June 22, 2004 K M News
The Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula: Families of detainees fall victim to "war on terror
"He is alive yet not there, and there is no way to get to him"
Suad al-'Abd al-Jalil, mother of a Guanta'namo detaineeThe relentless pursuit of the "war on terror" is having highly damaging consequences on the families of thousands of detainees held in the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula, the US Naval Base of Guanta'namo or elsewhere, Amnesty International said in a report published today.
Forced to endure fear and uncertainty because of the prolonged and indefinite detentions of their relatives, who are held with no safeguards and with a disturbing disregard for international law, the suffering of these families is often exacerbated by the lack of recognition of their plight.
The secrecy surrounding these detentions leaves families in emotional turmoil. The USA and other countries holding detainees in the context of the "war on terror" continue to refuse to disclose sufficient information about them and in some cases the fate and whereabouts of those targeted remain shrouded in secrecy. The majority of these families first hear of their relatives' detention in the media or from friends. Up to this date, Amnesty International has not even been able to get an accurate figure on the number of those arrested, as the authorities holding them refuse to disclose full information.
The report The Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula: Human rights fall victim to the "war on terror", details the suffering endured by those targeted in the context of the "war or terror" and their families. In the words of a human rights activist from the Gulf, the "war on terror" is every despot's dream come true.
"Families of detainees must not also fall victim to the 'war on terror'," said Amnesty International. "At the very least, they are entitled to full information and access to their relatives.
Jamil, the brother of a Guanta'namo detainee, told AI, "Despite the fact that my mother neither reads nor writes, because she is illiterate, when she hears of news reports [about Guanta'namo Bay] she follows them with intensity, whether that be on the radio or in the newspapers. It may surprise you to know that whenever a newspaper publishes an item about Guanta'namo she runs to one of her children to read it to her, then she grabs the paper and keeps looking at it for so long, as if she is hoping that the newspaper might speak to her."
Of the nearly 600 detainees held in Guanta'namo Bay, almost a third are from the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula. The recent pictures showing Iraqi prisoners being abused by US troops increased the concern of their families about their possible torture and inhuman treatment. The failure of the US to allow Amnesty International and other human rights organizations access to Guanta'namo and other detention centres fuels these concerns.
"Any allegation of torture and ill-treatment must be immediately investigated and those responsible must be brought to justice," said Amnesty International. "The lack of accountability for torturers encourages such acts to continue."
Amnesty International has been calling on the US, countries in the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula and other countries holding detainees in the context of the "war on terror" to bring their detention within the rule of law. Under international law, these detainees must be given immediate access to lawyers, allowed to contact their family and to challenge the legality of their detention. None of these safeguards have been provided by any of the detaining countries.
In April 2004, Amnesty International organized "Human Rights for All", a conference in Sana'a, Yemen, which gathered families of detainees, human rights activists and lawyers from the Gulf and Yemen region and abroad. The aim of the conference was to bring those various groups together in order to find ways to end the legal limbo in which detainees held in the context of the "war on terror" are being held. Participants unanimously agreed that the abuse generated by the often sweeping security measures adopted by many governments after the 11 September 2001 attacks in the USA, which Amnesty International has unreservedly condemned, amounts to a human rights crisis that poses a threat to people everywhere.
Participants issued a Sana'a Appeal setting forth a series of recommendations to governments to bring those detentions within the rule of law and international human standards."The plight of these detainees and their families must not be allowed to go on indefinitely. They must be charged and given a fair trial or immediately released," said Amnesty International.
Polio Epidemic Menaces West And Central Africa
June 23: West and Central Africa faces the most dire polio epidemic in years, with five times as many children paralyzed from the disease so far this year as during the same period in 2003, epidemiologists with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative warned yesterday, after it was confirmed that a child was stricken with the disease last month in Sudan — the 10th previously polio-free country in Africa to see resurgence of the disease following the Nigerian state of Kano's decision last year to halt polio vaccinations amid rumors that the vaccine would cause infertility and was contaminated with HIV.
The new cases have been linked to Nigeria. Kano state said last month it will soon resume vaccinations, after testing a vaccine imported from Indonesia, but UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy cautioned that many families would still have to be reassured about the safety of the vaccine.
Epidemiologists fear a major epidemic this fall, polio's "high season," that would leave thousands of African children paralyzed. Children in countries surrounding Nigeria are particularly vulnerable because less than half are routinely immunized against a series of diseases, including polio, epidemiologists said. They called for a massive immunization drive in 22 African countries in October and November, aiming to reach 74 million children.
