Santa's Whereabouts

12/24/2013 09:11 PM CST                                                                                       Wed, Dec 25, 2013 at 8:57 AM  
First Lady Answers Children's Queries on This Issue 

American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Dec. 24, 2013 - First Lady Michelle Obama today took phone calls from boys and girls from across the country asking where Santa was located as part of the annual NORAD Tracks Santa program run by the North American Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. First Lady Michelle Obama reacts while talking on the phone to children across the country as part of the annual North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Tracks Santa program. The First Lady, who's in Hawaii on vacation with her husband President Barack Obama and other family members, answered the phone calls from Kailua, Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2013. Official White House photo by Pete Souza  This is the First Lady's fourth year participating in this Christmas Eve tradition, according to a White House official. The First Lady is currently in Hawaii on vacation with her husband President Barack Obama and other family members. In her conversations with the children she employed a portable Santa-tracking radar screen courtesy of NORAD. Obama started taking the calls at around 11 a.m.local Hawaiian time and she spoke with about a dozen children for around 30 minutes. Santa can easily perform his global Christmas Eve journey, the First Lady explained to the children, because he and his gift-laden, reindeer-drawn flying sleigh can go anywhere in the world at the speed of light. "I'm looking on [NORAD'S] radar screen and right now, Santa is headed to the Republic of Rwanda -- that's in Africa, that's all the way in Africa," the First Lady told 9-year-old Wyatt from South Carolina. "Right now, he is delivering toys to some little girls and boys all the way in Africa. Can you believe that?" She asked Wyatt what he wanted for Christmas and he answered, "A Zoomer [robotic dog]." "A Zoomer? That sounds exciting, that sounds fun," the First Lady replied. Later, a young girl named Ella called to ask, "When is Santa coming to Kansas City?" "Santa is going to come to your house, Ella, when you are fast asleep -- that's how he works," the First Lady replied. "I think he is in Sudan now because there are some kids over there who are already tucked in bed with their eyes closed. So he is going to come to your house as soon as you're asleep." The NORAD Tracks Santa program began in 1955 after a phone call was made to the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The call was from a local youngster who dialed a misprinted telephone number in a local newspaper advertisement. The commander on duty who answered the phone that night gave the youngster the information requested -- the whereabouts of Santa. This began the tradition of tracking Santa, a tradition that was carried on by NORAD when it was formed in 1958. The NORAD Tracks Santa program has grown immensely since first presented on the Internet in 1998. The website receives millions of unique visitors from hundreds of countries and territories around the world. In addition, a live Operations Center is occupied for 25 hours with more than 1,200 volunteers each year who receive hundreds of thousands of phone calls and emails from families around the world.

Contact Author Related Sites: NORAD Tracks Santa YouTube Facebook TwitterRelated Articles: Face of Defense: New York Guard Troops to Help Track Santa NORAD to Track Santa's Global Journey

CMC Events:31st Dr LH Lobo Memorial Oration

Wed, Nov 13, 2013 at 1:59 PM

Oration will be held on November 16

Ludhiana, 13th, November, 2013: (Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria): Dr LH Lobo memorial trust has been organizing the Dr L H Lobo Memorial Oration and Scientific symposium for the last 30 years, in memory of the late Dr LH Lobo, an eminent and renowned Orthopaedic Surgeon and Former Head of Orthopaedic department and Principal of Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana.   This year the 31st Dr LH Lobo Memorial Oration will be jointly organised by the Dr LH Lobo Memorial Trust and the department of Neurology, CMC on November 16th in the hospital auditorium.

Professor Gourie Devi, former Director and Vice-Chancellor of National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore will be delivering the oration. After the oration there will be a CME on “Management of Central Nervous System Infections” from 9 am to 2 pm. Padma Bhushan Dr JS Chopra, Dr S Prabhakar, Head of Neurology, PGIMER, Chandigarh; Prof Satishchandra, Director and Vice-Chancellor, NIMHANS, Bangalore; Prof Mathew Alexander, Head of Neurology, CMC Vellore; Prof Gagandeep Singh, Head of Neurology, DMC, Ludhiana; Prof Yashpal Singh, Department of Neurology, CMC; Dr Jency Koshy, Department of Medicine, Dr Divya Deodhar, Department of Medicine, CMC, and Dr Vikas Loomba, Department of Medicine, CMC will be the faculty for the CME. 

