எகிப்தின் ஒரே குரல்

Mubarak not to run for another term

Egypt's president says in a speech that he will step down at the next election but would stay in office until then.


Iast Modified: 01 Feb 2011 21:15 GMT


Mubarak's announcement comes after eight days of unprecedented nationwide protests [GALLO/GETTY]


Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, has said in a televised address that he will not run for another term and step down at the next election but will stay in office till then.


The next presidential election is scheduled for September. Until now, officials had indicated Mubarak, 82, would likely run for a sixth six-year term of office.


Mubarak said on Tuesday that he would work in the last months of his term to allow the transfer of power.


He said the main priority was the stability of the nation and that he would seek changes to the constitution.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Witness - A multi-media uprising?

Jordan's King appoints new PM after protests

Jordan's king appoints new PM after protests


Tuesday, February 1 03:32 pm Suleiman al-Khalidi

King Abdullah of Jordan, a close U.S. ally, replaced his prime minister Tuesday following protests inspired by mass demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt, but the opposition dismissed the move as insufficient. Skip related content

Abdullah asked Marouf Bakhit, a conservative former premier with a military background, to head the government after accepting the resignation of Samir Rifai, whose dismissal has been demanded in a series of protests across the country.

Islamists quickly expressed their anger with the appointment of Bakhit, whose government oversaw local and parliamentary elections in 2007 seen as marred by vote-rigging that left them with a handful of seats in a pro-government assembly.

"This is not a step in the right direction and does not show any intent towards real political reforms or meeting the popular demands for people yearning for greater political freedoms," said Sheikh Hamza Mansour, head of the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, the country's largest political group.

Under fire from an enraged public over high food prices, Rifai announced wage increases two weeks ago to civil servants and the military in an attempt to restore calm.

But protests continued across Jordan, with demonstrators blaming corruption spawned by free-market reforms for the plight of the country's poor.

Rifai was criticised for pushing a pro-Western reform agenda. His opponents sought to reverse free market reforms they say have cut state support for East Bank Jordanians, the original inhabitants of the country who depend on government support more than Jordanians of Palestinian origin.

"I wouldn't see it (appointment) as a sign of liberalisation," said Rosemary Hollis, professor of Middle East policy studies at London's City University.

"With his previous premiership, (Bakhit) talked the talk of reform but little actually happened."

HIGH GOVERNMENT SPENDING

Many Jordanians hold successive governments responsible for a prolonged recession and rising public debt that hit a record $15 billion this year in one of the Arab world's smallest economies, heavily dependent on foreign aid.

But discontent in recent months has grown as the economic downturn bites and weakens the state's ability to create more jobs in a public sector that has traditionally absorbed poor tribesmen in rural and Bedouin areas.

Jordan has among the highest levels of government spending relative to the size of the economy, which economists privately say accounts for over 40 percent of the country's $20 bln GDP.

Bakhit is expected to form his government in the next few days.

The Islamists and independent liberal groupings have called for constitutional changes to curb the extensive power of the king, who appoints cabinets, approves legislation and can dissolve parliament.

(Editing by Dominic Evans and Maria Golovnina)

Protesters flood Egypt streets - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

Protesters flood Egypt streets - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

BEAUTIFUL video of Egypt's protests!

எகிப்தில் திருவிழா

அமெரிக்க அடிவருடி, இஸ்ரேலிய கைக்கூலி எகிப்திய மக்கள் விரோத முபாரக் பாசிச ஆட்சி ஒழிக!

எகிப்தில் ஆட்சி மாற்றத்துக்கான வெகுஜன மக்களின் தன்னியல்பான கிளர்ச்சி வெல்க!

முபாரக் அரசே,

ஆட்சி மாற்றத்துக்காகப் போராடும் எகிப்திய வெகுஜன மக்கள் இயக்கத்தின் மேல் அரச வன்முறையைப் பிரயோகிக்காதே!

போராடும் பொதுமக்களின் சொத்துக்களைச் சூறையாட பொலிஸ் குண்டர்களைப் பயன்படுத்தாதே!

Internet, Mobile Phone பாவனைக்கு விதித்துள்ள தடையை உடனே நீக்கு!

அல் ஜசீரா தொலைக்காட்சி மீது விதித்துள்ள தடையை நீக்கு!

ஒபாமாவின் அமெரிக்காவே,

எகிப்திய மக்கள் விரோத முபாரக் அரசுக்கு வழங்கும் அனைத்து ஆதரவையும் உடனே நிறுத்து!

முபாரக்கை திரை மறைவில் வைத்து பழைய ஆட்சியை புதிய முகங்களில் நடத்தும் சதித்திட்டத்தைக் கைவிடு!

