department for excellent services
during DSF 2003 Dubai eGovernment
online services reach 600 mark UAE mobile phone penetration extensively
outpaces landlines LG Vice Chairman Due in Dubai US
Asks Syria to Control Terrorists Washington
tries to persuade New Delhi to send troops to Iraq
US loses helicopter, fighter jet in Iraq Education key to fighting child trafficking,
says UNICEF LIBERIA:
Government estimates over 300 killed in fighting
Cyber Crime - Online Romance Partner Duples
Gulf NRI
MUMBAI - A former executive of a cement company,
who cheated an Indian engineer based in Abu Dhabi of almost Rs10
million by posing as a woman and having an 'online relationship',
has been arrested here, and several laptop computers and mobile
phones seized from him. J.S. Sodi, assistant commissioner of
police (ACP) in-charge of the Cyber Cell of Mumbai Police, told
this correspondent that Pranab Mitra, the accused, had woven
a complicated web, trapping Abu Dhabi-based Vinay Ninawe and
forcing him to part with almost Rs10 million.Full
Report
300 Employees
of Oman Transport and Contracting Co not paid
Women and children eating grass in
flood-hit region
School
Fees Increased Three Times without Patrons Approval
No Guarantee for Three Crores of Parents Money! From 700
students in the beginning Indian School Ghubra has now got more
than 3000 students
"As per clause 7 of the agreement signed
by Mr.Mohammed Ali himself, he is supposed to give a guarantee
to the patron for an amount equal to the number collected as
deposits from the parents. In the initial period, he might have
given one. But there is no record found in the Embassy files.
The school is also not producing their copy after repeated requests,"
says a board member quoting the report. "If due to any reason
Mohammed Ali is unable to return this money to the parents, who
will be held responsible? Not Mr.Mohammed Ali but the poor board
of directors," the member adds. The letter dated 25th June
2002 issued by the Ministry of Education, Oman interpreted the
local law in the conflict arising in the Indian School Seeb case
states : " The agreement signed between any person or party
with the Indian Embassy contravenes the provision of the Ministerial
decree 116/91." Full Report.
Asian Age Report Says India happy with
UAE Cooperation in Dawood Case, Pakistan authorities gave free
access to the Dawood Gang
Indian Absconded with more than a crore
MUSCAT -The manager of a leading trading firm in Muttrah,
Muscat has been absconding allegedly with huge amount of money
from a wholesale trading establishment. The absconding happened
almost a month ago, has left many big business houses with huge
exposure. In one case, the trading house owes RO 35,000 to a
leading Gujarathi business house. More than 20 company staff
have left the country before the manager decided to abscond with
the cash. The amount involved is mind boggling, said sources.
Special Meeting of Commercial Representatives
from West Asia, North Africa
CII, FIEO, FICCI to meet business counterparts from GCC
New Delhi - June 2, 2003 A Conference of the
Commercial Representatives (CRs) of India from Amman (Jordan),
Abu Dhabi (UAE), Algiers (Algeria), Cairo (Egypt), Khartoum (Sudan),
Kuwait, Muscat (Oman), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Sana’a (Yemen),
Tehran (Iran) and Tel Aviv (Israel) is being held from 3rd to
7th June 2003. This Conference is being organised by the Department
of Commerce in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII), the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) and
the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Full Report and More News
Sex Scandal
Hits Kerala Politics: Lady accuses Political Leader of rape,
Sexual Abuse for several years
New Labour Welfare Measures by Cleaning and
Contracting Company : You are an Unwanted Worker if u work for
RO 45 per month! But if you work for RO 30 per month, welcome
back!
Some of the Gulf countries are introducing
new labour laws intended to protect the workers interest. A cleaning
and contracting company in Muscat which is employing nearly 1000
workers has recently took a unilateral decision to cut the Indian
workers salary by almost 25 per cent.
A notice issued to workers of Oman International
Group, entitled " Redundancy / Change in Basic Wage"
reads --"Due to recession in the cleaning industry, we intend
to make redundant most of our employees (cleaners) whose basic
wage is RO:45/- or RO:38/- per month. Since your basic wage is
RO:45/- you are one to be made redundant. However, if you wish
to continue employment with OIG, then you must agree to accept
a new contract of employment which will show your basic wage
as RO:30/- per month, with effect from June 2003.We assure you
that your gratuity dues up to 31st May 2003 will be calculated
@ RO: 45/- (your present basic wage), and thereafter the gratuity
will be calculated @ RO:30/- per month. Please sign below in
acceptance of the above terms and conditions."
It is not known whether the revised salary
applies to the local employees who are ensured a minimum salary
per month. Is there a concept of minimum wages in the new labour
contract and can companies impose such decisions in this manner?
" Is this in line with local labour law especially new and
innovative labour law announced as per the directive of the higher
authorities. Majority of these are poor illiterate workers toiling
more than 8 to 10 hours a day in torching heat. Cleaning companies
charge their contracting companies at least a four fold of what
they give these workers.," says one of our readers in a
letter send to the editor. KM spoke to some of the affected workers
who said their salary is in fact slashed!!! A notice is displayed
in the company's Ghala camp notice board. They have to work long
hours, get overtime at the rate of 200 baizas per hour! How can
these poor workers invoke the provisions of new labour law, which
has many clauses to protect their right. Thanks to the kind approach
of local government, a humanitarian labour law is drafted and
implemented. But are the companies following it? Nearly 1000
employees are affected by this decision.
2003 IATA Eagle Awards : UAE General
Civil Aviation Authority Gets Special Prize
IATA Says Airline Industry in Crisis,
Change Essential
"Labor costs
cannot remain immune from the change in cost structure needed
by the industry. Cost reduction has seen (airline) industry employees
accept wage cuts in addition to the painful loss of over 400,000
jobs." Full Report
India to discontinue Receiving Small Aid
Packages Prime Minister for Strengthening
Indo-German ties Encourage Expats
to Bring Their Families GCC Study Storm
death toll rises to 41 in Philippines Chinese vessel sinks near
Danish island 3 US soldiers dead, 6 injured in road accident
in Iraq Storm death toll rises to 41 in Philippines G8 summit opens
on growth, development and security Two
Huge Explosions Rock Afghanistan Russia
to take spent nuclear fuel back from Iran Dubai
Development Board signs MoU with Dubai eGovernment to offer eServices
More
Shoot Out Killing in Saudi Arabia War
crime threat to Blair Airline Industry in Crisis,
Change Essential: IATA
Muscat
Belly Dancer Story Rocks Indian Foreign Office as Meena takes
on Abhayankar
Women Wine W...
