MORE PICS – Rumours Only - All is Quiet -Kampung Baru & Batu Caves; PM: Equal Educational Opportunities; LTTE -Ruthless Militants or Freedom Fighters?
UPDATE from STAR;
IGP: Hiccup to tracing source of SMS rumours
KOTA KINABALU: Police efforts in tracking down the sources of rumours of racial clashes via short message service (SMS) in Kuala Lumpur last weekend are being hampered as such messages are being spread through the use of prepaid mobile phone numbers. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said they were however getting to the sources of the rumours which the Prime Minister quashed on Saturday.
“Even if those using prepaid mobile phone services are required to register their numbers, they can still use other names,” Musa told newsmen after meeting senior police officers in the state yesterday. He said those receiving similar SMSes should stop forwarding them and instead refer them to police. “If they pass on these messages they are rumour mongering as well and liable to face action as well,” he added.
The reported rumors of possible clashes in Kampung Baru & Puchong fizzled out as there was no gathering in any of the places. The police were out in the areas to monitor the situation. The initial SMSes pointed to UMNO youth leader Datuk Hishamuddin (BELOW) as the originator and he had strenuously denied the allegations of Malays gathering there.
Meanwhile everywhere the PM goes now; his concern and emphasis is “equal opportunities” for all even in the educational fields. But is this in theory translated to practice when it comes to implementation? When they failed in all the subjects, the PM can only have kind words and said they "still don't excel in their studies" and not they are NOT interested in their studies
The Hindraf leader Uthayakumar (BELOW) had complained bitterly in an interview about
“[…] So if the opposition party, NGOs and civil society doesn’t want to do (Indian issues) […] if we don’t do, nobody would do it. So we are left with no choice but to focus on Indian issues, temple demolitions, Indians schools not being fully aided […] many schools look like a cow shed. I have not seen one Chinese or Malay school which looks like a cow shed.”
Meanwhile Bernama is on the offensive now and has sent its staff all the way to
Kampung Baru Calm, No Illegal Assembly
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- Kampung Baru, the Malay heartland in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, was calm today without any illegal gathering of the Malays as was rumoured through messages sent out via SMS by irresponsible elements. Checks by Bernama journalists showed the residents went about their usual Sunday chores.(BELOW, Breakfast sold as usual)
Policemen were stationed at every road leading to Kampung Baru and surrounding areas such as at the Kampung Baru Mosque and Dang Wangi area to ensure peace and order.
Dang Wangi OCPD ACP Zulkarnain (ABOVE) Abdul Rahman said there was no gathering whatsoever in Kampung Baru. "The SMSes sent out are merely rumours. Our 48-hour surveillance in and around Kampung Baru showed no sign of any gathering as was rumoured.
ABOVE & BELOW: The police Roadblocks and Checks in Kampung Baru on Sunday Morning
MORE PICS Coming....
"They are only rumours. There is no response, no gathering of people whatsoever," he told reporters after assessing the situation in Kampung Baru. Zulkarnain said traders in and around Kampung Baru went about their usual business.
ABOVE & BELOW: As it was a Sunday, most shops were closed and the roads were deserted without any signs of a gathering
He said police were investigating the masterminds behind the SMS rumours of a gathering of the Malays in Kampung Baru and Indians in
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Equal Education Opportunities For All Races, Says Abdullah
KEPALA BATAS, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- The government gives equal attention to all races in education to enable them to make useful contributions for the nation's well-being, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Sunday. The prime minister said through education all races can enjoy quality life, with ample opportunities for a decent living and job prospects wide open. Besides education, he said, the government also gave attention to the poor to help them redeem themselves from the clutches of poverty and to lead a better life. "We also give equal attention to students, irrespective of race, as education is an invaluable asset to the nation, an important ingredient to the progress of our children and the Malaysian race. "I hope our children will emerge successful and progressive students," he said when presenting excellence awards to high achievers of Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah in the Kepala Batas parliamentary constituency.
Abdullah, who is also Kepala Batas member of parliament, said he was happy with the increasing number of high achievers every year from among rural students whose results are on par with students from urban schools. This has been made possible with better learning and teaching facilities made available in rural schools and with the teachers' commitment, he said. The prime minister, upset over some students who still failed in the UPSR, urged teachers to give special attention to address the problem so that students sitting for the UPSR next year pass in all the subjects.
