Doctor found guilty in Jackson's death

Personal physician faces four years in prison for his hand in the death of the pop star.  Michael Jackson's personal doctor has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the singer's death following a six-week trial. Dr Conrad Murray had pleaded not guilty to giving the singer a fatal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol, which was ruled as the main cause of the pop star's June 25, 2009 death. Prosecutors had argued Murray was grossly negligent in administering propofol to help Jackson sleep. Defence attorneys claimed Jackson delivered the fatal dose of propofol to himself. Murray, 58, did not testify at the Los Angeles trial and could face up to four years in prison when the judge decides his sentence at a later date. Murray swallowed briefly upon hearing the verdict on Monday, but otherwise looked impassive. Outside the court, more than 100 Jackson fans erupted in cheers. The jury deliberated for about nine hours before reaching its unanimous verdict. Jackson was found lifeless at his Los Angeles mansion on June 25, 2009, age 50, about three weeks before he was scheduled to begin a series of concerts in London aimed at returning the pop star to the limelight. Paramedics tried to revive the singer and rushed his body to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. His death was ruled to have come from an overdose of sedatives and propofol, which is normally used in surgery. Murray admitted giving Jackson a small dose of propofol to help him sleep. But his lawyers argued at the trial that the singer was dependent on the drug and that Jackson likely gave himself a extra, fatal dose of the powerful anesthetic, as well as swallowing a handful of sedatives, without Murray's knowledge. Prosecutors argued Murray was guilty of gross negligence for administering the powerful drug in a home setting, failing to monitor Jackson, delaying calling emergency services, and failing to tell medical personnel he gave the singer propofol.

Source: Agencies

Row over Haji cow-slaughter grows: Not retracting statement, says MCCBCHST

Inter-faith group MCCBCHST has no plans to withdraw its call to the authorities to stop the slaughtering of cows in schools and public places despite growing anger from Muslim groups and authorities.

"We have no wish to add further comment either. We have said what we wanted to say and that's it. We see no reason to withdraw any part of our statement," Father Thomas Philips, vice president of the Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism told Malaysia Chronicle.

Every faith is supreme

MCCBCHST had issued its call just days before the Hari Raya Haji celebrated over the weekend, where Muslims ritually slaughtered cows and distributed the meat to other Muslims.

In a statement entitled Respect the Religious Sensitivities in Schools, the council had called on the authorities to halt the slaughter at schools and other public places accessible to all faiths.

"However, we are concerned that a ritualistic sacrificing of cows in conjunction with the Hari Raya Haji celebrations is proposed to be held in schools on a school day in the presence of students. We hold a dim view of this purported activity in front of our multi-racial and multi-cultural student population as it ignores the sensitivity of our school-going children and the larger mixed Malaysian society," it said in its statement of November 4.

"We call upon the relevant authorities to respect the sensitivities of our multi-religious society and implore them to halt this ritualistic ceremony in our schools,institutions of higher learning and other public places. We hold that the public places, especially schools, are not the right place for the performance of this ritual that pertains only to the Muslim community.It does not augur well for the promotion of harmony and peace among our varied peoples."

Nonetheless, the heated reaction from Muslim leaders in the country, especially those in the government, does not augur well for multiracial harmony. Saying they felt hurt by the response from these quarters, Christians said it underscored the scant respect shown to the non-Muslims and a growing religious arrogance that boded ill for the country's future.

"Islam is supreme to Muslims. But only as supreme as Christianity is to the Christians or Hinduism to the Hindus. This is sheer bad manners and shameful conduct on the part of Muslim authorities. As though they can do what they like without considering the sensitivities of others," S Peters, a Christian lay-leader at a large Catholic church in Petaling Jaya.

"This is especially difficult to accept when the non-Muslims are forced to abide by strict rules not to impinge on Islam. But it works both ways. Respect must be mutual or why should we respect you?"

Heated response from Muslims


Peters was referring to comments made by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mashitah Ibrahim, who accused the MCCBCHST of not respecting the rights of Muslims or the position of Islam as Malaysia's official religion.

"To me, the issue was purposely created to raise racial sentiment. The ritual of sacrifice has been practiced for a long time and has never been questioned by any party," Berita Harian had quoted Mashitah as saying.

"In a multi-racial society, other religions should respect the rights of Islam like how Muslims respect the rights and freedom of non-Muslims. This issue should not have arisen if all ethnic groups respect each other and understand the spirit of living in a multi-racial society."


While Mashitah spoke a lot about mutual respect, she did not deny or make any clarification as to whether schools and public places had indeed been used to slaughter the animals.
Meanwhile, Perlis Mufti Juanda Jaya is the latest to wade into the issue.

"I'm disappointed with MCCBCHST's official statement that directs Muslims not to make public sacrifice. This is clearly directing the rituals of other religions. It is better not to interfere. If there is any unhappiness or disturbance, it is better to resolve it behind closed doors. Malaysians have achieved independence and lived peacefully for so long, so don't make it an issue," Juanda said in a statement yesterday.

Like Mashitah, Juanda may have decided to play to the Muslim gallery at the expense of fairness and give-and-take. For example, he did not once mention the sensitivities of the Hindus and Buddhists.

The annual Qurban or slaughter is usually done on mosque grounds, but there have been plans for it to be held on the premises of at least two schools in Kuala Lumpur.

"Just as we do not serve pork or alcohol when we invite Muslims to our homes or events, we expect them to respect us back too and not serve meats that are not 'halal' to us. But nowadays everything is so racial and getting from bad to worse, it is a real shame," said Peters.

Malaysia Chronicle

Hindraf leader gets death threat

P Waythamoorthy, who is scheduled to brief US government officials on the issue of racism in Malaysia, receives an email warning him that he and his brother will be beheaded.

GEORGE TOWN: Hindraf Makkal Sakti chairman P Waythamoorthy and his family have received a death threat via email ahead of his briefing to US government officials on issues of institutionalised racism and freedom of religion in Malaysia.

In the email, the sender threatened to behead Waythamoorthy and his elder brother, Human Rights Party secretary-general Uthayakumar, and their children.

The sender, who signed his name as “Pekida Youth chief Hanif Haja”, racially abused both brothers and vowed to teach them a lesson. Pekida is an organisation linked to Umno.

Waythamoorthy said the threat would not dampen his spirit to seek social justice for the racially segregated minority communities, especially Indians, in Malaysia.

He even quoted Tamil poet, the late Subramaniya Barathiyaar: “Utchimeethu irunda vaanam viluntha pothilum, atchamillai, atchamillai, atcham enbathillaiye.” (I will not fear even if the dark sky falls).
“I am even willing to come back to Malaysia to continue my struggle if the government is prepared to return my passport,” he told FMT today.

