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/ 

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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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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.     
# # #

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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‘Abhinandan Granth’ on renowned journalist Anand

Released by the Punjabi Sahit Akademi

Dr Rajnish Bahadur 

LUDHIANA,March 4,2013:(Rector Kathuria):An ‘Abhinandan Granth’ on renowned literateur, journalist, public figure and a thinker, S. Jagjit Singh Anand was released by the Punjabi Sahit Akademi(PSA), Ludhiana today. The first copy of the treatise was presented by the PSA President Gurbhajan Singh Gill and others including the NRI from America S. Roop Singh Roopa, PSA Senior Vice President, Dr Anup Singh Batala, Secretary Dr Gulzar Singh Pandher, Surinder Kailley, Members Er Janmeja Johl, Sukhdev Singh Premi and Manjinder Singh Dhanoa. S. Anand could not reach the PSA function to receive the publication, due to his indisposition. 
Dr Rajnish Bahadur Singh, the editor of the treatise, Mrs Urmila Anand wife of S. Anand, The Trustee of Nawan Zamana paper Jass Mand and S. Sukeerat Anand, son of S. Anand were also present. 

The function was presided over by Dr S.S.Johl, Chancellor of the Central University of Punjab, while the Mayor of City of Ludhiana, S. H.S. Gohlwarhia, was the Guest of Honour. S. Roop Singh Roopa, Gurbhajan Gill and Gulzar Pandher were prominent among others who were present on the occasion. 
‘The factual information comprised in the treatise throws light on the multifarious aspects of the personality of S. Anand’, said Gurbhajan Gill, adding that the future generations would derive inspiration from the life and works of S. Anand. He declared that an Award in the name of S. Jagjit Singh Anand will be given every year by the PSA for which S. Roop Singh Roopa has provided sponsorship.Mr.Gohlwarhia and Dr Johl described S. Anand as a Yugpursh who always stood boldly for the righteous cause. Dr Sukhdev Singh Sirsa highlighted the nation-wide stature of S. Anand saying that he impressed people with his straightforwardness and bold voice even in the difficult times. 
S. Rajneesh Bahadur Singh said that he felt honoured in writing the Treatise that he said provided him opportunity to know the great personality, S. Jagjit Singh Anand. (photos by Rector Kathuria)

The 8th National Stroke Conference Concluded

Delegates also attended from the SAARC countries 

                                                                                                                               Photos by Rector Kathuria

Ludhiana, 3rd March, 2013: (Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria) The 8th National Conference of Indian Stroke Association organised by the department of Neurology, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana concluded today. There were 300 delegates who attended the conference from all over India including 18 International faculty members. Delegates also attended from the SAARC countries like Bangladesh. Yesterday there was a banquet for the delegates at the The Grand Pearl Resort. Mr RandhirKanwal the famous Ghazal singer entertained the guests. The medical students also displayed their artistic talent with a Bhangra dance.

Dr Jeyaraj D Pandian, Professor and Head of Neurology at CMC Ludhiana, the organising Secretary mentioned that all the major advances in stroke diagnosis and treatments were discussed in the conference. On the last day a special session on research in stroke was held and delegates from across the world discussed about the on-going important stroke trials and projects. A Skills workshop on the use of Botulinum toxin injection in treating stiffness of arms and legs following stroke was also held on the last day.
Dr Pandian said that for the first time a separate stroke rehabilitation skills workshop was held as a parallel meeting in CMC auditorium as part of the National stroke conference. More than 150 delegates attended this workshop which was organised by Dr Santosh Mathangi. One of the main highlights of the conference was the Teaching course on stroke which was held on Day 1 for MBBS students as a separate event at CMC. Medical students from three colleges in Punjab participated in this course.Dr Pandian stated that overall the conference had a major impact on the local doctors, neurologists, neurosurgeons, undergraduate medical students, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and allied health trainees from across the country. This would improve the care and treatment of stroke patients.

8th National Stroke Conference

Stroke is the second commonest cause of death

Inaugurated by Health and Family Welfare Minister of Punjab Madan Mohan Mittal

Formal inauguration by Shama Raushan by Health Minister M M Mittal      (Photo: Rector Kathuria)

Dr A.G. Thomas (Photo: Rector Kathuria)

Ludhiana, 1st March, 2013(Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria):The department of Neurology at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana is organising the 8th National Stroke Conference of Indian Stroke Association from March 1st to 3rd in Hotel Park Plaza. The honourable Health and Family Welfare Minister of Government of Punjab Shri.Madan Mohan Mittal was the Chief Guest for the Inauguration of the conference. In his inaugural address the Health Minister stated that stroke is the second commonest cause of death and fourth leading cause of disability worldwide.In India 1.44 to 1.64 million cases of new acute strokes occur every year and 12% of strokes occur in the population aged below 40 years.  In India 40-50% of stroke patients are left with permanent disability. From the on-going Indian Council of Medical Research funded stroke survey conducted by CMC, in Ludhiana city the incidence rate i.e. number of new cases every year is 162 per 1,00,000 population. There is an enormous need to improve the stroke care in our country and in Punjab. ShriMadan Mohan Mittal also released the Stroke Solidarity String which is an Indigo colored string as a symbol of stroke support and awareness across the world.