The inaugural function and the oration will be conducted by Shri Sukhpat Rai Wadehra, President, Dr LH Lobo Memorial Trust and Dr MK Mahajan, Secretary, Dr LH Lobo Memorial Trust. Dr Jeyaraj D Pandian is the Organising Secretary and Dr Yashpal Singh is the Joint Organising Secretary. There will be no registration fee and the program will start at 8.30 am and conclude at 2.00 pm. Two CME credit hours will be available from Punjab Medical Council.

CMC:31st Dr LH Lobo Memorial Oration on November 16th

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Pharmacology for the Central Nervous System Lecture Part 5

Guard Soldiers Host British, Danish Wounded Warriors

10/28/2013 01:24 PM CDT                                                   Mon, Oct 28, 2013 at 11:22 PM By Army Staff Sgt. Michelle Gonzalez National Guard Bureau ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 28, 2013 - Conversational buzz filled the atrium of the Army National Guard Readiness Center here Oct. 25 as those assigned to the readiness center anticipated the arrival of special guests. Command Sgt. Maj. Brunk W. Conley, the command sergeant major of the Army National Guard, shares stories with British soldiers during a wounded warrior event at the Army National Guard Readiness Center in Arlington, Va., Oct. 25, 2013. The visit was the first stop in a week-long visit for British and Danish wounded warriors. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Michelle Gonzalez  Army National Guard soldiers embraced the opportunity to foster international camaraderie by honoring the service of some 57 wounded warriors and their support teams from the United Kingdom and Denmark.After a poignant reception by the welcoming line, the U.S. soldiers took the opportunity to meet and exchange stories with their British and Danish comrades. "The welcome has been phenomenal," said British Cpl. Jay Watt, with the British army's 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. "I was overwhelmed by the warm welcome," Watt said. "I've never seen that before." Staff Sgt. Laura Atkinson of the British army's Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, echoed that sentiment. "It's been overwhelming and quite humbling," she said. "We don't get this sort of support over in the U.K., not only from the public but from other corps and services." The event was a way to say thank you. "I'm excited for you to be here," Army Lt. Gen. William E. Ingram Jr., the director of the Army National Guard, said in his opening remarks. "Hosting this group today provides an opportunity to thank you for your service and the sacrifices that you've made to the cause of freedom around the world." And that sacrifice was shown both on and off the battlefield, Ingram said. "You've shown valor on the battlefield," he said, "but just as importantly, each of you has shown incredible courage and determination throughout the course of your rehabilitation." Throughout the day, guests received background briefings on the National Guard's history, followed by sessions broken out by specialty that allowed for an exchange in cultural ideas that cultivated ongoing relationships. "We recognize that we are partners and that we need each other," said Command Sgt. Maj. Brunk W. Conley, command sergeant major of the Army National Guard. "If we maintain our relationships, the next time we call on each other and need each other's help, we'll be there standing side by side, ready to do whatever the mission calls for." Guests ended the visit with sharing a barbeque-themed lunch with National Guard Bureau leaders. For these wounded warriors and their support teams, the reception at the readiness center marked the first stop of a week-long trip that includes participating in yesterday's 38th Marine Corps Marathon, a tour of Arlington National Cemetery, a trip to Capitol Hill and a visit to the Pentagon. "I'm looking forward to all of these," Watt said.

Biographies: Army Lt. Gen. William E. Ingram Jr. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Brunk W. ConleyRelated Sites: Army National Guard National Guard Bureau

