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Amazon Pulls ‘Sexy Burqa’ Halloween Costume

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Online retail giant Amazon was forced to remove a skimpy low-cut black dress, complete with veil, advertised on its website as a “ladies sexy Saudi burka Islamic costume,” after scores of infuriated users labeled it “racist” and “disgusting.”

Online shoppers surfing Amazon’s UK website for new ideas for upcoming Halloween dress-up parties stumbled upon the garment on Thursday. The mini-dress priced at £18.99 ($23) is apparently a take on the conservative Arab women’s swimwear, except that it barely covers anything but the face, with a niqab leaving only the eyes visible.

Upon making the find, offended users flocked to the item’s page to vent outrage, accusing the seller of cultural appropriation, racism, and disparaging the Islamic religion.

“Is this some sort of mockery to the religion?” one of the users asked, while another said “it’s not a joke.”

“Whoever you are fear Allah,” the user added.

“You’re all disgusting racists. My culture is not your costume,” another offended person wrote in the feedback section.

“A person’s culture is NOT a fancy dress costume,” yet another angry shopper said.

Amazon UK deleted the “offensive” burka costume following the uproar, announcing that “the product is no longer available.” The company issued a statement urging sellers to “follow selling guidelines” and threatening violators with punitive action “including potential removal of their account.”


Wikileaks Releases Over 2,000 Emails From Clinton Campaign Chair

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The internet whistleblowing group Wikileaks released over 2,000 emails involving Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. The release comes the same day the State Department published 350 emails previously deleted from Clinton’s private server.

At first inspection the emails date as far back as 2008 to 2016 and cover the gamut from the mundane like “Hillary Clinton’s Chipotle Order” to “Call with HRC” to “My position on the Iran deal” sent from Nancy Rotering to John Podesta.

Wikileaks said Podesta is a long-term associate of the Clintons and served as Bill Clinton’s chief of staff from 1998 to 2001.

Podesta served during Bill Clinton administration. Wikileaks warned on its 10th anniversary it would be releasing more emails.

In August, the AP revealed that while Donald Trump’s campaign chair Paul Manafort worked for Ukraine’s former government, he funneled some $2.2 million in cash to two Washington lobbying firms, including the Clinton-connected Podesta Group.

Ukraine’s current government, which goes back to the US-backed February 2014 coup that overthrew President Viktor Yanukovich, has claimed that Manafort had pocketed more than $12 million as a lobbyist and consultant for the “pro-Russian regime.”

Between 2012 and 2014, Manafort and his business associate Rick Gates steered at least $1.13 million in lobbying fees to the Podesta Group Inc. and another $1.07 million to Mercury LLC, AP reported on Thursday.

The money came from the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine, a nonprofit “governed by a board that initially included parliament members” from the ruling Party of Regions, according to AP.

The founder and chairman of the Podesta Group is Tony Podesta – brother of John Podesta, Bill Clinton’s former chief of staff and current campaign chairman for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Mercury is headed by Vin Weber, a former congressman and adviser to 2012 Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

The State Department released 250 pages of Clinton’s emails, following a court order to release 360 pages last month.

Newly disclosed emails show top Obama administration officials in close contact with Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2015 about potential fallout from the former secretary of state’s use of a private email server.

According to those email disclosures, the White House was instructing Secretary of State John Kerry to avoid questions about Clinton’s email arrangements, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The emails were obtained by the Republican National Committee as part of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking records of Clinton’s time in office.

Many of the newly released emails include the sending of news articles such as “World events test ‘No Drama Obama’” on President Obama’s scheduled trip to Latin America in 2011 critical of his leadership over questions like the no-fly zone in Libya.

Others are just notes “Mendez called”, “Cheryl tried you back thru ops. Think you were trying to reach her a few hours ago,” and “I am on my way back.”

Among them is a 2001 discussion paper from Huma Abedin on thoughts on “post-Gaddafi Assistance & Governance” which talked about how to form a new Libya government, a new constitution, shore up oil contracts to revenue, understand past conflicts with the Gaddafi administration and its alleged failure to share hydrocarbon dollars, and the theft of private property from members of the monarchy.

Pollution Controls As Infrastructure Investment – Analysis

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Game theory techniques and regarding pollution control as infrastructure could end haze over Indonesia’s palm oil industry.

By Euston Quah and Joergen Oerstroem Moeller*

Despite political pressures over many years and various enforcement measures, palm oil producers in Indonesia continue to slash and burn to clear land, harassing neighboring countries with transboundary pollution.

Simple economics may offer a new approach for slash-and-burn agriculture, which if successful might also have relevance for similar environmental encroachments. Farmers and plantations must find it profitable to ditch slash and burn, and those demanding a haze-free life must contribute financing. Benefits and costs must be designed in such a way that no alternative exists making countries better off – creating a win/win situation for everybody taking part.

Palm oil is the world’s most competitive vegetable oil with global production more than doubling since 2000 and expected to grow even more as advanced economies favor natural oils over artificial trans-fats for health reasons. The palms, native to Africa, were transferred to Malaysia in the 20th century and later to Indonesia.

Today, that region produces more than 80 percent of the world’s palm oil.

Economic losses in health, tourism and canceled flights along with school and business closures are an indisputable consequence of haze, but do not hit those responsible. The Asian Development Bank estimated the 1997 costs of haze to be US$9 billion, and that does not include the negative images of deforestation and pollution, highlighted by activists and in turn leading to decreased foreign direct investment. Often, the burning of fields gets out of control, triggering wildfires with impacts that are difficult to estimate.

The cost of switching to non-burning methods is estimated at US$1.2 billion.

The only way to change producers’ behavior is bridging the cost difference between slash-and-burn versus non-burning methods. Those who resent the pollution must invest $1.2 billion to avoid the $9 billion in costs.

Uniform cross-the-board measures won’t work. About 40 percent of the haze originates from plantations run by large corporations and 60 percent from small landholders including subsistence and indigenous farmers. The large corporations have the financial resources to ditch slash-and-burn methods, but the small operators do not and cling to traditions.

Market forces won’t work. Slash-and-burn is less costly than environmentally friendly methods relying on manpower, heavy machinery or new technologies. Under current market conditions – low prices due increasing supply amid falling demand as well as currency volatility and competition from soybean oil – the initial investment will, at best, be profitable only in the long run and burden the producer with a short-term cash drain.

If forced to switch to expensive methods and if the governments could enforce regulations, small operators would close. Lacking coordination or influence, small farmers cannot easily hike the market price for palm oil and they resist pressure, legislation and rules. Politicians are understandably reluctant to target a major contributor to the domestic economy, estimated at about 5 percent of Indonesia’s GDP.

Governments and environmentalists could disrupt the economic calculus by paying rewards or subsidies to small landholders that use haze-free methods. Such a system anchored in financial rewards or subsidies, aiming to improve methods and increase enforcement, would change the economic calculus. High rewards for those who act swiftly could create a group of pioneers who demonstrate the advantages. New technologies and synergies might eventually reduce cost differences and the need for subsidies, but development of new technology is held back by a lack of economic incentives. Such a system would not avoid payouts to large corporate plantations, and organizers could borrow from methods in European countries that encourage collecting waste to generate energy.

The large corporations could do more to reduce haze, but many hide behind the small farmers and the government is lenient. Media reports this year disclosed fires in concession areas managed by six companies.

The only solution is to finance the costs for small stakeholders to switch methods of land clearance. It may seem unfair – like extortion – to ask the victims to pay out to avoid being harmed. But realistically, many in Southeast Asia may be willing to pay to end the annual choking haze that can last three to four months. Such a policy conforms with welfare economics: A policy enhances welfare if those who are better off can compensate those who lose and still be better off.

If such a policy were left to countries directly involved in financing, then the amount should be distributed according to relative negative impact. A 2004 study suggests that about 94 percent of the victim damages are in Indonesia, 5 percent in Malaysia and 1 percent in Singapore. Game theory economics suggests that if victims share the costs of controlling pollution in proportion to their damages then no country would be worse off, no country should be better off by leaving the agreement and no alternatives exist that make some countries better off.

But political realities rarely work as smoothly as economic theory. Haze has so far been classified as an environmental problem, relevant only for those producing the pollution and those suffering from the effects. Such a narrow focus might be replaced by classifying such haze as an element in economic and social development. As such, preventing the burning and the economic consequences belongs among the many activities undertaken by developed countries as well as international institutions like the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the newly born Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank under the label of development assistance.

Lending expertise and financial support would improve environmental conditions in Southeast Asia, saving the region’s countries billions of dollars while modernizing production methods used primarily by small landholders. The benefits of transforming this agricultural sector in Malaysia and Indonesia might deliver spinoffs to other sectors in the economy including agricultural machinery. And over the long term, the health benefits might be considerable as is the case for switching to a more modern production structure and obliterating the image of a sector mired in outdated methods. Another substantial if nontangible benefit: Accusations by activists about the sector not being a good corporate citizen would no longer be warranted.

The world is trying to get a handle on climate change and environmental problems with limited success. Agreements to limit carbon dioxide emissions as a result of the Paris agreement, to go in effect in November, are encouraging but not enough.

A rewards system for small stakeholders in economies may serve as a template for similar cross-border environmental problems to analyze production methods, technology and market structure and develop financing and enforcement systems, making it profitable for polluters to switch into cleaner production methods.

