Section of L.B. Scott Road collapses

�~ Theo re-iterates sanctions for sloppy work ~

�

SAUNDERS--A section of the recently re-opened L.B. Scott Road collapsed on Tuesday, raising questions about the quality of work executed as part of the Ebenezer drainage project.

� It also has prompted Minister of Infrastructure Theo Heyliger to reiterate his stance that contractors and site supervision firms should face sanctions for sloppy work. In this case, the contractor would be Windward Roads N.V. and the site supervision firm is Lievense N.V.

� Adding to Heyliger's statement, Department of New Works and Projects head Kurt Ruan said he was embarrassed by what had happened. Ruan said that although the situation had been rushed and he understood the pressures, government still expected quality work. "We still stand for quality. Either deliver a quality project or don't do it at all," Ruan said.

� He recalled that the other main contractor, MNO Vervat had had to redo a section of this same road twice last year after sloppy work was discovered. "These things keep re-occurring with these contractors and this is why the Minister has called for them to be held accountable in the future," Ruan said.

� Windward Roads Director Jan Hendrik Boekaar, currently off-island, said the situation was being addressed by the company, but offered no explanation of how or why the road had collapsed.

��However, sources close to the situation explained that it boiled down to sloppy work and, more specifically, a nearby trench that had not been backfilled after it was dug. It was explained that the nearby trench (see photo) had been dug to facilitate the laying of piping connecting nearby properties to the main sewage line, which runs under the road.

��The work crew apparently did not backfill the trench after the pipe was laid and connected to the main sewage line, leaving it void of proper compacting and creating a vacuum. With no compacting, the sand in the foundation of the road moved towards the lowest point of the trench, which weakened the base-course and asphalt and eventually caused the collapse of the road.

��"It's just plain sloppy work and it happens when you have several projects ongoing and contractors rushing to get them finished. It wasn't done with malicious intent or wilfully, but when you rush, these things tend to happen," the source said.

��When asked to confirm or deny the explanation of what happened, Ruan concurred.

� Minister of Infrastructure Theo Heyliger said in a brief statement that the issue was a prime example of why he had requested that the Ministry of VROMI consider implementing a type of "report card" for the two main contractors that execute roadwork in St. Maarten: Windward Roads and MNO Vervat.

� He said with only these two firms receiving the road repair, resurfacing and construction contracts, they must be held accountable if government was not satisfied with their work. He explained that the report card should be a part of the bidding process for any new road project.

� If government is not satisfied with the previous roadwork executed by a contractor, then the contractor should not receive the new contract, according to Heyliger. He said, "We can't spend NAf. 5 million on a road" only to have potholes six months later, and expressed the need for guarantees of five to 10 years for major road projects.

� In the meantime, the edge of the bricked sidewalk at the Dutch Quarter roundabout has also sunk away, apparently due to erosion from rainwater. A number of bricks disappeared into a hole after sand at the foundation of the sidewalk gave way. The contractor for this project was also Windward Roads and the site supervision firm was also Lievense.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/19757-section-of-lb-scott-road-collapses.html

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Man runs amok with front loader

MARIGOT--Two Gendarmerie patrols were called to French Quarter Tuesday evening at 9:45pm to apprehend a 25-year-old man who had jumped into the cab of a front end loader and was driving it recklessly and dangerously on the RN7.

Gendarmes called in reinforcements to cordon off part of the road as they tried to stop the loader. At least one car was damaged in the incident as well as minor damages to a Gendarmerie vehicle when the loader attempted a u-turn.

The man was finally arrested and taken into custody. In its report the Gendarmerie indicated the man attempted to steal the loader but was suffering from a "crisis of madness."

He was also found to be in possession of a gun under his clothes.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/19530-man-runs-amok-with-front-loader.html

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Students get glasses thru vision screening project

PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Optical presented eye glasses to a number of students as part of the Vision Screening pilot programme initiated by the company.

St. Maarten Optical proprietors Rick and Cathy Heemskerk presented the glasses to the youngsters whose parents could not afford to buy them, during a ceremony on August 5, it was stated in a press release issued on Monday.

Students, whose parents consented, were given a thorough eye exam as part of the programme. Each child was also presented with a small "back-to-school" bag with educational goodies from the store owners.

Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams and Minister of Health Cornelius de Weever attended the closing of the pilot programme.

Cathy Heemskerk said "It is difficult to detect eye problems, and students with eye issues sometimes think of themselves as less intelligent.

"So when kids do not know they cannot see well, a negative perception emerges due to not knowing what the problem is."

Wescot-Williams said the programme was invaluable to the community, and Aespecially the donation of the eyeglasses. "I want to thank you very much for that Rick and Cathy. This programme has a come a long way. It is important to have children checked, because you never know. Government looks forward to continuing the programme."

De Weever thanked the Heemskerks and said, "This gesture goes a long way."

The young recipients have two weeks to get accustomed to wearing the spectacles, "so they will be relaxed and comfortable with their eye glasses when school starts," stated the release.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/19495-students-get-glasses-thru-vision-screening-project-.html

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Tromp: Stable currency essential for recovery

~ Good governance, diversification also essential ~

�

PHILIPSBURG--Central Bank of Cura�ao and St. Maarten President Emsley Tromp is encouraging the governments of the two countries to apply good public and corporate governance, diversify their tourism products and guard against jeopardising currency stability.

Tromp?s views were outlined in his ?President?s Message? as part of his presentation of the Bank?s annual report last week Friday.

They were given in the context of the need for increasing market confidence and private sector investment, which he stressed are the primary ways for significant economic recovery for both Cura�ao and St. Maarten.