The sender also claimed to be a Petronas staff working at Petronas e-Learning Solutions Sdn Bhd.
The email also contained three photos of the alleged Hanif Haja.

Under Islamic influence the Media suppressed the Land Mark Judgment.

Vande Gomataram !!

~Upananda Brahmachari.

Kolkata, 3rd Nov, 2011 || In a land mark judgment passed on 2nd November, 2011, by the decision bench headed by Chief Justice of Kolkata, Mr J. N. Patel and Mr. Ashim Kumar Roy (J), the Cow Slaughter on Bakri Idd and trading of Cattle for sacrifice in Cattle markets have been banned by the Hon’ble Calcutta High court directing that “the all Officials o the State and local bodies have no power to facilitate holding of markets for trading of cattle for sacrifice and also the movement of cattle for the said purpose on the occasion of Id-uz-Zoha festival to be celebrated on 7th, November, 2011.”

The venerated Bench had upheld the decisions and orders of the Apex court and others in the identical matters in 1994, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2010 categorically directs the Chief Secretary of West Bengal : “ We, therefore direct the State Government through its Chief Secretary to see that such arrangement and/or markets in the State of West Bengal are not conducted for trading of cattle for sacrifice and which is otherwise not permitted under the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950 and the Chief Secretary and all functionaries of the State and local bodies would strictly implement the order passed by this Court from time to time for effective and meaningful implementation of the said Act.” Even the Hon’ble Calcutta holds that “no such facilities can be provided for trading of cattle for sacrifice.”

On the merit of Order above of Calcutta High Court Order, Sri Ashoo Mongia, the chief ofRashtriye Goraksha Sena, (RGS), Pt. Yoges Shashtri of Arya Veer Dal and Some Go-Bhakta went to raid on 2-3^rd November night in Dumdum area (KOLKATA) to capture illegal cow transport in Kolkata. While they captured some cows and calves at that point, the Police let them take away by the butchers and transporters on the plea on non-availability of any such strict orders passed by the Hon’ble High Court banning Open Cow Slaughter out side slaughter house including cow trading for Qurbani (sacrifice) with illegal cow trading and cow transportation for illegal sacrifice. At the time of rude scuffles and altercation Ashoo Mongia and the other cow savers were attacked by the Muslim hoodlums with deadly weapons. Though rescued by the Police, the Police on duty helped the Muslim Transporters to take away the cows in to the illegal markets in Kolkata. These are the notorious activities of the Police against the Court verdicts. The Police and Administration are doing rape over the Constitution and the Courts. The Muslims leaders are saying that they have won the case to run Qurbani without any impediment. The Govt. of Mamata Banerjee is all responsible for these flouting of Laws. Government should make aware the real facts through advertisement. No Cow Slaughter or Cow market should be made on Bakri Idd in West Bengal as per High court order passed on 2nd Nov 2011.

The teams of Rashtriya Go Raksha Sena headed by Ashoo Mongia and Upananda Brahmachari and Bangiya Arya Pratinidhi Sabha headed by Anand Sharma and Yogesh Shastri met various authorities in Administrative and Police Departments for appealing them to take the cognizance in case of flouting the Court orders in any manner.

In the due course of discussion with Mr Javed Shamim, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Control), Kolkata, the Rashtriya Go Rkasha Sena appealed to make a joint team to raid the illegal cow transport and cow markets around Kolkata.

Deoband seminary issues fatwa against birthdays

The leading centre for Islamic studies in India, and one of the most famous in the world, slams the practice of celebrating birthdays, a “tradition of Western countries” that is contrary to Sharia.

Muzaffarnagar (AsiaNews/Agencies) – A leading Islamic seminary, the Darul Uloom Deoband (pictured), has advised Muslims against celebrating birthdays, issuing a fatwa saying that Islam does not permit the practice, which is a "tradition of Western countries".

Responding to a query of a student, the fatwa department of the country's biggest Islamic seminary said that Islam does not permit such celebrations as they are against the Sharia.The query was made in reference to the birthday celebration of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the founder of the Aligarh Muslim University.

"Muslims should not follow the tradition of Western culture of celebrating birthdays as it against the Sharia," Vice-Chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband, Maulana Abul Kasim Naumani said.

Naumani added that even the Islamic seminary does not celebrate the birth anniversary of the Prophet Mohammed, the founder of the religion.

Deobandi (literally of the city of Deoband) is a Muslim religious movement present in the Indian subcontinent and Afghanistan that follows the Hanafi legal school (madhhab).

Their main institution is a seminary in the Indian city of Deoband, in Sahāranpur District (Uttar Pradesh), about 140 km northeast of Delhi.

The school, the Darul Uloom Deoband, was established in 1865 by Hājjī Muhammad ‘Abīd Husayn and three other Islamic scholars. It is considered one of the foremost religious schools in the Muslim world.

It hosts up to 1,500 students and its library is endowed with some 70,000 traditional legal books, prints and manuscripts. - http://www.asianews.it

Accept reality: Tanah Melayu is M’sia

Don’t worry and be obsessed about Malay unity, we should be more worried about Malaysian unity, says Zaid Ibrahim.
COMMENT

By Zaid Ibrahim

A recent article written by Ahmad Naim Tahir, “Bersediakah Melayu terus berkorban”, in an online news portal is typical of many articles written of late lamenting about the fate of the Malays.

The script goes like this: The Malays are slowly but surely being pushed out of “an island” (Penang presumably); the Malays are divided; the Malays have sacrificed for peace, for stability and for the country and got nothing in return.

Yet the non-Malays are still egging and challenging them and pushing them out. They even dare talk of the Federal Constitution which theoretically permit a non-Malay/Muslim as premier.

According to him, even the gays and the lesbians are challenging the Muslims via “Seksualiti Merdeka”. He did not mention the incidents where Christians purportedly were trying to convert the Muslims but I am sure in his mind this would be part of the plan of the non-Muslims.

This is typical of the reaction of the Malay political writers to the woes ( real or imagined) faced by the Malays.

They exaggerate the problem of the Malays and Muslims. The common theme found in their articles clearly shows that these political writers like to whine and complain about everything except looking for the answers to the so-called problems.

In the first place, more Malays are in the urban areas now than ever before. They are in fact “pushing in” and not being pushed out.

Umno maybe “corrupt and inefficient” but they have helped the Malays gained strong economic foothold. If some are leaving Penang for the mainland, maybe they got good money for their properties.

