Kerala Monitor News updated September 20, 2002. Nigeria: Government Critics at Risk After Political Killings -EU Should Support Syria?s Imprisoned Democrats -Syed Shahnawaz Hussain holds Talks with Canad on bilateral cooperation in Civil Aviation Bangladesh experts call for urgent criminal justice reforms -Credit Card Companies take responsibility for overseas shopping by customers.Zimbabwe : Amendment to land reform law closes loopholes African States consider regional anti-crime body- Ericsson wins contract for converged networks deliveries in Iran IBM’s Resellers Raise the Bar on Sales and Service in New Training Program-MD82 Deal of Oasis Leasing's First US Transaction IBM’s Resellers Raise the Bar on Sales and Service in New Training Program Fujitsu Siemens Computers to deliver Oracle's new messaging and collaboration software in EMEA LG Electronics launches Middle East customer week
Special Interview with Collin Powell --US policy in Iraq The President has not decided on military action against Iraq, but you can be sure that my colleagues in the Pentagon are examining their options and are positioning themselves in case the President should make such a decision. In all of this, we have to remember that the President has given up none of his options to do what he believes is necessary to defend the United States and its interests. Full Text pf the Interview
British Minister being given a prestigous Award in New Delhi.
India Calls for Checks to Nuclear Terrorism
New Delhi -- Kerala MonitorIndia has called for an integrated view of technology, safety, safeguards and the newly emerging scenario with respect to nuclear terrorism and finding holistic answers to these which would help eliminate the barriers to large scale development of nuclear power in a sustainable manner. Of late, nuclear terrorism has become the biggest hurdle in the promotion of nuclear energy. The call was made by the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Leader of the Indian delegation Dr. Anil Kakodkar at the 46th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), currently in session in Vienna.
Dr. Kakodkar pointed out that at the present juncture nuclear power is simultaneously witnessing stagnation, renaissance and growth in different parts of the world. Stagnation is mainly due to threats of nuclear terrorism as well as the failure of policy and opinion makers to realise the positive contribution that nuclear energy can make in the context of climate change and sustainability. It is ironic that in spite of large energy potential with capability to meet global needs on sustainable basis without any damage to environment, the unfounded misconceptions continue to dominate and remain impediments in the sustainable development of nuclear power, Dr. Kakodkar averred. Top
Syed Shahnawaz Hussain holds Talks with Canad on bilateral cooperation in Civil Aviation
Kerala Monitor Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, is leading a delegation to Canada, which includes officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Air India and Airports Authority of India. The delegation had a number of useful meetings, including the one with Vancouver Airport Services and CHII in Vancouver, and NAVCANADA and a number of other organizations in Ottawa.
Ottawa -The Civil Aviation Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain had a bilateral meeting with the Canadian Minister of Transport Mr. David M. Collenette in Ottawa, Canada and held wide-ranging discussions on civil aviation issues of mutual interest, in a very cordial atmosphere. Mrs. Shashi Tripathi, High Commissioner of India in Canada and Indian and Canadian officials were present.
The talks centered on possible areas of cooperation between the two countries. The two Ministers noted the need for fail-safe civil aviation security systems in view of increased threats, and the strong security apparatus in place in the two countries to ensure this. The multi-lateral cooperation through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was appreciated, and bilateral exchange of information was also agreed upon.
Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, mentioned that India’s largest helicopter company, the Pawn Hans Helicopters Ltd. had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Canadian Company CHC Helicopter International Incorporated (CHII), and that he also had a meeting with CHII in Vancouver on 16th September 2002. The Canadian Minister agreed that this was a good beginning for a strong cooperation programme on helicopter safety and operation.
Hussain said that while the airlines industry had faced major problems all over the world and losses during 2001-02, Air India made profits after seven years. He also mentioned Air India’s plans for expanding its operations, including 3 flights from Mumbai/Delhi to Frankfurt beginning 8th December 2002. Air India is looking at the possibility of suitable arrangements with Air Canada, for providing convenient connectivity between Canada and India for mutual gain, using the new flight. The Canadian Minister felt that this was a positive development, and the two airlines should discuss these issues within the framework of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement.
The Indian programme for restructuring of major airports to upgrade them to the highest international standards, with private sector investment and management, and the Canadian experience of private sector involvement in infrastructure development were also discussed. Useful information was exchanged, and the innovative structure and operations of NAVCANADA, which provides Air Traffic Services in Canada, were appreciated. Both Ministers agreed that the two sides would take appropriate follow-up action for building on the issues covered during the meeting, and develop programmes towards mutual benefit.Top
Bangladesh experts call for urgent criminal justice reforms
Kerala MonitorThursday, 19 September 2002: A report prepared by experts in Bangladesh and released by UNDP this week finds that many laws and practices discriminate against the country's poor - a large majority of the population - and do not protect women against violence.
The report, entitled Human Security in Bangladesh: In Search of Justice and Dignity, builds on research conducted over several years and examines the nation's legislation, law enforcement apparatus, court system and prisons. It aims to help the Government, law enforcement agencies, judiciary and civil society in identifying and implementing urgently needed reforms.
It also finds that the cost of going to court, added to frequent delays and lack of access to legal aid, means that many people are "priced out of the justice system." Nearly four out of five Bangladeshis earn less than two dollars a day.
"Bangladesh today is weighed down by a significant level of human insecurity, and until now there has been a critical lack of studies that analyze these complex issues and attempt to understand their deeper structural causes," said UNDP Representative Jorgen Lissner.
Given the deficiencies of the justice system, people prefer the non-formal courts, such as shalish or traditional courts, and an estimated 60 to 70 per cent of local disputes are resolved through them. The report recommends numerous measures to remedy the situation, including setting time limits to speed up trials, improved training for judicial officials and easier access to legal aid.
