Biggest earthquake in 20 years in Northeast

Monday, September 19, 2011

Shillong, Sept 19: The northeastern region on Sunday experienced the biggest earthquake in 20 years. The earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter Scale which hit the east and Northeast region, was the biggest in 20 years, officials said.

Records of Central Seismological Observatory showed increasing seismic activity in the region.
A total of 34 quakes of light and moderate intensity were felt in the region in 2009. The area witnessed 26 earthquakes each in 2008 and 2007, while it was 23 in 2006, the data showed.

On February 4 this year, a quake of 6.4 magnitude with its epicenter in the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur shook the region. An earthquake of similar intensity (6.8) had rocked the northeast on August 6, 1988.

On October 11, 2000 a quake of 6.0 intensity was felt in the region, while on September 21, 2009, another measuring 6.2 had claimed six lives in neighboring Bhutan, where it was epicenter.

The north eastern region had experienced some of the world's worst quakes like the Shillong quake and the Assam quake of 1950 both measuring around 8.5.

An earthquake in 1897 in Shillong plateau had left 1,542 people dead.

Source: One India.
Link: http://news.oneindia.in/2011/09/19/biggest-earthquake-in-20-years-in-northeast.html.

Malaysia Scraps Controversial Internal Security Act

By George Fu
September 17, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR—Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has announced the repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960 and other emergency proclamations, in a move to gear the country towards greater civil liberties and democracy.

Addressing his special Malaysian Day message on prime time television on Thursday Sept. 15, Najib said new legislation will replace the ISA. The new laws, formulated to maintain public order and prevent subversive activities and organized terrorism, will have comparatively shorter detention periods and will rule that further detention can only be made with a court order.

The Internal Security Act (ISA) was passed in 1960 by the Malaysian government then fighting to suppress a communist rebellion. Under the preventative detention law, police can detain suspects without trial or criminal charges by the order of the home minister.

Under the act any person suspected of posing a threat to the security of the country can be detained for a period of 60 days to two years and is extendable thereafter for further periods not exceeding two years at a time. ISA has often been criticized by opposition parties and human rights groups as an abusive method to silence political critics and opponents of the government.

The prime minister also announced that the government would repeal the Banishment Act 1959 and review other laws to ensure that they meet current requirements, adding that other laws that ‘are no longer relevant’ or justifiable will be repealed.

Najib’s announcement telecast live across the country—marking the 48th anniversary of the foundation of the federation of Malaysia—was welcomed by many Malaysians to be a historic transformation towards greater freedom and rights.

Among the host of laws to be reviewed, the country’s current Restricted Residence Act 1933 and the law against assembly in public places will be evaluated to allow for free and peaceful assembly, as observed in most democratic countries.

In addition, the government will also review the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 where annual renewals of publications would be cleared, and replaced with issuance of license until it is revoked.

“I would like to stress in no uncertain term that Malaysia which we dream of and one that we are currently building, is Malaysia which practices functional and inclusive democracy, where peace and public order are safeguarded in line with the supremacy of the constitution, the rule of law and respect for basic human rights and individual rights,” said Najib at the end of his speech.

Source: The Epoch Times.
Link: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/malaysia-scraps-controversial-internal-security-act-61726.html.

Thousands of Iraqis protest against foreign intervention

BAGHDAD (BNO NEWS) -- Thousands of supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gathered in the center of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Friday to protest against foreign intervention in the country, the Aswat al-Iraq news agency reported on Saturday.

Thousands of citizens gathered in central Tahrir square and Sadr City, a suburb district of Baghdad, after Friday prayers concluded to demand an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq. They also demanded better social conditions and services as well as the redistribution of a percentage of oil revenues among people.

In Tahrir Square, protesters denounced the intervention of neighboring countries, including Iran and Kuwait, in Iraqi internal affairs. According to Aswat al-Iraq's correspondent, citizens and civil activists denounced Iranian and Kuwaiti violations against Iraqi sovereignty and the Iranian shelling of Kurdistan borders and targeting civilians in the region.