�

Monetary Union

Tromp said the unstable international economic climate posed challenges for the monetary union between Cura�ao and St. Maarten. He said that although the authorities of both countries had announced their intentions to create their own central banks, ?we still have to deal with the current reality of the union and, hence, the efforts necessary to defend the stability of the common currency.?

Tromp said policy coordination remained a necessary condition to achieve the objectives of the monetary union. Prominent among them is the stability of the guilder. Given the uncertain global macroeconomic environment, he said, the authorities have to remain vigilant to pursue their domestic policies without jeopardising currency stability.

?Given the anaemic performance of the economies of Cura�ao and St. Maarten, changes in the economies of our main trading partners may have a disproportionate impact on our own economies. The fact that the fiscal situation is in order is not a reflection of the policies pursued, but rather the result of the debt relief programme. The authorities should therefore use this unique opportunity to further strengthen the resiliency of the economy to future crises,? he said.

�

Diversification

Oil and food prices are expected to remain high and volatile on the international markets over the medium term, Tromp said. As Cura�ao and St. Maarten are very import-dependent, higher prices on the international markets will worsen net exports. Therefore, he stressed, it is very important that both countries improve their export performance to mitigate, albeit only in part, a further worsening of net exports, which dampens economic growth.

?Although tourism has a high import content, it is still a very important pillar for both economies in terms of exports. Both countries need to further develop and diversify the tourism industry by tapping new markets such as the emerging economies in South America, along with the traditional US and European markets,? Tromp said.

?In addition, we need to further develop and diversify our tourism product towards niche markets such as cultural, conference, and medical tourism. Furthermore, skill deficiencies in the tourism industry need to be addressed to employ local workers whenever possible.?

He said the international financial services industry, which traditionally has been an important pillar of the Cura�ao economy and is a potential pillar of the St. Maarten economy in terms of exports and high-skilled job creation, needed to be strengthened.

?In light of the upcoming Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) evaluation, it is important for us to be in compliance with the internationally accepted best practices,? Tromp said.

�

Corporate governance

He also pointed out that market confidence and, hence, private sector investment also were encouraged when the government applied the rules of good public and corporate governance. He focused specifically on Cura�ao, where the government does not have a body such as the Corporate Governance Council that is part of St. Maarten?s corporate governance code.

Tromp said recent experiences in Cura�ao underscored the importance of adherence to these principles by the government, in particular when it concerns government-owned companies.

?In Cura�ao, state-owned enterprises are prevalent in several key sectors. Sound governance of these companies is critical to ensure their positive contribution to Cura�ao?s overall economic performance and competitiveness.

?As a consequence, the government should act as an informed and active owner and establish a clear and consistent ownership policy ensuring that the governance of the state-owned enterprises is carried out in a transparent and accountable way, with the necessary degree of professionalism and effectiveness,? Tromp said.

At the same time, he continued, government should not be involved in the day-to-day management of these enterprises and should allow their executive and supervisory boards to execute their responsibilities independently and without interference.

?The supervisory boards of these enterprises should have the necessary authority, competencies and objectivity to carry out their function of strategic guidance and monitoring of the management. At the same time, the state-owned enterprises should recognise the rights of all shareholders, treat them equitably, and provide equal access to corporate information. And, state-owned enterprises should be transparent towards the shareholders and the public in general,? Tromp said.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/20151-tromp-stable-currency-essential-for-recovery.html

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Ganja plantation in the south detected

The Special Task Force (STF) have detected a Cannabis cultivation extending over one and half acres in the Hambegamuwa area of the southern province,� Police said today.

The plantation had over a 2000 plants and all of them grown well over five feet indicting that the cultivation has been continuing for some time.

The STF based in the Hambantota area carried out the operation.
�

Source: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/latest/10432-ganja-plantation-in-the-south-detected-.html

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VIVA provides customers the ultimate BlackBerry Eid Gift

Kuwait Telecommunications Company VIVA, is pleased to introduce to customers its new BlackBerry offers for Eid, as well as offer enhancements to its current BlackBerry subscriptions, for customers to enjoy full access to the world of BlackBerry, for less.

� 2011 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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Source: http://www.albawaba.com/business/pr/viva-provides-customers-ultimate-blackberry-eid-gift-390202

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Inspectorate cancels lecture and confiscates medicinal products

PHILIPSBURG--The Health Inspectorate on Tuesday confiscated 127 bottles of medicinal substances from a St. Lucia national who was in St. Maarten on a tourist visa and cancelled a lecture being held at the Philipsburg Cultural and Community Centre.

Inspector General Earl Best said in a press release on Wednesday the 127 bottles of "substances claiming to be beneficial in the treatment of specified diseases" were confiscated from Priest Kaliash Leonce on Tuesday evening.

Best said Leonce who was admitted to St. Maarten on August 22 on a tourist visa, "claims to be an honourable priest of the Ministry of Ethiopia African Black International Congress and the chairman of a company called The Great Physician International. He provides consultations for a fee and sells supplements for certain diseases."

Attendees to his lecture were asked to pay an admittance fee of US $20. They could also purchase a package consisting of six bottles for US $240. The items were to be used three times.

Best said Leonce had violated several laws. He was not a physician and even if he were, it is prohibited to provide medical care in St. Maarten without having diplomas checked and being registered.

Best also explained that it is prohibited to collect money or sell items as a tourist and it is prohibited to sell substances that "claim to have an effect in the treatment of specified diseases without having these checked and registered."

Best said the Health Inspectorate will continue its efforts to ensure that responsible healthcare of high quality is provided to the people of St. Maarten and he called on all residents and the media to report "dubious" activities in healthcare to the inspectorate.

He said the inspectorate is the independent government body that has to ensure that health care being provided to the population complies with legislation and rules set by government in order to ensure a high level of quality and to protect the population against "malpractice and quackery."