RM Abhyankar, on a trip to Oman, "visited the Sheraton
hotel's nightclub … with another person and charged the
expenditure to the government's account ... his room rent bill
also included charges for a call made to a temporary GSM mobile
connection. This telephone was traced to a dancer girl serving
the Saba nightclub of the hotel." Full
Report from Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Saudi Ministry Fires 353 Imams, Muezzins in Clean
Up Operations
RIYADH, 1 June 2003 — The Ministry of
Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance has fired 353
imams and muezzins (prayer callers) while at the same time asking
some1 , 357imams and muezzins to attend training courses to improve
their performance. The move to terminate and also to train hundreds
of these employees in the Kingdom, however, is part of an on-going
process to evaluate services to the public. The move is unrelated
to the deadly attacks in Riyadh .Full
Report
3 US soldiers dead, 6 injured in
road accident in Iraq
BAGHDAD, May 31 -- Three US soldiers were
killed and six others injured in a road accident in northern
Iraq, US Central Command (CentCom) said on Saturday.The accident
occurred Friday as a group of US soldiers, which were part of
a unit attached to the US Army's 101st Airborne Division, were
driving on the road between the northern Iraqi cities of Mosul
and Tikrit. Full Report
Storm death toll rises to 41
in Philippines Chinese vessel sinks near Danish island 3 US soldiers
dead, 6 injured in road accident in Iraq Storm death toll rises
to 41 in Philippines Iraq: NGOs Call
For Investigation Of Use Of Depleted Uranium In WarIran:
$5 Billion In Drug Money Laundered Annually, Government Says
Blair Denies Weapons Of Mass Destruction
Evidence Was Faked Russian
defense minister defends nuclear cooperation with Iran Iraqi Suspect in Mass Killings Released
U.S. Fails to Address Past Crimes Systematically US
military mistakenly releases Iraqi suspect for mass murder More
News
Missing Malayali Returns home
Madhu Unnikrishnan has come back to his house by noon today.
The family , his wife Latha and daughter, were relieved to see
him coming back after a gap of three days driving his own car.
He seems to be disturbed and did not want to disclose details
about his disappearance. Apparently he is depressed and did not
speak to the media. It is learned that another staff of the same
company and same division was missing for a few days last month
and he also came back dramatically. While the company officials
are till tight lipped, KM is not venturing into any more speculation.
It was another story a few years back when one of the executives
was found spending lavishly in one of the ladies bear bars in
town and was caught for some dubious deals. However, nothing
of that sort is suspected now as Madhu is said to be a loyal
and sincere worker of the group. There is no question of harassmen
of any sort, claimed senior officials. However, other junior
level staff are tightlipped and appears to be fearing to speak
out to the press.
Earlier Report There
is no trace of Madhu Unnikrishnan, NTT senior manager, on the
third day of his disappearance as family members and NTT officials
continue the frantic search. It is learned that he had left the
collection money from ticket sales in the residence and did not
carry much cash. Company officials are examining the amount of
cash left at home. Just before disappearing, Madhu was dealing
with some of the Indian schools. Indian Schools ticket sales
involves huge amount of cash, said sources.
Skilled illegal expats not worried about future : Khaleej
Times
ABU DHABI - 31 May 2003Skilled expatriate
workers who had been living in the UAE illegally and have either
already left the country or will be leaving under the government's
amnesty are not much worried about their future because of new
job opportunities coming up in Turkey, Cyprus and Korea, which
are likely to absorb at least 25 to 30 per cent of them. About
40,000 workers of various nationalities left the country, availing
themselves of the first amnesty deadline of April 30 while another
3,000 to 4,000 went home taking advantage of the one-month extension.
Full
Report
Bahrain to give Special visa for Amwaj expats : Gulf
Daily News
By SOMAN BABY
MANAMA - EXPATRIATES who own property in Al
Marsa Floating City at Amwaj Islands will be granted permanent
residence in Bahrain. The project is being promoted by Saraya
Property Company, which has been informed by the immigration
authorities about a special visa arrangement for foreign investors
in the $ 1 billion (BD378m) Amwaj Islands project.
Full Report
Saudi Crackdown on Al Qaeeda Intensified: Arab News
JEDDAH, 31 May 2003 — As the Kingdomwide
crackdown on Al-Qaeda and its sympathizers continues in the wake
of the May 12 Riyadh bombings in which 25 people died, the Saudi
authorities are extending their investigations further afield
in their search for more information on Saudi terrorist suspects.
There were major developments in Sudan, Iran and Pakistan yesterday
in relation to both the Riyadh bombings and other terrorist arrests,
John R. Bradley, Managing Editor
Arab NewsReported. "A high-level team of Saudi security
experts arrived in Khartoum to aid in the investigation of 19
people, including 17 Saudis, recently arrested on suspicion of
belonging to a terrorist network. The 19, who also included a
Palestinian and a Sudanese, were captured as they were engaged
in military training at a camp near Laqawa town in West Kordofan
State, said the paper quoting the London-based Al-Hayat daily.
Full Report
NTT Senior Manager
Missing Since Thursday Morning
- Madhu Unnikrishnan worked
in Airport till late night on Wednesdy
MUSCAT - A senior manager of National
Travel and Tourism (NTT)Madhu Unnikrishnan has been missing since
Thursday morning, said his family members, who have been frantically
searching for the middle aged senior manager of the Bahwan Group
company. According to information from our sources, Madhu went
to the Seeb International Airport late in the night for some
purpose and unconfirmed reports say he reached home. According
to KM sources, his wife and family said that he has been missing
since Thursday morning. "He has gone to office at 7.30 and
did not return," said a social worker, on the basis of briefing
from his wife about the missing drama. A senior executive of
the Bahwan group company's travel division, Madhu, is a well
known name in the travel trade. According his colleagues, he
handles lot of money and occupies prominent position in the ticketing
section. Company officials are tightlipped about the missing
case. Even his immediate colleagues have pretended ignorance
about the case.. KM could not ascertain whether it is an absconding
case as his car is also missing. Madhu's family lives in Al Khuwair
area. This is the travel season and ticketing staff handles lot
of money. The worried family members were also tightlipped about
the issue and did not want to disclose about the disappearance
as the company officials are doing everything for tracing the
missing staff . Madhu's father is also expected from India to
help the family trace the missing Malayali. Watch this space.