What’s wrong with that since they can then develop other areas and sell them again for good profit?

Malay unity

Let’s start with unity of the Malays. Since when were the Malays united? The fact that we had multiple Malay sultanates even before the British were here suggest that the Malays were content to have many sultans (for a small country) rather than be united under a supreme Ruler.

If they want unity they would have chosen one of the sultans to conquer the other states and unite the Malays.

They did not do that. They are happy with nine Rulers. And don’t blame the British for this situation.

Now the Malays are with Umno and PAS; and other smaller parties. That’s what they want – many parties to choose from.

Today they may be fighting but when faced with national catastrophe, they will be united. Not just the Malays but all Malaysians.

For example, if, say, bankruptcy catches us like Greece we will have a unity government. So don’t worry and be obsessed about Malay unity. We should be more worried about Malaysian unity.

Before independence, Malaya then had many Chinese and Indians. To get our independence we had an agreement. No point complaining about the terms of the agreement. No point complaining that even a non-Malay can be prime minister if chosen by the majority.

We should instead honour this agreement as Malays are honourable people. This is what we should teach the people; instead of complaining and whining.

Anyway, the Malays will be the majority people by a big margin for a long time, so why worry about hypothetical situation?

About the Chinese pushing the Malays out to the inner areas: well, even if true, that’s part of life when you do not work hard, or save your money, or have an education system that does not prepare you for this modern world.

There is no government in the world can save any particular community for ever. That community must want to survive. That community must want to work hard; must want to succeed in this world.

In the first place, I think the Malays are doing well now despite getting shoddy education and having to compete with the rich and the powerful.

Accept reality

Still, if the fear is that we may be pushed out, then we need to make the Malays stronger and more competitive.

If, however, we continue to keep the Malays in ignorance, and keep them busy about saving the world, and spending every Saturday worrying about gays, Christians and Chinese, then we maybe pushed out.

And about the Chinese: they help build this country to what it is today. They probably pay more taxes than others. So why can’t these Malay writers accept this reality?

Will the Chinese give you an inch? No.

Will they go all out to help the Malays? No.

But it’s no point complaining. Do the Malays want to be as successful as the Chinese? That’s the question.

On this point I am not convinced that all the Malays want to conquer this world; they rather focus on the hereafter.

So these political writers should not assume they know what the Malays want. If the Malays want something else, then don’t exaggerate their “failures” as those shortcomings are relevant only if measured against what the Chinese want.

But if indeed the Malays want to succeed in this world, then they have to emulate the Jews and the Chinese. They have to choose. It requires different education, different habits and lifestyle.

What is clear is this. These Malay writers must stop whining and complaining. You must accept reality. The reality is that Tanah Melayu has become something else; it’s called Malaysia.

No point blaming the British, the immigrants. No point talking about the so-called accommodation and sacrifice given to the non-Malays.

The Malays must take this world as it is. It would be more positive if the Malays can change their attitude.

Go beat the Chinese in school, in business, in music, in football, in maths and science.

In politics, the Malays will be better off by joining a more progressive party suitable for the Malays of the 21st century; instead of the present Malay parties who obviously have failed them.

Zaid Ibrahim, a former Umno law minister, is the president of Kita.

With no voice in Umno Ku Li turns to Amanah

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said today that he joined civil society NGO Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah) as president as he finds that there is no space to voice his opinions within his political party Umno.

The Kelantan prince and the man who was once expected to be prime minister claimed that the democratic space in the ruling party has shrunk as compared with previous years.

“We don’t have space in our own parties,” said Tengku Razaleigh (picture), who is popularly known as Ku Li. “For me there is no space in Umno.”

He said that in previous years Umno members were free to say anything.

“That was what made Umno able to look after the public, not a narrow focus (like now) to look after only one segment.”

He added that he was told that to even speak in the upcoming Umno general assembly, one would have to be “approved” first.

Amanah, which was only recently formally registered with  the Registrar of Societies, was formed to promote unity and inclusiveness.

Former MIC deputy president S. Subramaniam, who is Amanah deputy president, said that it would remain an NGO until members decided otherwise.

“I have a platform here to talk about issues which are hotly debated,” said Subramaniam.

Ku Li also said that he still had faith in Umno and would remain an Umno member.

The multiracial Amanah leadership comprises members from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.
Among them are former MCA president and Pandan MP Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat who is a deputy president, and PAS member Wan Saiful Wan Jan, who is a vice-president.

Ong said he saw no conflict between his membership in the MCA and his leadership in Amanah as it was his right as a citizen.

Asked whether the launch of Amanah was to coincide with the 13th general election expected before 2013, Ku Li said it was just a co-incidence.

A booklet handed out on Amanah said the NGO’s mission is to reaffirm the words of Malaysia’s first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman who wanted all races to live in harmony, integrity and mutual inter-dependence and therefore build a strong nation.

Anwar backs Seksualiti Merdeka’s right to expression

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has backed Seksualiti Merdeka’s right to express itself but stressed that this did not mean the party supported what the movement stood for.

“Here the issue here is not whether to support or not to support. The issue is you attack them. That’s something else. Can’t we talk about things in this country?” he told reporters in the Parliament lobby here today.

Anwar (picture) said the authorities should have engaged with Seksualiti Merdeka if they disagreed with its goals rather than use “extreme policing” to clamp down on the sexual rights movement.

He also slammed the Umno-controlled media for demonising Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, who had agreed to officiate Seksualiti Merdeka, and claimed the attacks were politically motivated.

“This is what you call the vulnerability of a normal citizen against the entire might of a corrupt government.

“Why do you treat her like a common criminal, harassing her in this manner?” he asked.

MORE TO COME

Empowering the sons of toil

The Orang Asli have been left out and are forced to grapple with poverty. Now, a group aims to empower them through education.

FEATURE

Sons of the Soil, The Original People, and The First Ones. There are such noble sounding monikers for a community which has become more like sons of toil, the forgotten people and last on the list.

The Orang Asli of Malaysia constitute only 0.5% of the population and are diverse in culture, language and beliefs, a legacy borne of 18 different ethnic groups.

However, their shared experience of exclusion from the policy arena and a resulting lack of opportunity to voice their concerns became the impetus for the formation of a group named Sinui Pai Nanek Sengik (New Life, One Heart).

Recognising that communities were having their livelihoods destroyed by government policies that took away their traditional rights to land and other resources, the Sinui Pai Nanek Sengik (SPNS) began an educational programme to mobilise communities for political and social action.

The small number of Orang Asli is one of the many factors contributing to their current problems. Orang Asli have now become like refugees and illegal immigrants in their own country.