The protesters also denounced the U.S. troops. Less than 50,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, more than eight years since the U.S.-led war began on March 20, 2003. According to a security agreement between Baghdad and Washington, all U.S. forces will be withdrawn by the end of 2011.

Last Friday, thousands of Iraqi citizens also took part in anti-government demonstrations across the country. The demands of the demonstrators varied from one group to another, but the majority demanded better services, early elections and an end to corruption.

In the past weeks, civil activists have been using social networks to organize the protests against the government, corruption, and the lack of services. Protesters last week also denounced the assassination of radio journalist Hadi al-Mehdi.

Saturday, September 17th, 2011

Source: WireUpdate.
Link: http://wireupdate.com/news/thousands-of-iraqis-protest-against-foreign-intervention.html.

Europe Confronts Its Borders

By Simba Shani Kamaria Russeau

TUNIS, Sep 16 2011 (IPS) - The influx of Tunisian migrants into Europe following the country’s ‘Jasmine Revolt’ has sparked a debate over the application of the passport-free Schengen Agreement.

Under a new draft European Union Commission proposal, which is due to be presented on Sep. 16, European Union (EU) member states seeking to revise the Schengen Agreement’s border free travel beyond five days must first get approval from Brussels.

If approved, the new law would give the European Commission and the European parliament a more central role in deciding how the Schengen regime operates.

The new proposal is in response to France’s decision to push back some 1,700 Tunisian migrants into Italy and tighten its borders in April. On Jul. 5 Denmark followed suit by establishing border and customs checks along its border with Sweden and Germany.

“At the onset, France closed its border and only allowed those migrants that could survive financially. Their argument was that Italy was issuing illegal temporary residence permits to Tunisians and other third country nationals,” Daniel F. Rivera, EU expert at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid told IPS.

“It’s quite paradoxical because French President Nicholas Sarkozy was one of the first to hail the Tunisians and Libyans for their revolution but has done very little to deal with the influx of refugees and economic migrants,” adds Rivera.

“Instead France has adopted a very protectionist stance by advocating the reform of the Schengen Agreement along with Italy which would allow member states to close their borders indefinitely without permission when ‘exceptional measures’ arise.”
Scarce jobs and slow social reforms have resulted in the exodus of more than 30,000 Tunisian economic migrants onto the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa, a burden other EU member states have declined to share.

“I don’t understand why many Tunisians decided to leave the country illegally after the revolution. Many were misled by the assumption that if they travel to a developed country they’ll get rich, create a dream life and then return home,” 22-year-old Eymen Gamha told IPS.

“This might have worked in the 60’s or 70’s but now France and Italy are doing everything possible to stop illegal migrants and for the majority of those Tunisians that reach Europe, the dream is becoming a nightmare.”

Established on Jun. 14, 1985, and taking effect in 1995, the Schengen Agreement abolished internal border checks amongst the 25 signatory states, and created a single external border with common rules on visas and law enforcement.

According to article 2.2 of the agreement, member states are allotted a short period of time to unilaterally reinstate border checks in case of threats to national security before then asking the European Commission the executive arm of the EU, to prolong it.

Although most EU member states agree on allowing some 400 million Europeans to travel passport-free within the EU, divisions continue over developing common migrant, refugee and asylum policies at a time when domestic politics for many countries in the EU is being shaped by anti-immigrant agendas.

“With elections in Denmark now and in France next year, some EU leaders are exploiting the situation to boost poll ratings under the guise of protecting national security, EU values and reducing economic burdens,” says Rivera.

“However, closing borders and ignoring the root causes of mass migration won’t solve the problem and if other countries follow suit then the Schengen Agreement, which was seen as one of the EU’s major achievements, will be in real danger of disappearing.”

Sfax, a city located some 270 kilometers southeast of Tunisian capital Tunis, that was once the economic capital of Tunisia and the country’s first major fishing port, is now becoming a major source of illegal migration into Europe.

“Fishermen in Sfax are being forced to guard their boats out of fear that they will be stolen and used to smuggle Tunisians across the Mediterranean,” 20-year-old Sami told IPS.