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/20034-inspectorate-cancels-lecture-and-confiscates-medicinal-products-.html

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IWC Watch international APP for the iPad receives the red dot seal of quality

The jury was unanimous. In the red dot award: communication design, one of the world?s biggest and most prestigious competitions of its kind, the Swiss watchmaking company?s app for the iPad, IWC WATCH International 1/2011, earned a much-coveted red dot. In a process lasting several days, the 15 jurors ? without exception internationally respected design experts ? assessed every single one of the 6,468 entries. Of these, just 608 received a red dot award.

BizCom

� 2011 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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Source: http://www.albawaba.com/business/pr/iwc-watch-international-app-ipad-receives-red-dot-seal-quality-390317

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Two unions blast proposal to separate Immigration, police

~ Union president: 'It won't be a healthy situation' ~

PHILIPSBURG--A proposal to separate Immigration from police and make the former an independent entity is being opposed fiercely by the NAPB St. Maarten (police) union, the Windward Islands Civil Servants Union/Private Sector Union (WICSU/PSU) and their members.

The unions are baffled as to why Justice Minister Roland Duncan would want to make the Immigration Department independent. They believe that there are ulterior motives.

The unions are also contending that Duncan's proposal would jeopardise the transfer of an estimated 46 Immigration officers to Country St. Maarten, which has to be done as of October 10.

"This leaves the Immigration officers in limbo," WICSU/PSU President William Reed contended. "This will not be a healthy situation. The Minister is acting like a defence attorney instead of representing and protecting. It seems as if he has special interest groups."

Representatives of the two unions met with some of their members on Friday on this and other concerns. The unions said they had learnt of the minister's decision after "pressuring" him to meet with them. One meeting was held with NAPB in June and another with WICSU/PSU, the ABVO union and NAPB on August 4.

NAPB St. Maarten President Carlyle Rogers said it already had been agreed prior to the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles that the current structure of the Police Force would remain in St. Maarten's new constitutional setup.

Reed said that if the minister wanted to make changes to this arrangement the proper thing to do would have been to "come back to the table" and discuss it with the unions and their membership. He said Duncan had been excluding the main players, including WICSU/PSU and NAPB, for some time now from decisions he made on issues affecting their members.

"The minister is going ahead with decisions without following the lines that he has to follow and because of this he is standing in a straight confrontational line with the union," said Reed.

He also believes that removing Immigration from the Police Force would give rise to safety and security issues. He said it seemed as though an attempt was being made to take away the authority of Police Chief Commissioner Peter de Witte who currently has authority over police and Immigration.

Reed also believes that attempts would be made to give preferential treatment to "families and friends" which he said would become "a dangerous practice." He said the union would hold Duncan responsible and accountable for his decisions. "If I have to choose between Mr. De Witte and the minister who I have the most confidence in to manage the police, I would say De Witte," said Reed.

One of NAPB's concerns is the transfer of police and Immigration officers to Country St. Maarten as of October. He said separating Immigration from the Police Force would require a lot of work and because of the process and the volume of work it would not be feasible for this to be done before October.

NAPB, he maintained, expects all of its members to go over into the service of St. Maarten as previously agreed. The union would not accept some being transferred and not others, he said.

Both unions contended that matters could be resolved amicably if Duncan met with members. However, they said Duncan appeared to be arrogant and not interested in hearing from others.

The unions outlined their position and concerns in a letter to Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams on July 19. A copy of the letter was sent to Governor Eugene Holiday and President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell.

A meeting will be requested via the Advisory Body GOA for the matter to be discussed. The unions again will voice their position against this decision. They also believe that the Parliament should be aware of their position.

Other issues of concern to members discussed at Friday's meeting concerned job descriptions, salary scales and pending promotions. The issue of discrepancies in the legal positions of some of the workers also was broached.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/20107-two-unions-blast-proposal-to-separate-immigration-police.html

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Special training exercise for armed forces in Trinco

 The three armed forces have launched a joint training exercise in the Trincomalee area

The 10 day training exercise involves several units from the Army, Navy and Air Force where they will be trained to identify enemy targets and take necessary action.

Navy special boat squadrons and  air force helicopter squadrons in addition to army commandos and Special Forces are taking part in the training programme. 
 

 

 

Source: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/latest/10367-special-training-exercise-for-armed-forces-in-trinco.html

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Surfs Up

The 'Sri Lankan Pro'-surfing contest commenced in the Arugambay coastal belt today.  This is the largest Beach Pageant held in the Indian Ocean Region.

More than 100 foreigners are set to take part in the contest. Surfers from several countries will participate  in the 'Sri Lankan Pro' contest which will be held until next Sunday.

A large number of locals too have gathered for the function with several other attractions in the area.

Among them are the Magul Maha Viharaya, Muhudu Maha Viharaya, Kudumbigala Forest Sanctuary, Bird Sanctuary and Crocodile Rock.

 

Source: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/latest/10421-surfs-up.html

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Chile?s oil corporation to drill ten exploratory wells in Magallanes region

ENAP, Chile?s national oil and gas corporation announced it will invest 30 million dollars in drilling ten exploratory wells in Magallanes province, extreme south Patgonia and where the country?s main hydrocarbons resources are located.

Source: http://en.mercopress.com/2011/08/31/chile-s-oil-corporation-to-drill-ten-exploratory-wells-in-magallanes-region?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=main&utm_campaign=rss

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Planned Jerusalem parking lot to be built on stolen Palestinian land

JERUSALEM (Pal Telegraph) - Israeli authorities in Jerusalem are to build a parking lot on privately-owned Palestinian land in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of the city, a local resident told Ma'an.