A hale and hearty welcome to the new entrants

Thu, Aug 8, 2013 at 3:30 PM
A colorful Teej event at MTSM college Ldh

Ludhiana: 8 August 2013: (Rector kathuria): Teej Festival cum Fresher’s Party was celebrated at Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women, Ludhiana to present an authentic Punjabi Culture with the blends of modern hues. The whole atmosphere was filled with gaiety when college girls dressed in elegant traditional as well as western attires staged their dance performances, skit, folk songs and modeling.
       College Principal, Dr. (Mrs.) Parveen Kaur Chawla gave a hale and hearty welcome to the new entrants and also focused on the significance of Teej Festival in Modern Era.
        Arshdeep Kaur was crowned ‘Teeyan di Rani’, Harmandeep Kaur and Navdeep Kaur were titled Miss Punjaban and Miss Majajjan respectively.  Ashwarya was crowned as Miss Fresher Shifali & Harpreet Kaur as first & second runners up respectively. Sukhpreet Kaur got the title of Miss Diva whereas Garima was declared Miss Crowning Glory. The tag of Miss Beautiful smile went to Gurleen Kaur.Various competitions like traditional style of pleating hair, Beautiful Pranda, Ethnic jewelry, Mehndi Application, Beautiful Bangles and were held and the winners were given prizes. S. Swarn Singh Ji (President, College Managing Committee) and S. Kawalinder Singh Ji (Secratery, College Managing Committee) graced the occasion and stressed on the need for maintaining our rich Heritage and culture in the Modern times.
        College Principal, Dr. (Mrs.) Parveen Kaur Chawla stressed on the need of being aware of our elementary traditions and values. The celebration was culminated by adding another leaf in the book of unforgettable memories of the college.

Teej Festival cum Fresher’s Party was celebrated

Save Punjabi as Subject of Study in the Colleges of Delhi

Remembering Sahir Ludhianvi

An Afghan Uniform Police

No to insecure and hostile work environment

Enjoy the freedom but

Soldier, Dog Reunited

Commemorative function

120th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's historic voyage

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the Commemorative function to mark the 120th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's historic voyage to Chicago from the Bombay Port, in Mumbai on May 31, 2013. The Governor of Maharashtra, Shri K. Sankaranarayanan, the Chairman of the BJP Parliamentary Party, Shri L.K. Advani and other dignitaries are also seen. (PIB)           31-May-2013

Rama Setu - An Engineering Marvel of 5076 BCE

Tunisian Defense Minister at Pentagon

Hagel, Carter Discuss Cooperation American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 29, 2013 - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter discussed areas of cooperation with Tunisian Defense Minister Rachid Sabbagh during a Pentagon meeting yesterday, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said. In a statement, Little noted that the meeting was part of the 27th annual meeting of the United States and Tunisia Joint Military Commission. "Secretary Hagel welcomed Minister Sabbagh to Washington and emphasized his commitment to the U.S.-Tunisian defense relationship," he said. "The secretary said he was pleased with the continued military-to-military cooperation between the countries and emphasized the need for future cooperation in light of shared interests and security challenges in the region." Carter expressed gratitude for the continued support Tunisia has provided to the U.S. Embassy in Tunis in the aftermath of a Sept. 14, 2012, attack and for the continued cooperation between both countries on a wide range of mutual security issues, the press secretary added.

Biographies: Chuck Hagel Ash Carter Related Sites: State Department Fact Sheet on Tunisia

