Timor-Leste: Security focus (on behalf of government of Timor-Leste, to Royal United Services NSW Security Dialogue):
Timor-Leste is a country born of a keen awareness of its security needs and aspirations. In the period of transition from Portuguese rule, the country and its people descended into a brief but bloody civil war, then almost immediately faced incursions from across the western border. Its people underwent 24 devastating years of occupation and resistance, emerging to confront a new security threat – that of a country largely destroyed. Timor-Leste has built since then, but again faced an internal security crisis as some of our citizens and institutions of state, still unready for full self-responsibility, took Timor-Leste back to the edge. It has since come out of that process having learned and grown.
Timor-Leste now has two security focuses:
The first and most pressing focus for Timor-Leste is to ensure that the new state remains internally calm and politically stable. This means that administrative processes are undertaken by a non-partisan public service within on behalf of the government, with formal debate and discussion about policy conducted within the parliament. It further means that while there may be differences of opinion about policies and practices beyond the parliament, such as by political parties and civil society groups, these are expressed in a lawful and socially constructive manner.
As a state, Timor-Leste has invested in its democratic processes, the activity of its civil society groups and its embrace of political and social pluralism. As a nation, Timor-Leste is rapidly learning the value of such political openness and participation as the regulated environment for the contest of ideas.
To help ensure debate and discussion in conducted in a clam and lawful manner, the state is working to reduce the conditions that may contribute to social tensions, through continuing to develop and create employment and to improve livelihoods. Timor-Leste recognises that lower standards of living have a direct relationship to the propensity towards state fragility and is actively working to improve the lives of its citizens.
This then goes to the government’s Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030, unveiled in 2011 after extensive consultation with stakeholders and communities across Timor-Leste. The Strategic Development Plan provides a road map for the state and its people over the next two decades, identifying and charting ways forward across all economic and social sectors. At its heart is taking Timor-Leste from being among the world’s poorest countries, in terms of living standards if less so per capita GDP, to bring it to middle income status both as a statistical outcome but, more importantly, as reflected in the lives of its citizens.
While Timor-Leste remains a society that is dependent on agriculture for livelihoods, it does need and intends to transition to other forms of wealth and employment creation, including industrial development and an improved tourism sector. In particular, Timor-Leste is well positioned to take advantage of its oil and gas natural resources to help establish a petro-chemical industry. The first stage in such an industry will require working with partners to assist in skills and technology transfers, eventually allowing Timor-Leste to become self-sufficient in running such projects.
The establishment of Timor-Leste’s petro-chemical industry is the focus of the Tasi Mane development project on the country’s south coast, where it is intended such an industry be established. Plans for the Tasi Mane project have been drawn up and are embedded in the Strategic Development Plan. Timor-Leste continues to seek cooperative partnerships with a view to establishing this petro-chemical industry.
Moving towards Timor-Leste’s society, for any country to reach its economic potential and to bond as a nation, it must have a single literate language. Timor-Leste is a country blessed with great linguistic diversity, with 19 distinct languages and 16 further dialects. This endows the country with a particular cultural richness. The government is committed to recognising and protecting these ‘mother tongues’ as a central part of the country’s cultural heritage and, more recently, as a mechanism for introducing beginning students to public education.
Timor-Leste also has two official languages – Portuguese and Tetum. Portuguese is a functionally useful and a culturally important language of law and administration and Timor-Leste is fortunate to be able to share this linguistic history with the rest of the international community of Lusophone states. Meanwhile, Tetum, spoken by over 80 per cent of the population, continues to develop as a literate language, with an increasing number of texts being available in what is now a standardised language. Through the continued development of a common language and increased communication between Timor-Leste’s communities, it will build a stronger single identity.
One of Timor-Leste’s immediate challenges is to ensure that the development and economic growth that the country has been experiencing since 2007 is equitably shared. To this end, the government has engaged in a major decentralisation program, to spread the benefits of development beyond Dili. This program will focus on the allocation and provision of government services, including health and infrastructure, at the local level, thereby helping ensure that services meet local needs and furthering the use of local companies and labor to undertake those projects. The spread of financial liquidity through this process will help generate economic activity in the local formal economic sector, building the wealth of local communities and helping to pull them out of the poverty that continues to mire the lives of so many. Another policy to promote equity is the establishment by the government of a pension system for the elderly, disabled and veterans.
Most countries experience elements of corruption and developing countries are more prone than most as they seek to grow quickly within a context of sometimes fragile institutions and weak understandings of appropriate behaviour, of transferring from previously acceptable patron-client relationships to higher levels of integrity, accountability and transparency. Failure to eradicate corruption leads to economic slow-down and social unrest, both of which no country can afford. To this end, Timor-Leste has launched a very public campaign to eradicate corruption and has established a high level and very active anti-corruption Commission. The anti-corruption efforts must be done and they must be seen to be done.
Related to this, Timor-Leste is continuing to develop its judicial system, to increase the access of all Timorese to formal legal processes. It has taken time to train judges and lawyers, but the country is now moving towards increasing equity of legal access to all citizens.
Timor-Leste has had to build a police force (PNTL) from the remnants of the Indonesian police system and an army (F-FDTL) from its Falintil guerrilla base. Assistance from the international community has been invaluable in achieving these goals and bilateral arrangements, such as the Defence Cooperation Program with Australia, continues to be central to the F-FDTL’s continued development. Timor-Leste continues to reform and professionalise its security sector and intends for its military to soon be able to participate in international peace-keeping operations as a responsible member of the international community.
Critically, Timor-Leste’s economic development has, to date, been built on access to its petroleum fund, which is based on royalties received from the development and exploitation of its resources in the Timor Sea. While Timor-Leste intends to diversify away from reliance on the Petroleum Fund, it remains a crucial underpinning for economic development now and into the future. To that end, the fund is being used sustainably while also allowing spending on critical infrastructure development project, such as roads, ports and airports. It has already helped build the country’s national electricity grid, which is approaching the final stages of its roll-out.
Regional security
Timor-Leste’s second focus is to ensure that the country and its people find security with its regional neighbours, not from them, and increasingly participates as a good international citizen. Geo-strategically, Timor-Leste sits at the cross-roads of Asia, Australia and the Pacific and its history and culture reflect these influences. Timor-Leste also enjoys good relations with the states of the South-West Pacific and continues to participate in dialogues with them. However, in terms of its primary external orientation and identification, Timor-Leste sees itself firmly within Asia and as an Asian state.
To that end, Timor-Leste’s priority in its international relationships is to join ASEAN and to participate as a full, 11th member in this group of Southeast Asian countries. Over the next six months the Prime Ministers intends to visit every ASEAN nation. Timor-Leste sees ASEAN strengthening its role as a mediator in wider regional issues and as a guarantor of peace in its own environment. As a future member state, Timor-Leste wishes to contribute to and enhance that wider mediation role and to guarantee peace in its own environment.
While Timor-Leste has good friendships in the Pacific, which it intends to maintain, closer engagement holds the key to its strategic future. Not least, and despite their troubled past, Timor-Leste now enjoys warm and close relations with immediate neighhbour, Indonesia.
Timor-Leste and Indonesia share a border across the middle of the island of Timor and around the enclave of Oecussi in West Timor. Timor-Leste and Indonesia are still negotiating the final details of the Oecussi border, where traditional land use, family ties and languages had previously been unrestricted. While Timor-Leste encourages continued links across the border, recognition of formal borders is critical in ensuring that there are no misunderstandings about who belongs where and, as a consequence, the potential for localised conflict is avoided.
Timor-Leste’s main border with Indonesia, between Mota’ain in the north and Salele in the south, traverses the sparsely populated middle of the island’s east-west mountain range. From the Timor-Leste side, this border is protected by the Border Patrol Unit (UPF), a special branch of the PNTL. Particularly at Mota’ain and Salele, Timor-Leste and Indonesian border officials enjoy very good, friendly relations, indicating that the tensions that once characterised the region have long since evaporated.