The poor are at a disadvantage in dealing with police who, the report says, are most responsive to influential members of the community. The effectiveness of the police is also hindered by lack of training, large numbers of false arrests, insufficient monitoring and evaluation, poor motivation, budgetary constraints and understaffing. It calls for improved monitoring of police services, training more orientated towards the poor and disadvantaged, and a focus on community policing.
Violence against women, including acid throwing, murder, rape and trafficking, is a serious problem despite constitutional guarantees and legislative safeguards, the report finds. It recommends setting up a help line, increasing the number of women justice officials and launching a systematic campaign to raise awareness about violence against women.
People's awareness of laws and rights related to human security is low. For example, 40 per cent of those surveyed thought that police could legally torture detainees and 10 per cent of interviewees thought that police are permitted to hold a person in custody for as long as they wished. The report calls for a national awareness campaign to dispel such misconceptions.
It also calls for a review of security legislation and practices, noting that between independence in 1971 and 1995, almost 90 per cent of preventive detention cases to come before the High Court were either carried out illegally or without lawful authority.
"Human insecurity is like a cancer -- no single group of people or causes can be blamed for it, and it can only be tackled by all segments of society working closely together -- the Government, academia, political parties, civil society, local communities and the private sector," said Mr. Lissner. Top
Niger : Human rights defender sentenced to jail
Kerala MonitorNIAMEY, 19 September (IRIN) - The president of Niger's human rights league, Bagnou Bonkoukou, was on Thursday sentenced to a one-year jail term and a 20,000 CFA francs fine (US $30), in a case revolving around last month's mutiny in the country. Bonkoukou was arrested on 15 August, a few days after citing a higher death toll during a radio broadcast than the government had declared.
According to the authorities in Niger, Bonkoukou was arrested in violation of a decree by President Mamadou Tandja which forbade the dissemination of information about the mutiny. The decree has since been lifted.Soldiers started the mutiny (in Diffa, eastern Niger, and in the capital, Niamey) on 31 July, demanding better pay and living conditions. They also attempted to take over army barracks. On 9 August, the government announced that it quelled the uprising.
Bonkoukou had also said on radio that the government of Niger should allow international investigators to look into the failed mutiny. A court sentenced the human rights defender on Thursday after finding him guilty of "false information and dissemination of information in nature to ruin the moral of the armed forces", sources said.Top
19 September 2002
PROTECTION FOR CREDIT CARD HOLDERS WHEN THEY SHOP ABROAD
Three British credit card companies have confirmed that consumer safeguards
on credit card purchases will apply to purchases made abroad as well as in the UK. HSBC, Bank of Scotland and Sainsbury's Bank have assured the UK Office of Fair Trade that they will honour valid claims for purchases made abroad under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.Section 75 sets out the concept of 'equal liability'. The law says that card issuers are jointly liable with suppliers if the consumer has a valid claim for misrepresentation and/or breach of contract by the supplier but only if the cash price of an item is between £100 and £30,000 and the credit limit is no more than £25,000. Cardholders, therefore, may be able to make a claim against the credit card company if they discover problems with goods or services purchased with their credit card. The OFT's view is that overseas as well as domestic transactions are covered by Section 75.
The three companies have now confirmed that they will not differentiate between claims based on where a purchase is made and that they will deal with claims consistently. Previously cardholders were told that Section 75 protection did not extend to overseas transactions although in some cases ex gratia payments were made up to the value of the credit advanced.
John Vickers, Director General of Fair Trading, said: 'Cardholders of these three companies can now shop abroad with greater confidence and I warmly welcome the assurances. We are currently talking to other credit card companies and I urge them to offer equal protection to their customers, as we believe the law requires.' The banks were approached using the OFT's powers under the Stop Now Regulations 2001, although agreement was reached by negotiation rather than the formal exercise of those powers.
The effect of Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 is that when a lender provides credit to finance a purchase from a separate supplier and has pre-existing or contemplated future arrangements with that supplier, the lender is equally liable with the supplier for any breach of contract or misrepresentation if all of the following conditions are met: - the cash price of the item is over #100 but not more than #30,000 - the credit agreement is regulated, ie generally where not more than #25,000 of credit is advanced to an individual (includes sole traders, partnerships and unincorporated bodies) - the creditor is in the business of granting credit and the agreement is made in the course of that business - the credit is advanced under the arrangements between the credit grantor and the supplier, so that a bank overdraft arranged by an individual to pay for an item is not covered. Section 75 does not cover debit or charge cards. Under the Stop Now Regulations, before taking court action the OFT is required to consult with companies or traders it believes to be in breach or threatening to breach a number of laws harming the collective interests of consumers covered by those laws. It can seek written assurances in lieu of court action.
The Stop Now Regulations cover the following areas: doorstep selling, timeshare, unfair contract terms, consumer credit, distance selling, package travel, package holidays and package tours, misleading and comparative advertising, sale of goods rights, TV broadcasting activities and advertising of medicinal products for human use.Top
Thursday, 19 September 2002
15 FOREIGN SHIPS UNDER DETENTION IN THE UK DURING AUGUST 2002
Kerala MonitorThe Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced today that 15 foreign ships were under detention in UK ports during August 2002 after failing port state control safety inspection. Latest monthly figures show that 8 foreign ships were detained in UK ports during August 2002 along with 7 other ships still under detention from previous months. The overall rate of detentions compared with inspections carried out over the last 12 months is 6.2% which is an increase of 0.1% on the 12 month rate to July. August was the second month of the Paris MOU concentrated inspection campaign on ISM, and of the 8 vessels detained half were found to have ISM related deficiencies.
The vessels detained included an Antigua and Barbuda flagged general cargo vessel detained in Teeside with 22 deficiencies. Both lifeboats were damaged leaving buoyancy tanks exposed, and seized sheaves prevented the correct lowering of the port boat. The vessel was found to have other serious deficiencies for example the RADAR was found to be inoperative and nozzles were missing from the accommodation hose box. The ship's ISM maintenance procedures had failed to ensure compliance with SOLAS requirements.