Hagel: United States Committed to Israel's Security

04/21/2013 07:00 AM CDT                                          Sun, Apr 21, 2013 at 5:00 PM  Chuck Hagel's first stop during his inaugural trip By Cheryl Pellerin American Forces Press Service ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT, April 21, 2013 - Israel is Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's first stop during his inaugural trip to the Middle East this week, a visit he said will let the people of Israel know the United States is committed to their security. The 6-day trip will take Hagel to Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates to discuss common threats and interests in the region, and to finalize agreements that will boost a range of military capabilities for Israel, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. "I'm going to Israel first because it is a nation that has had a very special relationship with the United States," Hagel said on his way to that nation during a briefing with reporters traveling with him. "It is a nation today in a very dangerous, combustible region of the world, that in many ways finds itself isolated," he said, adding, "The other countries I'll be visiting are also allies of the United States, and the common threats that face [them and] Israel ... should be seen in a regional context." Each nation has its own set of challenges, the secretary said, but overall the challenges are regional and include terrorism and the threat of nonstate actors who would bring down governments and impact societies. "Those common threats certainly should build a set of common interests, with these countries working together," Hagel said, "and that's part of what I will be talking about as I visit each [nation].' During a presidential trip in March to Israel and Jordan, Barack Obama delivered the same message, the secretary said, adding that during a visit to Turkey this weekend, Secretary of State John Kerry "will be talking about some of the same issues in a different kind of way, but essentially with the same focus of common interests." As he spoke with reporters, Hagel extended his thoughts and prayers to victims of the Boston Marathon bombing and acknowledging the tireless work of law enforcement agencies in capturing one of the men suspected in the act of terrorism. "I say this because we are on our way to a very troubled region ... but it reminds us that [no] region of the world is ... safe from these terrible acts," the secretary observed, adding, "If nothing else, it reminds us that all 7 billion of us are global citizens and many of us are confronted by the same kinds of threats and insecurities." Among the region's most long-term threats is Iran, Hagel said. "The Iranians must be prevented from developing the capacity to build a nuclear weapon and deliver it," he added. "The United States' policy has been very clear on this and everyone knows it." Iran is also a state sponsor of terrorism, the secretary said, "[and] that in itself is a threat not just to the region but to our interests in the region and around the world. When you further expand that threat to the possibility of acquiring nuclear weapons," he added, the dimensions of the threat become pretty clear. Hagel said he thinks Israel and the United States "see the threat of Iran exactly the same, as do many other countries," not just those in the Middle East, although the United States seeks more time for diplomacy and sanctions to work to stop Iran from pursuing nuclear capabilities. "If you stop just for a moment and look at the U.N. sanctions, the international sanctions on Iran, I don't know of an international regime of sanctions that have been more effective and more unified and tougher than what's being applied to Iran," the secretary said. The sanctions are hurting Iran significantly, he added, but if they don't work, "... I've said, the president's said, all the leaders of the last couple of administrations have said, that the military option is one option that must remain on the table ... but the military option I think most of us feel should be the last option." In response to a question about whether Israel could decide to strike out alone against Iran's nuclear aspirations, Hagel replied that Israel is a sovereign nation and every sovereign nation has the right to defend itself. "It is clear that Iran presents a threat in its nuclear program," the secretary said, "and Israel will make the decisions that Israel must make to protect itself and defend itself." Certainly Israel has every right and responsibility to make their assessments, Hagel added, "but we're working very closely and will continue to work very closely with them."

Biographies: Chuck Hagel Related Articles: Hagel's First Middle East Trip to Seal Historic Arms Deal

Ways we can connect regarding the Boston tragedy

Sat Nam, Our love and prayers go out to all those affected by the Boston attack. May the victims, families, and all those suffering from the shock of this sudden violence be healed and soothed.  We offer the words from 'Mera Baid,' a shabad for healing, and the Meditation for Sudden Shock. And here are a few other practices you can do to soothe each other, to pray for each other, and to send healing light during these trying times. Chant the Ra Ma Da Sa (Siri Gaitri Mantra) Healing Meditation  See the Instructional Video from KRI  Reach out to your friends in Boston and let them know you are thinking of them Let those you know who live in the area to Kundalini Yoga Boston to experience the healing power of community and Kundalini Yoga  Join the current Global Sadhana Meditation "Touch Every Heart"with Gurunam Singh and Spirit Voyage featuring the mantra Gurudev Mata Gurudev Pita to experience our global connection as a Kundalini Yoga family. From Gurunam Singh: "Thank you Divine Gurudev Mata for your love. Please shower down your grace on Boston today....All of the families, the children and husbands and wives, the cousins, and bothers and sisters....and shine your light on the USA. Send your healing rains of peace, and please, touch every heart."Read more  If you would like to share your thoughts and ideas on more ways we can connect and support one another please post on the 3HO Facebook Page      Love to all, light to all, peace to all.

Arlington National Cemetery in Washington

03/27/2013 06:33 PM CDT       Thu, Mar 28, 2013 at 4:33 AM

U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and British Gen. Sir David Richards, chief of the U.K.'s defense staff, talk at the grave site of British Army Field Marshal Sir John Greer Dill in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., March 27, 2013.U.S. and U.K. military leaders gathered for a conference.

Press Communique on acceptance of resignations

21-March-2013 12:3 IST

The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of the following members of the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect : 1. Shri M.K. Alagiri
Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers 

2. Shri S.S. Palanimanickam
Minister of State for Finance 

3. Shri S. Gandhiselvan
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare 

4. Dr. S. Jagathrakshakan
Minister of State for Commerce & Industry 

5. Shri D. Nepoleon
Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment 
Further, as advised by the Prime Minister of India, the President has directed that Shri Srikant Jena shall be given Independent Charge of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers as Minister of State, in addition to Independent Charge of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation as Minister of State.***SC/LM

Fourth Arvind Memorial Seminar continue

Only 10% dalits have benefitted from the Reservation
*Dalit emancipation is not possible without a revolution 
*Revolution is not possible without the widest participation of Dalits