|
Its interior look as good as any other
standard upmarket restaurant in Muscat. The menu, especially
the biriyani and fruit juices are not bad! See for yourself (click
Picture)
|
Al Failaq LLC Opens New Restaurant
and Coffee House in Muscat
 |
Indian Embassy Building Project
Indian Government will save RO 6600 per month
rent to the Embassy Building and RO 2500 monthly payment to the
Ambassadors residence in Qurum. (Indian Rs. 1.5 crores in an
year!) All embassies in Oman have their own buildings -embassy
building and the ambassadors residence are in one complex. Half
of the embassy building hired at RO 6,600 is empty. No one was
concerned when such a building was hired for higher rent. Even
the Comptroller and Auditor General sitting in New Delhi could
identify the corruption involved in hiring embassy buildings
not only in Muscat, but in four other places. Oman's Ambassador
to India is already living in a new building constructed on a
piece of land in Chanakyapuri allotted by the Government of India.
The Ministry of External Affairs is handling everything related
to new building project and all prequalification applications
are sent to Delhi. Whatever is good for the country or the public
is not good for our business friends! Thanks to their clout,
the project could not be implemented for the last twenty years!
Even now if the pace of progress is any indication, the new embassy
building will remain only a mirage. The country will continue
to pay Rs.10 lakh per month only as rent! !!! If it can wait
for two decades, is it necessary to speed up now?
Tony Blair likely to sued for War Crimes
in Iraq
Thursday, May 29, 2003 The BBC reports that
British Prime Minister Tony Blair is about to be charged as a
war criminal by the Greek Bar Association before the International
Criminal Court. Dimitris Paxinos, president of the lawyers' association,
told the BBC that Blair will be charged with "crimes against
humanity and war crimes." President George Bush escapes
being charged, as the United States is not a signatory to the
ICC. Full Report
Air Transport Association Names new
Chief Operating Officer
Students Sex Session Video filmed in British School
Dormitry
Mirror Report Exposes British school Sex Scandal
:
LONDON -THE two teenage boys in the Wellington
College sex scandal set up a secret video camera in a dormitory
cupboard. And the film of Paul Doran-Jones's romp with his girlfriend
was "full-on stuff', according to a pupil who saw a common
room screening. Doran-Jones, 17, and fellow rugby player James
Haskell, 18, have been banned from school premises with Paul's
lacrosse-playing girlfriend, 17, the Mirror Reported. She was
unaware her naked romp with Doran-Jones was being videoed and
is not being named by the Mirror. Wayne Francis of Mirror reported
the story.A sixth-former who saw the secret video of Paul Doran-Jones,
17, making love to his girlfriend in the boys' dormitory at Wellington
College, said: "It lasted for fully 30 minutes. Full
Report
Private Indian School in Muscat Sacks
Two Employees for....Watch this space
Syria Asks Palestinian Groups’
Officials To Leave: Sources Four
killed in US small plane crash Strong
earthquake hits Peru, felt in capital Lima FBI
warns of possible al-Qaida attacks Blair
holds talks with Kuwaiti FM on Mideast affairs -US
envoy arrives at Egypt for Bush's maiden Mideast trip -India Singapore
Economic Cooperation Agreement Report India Singapore Economic Cooperation Agreement
Report -Regulating Welfare Fund
Collection through Legislation 4
US soldiers killed in helicopter crash: Al Jazeera TV
Employees of Closed or Bankrupt Companies
in the UAE can Change Sponsorship
DUBAI - Employees of closed and bankruptcompanies
can transfer their sponsorship without prior permission from
their original employer, the UAE Ministry of Labour and Social
Affairs said yesterday. Full Report
US fighter plane crashes in S.Korea
SEOUL, May 29 An F-16 fighter of the United
States Forces Korea (USFK) 7th Air Force crashed Thursday evening
while taking off from the Osan Air Base at Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi
Province, about 55 kilometers south of Seoul.The pilot was ejected
from the plane when the accident occurred at about 8:06 p.m.
(1106 GMT) and was immediately rushed to a hospital inside the
base. But details about the situation of the pilot have not been
available. Full Report
- Send pictures and details of your company/association/personal
events
K.M.Meena takes initiative to Construct
Indian Embassy Building in Muscat
First Ambassador in last two decades to take concrete steps
to save several crores on rental payment to private parties.
Years after land allotment was
made, Embassies in Muscat and Doha have been operating from Rented
Buildings. A bunch of corrupt officials in the Ministry of External
Affairs (MEA) and puppet ambassadors caused severe drain on Government
coffers. For the first time in the last one decade, an ambassador
has taken an initiative to construct a building for the Indian
Embassy in Muscat.Pre qualification tenders are already received
and the premature transfer of the ambassador may not affect the
project. Is this bold step another action of the Ambassador that
antagonised the business community who have bribed Indian MPs
to remove Meena even before completing two years in office! -Delay in
taking decision by the MEA regarding construction proposals of
Chancery-cum-Embassy residences and other buildings in four missions
including Muscat led to avoidable expenditure of Rs 26.27 core
on hiring of buildings, revealed the Comptroller and Auditor
General report. Even though most of the embassies in Muscat have
their own buildings, the Indian Embassy, Muscat has been working
from rented buildings. Government
of Oman earmarked a plot of land measuring 12,557 sq. meters
in August 1974 for construction of Indian Chancery-cum-Embassy
residence in Muscat on reciprocal basis but the agreement between
Government of Oman and Government of India was signed in December
1991 i.e. after 17 years. As per agreement, the construction
of the buildings was to be completed within two years from the
date of taking possession of land More
Fake Firms Cheat Indian Workers With Forged
Iqamas in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH, 29 May 2003 — Dozens of foreign
workers roam the streets and neighborhoods of the capital with
forged iqamas. They paid money to offices advertising iqama services
and claiming to be authorized to deal with the Passports Department.