Dr Abraham G Thomas, Director of CMC Ludhiana appreciated the efforts of the department of Neurology in bringing the conference to the city of Ludhiana. He also mentioned that Ludhiana city and Punjab has a very high number of stroke patients. CMC has a comprehensive stroke program to cater to the needs of the patients.
Dr Jeyaraj D Pandian the Organizing Secretary mentioned that today experts from India and overseas talked about how to diagnose and treat stroke patients as quick as possible in the ABC of stroke session. In the noon stroke experts discussed about acute stroke treatment with emphasis on thrombolysis.

Dr MR Sivakumar, President of Indian Stroke Association (ISA) mentioned about the various activities of ISA in improving the stroke care and awareness in the country. Dr Natan Bornstein (Vice-President, World Stroke Organisation), Dr Richard Lindley (President, Stroke Society of Australasia) and Dr Craig Anderson (President Elect, Asia Pacific Stroke Organisation) stated the importance of improving care of stroke patients in low and middle income countries like India. 

Dr Manoj K Sobti, member Punjab Medical Council and President, Indian Medical Association, Punjab explained the role of Punjab Medical Council in improving continuing medical education the State. Dr Yashpal Singh gave the vote of thanks. 
The conference will continue till Sunday March 3rd.

World Stroke Campaign

Annual convocation of CMC

The Gift of life 21 years later

Therapist uses art to help troops heal

SRI LANKA: Three years after his abduction,

Pattani Razeek's family still await answers

Still no justice for Sri Lankan activist's family

A report by AHRC

ucanews.com reporter, Colombo
Sri Lanka
2013-02-26 13:42:15 
Pattani Razeek went missing in 2010 near a mosque in Polonuwara. His family received several calls from his mobile phone, demanding money in exchange for his release. Then the calls stopped.

For his son Razeek Rizkkhan Mohamed, the ensuing years have been a tedious process of waiting and suffering.

It was quickly established that Pattani, a rights activist and civil organizer, was abducted and later murdered. Police in Valachchenai in Eastern Province discovered his body and exhumed it in July 2011. But the investigation has made little progress since.

"After years of waiting we still have not obtained justice for my father," Mohamad said.

He added that on February 11 this year – the anniversary of his father's disappearance – the court hearing a case against a suspect allegedly involved was adjourned.

"The key suspect has been released on bail. We have lost all hope of justice," he said.

The family, as well as former colleagues and fellow activists, have complained of long delays in the courts, police inaction in the investigation and the release of key suspects in the case, including Shahadbeen Nowshaad, who police had initially linked to Razeek through the ransom phone calls to the family.

Mala Liyanage, executive director of the Law and Society Trust, said legal and rights activists could no longer tolerate the mockery of justice committed by Sri Lankan authorities.

"We are going to raise the matter with the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission and with the special envoy of the state president for the already neglected justice for this human rights defender," Liyanage said.

Just before Razeek's body was discovered, a rights group, the Sri Lankan Civil Society Activists, issued a statement signed by activists, bishops, priests and other religious leaders, calling on the government to launch a full and transparent investigation into Razeek's disappearance.

At the time of his disappearance, Razeek was a much-loved and widely known rights advocate.  He had served as the managing trustee of the Community Trust Fund as well as an executive committee member of the rights group Forum-Asia.

"He worked tirelessly at the time of the last tsunami debacle (in 2004), assisting the victims," said Udaya Kalupathirana, a coordinator with the Human Rights Defenders Program.

"Even after three years of neglect, it is high time to carry out an impartial credible investigation and prosecute the perpetrators of this crime," he added.

Ruki Fernando, a rights activist and friend of the Razeek family, said that police have not even issued a death certificate for Razeek in the 18 months since his remains were discovered.

Even the eight-member commission of inquiry appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa following the end of the civil war concluded in its report that police had failed in their handling of the case.

Fernando added that other rights activists continue to live in fear of a similar fate.

"There has been no effort to address threats and intimidation against local community leaders trying to campaign for justice," he said.

Birth Anniversary

Tributes to the former Prime Minister, Shri Morarji Desai

The Speaker, Lok Sabha, Smt. Meira Kumar, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Smt. Sushma Swaraj, the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Namo Narain Meena, the Chairman, BJP Parliamentary Party, Shri L.K. Advani and other dignitaries paid tributes to the former Prime Minister, Shri Morarji Desai, on his Birth Anniversary, in New Delhi on February 28, 2013.  (PIB)           28-February-2013