"There is no question that the virus is spreading at an alarming pace," said David Heymann, the World Health Organization's representative for polio eradication.
An additional $100 million is needed to halt polio's recent spread, according to UNICEF. About $3 billion has been spent worldwide since 1998 on efforts to eradicate the disease.
At the beginning of last year, only two sub-Saharan African countries were still polio-endemic — Nigeria and Niger. The resurgence of polio in sub-Saharan Africa comes as the four other polio-endemic countries — Afghanistan, Egypt, India and Pakistan — are expected to be free of the disease by the end of the year (UNICEF release, June 22).
Holistic Communications Training for the Leo Burnett Group of Companies MENA
- Three days of high-energy exercises focused on delivering world-class integrated communications solutions to clients -
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Dubai, UAE, June 23, 2004 - During a high-energy, three-day training program held by the Leo Burnett Group of Companies, Middle East and North Africa, participants from the group's Gulf offices learned how to forge creative, strategic, integrated communications offerings that powerfully serve clients' brands.
Run by the best creative strategists at Leo Burnett Worldwide, the training focused on how to bring the excellence and expertise of the regional and global network, as well as its various specializations, together to serve clients. Participants came from the group's brand agencies Leo Burnett and Black Pencil, MS&L public relations and iLeo digital and CRM."The Leo Burnett Group, MENA, produces excellent creative work at each of its offices and from every discipline on a daily basis. What we have done during this three-day 'blast-furnace' of hyped-up group exercises, is forge one unstoppable, lean, mean creative machine that is revved up to bring the value of holistic communications to every client across every discipline and region," said Corinna Taylor, Leo Burnett regional training manager, Europe, Middle East and Africa.
"Our people are our most important capital. The group power cannot be demonstrated and sustained without the full commitment of all of its employees. Supporting and investing in their development through a focused well designed training discipline is one our primary objectives" added Raja Trad, CEO, Leo Burnett Group of Companies, MENA.
Said Kamal Dimachkie, Managing Director, Leo Burnett Dubai and Kuwait, "Brands today are best served through the distinct advantage offered by the holistic communications approach, particularly in this region's increasingly sophisticated and fragmented markets. This training reinforces the promise we make to clients that our brand-building work is not just the best in the Middle East, but is the rival of work done anywhere in the world."
The intensive workshop took place during a rigorous but motivational 72-hours period that saw the 19 participants forego sleep in their enthusiasm and passion to complete their projects. The participants worked together on numerous creative projects that repeatedly emphasized the power and energy that can be tapped to build brands through integration across specializations and regional offices.
Taylor conducted the workshop with two other trainers, Goff Moore, Leo Burnett business development director, Europe, and Josef Havelka, chief executive officer Leo Burnett Central and Eastern Europe, Leo Burnett Prague. Since its inception in 1981 as the first multinational agency in the region, the Leo Burnett Middle East and North Africa group of companies has always been progressive in its thinking and approach. From a single brand agency, Leo Burnett as a group has grown to encompass a comprehensive range of communications solutions, including advertising, media, public relations, digital and CRM. The group offers both specialization and holistic integration to answer the ever-changing needs of both clients and the marketplace.
Today, the group has offices in Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Kuwait, Cairo, Beirut, Casablanca and Amman. A network team of more than 370 talented employees is committed to enhancing their clients' competitive advantage through an integrated, multidisciplinary communications approach. Founded in Chicago in 1935 with eight employees and three clients, today Leo Burnett Worldwide operates a global network of 200 operating units in 84 markets that offers a wide range of marketing disciplines, including general advertising, media services, direct, database and interactive marketing, sales promotion, public relations and event marketing Using its proprietary Brand Belief System(SM), Leo Burnett creates ideas that inspire enduring belief for some of the world's most enduring brands.
RED SEA RIVIERA EYES A SUMMERTIME BOOM
Hotels welcome big influx of European visitors, with Middle East families on the way and Holiday Inn resorts waiting with open arms
Dubai, UAE, June 23, 2004: Egypt's Red Sea Riviera is looking forward to a bumper summer season as European visitors flock to the region followed by families from the domestic and regional markets.Red Sea hotels are already reporting a significant increase in occupancy levels with the summer season just under way, and the signs are that the trend could continue through to September.