More officially, Timor-Leste is enjoying increasingly strong relations with Indonesia across a range of fields. The political and diplomatic relationship is strong and close, with numerous and well received visits by government leaders in both directions. Bilateral cooperation is also increasing, with PNTL officers training in Indonesia and F-FDTL members preparing to participate in joint activities. These are major steps in the substantial strengthening and deepening of Timor-Leste’s bilateral relationship with its large neighbour.
The positive relationship between Timor-Leste and Indonesia has in particular been built up, from Indonesia’s side, under the leadership of Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who concludes his second term and final available term in office in 2014. As a result, the outcome of Indonesia’s 2014 elections is expected to continue to influence and perhaps shape Timor-Leste-Indonesia relations into the medium to longer term.
Further afield, Timor-Leste enjoys strong and developing relations with China, which is increasingly the economic powerhouse of Asia. China has invested in its good relationship with Timor-Leste, not least by helping Timor-Leste build infrastructure critical to its institutional capacity, including the foreign affairs building, the presidential palace and the F-FDTL headquarters. China has also assisted strategically, with the supply of two patrol boats which assist with the securing of Timor-Leste’s waters from poaching, and uniforms to its army. China has acted as a good regional neighbour towards Timor-Leste and, as China increases its economic and strategic reach, it is important for T-L to maintain and further develop positive bilateral relations.
As mentioned, Timor-Leste also enjoys a strong Defence Cooperation Program with Australia and would like to see that cooperation extended to include a formal defence treaty between the two countries. Such a treaty would recognise the mutual sphere of geographic interest shared by Australia and Timor-Leste and would enhance Australia’s overarching policy of further engaging with Asia, of which Timor-Leste is a part.
Within such a treaty arrangement, there is further scope for including Indonesia in a tripartite arrangement with Timor-Leste and Australia, which would help cement continuing close relations between the three neighbours. Australia has continued to enhance its security cooperation with Indonesia, as has Timor-Leste. While the three states are very different in geography, population and stages of development, they do share a common concern with regional peace, security and stability, and a joint approach to resolving regional issues.
Timor-Leste would welcome discussion with Australia and Indonesia about the possibility of such mutually beneficial arrangements, reflecting the common interests that geography has bestowed upon us.
Timor-Leste does not foresee a need for its international friends to again send troops and police to assist with the restoration of order. Its government and people firmly believe those growing pains are now behind it. But it does recognise and appreciate their contributions to Timor-Leste’s peace and stability at a crucial time. To that end, Timor-Leste wishes to retain positive and mutually beneficial relations with those states, both in its immediate region and more globally, and will work towards doing so.
In this respect, beyond the immediate region, Timor-Leste retains warm relations with Portugal, Brazil and other Lusophone states. In particular, Portugal has assisted in Timor-Leste’s internal security, through the UN Police provision of its paramilitary Republican National Guard (GNR), and it also continues to assist with language programs.
Timor-Leste intends, as a fully functioning and responsible member of the international community, to increasingly participate in global affairs. As noted, it hopes to be able to send peacekeepers to participate in UN missions, as it has itself seen in a very direct sense the benefits that can arise from such mandated missions. Further, its experiences with international lobbying, negotiating, its active participation in regional forums and, more recently, leading the formation of the g7+ group of underdeveloped countries, continues to show that Timor-Leste is both willing and able to make a real contribution to the affairs of the global community.
Conclusion
Timor-Leste sees its internal security challenges increasingly easing as it continues to grow and develop. There is a strong awareness that in order the secure future peace and stability, the needs of its people must be met, and it is the responsibility of their elected government to do that in as organised and efficient a manner as possible. But it recognises that there will still be bumps along the way, as there are in the life of any state and in particular developing states. Not everyone in Timor-Leste agrees on the way forward and not every plan can take into account every unforeseen possibility. But, it’s government believes, that such ‘bumps’ will be small relative to its past and that they will be nothing that Timor-Leste can now not address through its own institutions, including its security forces.
Internationally, Timor-Leste sees its future security with, rather than from, its neighbours. Timor-Leste is fortunate in having good relations with its regional neighbours and with countries further afield. Timor-Leste is a small country, with small land mass and relatively few people. But, as a state in the international community of states, it intends to be a full, active and responsible global citizen, working with its friends and others to help achieve international peace and harmony which it so dearly values.
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Mar 2, 2013
Color me Kelimutu: The Three Colored Lakes of Kelimutu, Flores
Color me Kelimutu: The Three Colored Lakes of Kelimutu, Flores:
By: Jacobus E. Lato
Kelimutu on FloresKelimutu is a volcano on the island of Flores. At 1,640 meters above sea level, the mountain forms the highest point on the island; Its main attractions are the three colored crater lakes: Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) is usually blue and is the westernmost of the three lakes. Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) is usually green, while Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched or Enchanted Lake) is reddish in color. The color of the lakes changes as a result of chemical reactions resulting from the minerals contained in the lake, possibly triggered by volcano gas activity.
The name Kelimutu can be roughly translated as the “Getting together mountains;” Keli means mountain, Mutu means get together. The locals believe that Kelimutu is under the reign of Konde Ratu, a supernatural king, who rules over the spirits of the dead. Young spirits reside happily in Tiwu Koo Fai Nuwa Muri (Lake of the Young Men and Maidens); the old live in Tiwu Ata Bupu (Lake of Old People), while evil spirits dwell in Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched Lake).
The Lakes of the Young and Old side by side, By: Neil Liddle
The lakes of the young and old lay side by side; a thin crater wall affected by wind, erosion and landslides separates the two. At the water surface fifty meters below, the wind has free reign, often causing small typhoons.
The color of the lakes has changed often in the last three decades. Strangely, this always happens in the middle of the night, nobody has ever seen it happen. In December 2008, the color of two of the three lakes changed. The water in Lake Tiwu Ata Polo turned from black to dark green, while Lake Tiwu Nua Muri Koo Fai turned greenish blue. In 2009 the color changed after only eight months. Last January, the colors changed again.
Speaking to the press last January, the head of Kelimutu National Park Center, Sri Mulyani said that Tiwu Ata Polo, which used to be green, changed to brown; Tiwu Ata Bupu, which was dark had turned green and mossy, while the Tiwu Nuamuri Kofai remained green.
Mysterious Kelimutu
After intensive studies since 2007, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences’ (LIPI) Geo-technology Research Center concluded that the changes could mean an eruption was imminent. But local people have their own interpretation. According to them the color changes signify political and cultural changes in the region. The last January 2013 color change took place just three months before the East Nusa Tenggara governor election this coming March.
The other main port of call is the tiny island of Komodo; home of the komodo dragon. In 1992 the Kelimutu region was established as a National Natural Conservation Region. The sanctuary covers more than 5,356.5 hectares of sloping hills and forest, with over 70 different species of flora and fauna. An example is the garugiwa (pachycephala nudigula); a slender black bird with a green and yellowish body.
The number of tourists, according to head of Kelimutu National Park Center, Sri Mulyani, has been growing consistently, particularly in the last three months, following the current color changes in the lakes: “People are curious about the color changes and it encourages them to visit. In 2011, 28.068 people visited Kelimutu; in 2012 – 2013, the number of tourist increased to 34.198 visitors.
In Moni, a small village near Kelimutu, the local government runs Sao Ria Wisata, some bungalows with Wifi. Flores Sare and Hotel Flores are about a kilometer away from government bungalows.
In Maumere several small hotels such as Sylvia Hotel at Jalan Gajah Mada, Gardena Hotel at Jl. Patirangga, Hotel Pelita at Jalan Soedirman and Hotel Wailili at Don Slipi Da Silva Street are all decent options.
Kelimutu sunrise, By: Michael Day
By: Jacobus E. Lato
Kelimutu on Flores
The name Kelimutu can be roughly translated as the “Getting together mountains;” Keli means mountain, Mutu means get together. The locals believe that Kelimutu is under the reign of Konde Ratu, a supernatural king, who rules over the spirits of the dead. Young spirits reside happily in Tiwu Koo Fai Nuwa Muri (Lake of the Young Men and Maidens); the old live in Tiwu Ata Bupu (Lake of Old People), while evil spirits dwell in Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched Lake).