Chandigarh, 14 March. Known writer and intellectual Dr. Anand Teltumbde said here today that all experiments dalit emancipation by Dr. Ambedkar ended in a 'grand failure' and for elimination of caste, we have go beyond their movements.
While speaking at Fourth Arvind Memorial Seminar here in Bhakna Bhavan, a national level five-day seminar on the topic of 'Caste Question and Marxism', Dr. Teltumbde said that only 10% of the dalits have benefitted so far from the policy of Reservation. The reason for this is that Dr. Ambedkar did not correctly constituted the policy of reservation. He said that dalit emancipation is not possible without revolution and revolution is not possible without the widest participation of Dalits. 
Dr. Teltumbde said that communists of India applied Marxism in a dogmatic way and so they neither understood the caste problem correctly nor they were able to draw a correct strategy for struggle against it. While agreeing with many points in the keynote paper presented in the seminar, he said that by rejecting Ambedkar, Phule or Periyar the social revolution can't move ahead.
He said that Ambedkar did not make a thorough study of Marxism, but he had a deep attraction for it. We have to think to bring together Marx and Ambedkarite movements. For this it is important that Communists should stand by dalits in every instance of atrocities over dalits.
Editor of 'Ahwan' magazine Abhinav presented a detailed criticism of the philosophical source of Ambedkar, an American philosopher John Devy and said that he did not provide any complete way-out for the emancipation of dalits. He did not go beyond getting some concessions from state in the form of 'Affirmative action' and welfare steps. The same thing we find in the ideology of Ambedkar. Expressing disagreement with many points raised by Dr. Teltumbde, Abhinav said that the reasons for the failure of all experiments of Dr. Ambedkar have to looked for in his philosophical outlook. While brushing aside the theory of social revolution he continued only to experiment and even there he lacked rationality.
Abhinav said that while acknowledging the contribution of Dr. Ambedkar in bringing to forefront the dalit identity and creating consciousness among them, but along with this we have to present the criticism of political-economical-philosophical views of Dr. Ambedkar. 
Mr. Lalto, professor at IIT Hyderabad and a known writer said that Marxism is not a static philosophy, but it gets enriched with many new ideas continuously. Marxists should also use other methods of epistemology and should not rely solely upon a single method. Prof. Sewa Singh said that Ambedkar’s contribution should be evaluated in the light of a correct historical perspective. Alongwith this, Ambedkar’s views about muslims should also be reviewed.
Sukhwinder, editor of Punjabi magazine ‘Pratibadh’ sharply criticized the comments of Dr. Teltumbde on the communists of India and said that communists of India did not even had the program for Indian revolution, so in such circumstances it should not be expected a correct line on caste question from them. But in every part of the country communists fought in front ranks for the rights of oppressed and exploited and gave uncountable sacrifices.
Discussion is still in progress on the two other papers presented in seminar. From ‘Sanhati’, Asit Das presented his write up on “Caste question and Marxism” and a paper by Arjun Prasad Singh from PDFI, Delhi was read out by Tapish Mandola because of his inability to attend the seminar.
Senior leader of Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Ninu Chapagai, Kashmir Singh from Sirsa, Jitendra Bharti from Dehradun, Rohit Rajora & Surya Kumar Yadav from Lucknow, Dr. Amrit from Ludhiana, Rajesh Kumar from Varanasi also spoke on the keynote paper of the seminar.
The session was presided over by president of Nepal Rashtrya Dalit Mukti Morcha Tilak Parihar, convener of Gyan Prasar Smaj Master Harish and Dr. Amritpal. Stage was conducted by Satyam.
— Meenakshy (Managing Trustee), Anand Singh (Secretary)
Arvind Memorial Trust
For more information, please contact: 
Katyayani – 09936650658, Satyam – 9910462009, Namita (Chandigarh) –  9780724125

Dastardly act of blocking Tamil civilians

Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 9:54 AM

A Press Release from Networking for Rights forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

SRI LANKA: Police and Military block family members of disappeared heading to UN in Colombo -- UN should act

Networking for Rights
Press Release/05 March 2013

NfR, a network of Sri Lankan journalists and human rights defenders, expresses its strongest indignation to the Government of Sri Lanka for its dastardly act of blocking Tamil civilians travelling to Colombo to demand justice for the disappeared. Police has used their trucks to block the buses they were travelling with. 

on 5th March 2013 the family members, who were travelling to Colombo to participate in a protest campaign and to hand over a petition to UN regarding their disappeared relatives, were blocked in Vavuniya by a joint operation of the police and the military. This is a clear attempt to create a fear-psychosis among the Tamil people demanding accountability and justice for the disappeared. 