After discovering that there was something wrong with the documents,
they returned to find the offices closed and the owners gone
without a trace. More
Saudi Justice System: Report
Card Needed
(New York, May 28, 2003) -- A year after the
introduction of reforms to its
criminal justice system, the government of Saudi Arabia should
publicly
disclose the concrete steps it has taken to improve safeguards
against
longstanding abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. The kingdom's
new
criminal procedure code became law in May 2002. More
- Saudi Arab arrests suspects allegedly
involved in Riyadh bombings
- Pakistan not to curtail nuclear
power: defense minister 2 US soldiers killed, 9 wounded in Iraq
attack India should participate in Iraq's reconstruction: US
India to retain edge over China in Russian arms sales: report
Dubai invites India's gem, jewelry industry to its FTZ Ram Naik launches Lanka IOC Tiger Habitat and
Population Evaluation System for the Indian Subcontinent launched
Much of the Rural Population in the Middle East Suffers from
"Information Poverty"
IRAQ: Rumsfeld Suggests Iraq Destroyed Banned
Weapons, Warns Iran
U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
said yesterday that Iraq may have destroyed its alleged stores
of chemical and biological weapons before the U.S.-led invasion
in March."It is possible that they decided that they would
destroy them prior to a conflict," Rumsfeld said during
remarks at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, where
he discussed the unsuccessful effort to find evidence of banned
weapons in Iraq.More News
Earthquake magnitude 5.8 hits Algeria
ALGIERS, May 27 -- Another earthquake of magnitude
5.8 hit Algeria late Tuesday evening, the state radio reported.Citing
seismological authorities in Strasbourg, France,the radio reported
the tremor while appealing for calm.An earthquake measuring 6.7
on the Richter scale hit the NorthAfrican country last Wednesday,
killing 2,218 people and injuringnearly 9,500 others.More than
200 aftershocks have ever since jolted the country,jeopardizing
already unstable structures. More News
Agreement signed to Construct Seeb Indian School Building
MUSCAT -The Indian School
Seeb has entered into an agreement with a builder to construct
a school building that can accommodate minimum 1000 students
in the first phase. At a time when the business tycoons and greedy
NRIs are spreading rumours about the future of Indian School
Seeb to create panic among parents, the concerned authorities
- School Management Committee and members of the board responsible
for Seeb School operations - have already signed an agreement
to construct the school building. Full Report
In Indian School Muladha there is a
fund of more than one lakh Riyals as on today. the present management
committe doesn't know what to do with that( of course they are
very straight forward that is why they made such a balance within
a short period) salutes to the prevoius management committee
who showed only minus fund after having a tenure of 9 years and
of course they dont have the head ache like the new guys. parents
wants redduction of fees or the much more items appearing on
their fee receipt such as development fee etc, but the BOD is
blocking any such reductions is the version of the SMC, I have
a Simple Question is the BOD or the Patron or the School management
Commitee have the power to reduce fees ? if any body can answer
me please!!!!!
Debate Surplus Funds in Mulada Indian School
Surprising to know that the Indian School
Muladha, which is comparatively half the size of other Indian
schools in the capital with almost less than half the total student
strength and lower school fee, is having a huge surplus of one
lakh Riyals. At the same time, the Hindu Mahajan Association
which runs the Indian School Wadi Kabir and Indian School Sohar
claim that the ISW has not made a single profit in last one decade!
What a contradiction.
2 US soldiers killed,
9 wounded in Iraq attack Mytravelchannel.com
Travel show on Emirates 2 a huge success IBM
Unveils New Line of Value-Priced Notebooks in the Middle East
What Encouraged 30 MPs to Sign a Complaint
Against the Indian Ambassador working thousands of miles away
from their constitutency!
They never met the Ambassador
Only recently the BJP government
in India came under severe criticism for corruption and bribery.
A minister had to resign for demanding bribe. Here a group of
NRIs are openly claiming that they got 30 MPs write a complaint
against an ambassador located thousands of miles away from their
constitutency! How do they know the ground reality here? Did
the MPs take "favours" to sign such a complaint against
a sincere diplomat? Going by the past experience, it appears
that the so called powerful NRIs have influenced these MPs. Recently
they organised a grand party to celebrate the ambassadors transfer.
Unfortunately, even the local media which is claiming to be a
watchdog of common man's interest is praising and worshipping
such corrupt tycoons. They will be eligible for a special award
for bribery and corruption in the next Pravasi Sammelan Full Report
Memorandum of
Understanding between P. Mohammed Ali and Renjith Guptha for
the Al Ghubra Indian School Page II Page
III
Powell says no change in US policy on Iran
WASHINGTON, May 27US Secretary of State Colin
Powell said Tuesday that his country would continue to keep contacts
with Iran and has not changed its policy on Iran. "Our policies
with respect to Iran have not changed," Powell told reporters
after his meeting with Madagascar president Marc Ravalomanana.More
Al-Jazeera TV Chief Sacked
Dubai 28 May 2003 —Al-Jazeera said yesterday
that its general director has been sacked after allegations were
made that he worked with Saddam Hussein’s intelligence services.
Mohammed Jassem Al-Ali visited Iraq before the US-led war, meeting
Saddam during an hour-long interview.More
Sooresh P Ramdas lashes out at covert campaign
against the Ambassador
"The way certain sections
of our community are crowing about their role in getting the
transfer order issued is a matter of shame for all us Indians
and that our own kin have got it done through their illicit relationship
with unscrupulous politicians is double shame on us!