Among the core problems are land ownership, culture, identity, and the lost of rights as the Orang Asli have been left out in the field of education and development. Most of the non-Orang Asli in Malaysia refer to the Orang Asli as a barbaric and backward community.

Hence there are many who say that the Orang Asli is a community that is too lazy to work hard to develop themselves and their race. They also accuse the Orang Asli of preferring to ask other parties to change their fate.

Plus, there is no space for the Orang Asli to speak out about their dissatisfaction on certain aspects of the government policies towards them.

The strict control and the neck-logging by the government resulted in the Orang Asli community being unaware that they actually have rights to claim and can speak out about the biased treatment they have received in every government development plan.

Badly hit by logging

Alison Ghani, who is an independent volunteer for Orang Asli issues, says that many villages have been badly hit by logging. She shared the story of a man she fondly refers to as Pakcik Musang of the Jakun tribe who with his family, was harassed away from the land he was residing on.

Today, Pakcik Musang lives in a flimsy shack with no guarantees that he will not be chased away once again.
“Never enough can be written about Orang Asli issues.

It’s incredibly disturbing that they are being denied convenient access to medical treatment and medicines. Take Pos Gob in Kelantan for example. The nearest town from them is Kuala Betis which at 80km away translates to a five hour journey on foot.

“Distance is always a problem. Orang Asli children of Pos Gob attend school at Pos Tohoi which is 60km away from their village, a four-hour journey on foot. Because their parents cannot afford the petrol money to bring them home every week, children as young as seven who are very attached to the families and the community only return home during the school breaks. Many of them refuse to return to school after the break is over,” she said.

Education is inaccessible

Echoing her sentiments is Hans Olsen, UNICEF representative to Malaysia and Special Representative to Brunei Darussalam.

“If you really look at it, livelihood and survival trumps education where some of the Orang Asli are concerned. This isn’t because they don’t want an education or an opportunity for their children.

“It’s simply because education is so inaccessible that we can understand when they think that learning how to hunt, grow food and build a house are more important factors,” he opined.

Bah Useh, is a 28 year-old from Kampung Se’oi in the remote area of Bidor, Perak.

“Since following the activities that is held by the community educators, I found that there are many issues that I learn concerning the Orang Asli. Formerly, I had no idea that there is an act named “Akta 134″ (Orang Asli Act) that is implemented on our race (Orang Asli).

“We are imprisoned in our own country by this act. We are given no chance to speak up, we are not given a chance to express ideas or make decisions on whether we agree or not on certain matters – everything told must be followed by us.

“At least, with the knowledge that I have gained through all the programmes, I am now critical and not easily fished on the lies of certain people (outsiders) in planning development programmes in our place.”

[Photos are courtesy of Alison Ghani]

Malaysia’s Ahmadis living dangerously

Targeted by both society and the state, Ahmadis in Malaysia plead for a fair voice, fearing the worst if they're denied this.

SELAYANG: In the middle of Kampung Nakhoda, there is an unassuming three-storey building. Nothing about its humble stature makes it stand out from nearby houses, except for a council-erected signboard that clearly reads: “Qadiani Bukan Islam” (Qadianis are not Muslims).

Youths mingle inside the building’s compound, warily observing passers-by beyond the front gate. At FMT’s approach, they smiled and opened the gate, only to quickly close it, and the front doors leading to the building’s living room.

Inside, the youths set up video cameras and other recording equipment. They are friendly, but slightly skittish with the visiting journalist. They relax a little when their religious leader, Maulana Ainul Yaqeen Sahib, enters.

It is easy to see why. Ainul belongs to the Ahmadiyya movement, an Islamic sect coldly received by Malaysia’s Sunni Islamic authorities.

Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) officers in the past, he said, have raided the building – named Baitussalam – which serves as the local Ahmadiyya community’s gathering place and mosque.
“They (JAIS) pushed themselves through a hole in the front gate when we didn’t let them come in. They didn’t have a warrant,” he told FMT, relating the 2009 incident.

The JAIS officers barged their way into the building, and started inspecting its prayer room and taking photographs.

Ainul also said that a few of these officers would later pose as curious university students. One of them, he claimed, “borrowed” a copy of the Quran, and never gave back.

Given the cold shoulder

According to Ainul, Ahmadis are no different from other Muslims in terms of practice and the faith. “We follow the Quran, the six pillars of Islam and the tradition of the Holy Prophet. Even our Kalimah (Islamic creed) is the same,” he said.

But what sets them apart from other Muslims, is the belief that their sect’s founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, was Islam’s Promised Messiah and the redeemer, the Imam Mahdi.

(The Ahmadiyya movement began in Qadian, India, during the late 19th century, and was later called Qadianis.)

It is a belief that has not only incurred the wrath of hardline Islamic authorities, but also their supporters.

In May 2010, Pakistani terrorists attacked two Ahmadiyya mosques in Lahore with grenades and automatic rifles, killing 86 and injuring more than 120.

Earlier in February this year, an Indonesian mob attacked an Ahmadiyya community in Cikeusik, Java. Videos released on the Internet showed the mob chanting “Allahuakbar” (God is great) as they beat and killed three Ahmadis, raining blows on them with sticks and stones even as they lay dead on the ground.

While outright violence against Malaysia’s 2,000-odd Ahmadis is unknown, the sect’s believers nevertheless are given the cold shoulder by both the authorities and locals.

According to the Ahmadis, opposition against the movement started shortly after the movement was introduced to Malaya by an Indian missionary in the 1930s.

Zionist support

Later in 1975, the Selangor Fatwa Council decreed that the Ahmadis were not Muslims, and recommended as a result, that their special Malay privileges be removed.

In December 2008, Selangor executive council chairman (for religious affairs) Hasan Mohamed Ali said that the state government was looking into forcibly grabbing the Baitussalam land.

Six months later, in April 2009, the Selangor Islamic Relgious Council (MAIS) issued a directive forbidding the Ahmadis from using the Kampung Nakhoda mosque for Friday prayers.

Those who disobeyed this order, MAIS said, could be subject to a fine and imprisonment.

A 2008 text released by the Federal Territories Mufti’s Office, under the Prime Minister’s Department, claimed that Mirza Ghulam was a British agent sent to divide the Muslims in 19th century India.

Entitled “Beware! Qadianis are out of Islam”, it also alleged that the Ahmadiyya movement received Zionist support, and printed its propaganda material within Israel.

Deceased Malaysian Ahmadis were not allowed to be buried in Muslim cemeteries, Ainul said, adding that their bodies had to be taken to a special gravesite in Cheras.