The underlying assumptions include that people are willing to pay for not enduring pollution, small stakeholders will respond to economic incentives, and international financial institutions are prepared to classify reduction of pollution as infrastructure improvements and therefore eligible for support. If so, the world may have a much-needed tool to act against global pollution.

*Euston Quah is professor and head of economics with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He is also president of the Economic Society of Singapore. Joergen Oerstroem Moeller is visiting senior fellow, ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore. He is also adjunct professor with the Singapore Management University and Copenhagen Business School and an honorary alumni of the University of Copenhagen.

US Seeks War Crimes Probe Into Russia-Syria Killing Spree

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The United States on Friday demanded a war crimes investigation into the ferocious bombing campaign of Aleppo, accusing Syria and its Russian ally of “terrorizing” civilians in the devastated city.

US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke ahead of discussions on a draft UN Security Council resolution that would call for an end to the Russian-backed onslaught on Aleppo.

The two-week assault by President Bashar Assad’s forces has sparked a global outcry after airstrikes on hospitals and other civilian infrastructure.

“These are acts that beg for an appropriate investigation — war crimes. And those that commit these will be and should be held accountable for their actions,” Kerry told reporters in Washington.

He said Moscow and Damascus “owe the world more than an explanation about why they keep hitting hospitals and medical facilities, children and women.

“This is a targeted strategy to terrorize civilians and to kill anybody and everybody who is in the way of their military objectives.”

Raids earlier this week destroyed the largest hospital in the rebel-controlled east, and Kerry said on Friday another strike on a medical facility overnight killed 20 people.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Russia to use its influence with the Syrian government to end the bombardment of Aleppo, as her government opened the door to possible sanctions against Russia for its role in the conflict.

Merkel said there was no basis in international law for bombing hospitals and Moscow should use its influence with Assad to end the bombing of civilians. “Russia has a lot of influence on Assad. We must end these atrocious crimes,” Merkel told an audience of party members in Germany.

In New York, the UN Security Council began an emergency meeting on the war at Russia’s request.

“The top priority is to stop the bloodbath in Aleppo,” French Ambassador Francois Delattre told reporters as he headed into closed-door talks.

Security Council members have discussed for a week a French-drafted UN resolution calling for a cease-fire.
Russia threatened to use its veto to block the French-drafted UN resolution.

“I cannot possibly see how we can let this resolution pass,” Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters when asked whether he would resort to the veto.

Following a closed-door Security Council meeting on Syria, Churkin said the French measure was “hastily put together,” adding, “I believe this is not designed to make progress, but to cause a Russian veto.”

French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the resolution has “very strong support” within the 15-member council and that “there was no time to waste” for addressing the unfolding disaster in Aleppo.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault in Washington warned that an expected Saturday vote on the proposed Aleppo truce was “a moment of truth for all members of the Security Council.”

Friday’s talks come after UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura warned Aleppo could be totally destroyed before the end of the year.

De Mistura also called on the regime and Russia to halt strikes if fighters from the former Al-Nusra Front, now known as Fateh Al-Sham Front, left the city, even offering to escort them out himself.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday he could support a UN plan for the faction to leave Aleppo if other rebel groups renounced their ties to the group.

“If Nusra leaves with its arms in the direction of Idlib… then for the sake of saving Aleppo we are ready to support such an approach and would be ready to call on the Syrian government to agree to this,” Lavrov told Russian television.

Russia’s parliament on Friday ratified a deal with Syria on the “indefinite” deployment of its forces in the country.

Once Syria’s economic powerhouse, Aleppo has been ravaged by the war that has killed more than 300,000 since it began in March 2011.

At least 250,000 people remain in east Aleppo, under near-continuous siege for months and now facing some of the most intense bombardment yet.

Battle For Mosul And Challenge For Abadi Government – OpEd

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By Abdulrahman Al-Rashed*

Mosul is the land, the second greatest city in Iraq, where the decisive battle is expected to take place. The world has been waiting for two years for this fight between the Iraqi forces and the international coalition on the one hand, and Daesh militants on the other. It cannot be limited to a clash between good and the evil even if it is clear that the terrorist organization named Daesh is the evil side and the acknowledged enemy.

However, even before the battle takes place, serious problems have surfaced over its management, namely about the role of each participating army and the course of the war. The fate of the city after the battle is over and the destiny of hundreds of thousands expected to be displaced are also matters of concern.

Generals from the US, Iraq, Iran, Turkey and other countries, are rushing to Mosul and its vicinity. All of them consider this as the decisive battle to defeat Daesh that has embarrassed world powers with its swift spread and control over one-third of the territories of two large countries like Iraq and Syria. The group has been committing unprecedented genocide of ethnic groups including even the Arabs and Sunni Kurds who are opposed to them.

Everyone wants to have the honor of defeating Daesh. There are high expectations as they are all confident that they will finally liberate Mosul, even if there are no estimates about the duration of the war and its human cost, especially of civilians used by Daesh as human shields.

If civilians survive Daesh, they stand a chance of falling into the grip of the Popular Mobilization Militias, some of which are sectarian terrorist outfits just like Daesh.

Moreover, another problem has been added to these set of challenges with the Turkish military settled on the outskirts of the besieged city. The Iraqi government has asked Ankara to withdraw its forces, estimated to be less than 2,000 soldiers, and called it illegal as they do not have the authorization of the sovereign state.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a clear answer to this when he told Jamal Khashoggi, in an interview on Rotana channel, that he would not allow the deportation of Sunni Iraqi Arabs and Turkmen. This was a clear accusation toward the Iraqi government. He said that he does not trust Iraqi government’s battle management and its dealings with the Sunni Turkmen and Arab components.

The Turkish position of intervening in Mosul has raised many questions. This is especially because Ankara has failed to intervene earlier to protect people of the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo and the neighboring Turkish border but is now eager to intervene on the other side of the region.

The Iraqi government has failed many times in the past to protect its Sunni citizens in battles in Anbar province, the latest being in Fallujah and Ramadi. The Popular Mobilization Militias went into these battles and attacked civilians in the two Sunni cities after asking them to evacuate the region.

Nineveh and its capital Mosul are Iraq’s most diversified provinces in terms of ethnicities (Kurds, Turkmen and Arabs) and sects (Sunnis, Shiites and Yazidis). We haven’t heard yet of any guarantee from the Iraqi government regarding the safety of the people, except for verbal pledges that are no longer trusted. How can Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi’s government deal with this difficult, embarrassing and dangerous situation?

In my opinion, the prime minister can go to Ankara and negotiate with the Turkish government. He should accept the Turkish troops within the forces involved in the battle.

This way he will avoid confrontation that might arise as a result of the battle to liberate Mosul, when every force will be trying to take control. If an Iraqi-Turkish agreement is indeed reached before the battle with Daesh, it would be reassuring for the Iraqi Turkmen, as well as the Sunni Arabs.

For the first time after the toppling of Saddam’s regime, the marginalized and oppressed groups will feel safe. These groups have led the revolution against Baghdad. Legitimizing the Turkish forces’ presence in Iraq will serve the Abadi government in managing the country and not just the province of Nineveh. It will save him from embarrassment.

*Abdulrahman Al-Rashed is a veteran and internationally acclaimed columnist. He is the former general manager of Al Arabiya news channel and ex-editor in chief of Asharq Al-Awsat.

High Number Of Pesticides Within Colonies Linked To Honey Bee Deaths

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Honey bee colonies in the United States have been dying at high rates for over a decade, and agricultural pesticides–including fungicides, herbicides and insecticides–are often implicated as major culprits. Until now, most scientific studies have looked at pesticides one at a time, rather than investigating the effects of multiple real-world pesticide exposures within a colony.

A new study is the first to systematically assess multiple pesticides that accumulate within bee colonies. The researchers found that the number of different pesticides within a colony–regardless of dose–closely correlates with colony death. The results also suggest that some fungicides, often regarded as safe for bees, correlate with high rates of colony deaths. The study appeared online September 15, 2016, in the journal Nature Scientific Reports.

“Our results fly in the face of one of the basic tenets of toxicology: that the dose makes the poison,” said Dennis vanEngelsdorp, an assistant professor of entomology at UMD and senior author on the study. “We found that the number of different compounds was highly predictive of colony death, which suggests that the addition of more compounds somehow overwhelms the bees’ ability to detoxify themselves.”

The researchers followed 91 honey bee colonies, owned by three different migratory commercial beekeepers, for an entire agricultural season. The colonies began their journey in Florida and moved up the East Coast, providing pollination services for different crops along the way. They also spent time in locations meant for honey production, as well as “holding areas” where beekeepers prepare large numbers of colonies for upcoming pollination contracts.

A total of 93 different pesticide compounds found their way into the colonies over the course of the season, accumulating in the wax, in processed pollen known as bee bread and in the bodies of nurse bees. At every stop along the beekeepers’ itinerary, the researchers assessed three different parameters within each colony: the total number of pesticides; the total number of “relevant” pesticides (defined as those above a minimum threshold of toxicity); and each colony’s “hazard quotient,” a measure devised by other researchers to integrate the total hazard posed to each colony by the cumulative toxicity of all pesticides present.