Source: http://www.paltelegraph.com/palestine/west-bank/9997-planned-jerusalem-parking-lot-to-be-built-on-stolen-palestinian-land.html

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Mayor for Puttalam apologises for incidents in town

The Mayor for Puttalam K.A.Baiz today apologised for the incidents leading to the death of� Police Constable Wasantha Bandara and blamed the ‘underworld and anti-government factions’ for the incident.

Mr Baiz, a former Deputy Minister said that according to his information there were no ‘extreme groups’ ,� but those who were involved in various illegal activities in the city have been responsible for the attack.

“I have to apologise from the Police and the Sinhala community for the incident”, he told a Press conference.

He said that he would extend fullest support to arrest those responsible for the incident.�
�

Source: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/latest/10418-mayor-for-puttalam-apologises-for-incidents-in-town.html

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Shot in the leg

A man was shot in the leg while running away from a confrontation sparked by a vehicle that had sprayed him with water as it passed him in the vicinity of Garden of Eden, Dutch Quarter, around 8:30pm Thursday. The victim chased the vehicle in anger to confront the driver. After an argument erupted, three other men appeared, one of them armed with a pistol, and shot the victim's in his thigh as he ran away from the group. The victim was transported to St, Maarten Medical Centre, where he was met by police detectives later. The investigation is ongoing.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/19393-shot-in-the-leg-.html

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Arrigoni: Suspects to Be Tried in September

By Michele Giorgio

In recent days we have truly felt the loss of Vittorio Arrigoni. The man we loved to call 'Vik' spoiled us with accurate real time information on what was happening in Gaza, without neglecting the smallest of details. His contribution would have been invaluable during these hours that the Gaza Strip is reliving the fear of Israeli bombing, “targeted” attacks which are not really so targeted and tanks ready to engage in devastating raids deep into the strip of Palestinian land which always ends up paying for everyone. Even now Vik could have told us much, but young assassins allegedly from the Salafist group “Tawhid Wal Jihad” – apparently wanting to establish themselves as an armed group by means of the important kidnapping last 15 April, ripped Vittorio away from his family and friends and to many others in Italy (and not only Italy) who followed his daily updates about the plight of Gaza.

Did things really go as they seem? There are many unresolved mysteries and few certainties. In any case, the hypothesis that Vittorio’s murder was directed by external forces is not to be discarded. Perhaps we will finally know more on 8 September when the first hearing shall take place for at least one of the suspected killers. For the moment, this hypothesis is only an indiscretion passed along to Il Manifesto (Italian newspaper) by a well informed Gazan journalist with good sources of information within the Hamas government who has requested anonymity. Caution is obligatory in light of the reticent behaviour bordering on ambiguity shown by the Islamic movement since 15 April when Vik was killed. This comportment has not changed despite the assurances offered on many occasions to Vittorio’s family by the foreign secretary of the Hamas government, Ghazi Hamad.  

The government of Gaza has yet to make an official announcement about the inquiries made over the last months and through their representatives have advanced rather vague hypotheses to Il Manifesto about the organizers and those that carried out Vik’s murder. Not only that, but our source added that on 11 August a preliminary hearing of the trial was held.  And just two months ago, the Hamas government refused to share their files containing the results of the investigations done over the last months with the lawyers of Vittorio’s parents.

The investigation implemented by the military prosecutors in Gaza was closed in the second half of June and the files were delivered to the military judges that subsequently decided to put two Palestinians (presently in jail) allegedly involved in the killing to trial (two others were killed in a shootout with special Hamas troops immediately after Vik’s killing). It is clear that the trial and the publication of the minutes of the interrogations of the accused will have exceptional weight in understanding the reasons of Vittorio’s killing, who was held in high esteem among Palestinians in Gaza. Unfortunately however, the Gazan authorities have refused to release those files so far because Vik’s mother and father signed an imperfect power of attorney on behalf of the Centre for Palestinian Human Rights of Gaza.  According to the military judges in Gaza, the Arabic translation of the power of attorney should have been done by the Palestinian Delegation in Italy, with the proper stamp affixed, in addition to another stamp from the Italian Foreign Office.

Over the last weeks, the lawyers of the Arrigoni family in Italy have been working hard to meet the demands of Gaza and the stamps required by Hamas for the delivery of the files. The hope is to get them to Gaza before the opening of the trial. But the obstacles to overcome are still many, beginning with the heavy restrictive Israeli measures that limit the ability of Gaza residents to receive mail from another country (for important documents it is required to use a courier).  Additionally, it is uncertain whether or not there will be an open door trial with access permitted to the foreign press.

(Translation by Daniela Loffreda)

- This article was originally published on 23 August 2011 in the Italian newspaper Il Manifesto. (Reprinted in PalestineChronicle.com with permission.)

Source: http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=17064

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Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2011

Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2011 Stephanie Siriwardhana poses for a photo next to a car as she visits an auto race at GT Brasil raceway in Sao Paulo August 28, 2011. The Miss Universe pageant will be held in Sao Paulo on September 12.  REUTERS

Source: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/latest/10364-miss-universe-sri-lanka-2011-.html

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Syrian forces continue raids as Erdogan warns Assad

Syrian security forces on Monday raided a northern village Monday, killing at least one person and injuring many others, activists said. According to the AP, the operations in Sarameen in the northern Idlib province were accompanied by similar raids in the village of Heet near the border with Lebanon, along with a military buildup outside the central town of Rastan, near Homs.