A few religious Muslim leaders, he claimed, were raising suggestions to change the Ahmadis’ religion under the MyKad to “Qadiani” instead of “Muslim”.

Children not spared

Some speeches made by other Muslim leaders, he added, were also allegedly inciting locals to act against the Ahmadis.

Citing a nearby mosque in the area, he said: “The uztaz (religious leader) made a speech…saying, ‘In Indonesia, these people (Ahmadis) can be killed.’ So indirectly, they’re asking the community to attack us.”
Although physical violence against Ahmadis is unheard of here, locals nevertheless act in their own way.

“They used to throw faeces at my father’s house… During (this year’s) Ramadan, some people threw fireworks in here… children would pass by shouting, ‘Qadiani kafir!’ (Qadianis are infidels!),” Ainul said.

In one instance, FMT noticed a passing motorcyclist who shouted “Astaghfirullah!” (I seek forgiveness from Allah) at the compound, hinting that the Ahmadis had strayed from Islam.

Not even the Ahmadis’ children are spared.

Mohd Farid Kamam, 26, said that his schoolmates saw him leaving Baitussalam one Friday afternoon when he was in Form Three.

“I was lining up on Monday assembly, and I heard my friends saying ‘sesat’ (astray), but I didn’t know (they were referring to me).”

“When I entered the classroom, seven of my classmates surrounded me and said that I had strayed from Islam… they asked me to recite the Kalimah Shahada to determine that I was Muslim,” he said.

Adding that he had done so, his classmates left him alone after that. But the school’s religious teachers would not, with some even refusing to acknowledge him.

“My friends and I were giving ‘salam’ to a passing uztaz. He would return the salam to my friends, but knowing that I was an Ahmadi, he would not return it to me,” Mohd Farid said.

Bowing to idols

But his most bitter memory came when he was sitting for the Religious Studies paper during his SPM examinations.

“I entered the exam hall, and everyone had a chair except me, so I had to bring in a chair (from outside the hall). As I was carrying it, one of my schoolmates smiled at me and said in front of hundreds of people, ‘What are you here for? You’re not a Muslim, you don’t have to do this exam’,” Mohd Farid said, grinding his teeth.

Malaysian Ahmadis also have to bear the brunt of various accusations about their beliefs. Some of these included “wudu” (the act of washing before prayer) with water from corpses, praying in the nude, dancing the “joget” during prayer and bowing to idols.

Jariullah Ahmad, another believer, told FMT that some locals claimed that the Ahmadis encouraged the eating of pork.

“When my grandmother was taking care of a (hawker) stall, people used to say that she would put pork bones into her food,” he said.

He claimed that state religious leaders were purposely aligning Malaysians against the Ahmadis.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s a Pakatan Rakyat or a Barisan Nasional government, because they’re both advised by the mullahs here,” Jariullah said.

As such, the Ahmadis have asked for the both the government and the mass media to allow for an open discussion over their beliefs.

Those requests have apparently fallen on deaf ears, Ainul said.

“What we want is an open discussion with JAIS and the religious authorities. We want a platform where we can speak out, and the public can watch. They can ask us questions… we will answer them and let the people judge for themselves,” he said.

Even so, Ainul did not appear confident that this would take place. He feared that his people might suffer the same fate as the Indonesian Ahmadis.

“If they don’t take the right action, we’re afraid that people will turn into a mob… it’s happened to Indonesia, now it’s at the stage where they throw stones at us.”

“We feel that worse things will happen here,” he said.

‘What happened to my constituency funds’

Sungai Siput MP Dr D Michael Jeyakumar wants the Federal Court to direct the High Court to hear his suit against the government over constituency funding.

PUTRAJAYA: Sungai Siput MP, Dr D Michael Jeyakumar is going all the way to the Federal Court to find out what has happened to the development fund for his constituency.

Jeyakumar first filed the suit in 2010 against the federal government for the failure to provide constituency development funds as much as RM1 million as stated in the national budget.

The High Court had then decided unanimously for the case to proceed. However the senior federal counsel, representing the government, appealed at the Appeals Court and the leave was denied on Oct 10, two days before the matter was to have been heard at the High Court.

Today, Jeyakumar filed an application for the Federal Court to overrule the Court of Appeal decision and to direct the High Court to hear his suit. No date has been fixed to hear his application.

Speaking to the press after filing his application, Jeyakumar said: “We want a High Court declaration that the BN’s management of funds is wrong.”

He added that currently BN parliamentarians received more than RM1 million annually as constitution development funds directly.

“We also want a mandamus (instruction) to instruct government to tell who has received and how much money has been given out,” said Jeyakumar who is also Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s central committee member.

Jeyakumar claimed that the BN claimed that funds amounting up to RM3 to RM4 million has been pumped into Sungai Siput.

“It is done without my knowledge. I want to know who is gaining out the funds.”

Vel Paari for Sungai Siput?

According to the political grapevine, S Samy Vellu's son will be the BN's choice for the parliamentary seat.

PETALING JAYA: Speculation is rife that the son of former MIC president S Samy Vellu has been given the green light by the party top leadership to start work on wooing voters in the Sungai Siput parliamentary constituency.

Vel Paari is said to have even held a meeting with several non-governmental organisations and grassroots leaders in the constituency which was under the grasp of his father for more than 30 years before his fall at the 2008 general election.

Party insiders insist that Vel Paari would be the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the seat, which is now in the hands of Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s (PSM) Dr Michael Jeyakumar.

“I am very sure Vel Paari will contest in Sungai Siput at the next general election,” said a local MIC leader who did not want to be named.

His confidence is the result of Vel Paari’s visit to the constituency two weeks ago and the declaration by Vel Paari that he had been directed by MIC president G Palanivel to identify problems faced by the people there.

Sources claimed that during the meeting, Vel Paari had told the audience that he would even go to the extent of renting a house in Sungai Siput for the people to have direct access to him.

He, however, stopped short of declaring himself as the BN candidate for the seat.

“The meeting is clear-cut: Vel Paari has stated that the battle is to win the hearts and minds of the people here, ” said a source.

Uphill battle

Political observers, however, feel that although Vel Paari could be a good choice, the battle to win the seat would be an uphill battle for the ruling coalition.

Jeyakumar is no pushover. He became a hero among the people in the constituency after his detention under the Emergency Ordinance(EO) several months ago.

The Sungai Siput seat is rather unique in nature. Its former MPs have always been MIC presidents until 2008.

The late VT Sambanthan held the seat from 1955 to 1974 while Samy Vellu defended the seat for eight consecutive terms until his loss three years ago.

Another source also said that the days of “throwing money” to get votes was over and “young voters are likely to reject (those who) who give money for their votes”.

