mavaustinthis is not meant for flaming but, shouldnt this be stopped?
India’s untouchables forced out of relief camps
2 hours, 23 minutes ago South Asia – AFP
KESHVANPALAYAM, India (AFP) – India’s untouchables, reeling from the tsunami disaster, are being forced out of relief camps by higher caste survivors and being denied aid supplies, activists charged.
RSS:
Kuppuswamy Ramachandran, 32, a Dalit or untouchable in India’s rigid caste hierarchy, said he and his family were told to leave a relief camp in worst-hit Nagapattinam district where 50 more families were housed.
“The higher caste fishing community did not allow us to sleep in a marriage hall where they are put up because we belong to the lowest caste,” Ramachandran said.
“After three days we were moved out to a school but now the school is going to reopen within three days and the teachers drove us out,” he said.
“Where will I take my family and children? The school had no lights, toilets or drinking water,” available for the displaced.
More than 6,000 people died when tsunamis struck this southern Indian coastal district on December 26 and activists said that included 81 Dalits, who were daily wage earners working in agricultural lands.
The ferocious wall of sea water destroyed swathes of farm land and the Dalits no longer have any employment.
At Keshvanpalayam, the Dalits had only flattened homes to show while survivors elsewhere enjoyed relief supplies such as food, medicines, sleeping mats and kerosene.
No government official or aid has flowed into the village which houses 83 Dalit families more than 30 kilometres (20 miles) from Nagapattinam town.
Cranes and bulldozers cleared the debris of a neighbouring fishing community, but they are yet to reach the Dalit village.
Chandra Jayaram, 35, who lost her husband to the tsunamis, said her family has not received promised government compensation of 100,000 rupees (2,174 dollars).
“At the relief camps we are treated differently due to our social status. We are not given relief supplies. The fishing community told us not to stay with them. The government says we will not be given anything as we are not affected much,” Jayaram said.
S. Karuppiah, field coordinator with the Human Rights Forum for Dalit Liberation, said in some of the villages the dead bodies of untouchables were removed with reluctance.
“The Dalit villages are in most places proving to be the preferred choice of the fishing community to bury the dead. If the Dalits ask for relief materials the government says they can only give the leftovers,” Karuppiah said.
“The government is turning a blind eye,” he said. “When Dalits bury the dead they are not given gloves or medicines but only alcohol to forget the rotten stench.”
Another activist, Mahakrishnan Marimuthu, who heads the non-governmental Education and Handicraft Training Trust, said tsunamis dealt a double blow to the caste.
“They lost their jobs, houses and relatives. On the other hand the social discrimination is proving to be worse,” he said.
The government denied the allegations and said it was providing relief to every tsunami-affected family.
“There is no intention of closing down any camps and we are providing relief to each and every family. We will provide temporary shelters as these relief camps are getting overcrowded,” said Veerashanmugha Moni, Nagapattinam’s senior government administrator.
The United Nations (news – web sites) Children’s Fund UNICEF (news – web sites) said government, relief agencies and aid workers did not discriminate against the Dalits but the caste issue always exists.
“All the aid going in is distributed the same way to all survivors. The social discrimination has been there during normal times,” said Amudha, who heads a team of UNICEF volunteers in Nagapattinam.
“After the disaster happened it is still continuing. That is nothing new,” she said.
Vijaya Lakshmi, spokeswoman for South India Federation of Fishermen Societies, agreed and said one could not wish away a centuries-old caste system when a disaster struck.
“If they (Dalits) are comfortable by staying separate they will,” she said
mavaustin1. RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN: Pakistani troops stand to attention before boarding a C-130 aircraft en route to Indonesia to help the tsunami disaster victims, from the Chaklala Air Base in Rawalpindi, 06 January 2004. The second batch of Pakistan Army troops comprising 70 engineers, doctors and paramedical staff left in two C-130 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to form part of the task force for tsunami hit areas in Indonesia.
mavaustin1. KARACHI, PAKISTAN: Pakistani naval soldiers upload relief food for tsunami hit areas on a ship at Karachi port, 03 January 2005. Pakistan has sent an engineering task force and a field hospital to Indonesia and two navy ships carrying helicopters to Sri Lanka to join relief efforts in tsunami hit areas, the foreign office said.
mavaustinvery interesting development.