All three measures correlated with a higher probability of colony death or queen failure. In addition, the researchers found between five and 20 different pesticide residues in every sample of bee bread that exceeded a hazard quotient’s safety threshold. The highest number of pesticides accumulated in the colonies early on, shortly after beekeepers placed colonies into early season flowering crops like apples and blueberries. Honey production stopovers and holding areas offered the bees some respite from further contamination.

The study results also suggest that some fungicides, which have led to the mortality of honey bee larvae in lab studies, could have toxic effects on colony survival in the field. In the current study, pesticides with a particular mode of action also corresponded to higher colony mortality. For example, the fungicides most closely linked to queen deaths and colony mortality disrupted sterols–compounds that are essential for fungal development and survival.

“We were surprised to find such an abundance of fungicides inside the hives, but it was even more surprising to find that fungicides are linked to imminent colony mortality,” said Kirsten Traynor, a postdoctoral researcher in entomology at UMD and lead author on the study. “These compounds have long been thought to be safe for bees. We’re seeing them at higher doses than the chemicals beekeepers apply directly to the colonies to control varroa mites. So that is particularly concerning.”

The current study borrows a concept from human cancer research: the “exposome,” or the sum total of chemicals an organism is exposed to over its lifetime. But instead of looking at individual bees, the researchers assessed each colony as a single “superorganism” that functions as a single, cohesive unit.

Within this framework, the researchers tracked the death of queen bees, which is a life-threatening event for the colony as a whole. In some cases, a colony is able to create a new queen, but if those efforts fail the entire colony will die. In the current study, colonies with very low pesticide contamination in the wax experienced no queen events, while all colonies with high pesticide contamination in the wax lost a queen during the beekeeping season.

“This is a huge problem for beekeepers currently. Not long ago, a queen would typically last up to two years. But now many commercial beekeepers replace the queens in at least half of their colonies every spring in the hopes that this will prevent premature queen deaths,” Traynor explained. “Even with such measures, many queens still don’t make it through one season.”

The research team did not find a significant contribution from neonicotinoid pesticides. These compounds, derived from nicotine, are currently some of the most common pesticides in use globally. Because of their ubiquitous use, neonicotinoids have received significant media attention for their potential role in honey bee declines.

“We just did not find neonicotinoids in the colonies,” vanEngelsdorp explained. “There were some trace residues of neonicotinoids in a few samples, but not nearly on par with other compounds. However, it’s possible we did not test the right matrix–we did not test nectar, for example–or that the product breaks down faster than others in the collection process or that neonicotinoids are simply not very prevalent when crops are flowering.”

Because industrial practices have changed since the researchers collected the data for this study, Traynor and vanEngelsdorp acknowledge that further research could reveal new patterns in the relationship between pesticides and honey bee health. But the current study nonetheless offers some important insights for beekeepers and farmers alike.

“We have to figure out ways to reduce the amount of products that bees are exposed to while still helping farmers produce their crops,” vanEngelsdorp said. “This will require careful examination of spray plans, to make sure we only use the products we need, when we need them, in order to reduce the number of products bees are exposed to while pollinating different crops.”

New UN Secretary General Guterres Nominee Committed Catholic

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The United Nations Security Council has selected committed Catholic and human rights advocate as the nominee for Secretary General of the international organization.

“I have two words to describe what I’m feeling now – gratitude and humility,” António Guterres said.

“Humility about the huge challenges ahead of us, the terrible complexity of the modern world. But it is also humility that is required to serve the most vulnerable, victims of conflicts, of terrorism, rights violations, poverty and injustices of this world.”

Should Guterres’ nomination be approved by the 193-member UN General Assembly, he will begin his tenure as UN Secretary General Jan. 1, 2017. Guterres will replace outgoing secretary general Ban Ki-moon, who has served two five-year terms.

From 2005 to the end of 2015, Guterres ran the UN refugee agency, where he has oversaw aid and assistance for more than 60 million refugees and displaced persons around the world. As high commissioner, Guterres reformed the internal administration of the UN Refugee Agency and coordinated and expanded the response to the Syrian refugee crisis and refugee crises in Iraq, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among other locations.

While at the UN, Guterres also received a reputation for being a skilled diplomat, as well as for challenging wealthier and more powerful nations to do more to help the vulnerable and those facing human rights crises.

Previous to his work at the UN, Guterres also helped to found Portugal’s Socialist party and served as head of the party and then Prime Minister of the country from 1995-2002. Wile prime minister, he helped overturn attempts to legalize abortion in Portugal.

Guterres was also involved in combating Portugal’s heroin addiction problem through decriminalization accompanied by the promotion of therapy, family support, and social reintegration. In the 15 years since the implementation of the program, drug use and health problems related to addiction have dropped precipitously.

Guterres was selected as the nominee for UN Secretary General by representatives of the 15-member Security Council, which includes the United States, United Kingom, France, Russia and China, along with 10 temporary members from around the world. Also running for the position were 13 other candidates, including a record seven women. The United Nations has not been led by a woman in its 71-year history.

While Guterres has been the front runner due to his strong record with refugees and human rights, his selection did not come without conflict. His nomination has been criticized by those who hoped a woman would lead the international organization. Guterres has also been opposed by abortion-supporting organizations and advocates of same-sex marriage, who decry his for his defense of life as well as statements he has made in the past against same-sex marriage and concerns he has raised regarding the LGBT movement.

To address the issue of gender equality within the United Nations, Guterres has vowed gender parity in making appointments to high-level UN positions.

China Selects ‘Xuan Zang’ For Foreign-Language Oscars Category

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China has selected historical epic Xuan Zang as its contender in the best foreign-language category at the 89th Academy Awards, The Hollywood Reporter reveals.

The film, directed by Huo Jianqi, depicts the legendary seventh-century spiritual journey of Buddhist monk Xuanzang from China to India. Huang Xiaoming plays the monk who took 17 years to complete his journey.

Despite critical favor, Xuan Zang made only $5 million at the Chinese box office.

Produced by Wong Kar-wai, Xuan Zang is notable as the first major China-India co-production. China Film Corporation and India’s Eros International are the main producers behind the film.

The story of Xuanzang has been a popular one for Chinese cinema in recent years, being the basis, although with a fantastical bent, of The Monkey King franchise, comedy Journey to the West and the animated hit Monkey King: Hero Is Back.

China has been nominated twice in the best foreign-language film category at the Oscars, but it has never won.


Operation Tinombala: Indonesia’s New Counter-Terrorism Strategy – Analysis

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The serious threat posed by the self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has led to an expansion of the Indonesian military’s role in counter-terrorism. This was demonstrated in Operation Tinombala that disabled the Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (MIT) and its leaders.

By Jasminder Singh*

The success of the combined Indonesian military and police operation against the home-grown militants network in Eastern Indonesia, named Operation Tinombala, highlights the new phase of the republic’s counter terrorism strategy. This phase was brought about by the rise of the self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as IS, whose members and supporters possessed well-trained combat skills and pursue a more symmetrical capability against the security forces.

The Indonesian political leadership in the beginning of 2015 tasked the military (TNI) with the responsibility of terminating the threat posed by the MIT, led by the elusive Santoso. In June 2015 the military’s Joint Special Operations Command was launched. The military undertook Operation Tinombala and worked in concert with the police to terminate the group’s top leaders. For all intents and purposes the group has been largely neutralised.

Background to TNI’s Counter-terrorism Role

Southeast Asia’s largest component of ISIS is from Indonesia. ISIS’ Southeast Asian militant arm, known as Katibah Nusantara, is led and manned mainly by Indonesians. Also, the police had not been able to neutralise the militant threat posed by Santoso and the Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (MIT) in the jungles of Central Sulawesi, which had seen the unprecedented participation of foreign Uighur fighters.

With the establishment of Wilayah Philippines by the Islamic State in South Philippines, again, Indonesia’s police-led counter terrorism units have not been very successful in stopping the migration of Indonesian fighters to South Philippines under a new group called the Katibah Al Muhajir. Indeed, the threat has grown to the extent that it is beyond the capability of the police to deal with it alone.

While the police and especially Detachment 88 (Densus 88) performed well to contain the terrorist menace, mostly from the Al-Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiyah, it is now confronted with serious challenges in facing today’s terrorism threat, which has become more symmetrical in nature – increasingly taking on conventional warfare tactics as it grows in resources. The police also faced public criticism whenever mistakes in field operations came to light.

Sceptics have played up the perceived failure of the police to detect the return of several terrorists, including Dulmatin and Abu Dujana from abroad, and even attributed this to the success of the jihadists in revenge killings of more than 40 police officers.

It is against this backdrop that the Indonesian military, especially the army, started playing a bigger counter-terrorism role, in collaboration with the police, to protect the country.

Military’s Expanded Role

A breakthrough in the military’s expanded role came with the placement of a senior military officer in the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) in January 2011 which had, until then, been led by a police officer. Major General Agus Surya Bakti served as the deputy in-charge of deradicalisation from January 2011 to October 2015. Since then, there has been a gradual increase in the military’s role in counter-terrorism operations in Indonesia.

In September 2013, the army was allowed to assist the police by collecting information on terrorist activities domestically. In March 2015, military personnel began counter-terrorism training with the police, followed by the launching in June 2015 of the military’s Joint Special Operations Command. That ended the police monopoly in counter-terrorism that has been in place since 2002.