The Lakes of the Young and Old side by side, By: Neil Liddle
The lakes of the young and old lay side by side; a thin crater wall affected by wind, erosion and landslides separates the two. At the water surface fifty meters below, the wind has free reign, often causing small typhoons.
The color of the lakes has changed often in the last three decades. Strangely, this always happens in the middle of the night, nobody has ever seen it happen. In December 2008, the color of two of the three lakes changed. The water in Lake Tiwu Ata Polo turned from black to dark green, while Lake Tiwu Nua Muri Koo Fai turned greenish blue. In 2009 the color changed after only eight months. Last January, the colors changed again.
Speaking to the press last January, the head of Kelimutu National Park Center, Sri Mulyani said that Tiwu Ata Polo, which used to be green, changed to brown; Tiwu Ata Bupu, which was dark had turned green and mossy, while the Tiwu Nuamuri Kofai remained green.
Mysterious Kelimutu
After intensive studies since 2007, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences’ (LIPI) Geo-technology Research Center concluded that the changes could mean an eruption was imminent. But local people have their own interpretation. According to them the color changes signify political and cultural changes in the region. The last January 2013 color change took place just three months before the East Nusa Tenggara governor election this coming March.
Kelimutu as a Tourist Destination
In the past, Kelimutu was just a resting place for the dead. Presently, the region has developed into a major tourist destination on Flores.The other main port of call is the tiny island of Komodo; home of the komodo dragon. In 1992 the Kelimutu region was established as a National Natural Conservation Region. The sanctuary covers more than 5,356.5 hectares of sloping hills and forest, with over 70 different species of flora and fauna. An example is the garugiwa (pachycephala nudigula); a slender black bird with a green and yellowish body.
The number of tourists, according to head of Kelimutu National Park Center, Sri Mulyani, has been growing consistently, particularly in the last three months, following the current color changes in the lakes: “People are curious about the color changes and it encourages them to visit. In 2011, 28.068 people visited Kelimutu; in 2012 – 2013, the number of tourist increased to 34.198 visitors.
Accommodation near Kelimutu
Ende and Maumere are both small towns; don’t expect any world class hotels here. But the towns offer some decent hostels, mid range hotels and bungalows at affordable prices. In Ende, Dwi Putera Hotel in Yos Sudarso Street is located about 100 meters away from the Museum of Soekarno; the house he and his second wife Inggrit Ganarsih lived for two years. Safari Hotel at Jalan Kelimutu is possibly the best option in this small seaside town; it offers an ATM, souvenir shop and car rental, as well as a pool.In Moni, a small village near Kelimutu, the local government runs Sao Ria Wisata, some bungalows with Wifi. Flores Sare and Hotel Flores are about a kilometer away from government bungalows.
In Maumere several small hotels such as Sylvia Hotel at Jalan Gajah Mada, Gardena Hotel at Jl. Patirangga, Hotel Pelita at Jalan Soedirman and Hotel Wailili at Don Slipi Da Silva Street are all decent options.
Kelimutu sunrise, By: Michael Day
How to get to Kelimutu
Kelimutu is accessible by land, sea and air. Firstly, you can take a flight or ferry to Ende directly from Surabaya or Kupang, the capital of the province. In Ende you can rent a car and head eastward for almost 70 Km to arrive in Moni. You can also travel through Maumere. From Frans Seda Airport, Maumere, you head westward to reach Moni. Kelimutu is best enjoyed in the morning from 6 -10 a.m. because weather conditions are best in the early hours.Most Say Spending Cuts Would Have Major Impact on Economy, Military
Most Say Spending Cuts Would Have Major Impact on Economy, Military:
While many Americans may be resigned to seeing automatic spending cuts in the budget sequester go into effect, the public is concerned about the potential impact of the reductions. A new national survey by the Pew Research Center and The Washington Post, conducted Feb. 21-24 among 1,000 adults, finds that most say the budget sequester would have a major effect on the economy as well as on the U.S. military. And by more than three-to-one (62%-18%), the public sees the impact on the economy as mostly negative rather than mostly positive.
But signs of public fatigue after a series of fiscal crises remain apparent. Just days before automatic federal spending cuts are set to take place, only a quarter are following the issue very closely. By comparison, four-in-ten were closely tracking the fiscal cliff debate in December a full month before the deadline.
And a Pew Research Center/USA TODAY survey just last week found 40% willing to see the sequester’s cuts take hold rather than having
them delayed.
Yet the new survey finds six-in-ten-ten (60%) saying automatic federal spending cuts would have a major effect on the U.S. economy and nearly as many (55%) say the same for the U.S. military. Fewer (45%) say the cuts would have a major impact on the federal budget deficit, while just (30%) think their own personal finances would be affected in a major way.
And while earlier polls have found Republicans and Democrats offering different solutions to the nation’s budget problems, there is substantial partisan agreement that the sequester will do more economic harm than good. Roughly six-in-ten Republicans, Democrats and independents alike say the sequester will have a major effect on the nation’s economy, and by overwhelming margins all agree that the effect will be negative, not positive.
to how they viewed the fiscal cliff late last year. However, unlike the fiscal cliff, which included potential tax increases, far fewer say the looming spending cuts would have a major impact on their personal finances.
In December of last year, 64% said automatic spending cuts and tax increases would have a major effect on the economy and by a 60% to 19% margin, more thought the economic impact of going over the fiscal cliff would be mostly negative rather than mostly positive. Today, opinion about the economic impact of pending federal spending cuts is nearly identical: 60% say there would be major economic effects; and by more than three-to-one the effects are seen as negative.
By contrast, just 30% say sequester will have a major impact on their own personal finances. In December, 2012, 43% thought going over the fiscal cliff would have a major effect on their finances.
Even with just days until the sequester deadline, relatively few Americans are paying close attention to the issue. Only a quarter (25%) say they are following news about automatic federal spending cuts very closely. By comparison, 40% were following news about the pending fiscal cliff very closely in early December, several weeks before the Jan. 1 deadline. Interest in budget deficit debates was similarly high (38% very closely) in the summer of 2011, in the weeks leading up to the debt limit agreement.
Similarly, just 18% say they understand what would happen if the cuts take place “very well.” In December of 2012, 28% said they understood the fiscal cliff’s effect very well. In the current survey, partisans are about equally likely to say they have been following sequester news and that they understand the issue very well.
More continue to say Republicans in Congress (45%), rather than President Obama (32%), would be more to blame if an agreement to prevent automatic spending cuts is not reached before the deadline; 13% volunteer that they think both would be equally to blame. Opinion is about the same as in a Pew Research Center/USA TODAY survey conducted a week ago.
In December of 2012, a 53%-majority said Republicans in Congress would be to blame if an agreement on the fiscal cliff was not reached, just 27% said Obama would be more to blame.
In the current survey, about as many independents say Republicans in Congress (39%) as President Obama (32%) would be more to blame if an agreement on spending cuts is not reached. A week ago, independents blamed Republicans in Congress by a somewhat wider margin (47%-29%); and in December, 52% of independents would have blamed Republicans more for going over the fiscal cliff, compared with 21% who would have blamed Obama.
Those in households earning less than $30,000 a year are especially likely to say automatic federal spending cuts would have a major effect on their personal finances. Nearly four-in-ten (39%) say this, compared with 27% of those earning $30,000-$74,999 and just 21% of those making over $75,000 a year.
College graduates are less likely to say their own personal finances would be majorly affected (22%) than are those with some college experiences (33%) and those with no college experience (34%).