K.M.Meena, down but not out
In any case if they wish to remain under the
umbrella of the Embassy they should convert to a truly community
school. No one is stopping them from running a commercial school
like MPS or ABA or ?.. and pay your income tax and whatever else
you are liable to. But, under the Embassy?s umbrella it has to
be a community school like ISM, ISD, ISS, Sur, Ibri, Nizwa, Salalah,
Jalan, Muladha ??.. The Indian Embassy is not the private backyard
for businessmen of one sub community or the other to use and
abuse as they want, when they want. It is the symbol of India
for each one of us proud Indians irrespective of who ?occupies
the chair?. No one sub community or individual has the right
to trample on the symbol of our pride and identity. There are
many here who would sell their soul for a few Rials. But I can
challenge the ?writer? that if you were to survey the average
Indian in Oman they would, to a man, come out in support of upholding
the respect and dignity of the Indian flag! The way certain sections
of our community are crowing about their role in getting the
transfer order issued is a matter of shame for all us Indians
and that our own kin have got it done through their illicit relationship
with unscrupulous politicians is double shame on us! If the self
styled leaders and award winners had any self respect or an iota
of decency I challenge them to petition the Prime Minister of
India to retain the Ambassador and accept the test of working
out this mess that they have created by exploiting the weaknesses
of earlier occupants of the chair. Getting the present incumbent
transferred shows the mala fide intentions of the affected parties
? read certain businessmen ? and smacks or sheer cowardice and
escapism. Full Report
Saudi Police capture Smuggled TNT
Explosives Iraq's
mobile phone subscribers could touch 5 million in three years
Toll rises to 2,212 after strong earthquake
in Algeria 78 Injured in Japanese Earthquake US soldier killed
in Iraq More News
Britain tightens security against potential
terror
LONDON, May 24 -- Britain is stepping up security
measures to combat potential terrorist attacks on its soil, The
Times newspaper reported Saturday. Concrete barriers like those
installed Friday outside the Houses of Parliament to deter terrorists
would soon be put in place at other key landmarks in London,
the newspaper said. Full Report
P.C. Thomas Becomes Law and Justic Minister.Full Report
Iraqi oil export to resume "within
3 weeks": acting oil minister
Dubai IT Training firms raided for
using illegal software
UN should take up core function in Iraq: Iranian
FM
TEHRAN, May 24 -- Iranian Foreign Minister
Kamal Kharrazi said on Saturday the United Nations must take
up a core function in Iraq. In a meeting with his visiting Polish
counterpart Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, Kharrazi said Full Report
Why Shah-Brado Wanted to Sack ISM
Principal on March 31, 2003 when CBSE Exam was progressing?
Policemen caught, jailed for Theft using
Official Vehicle to rob in Mid night - Watch this space.
A fire
truck stands outside the Danube upermarket at Bugshan Center,Saudi.
Senior Baath Party official in custody:
US forces More News
Explosion in US Law
University
- An explosion occurred Wednesday in the mail
room at the prestigious Yale University law school in the United
States, but no injuries or deaths were reported so far. US has
no real plans for Iraq: British newspaper US to launch foreigner-
tracking system next year at borders Sri Lanka flood death toll
rises to more than 300 Morocco says Casablanca bombings linked
with int'l terrorism. More News
Discussion Forum - Babu
The Indian Schools are controled by some bussiness
rackets. There are some of the management committee memebers
are not having the eligibility to become the manager of an educational
institution. And even they are in position even more that 10
years continuesly. We have to discuss this matter in public.
expecting reply from everybody Join
the Discussion Forum
Manorama Report on Indian School,
No September 11 like Hijacking Bid In Saudi,
says Minister
JEDDAH, 22 May 2003 — Interior Minister
Prince Naif yesterday denied as “baseless” foreign
agency reports that security forces had arrested three Moroccans
in Jeddah who were planning to hijack a civilian plane and carry
out a suicide operation. However, the minister said police had
held two Moroccans who were wanted for previous security cases.
“There is no truth in this. The truth is that those who
were arrested were two Moroccans who were wanted over previous
security cases,” Saudi TV quoted Prince Naif as saying.
Full Report
Western Owned Business in Saudi Hit by Terrorism
JEDDAH, 22 May 2003 — Many patrons of
Western-owned businesses have opted to stay away until the threat
of terrorist attacks has abated, some giving their business to
their Saudi-owned and operated equivalent. Fueled by the closure
of the American, British and German diplomatic missions and international
schools until Saturday, many of these businesses are seen as
possible targets of a terrorist attack.Full
Report
US stocks dip amid mad cow scare, lifted terror
alert
NEW YORK, May 20 ) -- Wall Street stocks closed slightly lower
Tuesday as investors grew nervous about mad cow disease and a
heightened terror alert. The Dow Jones industrial average inched
down 2.03 points, or 0.02 percent, to 8,491.36 after having declined
sharply 185 points over the previous session. More
More News
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY ADOPTS HISTORIC TOBACCO
CONTROL PACT
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control now ready for signature
Geneva - May 21, The 192 members of the World
Health Organization, today unanimously adopted the Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) aimed at curbing tobacco-related
deaths and disease. This is the first international treaty negotiated
under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO).Full Report
Western Expatriate Schools, embassies closed
in Saudi fearing Al Qauedaa Threat
Jeddah - May 21, 2003 British and American
schools in Saudi Arabia are closed on a temporary basis on security
grounds. US, British and German diplomatic missions are also
closing for a four-day period for the same reason. Even though
IB and GCSE examinations are going the British International
School (Continental) in Jeddah would close until Saturday - for
four days. Recent reports suggested that imminent terrorist strikes
would hit western civilian targets More
New York police boost security amid higher
national terror alert
NEW YORK, May 20 -- The New York Police Department
(NYPD) on Tuesday stepped up security in sensitive areas around
the city in response to an increased threat of terrorism that
led the US government to raise the national terror alert level
to orange. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said they will deploy
more undercover officers and heavily-armed "Hercules Units"
and set up additional vehicle checkpoints. More
Media Monitor Radio Comes Back as Mainstream Media?
These days all good things are being said
about the radio. That it is the ‘second coming’ or
the ‘rebirth of the radio’ that the present generation
is witnessing.That it is today’s fastest-growing medium
– steamed off on a journey of regeneration and resurrection.That
the other communication mediums, such as print and audio visual,
cannot hope to replicate the unique medium of radio at any point
of time in the future. Of course, not entirely without basis
are such assertions being made.More
Aptech expands base in FIJI, inaugurates 3rd
center
Aptech, leading Global IT Training major announced
the launch of its 3rd center in Fiji in the island country. Aptech's
launches its new center in Labasa, with other centers being in
the cities of Suva and Latouka.Full
Report
Epoc Messe Frankfurt successfully
concludes three major trade shows in Dubai
US Embassies in Oman, Bahrain Alert Americans
about Terrorist Threat
WASHINGTON, 19 May 2003 — The US embassies
in Bahrain and Oman yesterday urged Americans in the Gulf states
to be on guard for possible terrorist attacks following deadly
suicide attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco. According to reports,
these embassies made no mention of specific threats in either
country but said the attacks in Riyadh and Casablanca were indicative
of the heightened danger posed by terrorists and that US citizens
needed to augment their security. Full
Report
Sky marshals
to be deployed on British flights Top
al-Qaida Harbored in Iran Bombings Bring
U.S. 'Executive Mercenaries' Into the Light Sakhr®
Software Co. Launches New Website Sharon
Cancels US Visit following Suicide Bomb Blast in Jerusalem Over 35 German exhibitors participation
at Gulf Beauty 2003 Two Suicide Bombs
kill seven in Jerusalem Invest in London Property Market
Fake Auto Spare Parts Pose Major
Threat in Middle East;
Sex Racket Gang Threatens Keralite Families;
Victims send SoS to Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Indian Ambassador
A criminal gang is cheating Keralite girls
by promising Gulf jobs and throwing them into prostitution. Finally
these young ladies end up brothels. The gang members threaten
peaceful life - Watch this space.