Holidaymakers, diving enthusiasts, as well as conference and incentive organisers, are being lured by the Red Sea's mix of diving, sun, sand, surf, and a wide choice of historical sites and outdoor pursuits, from snorkeling and scuba diving to desert safaris, horse and camel riding and racing.
InterContinental Hotels Group, which operates seven resort hotels on Egypt's Red Sea coastline,
says results so far, and those expected for the rest of the summer, underline the region's great resilience, and its ability to bounce back from events having a negative impact on tourism.Khaled Saleh, the company's regional director of sales & marketing, Sinai Region, said hotels in the top Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh were largely full in the first half of May thanks to visitors from Eastern Europe, added to good business from seminars and conferences.
While June is traditionally a quiet month for the region, twice weekly charter flights being introduced from Saudi Arabia this summer should boost hotel occupancy levels.
"In July, we will be very busy with visitors from Egypt, Jordan and Saudi, as well as Italy, Western Europe and, this year, the Russian market," said Saleh. "August is very popular with British and Italian visitors, and this year we are also receiving bookings for seminars from training companies."
Red Sea 2He said September will follow a similar pattern to July, with additional business coming from seminars, conferences and corporate meetings from Egypt and other Middle East countries, while charter flights from Lebanon operating three times a week in the first half of the month will bring a steady flow of visitors on five-night stays.
One of three Holiday Inn resort hotels on the Red Sea, the Holiday Inn Amphoras Resort Sharm El Sheikh is so far reporting a 28% increase in Italian guests over last summer, with guests also arriving from Russia, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, Germany, Slovakia and the Ukraine.
The resort has a great deal to offer, occupying a prime beach and sea front location overlooking the famous "Amphoras" diving site, named after the pointed jars used to transport wine, mercury and oil by sea, which went down with the area's most famous 16th century Turkish shipwreck.
Today, the wreck's site is a sought after destination for experienced and novice divers, with full support from professional instructors at the resort's own diving school.Blessed with all the great leisure attractions of the Red Sea, the hotel's location offers superior bird watching and the magnificent 480 square kilometer Ras Mohamed National Park, including two pristine islands and coral reefs. Named after a martyred nun said to have been transported by an angel, the 4th century St Catherine's Monastery is also a particular European favourite.
An 18-hole golf course is just 12kms away, while the resort has six outdoor swimming pools with children's pools, water sports, tennis and squash courts, beach volleyball, billiards, health club, sauna, jacuzzis, gym and horse riding.
Caption: Summer lure - the Holiday Inn Amphoras Resort Sharm El Sheikh.
UAE RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE MORE MINA MAGIC
Dubai resort launches Dhs 333 dine and stay package
(Dubai, June 2004) : Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina has revived its popular dine and stay summer promotion in response to customer demand.More Mina Magic offers a five-course meal at Retro, the resort?s award-winning fine-dining restaurant, or themed buffet at Waves, and a night in a deluxe room, with beach access the following day.
The cost for the package is Dhs 333 plus taxes per person for a double room and the promotion runs from June 1 to August 31, subject to availability. Michael Scully, general manager of the resort, said: ?We have run the Mina Magic promotion for the last few summers, in response to local demand.
?The summer months are traditionally an opportunity for UAE residents to come and relax with us, and this is a very affordable chance to have a short break on the beach. We may be only a few minutes drive away for many people, but a night at the Mina leaves guests truly relaxed.?
In addition, the offer includes complimentary supervised Penguin Club activities for children.The hip lifestyle resort, with 1,200 metres of private beach and marina, has long been the pioneer of this approach, which reaches through its sport, recreation and entertainment facilities, and into the resort?s ?personality?, which has been dubbed ?the Mina effect?.The upscale resort has undergone a series of market-leading ventures, including significant landscape extensions in 2003.
Mina Seyahi is already renowned for its exciting sporting calendar and for the choice of leisure facilities available. Key to these are the extensive watersport options, including a 145 berth luxury marina, deep sea fishing, PADI diving, indsurfing, water skiing, canoes and five swimming pools.
The resort comes into its own with as a total lifestyle destination, and is rapidly being the outdoor venue of choice for concerts, extreme sports competitions, Formula 1 Powerboating, as well as the essential Mina Moon Beach Party, where international DJs make guest appearances, and hip clubbers party under the stars.