A key factor leading to rising joint army-police counter-terrorism operations in Indonesia is the manifold capabilities of the army that were built over the years. The growth of home-grown terrorists targeting Indonesians has propelled the military to the forefront of counter-terrorism.

The military’s territorial structure, right down to the remotest village, accords it a unique resource. The military’s all-round strength in counter-terrorism in the past and its possession of well-trained combat units, supported by good intelligence, are strong factors putting it in good stead for deployment in counter-terrorism duties.

The military’s experience in counter-terrorism, its proven assets in training, experience and intelligence in counter-terrorism, its legal mandate to participate in counter-terrorism operations and the rising new terrorist threat to national security, are the key factors that have led to the military’s increasing role in counter-terrorism compared to the past.

Trailblazing Army-Police Cooperation

The success of Operation Tinombala, significant for trailblazing a major joint army-police counter-terrorism operations – the first since 1998 – showed how joint army-police operations can effectively deal with the threat posed by the quick-morphing threat of terrorism in the country.

The past reservations about the expanded role of the Indonesian military and uncertainties over what role it should play in the present security climate have been largely dissipated by Operation Tinombala’s success. It is also due to the realisation that terrorism is posing an existential threat to the state and society. Through a whole-of-government approach, especially army-police collaboration in counter-terrorism, Indonesia’s security can be assured, especially in neutralising ISIS.

*Jasminder Singh is a Senior Analyst with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Uri Response: India Must Stay The Course – OpEd

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By C. Uday Bhaskar*

The much awaited post-Uri response has now come into the public domain by way of a counter-terror “surgical strike”.

While the Modi government has remained committed to a path of restraint, the underlying resolve to impose a cost on Rawalpindi was palpable. The rare press briefing by the Indian Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO) indicated that the immediate counter-terror objective has been achieved – and that Delhi has no intention of escalating the military operations.

This is an important element, in as much as the fact that the Indian DGMO also stated that he had informed his Pakistani counterpart about the operation. The sub-text is that India does not wish to pose any challenge to the territorial integrity of Pakistan, much less to its sovereignty.

The response from Pakistan is predictably charged. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has promised retribution to avenge the death of Pakistani soldiers. The firm response from India has been made and while this will assuage the bruised post-Uri domestic sentiment – it remains to be seen what kind of a trajectory this surgical strike will lead to.

It is instructive to note how India has created the politico-diplomatic space over the last few days for the limited military action.

India’s decision to pull out of the 19th SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad was expected after the Uri attack. The manner in which Pakistan has responded to this audacious attack was also predictable – refusing to even condemn such a dastardly act – and furthermore, rejecting the evidence incriminating Rawalpindi (General Headquarters of the Pakistani Army – GHQ) that India was willing to share.

Under the circumstances, the Indian position was conveyed in a firm and appropriate manner to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) by the Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New York (September 26) and a day later, the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi confirmed that the regional environment created by ‘one country’ was not conducive to hosting a regional summit that was supposed to nurture amity and meaningful cooperation.

Hence, India decided to convey its inability to attend the Islamabad summit and the pleasant surprise – from the Indian perspective – was the swift endorsement by three other South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations – Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan. Afghanistan it may be recalled had also expressed its unhappiness with Pakistan’s continued support to terror groups at the UNGA. In its statement to withdraw from the summit, Kabul made explicit reference to ‘imposed terrorism’ that Pakistan was inflicting on it and conveyed its inability to Nepal, the chair of SAARC.

Bangladesh referred to the ‘growing interference by one country’ in its own internal affairs and reiterated the Delhi position that this was not conducive to a summit. Bhutan also joined the terrorism-affected members and conveyed its own inability to attend the summit.

India has been successful in applying political and diplomatic pressure on Pakistan for its intransigence over Uri – and Pathankot before that and Mumbai of 2008 even before these attacks. The SAARC Summit cannot be held even of one member withdraws and in this case the number is four. To that extent India has conveyed its own displeasure about the terrorism issue and has ‘snubbed’ Pakistan – but this does not mean that Islamabad has been isolated in the larger international context.

The political reality that has to be acknowledged is that the major powers continue to remain engaged with, and invested in Pakistan for their own reasons even if they condemn terrorism and empathize with India. This is true of both the USA and now Russia; and in the case of China – the strategic cooperation with Rawalpindi is of a very deep and distinctive nature.

The Modi government has to decide on its own course of action to both punish Rawalpindi for its proxy war against India and also compel the Pak military to desist from such action and global support in this effort may be limited. Furthermore, the support to Pakistan from its Islamic peers in the global comity cannot be ignored – and these are some of the prevailing political realities.

India has also indicated that it will review the award of MFN status to Pakistan but again – this is unlikely to have any impact on the behavior of the Pakistan military. Since 1971, the Pakistani ‘fauj’ (Army) has rejected trade and economic imperatives and related logic to pursue a zero-sum game of wanting to bleed India by a thousand-cuts and ultimately ‘break’ India.

The review of the Indus Water Treaty (signed in 1960 by the two neighbors) just announced by the Modi government has caused considerable anxiety in Pakistan. Even without abrogating the provisions of the treaty, if India were to implement policies that will allow it to fully utilize its share of the water that is its due – the long-term repercussions could be significant. However India will have to proceed very cautiously as far as the Indus waters issue is concerned given the larger regional and international ramifications apropos treaty obligations of an upper-riparian state.

Even before the surgical strike by India, Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif had once again brandished Rawalpindi’s nuclear weapons and has threatened to ‘eliminate’ India – if any military action is taken by Delhi. This action has been taken. Consequently the next few days are likely to be fraught with tension and some uncertainty – and India must now stay the course. That is the determination being exuded by Modi.

*C. Uday Bhaskar is Director, Society for Policy Studies, New Delhi. Comments and suggestions on this article can be sent on: editor@spsindia.in

Building In Strong Ties With ASEAN: India Needs To Expand Maritime Horizon – Analysis

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By Sonam Chaudhari*

India and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries – Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam – have had very close and deep cultural, civilization ties dating back to the ancient times.

In modern times, relations with ASEAN have become one of the prominent features of Indian foreign policy, in particular after the 1990s. 1990 marked a big transition time for Indian well as world politics. At the start of the decade, India was suffering from the Balance of Payment (BoP) crisis. The global community was experiencing the collapse of USSR. At the regional level, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was showing its failure. It was about the same period when the ASEAN rose as a good model of regional integration. Thus, a prudent Indian foreign policy in the post-liberalization era was devised in which the relationship with South East Asia entered a new era.

The present India –ASEAN relations is the result of the significant changes that have been happening in the political and economic domains of India’s foreign policy since the early 1990s. The ‘Look East Policy’ was launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narsimha Rao and endorsed by the former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh. However, this Policy did not get much momentum at the diplomatic level and was focused largely on trade and economics. ASEAN was seen primarily as a trading zone and less in terms of developing Indian’s foreign policy along strategic lines. Hillary Clinton, the then US Secretary of State, during her visit to India in 2011 said that India should not merely “look” towards the East, but more importantly, “act” and “engage” with the East.

In a major shift in the Indian foreign policy outlook towards the ASEAN region , the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2014 redefined the strategic importance of India –ASEAN relations. India’s ‘Look East Policy’ has now been morphed into a more assertive ‘Act East Policy’.

After holding the office the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi made it clear that one of the major priorities for developing Indian foreign policy was entering into a new era of relationship with ASEAN member states. Bilateral visits to ASEAN member states became much more prominent. During her visit to Singapore, India’s foreign minister Mrs. Sushma Swaraj categorically articulated the need for an Act East policy, “Look East is no longer adequate; now we need Act East policy”.

After the inauguration of its Look East policy towards ASEAN, India became a sector partner of ASEAN in 1992 and a dialogue partner and member of the ASEAN Regional Forum in 1996. India and ASEAN entered into a summit partnership in 2002 and launched negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in goods in 2003. In December 2012, India and ASEAN member states leaders met in New Delhi to commemorate the 20th anniversary of India’s sectoral dialogue partnership with the ASEAN and the 10th anniversary of their annual summits. The summit saw the two sides elevating their ties to the level of a strategic partnership and culminated in the ASEAN-India Vision Statement which envisioned the upcoming course of this ‘ever–strengthening’ association. India has lent vigorous support to ASEAN centrality, the ‘Initiative for ASEAN Integration for Narrowing the Development Gap’, the ‘Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity’ and a ‘Drug Free ASEAN’ by 2015.

Commerce, culture and connectivity are the three pillars of India’s robust engagement with ASEAN. At the time of India–ASEAN Summit in Myanmar in November 2014, Modi observed, “no other forum brings together such a large collective weight of global population, youth, economy and military strength. Nor is any other forum so critical for peace, stability and prosperity in Asia-Pacific and the world”. This statement reflects that India prioritizes strong relations with ASEAN for the peace and stability in the world.

Although ASEAN has always been seen by India with ‘economic optimism’ but this time much focus was given upon the security. Indian prime minister noticed the importance of the peace and stability in the ASEAN region for the good economic growth and trade relations.