GCC States Plan Unified Tourist Visas
RIYADH, 19 May 2003 — Prince Sultan ibn Salman, secretary-general
of the Supreme Commission for Tourism, said here yesterday the
Gulf states were preparing a proposal to issue unified tourist
visas for foreign tourists. The unified visa — on the model
of the Schengen visa for European countries — could boost
tourism revenue for the Kingdom and the Gulf countries at a time
when the worldwide tourism industry is suffering under threats
of terrorism and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.Full Report
Bombing in
Saudi Arabia - Vinnel Company's Role
Vinnell's job in Saudi Arabia is to train
the national guard, which Jane's Defence Weekly has described
as "a kind of Praetorian Guard for the House of Saud, the
royal family's defence of last resort against internal opposition."
That is why company employees were targeted in 1995 and again
last week.The story of how an obscure American firm ended up
becoming an integral part of the Saudi monarchy's handpicked
internal security force is a case study in how unaccountable
private companies have become a central tool of U.S. foreign
policy Full Report
Al Qaeda Planning More Attacks
BERLIN, 19 May 2003 — The Al-Qaeda network
has reorganized and could be planning more attacks in Africa,
Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan, Germany’s BND intelligence
service has warned. Al-Qaeda’s “support network and
its potential for recruitment in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, the United
Arab Emirates and Kuwait remain intact” despite security
crackdowns, said a BND report cited by Die Welt. It said the
International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, currently
headed jointly by Germany and the Netherlands, is a possible
target
Full Report
Mass grave of Kuwaiti POWs found near Baghdad:
Iraqi opposition
BAGHDAD, May 17 -- A major Iraqi opposition
group has claimed that it had found a mass grave near Baghdad
that was believed to contain the remains of 600 Kuwaiti prisoners
of war (POWs), said source reaching here on Saturday."The
Iraqi National Congress (INC) believes it has located the mass
grave of 600 Kuwaiti prisoners of war," the opposition group
said in a statement issued on Friday. More
- At least 25 German tourists die in coach
crash in France More
|
KM Discussion
Forum |
-
- Discussion forum goes live with
discussion on Private School Community school issue . Share your
valuable views with our readers at the new discussion forum A cyber platform
to express your views You can keep your identity confidential
and participate in live cyber discussions on any topics of interest
to the community.Take your nick name and start lively debate.
"Kerala Monitor is suppressing positive informatin about
private schools" alleges one critic.
-
- "Incomplete accounts
two years late cannot count as transparency.According to Omani
law the accounts must be submitted to Board not Patron by all
the schools or the sub community need not follow the laws as
your agreement specifies in clause 19 - agreement supercedes
Constitution? Do you realise that such an attitude endangers
every Indian in Oman?" says another participant. "
If it is truly sub community then why should the surplus be available
for disposal in any way the pvt promoter deems fit? Shouldn't
it be re utilised in the school? How come the Managing committee
is made up of one linguistic group only? anbd the biggest joke
is many of these members have been on the committee foe 16-19
years consecutively!! Such a shortage of capable people in the
business community?" adds the forum particpant
|
-
British expert says al-Qaeda harder to eliminate
LONDON, May 17 -- Although US-led military
actions in Afghanistan destroyed Osama bin Laden's inner circle,
his al-Qaeda network still remains a "potent, formidable"
force that was harder to eliminate, a British expert warned in
an article published by the Times newspaper on Saturday. More
Casablanca bomb
toll rises to 39 More
- 'Dance for Life' with Team SalsaDance-a-thon
for UAE charities
- Public Warehousing Company
(PWC) and MMI announce logistics agreement 'Dance for Life' with
Team SalsaDance-a-thon for UAE charities ASTECO's Worldwide
Launch of New Building in London's Docklands comes to Dubai Exhibition
features luxury London and Dublin apartments WHO
international meeting of epidemiologists studying SARS. The meeting
took place in Geneva.
-
US afraid of its own shadow: Mahathir
KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 -- The United States'
advisory warning its citizens against visiting Malaysia indicated
its fear of own shadow as a result of its cruel actions abroad,
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Friday. Malaysia, especially
Sabah was actually enjoying peace and security with the situation
under control and there were no riots,the primeinister said at
a meeting in Sabah, east Malaysia.More
US Covert Plans to Invade Cuba
HAVANA -- A renegade former CIA agent said
here Wednesday that he seriously believes in the likelihood of
a U.S. attack on Cuba. Philip Agee, whose U.S. passport was revoked
in 1979 after he wrote a book detailing CIA operations, currently
manages the Cubalinda.com Inter-Active Travel agency. According
to the Associated Press,Agee said the U.S. decision to expel
14 Cuban diplomats accused of "activities incompatible"
with their diplomatic status, which usually is a euphemism for
spying, is part of the Bush administration's plan to get tough
with Cuba. More
Indian School Muscat Meeting
Power Handed over to New President
The Indian school Muscat held a crucial meeting
yesterday at the ISM premises and handed over power to the new
school management committee headed by Ajith Kumar. A joint meeting
o the ISM and Indian School Seeb was held despite the efforts
of the former school president Harshendu Shah who wrote to the
former SMC members not to attend the meeting. More
Indian School Darsait to provide free education
to two poor students
Making the Ambassador
a Butt of Ridicule?
ISD decision to help the poor students should
be an eye opener for the billionaire Non Resident Indians who
are controlling community schools as their own private institutions.
While these billionaires have been squeezing ordinary parents
by charging exorbitant fees - almost double the fees charged
by ISD, (RO 42 per student in one school),- their school managers
have been reluctant to help poor students. Every month the school
has been making at least RO 60,000 profit from the community
school. Those who control the school appears to be too greedy
that they would not give even small fee concession to genuine
parents with financial troubles! The ISD, which is charging half
the fee has been making reasonably good profit and budget surplus.
