IT IS WAR AGAINST THE PEOPLE

GOBINDPURA- SECOND PHASE OF STRUGGLE BEGINS

Last month, when the farm organisations were holding Dharnas at Mansa, Jalandhar & Amritsar on Gobindpura issue, Sh. Parkash Singh Badal CM Punjab invited them for talks. It was promised in preliminary discussion that no land shall be acquired in future for any project without the consent of its owner. The CM also promised to leave the dispute 166 acre land & Dalit houses at Gobindpura from the purview of acquisition, pay adequate compensation, ensure employment to at least one member of the families whose land has been acquired etc. But all this was empty talk. In the formal meeting held on 19th Sept, he backed out from all these commitments.

Farm organizations then decided to relaunch the struggle in the form of a march towards Gobindpura on 24 th September and started making preparations for it.

In order to prevent the march being organized by 17 organizations of farmers & Agri-labour of Punjab towards Gobindpura, a small village in Punjab, to get back the land and houses forcibly acquired by Punjab Govt for Poena Power Company's Thermal Plant, a massive deployment of police & armed forces has been done. All roads & pathways leading to this village have been heavily barricaded. Bus service to the village has been discontinued.

As per police sources 6 SPs, 17 DSPs, 13 SHOs, 10 Inspectors, 55 ASIs, 1940 Constables & Head Constables & 85 lady police officials have been deployed under the personal command of Sh. Nirmal Singh Dhillon IGP Bathinda and Surinder Singh Parmar SSP Mansa. Besides mobilizing armed Jawans from IRB, PAP, Commando Battalions, the police has also deployed Water Cannons, Round Fire Launchers, Tear gas squads etc. While hectic parleys are on amongst various functionaries of the administration, the police is holding flag march in the villages to terrorize the people.

All this is being done to crush the peoples movement and to protect the interests of Poena Power Company, a subsidiary of India Bulls.

N.K.JEET Advisor
LOK MORCHA PUNJAB

Bathinda (Mob.: 94175-07363)

Employers Reach Out to Service Members, Vets

By Terri Moon Cronk American Forces Press Service FORT MEADE, Md., Sept. 21, 2011 - As if answering President Barack Obama's call for them to hire more veterans, more than 80 employers gathered at a job fair here last week to tap into some of the top-notch qualifications the president touted. Army Sgt. Thomas Smogorzewski, a signals analyst, listens to instructions a recruiter gives him at a Sept. 14, 2011, job fair at Fort Meade, Md. Smogorzewski soon will leave the Army and is beginning his job search in the civilian sector. DOD photo by Sebastian J. Sciotti Jr.  The day-long job fair attracted 1,360 job seekers, organizers reported, many of them veterans or service members in uniform laying groundwork for civilian jobs.Obama emphasized the capabilities these veterans bring to the workplace during an Aug. 30 address to the American Legion National Convention in Minneapolis. After 10 years at war, they have acquired skills to harness new technologies on the battlefield, partner with communities and assume leadership roles for the country, he said. "They've learned the cultures and traditions and languages of the places where they served ... They've taken on the role of diplomats and mayors and development experts, negotiating with tribal sheikhs, working with village shuras, partnering with communities," Obama said. Prospective employers at last week's job fair said they hope to attract some of those talents into their workforces. "Serco hires a lot of military," said technical recruiter Karen Parker, who was looking to fill jobs in information technology, systems software programming and other technical positions. "[Veterans] are willing to learn new skills and make the transition from military to civilian life," she said, noting that veterans also bring a wealth of information and experience from all over the world. For prospective applicants, especially those still on active duty and new veterans, the job fair offered an opportunity to learn about individual companies, benefits and job requirements, and a chance to talk with recruiters directly and give them a resume. For many who joined the military right after high school, applying for a job was a first-time experience. Among them was Army Sgt. Thomas Smogorzewski, who has served five years as a signals analyst. Ideally, he wants to become a police officer, but in the meantime, he's hoping for a position similar to his Army job. "I'll use the skills I've gotten from the Army," he said. "I'd like to get an analyst position, use the GI Bill to finish my degree and try for a police officer job," he continued. "I enjoy helping people." Smogorzewski said an Army Career and Alumni Program counselor is helping him transition into the civilian world, and sends him job contacts. Army Staff Sgt. Erin Lee has a similar story. She enlisted into the Army after high school graduation, has served for 10 years and never had to apply for a civilian-sector job. She said the reception she got from prospective employers at the job fair was positive. "They engaged me in conversation and wanted me to contact them," she said. "I got a boost of confidence when they said I had [Army experience and a security clearance] going for me. I was really happy to hear that." Like Smogorzewski, Lee said she gained help from the ACAP to prepare her for interviewing, writing a resume and handling a phone interview. "That really helped me because I've never done that before," she said. Lee said she believes her military experience gave her the maturity and skills to make her a valuable employee. "Being in the military made me grow up fast," she said. "I don't think I would've gotten that as a civilian. I love the Army. It gives you a foundation to become a better person and a better leader. I'll use that as a civilian." Veteran Benjamin Peter distributed numerous resumes at the job fair. With service as a Navy officer, Peter has been unemployed since Memorial Day, and continues to apply for five to 20 jobs a week. Applying advice he got as he was transitioning from the Navy, he networks online, goes to a variety of job websites and has a couple of irons in the fire for a job. But after job hunting all summer, Peter admitted to feeling a bit of frustration. "I went from making $57,000 a year," he said, "to zero." Yet Peter said he is committed to starting a career and not simply taking a job. "I do have a job I can take," he said. "But I'd rather take a job where I know I'll enjoy being there, and might be more successful in a corporation or company." During his remarks to the American Legion, Obama said the Congress must put a jobs bill at the top of its agenda to help veterans like Peter. "For the sake of our veterans, for the sake of our economy, we need these veterans working and contributing and creating the new jobs and industries that will keep America competitive in the 21st century," he said. �

Related Sites: American Jobs Act Related Articles: Job Initiatives Focus on Vets, Family Members

PM Singh's Government sending Démarches to the U.S.

SIKHS TO HOLD "JUSTICE RALLY" DURING PM SINGH'S ADDRESS TO UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) announced that a "Justice Rally" will be held during PM Manmohan Singh's address to the UN General Assembly on September 24^th from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. Sikhs are protesting against PM's Singh's Government's policy of impunity towards Congress (I) leaders who organized and participated in the killing of Sikhs during November 1984.

In November 1984, thousands of Sikhs were massacred, their properties looted and burnt, all across India, with the active connivance of law enforcement and on behest of leaders of Congress Party Leaders. Kamal Nath, Amitabh Bachchan, Arun Nehru, Vasant Sathe, Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, were seen instigating and leading the killer mobs that attacked Sikhs in November 1984. Twenty Seven (27) years after the massacre, PM Singh has failed to prosecute those responsible and instead have rewarded the killers of Sikhs with seats in the parliament and positions in the Cabinet.

According to attorney Gurpatwant S. Pannun legal advisor to SFJ, PM Singh is not only protecting Kamal Nath in India but is also actively working to get him immunity from prosecution before U.S. Federal Court where he is being tried for his role in November 1984 Sikh Genocide. PM Singh's Government has been sending Démarches to the U.S. Department of State seeking immunity from prosecution for Kamal Nath added attorney Pannun. While Indian Governments claims of democracy, human rights, justice and equality grow louder, bolder and loftier; its actions of shielding the human rights abusers defy the same.

SFJ along with victims of November 1984 have filed a class action law suit against Indian National Congress (Congress I) and Kamal Nath (SFJ v. INC. & Nath SDNY (10 CV 2940)) under Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) for their role in the killing of Sikhs in November 1984. US Court issued summons against Kamal Nath on April 06, 2010 while summons against Congress Party were issued in March 2011.

Diana Honings climbs the rigging

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Diana Honings climbs the rigging after re-enlisting aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, Sept. 15, 2010. Honings, a public affairs specialist at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., re-enlisted for four additional years of service during a ceremony aboard the 295-foot barque. (DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class NyxoLyno Cangemi, U.S. Coast Guard/Released)

