14 DECCAN HERALD

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

World
White House condemns 1984 anti-Sikh violence
WASHINGTON, AGENCIES: In response to a petition from the influential Sikh community seeking recognition of violence against Sikhs in India during November 1984 as genocide, the White House has said it continues to condemn and work against violence directed at people because of their religion.

World at a glance

White House flays 1984 antiSikh riots in India , but declines to term it genocide.
REUTERS FILE

We continue to condemn and more importantly, to work against violence directed at people based on their religious

affiliation, the White House said, but declined to call the 1984 violence against Sikhs as genocide. US Government efforts to protect the rights and freedoms of all people have long been a feature of our foreign policy, it said in response to the online petition initiated by New York based rights group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) last December. The petition received 30,517 signatures, crossing the necessary threshold for a response. During and after the 1984 vi-

olence, the USmonitored and publicly reported on the grave human rights violations that occurred and the atrocities committed against members of the Sikh community, White House said. It cited the example of the State Departments Official Country Reports on Human Rights Practices which covered the violence and its aftermath in detail, with sections on political killings, disappearances, denial of fair public trials, negative effects on freedom of religion,

and the governments response to civil society organizations investigating allegations of human rights violations. Our diplomats regularly report on and speak out against violence against minorities around the world, White House said. The annual International Religious Freedom Report also describes the status of religious freedom in every country, highlights trends and violations, and details the actions that the US government is taking to improve freedom of reli-

gion, it said. However, SFJ legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said the Obama Administration has disregarded its obligations under Article 1 and 2 of the UN Convention on Genocide by failing to take a position on this issue. Based on a member nations failure to fulfil its obligation under Article 1 of the UN Convention on Genocide, SFJ will approach UNCHR to recognize the November 1984 violence against Sikhs as genocide, he said.
A Palestinian school girl looks through the window of her classroom at a United Nations-run school in Deir Balah in central Gaza Strip on Tuesday. REUTERS

N Korea vows to restart N-facilities

South unveils plan of active deterrence to pre-empt any missile attack against it
SEOUL, AP: North Korea vowed on Tuesday to restart a nuclear reactor that can make one bombs worth of plutonium a year, escalating tensions already raised by near daily warlike threats against the United States and South Korea.

The Norths plutonium reactor was shut down in 2007 as part of international nuclear disarmament talks that have since stalled. The declaration of a resumption of plutonium production the most common fuel in nuclear weapons and other facilities at the main Nyongbyon nuclear complex will boost fears in Washington and among its allies about North Koreas timetable for building a nuclear-tipped missile that can reach the United States, technology it is not currently believed to have. A spokesman for the Norths General Department of Atomic Energy said that scientists will begin work at a uranium enrichment plant and a graphitemoderated 5 megawatt reactor, which generates spent fuel rods laced with plutonium and is the core of the Nyongbyon nuclear complex. The unidentified spokesman said the measure is part of efforts to resolve the countrys acute electricity shortage but also for bolstering up the nuclear armed force both in quality and quantity, according to a statement carried by the offi-

BRACING FOR THE WORST: After demolishing the cooling tower at a nuclear plant in Yongbyon in June 27, 2008, North Korea is to restart the nuclear reactor, closed since 2007. (R) F-16 ghter jet comes in for a landing at a US Air Force base in Osan, south of Seoul, on Tuesday. REUTERS

cial Korean Central News Agency. Pyongyang conducted its third nuclear test in February, prompting a new round of UN sanctions that have infuriated

its leaders and led to a torrent of threatening rhetoric. The United States has sent nuclearcapable bombers and stealth jets to participate in annual South Korean-US military

drills that the allies call routine but that Pyongyang claims are invasion preparations. North Korea has declared that the armistice ending the Korean War in 1953 is void,

threatened to launch nuclear ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| and rocket strikes on the United States and, most recently, US warship near declared at a high-level governNorth Korea ment assembly that making nuclear arms and a stronger Amid raging tension in the economy are the nations top Korean peninsula, the US priorities. is moving some of its key The threats are seen as efmilitary assets, including a forts to force policy changes in warship and a sea-based Seoul and Washington and inradar platform, closer to crease domestic loyalty to Kim the North Korean coast to Jong Un. North Korea is keepmonitor Pyongyangs miliing tension and crisis alive to tary moves,reports PTI raise stakes ahead of possible from Washington. future talks with the United The decision to move deStates, said Hwang Jihwan, a stroyer USS John S McNorth Korea expert at the UniCain and the oil rig-like versity of Seoul. North Korea SBX-1 are the first of what is asking the world, What are may be other naval deployyou going to do about this? ments, according to the CNN. I would urge everySouths deterrence one to disconnect this ship Meanwhile, according to agendeployment from recent cies, South Korean defence military exercises in South ministry has unveiled a new Korea. We have regular plan of active deterrence, alship movements in the lowing it to pre-emptively strike Asia Pacific region and we its northern neighbour, in case, use our ship movements it detects any sign of an immifor any number of purposnent nuclear or missile attack. es. So Id be very careful The plan was unveiled by Deabout connecting this to fense Minister Kim Kwan-jin recent tensions on the Koduring an annual policy briefrean Peninsula, Pentagon ing to President Park Geun-hye Press Secretary George amid escalating tensions on the Little told CNN. The moves Korean Peninsula, Yonhap recomes following a joint ported Monday. military exercise with The minister said the miliSouth Korea, which includtary will build an attack sysed over flights by nucleartem to swiftly neutralise North capable B- 2 stealth Koreas nuclear and missile bombers, and B-52s and Fthreats, while significantly im22 Raptor stealth fighters. proving our militarys surveillance and reconnaissance ca||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| pability.