உலகத் தொழிலாளர்களே ஒடுக்கப்பட்ட தேசங்களே

எகிப்தில் ஆட்சி மாற்றத்துக்கான வெகுஜன மக்களின் தன்னியல்பான கிளர்ச்சி வெற்றி அடைய ஆதரவளியுங்கள்!

எகிப்திய உழைக்கும் மக்களின் விடுதலை. ஆட்சி மாற்றாத்தால் அல்ல அரசு மாற்றத்தாலேயே நிறைவேறும் என்பதை நினைவில் வையுங்கள்!

ஏகாதிபத்திய காலனியாதிக்கம் மத்திய கிழக்கில் படிப்படியாக தகர்ந்து வருவதை கண்டு புரட்சியில் நம்பிக்கை பெறுங்கள்!

========= புதிய ஈழப்புரட்சியாளர்கள் =============

Juju's message to Mubarak

LiveLeak.com - An Egyptian protester climbs a truck with a water canon on top of it, grabs cop dressed as civilian, flies with him into the air

LiveLeak.com - An Egyptian protester climbs a truck with a water canon on top of it, grabs cop dressed as civilian, flies with him into the air

Militarisation of Sri Lanka's Diplomatic and Administrative Services

 
 
Militarisation Of Sri Lanka’s Diplomatic And Administrative Services
By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema
 
Military personnel handed diplomatic and government postings despite their lack of experience in their new posts The government in post war Sri Lanka is fast militarising the administrative and diplomatic services. The appointment of military heads to key Sri Lankan missions overseas and state institutions has become a talking point among the general public. Since the appointment of military men in civil administration work as well as the diplomatic service, questions have been raised on their roles in such positions.

The difference in military discipline as opposed to the administrative and diplomatic services has caused friction between military personnel, career diplomats and public officials.

Furthermore, the militarisation of the administrative and diplomatic services has had an adverse impact on the careers of civilians who have been graded and promoted to positions according to a set of criteria in their respective line of work.

The country boasts of a rich history in relation to the administrative and diplomatic services.

The Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) is known to be the main administrative service of the government, with civil servants working for both the Central Government and the provincial councils.

It was formed in 1963 as the Ceylon Administrative Service (CAS) after the Ceylon Civil Service, which was abolished on May 1, 1963. The head of the SLAS is the Secretary to the President.

Meanwhile, the country’s foreign service was established on October 1, 1949, following the independence of Ceylon in 1948 as the Ceylon Overseas Service with the recruitment of its first batch of cadets to deal with foreign affairs.

Following Sri Lanka becoming a republic in 1972 the service changed its name to Sri Lanka Overseas Service also known as the Foreign Service.

Be that as it may, the government’s move to militarise two of the country’s key sectors has now resulted in a considerable number of diplomatic missions and other institutions being headed by military personnel.

Due to their inexperience in holding the offices they have been appointed to, some of the military men in key positions have run into various problems.

Major General Udaya Perera, who was the former Director Operations of the Sri Lanka Army, is the first serving Army officer to hold a diplomatic position as High Commissioner.

Perera is Sri Lanka’s Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia. It is learnt that Perera has played a key role in the arrest of former LTTE International Wing leader ‘KP’ and has been stationed in Malaysia in order to crackdown on LTTE activities in the region.

However, he has now been accused by members of the Foreign Service of hampering the country’s diplomatic work in Malaysia.

It is learnt that Perera, unable to grasp the concept of a diplomat, was creating a mess in relation to investment and other business ties with Malaysia.

The appointment of another Major General to a Sri Lankan mission caused an uproar among members of the Tamil Diaspora.

Major General Jagath Dias, who commanded the 57 Division during the fourth Eelam war, was appointed Sri Lanka’s Deputy Ambassador to Germany.

Dias’s appointment was challenged by Tamil Diaspora associations who at the time filed a petition at the European Court of Human Rights against the Federal Republic of Germany for accepting his appointment.

Former Air Force Commander and Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, who is Sri Lanka’s maiden ambassador to Israel was also in the limelight recently over a controversial statement made by him.

In an undiplomatic move, Perera was quoted in an Israeli newspaper last year saying that Sri Lanka was a staunch supporter of Israel’s fight against Palestinian terror.

However, hours after the news was published, Perera issued a statement denying the controversial remarks attributed to him and said that the report was ‘totally erroneous.’

The government also tried to set up a Sri Lankan mission in Eritrea by appointing the former Head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, Major General Amal Karunasekera as its charge d’ affairs.

Karunasekera’s mission was to hunt down LTTE assets in the East African country.

