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WORLD
GOA, FRIDAY, 16 APRIL, 2010
Bakiyev escapes crowd at rally Reuters
OSH, Kyrgyzstan, APRIL 15 Bodyguards of Kyrgyzstan’s embattled president fired shots into the air to help Kurmanbek Bakiyev escape a crowd of 1,000 opponents that disrupted his rally in the country’s south today. A Reuters photographer and cameraman at the scene both saw about 20 bodyguards with Kalashnikov rifles usher Bakiyev into a waiting jeep after two rounds of gunfire minutes apart. His motorcade then sped away from Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second city. The gunfire started when opponents of Bakiyev moved toward his meeting from a separate rally in support of the interim government, a third Reuters reporter at the scene said. There was no immediate sign of casualties after the gunfire. The interim government of Bakiyev’s opponents also said the president’s bodyguards had
shot into the air and that Bakiyev was driving back toward his neighbouring home region. ‘He is driving back towards Jalalabad. He is not injured,” Bolot Sherniyazov, the interior minister in the interim government, told Reuters by telephone. “The crowd in Osh prevented h i m f ro m s p e a k i n g . T h e y shouted: ‘Down with Bakiyev!’ They did not try to attack him. His bodyguards opened fire into the air,” Sherniyazov said. Bakiyev has been trying to muster support in his southern stronghold since fleeing an April 7 uprising in the capital, Bishkek, during which his troops fired repeatedly into crowds of protesters calling for his resignation. The interim government which took power a week ago has warned it will send special forces to arrest Bakiyev and put him on trial for at least 84 deaths in the uprising.
S Korea removes ship that sink near North Reuters SEOUL, APRIL 15
South Korea today lifted the stern of a naval ship that sank after an unexplained explosion near a contested sea border with North Korea to see if Pyongyang may have had a hand in the incident that killed dozens. South Korea’s defence minister said this month the 1,200tonne Cheonan may have been hit by a torpedo, immediately putting suspicion on North Korea and stoking concerns that the incident could start a conflict on the long divided peninsula. Several bodies of the 46 sailors who went missing were seen in the ship’s stern, which is thought to have gone down with dozens trapped inside, a defence official told local media. A Defence Ministry spokeswoman declined to comment. Government officials said Seoul was looking at all possibilities for the sinking and expected the raised stern to provide clues on what caused the explosion. The salvage operation comes as tensions on the troubled
peninsula have increased with the North freezing assets of a South Korean firm at a joint tourism project north of the border once hailed as a symbol of cooperation. The stern was raised above the water line in the morning and drained before being placed on a barge. Seoul has few appealing options if the North was behind the sinking, but would not likely take an aggressive stance because it could escalate into major conflict that would harm the South’s interests, analysts said. “I do not think South Korean government will go to war over this ... it will probably try to handle it more diplomatically,’’ said Kim June-kie, a market analyst at SK Securities in Seoul. Shares on Wall Street fell when reports came out shortly after the Cheonan’s sinking on March 26 that said the South was looking into a possible North Korean torpedo attack. The price to insure Korean sovereign debt also rose at that time to 83 basis points from 78 basis points, according to two trading sources. That meant the cost to insure 10 million dollars in South Korean debt increased by 5,000 to 83,000 dollars. The ship sinking could also complicate the resumption of stalled international talks on ending North Korea’s atomic arms programme in return for aid to prop up its broken economy, experts said. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was expected to visit his neighbour and biggest benefactor China in the coming weeks for a trip supposed to help prod Pyongyang back to the dormant talks among the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.
FROM PAGE 1 The ghost is back
took major decision have also been questioned so far,” said the IO Rajiv Rishi. The IO however did not answer as to how many politicians or ministers have been questioned so far in the case. Rishi said the case was not originally registered by CBI and as such he cannot answer all such question. “The case was registered at Panjim police station and then transferred to us and as such we have to conduct investigation based on documents available with us,” he said. The complaint against Parrikar was lodged by Mauvin Godinho but the Congressled coalition government then had dragged its feet on the complaint before referring the matter to the central agency. On Parrikar’s charge that the CBI questioned others in their offices and did not summon anyone, SP Gawli replied, “it is as per convenience of the people. If they are available they come here otherwise we go to their offices.” Gawli also said that CBI had summoned Parrikar because he is the only accused in this case. The other 35 are not accused though they were associated with various committees including the core committee Statements of around 12 people are registered out of 35. “We can call Parrikar again if need arises”. Asked how much time they would need to file the chargesheet in this case, he said, “It will take a lot of time as we have to examine the consultants, contractors and GSIDC officials among others.” On whether they would seek arrest of the former chief minister, the officials said “we can’t say anything right now. He is cooperating well with us.”