It was a day of fun and games at the White House with thousands of children joining the annual White House Easter Egg Roll with some yoga and dancing to promote healthy and active living, report agencies from Washington. With the Be Healthy, Be Active, Be You! theme, other activities on the South Lawn included obstacle courses, playing sports with professional athletes, including Indian-American hockey

Yoga fun at White House Easter egg roll

player Ajai Dhadwal and the traditional egg roll. Dhadwal, 20, a resident of California, has been a member of the US national team. Come enjoy a session of yoga, read an announcement listing the items in the Eggtivity Zone showing the kids easy, fun ways to stay active and fit. President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha kicked off the day-long fun event.

A 45-year-old US man was among four people killed when gunmen opened fire in two bars in Mexicos second biggest city, lobbing a grenade in one of the attacks, authorities said, reports AFP from Guadalajara. The assailants fired off a total of 45 rounds with 9mm handguns in the two attacks in the western city of

4 killed in Mexico bar shooting

Guadalajara late Sunday, wounding another 17 people, said Jorge Villasenor, who heads a local prosecutors office, on Monday. The attacks took place 15 minutes apart and appeared to be aimed at the owners of the bars, Villasenor told reporters. He added that investigators suspect organised crime was involved due to the type of weapon that was used.

Magnitude 6 quake off Japan

A magnitude-6.0 undersea earthquake hit off eastern Japan, the US Geological Survey reported. No tsunami alert was issued, reports AP from New York. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the quake, which the USGS said happened at 4:53 am today local time

Three bloggers arrested in Bilawal in Pak, not to Bangladesh for blasphemy head PPP campaign
LAHORE/KARACHI, PTI: PakDHAKA, PTI: Three atheist bloggers in Bangladesh were on Tuesday arrested here on the charge of defaming Islam, as the government set up the countrys first cyber crime tribunal to prevent exploitation of religion on the Internet.

The crackdown as well as the announcement came two days after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pledged stern action against people found guilty of defaming Islam using the Internet. We are amending both the Right to Information Act and the Penal Code toughening punitive measures for hurting the peoples religious sentiments, Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed told a press conference also joined by Home Minister Mahiuddin Khan Alamgir and two state ministers. Ahmed said the government constituted the tribunal appointing a judge in the capital while a process was underway to set up identical special courts at divisional cities including Chittagong. He said a government committee comprising two Islamic scholars was constituted to identify web-

sites which were either exploiting or defaming the religion. The committee had recommended the arrests of the three, who have been sent to seven days remand. The trio, who were paraded in hand-cuffs at todays press conference, could face 10 years in jail if convicted under the countrys cyber laws, which outlaw defaming a religion, deputy commissioner of Dhaka police Molla Nazrul Islam said. Alamgir said the authorities already amended some minor faults in school textbooks in line with suggestions from Islamic

scholars and took steps against the Textbook Board Chairman for the lapses on his part. The existing 2006 Right to Information Act prescribes 10 years of imprisonment and penalty up to taka 1 crore for hurting peoples religious sentiments using the Internet. The century-old Penal Code, on the other hand, suggests two years of imprisonment besides penalty for defaming religion and hurting peoples religious sentiment. The law minister said that the government was examining ways to toughen both the laws.

Bangaldesh Home Minister Mahiuddin Khan Alamgir, in whose presence three arrested bloggers were paraded before the press in Dhaka on Tuesday, indicates tougher law against blasphemy. REUTERS

istan Peoples Party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday returned to the country after spending over a week in Dubai but will not lead the partys campaign for the May 11 general election, one of his close aides said. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be very much a part of the campaign but he will not head the campaign. In fact, the PPP never had tasked him to spearhead the election campaign, Hasham Riaz, Bilawals chief of staff, said. The 24-year-old chief of the PPP had left Pakistan for Dubai last month after a tiff with his father President Asif Ali Zardari and his aunt Faryal Talpur over the affairs of the party. Zardari subsequently travelled to Dubai on March 30 amidst reports that the trip was aimed at persuading Bilawal to return to the country. Zardari and his son flew into Karachi early Tuesday morning. Riaz said Bilawal will attend a rally to be held at Garhi Khuda Baksh in Sindh province on April 4 to mark the death anniversary of his grandfather, former President Zulifqar Ali