"One thing I am not happy about is some pupils still fail in all the subjects. This showed there are pupils who still don't excel in their studies," he said. In this context, the prime minister proposed schools achieving 100 per cent passes be given incentives to spur them for continued excellence.Abdullah also urged parents to give serious attention to their children's education, particularly to children sitting for important examinations, to ensure they scored excellent results. Earlier, Abdullah chaired the Penang Umno liaison committee meeting at Menara Umno in Jalan Macalister in
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LTTE, Ruthless Militants Of
NEW DELHI, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- Over the last two decades or so, at least 70,000 people have been killed while close to 700,000 Sri Lankans were forced to flee their homes due to the long-drawn civil war between the Sinhalese-led Sri Lankan government and those fighting for a separate homeland for the Tamil ethnic minority. Before the conflict,
The island-nation's once flourishing economy, noted for its abundance of aromatic tea leaves and precious gem stones, is still suffering due to the prolonged LTTE militancy, mainly led by suicide bombers. "Its (LTTE) main activity is violence and not only they kill their common enemy but also their own members. They have tried to kill me several times and the last was just two weeks ago. They have destroyed everything," Douglas Devananda, Sri Lanka's Social Services and Social Welfare Minister, told Bernama in a telephone interview. Targeting political rivals like Douglas, who are opposed to their cause, is part of LTTE's strategy and several prominent leaders including Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had fallen victims to the brutality of the LTTE. 
But his personal secretary was killed in the blast instead. LTTE, the Tamil nationalist group, was founded by Velupillai Prabhakaran(ABOVE with his Family) in 1975, to champion the Tamil cause and was mostly supported by Tamil youths who were disillusioned with many Sri Lankan government policies. They carried out low-key attacks in the beginning. But by the 80s, the group became one of the most ruthless militant groups around when it resorted to using young suicide bombers to assassinate their adversaries. Their violent militant stand has forced the LTTE to be banned in 32 countries after it was categorised as a terrorist group by the 
ABOVE & BELOW: The child soldiers conscripted to fight
The organisation is said to be the only terrorist group with an air wing, besides its lethal naval force named the Sea Tigers, equipped with suicide bomber vessels that had destroyed at least 30 Sri Lankan gunboats in the past. Many efforts to stop the civil war had failed and even intervention by international agencies did not yield positive results and innocent civilians, both Sinhalese and Tamils, continue to bear the brunt of the ethnic crisis.In Tamil Nadu, south India, for instance, there are 117 refugee camps, which are home to 80,000 Sri Lankan Tamils who fled from their native land since the militancy began and about 40,000 live outside the camps. "It is a mistake on both sides, it (the insurgency) has totally destroyed the whole political structure and social fabric of the country. There is no voice, no livelihood, so many widows and children (orphans).
It's very sad," S.C. Chandrahasan, founder of the Organisation for Eelam Refugee Rehabilitation, told Bernama. "The poorest of the poorest live here (camps in south
Economists have estimated that the civil war from 1983 to 1996 had cost
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The LTTE Are Freedom Fighters
by Kandiah Mylvaganam,
[Mr. Haukland] added that he was worried that the proposed talks on
The LTTE are freedom fighters declared none other than the Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring
ABOVE: Mr. Hagrup Haukland, met with Head of Liberation Tigers Political Wing, S.P. Thamilchelvan aand BELOW: seen significantly wearing a holster and gun while giving the Tiger salute when he participated in a Maveerar Week celebration in Kilinochchi.
While Mr. Haukland was with the Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, he said that the LTTE Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are a not a terrorist organisation like Al Qaeda. He stated that they are Freedom Fighters.
Sothiya Regiment, 2002, courtesy Tamil Guardian
Mr. Haukland joined the SLMM at its inception in 2002 as Chief of Staff. From October 2004 to October 2005 he took leave from work, but rejoined the SLMM as its Head. He took over this position when Norwegian Major General Tronf Furuhofde retired.