The pretext given for the blockade was that the police is not in a position to guarantee the safety of the travellers in the night. This is in complete contrast to the picture the GOSL is otherwise painting saying that normalcy has returned, including the freedom to travel at any time anywhere in the country. 

NfR views this open intimidation of family members of the disappeared and blatant violation of people's basic right to peaceful protest as an escalation of the militarization in the North and the suppression of Tamil people in Sri Lanka. 

Reports reaching NfR from Colombo indicate that nearly about 800 people had been stranded as a result of this unlawful police action. When the political party leaders from the South intervened, an assurance was given that those people could start their journey on the next morning (6 March 2013). The family members of the disappeared were surrounded by the police and they were not allowed to leave the buses. It was only after 3 hours and intense negotiations that the people were allowed to move to places where they could have a rest in the night. 

In the meanwhile, the police has threatened the bus drivers for carrying the family members of the disappeared to Colombo and the drivers have reported the threats to the organizers. They were told that if they travel to Colombo with the family members that they will have to face problems when they come back to the Vanni. After the threats 8 out of 10 buses have gone back leaving the people behind. Consequently, there were only two buses for 600 people to travel to the UN office in Colombo. This also means that the Government of Sri Lanka has effectively blocked hundreds of family members of the disappeared to reach Colombo and to hand their petition to the United Nations. 

This inhumane and autocratic act of the Government of Sri Lanka, at a time when the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva is scheduled to discuss the human rights situation in the country and the G0SL is promising to uphold rule of law and human rights as a response to the HRC deliberations, shows that all promises of the G0SL are mere words. 

NfR calls on members of the United Nations Human Rights Council to consider this openly undemocratic behaviour of the G0SL as a direct challenge to the world's human rights body they represent and to act accordingly. 

NfR calls on the UN Human Rights High Commissioner to take up this issue - of blocking the family members of the disappeared coming to the UN office in Sri Lanka expecting some kind of redress - with all relevant authorities, including the representatives of the G0SL. 

NfR urges the international human rights community to show their solidarity with these families of the disappeared and to make a representation to the Government of Sri Lanka in the strongest possible terms. 

Steering Committee, NfR Sri Lanka@http://www.nfrsrilanka.org/ 
Kshama Ranawana, Human rights defender and Journalist (Canada/Sri Lanka) 
Lionel Bopage, Peace activist and Writer (Australia/Sri Lanka), 
Nadarasa Sarawanan, Peace activist and Journalist (Norway/Sri Lanka), 
Nadarajah Kuruparan, Journalist and Editor, GTN (UK/Sri Lanka) 
Padmi Liyanage, Peace activist and Human rights defender (Germany/Sri Lanka), 
Raveendran Pradeepan, Film Director (France/Sri Lanka), 
Rudhramoorthy Cheran, Poet, Play Writer, Journalist and editor (Canada/Sri Lanka), 
Saman Wagaarachchi, Journalist and Editor (USA/Sri Lanka), 
Sunanda Deshapriya, Human rights defender, Journalist and Editor (Switzerland/Sri Lanka) 

C/O, 19447, Victory Blvd,#2, Reseda,CA 91335, USA 
NfR.SriLanka@gmail.com, http://nfrsrilanka.blogspot.com/ 

# # # 

About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

Read this News online

A new life to a three years old girl child

Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 11:59 AM 
Miracle by Dr William Bhatti's team at the CMC
Ludhiana, 6th March, 2013:(Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria): A 3 year old girl child, daughter of a labourer was suffering, with continuous pain in the lower abdomen and urinary infection for past threemonths. She was referred to the Department of Paediatric Surgery CMC and Hospital Ludhiana for further management. Investigations revealed that there was a 2.5 cms. long and 1.5 cms. thick,stone which was completely  obstructing the flow of urine from left kidney to urinary bladder and causing urinary infection and abdominal pain. Since there was no free flow of urine from kidney, there wasswelling and deterioration of kidney function with continuous abdominal pain.