Bhutto. The PPP plans to formally launch its election campaign at this rally organised in the traditional stronghold of the Bhutto family. Bilawal will also address some public meetings during the election campaign, Riaz said.Sources within the PPP had earlier told PTI that Bilawal had left for Dubai after developing differences with Zardari and his sister, Faryal Talpur, over the partys handling of key issues, including militant violence, sectarian attacks against Shias and the award of party tickets for the polls. But Riaz said: Bilawals return has quelled rumours that he had any differences with his father or aunt. He goes to Dubai often and his leaving the country should not be seen in any other context. He said Bilawal continued to face serious threats and we should not forget that. Bilawal was being projected by the PPP as its star campaigner for the polls and party leaders sought to play down the reports of differences between Bilawal and Zardari. Bilawal will not be able to contest polls himself till he turns 25 in September.

Fashion designer Anand gets 5 yrs in prison

NEW YORK, PTI: Indian-American fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander, facing a 59-year jail term in California for sexually abusing aspiring models, was on Tuesday sentenced to five years in prison by a federal court here for molesting a woman whom he allegedly lured on promise of modelling work. The 39-year-old India-born celebrity fashion designer was arrested in 2007 in California on charges that he preyed upon seven young aspiring models, some as young as 14 and sexually assaulted them. He is currently serving 59 years to life in prison in California. Alexander had pleaded guilty in February to one count of criminal sexual act in Manhattan Supreme Court. The prison time of five years in New York amounts to time served in California, which means no additional years will be added to Alexanders California sentence of 59 years. Alexander said in court, I would like to thank everyone for being here. Alexanders sister Sanjana Jon was among several supporters who were present in court for the sentencing and held banners that read Free Anand Jon. In a plea deal reached with federal prosecutors, Alexander had pleaded guilty to one count of criminal sexual act against one aspiring female model.

(1853 GMT on Monday). The USGS said the quake hit some 107 kilometres east of Miyako, Japan, and some 327 kilometres northeast of Tokyo. Japans Meteorological Agency and the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency issued no tsunami warnings or alerts.

Heidi Klum saves son

Supermodel Heidi Klum and her boyfriend Martin Kirsten staged a dramatic rescue when her young son Henry and two nannies were caught in an ocean tide, reports PTI from Los Angeles. The 39-year-old Americas Got Talent judge was vacationing with her children Leni, eight, Henry, seven, Johan, six, Lou, three and Kirsten, reported Us magazine. We got pulled into the ocean by a

big wave. Of course, as a mother, I was very scared for my child and everyone else in the water. Henry is a strong swimmer and was able to swim back to land. We were able to get everyone out safely, Klum said. The German beauty started dating her 40year-old bodyguard a few months after splitting from husband Seal last year. Since they began dating last summer, the pair have gotten serious. She loves her life and enjoys sharing it with Martin, a source said.

Gory retrieval

Father shoots dog to retrieve sons finger from its stomach

LOS ANGELES : In a bizarre incident, a father in the US shot dead family dog and sliced open its stomach to retrieve his sons finger that was bitten off and swallowed by the canine. Luis Brignoni, 41, a landscaper in Bradenton, Fliorida, on Friday had to experience the horror when one of the family dogs bit off his sons little finger and swallowed it. Brignoni rushed out to his fenced backyard with a gun and killed the dog, cut its

stomach open, and retrieved the finger, carefully sending it with his bleeding son aboard a helicopter to a St Petersburg hospital. Boy doing well The child, Fernando Brignoni, 11, was later transferred to Tampa General Hospital, where doctors were unable to re-attach his finger during emergency surgery, but the boy is doing well, his dad said. You dont know what you will do for your child, the eld-

er Brignoni was quoted by Brandenton Herald as saying. You dont know where you get the strength from. Brignoni, who said he had been a hunter for many years, said his son had attempted to pet the caged dog, a Malamute-wolf mix named Sassy, on Friday when the animal grabbed his hand.

When Fernando finally got free, the finger had been entirely bitten off, and the dog who had swallowed it was running around the yard. I said, Ive got to go find the finger,? Brignoni said.I got my gun and I popped him. By the time a sheriffs deputy got there, Brignoni was cutting the dog open. Doctors decided that nerve Dog hit in head damage precluded the fingers Hearing screams, Fernandos re-attachment, Brignoni said. brother, Luis, 13, hit the dog Brignoni and his wife, Milover the head so it would let go. lie, returned home on Satur-

day after seeing Fernando through emergency surgery in Tampa. Deputies said a preliminary investigation supported Brignonis account of the events, and the incident appeared to have been an accident, according to a statement from the Manatee County Sheriffs Office. Manatee County Animal Services took possession of the remains of the dog, the statement said.
PTI

A female Rothschild giraffe, named Sandy Hope, is groomed by a female giraffe at the LEO Zoological Conservation Center in Greenwich, Connecticut on Tuesday. REUTERS

MARVIN

By Tom Armstrong