According to him, Jeyakumar’s detention, the handling of the Maika Holdings shares and several promises not delivered by Samy Vellu would make the battle even harder for Vel Paari.

“Although Vel Paari is a bit more humble and has the personal touch with the people here, it is not an assurance that he can win the seat,” said the source.

He added that the failure of Samy Vellu to construct a new building for the Methodist School and a new Tamil school at Taman Tun Sambanthan has eroded support for the BN.

“Issues like Indian squatters, failure to allocate land for agriculture and farming (mainly cattle breeding) and lack of major industries are also hot election topics,” he added.

Concrete settlements

Sources said if Vel Paari is serious in contesting the seat, he needs to come up with solutions to these issues.

There must be concrete settlements to the woes of the Indian community and “only then we might see voters crossing over to the BN from Pakatan Rakyat,” a source said.

A MIC leader, who did not want to be named, said at present, voters were still in favour of Pakatan, not because of the opposition coalition’s national policies, but because of Jeyakumar.

He said the seat is Chinese majority, with nearly 24,000 out of the total 52,000 voters being Chinese.

“Normally the turnout on polling day in Sungai Siput is 70% and it is predicted that in the 13th general election 70% of the Chinese votes will favour Jeyakumar,” he added.

This, he said, would mean that Pakatan needed only 6,000 to 7,000 votes from Malay, Indian and Orang Asli communities to retain the seat.

The seat has 14,000 Malay, 11,000 Indian and 3,000 Orang Asli voters.

Is Muhyiddin best person to “transform” Malaysian proficiency in English, maths and science as to become a global power house?

Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has not inspired or convinced Malaysians in his 31 months as Education Minister that he is the person to “transform” the proficiency of Malaysian students in English, maths and science for Malaysia to become a global power house in these three subjects.

This point has been further driven home for most Malaysians by his recent maladroit flip-flop over the PPSMI issue.

The greatest disservice Muhyiddin has done to Malaysian education and our international competitiveness was his decision on PPSMI, which was given Cabinet approval on 8th July 2009.

My immediate reaction (9th July 2009) was to describe the Cabinet decision on PPSMI “not a New Deal, as proclaimed by some newspaper headlines, but a Raw Deal leaving Malaysia stranded in the march towards global educational quality, excellence and competitiveness and doing a great disservice to millions of students currently in both the primary and secondary schools”.

I had stressed at the time that the Cabinet’s PPSMI decision of July 8, 2009 “cannot be the last word on the controversial subject and the whole issue must be re-opened for a broader, more liberal and flexible solution which would have far-reaching consequences not only to nation-building, nature of a society we want to build in Malaysia but also whether Malaysia can compete and stand tall with the rest of the world”.

I had right from the beginning in 2002 opposed former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s PPSMI, as it is educationally unsound because educational experience on bilingual education worldwide in the past three decades have shown that using a second language as a medium of instruction from too early stages can impede the development of thinking skills of children resulting in low achievement in mathematics, science and languages – powerful educational arguments against the use of English to teach maths and science from Std. One.

This argument does not apply for children whose home language is the English language or a total immersion education system is adopted with English as medium of instruction.

This is why I had suggested a flexible approach to the PPSMI problem which does not allow a “One Size Fits All” solution, by giving parents the choice to decide on the type of education they want for their children – including having classes or schools using English as medium of instruction for mathematics and science.

The purpose of the ill-conceived PPSMI in 2002 was to raise the standards of English, mathematics and science for Malaysian students which are imperative if Malaysia is not to continue its descent into a backwater, with one country after another overtaking the country in national development and progress.

The reasons prompting the PPSMI in 2002 to transform Malaysia into a global powerhouse in English, maths and science were right, proper and should be supported but the approach in conceiving and implementing the PPSMI from Std. One was wrong.

In his 31 months as Education Minister, Muhyiddin has failed to come up with a formula which commands public confidence that English, maths and science proficiency of Malaysian students would be upgraded for Malaysia to become a global powerhouse in these three subjects.

In fact, high and vivid in the memory of Malaysians is the admission by Muhyiddin after becoming Education Minister that he did not know that English is not a “must pass” subject for SPM – which shows that neither education nor the decline of English language among students in the past four decades had been very close to his heart in his political career.

Muhyiddin was one of the leading advocates of UMNO for PPSMI in 2002, defending the proposal with the half-baked argument that many countries in the world, including China, Japan, Korea and France were turning to English as it could help them to progress – showing his inability to understand the actual reasons for the opposition to PPSMI in national, Chinese and Tamil primary schools by parents and teachers from all the major races in the country.

It is sad and most deplorable that in his 31 months as Education Minister, Malaysia is today no nearer to finding a solution to “transform” the proficiency of Malaysian students in English, maths and science as to become a global power house in these three subjects to best position Malaysia in the march towards global educational quality, excellence and competitiveness.

Ambiga warns of suing TV station for label on Seksualiti Merdeka

The Sun
by Charles Ramendran

PETALING JAYA (Nov 7, 2011): Former Malaysian Bar chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan has warned that she would not hesitate to sue a television station if it continues to misconstrue the objectives of the Seksualiti Merdeka 2011 movement in its reports.

At a press conference at the Tenaganita office in Jalan Gasing today, Ambiga, who is the Bersih 2.0 chairman, said she was shocked on learning that TV3's prime news had claimed that Seksualiti Merdeka was a "free sex festival". She said the report was irresponsible, and accused the station of misleading the public.

"Is it because you want to get me or bully a marginalised group which is already being shamed and facing abuse everyday?" she said, before challenging the Media Prima station to carry her statement or risk facing legal action.

At about 4pm, four police officers from the Kuala Lumpur police contingent arrived at the office and spent about 45 minutes questioning Ambiga, Tenaganita chairman Irene Fernandez, Seksualiti Merdeka founder Pang Khee Teik and Bersih 2.0 committee member Maria Chin Abdullah about the movement.

Last Friday, Malay right-wing group Perkasa led a demonstration against Seksualiti Merdeka 2011 at the National Mosque, and had called for Ambiga to be arrested for being involved in the movement.

Ambiga had earlier reportedly clarified that she was not one of the organisers of Seksualiti Merdeka 2011 but that she had only been asked to launch it on Wednesday.

She also said she had only agreed to officiate the festival as a private citizen and not as a representative of Bersih.

The lawyer then took the opportunity to link the issue with the refugee exchange programme between Australia and Malaysia, saying the former should take note of the controversy being kicked up by the government concerning Seksualiti Merdeka as it speaks of Malaysia's view on minority groups.