Imagine the amount of money made by the private school for the
last ten years without any interruption. More
Saudi Blast Jeddah Calm Despite US Terror Warning
Philippino Worker Claims He was offered money
to plant Bomb in the Residential Complex
MANILA - Philippine police yesterday questioned
a Filipino worker who claimed in a radio interview that he was
offered money in Saudi Arabia to bomb one of the residential
compounds where 34 people were killed earlier this week.The man,
who refused to be identified, told Manila radio station DZMM
that while he was working as a technician in one of the compounds
that were attacked Monday, he befriended Arab-looking men who
offered him a large sum of money in exchange for planting a bomb
there.He said he returned to the Philippines in April for fear
of his life.
Full Report
Prince Sultan Vows to Punish the Gulty in
Bomb Blast
Riyadh Prince Sultan, second deputy premier
and minister of defense and aviation, stated yesterday that the
perpetrators of Monday’s Riyadh bombings, which killed 34
people including seven Saudis and seven Americans, would receive
severe punishment.Full
Report
ISD achieves record win in SSLC exam
MUSCAT — Indian School Darsait (ISD)
has produced enviable results in the Grade X (SSLC) examinations.
ISD has once again produced a rare distinction by achieving 100
per cent results in the fifth consecutive year, and that too
with 100 per cent first classes and above. “This is not
an easy achievement for any school. This year, out of 70 students
registered for the SSLC examinations, 41 passed with distinctions
(80 per cent and above) and 29 passed with first class (60 per
cent and above),” Dr S. A. Pillai, principal of ISD, said.
Full
Report
US warns of more attacks in Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON, May 15 -- The US State Department on Thursday issued
a fresh warning about a new possible terrorist attack on compounds
where foreigners live in the Saudi city of Jeddah.The warning,
issued through the US consulate in Jeddah, said the compounds
are located in al-Hamra district of the Saudi city and that the
attack could take place in the near future.More
Community Private school Representatives Meet
Education Minister --Watch this space
'Just like you kill us, we
will kill you' - Bin Laden
British airlines suspend all flights to Kenya
LONDON, May 15- All British flights to and
from Kenya from Britain are being suspended from local summer
time 10 p.m. (21:00 GMT) Thursday out of fears that terrorists
are planning an attack on British airline interests. More
Saddam's money found in Thurkish banks
ANKARA, May 15 -- Turkey has denied any evidence
indicating that the money of the ousted Iraqi President Saddam
Hussein was found in its banks, Turkish daily Radikal (Radical)
reported on Thursday. Two weeks ago, the United States asked
the help of Turkish Finance Ministry and Central Bank to "freeze
Saddam's money when traced" in Turkish banks.More
Kenya warns over possible terrorist attacks
NAIROBI, May 15-- The Kenyan government has
sounded an alarm over possible terrorist attacks within its borders,
local newspaper The People reported Thursday.Chris Murungaru,
Kenyan minister for national security, said Wednesday that a
29 year-old man, who is believed to have perpetrated terrorist
activities in East Africa over the last fiveyears, is hiding
in Kenya. More
40 Palestinians killed
in May: official
Death toll in Riyadh blasts
rises to 34, says Saudi Government At
least 20 killed in new suicide attack in Chechnya Over 3,000
bodies exhumed from mass grave in Iraq Iranian
president condemns "terrorist" bombings in Riyadh
Saudi crown prince inspects scene of terror
blasts
RIYADH, May 13 - Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah
Ibn Abdul-Aziz on Tuesday afternoon inspected the residential
compound of the US Vinnell Co., a target of the three explosions
that rocked the Saudi Arabian capital city of Riyadh overnight.
Prince Abdullah, who is first deputy prime minister and commander
of the National Guards, saw the destroyed Vinnell building. More
Death Anniversary
Thankamma Madhavan, |
KERALAMONITOR.COM
Our humble effort to start and run this portal was inspired
by our mother who left us six years ago. On the occasion of her
death anniversary (May 15th) KM team reiterates our determination
to work for the poor and weak without antogonising the rich and
powerful. Amma, You live in our memories- Editor-KM |
Washington to join probe into Saudi suicide
bombing attacks
RIYADH, May 13 -- US Secretary of State Colin
Powell said here Tuesday afternoon a team of US investigators
will arrive soon to take part in the probe into the overnight
suicide bombing attacks in the Saudi capital. More
Iraq: U.S. Unresponsive on Mass Graves New
Information on Site North of Baghdad
(Baghdad, May 14, 2003) - The U.S. government
has known since
May 3 about the existence of a mass grave in Hilla but has not
taken action to protect the site, Human Rights Watch charged
today. Full Report
British Airways cancels stopovers in Saudi
Arabia
LONDON, May 14 -- British Airways (BA) announced
on Wednesday it had canceled stopovers for its air crews in Saudi
Arabia following a change in the British government's travel
advice after the suicide blasts in the Saudi capital of Riyadh
More
Two Britons missing after Saudi
blasts Bahrain, Turkey ban Philippino Workers
Death toll in Chechen blast rises to 59
MOSCOW, May 14 -- The death toll from a truck
bombing of a government complex in northern Chechnya rose to
59 Wednesday, local officials said. Akhmed Dzheirkhanov, deputy
minister for emergency situations in Chechnya, said four people
had died overnight as a result of injuries sustained in Monday's
blast.Full Report
US citizens in Uganda warned on security
KAMPALA, May 14 -- The United States embassy
in Uganda has issued an anti-terror security warning to US citizens
in the east African country."We are warning US citizens
resident in Uganda that supporters of the Al-Qaeda and other
extremists are still active in east Africa," US embassy
spokesperson Mary Jeffers was quoted by government-run newspaper
New Vision as saying on Wednesday.
More Updates on Saudi Explosion
 SSLC and
PLUS TWO RESULTS COMING LIVE FROM THE PREMIER MALAYALAM PORTAL
SSLC Result Online Click here www.keralaeducation.org
www.keralaitmission.org
www.kerala.gov.in
Result on Mobile sr@tvmlive.com Medical
Engineering Results weblokam.com
Death
toll in Saudi Blast nearing 100; US president condemns killing
innocent US civilians!