A St Vincent and Grenadines flagged general cargo vessel was also detained for failures in the implementation of the maintenance programme required by ISM. 33 deficiencies were recorded against the vessel. The emergency fire pump would not pump water and the lifeboat was incapable of being brought alongside the boat deck. Severe corrosion was also found throughout the ship, with the front accommodation bulkhead being corroded through at the main deck level, and the forecastle deck being holed in at least 3 places. The list details the name, flag state, owner or operator and classification society of each detained ship together with the summary of the main grounds for detention.Top
Zimbabwe : Amendment to land reform law closes loopholes
Kerala MonitorJOHANNESBURG, 19 September (IRIN) - Zimbabwe's parliament has passed an amendment to the country's land reform law to close loopholes previously used by white farmers to challenge eviction orders. Last month, farmer Andy Kockott successfully launched a precedent-setting court challenge to his eviction on the grounds that his bank, which holds his bond, had not been informed of his pending eviction, as required by law.
This meant the government had to notify the banks of farmers affected in this way, then reissue eviction notices. The government-controlled Herald newspaper reported on Thursday that Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa acknowledged the bondholding banks should have been informed of the intention to evict farmers. He said it was a mistake which came to light through Kockott's challenge.
Under the amendment passed on Wednesday, the government's failure to notify bondholders would not render eviction notices invalid. Bondholders would, however, receive the notices and would have 30 days to react to the eviction order. The Land Acquisition Bill also said that reissued eviction notices would only give farmers seven days' notice to leave if their previous order had already expired. If the order had not expired, the notice period would be remainder of the unexpired order. The bill has to be signed into law by President Robert Mugabe. Jenni Williams, spokeswoman for Justice for Agriculture (JAG), which advocates challenging evictions through the courts, told IRIN she considered the new bill a victory, because the test case had made the government accountable for its own laws.
The next step, she said, was to challenge the evictions on the basis of constitutional infringements. Under the "fast-track" resettlement programme, 2,900 commercial farmers have been ordered to leave their properties, which would be redistrubuted to landless cultivators. Top
Nigeria: Government Critics at Risk After Political Killings
Kerala Monitor
(New York, September 19, 2002) Critics of the Anambra state government in southeastern Nigeria have been receiving death threats following the assassination of Barnabas Igwe and his wife on September 1, 2002, Human Rights Watch said today.
Igwe, chairman of the Onitsha branch of the National Bar Association
(NBA), had been an outspoken critic of Anambra state Governor Chinwoke
Mbadinuju. Close colleagues who had also criticized the governor have
faced threats and intimidation before and since his assassination.“There is strong, credible evidence that Igwe and his wife were targeted
for political reasons – because of Igwe’s and the NBA’s public criticism
of the Anambra state government’s performance,” said Peter Takirambudde,
executive director of the Africa Division of Human Rights Watch. “Their
deaths highlight the risks faced by other critics of the government.”Human Rights Watch called for an independent and impartial investigation
into the killings and the prosecution of those responsible.Barnabas Igwe and his wife Abigail, also a lawyer, were killed in
Onitsha on September 1, the day after they returned from the
southwestern town of Ibadan where they had attended a national
conference of the NBA. They were traveling home when a group of
assailants attacked them with machetes and shot them several times, then
ran them over with their vehicle. According to the police, the
perpetrators did not steal anything from the victims.In the days preceding the killing, Igwe and other close colleagues who
had denounced abuses by the state government received direct threats
from senior officials in the Anambra state government, face to face and
through telephone calls on personal mobile phones. The threats were
explicitly linked to criticisms by Igwe and his colleagues of the state
government’s failure to pay the salaries of government workers for
several months. The lawyers had given the government a 21-day ultimatum
to pay the salary arrears or resign; they had made these calls in public
statements, widely broadcast through the media. State government
officials had previously made repeated attempts to silence them, for
example by offering bribes to withdraw their statements, which they
rejected.Human Rights Watch is urging the Anambra state and federal governments
to take all measures necessary to ensure the safety of Igwe’s colleagues
and to take prompt action against any official engaged in intimidation,
threats or other abuses.“We were alarmed to hear that people very close to the victims have been
receiving death threats even since the killing of Igwe and his wife –
including the very day after the killings, when at least one person was
told that he would be next. We are extremely worried for their safety,”
said Takirambudde.Human Rights Watch is also concerned at reports that the police
attempted to prevent a rally from taking place in Onitsha on September
18, organized by the NBA to express solidarity for the victims and to
demand action. Apparently the police had been told that there would be
violence at the rally. However, the organizers were simply planning a
peaceful protest to condemn the killings and commemorate the victims.“The authorities are responsible for ensuring that the police protect
those taking part in peaceful demonstrations, whatever their message,”
said Takirambudde.Human Rights Watch also called for the immediate release of two
relatives of Igwe, who were arrested on September 12 for distributing
posters protesting the killing and demanding justice, and detained by
police in the state capital Awka.In response to accusations by the NBA and others that he was personally
involved in planning the killing of Igwe and his wife, Governor
Mbadinuju announced that he would set up a panel of inquiry. He has
denied any involvement in the killing and has reportedly offered three
different theories: that Igwe and his wife were killed by armed robbers
(a theory the police have ruled out); that Igwe may have been targeted
by people from his local community; and that the governor’s own
political opponents had orchestrated the killing with the specific
intention of blaming it on the governor.“Only an independent investigation can reveal the truth and identify the
real perpetrators,” said Takirambudde. “In view of the pattern of
politically-motivated abuses in Anambra state in the last few years, and
the impunity which has protected those responsible, we believe that an
investigation should be set up by the federal government – especially in
the face of allegations that the Anambra state governor himself may be
personally implicated.”Investigators should not include members of the state government or any
other individuals who may have a direct interest in the outcome of the
investigation.“We are calling on the police, judicial authorities and federal
government of Nigeria to ensure that those responsible for the murder of
Igwe and his wife, as well as other cases of political killings, are
brought to justice promptly and to end the impunity which has protected
the perpetrators of such abuses until now,” said Takirambudde.Human Rights Watch said that the Anambra state government should
cooperate fully with the criminal investigation and should initiate
disciplinary measures including suspension, as appropriate, of any state
government officials responsible for issuing death threats.This is not the first time that opponents of the Anambra state
government have been targeted. In a report published in May 2002, Human
Rights Watch and the Lagos-based Centre for Law Enforcement Education
documented several other cases of politically motivated killings,
arrests and torture by the Bakassi Boys, a vigilante group used by the
Anambra state government to intimidate its opponents. Among those
targeted for their perceived opposition to the state government were
Prophet Eddie Okeke, killed in November 2000; Chief Ezeodumegwu G.