� 2011 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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Source: http://www.albawaba.com/news/syrian-forces-continue-raids-erdogan-warns-assad-390368

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Patching pot holes

Contractor Windward Roads was busy in two locations simultaneously on Sunday preparing major roads for the heavy traffic that accompanies the opening of the school year today. One crew was busy patching pot holes on the Sucker Garden Road while the other laid a layer of asphalt on a section of the Welfare Road that was in such bad shape it caused motorists to slow almost to a halt in order to navigate the pot holes. The crews started from the early morning hours and were finished at approximately midday.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/19686-patching-pot-holes-.html

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The Apartheid of Identity: Lifting Zionism�s Cloak

By Shafiq Morton – Cape Town, South Africa

The other day a mainstream newspaper published a piece I wrote exhorting Israelis to throw off the cloak of Zionism. They had to do this, I said, to see the integrity of recent Palestinian efforts towards unity, negotiation and peaceful statehood. Egyptian-brokered efforts endorsed by Syria to bring Hamas and Fatah together after a four year impasse, had met with some success, especially after Turkey’s intervention in May this year.

I also said that the recent Arab Spring had changed the face of the Middle East.  In the same way the Arab street had lost its fear of its dictators, it was now equally unfazed by Israel. The diplomatic stage would never be the same again, and subservient actors such as Egypt’s Omar Suleiman were no longer on the scene.

In my piece I pointed out too that informed commentary on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict always made the critical distinction between Zionism and Judaism. Zionism was purely an ethnic, political ideology. To interrogate Zionism, therefore, was not anti-Semitic. It was an act of political discourse. 

I expected to be inundated by angry letter writers, vituperative SMS’s and tweets after my article appeared. I don’t know whether the newspaper’s editors protected me, but the few responses that came in on the letters page, were fairly subdued.

Whilst I would argue that most of the points made against me missed the point, the main objection seemed to be my portrayal of Hamas leader, Khalid Meshaal.  I had quoted Meshaal as saying that Hamas was prepared to negotiate towards a settlement based on the 1967 territories being unoccupied, and I suggested that this was – for Hamas –  a de-facto acknowledgement of the state of Israel as a “political reality”. 

In fact, in 2008 Meshaal had told former US president Jimmy Carter that Hamas would countenance Israel as a “neighbour” if Palestinians were allowed to live in peace. But instead of the critical subtleties being embraced, the blind panic of ideological fear-mongering began.  I was blithely accused of “dishonesty” and a litany of Meshaal statements were trotted out (most of them dating back to 2007) trying to prove that he was an aggressor trying to blast Jews off every inch of Palestine.  

This would have been amusing had my detractors not been so wide off the mark. For before his assassination in Gaza in 2004, Shaikh Ahmed Yasin – the bête noire of Israel – had been hinting that Hamas could accommodate an “interim” Palestinian state and hudna within the 1967 borders.  And before Israeli assassins killed him too, Shaikh Yasin’s successor Dr Abdul ‘Aziz Rantisi had told me that Hamas fully understood the differences between Zionism and Judaism. The organisation had no qualm with peaceful Jews, he said. It is my view that this was one of the reasons why both Shaikh Yassin and Dr Rantisi were murdered by the Israelis: all this talk of Hamas rapprochement didn’t fit the right-wing Israeli script of telling US presidents it couldn’t talk to an unaccommodating “terrorist” organisation. Meshaal’s standpoint then, was fully in line with party thinking, something re-iterated to me when I was an election observer in Gaza in 2006. 

It was also said to me that the old chestnut of the Hamas Charter “was not the Qur’an”. In other words, it was not regarded as something written in stone. These were all subtleties that I could not expect my detractors to understand. Nor could I hope that they would appreciate Meshaal’s undertaking in Cairo to honour UN Resolutions on Palestine, as well as international law and a collective re-definition of Palestinian resistance – which meant that rocket attacks from Gaza would have to cease.

This pathological distrust of Hamas – a key role player in the Middle East peace process whether Israel, the US or anybody else likes it or not – is, of course, hugely reminiscent of the apartheid era in the early 1980’s. This was when to mention dialogue with anti-apartheid movements such as the ANC, Azapo or the PAC would make the Afrikaner establishment choke on its sausage. 

The propaganda of the ANC being a red-communist-terrorist threat was as absolute and entrenched as the current image of Hamas being irrational, unreasonable and extreme. Israelis and Zionist apparatchiks in South Africa hate to be reminded of this, as much as they detest being reminded that Zionism is apartheid.

And this brings up another issue, the Russell Tribunal on Palestine, which will have its third sitting in South Africa in November this year. Its focus will be on the matter of apartheid being a crime against humanity. I can almost hear the clamour of indignation already. But then the Tribunal naysayers, as they proclaim Israel is not like South Africa, will forget an important point. They will forget that apartheid is no longer a specific term. Apartheid has become a generic classification of ethnic discrimination anywhere in the world. They will have to realise that South Africa, as bad as she was during apartheid, did not declare herself a “White Republic”. Israel, on the other hand, has openly declared itself a “Jewish state". For indigenous Arab Christians, Muslims and Jews this is a geographical and political apartheid that excludes them from their identities as Palestinians. 

And whilst Zionist apologists will whinge about that, it is exactly the same kind of exclusion black South Africans felt when they were denied citizenship of the land of their birth by the Nationalist Government in the 1960's, and confined to Bantustans on less than 20% of the land.

- Shafiq Morton is a presenter at Voice of the Cape radio station. He was South African Vodacom Community Journalist of the Year in 2008 and was recently voted amongst the world’s 500 most influential Muslims by the Jordanian Royal Islamic Strategies Study Centre headed by Prof John Esposito of Georgetown University. He contributed this article to PalestineChronicle.com.

Source: http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=17066

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Section of L.B. Scott Road collapses

�~ Theo re-iterates sanctions for sloppy work ~

�

SAUNDERS--A section of the recently re-opened L.B. Scott Road collapsed on Tuesday, raising questions about the quality of work executed as part of the Ebenezer drainage project.