Similar to other regional organizations in the world ASEAN is also giving much focus to the security. The recent India-ASEAN meeting in the Vietnam the Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep concern at the rising ‘export of terror’ and said that, “it is a common security threat to the region as he sought a coordinated response from ASEAN member nations to combat the menace”. He also pointed out the radical ideology based hatred and extremism as another kind of security threats which can make promote the instability in the region.

Modi gave much emphasis on the political cooperation to tackle these kinds of threats he added that, “in the face of growing traditional and non-traditional challenges, political cooperation was a key emerging in our relations”. According to the changing nature of the non-traditional security threats, Modi also put emphasis on the cyber security to deal the radical terrorism.

During the 14th India- ASEAN Summit, great emphasis was given to the connectivity between the India and ASEAN region. This connectivity is related to the cultural level, people-to-people connectivity, connectivity through the land, sea and air for the good trade as they are the ‘life lines of global trade’ and also said that the “seamless digital connectivity between India and Southeast Asia is a shared objective. India committed to Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity”,

In the South China Sea, India has always supported the freedom of navigation, importance of international law and peaceful resolution of the disputes based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and launched involved in the peaceful activities in the South China Sea with the ASEAN member countries. In September 2014, India and Vietnam issued a joint communiqué opposing threats to freedom of navigation and use of coercion in the South China Sea and In June 2015 Indian four ship naval flotilla visited to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Australia, as part of a visit to the South China Sea.

India-ASEAN relations as of now are now stronger than ever. Both parties recognize and understand the importance of each other not only as a trading partner but also in the field of regional security and building peace and stability. Post the ASEAN Summit in 2016, ASEAN countries are looking forward to much more active Indian presence in the maritime area in this region. This is an opportune moment for India to expand the horizon of its presence from Indian Ocean and think beyond the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Aden.

*Sonam Chaudhari is a Research Scholar at the Centre for European Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Comments and suggestions on this article can be sent on: editor@spsindia.in

China: Two Tibetan Singers Released After Four Years In Jail

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Two Tibetan singers have been released from jail in southwestern China after they completed a four-year sentence given to them for a music CD they produced that included politically sensitive songs, reports RFA.

Pema Trinley, 27, and Chakdor, 35, were freed from a Sichuan province prison on Oct. 3 and returned to their homes in Ngaba county’s Meruma township, a predominantly Tibetan area a source told RFA’s Tibetan Service.

“When they arrived in their hometown, relatives, former prison mates, and other supporters gave them a warm welcome by offering ceremonial scarves,” said RFA’s anonymous source.

Trinley and Chakdor were detained in 2012 by Chinese authorities after they produced their CD called The Pain of an Open Wound which praised the exiled Dalai Lama and Tibetan self-immolation protests that opposed Chinese rule in Tibetan areas, the source said.

Chakdor’s brother was one of those Tibetans who self-immolated, the report said.

Historic Global Agreement To Reduce CO2 Emissions In Aviation

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The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has reached its first “International Agreement to Reduce CO2 Emission in Aviation” by a majority of its Member States, including Spain, which will start to be implemented in 2021 and will initially be in place until 2035.

In general terms, the agreement represents restrictions on increased emissions by the global aviation industry as a whole as from 2020, such that, thenceforth, those airlines that exceed the emissions assigned to them must acquire equivalent emissions allowances from another company or establish certain compensatory initiatives.

The role of the Ministry of Public Works, through the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation and the State Air Security Agency (Spanish acronym: AESA), has been key in reaching this agreement, both in its preparatory stage and in the final negotiations.

By way of example, several of the most important meetings and conferences held on this issue during 2015 and 2016 have taken place in Spain upon initiatives from the Ministry of Public Works.

To implement the agreement, our country has signed an agreement with Latin American countries geared towards fostering cooperation in identifying and certifying environmental efficiency projects, as well as in creating a system to verify and register emissions.

Furthermore, through the ICAO, Spain will continue to contribute to the development of demanding methodologies for validation and certification so that the projects to reduce CO2 emissions applicable to aviation will be safe and reliable.

The importance of this can also be seen through those countries that contribute the most to global air transport, including the United States, China, the European Union, Australia and Japan, all signing and joining up voluntarily to implement this system.

The agreement has been sufficiently flexible so as to accommodate the sensitivities of developing countries, which advocated differentiated treatment thereunder so as not to prejudice their economic growth in the coming decades.

Similarly, airlines have welcomed the agreement reached, which guarantees environmental sustainability, avoids market distortions and guarantees legal certainty.

EU, US Negotiators Officially Drop Goal Of Concluding TTIP In 2016

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By Iana Dreyer

(EurActiv) — Negotiators on both sides of the Atlantic have clearly given up on the idea of concluding TTIP talks this year, despite progress achieved on the technical aspects of the negotiations.

“The rationale for TTIP remains strong”, Dan Mullaney, US chief negotiator for TTIP told journalists on Friday (07 October 2016).

“The United States remains fully engaged in these negotiations and is committed as ever to their success”, Mullaney added.

The US official also said both sides aim to continue to make progress in the coming months, before the Obama administration folds, in early January next year. This discourse is a radical change from calls made by Mullaney during the last round of TTIP negotiations in September in Brussels to conclude TTIP this year

Negotiators and business expect TTIP negotiations to be halted in 2017 due primarily to United States elections, but also to elections in various EU member states. Some continue to put hope on the conclusion of a deal in 2018.

It is not clear TTIP can be revived once a new US administration is in place. Both presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have voiced strong criticisms of international trade agreements.

Whether and when a possible Clinton administration will prioritise TTIP once a new new USTR is nominated is too early to say, although the Democrats are believed to be favourable to the idea of TTIP.

With the UK’s planned exit from the EU the future of TTIP is also in question as the EU loses a key proponent of the deal and the US a major market for its exports and mulls a separate trade deal with the UK in future.

Technical footwork

The political context has not stopped bureaucrats and technocrats from doing the preparatory groundwork for TTIP. Twenty working groups met in New York this week (3-7 October 2016) to drive forward the technical work necessary to conclude the world’s largest free trade area.

The skeleton of a TTIP text is appearing. All sides have now tabled and exchanged texts. The bulk of TTIP’s future ‘chapters’ – there will be close to thirty of them – are now ‘consolidated’, meaning that they include both sides’ proposals. In many areas, both sides have papering over divergences in interpretation of their proposals.

Among the areas of progress this week was the so-called TBT – technical barriers to trade – chapter, one of the key chapters in TTIP’s planned ambitious regulatory cooperation pillar. Both sides have been narrowing down differences on the disciplines they see are necessary to avoid that regulations lead to unwanted discrimination against the other party. In the regulatory area, negotiators are close to finalising a deal on pharmaceuticals, automotive and medical devices.

In a sign that TTIP talks have reached a relatively advanced state, both sides have also debated the so-called rules of origin. These rules determine the amount of local content and processing that is necessary for a product of a party to qualify for the duty free treatment foreseen in the deal.

The EU and the US have traditionally very different approaches to such rules, and a key challenge is to bridge this enormous gap. The most glaring divergence in US and EU approaches are the rules of origin applied to textiles in trade agreements. Both sides have not yet come to an agreement, but discussions were “productive” and “constructive”, the US chief negotiator said.

Elusive breakthrough

Negotiators have carefully left out conversations on the most contentious areas in the TTIP negotiations, such as market access in public procurement, biotechnology, and data localisation.

Conversations on geographical indications, which the EU wants the US to embrace, were “very brief”, according to one negotiator. Views on investor-state dispute resolution remain wide apparat, and the EU’s proposal for a court system was anything but welcomed in Washington.

In the area of regulatory cooperation there is no deal in sight in six sectors under negotiation: chemicals, cosmetics, engineering, ITC, pesticides and textiles. What is more, the EU and the US have found no common ground yet on how to organise a ‘regulatory cooperation forum’. The US want this overarching mechanism for regulatory cooperation to be as little institutionalised as possible, and “regulator-driven”, Mullaney explained.

There is no concrete timeline on how both sides wants to use the remaining months of the outgoing Obama administration. The EU’s chief negotiator said EU member states would take stock of TTIP during a Council meeting on 11 November 2016 and advise on the way forward. No date was set for a new round of negotiations.

This week, US Congressmen have drawn clear red lines in what they don’t want to see in TTIP. In a letter sent to USTR Michael Froman, Orrin Hatch and Kevin Brady, Chairs of the Senate Committee on Finance and of the House Ways and Means Committee respectively, said they were “deeply troubled by the EU’s attempts to include geographical indications (GIs) in the agreement”.

The two prominent congressmen added: “also concerning is the EU’s apparent unwillingness to include an adequate mechanism … for the effective resolution of investment disputes”. The two also accused the EU of “hostage taking” tactics.

There is increasing scepticism that any breakthrough on the most contentious issues can be reached this year. Peter Chase, Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund told Borderlex.

“We will either see a breakthrough in December, or we have to face the probability that we won’t ever see one.“

‘Surgical Strikes’ Should Become Norm Against Errant Pakistan – OpEd

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By Cecil Victor*

“Surgical strikes” by the Indian military visited upon Pakistani terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the dark hours of Thursday should become standard operating procedures rather than the exception.

The mathematics of counter-insurgency demands it.