“Despite hearing about those that have been detained, returned or even drowned, I still consider paying the 3,000 dollars to try and reach France where I have relatives and where the economy is healthier. Just like with the Tunisian uprising, we will risk everything to better our livelihoods.”

Many Tunisians complain that those who ran off in search of greener pastures immediately after street protests brought down long-time dictator Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, have abandoned their revolution while the country struggles to rebuild.

“I kind of understand their decision to go abroad but the reality is that one-third of the migrants that fled to Europe have returned and those that made it through are stuck in holding centers,” 19-year-old Ahmed Nijin told IPS.

“Personally I don’t believe that they should be granted the right to vote because they fled the country at time when we should be feeling a sense of pride in our country, and so they shouldn’t have the right to decide the fate of Tunisia.”

“As Tunisians it’s important that we solve our problems together,” adds Gamha. “Running away whenever the country is faced with hardships means that we’ll never be able to capitalize on what we accomplished, which is an opportunity to build a stable democratic and economic system like that of Europe.”

Source: Inter-Press Service (IPS).
Link: http://www.ipsnews.net/2011/09/europe-confronts-its-borders/.

Two Israelis arrested with fake US Dollar Currency at South Pattaya Discotheque

16th September 2011

Two Israeli tourists accused of using fake US Dollar Bank Notes at a South Pattaya Discotheque were arrested by Police in the early hours of Friday. The Manager of the Lima Lima Club, located at the Bali Hai Plaza contacted Police to inform them of the two men who had been detained after attempting to purchase drinks totaling 340 Baht with US Dollar currency. The men were also seen to be tipping staff at the discotheque which also aroused suspicion. A cashier identified the money as fake and after Police arrived a total of 6,000 US Dollars in fake 100 US Dollar Notes were found on Mr. Uri Barak aged 24 and Mr. Eli Sofer aged 25. Both men later claimed they had purchased the US Currency in Hoi An City in Vietnam for the equivalent of 20 Baht per 100 Dollar Note and were completely unaware the money was not real. Police understandably did not believe they were unaware the notes were fake and were both charged with fraud. Investigations are continuing at this time.

Source: Pattaya One.
Link: http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/39376/two-israelis-arrested-with-fake-us-dollar-currency-at-south-pattaya-discotheque/.

Moroccan parties form coalitions

Moroccan parties are banding together as they try to garner political influence a few weeks before the early legislative vote.

By Siham Ali for Magharebia in Rabat – 16/09/11

With Moroccan parliamentary elections drawing near, political parties rush to build coalitions. Experts, however, wonder whether the newly formed alliances are based on shared ideology or just an attempt to secure votes.

Five leftist parties last week announced that they would be working together. They are the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), the Party for Progress and Socialism (PPS), the Front of Democratic Forces (FFD), the Socialist Party and the Green Left Party.

According to Mohammed Grine, of the PPS, the left has no option but to unite because it has a role to play in the Morocco of tomorrow which it cannot fulfill if it is fragmented.

The parties issued a statement saying that it is necessary to work together today to form a homogeneous coalition from both intellectual and political points of view. They vowed to join hands to combat corruption and social issues, as well as seek further reforms.

Political analyst Sellami Najah, however, questioned the durability of the alliance, adding that the left has never been able to co-operate effectively, often due to self-interest trumping political values.

It is time to put an end to the alliances that have nothing to do with ideological standpoints and instead are based on vote share calculations which have been a characteristic of every election, he argued.

Two ruling parties, the National Rally of Independents (RNI) and the Popular Movement (MP), have also formed an alliance, reaching out to two opposition parties, the Constitutional Union (UC) and the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM).

RNI chairman and Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar said the aim of the union was to adopt a coordinated approach to help clarify the political situation. He called for creating homogeneous blocs based on shared convictions. Mezouar also emphasized the need to clarify the coalitions before the elections and not after, given that experience shows that post-electoral alliances can result in some tricky compromises.

For their part, the PPS on September 6th issued a statement roundly condemning what they called the ambiguous stance adopted by the RNI and the MP, which it claimed sometimes act like members of the government, and other times like members of a four-party coalition.