� It also has prompted Minister of Infrastructure Theo Heyliger to reiterate his stance that contractors and site supervision firms should face sanctions for sloppy work. In this case, the contractor would be Windward Roads N.V. and the site supervision firm is Lievense N.V.

� Adding to Heyliger's statement, Department of New Works and Projects head Kurt Ruan said he was embarrassed by what had happened. Ruan said that although the situation had been rushed and he understood the pressures, government still expected quality work. "We still stand for quality. Either deliver a quality project or don't do it at all," Ruan said.

� He recalled that the other main contractor, MNO Vervat had had to redo a section of this same road twice last year after sloppy work was discovered. "These things keep re-occurring with these contractors and this is why the Minister has called for them to be held accountable in the future," Ruan said.

� Windward Roads Director Jan Hendrik Boekaar, currently off-island, said the situation was being addressed by the company, but offered no explanation of how or why the road had collapsed.

��However, sources close to the situation explained that it boiled down to sloppy work and, more specifically, a nearby trench that had not been backfilled after it was dug. It was explained that the nearby trench (see photo) had been dug to facilitate the laying of piping connecting nearby properties to the main sewage line, which runs under the road.

��The work crew apparently did not backfill the trench after the pipe was laid and connected to the main sewage line, leaving it void of proper compacting and creating a vacuum. With no compacting, the sand in the foundation of the road moved towards the lowest point of the trench, which weakened the base-course and asphalt and eventually caused the collapse of the road.

��"It's just plain sloppy work and it happens when you have several projects ongoing and contractors rushing to get them finished. It wasn't done with malicious intent or wilfully, but when you rush, these things tend to happen," the source said.

��When asked to confirm or deny the explanation of what happened, Ruan concurred.

� Minister of Infrastructure Theo Heyliger said in a brief statement that the issue was a prime example of why he had requested that the Ministry of VROMI consider implementing a type of "report card" for the two main contractors that execute roadwork in St. Maarten: Windward Roads and MNO Vervat.

� He said with only these two firms receiving the road repair, resurfacing and construction contracts, they must be held accountable if government was not satisfied with their work. He explained that the report card should be a part of the bidding process for any new road project.

� If government is not satisfied with the previous roadwork executed by a contractor, then the contractor should not receive the new contract, according to Heyliger. He said, "We can't spend NAf. 5 million on a road" only to have potholes six months later, and expressed the need for guarantees of five to 10 years for major road projects.

� In the meantime, the edge of the bricked sidewalk at the Dutch Quarter roundabout has also sunk away, apparently due to erosion from rainwater. A number of bricks disappeared into a hole after sand at the foundation of the sidewalk gave way. The contractor for this project was also Windward Roads and the site supervision firm was also Lievense.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/19757-section-of-lb-scott-road-collapses.html

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Special training exercise for armed forces in Trinco

 The three armed forces have launched a joint training exercise in the Trincomalee area

The 10 day training exercise involves several units from the Army, Navy and Air Force where they will be trained to identify enemy targets and take necessary action.

Navy special boat squadrons and  air force helicopter squadrons in addition to army commandos and Special Forces are taking part in the training programme. 
 

 

 

Source: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/latest/10367-special-training-exercise-for-armed-forces-in-trinco.html

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Police hunting for two armed robbers

~ Two attempted robbery suspects held ~

PHILIPSBURG--Police arrested two young men Monday shortly after they allegedly had participated in an attempted robbery on Front Street in the vicinity of Oranje School.

According to police spokesman Inspector Ricardo Henson, police are hunting for two other young men who committed an armed robbery at Easy Ta Chinese Restaurant on Cay Bay Road on Monday.

Henson said police patrols and detectives of the Special Robbery Unit had been directed to Easy Ta Chinese Restaurant following reports that "two unknown young men armed with a large knife and a handgun" had stormed into that establishment.

"While in the establishment the employees were threatened by the robbers. At one point during the robbery, one of the employees resisted and a shot was fired in his direction which fortunately missed him. The robbers then stole the small amount of cash from the cash register and fled the building," Henson said.

Reporting on the attempted robbery by two young men in the vicinity of Oranje School, Henson said that when police patrols arrived at the scene they had been told the two young men had run towards Back Street after the failed attempt. He said that while on Back Street the police patrol, which had been given a description of the suspects, had seen two young men who fitted the description.

"Both suspects from St Maarten with the initials S.E. and J.J.S. were arrested on the spot. During the search of one of the suspects a machete was found and confiscated. Both suspects were taken to the police station and handed over to the Special Robbery Unit. They remain in custody for further investigation," he said.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/19997-police-hunting-for-two-armed-robbers.html

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Elham Shaheen in a new film

Prominent Egyptian actress Elham Shaheen is preparing to film the scenes of her upcoming film titled ?Wasat Haz Al Balad? (In the center of Downtown). Filming of the first scenes is schedules to take place at the end of the upcoming month of September.

 

� 2011 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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Source: http://www.albawaba.com/entertainment/elham-shaheen-new-film-390427

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Libya: Rebel leader fears of destabilization

The leader of Libya's rebel government warned on Thursday of dangerous destabilization in the country without urgent financial assistance from the West to restore services to the population. According to Reuters, Mahmoud Jibril spoke after meeting Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who said Rome had started unfreezing 350 million euros of Libyan funds in Italian banks to help the rebel government run the state affairs.

� 2011 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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Source: http://www.albawaba.com/news/rebel-leader-fears-destabilization-389949

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Obama names labour expert as White House advisor in economics

US President Barack Obama announced Monday he has chosen Princeton University labour economist Alan Krueger to become the top White House economist, a White House official said.