Sri Lanka tsunami aid becomes geopolitical game
By Chaitanya Kalbag
COLOMBO, Jan 3 (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s tsunami devastation has drawn a huge international aid response, but a geopolitical game of influence between India and the United States is playing not too subtly in the background, analysts said on Monday.
“There is no innocence in the politics of humanitarian assistance,” said Jayadeva Uyangoda, head of the department of political science at Colombo University.
Uyangoda said Washington’s decision to send as many as 1,500 Marines and an amphibious assault ship to Sri Lanka was seen in New Delhi as not “merely humanitarian.”
“It is a symbolic intrusion into India’s sphere of influence,” he said.
Nearly 30,000 Sri Lankans were killed by the Dec. 26 tsunami and nearly a million have been made homeless.
India, determined not to be seen as just a victim after losing more than 15,000 people in the disaster itself, moved quickly to send help to Sri Lanka and others.
Close to 1,000 Indian military personnel, five Navy vessels including a hospital ship, a field hospital, and six MI-17 Indian Air Force helicopters have been deployed to Sri Lanka by its giant northern neighbour.
The ships were moored off Trincomalee on the east coast and Galle in the south, said Nagma Mallick, spokeswoman at India’s High Commission (embassy) in Colombo.
‘NATURAL’ FOR INDIA TO EXERT INFLUENCE
Both Uyangoda and Kethesh Loganathan, an analyst at the Centre for Policy Alternatives, an independent think-tank, said it was natural for India, with its huge resources and regional ambitions, to come to the aid of its smaller neighbours.
Loganathan noted that in May 2003, when Sri Lanka’s south was hit by heavy rain and flash flooding that displaced a quarter of a million people, India sent military personnel to help in the recovery effort.
“Over the past decade there has been a sea change in Indo-Lankan relations,” he said.
India was seen as a party to the island’s civil war when it exploded in 1983, he said. Egged on by its own Tamil population, India provided the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeelam (LTTE) with training and materiel.
[/b]But an Indian “peace-keeping” foray into Sri Lanka’s Tamil-held areas in 1987 quickly turned into open war with the LTTE until a humiliating Indian pullout in March 1990.[/b]
That debacle also helped restore India’s credibility in the eyes of Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese majority, Loganathan said.
“India has always been helpful,” he said. “It does have the capacity and it is most natural for them to help us.”
U.S. LIKELY TO STAY AWAY FROM TIGER TERRITORY
The United States has termed the LTTE a terrorist organisation and the Marines — a few dozen of whom have already arrived by air — are likely to stay well away from the north and east where the Tigers control large swathes of territory.
“Both New Delhi and Kilinochchi (the LTTE stronghold) might view the U.S. presence uncomfortably,” Uyangoda said.
But Uyangoda said the U.S. offer of assistance would certainly have “raised eyebrows” in New Delhi.
“Are the Marines going to stay in Sri Lanka? Is this part of the U.S. global design? Is this an opportunity for (U.S. President George W.) Bush to get a foothold in Sri Lanka?” he asked rhetorically, adding: “Humanitarian is not purely humanitarian.”
“India Furious!” said a banner headline in the Monday edition of the Sudar Oli (Beacon Light), a Tamil-language newspaper considered sympathetic to the LTTE published from Colombo.
The newspaper said India was upset that Sri Lanka had not given it proper warning that it would be welcoming U.S. Marines into its “neighbourhood.”
But G. Parthasarthy, a former Indian ambassador to Pakistan, told Reuters by telephone from New Delhi that too much ado was being made of the aid effort.
“They love conspiracy theories in Colombo,” he said.
Parthasarthy said it was clear the United States had got into the aid race rather late “after stringent domestic and international criticism.”
For the present, he said — “and please underline ‘for the present”‘ — the aid seemed to be just what it was, humanitarian and with no strings attached.
In contrast, India’s polite refusal to accept any foreign aid recognised that “foreigners could come in the way of our own relief efforts,” Parthasarthy said.
“Ten foreigners come and work two hours a day and the world’s media think they’ve sorted out our problems tickety-boo,” he said.
“We have the resources to manage our own situation.”
mavaustinA good gesture indeed.
