Syrian President Bashar al-Assad talking with people inside the country. The Syrian government has accepted a peace plan peddled by former UN General Secretary Kofi Anan., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Clashes in Beirut after army kills anti-Assad group members

10:04am IST
By Oliver Holmes

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Residents of a Beirut suburb fired heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades at each other on Sunday, the latest violence to raise fears that Syria’s turmoil was spilling over the border into its neighbour.

Earlier on Sunday, Lebanese army soldiers shot dead in northern Lebanon two members of a political party in an alliance against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Many Sunni Muslims in Lebanon’s north sympathise with Syria’s Sunni-led uprising against Assad and say the Lebanese army is taking orders from Damascus.

Syrian troops were garrisoned in Lebanon, a tiny country still recovering from its own 15-year civil war, until 2005.

“Nine people were wounded in the Tariq al-Jadede district (in southern Beirut),” a security source told Reuters.

A witness said that two Sunni Muslim groups were fighting each other, but it was not clear how the violence had started.

Earlier on Sunday, Sheih Ahmed Abdul Wahid, a Sunni Muslim cleric, and Muhammed Hussein Miraib, both members of the Lebanon-based March 14 political alliance, were shot in their car as they sped through an army checkpoint without stopping.

Residents of the northern region of Akkar blocked off roads and burned tyres to protest against the deaths. The main coastal highway as well as roads in the capital Beirut were also blocked by enraged residents.

The army released a statement confirming the deaths but not giving any information on who was responsible or what led up to the shootings.

“The leadership of the army expresses deep regret for the death of the two victims … It will immediately form an investigative committee comprised of senior officers and military police under the relevant court,” the statement said.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati tried to quell growing tensions. “The government is determined to continue to shoulder its national responsibilities amid this critical period in Lebanon and the region, and it will take all measures necessary to preserve civil peace,” he said in a statement.

TROOPS PULL OUT

Some troops pulled out of Akkar to prevent tensions from escalating, security source and residents said.

Khaled Daher, a member of parliament from the Future Movement party, which is part of the March 14 alliance, said the two men had been assassinated.

“If shots were fired at the tyres, we would say there was a mistake. But we consider this a direct targeting from the army,” he told Reuters. “Frankly, we do not want to see the army here because it works at the service of the Syrian regime,” he said.

Beirut-based political commentator Rami Khouri said recent violence in the northern port of Tripoli had been linked to events in Syria.

“You have tensions in the area going back years but this has been exacerbated by the situation in Syria … Syria is not the primary factor, but it is related,” he said.

(Additional reporting by Khaled Yacoub Oweis in Amman, Nazih Saddiq in Tripoli and Laila Bassam and Lutfi Abu Aun in Beirut; Writing by Oliver Holmes)

Scene outside a Mississippi prison during a rebellion by inmates. The facility detains immigrant workers., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Miss. prison riot leaves guard dead, 6 hurt
BRANDON, Miss.

(AP) – A prison guard was killed Sunday during a riot that also injured five other correctional officers and hurt at least one inmate at a privately run facility in Mississippi that holds illegal immigrants, authorities said.

Sponsored LinksThe riot began about 2:40 p.m. CDT and involved dozens of inmates before it was brought under control late Sunday night. Adams County Coroner James Lee confirmed that a guard died, but said he could not provide any other details until the correctional officer’s family was notified.

Emilee Beach, a spokeswoman at the Adams County Correctional Center in southwest Mississippi, said the uprising involved “multiple” inmates but she wasn’t sure exactly how many because the investigation was still ongoing.

She said that after the disturbance was brought under control, inmates were being searched and sent back to their cells.

Beach said the prison, owned and operated by Corrections Corp. of America, holds illegal immigrants, most for charges of re-entering the United States after being deported. Beach said the disturbance was brought under control late Sunday.

The five injured guards were taken to a hospital and treated for injuries that weren’t considered life-threatening.

The 2,567-bed prison houses male illegal immigrants for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. State and local law-enforcement officers were called in case they were needed for backup.

CCA spokesman Steve Owen confirmed in an email “there has been one employee death” but he said he could not provide more details immediately. CCA said in a news release earlier Sunday that “the inner compound and portions of housing units are the focus of remaining efforts to quell the disturbance.”

Adams County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Emily Ham said no inmates had escaped the facility.

Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield told the Natchez Democrat that 15 employees were freed at one time during the uprising by opening a fence and protecting the route with guns.

Washington D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives Friday passed the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act  [NDAA] which includes a total of $369 million dollars in spending requests for both on base and civilian infrastructure projects on Guam.

Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo says the measure authorizes just over $101-million dollars in military spending on island, as well as an additional $128 million for the Guam Strike Fuel Cell Maintenance Hangar. It also maintains the President’s budget request for $139.4 million in greater federal assistance for infrastructure improvements on Guam.

The Act does not include the roughly $100 million in World War II reparations sought by Bordallo. Her bill, H.R. 44, the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act, was blocked by the GOP controlled Rules Committee Thursday.

The measure now faces a much higher hurddle in the U.S. Senate.

The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to begin consideration of their version of the defense bill next week. The Committee is Chaired by Senator Carl Levin and the ranking Republican is Senator John McCain. Senator Jim Webb also sits on the Committee.

Those 3 Senators have been critical of the cost of the Guam buildup. They were the architects of the current freeze on buildup funding for Guam. That freeze remains in effect until DoD submits a master plan for the proposed realignment of forces in East Asia and more precises estimates on just how much it will cost.

Once the Senate Armed Services Committee issues its version of the NDAA and the full Senate approves it, the House and Senate versions will be reconciled in a Conference Committee later this year.

Fiscal Year 2013 Military Construction Authorization of Appropriations

READ the release from Congresswoman Bordallo in FULL below:

House Passes National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 18, 2012 – Washington, D.C. –

·         Codifies the role and missions that the National Guard can perform under the State Partnership Program (SPP); Also clarifies the use of National Guard funding to support the SPP and codify that SPP missions must directly support the applicable COCOM commander and be coordinated with the senior Chief of Mission in any particular country;

·         Report on conversion of Overseas Housing Allowance to Basic Allowance for Housing for servicemembers in the U.S. territories.

Guam - The National Weather Service in Tiyan expects the center of the tropical disturbance off our coast to pass south of  Guam later today or tonight.

Senior Forecaster Mike Middleton told PNC News that the system is unlikely to become a numbered Topical Depression  until after the center of circulation has passed south of the Marianas chain.

However, rains and wind north of the circulation will still effect the islands but Middleton expects the system to be “just a wet and breezy event” and  “nothing close to tropical storm strength,” he said.

“We could see some locally heavy showers, thunderstorms and wind gusts up around 30-35 mph in the heaviest showers” he said, “but over all the winds shouldn’t be that strong.”

As of 10:30 am Monday morning  the tropical disturbance was centered about 115 miles south-southeast of Guam near 12.0 degrees north and
145.5 degrees east.

READ the 10:30 Update from the NWS HERE

The system remains the subject of a tropical cyclone formation alert issued by the joint typhoon warning center.

That means that the formation of a tropical depression is likely within the next 12 to 24 hours.

 

 

 

he tropical disturbance was centeredabout 115 miles south-southeast of guam near 12.0 degrees north and145.5 degrees east...and remains the subject of a tropical cycloneformation alert issued by the joint typhoon warning center. thismeans that the formation of a tropical depression is likely withinthe next 12 to 24 hours.

The above gentleman believes that Narendra Modi is guilty for the riots we discussed in the last 4 parts. I guess it would be safe to assume that he (and his ilk) assume they are holding Narendra Modi guilty of murder or atleast an accomplice to murder (because of perceived inaction of the state government). 

And what is that they want him to do? Say sorry. Yep, that’s right. Just say sorry. Just say sorry and we will not hound you. They keep asking him, “arre, atleast he should should some regret?”. How strange is it that all you seek from a person you think is guilty of murder is a mere sorry? 


On May 11, 2005, the central government informed Rajya Sabha that 1044 people were killed in the Godhra and post-Godhra violence. 790 of them were Muslims and 254 were Hindus. 223 people were reported missing and 2548 people were injured. In 2008, six years after being reported missing, the 223 people were also declared dead. Wikipedia also says that about 20,000 preventive arrests were made too. 

On November 9th, 2011, a special court convicted 31 people for murdering 33 Muslims in a village.