It should be noted that this declaration was made prior to Mr. Haukland vacating his office as Head of the SLMM. Even though it cannot be construed as the official version of the Norwegian government, yet it has official significance as Mr. Haukland made this statement while he was in the office of the Defence Secretary of the SL government on
Obviously this statement infuriated Mr.Gothbaya Rajapaksa. He retorted sharply, “You have come here to do a job of work. If you want to do that efficiently be impartial and do not take sides.” The angered Mr.Rajapaksha added that the out going head has come to
With the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) of 22.02.2002, the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Royal Norwegian Government concluded a Status of Mission Agreement (SOMA). The duties, privileges and immunities of the SLMM and its members are defined in that agreement. The LTTE also has in writing committed its agreement to fully implement the SOMA.
In Article 3 of the SOMA the SLMM is accorded the same privileges given to foreign diplomats under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of
The outgoing Head of the Truce Monitors, in an interview given to the papers, did not mince his words. Even though there is no concrete evidence to state that the armed forces of the GOSL are supporting the Paramilitary groups, he reiterated that the existence of several such groups cannot be denied.
The CFA need not be amended.
Answering a question as to whether the CFA should be amended, Mr. Haukland said, I quote:
“I don’t see the need for any amendments if the parties can live up to what they signed. The main thing is to keep the main situation safe. If there are powers or persons who want to amend it then they should come up with ways they can. There is a need however to have some technical arrangements without amending the CFA.”
He added that he was worried that the proposed talks on
When Mr. Hauklnad was asked to comment on the conditions put forward by the GOSL to the LTTE opening up political offices in the army-controlled areas, he said, I quote “It is one of the main things in the CFA that the LTTE should be able to do political work in the government controlled areas. They were about to open but postponed it because of the demands. Some of the demands are ok but some are ridiculous.”
Question: The allegation is that the CFA has provided the LTTE to train their cadres.
Answer: They are training and the army is training as well.
Question: But an army of a country has the duty to maintain security. You are talking of an elected government.
Answer: I know that but be realistic. There are those who say to disarm LTTE to talk. They are dreaming. If I have been fighting for a cause and you want me to disarm then you bloody well give me a guarantee before I hand over my weapons. I am not defending anyone.
Question: Statistically the LTTE have committed more number of violations. Answer: It is up to every individual to hold his or her own view of the statistics. The LTTE have committed more than the government side. But it is also a question of how you read it. The majority of the violations by the LTTE is related to child recruitment. That is very serious as it is illegal. No need to say killing a person is a CFA violation and flag hoisting by the LTTE is also a violation. See the difference.
Q: Have you seen Paramilitary groups?
A: Yes. Last time we saw them was
There is absolutely no confidence between the two parties. Mutual trust is very essential for progress towards peace. The parties should meet at ground levels and try to sort out the daily problems in addition to the top level Peace Talks. “I sincerely hope and believe that eventually they will find a solution to the conflict. I have been meeting people and they sincerely want peace but not at all cost” he concluded.
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Hindraf Supports at Kamunting in Solidarity with the 5 Leaders Deatined
ABOVE: The ISA Detention center was out of bounds and the supporters and their families were directed to a temple where 36 (5 +31) pigeons were released and speeches were made.
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The new coordinator for Hindraf. RS Thanenthiran.
Makkal Sakthi !
The police today stopped Hindraf supporters from gathering at the Kamunting Detention Centre where family members of five detainees were supposed to hold prayer sessions.
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TAIPING, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- Police set up roadblocks and conducted checks at several places here and prevented an attempt by several opposition political party members and supporters of an extremist group from gathering in front of the Kamunting detention camp near here Sunday. Taiping police chief ACP Raja Musa Raja Razak said police, including Federal Reserve Unit personnel, set up the roadblocks and conducted checks from early this morning and that no untoward incident occurred.
A check by Bernama revealed that several of the people had gathered at a Hindu temple in Kampung Baru Kamunting about 1.5km from the detention camp (ABOVE). Several small groups of people of about five to 10 people had also gathered at several nearby locations. All the groups dispersed on the advice of the police. The government had detained five people under the Internal Security Act (ISA) on Thursday for their involvement in organising an illegal rally in
More pics next post
posted by multidimid at 9:04 PM
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