Overview
While many Americans may be resigned to seeing automatic spending cuts in the budget sequester go into effect, the public is concerned about the potential impact of the reductions. A new national survey by the Pew Research Center and The Washington Post, conducted Feb. 21-24 among 1,000 adults, finds that most say the budget sequester would have a major effect on the economy as well as on the U.S. military. And by more than three-to-one (62%-18%), the public sees the impact on the economy as mostly negative rather than mostly positive.But signs of public fatigue after a series of fiscal crises remain apparent. Just days before automatic federal spending cuts are set to take place, only a quarter are following the issue very closely. By comparison, four-in-ten were closely tracking the fiscal cliff debate in December a full month before the deadline.
And a Pew Research Center/USA TODAY survey just last week found 40% willing to see the sequester’s cuts take hold rather than having
them delayed.Yet the new survey finds six-in-ten-ten (60%) saying automatic federal spending cuts would have a major effect on the U.S. economy and nearly as many (55%) say the same for the U.S. military. Fewer (45%) say the cuts would have a major impact on the federal budget deficit, while just (30%) think their own personal finances would be affected in a major way.
And while earlier polls have found Republicans and Democrats offering different solutions to the nation’s budget problems, there is substantial partisan agreement that the sequester will do more economic harm than good. Roughly six-in-ten Republicans, Democrats and independents alike say the sequester will have a major effect on the nation’s economy, and by overwhelming margins all agree that the effect will be negative, not positive.
Fewer See Personal Finances Affected
Public views of the sequester’s potential impact on the nation’s economy are comparable
to how they viewed the fiscal cliff late last year. However, unlike the fiscal cliff, which included potential tax increases, far fewer say the looming spending cuts would have a major impact on their personal finances.In December of last year, 64% said automatic spending cuts and tax increases would have a major effect on the economy and by a 60% to 19% margin, more thought the economic impact of going over the fiscal cliff would be mostly negative rather than mostly positive. Today, opinion about the economic impact of pending federal spending cuts is nearly identical: 60% say there would be major economic effects; and by more than three-to-one the effects are seen as negative.
By contrast, just 30% say sequester will have a major impact on their own personal finances. In December, 2012, 43% thought going over the fiscal cliff would have a major effect on their finances.
Even with just days until the sequester deadline, relatively few Americans are paying close attention to the issue. Only a quarter (25%) say they are following news about automatic federal spending cuts very closely. By comparison, 40% were following news about the pending fiscal cliff very closely in early December, several weeks before the Jan. 1 deadline. Interest in budget deficit debates was similarly high (38% very closely) in the summer of 2011, in the weeks leading up to the debt limit agreement.
Similarly, just 18% say they understand what would happen if the cuts take place “very well.” In December of 2012, 28% said they understood the fiscal cliff’s effect very well. In the current survey, partisans are about equally likely to say they have been following sequester news and that they understand the issue very well.
Who Would Be to Blame?
More continue to say Republicans in Congress (45%), rather than President Obama (32%), would be more to blame if an agreement to prevent automatic spending cuts is not reached before the deadline; 13% volunteer that they think both would be equally to blame. Opinion is about the same as in a Pew Research Center/USA TODAY survey conducted a week ago.In December of 2012, a 53%-majority said Republicans in Congress would be to blame if an agreement on the fiscal cliff was not reached, just 27% said Obama would be more to blame.
In the current survey, about as many independents say Republicans in Congress (39%) as President Obama (32%) would be more to blame if an agreement on spending cuts is not reached. A week ago, independents blamed Republicans in Congress by a somewhat wider margin (47%-29%); and in December, 52% of independents would have blamed Republicans more for going over the fiscal cliff, compared with 21% who would have blamed Obama.
Low-Income More Likely to Expect Hit to Personal Finances
Those in households earning less than $30,000 a year are especially likely to say automatic federal spending cuts would have a major effect on their personal finances. Nearly four-in-ten (39%) say this, compared with 27% of those earning $30,000-$74,999 and just 21% of those making over $75,000 a year.
College graduates are less likely to say their own personal finances would be majorly affected (22%) than are those with some college experiences (33%) and those with no college experience (34%).
GOP Seen as Principled, But Out of Touch and Too Extreme
GOP Seen as Principled, But Out of Touch and Too Extreme:
At a time when the Republican Party’s image is at a historic low, 62% of the public says the GOP is out of touch with the American people, 56% think it is not open to change and 52% say the party is too extreme.
Opinions about the Democratic Party are mixed, but the party is viewed more positively than the GOP in every dimension tested except one. Somewhat more say the Republican Party than the Democratic Party has strong principles (63% vs. 57%).
The national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted Feb. 13-18 among 1,504 adults, comes at a time when Republican leaders are debating the party’s future in the wake of Barack Obama’s reelection. The Republican Party’s image has been hit hard over the past decade. In January, just 33% said they viewed the party favorably, among the lowest marks of the last 20 years. The GOP’s favorable rating has not been above 50% since shortly after George W. Bush’s reelection in 2004.
An earlier release from the survey by the Pew Research Center and USA TODAY found that while both party’s congressional leaders receive negative job ratings, just 25% approve of the job performance of GOP leaders, compared with 37% approval for Democratic congressional leaders.
The new report finds that while the Democratic Party is viewed more positively on most traits tested, opinion is divided about whether the party is out of touch with the American people: 46% say it is, while 50% it is not. And only somewhat more say the Democratic Party is looking out for the country’s future than say that about the Republican Party (51% vs. 45%).
Republicans are more critical of their party than Democrats are of theirs on most issues. For example, 36% of Republicans say the GOP is out of touch with the American people. Just 23% of Democrats say their party is out of touch. And while 30% of Republicans say their party is not open to change, just 10% of Democrats make the same criticism of their party.
However, Republicans overwhelmingly credit their party for having strong principles; 85% say the GOP has strong principles while 13% say it does not. And 80% of Republicans say their party is looking out for the country’s long-term future.
The GOP also gets high marks from independents and Democrats for having strong principles. Fully 62% of independents say the Republican Party has strong principles, the most positive measure for any party trait tested. Even about half of Democrats (52%) say the Republican Party has strong principles.
Partisan views about whether the Republican Party is too extreme are mirror images: 78% of Republicans say the GOP is not too extreme, while 19% say it is; 78% of Democrats view the Republican Party as too extreme while 19% disagree.
Democrats express highly positive views of their party across-the-board, while Republicans’ opinions about the Democratic Party are uniformly negative. At least 80% of Democrats evaluate their party positively on every trait except one, being out of touch with the American people. Even there, 76% of Democrats say their party is not out of touch, while just 23% say it is.
Far more independents say the Democratic Party is open to change than say that about the Republican Party (54% vs. 39%). The gap is roughly the same in independents’ views about whether the parties are out of touch (65% Republican vs. 51% Democratic) and too extreme (51% vs. 40%).
However, independents are divided over whether the Democratic Party looks out for the country’s future: 45% say it does and 51% say it does not. Independents have similar views about whether the Republican Party looks out for the future (43% yes, 51% no).
About a quarter of independents (27%) say that neither party is looking out for the country’s future. An even higher percentage of independents (37%) say that both parties are out of touch with the American people.
The Republican Party’s overall image stands at one of the lowest points in nearly two decades. And, while impressions of the Democratic Party are much stronger, they are far below where they were four years ago.
In January, 33% of the public had a favorable view of the GOP, compared with 58% who held an unfavorable impression of the party. Among Republicans themselves, 69% had a favorable impression, down from a recent high of 89% reported after the GOP convention. Majorities of both Democrats and independents viewed the Republican Party unfavorably (83% and 58%, respectively).
Views of the Democratic Party were evenly divided in January: 47% favorable, 46% unfavorable. Among Democrats, 87% had a favorable impression of their party while roughly the same percentage of Republicans held an unfavorable view (84%). Independents, on balance, had more unfavorable impressions of the Democratic Party (52%) than favorable ones (37%).
Overview
At a time when the Republican Party’s image is at a historic low, 62% of the public says the GOP is out of touch with the American people, 56% think it is not open to change and 52% say the party is too extreme.Opinions about the Democratic Party are mixed, but the party is viewed more positively than the GOP in every dimension tested except one. Somewhat more say the Republican Party than the Democratic Party has strong principles (63% vs. 57%).