Riyadh -- 91 people were killed in a
series of suicide bombing attacks in the Saudi capital of Riyadh
Monday night, including some 10 US citizens, US State Department
officials said on Tuesday. One official said the figure is expected
to rise. "Today's attacks in Saudi Arabia, the ruthless
murder of American citizens and other citizens, remind us that
the war on terror continues." US President Bush said. More
Aptec expects GCC customs union to increase
transparency and encourage fair trade practices
May 14, 2003
Dubai -The GCC Customs Union which has been
put into practice recently and converts the six-countries that
comprise the Gulf Cooperation Council into a single customs zone,
has been welcomed by Aptec, one of the biggest and fastest-growing
IT distributor in the Middle East. The implementation of the
customs union will see the removal of duties, fees, taxes and
other charges as well as procedures hindering trade between Bahrain,
Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.Full
Report
Britain's think tank warns
against backlash of Iraq war Britain warns citizens against nonessential
Saudi travel Germany still threatened by terrorism: minister
More Reports on Saudi Explosions
Al-Qaeda Plans Attacks in the
Gulf
Mahmoud Khaleel, Al-Majalla
DUBAI, 14 May 2003 — A senior Al-Qaeda
leader has unveiled the organization’s long-term plans to
carry out major terrorist attacks in Gulf countries. “We’ll
attack the rear of the American Army,” he warned. In an
e-mail message to Al-Majalla, a sister publication of Arab News,
Abu Muhammad Al-Ablaj disclosed the presence of large quantities
of weapons and explosives in Gulf cities to carry out the planned
attacks. According to an exclusive Arab News Report, Ablaj, who
is also known as Mulla Saifuddin, refused to say how Al-Qaeda
managed to collect these weapons and explosives. However, he
claimed that Al-Qaeda was in a position to manufacture its own
explosives. Ablaj identified himself to Al-Majalla as supervising
commander of the Mujahedeen training center belonging to the
Al-Qaeda and Taleban organizations, but refused to disclose the
center’s location. Read
the Full Report
Saudi Arabia is kernel of evil, says US
brief
Washington's growing distrust in Saudi Arabia
spilled into the open yesterday with the leak of a Pentagon briefing
describing Saudi Arabia as "the kernel of evil" that
should be ordered to stop backing terrorists or face the seizure
of its overseas assets, Reported The Telegraph. The briefing
to the Defence Policy Board - which includes former generals,
defence secretaries and statesmen including Henry Kissinger -
runs contrary to official US policy towards Saudi Arabia. Full Report
Saudi Blasts have "all
earmarks of Al-Qaeda": Powell
AMMAN, May 13- Bomb attacks
targeting foreigner's residential compounds in the capital of
Saudi Arabia Monday night had "all the earmarks of al-Qaeda,"
US Secretary of State Colin Powell said here on Tuesday.Speaking
at a press conference, Powell said "It's just part of al-Qaeda
and other terrorist organizations' willingness to kill innocent
people in order to push forward a criminal agenda." More
3 Dutch expats injured in Saudi
bomb attacks British PM's wife pulls out of London charity event
for security reason - 14 die in
accidents in India
Bombs Rock Western Expatriate Residential
Complexes in Riyadh
13 May 2003 — Saudi Arabian capital was
rocked by four explosions last night in which many western expatriates,
were wounded. A series of blast took place just before Collin
Powell, US Secretary of State was planning a state visit to Saudi
Arabia. At least one was killed and over 40 US citizens were
wounded in the explosions which occurred in residential areas
of the Saudi capital, the Cable News Network (CNN) television
network reported on Tuesday. The blast which Al-Arabiya television
channel reported that Saudi security forces exchanged fire with
the terrorists inside the compound. The network also reported
that many charred bodies were seen being taken from ambulances
at a local hospital. According to Saudi Interior Ministry an
investigation is under way. There has been growing anti American
sentiment in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. Full Report
Saudi Police Campaign to nab Suspected Al
Queeda Members
JEDDAH, 11 May 2003 — Saudi Arabia is
intensifying efforts to nab terrorists who were planning major
attack within the Kingdom. At least three of the 19 wanted Al-Qaeda
suspects who escaped on Tuesday after a shootout with police
fled in a Mercedes which was parked in front of a car maintenance
workshop on the Riyadh-Dammam Expressway, Al-Watan Newspaper
reported yesterday. More News
Controversial Private School
MoU Goes Public
Undue favours to Private Promoters to Control Board Monopoly in Schooling - no other
schools within 10 Kms
An Agreement was executed at Muscat, on the
26th day of March 1992 between the then Indian Ambassador Ranjith
Guptha and the Hindu Mahajan Association, Muscat President Kanaksi
G. Khimji. This was regarding the schools run by the Association
in Muttrah and Sohar. According to the Board which passed a resolution
to revoke the license, the first clause of the agreement itself
indicates that the two schools "shall adhere to the rules
and regulations as applicable from time to time." KM is
giving some of the clauses for the Indian community members to
make their own judgments about the whole issue. "The income of the schools from
collection of fees and any other source will belong to the Association
and to no other party," says the agreement. In the event
of income exceeding expenditure, such excess will belong to the
Association to be disposed off in any manner it wishes,"
says clause 4 of the agreement
Full Report
An Appeal
to Parents, Board Members and Community Leaders
There is no doubt that a prominent Indian
like Kanaksi Khimj who was recently selected for the Pravasi
Bharathi Award and Dr.P.Mohammed Ali, who has build up a big
business empire from a humble beginning have played crucial roles
in developing their respective schools . The Hindu Mahajan Association
too played crucial role in developing business and educational
infrastructure. Through their hard work and entrepreneurship,
they have been able to amass sufficient wealth and reputation
not only in Oman, but back home in India too Full
Report
MoUs of Indian School Al Ghubra,Wadi
Kabir Revoked as per Board Meeting Norms.
American -British Colonial Intentions Revealed
by Halliburton Secret Oil Deals to pump Iraq oil
DUBAI -The US British administrations ask
the people of both the United States and Iraq to trust that,
when the dust of war settles, Iraq's oil wealth will belong to
its people and will be used to rebuild the country's infrastructure
and institutions. But to gain that trust, the administration
must stop appearing to wield secrecy and favoritism in the award
of contracts to companies like Halliburton.The secret colonial
intentions of American British big business in Iraq is slowly
coming out in open as intense lobbying is going on to remove
the sanctions and market Iraqi oil --Full
Report
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