Okonkwo, a local government chairman killed in February 2001; and
Ifeanyi Ibegbu, minority leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly,
detained and tortured by the Bakassi Boys in August 2000. No one has
been prosecuted in these cases.Top
EU Should Support Syria?s Imprisoned Democrats
Kerala Monitor
(Brussels, 18 September 2002) -- The European Union and its member
states should press vigorously for the unconditional release of 10
Syrian pro-democracy activists, Human Rights Watch said today. The men
were arrested in August and September 2001, and were sentenced earlier
this year to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years. They include two
independent members of parliament, two lawyers, a prominent economist,
and two medical doctors."The Syrian government has cracked down hard on advocates of political
reform, human rights, and civil society," said Lotte Leicht, Brussels
director of Human Rights Watch. "The EU must send a clear message that
such actions are unacceptable and will have consequences."Human Rights Watch announced today that it was launching an
international campaign to press the EU to act on behalf of the 10
prisoners, and made public a letter it sent last week to European
Commissioners Javier Solana and Chris Patten and the EU foreign
ministers.The EU and Syria are negotiating an Association Agreement, a trade pact
which states that relations between the parties "shall be based on
respect of democratic principles and fundamental human rights as set out
in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, which guides their
internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element
of [the agreements].""The EU has leverage with Syria and should be using it now. It should
suspend further negotiations until the 10 men are released
unconditionally," Leicht said.The next Association Agreement negotiating session will take place in
Brussels in October 2002.Human Rights Watch said in its letter to EU officials that the criminal
prosecution and imprisonment of Syrian citizens for the mere exercise of
their rights to freedom of expression and association made "a mockery of
these asserted principles."TopInterview on NPR's Morning Edition with Alex Chadwick
Kerala Monitor
Secretary Colin L. Powell
Washington, DC
September 19, 2002QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, has there been progress toward a UN Security
Council resolution on Iraq? Is the Security Council still divided on
this question?SECRETARY POWELL: Yes, I think there has been a great deal of progress,
and it is all measured from the President's powerful speech last
Thursday, where he put the challenge squarely before the United Nations
and Security Council. A number of people have written in recent days
that the Security Council is split or divided, but you know we really
haven't put it together yet for it to be split and divided. We are
going through this diplomatic process where we take a look at
everybody's positions and try to get consensus on a position to move
forward.I think we will succeed. I am in contact with all of the Permanent
Members and Non-Permanent Members of the Security Council, a total of
15 of us, and I am getting good reaction -- support for the President's
speech, support for the proposition that Iraq really has been in
material breach and violation of all these resolutions, support that we
ought to have a toughened regime going back in if we go to inspectors.
I think there is an understanding that there need to be consequences
for misbehavior in the future.Now, there will be a lot of posturing and positioning, and right now
some nations are saying we don't need a new resolution. But I think we
have a powerful case that says we cannot let Iraq get by again with
another one of these games, another ploy that they play. The only
reason they offered to let inspectors in on Monday was because the
international pressure had built so much over the previous three days
as a result of the President's speech. This is not the time to let off
that pressure, and the United States will not let off that pressure.QUESTION: You say you're building a consensus, Mr. Secretary. Is it
essential, in your view, that that consensus be that there be one
resolution and that that resolution authorize the use of force if
Baghdad does not comply by some deadline?SECRETARY POWELL: We think one resolution is a better way to go, but we
are not so wedded to it that we won't listen to arguments to two
resolutions or only one resolution without a triggering action of the
kind you just described. The process we go through in developing these
resolutions is to listen to other sovereign nations who have points of
view. So it is a matter of us presenting our case and being able to
convince nine nations of the 15 nations to agree with us, and in a way
that none of the Permanent Members vetoes that agreement.QUESTION: Is the US going to go on preparing for a possible military
action against Iraq while this debate plays out?SECRETARY POWELL: The President has not decided on military action
against Iraq, but you can be sure that my colleagues in the Pentagon
are examining their options and are positioning themselves in case the
President should make such a decision. In all of this, we have to
remember that the President has given up none of his options to do what
he believes is necessary to defend the United States and its interests.It is important that we keep diplomatic pressure, as well as this kind
of contingency pressure, against the Iraqi regime because they have
used every previous opportunity to wiggle out to wiggle out. This is
not the first time they have said they had let inspectors in without
conditions. They have said it many times before. And this time, the
Security Council must decide what conditions inspectors, if they go
back in, go back in under. I believe it is important that there have to
be consequences this time for misbehavior, otherwise we will be at
another Security Council and General Assembly session next year
wondering what happened.QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you say it's for the Security Council to
decide that, but you also say it's for the United States to decide
that.SECRETARY POWELL: Yes.
QUESTION: Which is it?