The national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted Feb. 13-18 among 1,504 adults, comes at a time when Republican leaders are debating the party’s future in the wake of Barack Obama’s reelection. The Republican Party’s image has been hit hard over the past decade. In January, just 33% said they viewed the party favorably, among the lowest marks of the last 20 years. The GOP’s favorable rating has not been above 50% since shortly after George W. Bush’s reelection in 2004.
An earlier release from the survey by the Pew Research Center and USA TODAY found that while both party’s congressional leaders receive negative job ratings, just 25% approve of the job performance of GOP leaders, compared with 37% approval for Democratic congressional leaders.
The new report finds that while the Democratic Party is viewed more positively on most traits tested, opinion is divided about whether the party is out of touch with the American people: 46% say it is, while 50% it is not. And only somewhat more say the Democratic Party is looking out for the country’s future than say that about the Republican Party (51% vs. 45%).
Republicans More Critical of Their Party
Republicans are more critical of their party than Democrats are of theirs on most issues. For example, 36% of Republicans say the GOP is out of touch with the American people. Just 23% of Democrats say their party is out of touch. And while 30% of Republicans say their party is not open to change, just 10% of Democrats make the same criticism of their party.However, Republicans overwhelmingly credit their party for having strong principles; 85% say the GOP has strong principles while 13% say it does not. And 80% of Republicans say their party is looking out for the country’s long-term future.
The GOP also gets high marks from independents and Democrats for having strong principles. Fully 62% of independents say the Republican Party has strong principles, the most positive measure for any party trait tested. Even about half of Democrats (52%) say the Republican Party has strong principles.
Partisan views about whether the Republican Party is too extreme are mirror images: 78% of Republicans say the GOP is not too extreme, while 19% say it is; 78% of Democrats view the Republican Party as too extreme while 19% disagree.
Democrats express highly positive views of their party across-the-board, while Republicans’ opinions about the Democratic Party are uniformly negative. At least 80% of Democrats evaluate their party positively on every trait except one, being out of touch with the American people. Even there, 76% of Democrats say their party is not out of touch, while just 23% say it is.Far more independents say the Democratic Party is open to change than say that about the Republican Party (54% vs. 39%). The gap is roughly the same in independents’ views about whether the parties are out of touch (65% Republican vs. 51% Democratic) and too extreme (51% vs. 40%).
However, independents are divided over whether the Democratic Party looks out for the country’s future: 45% say it does and 51% say it does not. Independents have similar views about whether the Republican Party looks out for the future (43% yes, 51% no).
About a quarter of independents (27%) say that neither party is looking out for the country’s future. An even higher percentage of independents (37%) say that both parties are out of touch with the American people.
Overall Views of Parties
The Republican Party’s overall image stands at one of the lowest points in nearly two decades. And, while impressions of the Democratic Party are much stronger, they are far below where they were four years ago.In January, 33% of the public had a favorable view of the GOP, compared with 58% who held an unfavorable impression of the party. Among Republicans themselves, 69% had a favorable impression, down from a recent high of 89% reported after the GOP convention. Majorities of both Democrats and independents viewed the Republican Party unfavorably (83% and 58%, respectively).
Views of the Democratic Party were evenly divided in January: 47% favorable, 46% unfavorable. Among Democrats, 87% had a favorable impression of their party while roughly the same percentage of Republicans held an unfavorable view (84%). Independents, on balance, had more unfavorable impressions of the Democratic Party (52%) than favorable ones (37%).
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Feb 25, 2013
Tibetan Emulates Cousin in Fatal Burning Protest
Tibetan Emulates Cousin in Fatal Burning Protest: 
A Tibetan man protested against Chinese rule by burning himself to death on Monday at the gates of a monastery in in Gansu province, emulating his cousin's self-immolation in the same area more than two months ago, sources said.
Monks at Shitsang Monastery and other local Tibetans in the Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture’s Luchu (Luqu) county jostled with Chinese security forces before taking away the body of Tsesung Kyab, aged 27, from the self-immolation site, the sources said, speaking from inside Tibet.
"He performed the self-immolation around 1.30 p.m. in protest against Chinese policy in the Tibetan areas. His body is in the custody of the local Tibetans," one source told RFA's Tibetan Service.
Tsesung Kyab was the 106th Tibetan so far to self-immolate in protest against Chinese rule and calling for Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet.
He had followed in the footsteps of his cousin Pema Dorjee, who self-immolation in front of the Shitsang Monastery on Dec. 8, 2012, another Tibetan source said.
"He is the maternal cousin of Pema Dorjee, who also self immolated in Luchu against the Chinese policy, and they are from Chokor village, an affiliate of the 12th Shitsang nomadic area in Luchu," the source said.
After the monks gained control of Tsesung Kyab's body, which was taken to his home village of Chokhor, several hundred armed Chinese police arrived at the monastery and imposed restrictions in the area, sources said.
Tibetan festival
Free Tibet, a London-based advocacy group, said many Tibetans had gathered at the monastery when the protest took place as Monday was the last day of the Tibetan Monlam prayer festival.
"Chinese Public Security Bureau personnel attempted to extinguish the flames and remove the body [of Tsesung Kyab] but were prevented from doing so by local people," the group said.
“China’s heavy-handed response to self-immolations has failed to stem the tide of protest in Tibet," Free Tibet Director Stephanie Brigden said in a statement.
"The spirit of dissent among Tibetans is far stronger than China realizes. We can only expect that protests will continue to take place until Tibetans achieve the freedom they crave.”
Meanwhile, a young Tibetan who torched himself at a monastery in Qinghai province on Sunday in protest against Beijing's "hardline" policy in Tibet died on Monday after suffering serious burns, a Tibetan source told RFA.
Phakmo Dhondup, in his 20's, set himself alight at the compound of the Jachung monastery in Tsapon township in Tsoshar (in Chinese, Haidong) prefecture’s Bayan Khar (Hualong) county and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital.
"He was taken to the local hospital in Bayan county by the monks of Jachung monastery immediately after the incident but he could not be saved and succumbed to his burns," the source said.
Beijing has stepped up its crackdown against Tibetan self-immolation protests but to no avail.
Chinese courts have jailed a number of Tibetans, including monks, over their suspected roles in the burnings in the last few weeks. Some have been given jail terms of up to 13 years.
Human rights groups have criticized the Chinese authorities for criminalizing the burning protests and cracking down on Tibetans deemed to have provided encouragement or support.
Chinese authorities have also deployed paramilitary forces and restricted communications and travel in the areas where self-immolations have occurred.
Many of the recent self-immolators are young Tibetans appalled by the human rights abuses and excessive controls imposed by the Chinese authorities, rights groups say.
Reported by RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Parameswaran Ponnudurai.
A Tibetan man protested against Chinese rule by burning himself to death on Monday at the gates of a monastery in in Gansu province, emulating his cousin's self-immolation in the same area more than two months ago, sources said.
Monks at Shitsang Monastery and other local Tibetans in the Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture’s Luchu (Luqu) county jostled with Chinese security forces before taking away the body of Tsesung Kyab, aged 27, from the self-immolation site, the sources said, speaking from inside Tibet.
"He performed the self-immolation around 1.30 p.m. in protest against Chinese policy in the Tibetan areas. His body is in the custody of the local Tibetans," one source told RFA's Tibetan Service.
Tsesung Kyab was the 106th Tibetan so far to self-immolate in protest against Chinese rule and calling for Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet.
He had followed in the footsteps of his cousin Pema Dorjee, who self-immolation in front of the Shitsang Monastery on Dec. 8, 2012, another Tibetan source said.
"He is the maternal cousin of Pema Dorjee, who also self immolated in Luchu against the Chinese policy, and they are from Chokor village, an affiliate of the 12th Shitsang nomadic area in Luchu," the source said.
After the monks gained control of Tsesung Kyab's body, which was taken to his home village of Chokhor, several hundred armed Chinese police arrived at the monastery and imposed restrictions in the area, sources said.