Pakistan offers relief and rescue aid to India after tsunami
Pakistan offered relief and rescue assistance to India after tidal waves killed thousands of people on its southern coast, as the nuclear-armed rivals began two-day peace talks Monday.
The two countries reported some progress in their yearlong peace process. India said it would grant visit visas at its land border to Pakistanis over age 65 and under 12, and let Pakistanis study in India.
On Tuesday, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar and his Indian counterpart, Shyam Saran, will hold their first formal dialogue over the Himalayan region of Kashmir _ at the heart of their 57 years of hostility _ but no breakthrough appeared imminent.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan said Pakistan opened the negotiations in Islamabad by extending sympathy for the “massive destruction in southern India caused by earthquake and tidal waves.”
“Pakistan offered assistance in relief and rescue,” Khan said at a news conference.
On Sunday, a huge undersea quake off Indonesia launched tidal waves that killed more than 21,000 people in Asia, including at least 3,000 in southern India, and reportedly thousands more on India’s remote Car Nicobar island in the Bay of Bengal.
Pakistan is already planning to send supplies to Sri Lanka, and its navy ships and helicopters are helping in the Maldives.
Saran said that India appreciated Pakistan’s expression of sympathy, and that he would forward the offer of help to his government.
The first day of talks touched on peace and security _ including proposals for confidence-building in nuclear and conventional arms _ as well as counter-narcotics efforts, border disputes, prisoners, a proposed cross-border bus service in Kashmir and other issues.
“While in some areas, especially in confidence-building, forward movement has been satisfactory, in others such as Jammu and Kashmir and peace and security, more efforts are required to find solutions,” Khan said.
Both countries claim all of Kashmir, which is divided between them. They’ve fought two wars over the area since their independence from Britain in 1947.
Khan said he expected a “robust exchange of views” on Kashmir on Tuesday, but conceded it would be a “preliminary dialogue” to help understand each side’s perspective.
A key stumbling block to serious negotiations has been India’s allegations that Pakistan supports Islamic militants fighting in Indian-held Kashmir. Pakistan denies helping the rebels, but has vowed to stop their infiltration, and there has been a reported drop in the number of insurgents crossing the border in the past year.
Saran, however, told reporters that “much needs to be done because the phenomena of cross-border terrorism has not ceased.”
Pakistan’s President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has urged flexibility on Kashmir, suggesting power-sharing or placing some areas under U.N. administration, but India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has ruled out redrawing its boundary in the Himalayan region.
mavaustinPak Thunder
you beat me to the pictures but I ended up posting them in PAF realted link.
mavaustin1. RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN: A Pakistani paramedics team walk before leaving for Indonesia to participate in the relief effort at Chaklala Airbase in Rawalindi, 03 January 2005. Pakistan has sent an engineering task force and a field hospital to Indonesia and two navy ships carrying helicopters to Sri Lanka to join relief efforts in tsunami hit areas, the foreign office said.
2. RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN: A group of Pakistani engineers sit on a trailer with their belongings as they leave to participate in the relief effort in tsunami-hit countries at Chaklala Airbase in Rawalindi, 03 January 2005. Pakistan has sent an engineering task force and a field hospital to Indonesia and two navy ships carrying helicopters to Sri Lanka to join relief efforts in tsunami hit areas, the foreign office said.
3. RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN: Pakistan military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan briefs media representatives before sending a group of engineers and medics to participate in the relief effort, at Chaklala Airbase in Rawalindi, 03 January 2005. Pakistan has sent an engineering task force and a field hospital to Indonesia and two navy ships carrying helicopters to Sri Lanka to join relief efforts in tsunami hit areas, the foreign office said.
mavaustinPakistan Army soldiers from the engineering corps line up to board a C-130 cargo plane en route to tsunami devastated areas in Indonesia from Chaklala base in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Monday, Jan. 3, 2005. Pakistan dispatched hundreds of army and naval personnel to help in evacuation, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in tsunami hit nations of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, officials said.
mavaustinnot sure if this was posted.
Rawaplindi—As part of national efforts to provide relief to Tsunami affectees, a Task Force is being sent to Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
According to an ISPR announcement on Sunday, the first batch comprising Pakistan Army doctors, paramedics and army engineers will depart on Monday (January 3) from PAF Base Chaklala in two C-130 aircraft. The task force assigned for Indonesia comprises of 165 persons of Pakistan Army Engineers, Military Engineering Services and 57 Pakistan Army doctors and paramedics staff.