Source: http://en.mercopress.com/2011/08/30/obama-names-labour-expert-as-white-house-advisor-in-economics?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=main&utm_campaign=rss

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St. Maarten is playing games, says Nieuwe Post NA director

~ Says NPNA can't continue to carry the burden ~

PHILIPSBURG--Nieuwe Post Nederlandse Antillen (NPNA) Director Franklin Sluis said on Thursday that NPNA cannot continue to carry the financial burden for services that are supposed to be executed by Postal Services St. Maarten (PSS) and is firm in its stance that the NPNA will terminate services in October this year.

Responding to comments made by Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams on Wednesday, Sluis said NPNA had exhausted all options in trying to cooperate with St. Maarten in setting up its postal service and likened what he said was St. Maarten's non-communication with NPNA to "game playing."

The PM told the media on Wednesday that she would travel to Cura�ao on August 23 to attend an NPNA general shareholders meeting to discuss several issues and guarantees to ensure that the transition to PSS does not affect adversely the services being provided in St. Maarten. One of the pertinent issues is the position of the employees who are currently employed by NPNA.

She said that although the transfer process had not gone "the way we would have liked it to go" it did not mean the government of St. Maarten would just accept that the services were terminated without taking into consideration the continued service to the people of St. Maarten.

Sluis said St. Maarten continued to make it sound like NPNA was not cooperating, while it was NPNA that had been left "holding the short stick" by St. Maarten's persistent habit of not meeting deadlines and/or properly communicating with NPNA. Sluis said the position of the 34 employees had been made clear to the union and the employees months ago.

"We informed all employees that they will see no difference other than they will be working for a different company. We told them and the union that we will make sure that they go seamlessly over to the new company with all benefits and acquired rights, as agreed on in meetings of August 14 and 15, 2010," Sluis said, adding that there had been no discussion whatsoever about termination of any employee. He said the employees had the knowledge to carry out the services in St. Maarten.

Sluis explained that NPNA had tried numerous times to create an action plan and identify the things St. Maarten would need to move forward with its services. "But one way or the other we are always waiting or don't get any response. Then deadlines pass and we have to start all over again. All of this while NPNA continues to hold the financial burdens for services in St. Maarten," Sluis said.

"We offered St. Maarten to freely set up its Post organisation in three months time. We informed them, informed them what they would need in terms of investment for software, inventory, furniture, vehicles, etc. The deadline that we set for this offer passed with no response. After the deadline passed we received a letter informing us that they [St. Maarten, ed.] don't believe we can do it in three months."

Sluis added that although NPNA had sent at least three draft action plans to St. Maarten, there had been "no progress whatsoever on any." He said the only response to any action plan had come after NPNA reminded St. Maarten that a response had not been provided and St. Maarten only then had responded with, "We are in review and will get back to you."

He said the last deadline, July 8, had passed "without even one phone call from St. Maarten telling us we cannot make the deadline. I had to call St. Maarten again to see what's going on. We finally received a response four or five days after the deadline declining a proposal/action plan we agreed on during a meeting. Then is when we thought this must be a game," Sluis said.

NPNA decided at that point that it was no longer financially responsible to carry the financial burden while those responsible "keep postponing because they don't have the burden," Sluis said.

"October 2011 will be exactly one year that NPNA would be providing services in St. Maarten without having a concession. We cannot print a stamp to sell on the international market. PSS has the concession, is selling stamps, reaping the financial benefits while NPNA carries the burden. We have no choice, but to end it in October," he concluded.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/19836-st-maarten-is-playing-games-says-nieuwe-post-na-director.html

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MPs locked out of parking lot

PHILIPSBURG--Parking spaces allocated to Members of Parliament (MPs) were available in the Clem Labega Square parking lot on Monday, but not accessible as a barricade blocked the way. This left the some 20 spots vacant.

MPs were informed by President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell over the weekend that the parking spaces to the RBTT end of the lot were available for them. However, with no security guard to remove the barricade they had to find alternative parking.

Arrindell said she was assured by government that a security guard would be present to assist the MPs. No one showed up for duty. She is seeking to remedy the situation.

Arrindell had also come under some criticism for the spaces being allocated in the parking lot, a move that would lessen government's revenue.

She told The Daily Herald that a request for parking in the parking lot of the Government Administration Building accompanied with a drawing was submitted to government. This was responded to with the spaces in Clem Labega Square. "We did not ask to be there."

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/19497-mps-locked-out-of-parking-lot-.html

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The Iftar Event

Info2cell.com, the leading mobile application content and service provider in the Middle East, has recently hosted an Iftar event for its employees. The Iftar, which was held recently at the Ward Restaurant in Amman, was as one of the activities organised by Info2cell.com to commemorate the holy month of Ramadan.

Orient Planet PR & Marketing Communications

� 2011 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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Source: http://www.albawaba.com/business/pr/iftar-event-390305

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Arrigoni: Suspects to Be Tried in September

By Michele Giorgio

In recent days we have truly felt the loss of Vittorio Arrigoni. The man we loved to call 'Vik' spoiled us with accurate real time information on what was happening in Gaza, without neglecting the smallest of details. His contribution would have been invaluable during these hours that the Gaza Strip is reliving the fear of Israeli bombing, “targeted” attacks which are not really so targeted and tanks ready to engage in devastating raids deep into the strip of Palestinian land which always ends up paying for everyone. Even now Vik could have told us much, but young assassins allegedly from the Salafist group “Tawhid Wal Jihad” – apparently wanting to establish themselves as an armed group by means of the important kidnapping last 15 April, ripped Vittorio away from his family and friends and to many others in Italy (and not only Italy) who followed his daily updates about the plight of Gaza.