Nakheel invites Arab investors to partner in Dubai's booming property market
Attributes Dubai's success to visionary policies and vibrant economic climate
June 22, 2004
Nakheel, the property developer behind some of Dubai's iconic projects,
has urged Arab investors to take advantage of the robust construction boom
currently taking place in Dubai by investing in the emirate's dynamic and
vibrant property sector.Addressing a press conference in Beirut today (Tuesday, June 22, 2004)
on the eve of the 10th Arab Investments and Capital Markets Conference
to be held in Beirut from June 24 to 26, Wahid Attalla, Executive Director
of Commercial and Operations, Nakheel, outlined the factors that are fuelling
the current boom and Dubai's liberal property laws that had opened the
doors to freehold ownership to residents as well as outsider. One of the
biggest property developers in the Middle East, Nakheel is a Platinum Sponsor
of the Conference."Dubai has always been known for its business-friendly policies, such as
tax-free policy, 100 per cent repatriation of capital, a stable and a fully
convertible currency, low customs duty and no trade barriers. Dubai has
earned a name for itself for its fast-track processing and registration
of businesses, without any red-tape. This approach has served as a magnet
for world's largest business enterprises and most dynamic entrepreneurs,"
Attalla said."As a result of its progressive policies, Dubai has emerged as a regional
hub in Tourism, IT and trade in Middle East. The growth it has recorded
through strategic planning, implementation of visionary policies, continuous
human development and a climate that allows for development has been impressive.
Dubai has created a dynamic economy that is not oil-dependent," Attalla
said. "This has been largely achieved through the visionary leadership
of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of
Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, who has been the driving force behind all
key projects and bold initiatives. Some examples of this vision are the
free zones and industry-specific clusters such as Dubai Internet City,
Dubai Media City, Dubai Health Care City and the Dubai Maritime City."
Attalla said that these projects had attracted a large number of investors
from across the globe, creating a demand for property related services.
Buoyed by the development in the industry specific clusters, the property
market in Dubai went through a watershed in the last few years. It is now
possible for non-UAE nationals, local and international property developers
and investors to own property in Dubai. Being host to a rapidly expanding
population with a large number of high net worth individuals, the property
sector has attained key importance. Nakheel has emerged as the leading
player in the property sector, with projects worth US$ 15 billion, out
of the US$ 30 billion worth of project being developed in Dubai's new growth
corridor.Nakheel is involved in the construction of iconic projects that are elegant,
of high quality and environment friendly. Nakheel's projects, The Palm
- Jumeirah and Jebel Ali, The World, International City, The Jumeirah Islands,
Jumeirah Lake Towers and the Garden Shopping Mall are reshaping the landscape
of Dubai. Nakheel offers a modern concept in construction for commercial,
residential and business use. It has successfully positioned Dubai as
a top choice for global property investors."All our projects reflect the vision of Dubai. As partners in this new
vision, we are keen to participate in regional and international forums
such as this, in order to share our ideas with others and to promote Dubai
as the top property investment destination in the region. Nakheel would
like to invite Arab businesses to take advantage of the investment opportunities
in Dubai, in all economic sectors in general and construction in particular,"
said Attalla. "We are here in Beirut not only to highlight our projects
and discuss the future of businesses in the region, but also to boost the
long-standing social, historic and economic links between Dubai and Lebanon.""The construction industry in Dubai will continue to be on the upswing
in the coming years as the prevailing investment climate promises excellent
return on investment, attractive pricing, freehold ownership, declining
mortgage rates (as low as 5% currently) and the resale culture that is
gathering momentum," Attalla added.The Palm Jumeirah and The Palm Jebel Ali, Nakheel's two signature projects,
are the world's largest man-made islands. The two developments have dramatically
increased the coastline of Dubai by 200 per cent. The Palm represents a
unique investment opportunity to investors who are interested in hotels
and tourism facilities. Nakheel has gone a step ahead by creating 'The
World' in the Arabian Gulf. This offshore development, designed in the
shape of the map of the world consists of 300 islands, offering investors
an opportunity to develop private or commercial projects. The Jumeirah
Islands project is a complex of 50 man-made islands, giving investors and
opportunity to own unique homes surrounded by seawater pumped in daily
from the Arabian Gulf.The success of Nakheel can be seen in the tremendous interest shown by
foreign investors in its projects, including Jumeirah Lake Towers, a sprawling
complex of 69 towers that are surrounded by a vast man made lake. The towers
are being constructed by independent developers for commercial, retail