The task force will embark from Chaklala in six C- 130 aircraft of Pakistan Air Force while heavy equipment will be transported by sea in ships of Pakistan Navy.
Deployment of task force in Indonesia will be completed by end of next week.—APP
mavaustinNitin
just to educat you a little on ATGM use in naval scenerio, Taiwan Super Cobras are trained to use ATGMs against any naval attack. There was a program on Discovery Wings about it also.
Not that these two scenerios have any resemblence but, ATGMs have been tested in anti-naval excercises. 😉
mavaustinPN to continue Agosta 90-B Sub project
ISLAMABAD (APP) – Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Shahid Karimullah said Pakistan Navy aimed to continue the indigenous construction project of Agosta 90-B submarines aimed at meeting requirements of the Naval Forces of the country.
The Chief of Naval Staff was addressing the Annual Efficiency Competition Parade and Awards Ceremony-2004 of Pakistan Navy Fleet led by Vice Admiral Muhammad Haroon.
According to a press release issued here on Wednesday by the Naval Headquarters, Admiral Shahid further said, “The government is fully cognisant of Navy’s requirements and is all set to provide full support within the available resources.”
He expressed the hope that with all these projects Pakistan Navy would be able to overcome the shortage of platforms.
However, availability of modern platforms and weapons is not the ultimate solution to our shortcomings but the professional competence of fighting men and their resolve to defend the national interest makes the real difference, he remarked.
“The procurement of F-22P frigates from China is in final stages of contractual negotiations and acquisition of P-3C aircraft from USA is in progress of which the first two will be delivered to Pakistan Navy by the end of year 2005,” he said.“To prove equal to the sacred task of guarding the sea frontiers, a potent and efficient fleet is necessary for which Pakistan Navy is focused to meet critical additional requirements of surface ships, submarines and long range maritime patrol aircraft,” the Naval Chief said.
He expressed his complete satisfaction over the performance and efforts of PN fleet for successfully accomplishing the operational objectives set for the year.
He also commended the full time participation of the recently inducted VBSS boats with the special forces operations.
Earlier in his welcome address, Commander Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Muhammad Haroon recounted the operational objectives set for the year.
Pakistan Navy is proud to actively participate in the relief operations in the flood-hit areas of South East Asian countries, he said. He apprised the audience that the units of PN fleet participation in a number of operational exercises with navies of various foreign countries including from Saudi Arabia, USA, Oman and Turkey.
Besides these exercises, Pakistan Navy also contributed toward international war against terrorism by participating in Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan, he said.
All these exercises and operations, he said, not only proved battle worthiness of Pakistan Navy but also turned out to be highly beneficial for enhancement of its professional capabilities.
He also extended his gratitude to all those organizations which provided technical and logistic support to PN fleet.
Later, the Chief Guest Admiral Shahid Karimullah gave away prizes to the winning units. In submarine squadron, PNS/M KHALID clinched the first position. In destroyers category, PNS TARIQ was proclaimed the winner and auxiliary vessels, PNS KALMAT received the winning trophy for being the best tanker while PNS MUJAHID was declared the best Mine Counter Vessel in this category. X-Craft-01, 29 Squardon and PNS LARKANA were adjudged the best in major units, Aviation and Patrol Vessels category.
The ceremony was attended by a large number of senior naval officers, officers, sailors and civil dignitaries
mavaustinDoes F-22P have any vertical launch air defence missile. I thought it did but not sure since these ships are smaller than the new ships PLAAN has built.
mavaustinsprry meant to ask YLC-6 radar.
mavaustinany pictures of YLC-2 radar and specs?
mavaustinRAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN: A Pakistani airman stands on the runway as relief goods for tsunami victims in the Maldives are loaded on board a Pakistan army C-130 aircraft in Rawalpindi, 30 December 2004. The relief goods include tents, blankets and flour bags, medicine. The total death toll from the devastating earthquakes and tidal waves on26 December has soared to at least 117,000 following the latest Indonesian toll announcement. AFP PHOTO/Farooq NAEEM
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