SECRETARY POWELL: It's both. The Security Council, of which we are a
member, the United Nations of which we are a member, is a multilateral
institution whose resolutions have been violated. But the United
States, as a separate matter, believes that its interests are
threatened. We are trying to solve this problem through the United
Nations and in a multilateral way.But, at the same time, if the United Nations is not able to act because
the members choose not to act, I think that would be a terrible
indictment against the United Nations, and the United States will then
have to make its own decision as to whether the danger posed by Iraq is
such that we will have to act on our own ability to act because we are
defending our nation and our interests. So there's no conflict.The President took the case to the United Nations because it is the
body that should deal with such matters. It was created to deal with
such matters. And he is hoping that the United Nations will act, but it
has to act in a way that brings a solution to the problem, not in a way
that lets Iraq wiggle off.The problem is not caused by the United Nations or caused by the United
States; the problem is caused by Iraq, which has gassed its own people,
gassed its neighbors, and invaded two countries in the last 20 years,
its neighbors.QUESTION: But if the UN Security Council doesn't act in a way that the
United States feels is appropriate, then we'll not be bound by its
decision?SECRETARY POWELL: The United Nations can choose to act in any way that
it sees fit though its Security Council, but the United States reserves
the right to defend itself. Membership in no other organization trumps
the authority of the President to defend the nation. And this is not
unprecedented. Just a few years ago, or during the Kosovo crisis, there
was a situation where the United Nations was not able to act because
the Russians would veto any UN resolution, but willing nations,
recognizing the danger in the Kosovo situation, agreed amongst
themselves that it was necessary to conduct military action, even
though it was not military action that had been authorized by a vote of
the Security Council.QUESTION: Let me ask you about the letter from Iraq on Monday. Did that
catch us by surprise, because there did seem to be a consensus and a
kind of a momentum toward the US position?SECRETARY POWELL: There was a momentum toward the realization that
something had to be done this time that Iraq could not wiggle out of. I
was aware on Sunday, we all were aware on Sunday here in the
Administration, that a letter would be forthcoming the next day. In
fact, we had even seen drafts of it. We didn't know if that would be
the final letter or not. So we were not surprised by the letter and we
were not surprised by the fact that there would be a letter. We were
pretty sure that at some point along the way Iraq would try to get out
of the problem it had created for itself with this kind of a gambit.The only thing that was perhaps a little surprising was that it did it
so early in the process. And the reason it did it so early in the
process was because of the enormous pressure that had been generated on
Iraq as a result of President Bush's speech. Let's make one thing
clear. Iraq did not submit this letter because it decided that, "woops,
we have been wrong all these years, we now see the error of our ways,
let us get right." That is not the reason they submitted this letter.
They are not anxious to see inspectors come back in. They submitted
this letter for one single reason: They were under enormous pressure
and they were afraid of the consequences of their continued
misbehavior. We should not let that pressure up at this time.QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, is it the position of the US Government that,
realistically, the issue of inspectors doesn't matter, that there's no
way these things are going to be done on the up and up, and it's
nothing more than a delaying tactic and we simply have to go ahead?SECRETARY POWELL: No, I don't think that is the correct analysis at
all. We supported inspectors for some seven years. The inspectors did a
good job from '91 through '98 and they uncovered a lot. They had to be
helped with outside intelligence and defectors who made information
known to us helped a great deal. But the inspectors did a good job.One of the items we will be looking at in the Security Council is: Is
there a way to put together an inspection regime that is far tougher
than the one that is currently on the books that Iraq will not have the
ability to frustrate in its efforts and that Iraq has nothing to do
with respect to negotiating the terms and conditions under which the
inspection will be held.Now, let's put the proposition very clearly. If Iraq has no weapons of
mass destruction, if the United States and the United Kingdom and
others are making all this up, if we are doing such an injustice to
Iraq, there is an easy way to find it out. There is an easy way for
them to turn the tables on us. And that is to say, "You send in any
inspection regime you want to go anywhere you want under any set of
circumstances, talk to anybody you want, because we're clean." Well,
they're not clean, and that is why they have been trying to frustrate
our effort all these years. And the challenge is now before the United
Nations to do something about it.QUESTION: The letter from Iraq, Mr. Secretary, says "inspectors without
conditions." But do you take that to mean the inspectors can operate
however they like, or could one read that letter to mean the inspectors
are welcome so long as they don't insist on any conditions, such as
unfettered access?SECRETARY POWELL: You can guess at the answer to that question as well
as I can. But we have seen almost identical language a number of times
before, and when the inspectors got there or tried to inspect a
particular facility, all sorts of conditions were raised -- you can't
do it now, we won't let you into that one, wait a few minutes while we
saw things going out the back door -- and so we have seen this ploy
before and we should not fall for it again. The United States isn't
going to fall for it, and I think we can make a persuasive case to the
other members of the Security Council that they shouldn't fall for it
either.If the Security Council starts to move in the direction of a new
resolution with a new inspection regime, and it seems to be a step in
the right direction, it has to be a tough one that the Iraqis must not
try to frustrate. We will see whether they are serious or not. If they
do not frustrate such a future inspection regime, if we decide upon
one, then maybe they are serious for the first time. But experience
suggests that we have to make sure it is as tough as possible if we go
down this road, and not let the Iraqis play these games.QUESTION: But you're not ruling out the idea of going down that road?
SECRETARY POWELL: I don't know anyone who has ruled it out. I mean we
are skeptical. We have our reservations about it. The President has
spoken to inspection regimes before. In his speech on Thursday last, he
called for the UN to take action and to examine what action that would
be. And the UN takes action in the form of resolutions, and so he was
calling for the UN to examine this question and decide what action the
UN thought might be appropriate. And the United States will be a part
of that debate, part of that dialogue.QUESTION: A last question, sir. Is there a deadline in the minds of the
Administration by which the question of inspectors must be settled, by
which you must either have access to all the sites you want to look at
in Iraq or the United States will take action?SECRETARY POWELL: Well, you have not only asked me about a deadline,
you asked for all the circumstances and what would flow from such a
deadline. Let me just answer the question this way: If the Security
Council comes up with a new resolution and places a new demand on Iraq,
it must have a deadline, in our judgment, because otherwise there would
be no end to this. So there would have to be a deadline with respect to
acceptance of what the UN has directed Iraq to do or said to Iraq must
be done.QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary.