However, Karunasekera was later recalled following investigations into the killing of The Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, who was assassinated when Karunasekera was heading the Directorate of Military Intelligence.

The government’s move to appoint military men to diplomatic missions have run into problems at an international level too.

Two such incidents were the appointment of General Shavendra Silva as the Deputy Permanent Representative to Sri Lanka’s Mission in the UN in New York and the proposal to appoint former Navy Commander, Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the UK.

Although Silva’s appointment went ahead despite concerns raised by the international community due to allegations of war crimes leveled against him, Karannagoda was not so lucky.

The government had to shelve the plan of sending Karannagoda as the High Commissioner to the UK following strong objections raised by the Tamil Diaspora there.

Karannagoda is now tipped to be appointed as Ambassador to the Sri Lankan mission in Tokyo, Japan. He also served as Secretary to the Highways Ministry, a post that is usually held by a member of Sri Lanka’s administrative service.

Apart from the diplomatic missions, the government has also appointed military men to state-run institutions as well.

The most recent such appointments are former Army Commander Lieutenant General Rohan Daluwatte as the Chairman, National Gem and Jewellery Corporation, and the three armed forces chiefs to the Board of the Water’s Edge members-only club at Battaramulla.
Source: Sunday Leader

சர்வதேச சமூகம் தனி நாட்டுக் கோரிக்கையை ஒரு போதும் ஆதரிக்காது - எரிக் சொல்கெய்ம்

மீண்டும் தமிழருக்கு ஆப்பு வைக்க முனையும் எரிக் சொல்கெய்ம்


அரசுக்கும் புலம்பெயர் தமிழர்களுக்கும் இடையில் நல்லிணக்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்த வல்ல அனுசரணையாள்ராக செயல்பட நோர்வே விருப்பம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

அரசுக்கும் தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள் இயக்கத்துக்கும் இடையில் நோர்வேயின் சமாதான தூதுவராக செயல்பட்ட எரிக் சொல்ஹெய்ம் இவ்விருப்பத்தை ஊடகம் ஒன்றுக்கு வழங்கி உள்ள பேட்டி ஒன்றில் வெளிப்படுத்தி உள்ளார்.

இவர் இப்பேட்டியில் முக்கியமாக தெரிவித்தவை வருமாறு:

“நான் இலங்கை வரக் கூடும். இது தொடர்பான ஊடக செய்திகள் உண்மையானவை. ஜனாதிபதி மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஸவை கடந்த வருடம் சந்தித்தபோது இது குறித்து பேசப்பட்டது. ஆனால் இன்னமும் இறுதி முடிவு எடுக்கப்படவில்லை.

அரசு, புலிகள் ஆகிய இரு தரப்பினரும் ஒரு மனதாக ஏற்றுக் கொண்டமையாலேயே சமாதான அனுசரணைப் பணியில் நோர்வே ஈடுபட்டது. நாட்டில் வாழும் மூவின மக்களும் வரவேற்றமையாலேயே நோர்வே இப்பணியில் ஈடுபட்டது. ஆனால் நாம் எவர் பக்கமும் சார்ந்து செயல்பட்டு இருக்கவில்லை.

இறுதிக் கட்ட யுத்தம் மிகுந்த வேதனைக்கு உரியது. யுத்த அழிவுகளுக்கு இரு தரப்பினருமே பொறுப்பு.புலம்பெயர் தமிழர்கள் ஜனநாயக வழிமுறைகளை கைக்கொள்ள வேண்டும். பேச்சுக்கள் மூலம் தீர்வு காண முயற்சிக்க வேண்டும். யுத்தத்தால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு இருக்கும் வடக்கு, கிழக்கு மாகாண மக்களுக்கு உதவி செய்ய வேண்டியமை இவர்களின் முதல் கடமை.

இதற்காக இலங்கையின் ஜனநாயக கட்டமைப்பை ஏற்றுக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். தமிழர்களின் சட்ட ரீதியான உரிமைகளுக்காக சர்வதேச சமூகம் பேராதரவு வழங்குகின்றது. ஆனால் இவர்களின் தனி நாட்டுக்

கோரிக்கையை ஒரு போதும் ஆதரிக்காது.

அரசும், புலம்பெயர் தமிழர்களும் பேச்சுக்களில் ஈடுபட வேண்டும். இரு தரப்பினருக்கும் இடையில் நல்லிணக்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்த வல்ல அனுசரணையாளராக செயல்பட நோர்வே தயாராகவே உள்ளது.”

Jan 27, 2011 / பகுதி: சிறப்புச் செய்தி / நன்றி: பதிவு.கொம்