Dr William Bhatti Professor and Head, Department of Paediatric Surgery and his teamdoctors, Dr N Bedi, Dr A Gupta and Dr S Dhuria, successfully performed laparoscopic removal of stone from the ureter. Theparents are happy as their daughter does not have a big operative scar on her abdomen and she is pain free because of the laparoscopic surgery. This type of operation, where the impacted stone at lower ureterovesical junction in a 3 year old child,was removed by laparoscopic operationis the first to be performed in India. So far this type of surgery has been done by open procedures which results in long scar marks and prolongedhospital stay. In laparoscopic surgery,the child will have 2-3 tiny scars of 5mm on their abdomen, with  less pain and shorter hospital stay as compared to open surgeries.

Dr William Bhatti further mentioned that presence of stones in urinary system is a common problem in children and it can be managed safely with laparoscopic operations. Parents should not ignore if their child complains of continuous abdominal pain and paediatric surgeons should be consulted immediately to prevent further complications.

CPM:warm response from hundreds of people

Northern Jatha Flagged Off from Jallianwala Bagh

The third of the CPI(M)'s Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha – the Northern Jatha – began its journey from historic city Amritsar today. Earlier, Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M) paid tributes to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh before embarking on the Jatha.

The Jatha team was received at Jallianwala Bagh with warmth from hundreds of people assembled there from across the state. Led by Vijay Mishra, the coordinator for the Jatha in Punjab and member of the State secretariat of the CPI (M) Punjab, Brinda Karat laid a wreath at the Jallianwala Bagh memorial.
Davinder Singh Josh, son of Sohan Singh Josh, one of the founders of communist movement in Punjab, handed over the Jatha flag to Brinda Karat.
Addressing the media afterwards, Ms Karat said that the people of India are in search of a better alternative, which is completely different from the Congress and BJP who are representing corporate interests rather those of people. She said that the message of these Jathas is to invite the public to consider the alternatives that are being presented by CPI(M).
Replying to a question on “with whom the CPI(M) will fight the next elections”, she said that the party will be representing the people’s interests and will fight the elections for safeguarding their interests. She dismissed Modi’s claim that BJP is the only alternative to Congress. She termed both the Congress and BJP as two different sides of the same coin and when they are power in Delhi, they will toe the neo-liberal policies in the interest of foreign and national monopoly capitalist.
She expressed anguish about the condition of people living in border districts. She said that their sources of livelihood and opportunities are continuously under threat from the border disputes. She reminded the gathering about the history of Amritsar which was a centre for cross border trade till the border disputes set in and ousted lakhs of people.
Brinda Karat called up on the public to participate in the party’s Sangharsh Sandesh Jatha in big numbers and make success the March 19th public meeting that is going to be held in Delhi marking the culmination of the four nationwide Jathas.
Members of the Central Committee of the party, Hannan Mollah, Inderjeet Singh, Charan Singh Vridhi and Rajender Sharma, participated in this flag handing over ceremony. Memoona Mollah, Vijay Mishra and other leaders too were present.

1st Brigade Combat Team

After completing a parachute jump 

U.S. Soldiers with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division move to a rally point after completing a parachute jump during Joint Operational Access Exercise (JOAX) 13-02 Feb. 25, 2013, at a drop zone near Fort Bragg, N.C. A JOAX is designed to enhance cohesiveness between U.S. Army, Air Force and allied personnel, allowing the services an opportunity to properly execute large-scale heavy equipment and troop movement. (DoD photo by Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod, U.S. Army/Released) 02/25/2013 - 
VIRIN: 130225-A-ZZ999-022

SRI LANKA: The killing of children

Mon, Mar 4, 2013 at 7:56 AM

.....And Sri Lanka's bloody legacies

An article from The Sunday Times forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission

The mass grave in Matale uncovered late last year and the ongoing demands for independent and credible investigations into the fate of disappeared persons during the last days of the fighting between government forces and the LTTE in 2009 have at their core, the common element of impunity and a common cry for justice. 
Pitiful legacies of future generations
So when pictures circulate of the late LTTE leader's twelve year old son looking apprehensively at his captors, being given a snack inside what appears to be an army bunker with the concluding photograph being of his being shot, (whether the pictures are doctored or not), the sheer inhumanity of what Sri Lanka has been reduced to, should surely grip us all?
These pictures should be ranked alongside the grisly photographs of child monks butchered at Arawantalawa by the LTTE in 1987 and the thousands of children killed by state and non state actors during the Southern insurrection and the Northern war. These are the pitiful legacies of our future generations.   