SECRETARY POWELL: You're quite welcome. Thank you.Top
COTE D IVOIRE: Ex-president reported killed in armed uprising
Kerala Monitor
ABIDJAN, 19 September (IRIN) - Former Cote d'Ivoire president General Robert Guei was among several people reportedly killed, as an armed uprising on Thursday paralysed various Ivorian cities, including the commercial capital, Abidjan. General Guei, who led Cote d'Ivoire's first military coup in 1999 and toppled the government of Henri Konan Bedie, was killed on Thursday afternoon in a shoot- out near his home in Abidjan, diplomats told IRIN.
Minister of the Interior Emile Boga Doudou was also fatally wounded and another minister had been taken hostage by the mutineers, the sources said. An army commander in the central Bouake region, Lt-Col Dagrou Loula, was also reportedly killed during clashes in the morning. Heavy shooting started in Abidjan at about 04.00 GMT when about 800 soldiers reportedly mutinied. Dressed in jeans and military fatigues, the soldiers were reportedly protesting an impending demobilisation from the army.
Initial reports said "a coup d'etat was in progress", diplomats said. Government installations and the official residences of some ministers, including those of the Interior and Defence, were attacked, they said. By the afternoon, loyalist forces had regained control of several military units that were earlier over-run by the mutineers, sources said. The government of Cote d'Ivoire was busy trying to contain the situation, news agencies quoted Prime Minister Pascal Affi N'Guessan as saying. The streets of Abidjan remained deserted even after the shooting subsided, but with reports of loyalist soldiers manning roadblocks. The international airport was closed and incoming flights were diverted to Ghana and other neighbouring countries.
President Laurent Gbagbo, who replaced Guei following elections in 2000, was on a visit to Italy when the uprising erupted and cancelled a morning meeting with the speaker of Italy's Chamber of Deputies. News agencies quoted an aide, Alain Toussaint, as saying in Rome that former military Guei was behind the clashes.
Guei's aides in Abidjan denied the statement. Thursday's fighting started at a paramilitary police base in Abidjan but spread to other parts of the country, diplomats said, adding that it was too early to tell the level of destruction to property. Heavy shooting continued on Thursday morning in several areas of Abidjan, including: Riviera, Cocody, where the president lives, Deux Plateaux, the Agban gendarmerie barracks, and Plateau, the business centre of the city, where strategic installations like the national television, radio and presidential offices are situated.
An army garrison was attacked in the northern city of Korhogo, a stronghold of the opposition 800 km north of Abidjan. News reports said at least two dead bodies were seen.An air base in Bouake and an army base in the northern town of Ferkessedougou, were also reportedly attacked. By afternoon, fighting was still going on in Korhogo and Bouake, diplomats told IRIN.Top
African States consider regional anti-crime body
Kerala Monitor
LAGOS, 19 September (IRIN) - Interior ministers and police chiefs of members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are soon to meet in Cote d'Ivoire to consider proposals for a regional criminal investigation and intelligence bureau.Police chiefs are due to meet in Abidjan from 23 September as part of efforts to combat cross-border criminal activities, according to a statement from the ECOWAS secretariat in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, on Wednesday.
After police chiefs conclude their deliberations, ministers for internal affairs are to meet on 26 September to consider a draft document on the establishment of a regional crime bureau, the statement said."The proposal envisages the centralisation and sharing of information among the security services of the sub-region in the prevention, investigation and punishment of those engaged in common law crimes, subject to the national laws of each country," it added.
Crimes such as armed robbery and trafficking in illicit drugs, small arms, children and women have been on the increase in the region in recent years.The creation of a regional anti-crime body would assist information on criminal activities and the movement of criminals for the purpose of trailing and intercepting them, according to ECOWAS officials.Special consideration is also to be given to proposals by Ghana on collaboration between the 15 member states on scientific and technical aspects of criminal investigation, they added.
Tanzania witness modest social improvements but ''rising inequality
Kerala Monitor
DAR ES SALAAM, 19 September (IRIN) - Income poverty is high, many social indicators are poor and there are large gaps between urban and rural populations, Tanzania's 2000/01 Household Budget Survey (HBS) revealed on Tuesday. The results suggest that, while measures of welfare showed modest improvements, the economy had diversified and household consumption had increased, these improvements over the last decade have been associated with "rising inequality", and the improvements have been concentrated in urban areas. However, the government rejected suggestions that the recent benefits of debt relief had not trickled down to the majority of the population, over 80 percent of whom live in rural areas.
"We have been undertaking local government reform and its aim is to move the central powers to local government," Dr Abdallah Kigoda, Minister of State in the President's Office told reporters at the launch of the HBS. "If we look at the budgetary allocations which have been allocated to the social services sector, you will see notable improvements in health and education." Over the last decade, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of households headed by women - from 18 percent to 23 percent - and these households are no poorer as a result, the report finds.
Figures on education revealed that a quarter of Tanzanian adults have no education, with women twice as likely as men to miss out. The survey also reports that 44 percent of Tanzanian households use an unprotected source of drinking water, such as unprotected wells and springs and surface water like rivers and lakes. Of these, only 49 percent live within a kilometre of the water supply. With regard to people's activities, the HBS found significant changes in the percentage of people involved in agriculture or fishing - down from 75 percent to 70 percent - and those in government or parastatal employment - down from 5.2 percent to 2.5 percent.