It’s politically motivated
he has also told them that along with Kamat, several other Cabinet ministers, including those in the present government were a part of the decision making process and that they should be questioned too. They were part of core committee and all the decisions were taken after approval of the committee, he claimed surrounded by his supporters. “I would like to know whether other persons including the present chief minister, other ministers in the present Cabinet who are now with the Congress or the NCP have been issued similar notices when all were part of my cabinet or members of the core committee of IFFI,” he asked. He said half the members of the present Cabinet were members of the core committee which includes Education Minister Babush Monserrate, Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco, Power Minister Aleixo Sequeira, Water Resources Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues besides Digambar Kamat among others. CBI officials however maintained that none of the above except Parrikar is named as accused in the case. “Their (CBI officers) questions were based on the observations made in the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) report”, Parrikar said. It may be recalled that CAG in its report had brought out the irregularities in creating infrastructure for IFFI in 2004. Several projects like the multiplex which is now being operated by INOX, revitalisation of Kala Academy, parallel Patto bridge, restoration of Old GMC building, etc were undertaken allegedly at exorbitant cost after huge sums were spent on consultants. The projects were executed through Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) which was headed by Parrikar who was also the State’s finance minister. Parrikar had earlier, criticising CAG, said it had not conformed to the laid down procedures. Parrikar also submitted a six-page letter to the Investigating officer of CBI raising issues over CAG report, collective decision making on IFFI, CBI notices, etc He also accused some Congressmen who he said, he would name at the appropriate time, for being instrumental in procuring the CAG’s observations on IFFI expenditure. “These observations were a bundle of lies”. Raising a legal point, Parrikar said CAG report has no standing unless it is referred to and placed before the state legislature. Presently, the State legislature through Public Accounts Committee is seized of the report. He also said he declined to participate in the discussion though he is the chairman of the committee. Parrikar further said that a report of the sub-committee of PAC is awaited. He further requested the CBI that until the constitutional requirement of placing the CAG report in the House is done, “the investigation in this case may also be kept in abeyance in due deference to the Majesty of the House.”
22 allegations under probe
the case involves as many as 22 allegations requiring collection of voluminous documents of various departments, examination of a large number of witnesses and suspects including contractors, consultants and officials of the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), which was the nodal agency for International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2004 project. The case involves also recording of statements of the Entertainment Society of Goa, Senior Officers of Government of Goa and Members of various committees, the minister said. Chauhan further informed that projects undertaken during IFFI 2004 are also required to be inspected by various technical authorities/bodies.
Goa gears up to...
enrolled in schools. “The problem will arise with migrant children who are moving in and out of the State. It is the migrant children that will benefit most from the RTE,” he asserts. MODALITIES: He said not everything will be smooth sailing while implementing the law. “We are still working out the modalities of a study to find out what will be needed of all stakeholders in implementing the Act,” he said. Powar said there are problems that have will have to be sorted out first. New school timings, additional teachers, buildings, class rooms, compound walls, separate toilets for boys and girls, rest rooms, etc, these are some of the facilities that will have to be created for smooth implementation of the Act, he stated. He said they’ve had just one round of informal talks and will get into serious deliberations in an effort to implement the Act that seeks to make the country an educated nation.
Satellite control for KTC buses!
crore were to be used for the purchase of these new 20 buses. However, two months back, the central government refused to pay off funds for the introduction of remaining 20 buses, thus forcing the KTCL to opt for other resources within its department. Meanwhile, sources have confirmed that the arrangement for money has been done and the corporation will soon be inducting these buses to its fleet of 390 buses.
NHAI gives way
the project should start by November this year,” he said. The NHAI team visited Goa following directions of Union Minister Kamal Nath last month. When the chief minister accompanied by PWD minister had called on him to impress upon the Centre the need to reduce the width of the proposed NH4A, Kamal Nath had told them that NHAI chief would be asked to visit Goa to get a first hand information and decide accordingly. Besides this, the NHAI has also given the Goans gifts in the form of five flyovers. “The NHAI has sanctioned five flyovers at Karaswada junction, near Green Park Hotel Gurim, O Coqueiro Circle, Porvorim, the airport junction at Dabolim and another from Varnapuri to MPT berth no 9 at Vasco,” Churchill informed. To a query Churchill said the work on the widening of NH17 too will begin soon and the NHAI will take up the three bridges at Zuari, Talpona and Galgibaga on priority.