In response to this accusation, Communications Minister Khalid Naciri on September 7th said that the government majority was working among its five parties to maintain the government's ethical charter and commitments.

According to campaigners from the ruling parties, the coalition has all but run its course. The ruling bloc consists of Istiqlal party, the USFP and the PPS in addition to the RNI and the MP. Prior to the 2007 elections, the parties signed a pact whereby they would either all be in government or all be in opposition. This time, despite meetings to renew that pledge, nothing has yet been decided.

The general vice-secretary, Lahcen Daoudi, has been clear that the public must not be misled. He says that the coalitions which have been announced are not real alliances, because they would need to present a common manifesto, which has yet to happen.

Among the public, many have expressed skepticism in the absence of real change.

"The current government is made up of several parties who don't share very many common views." student Latifa Benchikhi said. "People would really like to vote for a program or an ideology knowing in advance what the possible and logical alliances would be."

Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2011/09/16/feature-04.

Algeria advances media, political reforms

Reactions from Algerians are mixed about the reforms begun by the government.

By Mouna Sadek for Magharebia in Algiers – 16/09/11

Algeria's Council of Ministers on Monday (September 12th) endorsed several reform measures promised by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika last April.

Under the proposed Information Law, the media sector would be opened up for competition, press offences would be decriminalized, and a regulatory body would strengthen press freedoms. Another bill aims to ensure transparency in political party financing and fight corruption in politics

For many press and opposition figures, however, the measures do not go far enough.

"There's nothing new, or virtually nothing." El Watan newspaper wrote. "We notice that the President of the Republic and his ministers have failed to revolutionize Algerian legislation on political practices, the way that associations work, or media conduct."

Despite its complaints, the newspaper did submit plans for a new television and radio station for approval.

Another newspaper, L'Expression, warned about the new challenges raised by the changes which have taken place over recent months in the Arab world.

"Many people in the Middle East and North Africa," said the newspaper's editorial, "have been rising up since the start of the year, with more democracy and greater personal and public freedom as their goals. Algeria would be wrong to stop short of those demands. It could even strive to be the driving force behind reforms in its region."

For the National Liberation Front (FLN), the new bill shows progress in political practices, the party's communications chief Kassa Aissi told Magharebia. "The issue of registration receipts to those seeking approval is a step forward."

National Democratic Assembly (RND) spokesperson Miloud Chorfi expressed "great satisfaction" with the approval of these "far-reaching" plans which, he said, were "proof of the State's commitment to its promises".

The tone adopted by the other party in the presidential alliance, the Movement for the Society of Peace (MSP), was more measured.

"It's fine to draft bills, but they will do little to help if they are not acted upon," MSP communications officer Mohamed Djemaâ told Magharebia.

The opposition parties, meanwhile, view the reforms with disenchantment.

The longest-standing opposition party, the Front of Socialist Forces (FFS), spoke of its "conviction" that the process of reforms upon which the Algerian government had embarked "will not go the right way".

Hocine Ait Ahmed's party also spoke out against "the persistence of security-centered attitudes and actions in Algeria", and called on its political partners to "refuse to be blackmailed by talk of instability and insecurity in the Maghreb area" and to "reject dubious deals on the economy and energy".

Algerian Human Rights League (LADDH) Chairman Boudjemaâ Ghachir expressed disappointed at what the bill said about the associations. "Once you get under the rather attractive wrapping, the present itself is poison," he told El Watan.

"In fact, there a several constraints and restrictions on the freedom of association tucked away in the new law, the LADDH head said.

But some in the media are enthusiastic about the audio-visual field being opened up to competition.

"It was about time," said Ahmed Bedjaoui, a film consultant at the Ministry of Culture and a former ENTV production director. "For once, Algeria is no longer appearing on the international front pages with news about terrorism. The whole world is seeing this new openness in Algeria in a positive light," he told L'Expression.

"We've been waiting forever for this to happen," Bedjaoui added.

Algerians, too, seem to look favorably upon the idea of opening up the media to the private sector.