Such a doctrine carries a promise of multiple cascading advantages. The Indian Army knows that the archpriests of guerrilla warfare, China’s first Chairman Mao Tse-tung and the charismatic Latin American Ernesto Che Guevara (even T.E. Lawrence — Lawrence of Arabia fame), in their independent and largely separated in time and location empirical studies on their type of warfare had pointed to the disproportionately high number of security forces required to neutralise one guerrilla fighter.

The ratio ranged from 50:1 in difficult terrain like dense forests or even 20:1 that the British used to curb the Malayan emergency. This means that if one infiltrator manages to cross the Line of Control, India would need up to 50 troops to find and neutralize him. If they are in groups of four to six as happened in Pathankot and Uri, the immediate requirement for quick neutralization would be between 200 to 300 security personnel. The prolonged exchanges of fire in nearly every instance points to both a paucity of manpower as well as abundant caution in the cleaning-up phase because of unpleasant experience of booby-trapped bodies.

In short, in a manpower-intensive kind of warfare that counter-insurgency is, we are unable to shape the battleground according to our wishes and requirement as per our current counter-infiltration strategy.

Conversely, in a surgical strike of the kind executed by the Indian Army on the night of September 29 India was in total control from which launchpads to hit, how to get in and how to get out without suffering casualties. All this was accomplished by Special Forces who went in without helicopters that are vulnerable to rifle fire from the ground.

Five widely dispersed specially camouflaged launchpads were destroyed. Thirty-five Pakistani dead bodies were counted and it is estimated that an equal number were pulverized by the flamethrowers and rocket propelled grenades.

Among the dead were nearly a dozen Pakistan Army personnel whose close proximity (cheek-by-jowl) to the terrorists and presence in the launchpads indicates their role as masterminds and facilitators.

The fact that the attack was executed by about 200 Indian soldiers and everything was over within four hours brings to the fore the cost-benefit of such an operation.

—Among the multiple cascading advantages that have emerged from this surgical strike (no harm irritating the Pakistanis by using this formulation) is that Pakistan has swiftly wrapped up more than a dozen training camps/launch pads from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and shifted them closer to the Pakistani Punjab border. This shows that they were Pakistani nationals because if they were so-called “Kashmiri freedom fighters” they would have been left to die in much the same manner in which the Pakistan Army Inter-Services Intelligence abandoned the Shia fighters of the Northern Light Infantry (drawn from PoK) that were used to infiltrate into the Kargil salient in 1999 dressed in civilian kurta/pyjama.

—India has found the panacea to counter the Chinese stratagem of using nuclear weapons to deter a conventional response to attacks by highly trained Pakistanis posing as jihadi fighters.

—Pakistan cannot sustain its gambit of deniability in the face of the evidence that will very likely be unveiled before diplomats posted in New Delhi.

—Pakistan’s promise at the UN General Assembly that it would provide every means to help “Kashmiris” secure their desire for “freedom” lies dented and discredited.

—Several psychological issues have emerged that can be pursued with profit. Enumerating them here would render them inert.

Finally, it has taught Indian military commanders that overdependence on static defences leads to complacency and a syndrome of casualness and carelessness that has allowed Pakistan to successfully breach our defences time and again.

For many years Pakistan has been trying to create conditions to convert Kashmiri unrest into a liberation scenario through the infiltration of sleeper cells and pre-positioning of warlike stores, weapons and ammunition. From Hillkaka several years ago and many other places later Indian security forces have discovered caches and underground accommodation for as many as 40 personnel.

It is not an accident that there is an element of multiples of ten involved. Both Pakistan and India use this format to structure their conventional land forces. Forty is the number that comprises a platoon strength.

Returning to the empirical studies of Chinese chairman Mao, of Ernesto Che Guevara and of Lawrence of Arabia it is stated that “ratio of space to forces” plays a crucial role in guerrilla warfare. Hence the 50:1 calculus. If Pakistan is able to mobilize 40 persons who could use these dumps to hide and arm themselves the “enemy behind the lines effect” would be catastrophic.

The manner in which the strike force collected local intelligence can and must be applied to supplement the static defences. Using dogs as terrestrial eyes and ears should be coalesced into a more effective defence of which sanitizing the hinterland on the other side of the fence/reconnaissance/surveillance gadgetry is an integral part.

Hence surgical military operations (not all the time but at a time and place of our choosing) must be made the norm.

*Cecil Victor is an Indian military analyst. Comments and suggestions on this article can be sent on: editor@spsindia.in


Indus Water Treaty: Should India Turn The Tap Tight? – Analysis

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By Brig Anil Gupta*

Ever since the Uri misadventure carried out by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, India has put in cold storage the policy of “strategic restraint” and declared an all-out offensive against Pakistani deep state encompassing the political, diplomatic and economic offensives. In the words of Shekhar Gupta, “a new history takes shape now”. India has also displayed its resolve to use the military option by carrying out punitive surgical strikes against the terrorist launch pads across the Line of control (LoC). India has also exposed the bluff of nuclear black mail of Pakistan.

Pakistan has not only been exposed globally as an epi-centre of terror but also projected as an irresponsible nation, a “rogue state”. It has been isolated beyond redemption and is on the verge of being declared a “terror state” thus leading to its global economic isolation. As it is Pakistan is a cash-starved nation with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) bordering around 2.5% and largely dependent on the doles it receives from US and other countries ironically for fighting against terror. India, therefore, has many options of causing grave damage to Pakistan other than the ultimate military option. The review of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is one such option but many politicians and analysts in India are raising the China bogey to deter India. But the optimists are of a contrary view and feel that China is unlikely to retaliate by stopping flow of Indus/Sutlej if India decides to tighten the Indus tap that would result in a famine like situation in Pakistan.

A lot has been written and discussed in the media about IWT. One truth is non-negotiable and that is the treaty is very unfair and unjust to the people of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). J&K is allowed to use only 20% of the western tributaries of Indus namely Jhelum and Chenab that flow through the state into Pakistan. Pakistan has been granted exclusive use rights of these rivers and Pakistan’s economy and livelihood of its vast majority of population is dependent on the water of these rivers. The use of water in J&K is restricted to non-consumptive, domestic use.

Restrictive conditions have been laid down for construction of hydro-electric projects, generation of electricity and navigation. J&K is a power deficit state despite huge hydro-electric potential as well as lacks adequate drinking water. The irrigation facilities are also minimal and inadequate. Why should the people of J&K suffer due to faulty provisions in the IWT? The preamble of the treaty states that both nations want to limit and fix the utilisation of the waters of Indus system “in a spirit of goodwill and friendship.” In an environment, perpetrated by Pakistan, where there is neither goodwill nor friendship India is well within its rights to review the treaty.

According to Maharaj K Pandit, a prominent journalist, “India should let Pakistan know that Pakistanis, over the years, have got their geography wrong- Kashmir is not its jugular vein, the Indus surely is”. Pandit is partly right because the Pakistanis are claiming Kashmir to be their jugular vein as a mere rhetoric but the fact is that they fully understand the importance of Indus waters and their concern for Kashmir and Kashmiris is only theatrics. Their interest lies purely and solely in controlling the Indus Waters.

More than 70% of water used for irrigation of cultivable lands in Pakistan which produce 90% food grains and contribute 1/4th to its national GDP, flows into Pakistan from J&K. More than 60% of foreign exchange earnings of Pakistan are attributable to the Indus basin agriculture. Why it is that mere mention of IWT sends shivers across the border and their leadership starts terming it as an ‘act of war’? India is in a position to create famine like conditions in Pakistan if she decides to regulate the water of these rivers in her own territory, i.e., J&K.

Apart from agriculture it would also have an adverse effect on the domestic water supply in Pakistan. With empty granaries, no water and failed economy the deep state of Pakistan will be forced to come on its knees. To complicate the matters further Pakistan’s fresh water resources are declining rapidly. Therefore, Pakistan is almost totally dependent on the Indus water flowing from India, a major strategic vulnerability. India is thus in a position to cause a major catastrophe in Pakistan, without use of force, by squeezing Indus river waters. Even ‘maximising exploitation’ of our own share of water can create unbearable problems for Pakistan. The preceding analogy does not take into consideration the climate change and global warming leading to rapid depletion of Himalayan glaciers which will also add to Pakistan’s woes since the Indus is most vulnerable to global warming.

Now let us examine the China bogey being raised by some to caution India to go slow. The newspaper headlines announce, “Brahmaputra tributary blocked by China for dam, may hit water flow”. The pessimists are terming it as a warning to India since the blockade has come at the time when India has renewed the focus on IWT. It is important to get a few facts clear to put the apprehensions to rest. Firstly, the proposed dam on Yarlung-Tsangpo is not new but an old project and it is run of the river project meaning flow of the water cannot be stopped. Secondly, this is not the only project on this river, there are five other projects also underway which are also run of the river projects. Thirdly and the most important, about 67% catchment area of Brahmaputra that contributes to its waters is in the Indian Territory. Fourthly, not only Tsangpo but other major rivers like Lohit, Subhansiri, Siyom and hundreds of other small tributaries merge into Brahmaputra, immediately after entering India in Arunachal Pradesh. India has satellite imagery of all these barrages. The ultimate fact is that even if China wants it cannot divert water from these rivers to main land China because there are too many mountain ranges in between and cannot be passed through. China’s effort at channelizing these waters northwards by constructing U-bend barrages also did not meet success.