Tibetan festival
Free Tibet, a London-based advocacy group, said many Tibetans had gathered at the monastery when the protest took place as Monday was the last day of the Tibetan Monlam prayer festival.
"Chinese Public Security Bureau personnel attempted to extinguish the flames and remove the body [of Tsesung Kyab] but were prevented from doing so by local people," the group said.
“China’s heavy-handed response to self-immolations has failed to stem the tide of protest in Tibet," Free Tibet Director Stephanie Brigden said in a statement.
"The spirit of dissent among Tibetans is far stronger than China realizes. We can only expect that protests will continue to take place until Tibetans achieve the freedom they crave.”
Meanwhile, a young Tibetan who torched himself at a monastery in Qinghai province on Sunday in protest against Beijing's "hardline" policy in Tibet died on Monday after suffering serious burns, a Tibetan source told RFA.
Phakmo Dhondup, in his 20's, set himself alight at the compound of the Jachung monastery in Tsapon township in Tsoshar (in Chinese, Haidong) prefecture’s Bayan Khar (Hualong) county and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital.
"He was taken to the local hospital in Bayan county by the monks of Jachung monastery immediately after the incident but he could not be saved and succumbed to his burns," the source said.
Beijing has stepped up its crackdown against Tibetan self-immolation protests but to no avail.
Chinese courts have jailed a number of Tibetans, including monks, over their suspected roles in the burnings in the last few weeks. Some have been given jail terms of up to 13 years.
Human rights groups have criticized the Chinese authorities for criminalizing the burning protests and cracking down on Tibetans deemed to have provided encouragement or support.
Chinese authorities have also deployed paramilitary forces and restricted communications and travel in the areas where self-immolations have occurred.
Many of the recent self-immolators are young Tibetans appalled by the human rights abuses and excessive controls imposed by the Chinese authorities, rights groups say.
Reported by RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Parameswaran Ponnudurai.
Feb 24, 2013
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The area is a stronghold of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was a member of parliament for ...
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Zimbabwe: Ban On Radio Receivers Sparks Outcry
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Zimbabwe: Churches Vow to Vote for Mugabe
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Syrian rebels storm police academy near Aleppo
Syrian rebels storm police academy near Aleppo:
BEIRUT — Rebels stormed a police academy near the Syrian city of Aleppo on Sunday, the latest in a string of gains in the country’s north using weapons seized from the Syrian military.
Turning President Bashar al-Assad’s own armaments against him, the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) used captured tanks to launch a fresh offensive on the compound in Khan al-Asal on the outskirts of the city. Opposition fighters took control of all four buildings in the complex, but clashes continued to rage, according to the Local Coordination Committees (LCC), an opposition activist network.
Read full article >>
BEIRUT — Rebels stormed a police academy near the Syrian city of Aleppo on Sunday, the latest in a string of gains in the country’s north using weapons seized from the Syrian military.
Turning President Bashar al-Assad’s own armaments against him, the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) used captured tanks to launch a fresh offensive on the compound in Khan al-Asal on the outskirts of the city. Opposition fighters took control of all four buildings in the complex, but clashes continued to rage, according to the Local Coordination Committees (LCC), an opposition activist network.
Read full article >>
Syrian Government Hits Rebels in Damascus, Aleppo Suburbs
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In an apparent blow to the government, opposition sources said ...
Activists posted videos on the Internet claiming to show the aftermath of Sunday air strikes on rebel strongholds in the eastern suburbs of Damascus and the Aleppo suburb of Ezaz. There was no immediate word about casualties.
In an apparent blow to the government, opposition sources said ...
Turkey, US blast Assad regime as Aleppo toll rises - Channel News Asia
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Turks protest peace talks with Kurd rebels - Gulf Times
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Egypt: Legal Measures Against Bakeries Which Go On Strike
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Leading Syrian comedian target of Syrian regime, result is his death
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Young Tibetan Burns Himself in a Monastery
Young Tibetan Burns Himself in a Monastery: 
A young Tibetan torched himself at a monastery in Qinghai province on Sunday in protest against Beijing's "hardline" policy in Tibet, triggering a security clampdown, according to sources.
Phakmo Dhondup, in his 20's, set himself alight at the compound of the Jachung monastery in Tsapon township in Tsoshar (in Chinese, Haidong) prefecture’s Bayan Khar (Hualong) county but was immediately taken to a nearby hospital with serious burns, the sources from inside Tibet said.
"At around 8 p.m., he self-immolated in protest against the hardline Chinese policy in Tibet," a source told RFA's Tibetan Service. "He was immediately rushed to the local hospital and is being treated."
Phakmo Dhondup, who lives in Upper Sakar village close to the Jachung monastery, is the 105th Tibetan so far to self-immolate in protests questioning Chinese rule in Tibetan-populated areas and calling for the return of Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
"Monks at the monastery are conducting special prayers for his recovery," the RFA source said. "At the same time several hundred security forces have arrived at the monastery and imposed restrictions," the source said.
Beijing has stepped up its crackdown to preempt Tibetan self-immolation protests but to no avail.
Chinese courts have jailed a number of Tibetans, including monks, over their suspected roles in the burnings in the last few weeks. Some were given jail terms of up to 13 years.
Human rights groups have criticized the Chinese authorities for criminalizing the burning protests and cracking down on Tibetans deemed to have provided encouragement or support.
Chinese authorities have also deployed paramilitary forces and restricted communications and travel in the areas where self-immolations have occurred.
Appalled
Many of the recent self-immolators are young Tibetans appalled by the human rights abuses and excessive controls imposed by the Chinese authorities, rights groups say.
Twenty-two of the Tibetans who have self-immolated so far have been 18-years old or younger, according to figures compiled by the International Campaign for Tibet advocacy group. More than 80 of the 105 self-immolators so far have died in the burnings.
The self-immolations by the new generation of Tibetans born under Chinese rule “are sending an unequivocal message to the world about the gravity of the situation in Tibet,” said Dicki Chhoyang, Minister of Information and International Relations in the Dharamsala-based Tibetan exile government, the Central Tibetan Administration.
She told a meeting in Geneva last week ahead of the 2013 UN Human Rights Council session that China must be held accountable to the pledges it made to the world body to improve its human rights record.
Beijing has defended its rule of Tibet and says the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders in exile have orchestrated the self-immolations from their base in India.
But Tibetan exile leaders deny involvement in the burnings and have called on Tibetans in Tibetan-populated regions of China to exercise restraint.
Reported by RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Parameswaran Ponnudurai.
A young Tibetan torched himself at a monastery in Qinghai province on Sunday in protest against Beijing's "hardline" policy in Tibet, triggering a security clampdown, according to sources.
Phakmo Dhondup, in his 20's, set himself alight at the compound of the Jachung monastery in Tsapon township in Tsoshar (in Chinese, Haidong) prefecture’s Bayan Khar (Hualong) county but was immediately taken to a nearby hospital with serious burns, the sources from inside Tibet said.
"At around 8 p.m., he self-immolated in protest against the hardline Chinese policy in Tibet," a source told RFA's Tibetan Service. "He was immediately rushed to the local hospital and is being treated."
Phakmo Dhondup, who lives in Upper Sakar village close to the Jachung monastery, is the 105th Tibetan so far to self-immolate in protests questioning Chinese rule in Tibetan-populated areas and calling for the return of Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
"Monks at the monastery are conducting special prayers for his recovery," the RFA source said. "At the same time several hundred security forces have arrived at the monastery and imposed restrictions," the source said.
Beijing has stepped up its crackdown to preempt Tibetan self-immolation protests but to no avail.
Chinese courts have jailed a number of Tibetans, including monks, over their suspected roles in the burnings in the last few weeks. Some were given jail terms of up to 13 years.
Human rights groups have criticized the Chinese authorities for criminalizing the burning protests and cracking down on Tibetans deemed to have provided encouragement or support.