Did things really go as they seem? There are many unresolved mysteries and few certainties. In any case, the hypothesis that Vittorio’s murder was directed by external forces is not to be discarded. Perhaps we will finally know more on 8 September when the first hearing shall take place for at least one of the suspected killers. For the moment, this hypothesis is only an indiscretion passed along to Il Manifesto (Italian newspaper) by a well informed Gazan journalist with good sources of information within the Hamas government who has requested anonymity. Caution is obligatory in light of the reticent behaviour bordering on ambiguity shown by the Islamic movement since 15 April when Vik was killed. This comportment has not changed despite the assurances offered on many occasions to Vittorio’s family by the foreign secretary of the Hamas government, Ghazi Hamad.  

The government of Gaza has yet to make an official announcement about the inquiries made over the last months and through their representatives have advanced rather vague hypotheses to Il Manifesto about the organizers and those that carried out Vik’s murder. Not only that, but our source added that on 11 August a preliminary hearing of the trial was held.  And just two months ago, the Hamas government refused to share their files containing the results of the investigations done over the last months with the lawyers of Vittorio’s parents.

The investigation implemented by the military prosecutors in Gaza was closed in the second half of June and the files were delivered to the military judges that subsequently decided to put two Palestinians (presently in jail) allegedly involved in the killing to trial (two others were killed in a shootout with special Hamas troops immediately after Vik’s killing). It is clear that the trial and the publication of the minutes of the interrogations of the accused will have exceptional weight in understanding the reasons of Vittorio’s killing, who was held in high esteem among Palestinians in Gaza. Unfortunately however, the Gazan authorities have refused to release those files so far because Vik’s mother and father signed an imperfect power of attorney on behalf of the Centre for Palestinian Human Rights of Gaza.  According to the military judges in Gaza, the Arabic translation of the power of attorney should have been done by the Palestinian Delegation in Italy, with the proper stamp affixed, in addition to another stamp from the Italian Foreign Office.

Over the last weeks, the lawyers of the Arrigoni family in Italy have been working hard to meet the demands of Gaza and the stamps required by Hamas for the delivery of the files. The hope is to get them to Gaza before the opening of the trial. But the obstacles to overcome are still many, beginning with the heavy restrictive Israeli measures that limit the ability of Gaza residents to receive mail from another country (for important documents it is required to use a courier).  Additionally, it is uncertain whether or not there will be an open door trial with access permitted to the foreign press.

(Translation by Daniela Loffreda)

- This article was originally published on 23 August 2011 in the Italian newspaper Il Manifesto. (Reprinted in PalestineChronicle.com with permission.)

Source: http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=17064

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8 dead in Peru after mini bus falls into canal

8 people were killed and as many injured when a minibus toppled into a canal in Peru. Rescue personnel, divers and traffic police are on site.

Source: http://www.paltelegraph.com/world/world-news/9993-8-dead-in-peru-after-mini-bus-falls-into-canal.html

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Rebel forces control Gaddafi complex

Libyan rebels have entered Muammar Gaddafi's house after breaking into his Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli on Tuesday, Al Jazeera television reported. One rebel confirmed to Al Arabiya TV that the rebels entered the house of Gaddafi and they are now in control of about 70% of the compound.?Our forces are surrounding Bab al-Azizya. There is a fierce battle going on there. We are now controlling one of the gates, the western entrance,? Colonel Ahmed Omar Bani told AFP.

Reuters added rebels were firing shots into the air from within the compound in celebration.

� 2011 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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Source: http://www.albawaba.com/news/rebel-forces-control-gaddafi-complex-389620

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Third round of chemotherapy for Chavez, but this time in Venezuela

President Hugo Chavez will undergo a third round of chemotherapy for cancer at home in Venezuela beginning Monday, he said, instead of travelling to Cuba where he had two previous rounds of treatment.

Source: http://en.mercopress.com/2011/08/29/third-round-of-chemotherapy-for-chavez-but-this-time-in-venezuela?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=main&utm_campaign=rss

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Dr. Pierre Raffoul?s speech in the name of General Aoun at the dinner held by the campaign of "Syria's fine"

Ladies and gentlemen,As I stand here with you today, the Arab World is in turmoil, and the wider world is still waging wars with no end in sight. But as I stand here, in the cradle of the three religions, I can only feel how overwhelming this place is. A few meters away, stands the chapel of St Paul on the path he walked. Not too far from it, in the Umayyad mosque, John the Baptist?s head rests. Also close is Damascus old Jewish quarter, with Al Faranj synagogue still celebrating Jewish religious rites. For a moment, this seems surreal in a world that has, for some odd reason, has embraced the doctrine of the clash of civilizations as a rule and not as an exception. But the Damascus I have just described is a symbol; a symbol that should be protected by all means, a symbol to be lived by. Ladies and gentlemen,The venue where one speaks often shed its halo on a speaker, and Damascus?s halo is too significant to be ignored. It is too meaningful to be put behind. It is too loud to be disregarded and the mission it carries is too momentous to be overlooked. This great city of the Levant is a living proof that civilizations do live together. Civilizations only clash when extremism plagues the minds and practices of its people, a kind of hideous extremism fuelled by external and internal greed with the only aim of eradicating the one with a different belief. Ladies and gentlemen,The Arab World is indeed in turmoil, and the wider world is still waging wars with no end in sight. But we, as officials and laymen, have the duty to defend and preserve the mission our countries hold, one that, long before the West adopted democracy, represented the corner stone of democracy, tolerance. This is what we were born in this part of the world to accomplish and this is what we will accomplish.

Source: http://www.tayyar.org/Tayyar/News/PoliticalNews/en-US/raffoul-syria-ed-273.htm

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