Killings are permitted in times of emergency
Certainly Sri Lanka's legal framework has permitted and indeed, actively encouraged crimes such as extra judicial executions and enforced disappearances. In view of state complicity in acts of terror, it was not surprising that when national and international pressure intensified in the 1990's in regard to taking action in law against perpetrators of abuses during the second JVP insurrection, good investigations and prosecutions were rare and, if at all only against junior officers. 

The rationale was that even if grave crimes were committed, these were in situations of extraordinary stress for the average soldier/police officer and therefore should not be measured against a high standard of accountability. Correspondingly, the lack of political will in pursuing such cases to a logical conclusion was clearly seen, whether they concerned enforced disappearances in the South or in the North and East. 

Even in instances where political will was manifested at the highest levels, the obduracy of the military establishment prevented it being translated into concrete action. A good example of this was in January 1996 when then President Kumaratunge directed the Army Commander to place 200 service personnel on compulsory leave, following their repeated involvement in gross human rights abuses as evidenced in the Disappearances Commissions Reports. However, the order was not implemented. 

Total failure of the legal system
Generally state apathy predominates from investigations to prosecutions of enforced disappearances and extra judicial killings. Under the Rajapaksa Government, this apathy has been transformed into deliberate state policy. Where a non summary is required, the police generally prosecute with state counsel appearing only in rare cases judged to be of special significance. The non-summary inquiry proceeds at a lackadaisical pace, taking up to several months if not more and the vital task of gathering evidence and conducting good investigations is left entirely in the hands of the police with no stringent supervision either by the magistrate or by the officers of the Attorney General.  

Interminable delays in filing indictments, delays in the non-summary inquiry and further delays in the substantive trial proceedings are common factors. It is common for example for the lapse of several years to pass before the first step of filing indictment is taken and for delays to be present thereafter in the trial process. This pattern is also commonly seen in the cases of torture of ordinary persons in the South; in cases filed under the Convention Against Torture and other Inhuman and Degrading Punishment Act No 22 of 1994 (hereafter Anti-Torture Act of 1994, indictments have been pending for almost two years in the relevant High Court without being served on the accused. The defence advanced is that the delay is due to the backlog of cases in the Court. Lawyers appearing for the victims complain of a lack of interest on the part of the state in conducting prosecutions and point to non-appearances in court on the days that the trial is due to be conducted and frequent applications for postponements as manifesting this lack of interest

Continuation of mass graves from the nineteen eighties
The Matale mass grave consisted of skeletal remains of more than 150 people discovered by chance by workers building a facility for a hospital. Initial forensic tests suggested that this was the scene of a crime due to the injuries found on the remains. Commonsense led many to the inevitable conclusion that this was a burial site for persons extrajudicially executed and disappeared by the Government of the United National Party during the second JVP insurrection (1987-1991). 

It is striking that even after two decades following the insurrection, the question of mass graves in regard to that period continue to be uncovered.  Requests have been made for proper forensic examination and documentation of these remains but these calls will of course, not be heeded to. In the case of disappearances of Tamil civilians during 2009, the very fact of this is denied at point blank range by the current Government.    

Common cry for justice
It does not matter that the victims of the Matale mass grave were Sinhalese or that those who disappeared in 2009 were Tamil. They both share a common fate. Their cries are intertwined with the cries of thousands of others who have shared this same fate throughout past decades, at the hands of all governments. It is this commonality that needs to be centered within the accountability debate concerning Sri Lanka, both within these shores and beyond.  The brutalities committed by each Government in Sri Lanka has merely been an extension of the brutalities committed by previous Governments but with even less humanity. 

And indeed, these barbarities are also a reflection of what non-state actors, particularly the JVP and the LTTE did themselves, to those who offended them or were considered as traitors. No single party, state actor or non-state actor, President or Opposition Leader has a monopoly on responsibility for innocent blood spilled in Sri Lanka. 
It is only when we free ourselves from these bloody political legacies that the killing of children in Sri Lanka will stop.     
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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

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