New Delhi: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony

"During his meeting with Mr. Antony, Mr. Abdullah presented his case for removal of the AFSPA from at least four districts, two each in Kashmir and Jammu, official sources said. While Mr. Antony conveyed the reservations of the Army over such a move, Mr. Abdullah emphasised the need to translate the promises made by the National Conference-Congress alliance on the ground and reward the people of the State for maintaining a peaceful year, the sources said. The Chief Minister is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, and Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday to present the case of the State government."

'via Blog this'The Hindu : News / National : Omar meets Antony, Army Chief:

Update: Philippines: Growth and Equity in Mindanao (GEM) eased trading activities in some conflict-affected areas in Mindanao

"With its latest completed boat landing project in Zamboanga Sibugay, local traders experience comfortable deals and transportation of their products, Nikki Meru, GEM media liaison officer said in a statement. Meru said the depressed town showed increased economic movement because of the project that was built through a partnership between the Municipal Government and the US Agency for International Development (USAid), through GEM, now hosts over 100 cargo, fishing and passenger boats daily."

'via Blog this'Growth and Equity in Mindanao eased trades in Mindanao-conflicted areas | Sun.Star: USAid has constructed more than 1,300 such projects in Mindanao's conflict-affected areas, 89 of these are located in Zamboanga Sibugay. The GEM Program is funded by the USAid and is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Development Authority. (PR)

Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on November 14, 2011.

Update: Yemen: UN pushes peace plan - U.N. envoy Jamal Benomar met Saleh Sunday to push for a transfer of power

10 militants killed in Yemen; UN pushes peace plan - Boston.com: "Months of violence have forced more than 100,000 residents of Zinjibar to flee to neighboring provinces, where some have sought refuge in schools.In the Arhab region, north of the capital Sanaa, Yemeni forces shelled positions held by armed anti-government tribesmen, killing two, another security official said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters. Months of international diplomacy has failed to resolve the crisis. Saleh has refused numerous times to follow through on a U.S.-backed proposal crafted by Yemen's powerful Gulf Arab neighbors, under which he would transfer power to his vice president in exchange for immunity from prosecution. In Sanaa, U.N. envoy Jamal Benomar met Saleh Sunday to push for a transfer of power. The U.N. said Benomar's weeklong visit to Yemen was intended to encourage the Gulf-backed proposal, which the Security Council has endorsed."

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Update: India: Jammu and Kashmir: Called for Phased Rollback of AFSPA on a Test Basis to Improve Law & Order Situation

The Army's top commander in Jammu and Kashmir has said the country could be compelled to grant the State independence by 2016 if government plans to lift the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act from some areas go ahead, highly-placed security sources have told "The Hindu" newspaper. The assertion was made on Wednesday in an over hour-long presentation to the Unified Headquarters, the State's top coordination body for security, by Lieutenant-General Syed Ata Hasnain, who commands the Srinagar-based XV Corps. Army officials would not confirm the contents of the presentation, but three officials present at the meeting separately provided The Hindu with the same account of what was said. The presentation also included a slide, which asserted that while the State people were seeking bijli, sadak, paani (electricity, roads, water), calls for lifting the AFSPA were coming from four categories: Pakistan, the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, terrorists and secessionists."

'via Blog this'The Hindu : News / National : Army raises ‘secession' spectre to counter plan to lift AFSPA: "

Peace means children will not know the feeling of having five seconds to run to bomb shelter &/or not worry about suicide bomber on a bus...

"In recent years, the Palestinian economy has prospered in the West Bank. Undeniably, increased cooperation between Palestinians and the Israeli and American governments is important. Moreover, other foreign investors and governments have also begun to heavily invest in the West Bank. These investments have benefited both Palestinians and Israelis and are part of the infrastructure of a future Palestinian state. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad should be praised for his economic reform efforts within the Palestinian Authority.

Peace between Israel and the Palestinians would mean greater prosperity for both. Peace would mean easier access between the two nations, resulting in a situation where a person could live in Ramallah and work in Jerusalem. Peace would allow collaboration in major industries such as tourism, high tech, and agriculture. Researchers from the Peres Center for Peace in Israel have concluded that greater economic cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority could yield an increase in Palestinian GDP by $8 billion in five to ten years. "

'via Blog this'Only Negotiations Will Bring Peace to the Middle East | StarTribune.com:

Philippines:“The road to peace is long and difficult. However, in the face of adversities and challenges, we should remain focused on the objective,”

Army chief: Peace, justice can be pursued at the same time - The Philippine Star » News » Headlines: "The Philippine Army remains fully supportive of the peace process. We will continue to reach out to our brothers, to choose the peaceful path and those who do so merit our unwavering support.” Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista

However, Bautista said the Army would apply “legitimate force” against those who insist on using arms to threaten public safety. “Yes, we will seek justice against those who commit atrocities through appropriate calibrated and focused response, without necessarily jeopardizing the peace process and within the bounds of human rights, international humanitarian law and rule of law,” he said. “After all, the use of legitimate force within the government’s overall framework of achieving peace and security is within the ambit of the IPSP (internal peace and security plan) Bayanihan.” Bayanihan seeks to implement programs that address the roots of armed rebellion like poverty. It also encourages the private sector and civil society to join efforts aimed at improving the rural communities’ access to basic services."

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Rwanda: Leaders & diplomats of nine African countries, Haiti & Int'l Org find talked to find ways to build lasting peace

African Conference Discusses Peacebuilding | Africa | English: "Seventeen years ago last spring, Rwanda was the most violent place on earth. Today, Kigali parks are neatly manicured and people travel safely at any time of night. This week in Kigali, leaders from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Burundi, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Haiti, South Sudan and Timor Leste traveled to Rwanda to learn how it’s done. Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza said that before peace can be sustainable, a country needs to maintain stability on the streets. Hundreds of thousands people were killed in the Burundian conflict that ended more than six years ago. Burundi remains one of the poorest countries on earth, and conflict remains a threat. "A multitude of Burundians were killed," said Nkurunziza. "Others were forced into exile. Property was looted, stolen. Infrastructure was destroyed and the government was also not spared.""

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