"I hope the State will follow through on this," said Mourad Saoudi, a primary school teacher. "Algerian state television is an embarrassment. It's about time that Algerians were able to recognize themselves on the television channels which are supposed to represent them."

Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2011/09/16/feature-03.

Housing riots rock Algiers

A wave of anger swept over the Algerian capital this week as residents clamored for changes in the government's re-housing plans.

By Fidet Mansour for Magharebia in Algiers – 16/09/11

Roads are blocked, sporadic clashes erupt between protestors and police, and buildings are vandalized by rioters. Public disorder roiled Algiers and its suburbs this week as residents vented their anger at what they describe as "social injustice".

The latest episode of riots took place in Ain Benian, west of Algiers. Residents took to the streets on Monday (September 12th) to press for housing that they have been waiting ten years for. More than 200 families live in dire conditions in the shantytown of Oued Koreich.

"The authorities have betrayed us," Amine told Magharebia. "We're the victims of the floods which struck the capital in 2001. At the time, officials reassured us that we wouldn't have to stay there for more than three months. That was ten years ago."

His seven family members had pinned great hopes on the operation to re-house 3,000 families in the capital, which was launched a few days ago. To their surprise, they found out that the authorities had excluded their shantytown from the project.

Not far from Oued Koreich, in Diar El Kaf, tensions heated up at the beginning of the month and again on September 12th. Residents protested the choice of re-housing locations and accused authorities of lying.

"They promised us F4 class accommodation with all mod cons," Saleh complained. "But once we got there, we saw that we'd be getting F3. To make things worse, the site is a long way from the town. Our children will have to travel 3km to school."

The families blocked the road. A delegation from the local council headed out to meet representatives of the families. An uneasy calm took hold in the district, but residents vow to resume their protests if their grievances remain unaddressed.

The Diar Echems district witnessed the most violent clashes. On the eve of the re-housing of 399 families, protesters scuffled with law enforcement officers. Riot police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators, who retaliated by hurling stones and petrol bombs. Rioters also stormed the head offices of Equitablement & Ensemble Pour une Algeria Developpée (EEPAD), Algeria's largest internet provider.

Several people were injured on both sides. The 399 families affected by the re-housing plan said the anger was justified. Residents had hoped to be resettled in Draria instead of Birtouta, Salim, a father and one of the families' representatives, told Magharebia. Authorities refused to meet their demands.

"They told us in no uncertain terms that the decision was 'irreversible' and that we would be re-housed in Birtouta," he said.

To blunt the growing anger, the Wali of Algiers pledged that more than 10,000 homes would be "signed off starting this month and through October, and all the house moves would be finished by the end of this year". Mohamed Kebbir Addou warned that the operation "required patience, understanding and discipline".

"Let those who want to go to their new homes do so, and those who do not want can stay where they are," he said.

For his part, Housing Minister Noureddine Moussa on September 5th asked the people who had not yet been allocated a new home and who were suffering in dilapidated buildings to wait their turn. "It takes a lot of time, materials and human resources to build a home," he said.

Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2011/09/16/feature-02.

New body armor available

Sept. 16, 2011

POMPANO BEACH, Fla., Sept. 16 (UPI) -- New body armor by Point Blank Solutions Inc. is available for U.S. federal and commercial markets after passing government testing requirements.

The FIIIA was rigorously tested based on the National Institute of Justice's standard Level IIIA bullets -- .357 SIG TMJ FN and .44 MAG SJHP -- the FBI's controlled projectile and most prolific threat (9mm, 124gr TMJ RN) and the Drug Enforcement Agency' s MIL-STD-662F fragmentation.

Results consistently indicate the system delivers unparalleled protection even in the most extreme environments, the company said.

Our latest FIIIA ballistic package is the culmination of more than a year spent working with our supply chain partners to develop a lightweight, flexible and high-performing solution that meets the needs of multiple market segments," said Sam White, executive vice president of Business Development at Point Blank Solutions.

"We are especially proud of this latest advancement as we believe, based on independent testing data, that the performance characteristics are unmatched by any ballistic solution in market."

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2011/09/16/New-body-armor-available/UPI-46491316169859/.