"I hope Australia is watching. They plan to send refugees here, a country which cannot protect its minority groups," she said.

Clearly riled up over the misreporting by certain news sources, prominent social activist Datuk Paduka Marina Mahathir, who was also present at the press conference, said: "I am angry and was sickened to read how they labelled the movement's activities as a free sex festival."

"I am a supporter of the group and had launched their programme two years ago without problems. The programme is to educate those who come under the scope of the movement of their rights and all this does not go against the law or religion."

The daughter of former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also threatened to take legal action against the TV station over its report.

Pang said the movement was making arrangements to meet Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar to explain the objectives of the movement.

Ismail was quoted saying on Monday that he had agreed to meet the group.

The Seksualiti Merdeka 2011 programme which was scheduled to be launched on Wednesday and end on Nov 13 at Central Market's Annexe Gallery, is a yearly festival which championed freedom of sexual orientation and gender identity, and to protect the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, intersexuals and transgenders.

It first took place in 2008.

However, the programme was cancelled after the police, on Saturday, banned functions organised by any group related to the Seksualiti Merdeka programme to safeguard public order.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar said police had done so to safeguard public order after receiving several reports against it.

He also said the police were not against freedom of expression or human rights but had to step in because the organisers did not have a permit to hold the festival in public.

Strengthen Collaboration To Fight Drug Abuse Scourge - Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has called on international organisations and communities to strengthen collaboration to combat the drug abuse menace in view of its rising threats to society.

The Deputy Prime Minister said it was also paramount for international organisations and communities to continue to work together to identify and roll out collaborative mechanisms and initiatives to address the complex challenges of drug issues and abuse.

"Although much has been done, we surely need to do more. We must strengthen our resolve and aggresively reenergise our efforts to fight and eliminate drug abuse on both personal and global levels.

"Today, new and more potent drugs for abuse are being introduced. Our youths as well as the marginalised or vulnerable population remain at risk," he said in his opening address at the 24th International Federation of Non-Government Organisations for the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse (IFNGO) World Conference here, today.

Muhyiddin, who chairs the Anti-drugs Cabinet Committee, said on the domestic front, the government had established strong collaboration with communities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in combating, prevention and eradication programmes.

He said in 2010 and 2011, the government allocated a total of RM6.5 million for NGOs which provided treatment and rehabilitation services as well as support for drug users.

"The relationships of government and the NGOs are closely-bonded and this has leveraged many joint-cooperation programmes in the field of treatment and rehabilitation and preventive education," he said.

He cited the Cure and Care Service Centre (CCSS) in the Chow Kit area of the city as one such colloborative efforts as the facility was funded by the government but run by an NGO, Yayasan Salam.

"The synergy has seen tremendous positive results whereby we see greater numbers of drug users in the area turning in to seek consultation and help in terms of treatment and rehabilitation, as well as referral services," he noted.

He said in the field of preventive education, the National Anti-Drugs Agency also worked closely with the National Association for Drug Prevention (Pemadam) in carrying out home-based programmes, training of volunteers to conduct drug prevention programmes as well as detecting drug users in local communities.

In conjunction with IFNGO's 30th anniversary, Muhyiddin presented Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim with an award in recognition of the latter's role and advocacy in combating drug abuse.

Rais was the IFNGO's founder and its inaugural Charter president when it was formed in 1981. A commemorative coffee table book on the IFNGO was also launched to mark the anniversary.

In his speech earlier, Australian High Commissioner Miles Kupa said the United Nations estimated that six per cent or 250 million of the world's population consumed illicit drugs, with the illicit drug trade worldwide being estimated to be worth RM300 billion annually.

"Closer to home, we now have more than half of the world's heroin users in Asia. Consumption is also increasing in places surrounding Afghanistan like Pakistan, Iraq and Central Asia.

"To compound this problem, the Asian region contains an estimated 20 million people who use amphetamine-type stimulants including methamphetamine and ecstasy and other synthetic drugs," he said.

Currently, INFNGO has 87 registered members in 43 countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Russia, Sudan, Iran, Italy and Malaysia.

An Open Letter for Total Ban on Cow Slaughter in Bharat (INDIA).

To
1. The President of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
2. The Prime Minister of India, Parliament House, New Delhi.
3. The Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court, New Delhi.

Vande Gomataram.

Subject:  An appeal to ensure the complete prohibition upon Cow Slaughter abiding by the existing rules and regulation in force in different states in India along with the strict direction of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
Madam/Sir,