The survey, conducted in over 22,000 households throughout mainland Tanzania between May 2000 and June 2001, looked at a range of individual and household characteristics. Individually, it examined people's education, economic activities and health status, while, in general, household expenditure, consumption and income were recorded. Researchers also looked at housing structure, building materials and access to services and facilities in every household. The government said on Tuesday that the survey would be an effective way of tracking the progress resulting from its poverty reduction policies.Top
'Let's ride with ENOC, EPPCO And Fantasy KingdomSeptember 19th Kerala Monitor
Dubai - The first batch of lucky mountain bike winners have been announced in the 'Let's Ride' promotion organised by Emirates National Oil Company Limited (ENOC) LLC and Emirates Petroleum Products Company (EPPCO), in conjunction with Fantasy Kingdom, one of the UAE's largest indoor family amusement arcades. "Congratulations to the first group of winners," said Ahmed Al Mulla, Manager, Convenience Stores, adding: "We still have lots of mountain bikes, four one-year Al Bustan Residence Health Club family memberships and an amazing Dingo 65E dune buggy to give away." In the first of four fortnightly draws, 13 people walked away from ENOC/ EPPCO forecourts and 'Fantasy Kingdom' at the Al Bustan Centre with a shiny new bike featuring 28 gears, mud guards, a water holder and rear wheel suspension.
Another four fortnightly draws will feature family memberships to the Al Bustan Health Club as the prize. Until October 30th, everyone spending Dhs 20 at any EPPCO fast food restaurant or Dhs 30 at Fantasy Kingdom will be entitled to a raffle ticket, to win the likes of health club membership and mountain bikes on alternate weeks. "All of our 12 fast food restaurants in Dubai will stage their own draw so every fortnight we will have one mountain bike winner at each individual outlet," said Al Mulla.
At the end of the promotion, all raffle tickets will be entered into a mega- draw to win the Let's Ride' grand prize, a powerful dune buggy. The first lucky group of winners included: Ayman S. Amin, Salama Ahmed Mohammed, Ercument Ozturk, Faisal Mohammed, Wadih Gebara and Adnan Mohammad Noaman Al Qahtani, Ushma Unnikrishnan and Bissan Moulana.
For 11-year-old Salama Ahmed Mohammed, the promotion marked her first ever win. She said: " I won a bicycle after a visit to Fantasy Kingdom. This is the first time I have ever won a prize. I always wanted a bicycle!" Adnan Mohammad Noaman Al Qahtani, a 26-year-old UAE national said: "I went to get a drink, ended up buying other food items as well, now I have won a nice prize!"
Over the same period, a 'Scratch and Win' promotion, staged in conjunction with Pepsi, will take place at EPPCO's fast food restaurants, which are at Al Wasl Road near Safa Park, next to the Metropolitan Hotel, DIC and Emirates Golf Club, Al Qusais, Wafi Mall, Al Rashidiya, Mankhool Road, Sharjah-Dubai-Sharjah roads and Dubai-Abu Dhabi-Dubai roads. Top
LG ELECTRONICS LAUNCHES CUSTOMER WEEK
25 LG Mobile 'Phones Up For GrabsDubai -September 19, 2002 Kerala Monitor
LG Electronics is holding a dedicated 'Customer Week' in the U.A.E. from Saturday 21 September concluding with 'Entertainment Day' at Deira City Centre in Dubai, when 25 members of the public will walk away with one of LG's cutting-edge GSM mobile 'phones. During 'Customer Week', specialised LG technicians from Korea will be on hand to offer their in-depth knowledge on LG products and assist their locally trained colleagues from Al Sayegh Brothers, PC International and Al Yousuf Electronics. Throughout the seven-day period, LG is offering free service labour and spare parts at cost on almost all LG products.
LG's Entertainment Day on Friday, 27 September, features five magic shows and musical performances throughout the day at Centre Court in Deira City Centre with five quiz sessions to win one of 25 LG GSM mobile 'phones. The LG master-of-ceremonies will ask the audience a simple question - the first to answer correctly wins a 'phone.The first 45-minute performance starts at 3.00 p.m and an LG spokesperson says everyone is invited to join in the fun."LG recognises that the way a customer is looked after is as important as the quality of the products it sells," said Mr Y.R. Roh, Managing Director, LG Electronics Middle East Company Limited. "'Customer Week' is part of LG's commitment to reaching the number one slot in customer service indices
Fujitsu Siemens Computers to deliver Oracle's new messaging and collaboration software in EMEA
Newly launched Oracle Collaboration Suite to be pre-installed on high-end Fujitsu Siemens servers
Dubai - September 19, 2002 Kerala Monitor
Fujitsu Siemens Computers (FSC), the leading international computer company, has recently announced its partnership with Oracle Corporation, the world's largest enterprise software company, to bring the newly launched Oracle Collaboration Suite to markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) by the end of the year 2002. This strategic alliance will make Fujitsu Siemens Computers the first IT vendor to deliver the advanced Oracle software, which is pre-installed on FSC's high-end servers.
The new deal entails that both companies deliver, integrate and market the Oracle Collaboration Suite on Fujitsu Siemens Intel-based Primergy and Solaris/SPARC-based Primepower servers. The Oracle Collaboration Suite is designed to enable enterprise customers to dramatically cut the costs associated with managing complex networks of messaging and collaboration servers and at the same time realizes the greater efficiencies associated with consolidating and integrating email, fax, voicemail, telephony, files and calendaring into one universally accessible, scaleable, reliable and secure system.
"As a leader in Business Critical Computing, Fujitsu Siemens is committed to providing choices when it comes to messaging and collaboration software. In this respect, we found that our Primergy and Primepower server series are an ideal platform upon which to run the Oracle Collaboration Suite," said Karim Saba, Sales Director - International, Large Enterprise, Fujitsu Siemens Computers. "We can now equip our customers with a facility to consolidate their back-end infrastructure, make it extremely scaleable, reliable and secure, and, most importantly, cost-effective by saving money year on year."