Chinese authorities have also deployed paramilitary forces and restricted communications and travel in the areas where self-immolations have occurred.
Appalled
Many of the recent self-immolators are young Tibetans appalled by the human rights abuses and excessive controls imposed by the Chinese authorities, rights groups say.
Twenty-two of the Tibetans who have self-immolated so far have been 18-years old or younger, according to figures compiled by the International Campaign for Tibet advocacy group. More than 80 of the 105 self-immolators so far have died in the burnings.
The self-immolations by the new generation of Tibetans born under Chinese rule “are sending an unequivocal message to the world about the gravity of the situation in Tibet,” said Dicki Chhoyang, Minister of Information and International Relations in the Dharamsala-based Tibetan exile government, the Central Tibetan Administration.
She told a meeting in Geneva last week ahead of the 2013 UN Human Rights Council session that China must be held accountable to the pledges it made to the world body to improve its human rights record.
Beijing has defended its rule of Tibet and says the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders in exile have orchestrated the self-immolations from their base in India.
But Tibetan exile leaders deny involvement in the burnings and have called on Tibetans in Tibetan-populated regions of China to exercise restraint.
Reported by RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Parameswaran Ponnudurai.
In Last Sunday Address as Pope, Benedict Says He Will Continue to Serve
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Tunisia: Ennahda Names New Tunisia Pm
Tunisia: Ennahda Names New Tunisia Pm: [Magharebia]Tunisia's ruling Ennahda party on Friday (February 22nd) named Interior Minister Ali Larayedh as prime minister.
Civil disobedience grips Cairo as protests rock the rest of Egypt
Civil disobedience grips Cairo as protests rock the rest of Egypt: Protesters on Sunday blocked the doors to Cairo's main administrative building as part of a growing campaign of civil disobedience around the country against President Mohamed Mursi.
A group of protesters closed the doors of the Mugamma, a massive labyrinth of bureaucratic offices on the
A group of protesters closed the doors of the Mugamma, a massive labyrinth of bureaucratic offices on the
Karzai expels US forces from restive province
Karzai expels US forces from restive province: Afghan government accuses US special forces in Maidan Wardak province of furthering "instability and insecurity".
‘New influx’ of weapons in Syria fuelling fight against Assad, extremists
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In recent weeks, anti-tank weapons and recoilless rifles, among other arms, have been sent across the
In recent weeks, anti-tank weapons and recoilless rifles, among other arms, have been sent across the
Kurdish leader calls talks with Turkey 'historic step' - Zee News
Kurdish leader calls talks with Turkey 'historic step' - Zee News:
 Yahoo! News (blog) | Kurdish leader calls talks with Turkey 'historic step' Zee News Kurdish leader calls talks with Turkey `historic step` Ankara (Turkey): Imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan has called talks with Turkish officials aiming to halt a decades-long conflict a historic step and urged all sides involved to show ... Security cooperation with Turkey could be betterDeutsche Welle Turkey in key stage to address Kurdish issueAPA Turkey agrees Kurdish delegation to meet jailed militant leaderYahoo! News (blog) Al-Arabiya -Ahram Online all 34 news articles » |
Sabah poverty drop is false, says Jeffrey’s party
Sabah poverty drop is false, says Jeffrey’s party:
INANAM: The State Reform Party (STAR) is crying “fake” about the recent announcement by the Sabah Barisan Nasional government that poverty in the reputedly poorest state in the country dropped to 8% last year from from 19.7% in 2009.
The STAR party describes the latest claim by BN as 'ridiculous' and demands proof.
INANAM: The State Reform Party (STAR) is crying “fake” about the recent announcement by the Sabah Barisan Nasional government that poverty in the reputedly poorest state in the country dropped to 8% last year from from 19.7% in 2009.The party, which is led by Jeffrey Kitingan, the younger brother of Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin, also expressed incredulity at the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) findings that the average Sabahan household now earns RM4,013 per month.
“This is a ridiculous announcement but we can expect it from this government,” said STAR Sabah deputy chairman Daniel John Jambun in a statement.
He was commenting on the announcement on the new figures made by Director-General of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) Dr Rahamt Bivi Yussoff on Thursday.
“The announcement was made to hoodwink the people to believe BN’s own contention that they have delivered richness to the people in Sabah.
“In fact there are more poor people now as compared to four years ago,” alleged Jambun who is also chairman of a UK-based NGO, Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo).
Jambun also accused the authorities of concocting findings and twisting facts in order to justify their persistent heaping of praises on BN leaders.
He said it should be remembered that Chief Minister Musa Aman announced a year ago that there was no more poverty in Tawau and that Tawau was the first district in Malaysia to attain such status.
“But who will believe a group of people who not only twist facts and figures but hide the truth from the people and worse still distort even the history of the country including the formation of Malaysia Federation back in 1963?
“I am already receiving complaints from voters across Sabah that the BN announcement that poverty in the state now stood only at 8%, and that each family now earna RM4,000 per month is just ‘bullshit’, to borrow their own words, misleading and misrepresenting the truth.
“The people refuse to believe such findings because they could feel and see for themselves what was going on in their kampungs. Poverty remains and in fact has worsened in many parts where BN leaders are helpless to provide anything,” Jambun said.
Publish the names
He also challenged the EPU and BN to publish the names of recipients of aid and list out these new families that now generate a group household earning of more than RM4,000 every month.
Publish the names
He also challenged the EPU and BN to publish the names of recipients of aid and list out these new families that now generate a group household earning of more than RM4,000 every month.
“If they fail to list out then they stand accused as liars and of hoodwinking (the people). What we fear is that these surveys were made in a certain month where members of the families were given RM500 or RM250 BR1M one-off cash aid and perhaps other aids,” he said.
Jambun also claimed that many households in Kadazandusun and Bajau kampungs earn less than RM2,000 per month and as much as up to 30% of the rural population are still living in dilapidated houses and more than half without clean water while more than 30% are without consistent electricity supply.
“Go to the kampungs in Tuaran, Kota Belud, Pitas, Ranau, Tongod, Kudat, Sandakan, Semporna, Banggi, Nabawan and Tenom and see for yourself how small houses have more than one family sharing a house.
“Malnutrition is everywhere, school dropouts high, public hygiene absent, social ills on the rise, no sense of security… our society is vulnerable to exploitation by those in power. This is the kind of society we are in in many places,” he said.
He said to test the believability of the ruling party, one needs to ask “why is it a crime to own a ‘bakakuk’ (homemade shotgun) to protect one’s ‘kebun’ (orchard) “but it was fine for a group of foreign bandits with modern rifles to threaten us and be supplied with food and water and even more”.
Jambun was referring the continuing standoff in Lahad Datu between Malaysian security forces and a large group of Filipino gunmen who have occupied a village within a Felda settlement.
PORTRAIT OF ANOTHER DAP TURNCOAT? We could have averted May 13 - founder
PORTRAIT OF ANOTHER DAP TURNCOAT? We could have averted May 13 - founder: 
Read more: Hock Guan rues 1969 DAP win - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/hock-guan-rues-1969-dap-win-1.223428#ixzz2LnN7fwnH
SAD: 'Tragic riots could have been averted'
KUALA LUMPUR (NST): A FOUNDER of the DAP regrets leading the party to unexpected victory in 13 parliamentary seats and, among others, a sizable number of state seats in Selangor in the 1969 general election as this may have indirectly contributed to the May 13 incident.
Goh Hock Guan, the man who gave the party its name and designed its "rocket" symbol, wished in retrospect that the DAP victory had been smaller as this might have possibly averted the "national tragedy".
"There is a very, very, big connection between the DAP (opposition) victory and May 13. I wish I had entered fewer DAP candidates in the elections as this may have possibly prevented the riots," he said in an interview.
The then secretary-general of the party said the eventual electoral stalemate in Selangor, where the opposition led by the DAP and the Alliance had almost the same number of seats each, might have been one of the factors that contributed to the disturbance.
"The stalemate meant that a state government could not have been formed in Selangor. It was too much of a victory for the opposition for some people to handle," Goh said, taking pains not to directly blame the DAP for the riots.