Below is a snapshot from Nov. 10, 2011

I was genuinely surprised when I first read the news item. “First case in which a large number of people were convicted” - Till that point of time, I was generally assuming that people have been punished for umpteen number of riots that happened in our country since Independence. It was truly depressing to note that this was “first case in which a large number of people were convicted“. Also please note that the above convictions are not the first in these particular riots.  Some instances of earlier convictions are here (some go back to 2003 too).

I tried digging up information on how many people were convicted during the 1990 Hyderabad riots (specifically looked for these because I am from Hyderabad. Vividly remember the curfew for days together in the entire city, and 300 people were killed). Couldn’t find any. Many such riots like these never saw a good conviction rate, which is sad and reflects the poor state of our justice delivery system. 

And then, something else caught my eye in another report based on the same verdict. 

In this particular case, there was such a big delay because the Supreme Court ordered stopping of investigation in 2003 only to resume it in 2008. And in about 3 years, we have had 31 people convicted of murder. I had mentioned in one of the earlier posts in this series - This blog post by Vijay details well, the chronology of how Teesta and co. delayed the proceedings (including seeking the appointment of an Amicus Curiae). 

According to the same report -

Some survivors of the 2002 Sardarpura carnage in Mehsana district of Gujarat said they were “happy” with the verdict by a special court given on Wednesday (awarding life term for 31 accused), but would have appreciated it if more accused had been convicted.

I don’t know why The Hindu chose to put happy in quotes though. The victims were content with the verdict.

The verdicts did not stop there. On April 9, 2012

The reports also detail how police were trying their best to control a 1500 strong mob (by firing, and even getting injured).

More convictions followed in the same case later in May.

Earlier too, there were convictions on the Godhra train burning case.

Which brings us to a curious question - if 31 were convicted here, then why is the other verdict hailed as landmark? Anyways, that’s not the main point we wish to discuss here too.

My point is very simple- those who are guilty needs to be punished. And for that their guilt needs to be proved in a court of law. Narendra Modi himself has said (in a TV interview to Headlines today during 2009 elections) “punish me if I am guilty, why are you merely asking for an apology”. Rajdeep Sardesai recently wondered why no big politician was arrested in 1984 and 2002 riots cases (it’s another matter that only 13 people have been convicted in the entire Sikh massacre. Just 13).

Fair question - but where is the proof? NDTV tom toms about bringing the riots to the country - have they bothered to submit their video recordings to a court of law? Do the recordings contain evidence of “big politicians” leading the mobs and resorting to murder? Planning murder? If so, please place them in the court. Let natural justice be meted out. 

Let’s not spare anybody if we have the evidence. But please do not sugar coat the “justice for victims” as a fight against Narendra Modi. And if there is proof of Narendra Modi’s guilt too - please punish him (he himself has said this).

Justice for the victims would mean the perpetrators of the ghastly crimes be punished. The wheels of justice for the victims of riots in 2002 have finally begun to move - evident from the recent court rulings. If the likes of Teesta don’t put further spokes, we might see more convictions soon. It has obviously not been a smooth ride to get this justice too, but unfortunately so is the plight of the umpteen number of riot victims over the years across the country. 

Let’s not get carried away by the “secular lokbudhi” of demanding an apology. That amounts to doing injustice to the victims, not justice. 

So far, we have discussed about 2002. What has happened since 2002? We will discuss that in the next (and the last in this series) post. Meanwhile,  Part-1 is here, Part-2 is here and Part-3 is here. Part-4 is here. 

Guam - U.S. Coast Guard Specialist Lee Putnam confirms that the Navy has notified the Coast Guard that a drowning occurred Saturday morning, after daybreak, at Haputo Beach .

Haputo beach is located on the island’s northwest shore, off  the Naval Communications Station [NCTAMS] in Finegayan.  It is on Naval property.

Putnam said that the Coast Guard was notified, but was not directly involved in any search or rescue effort. He said that the Navy and Guam Fire were involved.

Guam Fire Spokesman Lt. Ed Artero says that the Navy’s Fire/EMS unit was the lead responder. Guam Fire dispatched Rescue 1 to assist, he said. And he said that by the time Rescue 1 arrived, the victim was already out of the water. 

Navy Spokesperson Coleen San Nicolas-Perez confirms that a sailor has died, but she would not confirm it was a drowning. The body of the sailor was taken to Naval Hospital.

San Nicolas-Perez declined to provide details until after next of kin have been notified. She added that the incident is under investigation.