So, China can do very little or nothing in retaliation and India need not worry in case it wants to tighten the Indus tap against Pakistan. India should go ahead and review the treaty to undo the injustice done by the treaty to the people of Jammu & Kashmir. There is need for more hydro-electric projects in the state to generate much needed employment and harness the water of these rivers. There is also a need to divert the water of Chenab through a canal network to the barren Kandi belt of Jammu region in order to usher prosperity in the region.

*Brig. Anil Gupta is a Jammu based political commentator, columnist, security and strategic analyst. Comments and suggestions on this article can be sent on: editor@spsindia.in

Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Plan: All Talk And Little Action – OpEd

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By Sanchita Bhattacharya*

In implementation of its National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism, the Pakistani government, as reported on September 26, 2016, initiated a widespread fiscal crackdown against over 8,400 individuals allegedly involved in terror financing in an apparent sign of state acting decisively to track and block the money supply to extremists. According to official sources, “over three dozen banks have also choked around Rs101 million in suspicious funds owned by 177 madaris”.[1] “All bank accounts of Lal Mosque’s top cleric Maulana Aziz and gangster Shahid Bikiki of Lyari Aman Committee have been frozen. Their travel documents have also been cancelled,” a senior official of the Ministry of Interior, stated. In addition, authorities at the National Database Registration Authority and Directorate of Passport and Immigration office have blocked travel documents of over 3,111 terror suspects whose names were listed in Schedule IV recently.

Among prominent terrorists whose accounts have been frozen are: Mati-ur-Rehman of al-Qaeda Pakistan, Mansoor alias Ibrahim alias Chotta of Tehreek-e-Taliban and Qari Ehsan alias Ustad Huzaifa of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). Pakistan Government has already announced Rs20 million bounty on their heads. Accounts of Umar Chohas of Tehrik-i-Taliban al-Qaeda group, Bilal Ahmed of TTP al-Qaeda Pakistan, Ramzan Mengal of LeJ, Sher Abbas of Jamaatul Furqan, Maulvi Ahmed Ludhianvi of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Maqsood Domki of Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, Pariyal Shah, Sarfraz Pappu, Imaad Ali, Baqir Moosvi, Hafiz Aurangzaib and Kabir Raza of ASWJ, Sibtain Shirazi of defunct Tehreek-i- Jafaria Pakistan and Mirza Ali of defunct TJP have also been frozen.

Earlier, on July 25, 2016, National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) Coordinator Ihsan Ghani had stated that 70,000 terrorists have been arrested since the launch of the National Action Plan. Moreover, describing Karachi violence, he said, 70 per cent reduction is witnessed in targeted killings and murders, and 80 per cent reduction in terrorist incidents. Explaining provincial situation, Ghani further said efforts are being made to ensure that extremist elements do not get a grip over Punjab. In Balochistan, Ghani added, 625 absconders have surrendered to the authorities and the government is in contact with estranged Baloch nationalists. He said that December 3, 2016 has been set as the deadline for the return of registered Afghan refugees. Similarly, a total of 2,159 terrorists have been killed under the NAP, added the NACTA coordinator.[2]

On July 22, 2016, Interior Ministry and Narcotics Control presented an achievement report about the NAP in the National Assembly, as per which 332 persons have been executed under the anti-terrorism act so far. The report detailed that 2,337 cases were registered over hate speeches and hate material whereas 2,195 people were arrested and 73 shops sealed.[3]

The NAP came into existence in January 2015 to crack down on terrorism and to complement the ongoing anti-terrorist offensive in North-Western Pakistan. It is considered to have been an organized and coordinated state reprisal following TTP orchestrated December 16, 2014 Peshawar school attack. It combines foreign and domestic policy initiatives aimed to purge proscribed organizations across Pakistan. The plan was provided as the outline for the 21st Amendment to the constitution of Pakistan which established quick trial military courts for offences relating to terror campaign. It has also led to the recommencement of capital punishment and compulsory re-verification through fingerprint recognition of all subscribers on mobile telephony. The Plan also approved foreign, finance, and other ministerial departments to reach out to the Muslim countries to keep an eye on sponsors of terror and sectarian networks working in and against Pakistan.

The plan majorly aims at regularization of madrasas; crackdown on sectarian and religious hate speeches; registration of Afghan refugees; end of religious extremism; minority protection; curbing sectarian violence; strengthening of NACTA; administrative reforms of FATA, empowerment of provincial Baloch government, etc.

However, so far there has been an increasing debate regarding implementation of NAP in Pakistan. Operation Zarb-e-Azb did yield positive results, but the major portion of the NAP, which was about taking action against extremism and the extremist mindset, has not yet been implemented. Targeting militants’ den and destroying their networks is surely significant but what is more noteworthy right now is to go after the factions supporting these terrorists. Banned militant organizations are routinely seen taking out rallies and pushing for their demands, some of them even amass donations and some are even permitted to operate under the garb of charitable organizations. This is a complete failure of the National Action Plan but no one seems to focus on this part of the action plan.[4]

Another point to be noted is madrasa reform and regulation, as mentioned in the NAP. In spite of the much publicized declaration of madrasa modernization, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)’s provincial government gave a hefty sum of Rs 300 million to the Haqqania madrasa of the province notorious for its links to militancy. Its owner Sami-ul-Haq is known as self-declared ‘father of Taliban’. Pakistan is still being accused of not doing enough against groups such as TTP and Haqqani Network. The problem is certainly evident and the solution to it is proper coordination between civilian and military leadership. While the military is targeting the hideouts of terrorists and eliminating them, the civilian government should be working on producing a counter narrative and doing away with all sorts of extremist literature present anywhere in the country.

Unsurprisingly, the military leadership is also finding implementation of NAP complicated. In August, 2016 Army Chief General Raheel Sharif declared lack of improvement on execution of NAP damaging for the progress of ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb. He stated, “NAP is central to achievements of our objectives and its lack of progress is affecting the consolidation phase of operation Zarb-e-Azb”. The Army Chief further suggested that all segments of the society will have to play their role effectively to tackle the menace of terrorism. He asserted, “Unless all prongs deliver meaningfully and all inadequacies are addressed, remnants of terrorism would continue to simmer and long-term peace and stability would remain a distant dream.”[5]

On August 11, 2016 a report was presented to Nawaz Sharif regarding the progress of NAP. It was noticeably mentioned that out of 20 goals, 8 are still not being implemented. According to the report, law enforcement agencies and regional governments could neither end the chain of financial support to terrorists nor were recommendations to conclude criminal cases in less time filed. It was stated that extremist outfits had started operating under different names. Meanwhile, processes to mainstream disenchanted Balochis and to curb sectarianism maintained slow speed. The session was told that no progress was made regarding modification in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) which is why the process of repatriation of Afghan refugees is also being deferred. The process has been delayed by six months.

The implementation of the NAP has until now been partly successful. After the terrorist attack in December 2014, the situation was ripe for the development of an all-inclusive counter-terrorism plan. All opposition parties gave a carte blanche to the government to implement any measures needed to fight terrorism. Pakistani citizens were ready for action, and public opinion was in support of an operation against the terrorists. Paradoxically however, no major operation was launched against terrorist strongholds in urban centers (Operation Zarb-e-Azb was already in progress against TTP strongholds in North Waziristan).

In actuality, only a few of the NAP’s unanimously adopted measures following the massacre were put into practice in true letter and spirit.

*Sanchita Bhattacharya is Post-Doctoral Fellow, UGC and Visiting Scholar, Institute for Conflict Management, New Delhi. Comments and suggestions on this article can be sent on: editor@spsindia.in

Endnotes:
[1] https://www.geo.tv/latest/115831-Accounts-of-over-8400-terror-financing-suspects-being-frozen

[2] http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/07/26/national/70000-terrorists-arrested-since-launch-of-nap-nacta-coordinator/

[3] http://www.dawn.com/news/1233348

[4] http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/09/25/features/nap-implementation/

[5] http://tribune.com.pk/story/1161048/lack-progress-nap-implementation-affects-zarb-e-azb-army-chief/

Floating Nuclear Power Plants: Are They Safe And Secure? – Analysis

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Floating NPPs may provide alternative energy supply to energy-scarce small states, port cities, and remote islands in the region. But just like with traditional land-based NPPs, would floating NPPs also come with potential risks to nuclear safety and security?

By Julius Cesar I. Trajano*

Nuclear power generation in Asia has taken big strides with new land-based nuclear reactors currently being constructed or planned. China, for instance, now has 30 nuclear reactors in operation, another 21 under construction and 60 nuclear power plants (NPPs) that will be built over the next 10 years. Vietnam is set to commission its first NPP by 2028 while Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand have been studying the possibility of using nuclear power.

But an interesting development is the possibility of deploying floating nuclear reactors. China aims to launch a series of offshore nuclear power plants to provide electricity to remote locations, including offshore oil platforms and its man-made islands in the South China Sea. Some commentators have also suggested that Southeast Asian countries may consider using floating NPPs. Floating NPPs may provide alternative energy supply to energy-scarce small states, port cities, and remote islands in the region. But just like with traditional land-based NPPs, would floating NPPs also come with potential risks to nuclear safety and security?