"Business Critical Computing is one of two core areas identified by FSC as having great business potential in the near future, and our product range is in direct response to today's requirements of reliability, availability, performance, cost effectiveness and investment protection," added Saba. "By powering the Primergy and Primepower servers with the Oracle Collaboration Suite, we are expanding the capabilities of these servers and giving customers enhanced solutions to messaging and collaboration."
Sergio Giacoletto, Executive Vice President of Oracle Europe EMEA, said: "The Oracle Collaboration Suite is a new milestone for Oracle, and we are confident that we have developed the most technically advanced and unbreakable collaboration software the market has ever seen. This partnership with Fujitsu Siemens Computers will be instrumental in helping us build a completely new software business."
"By replacing their department-level communications software with the Oracle Collaboration Suite, customers stand to save a lot of money," added Giacoletto. "At Oracle, the software has allowed us to consolidate 97 different messaging servers into just three, bringing annual cost savings of 11 million pounds." The Oracle Collaboration Suite has been designed to avoid the drawbacks of current corporate email technologies, which cater to departments. In addition, Oracle's focus on integrating telephony promises to make life easier for users, apart from offering substantial cost savings for companies.
The Oracle Collaboration Suite features several successful next-generation Oracle technologies that Oracle Corporation utilizes for its own business. Its key strengths include Enterprise-scale applications with features specifically designed to support enterprise-scale implementation of millions of users; lower costs of implementation through server consolidation; more efficient planning for storage, networking, backup and other key requirements; enterprise-scale manageability through powerful administration tools capable of managing servers and the communication and content management applications throughout the enterprise. It also comprises a facility, exclusively designed for employees to access information from anywhere and at anytime.Fujitsu Siemens Computers will provide the Oracle Collaboration Suite on both its Primergy and Primepower range of servers running Linux, Windows or Solaris operating systems on both Intel or SPARC platforms.Top
IBM’s Resellers Raise the Bar on Sales and Service in New Training Program
IBM and GBM deliver extensive training programme on IBM’s new portfolio of Tivoli Software Click pic for expanded view. Kerala Monitor
Dubai-UAE, 19th September, 2002- IBM’s Software Group, together with its general marketing and services representative for the Gulf, GBM, has completed a two-day training course for the sales and marketing team of its channel partners in the region. The training session focused on increasing the resellers’ knowledge on IBM’s Tivoli software, which helps Middle East businesses to cost-effectively manage their IT infrastructures.
The event forms part of IBM’s overall strategy to develop and enhance its distribution chain to deliver increasing levels of service to its customers in the region. “We are dedicated to helping our partners present customers with well-informed, well trained staff that can advise them on the benefits of the different components of Tivoli systems management and security software, which they can then combine with the support of GBM’s expertise,” said Yvon Le Gall, Tivoli regional manager, IBM Software Group, Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
“Through these training sessions, we can keep in close touch with our channel and ensure that we are able to provide customers with the best service possible.” The team from IBM and GBM delivered a comprehensive course on IBM’s latest products in its Tivoli Software portfolio, including cross-platform e-business infrastructure management solutions that help Middle East companies align IT with business priorities. The training also covered features of Tivoli that allow businesses to not only manage their systems performances and availability, but to also secure their infrastructure and data, as well as provide automatic configuration for desktops. “Comprehensive training for our channel partners is at the heart of our strategy in the Middle East. This is vital to us as customer satisfaction is our top priority, and that comes from committed, informed, professional sales staff that can provide knowledgeable service,” said Le Gall.Top
MD82 Deal of Oasis Leasing's First US Transaction
Dubai -September 19, 2002 Kerala Monitor
Oasis International Leasing Company today announced a further expansion in its leasing portfolio. The Abu Dhabi-based lessor, in partnership with Compass Capital Corporation in the US, has financed the acquisition of an MD82 aircraft on lease to Continental Airlines. Commenting on the deal, Oasis Leasing CEO Gordon Dixon said: "This transaction represents further growth and diversification of our leasing and financing business."It also encompasses a number of 'firsts' for Oasis, namely, our first financing involving Continental; our first transaction with Compass; our first investment in the MD80 aircraft type and our first transaction in the US market.
"We are confident that Oasis' recently established presence in the US will result in a number of additional investments in this important leasing market," said Dixon. Oasis Leasing's asset portfolio now includes 13 aircraft on lease to major regional and international flag carriers and a 50% stake in a capesize dry-bulk vessel. The company aims to build its asset and risk profile from its current US$475 million value to US$1.2 billion by 2006, with additional investments in aircraft and targeted moves into shipping, infrastructure and power plant financing. Top
Ericsson wins contract for converged networks deliveries in Iran
Kerala Monitor
Ericsson Enterprise has been chosen as a supplier of equipment and
solutions to Shiraz Electronic Industries (SEI) in Iran. Ericsson
will provide converged solutions for voice and data to enterprises in
Iran worth 18,3 Million USD.The scope of the agreement is deliveries of equipment for over
100.000 users of voice and data services over an ATM backbone.
Solutions are built on a converged platform consisting of Ericsson
products such as the MD110 communications platform and the AXD data
networking family."We are very pleased to have been chosen by SEI," says Mats
Halvorsen, Vice President of Ericsson Enterprise. "It is living proof
that SEI appreciates and trusts the strength, security and
flexibility of our converged solutions for enterprises."To support SEI in this nationwide, important project, Ericsson
Enterprise is working together with its partner Communication
Performer Group (CPG) in Turkey, when it comes to training and
servicing."Ericsson has great experience in this field, working as long term
partner in turn-key projects like this where technology transfer,
product support, training and servicing are essential components,"
says Mats Halvorsen. "Our track record, combined with Ericsson's
leading global position in mobile communications, is what gave us the
competitive advantage in winning this contract."Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet
communications through its continuous technology leadership.
Providing innovative solutions in more than 140 countries, Ericsson
is helping to create the most powerful communication companies in the
world.Top