 

 

Guam - The Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Honolulu has issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert for a tropical disturbance centered about 185 miles southeast of Guam.

As of 6:30am Monday morning the center of the system was located 11.4 degrees north and 146.5 degrees east.

READ the JTWC’s Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert HERE

What that means is that there is a possibility of the formation of a tropical cyclone within the next 12 to 24 hours.

At this time winds of 15 to 25 mph are associated with the tropical disturbance. The disturbance is expected to bring periods of
scattered showers and thunderstorms to the Marianas through Tuesday night as it moves slowly northwest through the region.

While the future track and development of this disturbance is still uncertain, it appears likely it will pass near enough to the Marianas to bring locally heavy rain at times through Tuesday with wind gusts as high as 35 mph possible in heavy showers.

Faster-than-expected development could result in more wind and rain than currently expected or even in the development of a tropical depression.

VIEW the Colorized Satellite Loop showing the progress of the system’s formation HERE 

Residents of the Marianas should monitor the progress of this tropical disturbance.

The Highlights of the JTWC Alert are:

* due to the model guidance indicating development and the improved deep convection, the potential for the development of a significant tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours is HIGH.

* available data does not justify issuance of numbered tropical cyclone warnings at this time.

* numerical models indicate that the

low level circulation center 

llcc will close off and organize.

* maximum sustained surface winds are estimated at 15 to 20 knots.

* higher winds (20 to 30 knots) are also evident on the outer northeastern periphery.

* water vapor imagery shows excellent divergence aloft and improved outflow into a tropical upper-tropospheric trough (tutt) cell to the west.

* minimum sea level pressure is estimated to be near 1006 mb.

* the ir and microwave imagery indicate an ill-defined low level circulation center.

*  animated infrared (ir) satellite imagery shows improved deep central convection.

* ASCAT pass does not depict a closed circulation. However, it does indicate an area of sharp turing extending from a broader surface trough.

 

 

available data does not justifyissuance of numbered tropical cyclone warnings at this time.

Guam - Education reform is again the focus of the Governor’s Weekly Address.  It is the third and final installment of the Governor’s thoughts on reforming the island’s public school system.

 

HEAR the Governor’s Weekly Address HERE>>>5-21 weekly address 05-21-12_1-2.mp3

READ Governor’s Weekly Address below:

Higher Standards
Education Reform (Part 3)
By Eddie Baza Calvo

Thank you and God bless.

Guam - The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS), with the Guam Department of Education (GDOE), and with technical and financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are conducting the Guam Iodine Deficiency Survey from May 14 to June 29.
Iodine is an element required to make thyroid hormones, which are important for growth, development, and brain function. Not getting enough iodine leads to health problems such as mental retardation, intellectual disabilities (Cretinism), goiter, miscarriage, stillbirth and several others. Getting enough iodine is most important for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, women who may become pregnant, and young children.

There has never been a study done on iodine on Guam, or any of the Micronesian islands. In Fiji and Vanuatu, where studies have been done, iodine deficiency was found to be a problem, so iodine deficiency may be a problem in Guam too.

Participants for the Guam Iodine Deficiency Survey have been randomly selected from randomly selected Guam public schools and prenatal clinics. The project is surveying 1020 school children from grades 3 to 6, and 290 pregnant women.

We request everyone in our community to support this project to find out our people’s iodine status.

For more information, please call Mr. Lawrence Alam at 475-0284 or Mr. Charles H. Morris, RD, LD at 475-028.

Guam - Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense, along with National Weather Service, is still tracking the Tropical Disturbance that is now centered about 125 miles southeast of Guam near 11.4 degrees north and 146.5 degrees east.

 

The Disturbance is now the subject of a Tropical Cyclone formation alert issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. A Tropical Cyclone alert means that there is a possibility of the formation of a Tropical Cyclone within the next 12 to 24 hours.

While the future track and development of this disturbance is still uncertain, it appears likely it will pass near enough to the Marianas to bring locally heavy rain and winds at times through Tuesday.

As a precaution, all residents are asked to secure trash bins or loose belongings around the house as the disturbance will bring wind gusts as high as 35 mph. Motorists should exercise extreme caution while driving, as heavy rain and ponding of water can create unsafe driving conditions. In addition, residents are advised to monitor the local media and listen for the latest statements and forecasts from the National Weather Service.