Floating an Old Idea

A floating nuclear reactor is not a new idea – one is under construction at a shipyard in Saint Petersburg, Russia, which is expected to be the world’s first floating NPP. The project began in early 2000s but operation is set for 2018 in Russia’s Arctic region. China plans to build a small modular floating reactor by 2017 and it is expected to start generating electricity by 2020.

Proponents of a floating NPP have highlighted its distinct advantage, that it enhances nuclear safety and security as it would eliminate the possibility of land contamination and public exposure from severe nuclear accidents, and reduce the risk from terrorist threats. A nuclear reactor at sea is claimed to be accident-proof since it has abundant supply of cooling water which could prevent a Fukushima-like nuclear meltdown. Small floating reactors could be transferred or moved away from areas considered vulnerable to tsunamis to avoid potential disasters and also easily deployed to support areas with limited energy resources.

Nuclear Safety Risks

Despite the unique advantages cited by the proponents, there are still nuclear safety challenges associated with this technology. In the event of a nuclear accident, while a floating nuclear reactor would have plenty of cooling water readily available, it might not have access to off-site backup power which is present in land-based NPPs, and it would be more challenging to contain any radioactive releases than when an accident occurs at a land-based plant.

It would also be slower to launch accident response at sea-based NPPs than at land-based nuclear meltdown. Even though floating NPPs are not close to densely populated communities, radioactive plume from nuclear meltdown, even at a floating barge, can still be carried by winds to coastal populations. This concern remains relevant in the region especially after the Fukushima nuclear accident.

The environmental impact of floating NPPs on marine ecosystem should also not be ignored. While land contamination may be avoided, the floating nuclear accident scenario would entail radioactive contamination of marine resources underneath the damaged reactor. This may seriously affect the main source of livelihood of coastal communities in Southeast Asia.

Nuclear Disaster-related Risks

Most of Southeast Asia, including parts of the South China Sea, are prone to natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons. In the South China Sea, it remains to be seen if the precarious structures, including China’s floating NPPs can withstand strong typhoons. China’s nuclear safety standards remain a concern for many – even among Chinese nuclear experts.

With the intention of China to deploy floating NPPs in the South China Sea and in preparation for possible future deployment of offshore modular reactors in the region, ASEAN Member-States need to include nuclear accidents at sea as a potential scenario in their nuclear emergency preparedness and response framework. However, only a few countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines have actually begun conducting nuclear emergency preparedness and response field exercises.

The geographical features of Southeast Asia make the siting of NPPs in the region problematic, as most of the seas around the archipelagic states are situated on the traffic-heavy straits between Indonesia and Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indochina.

Nuclear Security Risks

Just like land-based NPPs, floating NPPs would still generate radioactive waste which needs to be carefully managed and stored. There would still be an unresolved issue of how to deal with the spent fuel and the risk of radioactive leakage given the lack of final repository site for high-level radioactive waste.

The spent fuel from floating NPPs may still need to be transported back to land for it to be properly stored in order to prevent contamination at sea. In this regard, the security of the transportation of radioactive materials by sea as well as the physical protection of nuclear facilities, which would include floating nuclear reactors, from possible sabotage and terrorist attacks may face significant challenges in Southeast Asia.

Given the fact that Southeast Asia has maritime security issues such as piracy, territorial disputes, smuggling and hijacking, there is a question whether there is a greater security risk for floating NPPs compared to land-based NPPs. Also can a floating NPP be protected from cybersecurity attacks, as has been considered for land-based NPPs?

While floating NPPs may provide an attractive option in the future, it would not lessen the nuclear safety and security risks and considerations that are also applied to land-based NPPs. The questions raised on the safety and security with regard to floating NPPs should be part of the cost-benefit analysis by policymakers in the region when they seriously consider the possibility of using floating NPPs.

*Julius Cesar I. Trajano is Associate Research Fellow with the Nuclear Energy Programme of the Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Morocco: Free And Transparent Elections Or When Democracy Triumphs – OpEd

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October 7, Moroccans went to the polls to vote in second parliamentary election since the 2011 constitutional reform. Voters from Morocco’s 95 electoral districts are electing members to serve five-year terms in the 395-member Chamber of Representatives, the lower House of Parliament. In an official announcement on the elections on Friday night Moroccan Interior ministry Mohamed Hassad said turnout was temporarily 43% after the closing of the polls.

Elections are expected to provide some indication as to the likely makeup of a future government, for, in Morocco, the winning party in the poll provides the premier – who then recommends his preferred cabinet to the King.

The importance of these elections and have been enthusiastic about developments in Morocco which they see as momentum for a genuine democracy.

What the elections augur for the future may be unclear. What is crystal clear is that Morocco has set its sights on being a model for regional reform.

Now, arguably for the first time in decades, there is an alternative to ideological repression in the Arab community. Morocco is not yet an exemplar of Jeffersonian liberalism, but it is on a path paved with democratic principles. These general elections held in Morocco enhanced further local democracy and advanced regionalisation projects launched by King Mohammed VI.

A constitution and an election, while essential building blocks for democracy, are not in themselves dispositive. What counts is this new ability of Moroccans to express these feelings and emotions through the ballot box. Morocco has become a trend setter, so we should expect similar results in years to come in neighboring countries. The positive aspect of this change lies in its non-violent character of these elections where honesty and transparency have prevailed.

The reforms initiated by King Mohammed should be greeted with gratitude and respect. At long last there is another model for the Arab future, one that Americans and Europeans should embrace wholeheartedly. It is true that there are still challenges ahead of the democracy path in Morocco but the most important is that Moroccans (civil society, political parties and most important youth) have made their irreversible choice to continue their peaceful struggle towards full democracy. Democracy, therefore in this part of the Arab region, is no more a myth. It is a reality. It is often noted, correctly, that elections are not the whole of democracy. But when thousands of people vote in serenity and peace (in a region where turmoil and political instability prevail) is a heartening sight. Therefore, what is most important now is not who will win most of the seats but rather the fact that the electoral process was carried out in total transparency, fairness and in the end democracy triumphs.

Bulgaria: Parliament Session Halted Amid Row Over UN Fiasco

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By Mariya Cheresheva

Bulgaria’s failure to nominate a successful candidate for the UN top job has heightened political tensions, with opposition parties demanding the resignation of the government.

The Vice-President of the Bulgarian parliament, Dimitar Glavchev, cancelled the parliamentary session on Friday, after a row erupted between members of the ruling party, Boyko Borissov’s GERB, and the main opposition group, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP.

The situation escalated after BSP leader Korneliya Ninova read out a declaration, criticizing the government for Bulgaria’s defeat in the race for the UN top job and its policy on migration.

“Do not let this government keep on taking our dignity away from us and wiping out our nationality. Bulgarians, whatever you are – red, blue [the colours of the main parties], or neutral, the time has come to be Bulgarians, do not give up on Bulgaria,” Ninova declared.

Her declaration was followed by shouts of “Resign!” by her fellow Socialist MPs, who later raised an anti-GERB poster in the plenary hall.

In response, Georg Georgiev, an MP from GERB, called the BSP parliamentarians “liars”.

The tension between GERB and the BSP escalated after Borissov’s government withdrew its nomination for UNESCO chief Irina Bokova, as the next UN Secretary General.

She had strong backing from the Socialists but was replaced by the Vice-President of the European Commission, Kristalina Georgieva, on September 28.

After Georgieva failed to attract the expected level of support at the sixth informal vote for the next UN Secretary General on Wednesday, when she finished in eighth position, performing worse than Bokova, who came fourth, the BSP started a campaign to bring down the government.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Borissov fuelled tensions by calling Bokova “arrogant” for not withdrawing from the UN race and accused her of blocking Georgieva’s state-supported candidacy.

He dismissed calls to resign, asking rhetorically: “Why would I feel ashamed – for not guaranteeing the next five years of one Communist family?”

[Bokova is a daughter of Georgi Bokov, a top-level figure in Bulgaria’s former ruling Communist Party].

Tsetska Tsacheva, GERB’s candidate for the presidential elections on November 6, however, is also a former member of the Communist Party, which led to Borissov being accused of double standards.

“On what grounds did you nominate a former [Communist] party secretary for President?” the BSP leader asked Borissov on Friday, referring to Tsacheva.

In line with the growing anti-refugee sentiment in Bulgaria, Ninova also accused the government of covertly enforcing an “ethnic change” to Bulgaria by settling refugees in municipalities which have seen a demographic drop in the population.

The idea of sending refugees to under-populated municipalities was launched few weeks ago. An official from the state refugee agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told BIRN that refugees under the EU relocation scheme will be advised to go to smaller municipalities, which would receive EU funds for their integration.

Bulgaria has pledged to take 1,600 refugees from Italy and Greece, but up to now has relocated only six, according to the latest data of the European Commisson.

Tsveta Karayancheva, an MP from GERB, said at a briefing in parliament that the BSP was trying to attract attention ahead of the official start of the campaign for the presidential elections on Friday.

MPs from the BSP and the ethnic-Turkish dominated party Movement for Rights and Freedoms, MRF, meanwhile said the decision of Glavchev’s [also a member of GERB] to stop the plenary session on Friday was an act of “cowardice” and a “political failure”.

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