Goh had won in the then Bungsar parliamentary constituency by beating the Alliance's (MCA's) Lew Sip Hon in the 1969 general election.
The 78-year-old architect and town planner felt that he should have given the body politic of the Alliance more time to come to terms with the possibility of a large opposition win in 1969.
"I remember Tun Abdul Razak telling me in 1974 that I had effectively destroyed the Alliance (by defeating, among others, the MCA candidates in 1969)," he said, adding that the second prime minister had asked him then to join forces with the Barisan Nasional to rebuild the country.
Goh, who left the DAP in 1974 to join Gerakan, said he had envisaged the DAP as a multiracial party open to all to take a young Malaysia forward.
"The four boosters of the rocket were to be the Malays, Chinese, Indians and the people of Sabah and Sarawak. It's a shame that the DAP now is a party of Chinese and Indians," the owner of internationally-acclaimed architectural firm Goh Hock Guan and Associates said.
Goh said the DAP (without substantial Malay support today) represented the anti-thesis of the BN which had a multiracial character.
On Datuk Seri Najib Razak, he said the prime minister was following his father's footsteps in garnering the support of all the races in taking the nation forward.
"I hope he will continue with the momentum and tempo of his broad-based policies to look after the interests of all Malaysians."
On DAP's electoral pact with Pas, he said he had always found it difficult to reconcile his personal politics of multiracialism with the Islamic party's religious objectives.
"This is the trouble in the pact between the DAP and Pas. The DAP will be helping Pas win (all). This is the truth. It will be a pyrrhic victory for the DAP."
On his falling out with DAP adviser and former party secretary-general Lim Kit Siang "who was closer to me than my brother" at one point, he said victory in the 1969 general election had an unexpected effect on the latter and a few other members of parliament.
"I had it out with Kit Siang. This was because before I knew what had happened, the man who had been driving an old Fiat car which I bought for 500 dollars had bought a Mercedes Benz.
"I criticised him and others for this at a central executive committee meeting. They did not like it."
This and his contrary stand with the party on the "ownership" of the Straits of Malacca, which he insisted should be an international waterway, put paid to his continued presence in the party.
Goh said another reason why he left was his unhappiness over the way in which the DAP had wanted him "to bankroll its branches as I was a successful architect even then".
Read more: Hock Guan rues 1969 DAP win - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/hock-guan-rues-1969-dap-win-1.223428#ixzz2LnN7fwnH
LOOK AT THE BN SPIN: DAP founder Hock Huan - a power unto himself!
LOOK AT THE BN SPIN: DAP founder Hock Huan - a power unto himself!:
A POWER UNTO HIMSELF: The first DAP secretary-general bares all about his political life, the break with his party, his tumultuous relationship with his mentee, Lim Kit Siang, and his dreams for Malaysia.
HE had it all: the promise to make it to the very top of the MCA leadership, the total trust and confidence of then prime minister Tun Abdul Razak, and the acumen to etch a name for himself in the political annals of Malaysia.
Goh Hock Guan -- an orator with almost magical abilities to mesmerise audiences across the board, of superior intellect and political acuity, and with a charisma few could rival -- could have been an elder statesman today if he had wanted to.
But as fate would have it, the twists and turns of political life prematurely ended a promising career at the youthful age of 39 when an unexpected defeat at the polls left him out in the cold.
It was the beginning of the end of the Goh Hock Guan era in politics.
For a short 10 years or so, he had sat and discussed issues of the day with the likes of Tun Razak, former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, former MCA leader and finance minister Tun Tan Siew Sin, and former Singapore president Devan Nair.
Even earlier, he had been identified by the first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Raman, who had been arrested by the vitriolic personality of the young architectural student in Melbourne, turning heads with dreams for his country of birth.
Goh, whose upbeat personality today belies his 78 years of age, thumps the conference table with a forearm strengthened by daily rounds of golf, the ensuing sound reverberating around the small room at the unexpectedly sedate offices in Kampung Attap, Kuala Lumpur, of an internationally renowned architect and town planner.
"I said 'this is nonsense. I won't have any truck with you guys'," he tells me in a stentorian voice that should have rightly belonged on a political stage about why he parted ways with Lim Kit Siang (DAP adviser and the man who took over as party supremo) and DAP, the party he founded and helped build.
It had been just a little while since the DAP's victory at the 1969 general election and the new opposition members of parliament had, according to Goh, assumed a lifestyle alien to that which they professed under their socialist ideals.
The first secretary-general of the DAP had been unhappy with Lim's decision (and that of DAP MPs who engaged in other so-called excesses) to buy a Mercedes-Benz "with a driver to boot and I realised that these were not people cast in the Ghandhian mode".
Goh, acknowledging his imprudence at raising the matter at a fateful central executive committee meeting, remembers many of those present taking umbrage at his opinions.
"I was prepared to risk all for what I believed in," he says of those heady days when he ate, drank and breathed politics and refused (as he does now) to compromise on his democratic-socialist ideals.
Even today, nearly 40 years after that incident, there is a latent but sometimes tangible anger in Goh that emerges occasionally to do battle with his twin and opposite personality, that of a benign boss, doting father and amiable friend.
Even as I take quick notes of the words that fly out at breakneck speed from the man seated across me, I am amazed that this soon-to-be octogenarian packs such a passion for politics past and present, which he talks about with the outright frankness that is usual in people of his vintage.
Youngest daughter Sun Lin, who holds a doctorate in architecture and is sitting in on the interview, which is being video-taped in the event he writes his memoirs, nods when I ask her if Goh is as frank and forthright as this at home.
With the ability to dig deep into his memory for nuggets of information from the past, he tells me of how he "hero-worshipped" Lee Kuan Yew ("a powerful motivating force for me"), thought the world of Devan Nair ("he was a big-time communist"), celebrates the Malaysian monarchy ("it is the final arbiter in Malaysia") and loves multiracialism ("the way to salvation for the nation").
There was an incident one day when Datuk (later Tan Sri) Lee San Choon came to his office and told him that Tan wanted to see him urgently.
"San Choon and I were not on talking terms. Anyway, I went to Siew Sin's house. All the MCA ministers were there, including Khaw Kai Boh and Kam Voon Wah. They stood to attention when I entered. Siew Sin came in and asked 'are you ready to sign the agreement?'"
Goh was perplexed. He did not know what was going on.
"The MCA ministers there said they would resign their seats to let me contest. Siew Sin said he would call Razak immediately to tell him that I was joining the party. I said 'Tun, hold on. We have not even had a chance to talk about anything.'"
Goh walked out and that was the end of MCA's bid to entice him into their ranks (Goh joined Gerakan later and lost in his bid for the then Bungsar parliamentary constituency in the 1974 general election).
Apparently, Goh had been invited for three discussions before that by Razak, who had wanted him to join forces in mobilising the people to make the government of the day more broad-based (with Razak possibly intimating this to Tan).
Today, Goh is happy to sit on the sidelines of politics as he has for nearly four decades, as he dedicates his time to his first love, architecture and town planning.
NST
46-Day Countdown to 13GE – Call on Pakatan Rakyat not to be lulled into complacency as it is still on the cards that Najib could dissolve Parliament in next 12 days before the fifth anniversary of 308
46-Day Countdown to 13GE – Call on Pakatan Rakyat not to be lulled into complacency as it is still on the cards that Najib could dissolve Parliament in next 12 days before the fifth anniversary of 308: I call on all DAP and Pakatan Rakyat leaders, members and supporters not to lulled into complacency into believing that the 13th general elections have been pushed to April and after, as it is still on the cards that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak could dissolve Parliament in the next 12 days before [...]
Malaysia’s 13th General Elections
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Orange-tossing tradition originates from Hokkien folk in southern China
Orange-tossing tradition originates from Hokkien folk in southern China: PETALING JAYA: The tradition of throwing oranges during Chap Goh Meh originated from the Hokkiens in southern China.
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