and residential use. The project is spread across 1,000,000 square meters
of area. The International City, the first-of-its-kind 800-hectare development
in the world, is positioned as a hub for international investors, traders
and retailers from across the globe. The Gardens Shopping Mall, the region's
largest themed shopping experience, is set to attract top investors by
its strategic location and outstanding amenities."There has been a dramatic interest from foreign investors in our projects
and most of our properties are almost sold out. We would like to invite
you to be our partners in success and seize the opportunities that are
still available," said Attalla.The Arab Investments and Capital Markets Conference is the most influential
economic and financial forum in the Arab region, bringing together businesses
leaders and officials from 30 Arab countries to debate issues of significant
importance to the future of economic development and to enhancing the business
and investment environment in the region. This year, the Conference will
address the following issues: Assessing economic prospects of the region,
the future of economic reform under the changing global and regional context,
enhancing economic competitiveness in the region to attract foreign investment,
exploring strategies to develop the Arab oil and gas industries, opportunities
in banking and finance and the challenges and opportunities of free tradeSAFETY TECHNOLOGIES UNDER IMPLEMENTATION ON KONKAN RAILWAY
11:59 IST
The Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) is implementing several safety technologies, which in the long run, will make train operations safer on its 760 kilometres long route. These include Raksha Dhaga, inclinometres, Raksha Kavach (Anti Collision Device) and high strength steel nets.Raksha Dhaga detects any boulder falling on the tracks from a rock cutting or from a boulder-laden soil cutting and is useful in all such cuttings which are 12 metres and deeper. Wherever full protection of steel nets are not provided Raksha Dhaga is installed in rock cuttings to give necessary warnings to the patrolmen as well as the drivers. Till now, Raksha Dhaga has prevented eight accidents of serious nature.
Inclinometre is basically used in the soil/laterite cuttings and is not meant for rock cuttings. Basically, these are 1.5 metre to two metre long steel rods embedded inside the soil cuttings with a spacing of 5 to 12 metres carrying on the top of the rod, protected mercury-switch. Each of the inclinometres network through an electric cable is attached to a relay in Raksha Dhaga box. The system is such that even before the cutting falls, the warning signs of displacement taking place initiate the Raksha Dhaga box to give out the alarms. This advance system can take care of the incidences where the cutting falls simultaneously as the train is approaching, leaving no time for the driver to react.
Even though hardly two weeks have passed since the installation of such system, already one case of warning has helped to take care of a train.
Total number of inclinometres installed cuttings is 179, inclinometres installed 7700 and inclinometres to be installed 19000.
Raksha Kavach is a network of Anti Collision Devices (ACDs) with necessary intelligence and inputs coming from various sources like a locomotive, guard, Station Master or gate-analyser and determines a collision type situation between two ACD fitted objects.
Obviously, in case of a rock falls in a rock cutting, which does not have a ACD fitted, Raksha Kavach does not give the protection. It provides protection for trains from colliding with each other in different scenarios and has been well, tested and proven. Installation of 598 ACDs has been completed.
However, the software which is undergoing a quality testing will be ready for installation in a week or so. After which, three months of incubation period will start. At the end of the incubation period the territory becomes 100 per cent ACD protected railway line. The Konkan Railway hopes to launch the incubation period of ACD, in another one or two weeks once the software is installed and made live.
Inclinometres and ACD pending commissioning of the full-scale Raksha Kavach, for various soil cuttings where inclinometres have been installed, the Konkan Railway has also erected ACD towers. The inclinometres network which is connected to Raksha Dhaga will also now be connected to the ACDs, specially erected for each of the soil/laterite rock cuttings.
Now the inclinometres, when they are linked to the ACD have capacity to stop/reduce speed of another ACD fitted locomotive, well in time even before the cutting falls. Raksha Kavach, therefore, will be performing an additional role of giving the safety shield against the failure of soil/laterite cuttings on the Konkan Railway. This additional safety layer which at present is not yet operational, but will be operational in another two weeks time, the incubation period of Raksha Kavach starts. But in the meantime, the inclinometre will be able to activate Raksha Dhaga box and provide the necessary which it has done.
For the high strength nets for rock cuttings deeper than 12 metre, 700,000 square metres of netting has been done with different design strengths as required for the locations. High strength steel nets have helped prevent five major accidents on the Konkan Railway, this monsoon.
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