1. Under the laws enforced in this land with a wide view to natural justice to all creatures, honoring the Sanatani tradition of venerated  Cow progeny even as non hittable (aghna), respecting  the Cow as Go-Mata in highest esteem in the traditional scriptures, contemplating the importance of Cow progeny in Indian agriculture, health, medicines and economics based upon its blessings upon us and obviously to be humane by resisting the animal cruelty, most of the states have been formulated its own rules and acts in favor of banning Cow Slaughter even in Bakri Idd.
2. But, very unfortunately going to the utter contradiction to the above, in most of the cases Cow progeny are being slaughtered very cruelly in a disgusting gruesome way, sometimes with the help of local administration and politics, only to appease a minority section hurting the majority by violating all the norms so framed by the states very illegally, unreasonably and undemocratically. Though all the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhists, Arya Samajists  and the  Sanatani and Vedic followers want a total ban on cow slaughter in Bharat, as a matter of humiliation of all Bharat Dharma, the rampant cow slaughter is going on violating all the norms in force.
3. As an example, the state of West Bengal, now Paschimbanga had given permission in the last year to slaughter Cows in Bakri Idd under the section 12 of the WB Animal Slaughter Control Act 1950, very intrigue-fully going against the verdicts of Hon’ble Calcutta High Court and the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
4. It is a wide known fact that being aggrieved Sri Kedar Nath Brahmachari and 26 others filed a petition against the State of West Bengal and 20 others for which Hon’ble Calcutta High Court passed an order to ban cow slaughter even in Bakar Idd, vide 1982(2) Kokata, HN dated 20.8.1982.
5. The State of West Bengal filed an appeal in Supreme Court of India against the above order of Calcutta High Court vide CA 6790/1983 – State of West Bengal & Others. –vs– Ashutosh Lahiri & Others. for which the Hon’ble Supreme Court maintained the order of Calcutta High court to prohibit the Cow slaughter in Bakri Idd  as such slaughters being unconstitutional and directed the State to take measures to stop such illegalities.
6. Despite of that in West Bengal and other States at least 30 lakhs (5 lakhs in West Bengal) healthy, milky, cultivating and capable Cow progeny are slaughtered very unfortunately within a political nexus of Chairman, Sabhapati of Panchayet Samity and the official authorities in various departments.
7. As aggrieved by the gross violation of the Slaughter Control Act enforced in different States time and again and felt detrimental to the majority Hindu sentiment in general, various forums filled many petitions in the designated Courts for getting justice to stop cruelty upon animal and especially mentionable the petitions filed in the Honb’le Calcutta High Court by Akhil Bharat Krishi Go Seva Sangha, Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Sri K K Singhania, Sri Abhijit Das & Enamul Haque and others.
8. It is also mentionable that the esteemed Islamic Institution “Darul-Uloon-Deoband” also declared a Fatwa describing not mandatory to slaughter cows in Bakri Idd and requested not to do such accordingly. The extract of the Fatwa can be obtained from the news published in Dainik Jagran dt. 13.06.2006.
9. But unfortunately, the chain of illegal slaughter is in vehemently increasing, killing healthy, capable and milking cows, while the children of the poor families are dying do to malnutrition and don’t get a single drop of cow milk in this land of “Gopal”. As per report of the UNICEF entitling “World Children Status Report-2008”, every day 5000 children are dying in India due to malnutrition.
10. It is well established that the Cow progeny is the foundation of our agriculture, health, conventional & renewable energy source and the all round development of this Sanatani Land with a highest veneration to Go Mata and Go Palak (Cow Savers). And butchering these very calm and pretty animals hitting the religious sentiments of Hindus must attract the provisions of Section 153 and 295 of Indian Penal Court.
11. Again, a Seven Judges Bench in the Honb’le Supreme Court of India gave the verdict in CA No.4937-4940 of 1998 being the case of State of Gujrat & Others Vs. Mirajapur Moti Kureshi Kasab & Others.  [2005/ SCCL.Com-735] propounding the importance of Oxen over the age of sixteen years for their utility in case of agricultural manure and recycling energy production from its dung and urine and consequently prohibited oxen slaughter even over 16 years of age of it.
12. Cow slaughter is completely prohibited without any discrimination of age or condition in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattishgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Gujarat etc., but the total prohibition of Holy Cow progeny in the length and breadth of this Holy Land is still awaited within a suitable Constitutional amendment.  On the other hand the violation of existing slaughter prohibitory rules and regulations are inciting the Hindu sentiments by some communal elements finding the loop holes of the police and administrations by the way.

In this context, these are our earnest requests to the effect that:

A. Please maintain and give full protection to the Prohibitory Acts on Cow Slaughter on Bakri Idd this year on 7^th November, 2011 and to extend full cooperation and security to all forums to restrain these illegal slaughters in their activities to help the police and administration on spot of occurrence of illegal slaughters in every state, especially in West Bengal.

B. Please form a task force in each level comprising Govt. officials and the related NGOs to restrain illegal cow slaughter in every place, especially in West Bengal. Please stop all Cow markets set up for Bakri Idd and ban interstate import-export of cow progeny for slaughter as a mandatory measure.

C. Please apply the provisions of National Security Act (NSA) against the perpetrators for the violation of Animal slaughter Control Acts.

D. Please set a high strategy team for banning all type of Cow progeny slaughter under illegality and to monitor the prohibition and utilization through videography in surface and even through helicopter in the disturbed area due to cow slaughter.

E. Please start legal proceedings against BDO (Block Development Officer) and the Officer-In-Charge of the Police Station of the respective Block and the police station where the cases of illegal cow slaughter may occur violating the existing rules and regulations.

F. Please construct the Cow Rehabilitation Center in each district to maintain the rescued Cows and Oxen from illegal slaughter with a coordination of the various “Gosewa Goraksha Sangathan”  (Cow Rehabilitation & Protection Organizations) for a sustainable development of Indian agriculture, health, economy, energy, traditional medicines and ecology.

Vande Go Mataram ! Vande Mataram !! Jai Hind !!!

With best of regards.

Sincerely Yours,
Ashoo Mongia.
(National President, Rashtriya Goraksha Sena).
Upananda Brahmachari.
(Peethadish, Rashtriya Goraksha Peeth, National Observer RGS).

Milly Dowler killer Levi Bellfield 'converts to Islam while in jail after changing his name to Mohammed and only eating halal meat'

Convert: Bellfield, who sources claim has turned to Islam, was given a second life term in June for killing schoolgirl Milly Dowler

The killer of schoolgirl Milly Dowler has changed his name and is converting to Islam in jail, it has been claimed.


Levi Bellfield, 43, is now called Mohammed, only eats halal meat and prays to Allah five times a day at Wakefield Prison.


The triple murderer is serving a second whole life sentence for killing Milly, 13, at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in March 2002.


He was already in jail for murdering Marsha McDonnell, 19, in 2003 and Amelie Delagrange, 22, as well as attempting to murder Kate Sheedy, 18, in 2004.


Staff at Wakefield prison, in West Yorkshire, believe Bellfield has only changed his faith to gain special treatment at the jail.


It is also thought he may have made the lifestyle change to impress the Muslim extremists who have given him a hard time while he has been incarcerated there.


A prison insider told the Daily Mirror: 'His diet must be cooked to halal guidelines. It is generally accepted the food is better.

'Bellfield is doing this for better meals and a cushier life. He has the right to pray five times a day so it gives him a break.


'Some staff think he may have become a Muslim to impress the extremists he had trouble with.'

Staff at Wakefield Prison are reported to have said that Bellfield has only changed his faith to get special treatment

Bellfield, who is 6ft tall and weighs around 18 stone, has repeatedly complained about his personal security.


Sources at the prison suggested earlier this year that Bellfield spends the majority of his time in his cell surrounded by legal papers and books because of fears he will be attacked.


It emerged in August that the serial killer could be in line for a compensation payout of up to £30,000 after suffering cuts and bruises in a prison attack.


Bellfield is waiting to cash in on a minor assault which took place before he went on trial for the murder of Milly.

After his conviction, Milly’s mother Sally said she hoped he would be dealt with in prison with the ‘same brutality’ he used against his victims.

Bellfield was already in jail for murdering Amelie Delagrange, 22 (left), and Marsha McDonnell, 19 (centre) when he was convicted of killing Milly Dowler, 13 (right)

She said: ‘The length the system goes to protect his human rights seems so unfair compared to what we as a family have had to endure.’


But within weeks of being sent back to Wakefield Prison, it emerged the killer had issued civil proceedings against the Government.


He suffered minor injuries to his face and mouth when he was attacked by an inmate armed with a makeshift weapon outside one of the prison’s bathrooms last September.