Mother's Heart Stopped During Open Heart Surgery

 While Unborn Baby's Heart Kept Beating

Rare Heart Surgery Saves Life of Mother and Child

Ludhiana, 19th September, 2011:(Shalu Arora) Mrs Gurpreet Kaur – a 25 y lady - w/o Mr Manmeet Singh r/o Kidwai Nagar Ludhiana was in a dire condition. The whole family had been overjoyed when Gurpreet had got pregnant . Then at the 28^th week of pregnancy she started getting extremely short of breath. On examination it was found that one of her valves (the mitral valve) had got very tight. She was referred to Dr Harinder Singh Bedi – Head of Cardio Vascular & Thoracic Surgery at the Christian Medical College & Hospital , Ludhiana. Dr Bedi realized that due to the pregnancy Gurpreet’s blood volume had increased and so the valve which was already too small due to the disease was now functionally smaller as more blood had to pass through it. The blood was getting trapped in the lungs and so she was unable to breathe . Dr Bedi explained that this is like pulmonary edema where a patient basically drowns in her own blood . An intervention  procedure had been tried at another hospital but had failed . On admission to the CMC her condition was quite critical. She was also seen by the Head of Obstetrics Dr K Awasthi and Dr A Kellogg and a joint decision taken to perform an open heart surgery to save the mother and to let the baby continue growth in the womb. Dr Bedi told that any open heart surgery in a pregnant mother carries a high risk of miscarriage – but the surgery was essential to save the mother. With utmost care and continuous monitoring of the baby with special equipment - the delicate open heart surgery was done on 6^th July 2011 . At surgery the mother’s heart was stopped – but the baby’s heart was allowed to beat normally and was monitored by a fetal monitor. Dr Bedi said that it was quite an eerie and spiritual moment to see the flat ECG of the mother and the normal beat of the baby . Anesthesia for this delicate case was given by Cardiac Anesthetist Dr Arun Gupta  . The heart lung machine was managed by Mr Jairus and Mr William who are among the senior most experts in this field . The other members of the team are Dr Allen, Dr Viju Abraham, Dr Paul, Dr Neharika, Dr Susan, Dr Miria and Dr Arjin  .

Gurpreet then recovered well and delivered a healthy baby boy on 9^th Sep 2011 in the CMC by Dr Tapsaya Dhar Maseeh  who said that both mother and child are in the pink of health. Dr Bedi said that such cases are relatively rare . The first priority is to save the mother and also aim to have a normal baby. The whole CMC team was very happy that both mother and baby were well. Dr Abraham G Thomas – Director of CMC & H – told that a multi speciality care was essential for the appropriate management of such complex cases.

Mullen Praises Troops, Families on 'Daily Show'

By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2011 - For a U.S. military leader trying to reach a different audience, it doesn't get much more different than "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talks with Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," in New York, Sept. 12, 2011. The appearance was Mullen's third visit to the show, and his first since Stewart accompanied him on a USO troop visit to Afghanistan earlier in the summer. DOD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley  Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was Stewart's guest for the third time on the popular Comedy Central show last night.Mullen joked with the satirist about his plans for retirement and his decision to join the Navy in 1964. And on a more serious note, he stressed the need for military leaders to hear a range of opinions before making decisions. Stewart has been spending a lot of time with the chairman. He traveled to Afghanistan with Mullen this summer to thank troops in remote combat outposts and forward operating bases for their service. Stewart called it his "summer vacation." Mullen, whose father was a Hollywood publicist, joked about escaping Los Angeles in 1964 when he entered the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Stewart asked about the chairman's plans after his retirement at the end of the month. "A long winter's nap," Mullen responded. The discussion turned to weightier matters, and the chairman praised the men and women who are serving today. They have served multiple deployments, he noted, and have done everything the country has asked them to do. "I've been doing this a long time -- since 1968 -- and unquestionably, they are superb," he said. Mullen said he and his wife, Deborah, who accompanied the chairman to the taping, try to represent the needs of service members and their families. "We try to stay in touch with them, so we understand what they are doing and what we are asking them to do, including the ultimate sacrifice," the chairman told Stewart. "I tell them ... there isn't a decision I make or recommendation I make that doesn't take their needs ... into account. The strength of our military is those men and women and their families." During last month's trip, Stewart said, he was surprised that Mullen had surrounded himself with people whose jobs were to challenge him and his thinking. "What I've found over the years as I've gotten into jobs with more responsibility is the diversity of opinions and views is absolutely critical," the chairman said. "It allows me, in the end, to make the best decision."

Biographies: Navy Adm. Mike Mullen

Airman Keeps Kadena Moving

By Air Force Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa, Sept. 12, 2011 - Whether it's obtaining routine travel orders or simulating a deployment movement, chances are many service members here have been helped by Air Force Senior Airman Cristofer Mercado at one time or another. Air Force Senior Airman Cristofer Mercado, a passenger travel clerk with the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron, observes as fellow airmen participate in a deployment exercise at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, May 18, 2011. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sara Csurilla  "I enjoy helping out people, especially making sure that people get what they want and getting them to where they want," said Mercado, a passenger travel clerk who hails from San Diego.Mercado, assigned to the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron, said his main duties are preparing orders and travel arrangements for deployments and medical evacuations. He handles real-world deployments and deployments for exercises. "It's interesting and high-paced," he said. "I've pretty much sent people all over the world." Mercado said his office usually serves between 150 to 200 customers daily. The airman said he previously served at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey and Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. "Incirlik Air Base was definitely a great experience and I am glad that I got the opportunity to be there and to meet such great people," Mercado said. "I can't really compare [Incirlik to Kadena] because I enjoy both." Mercado said he loves his job and enjoys serving in the Air Force. "I joined the Air Force because it was actually a dream I had when I was a little kid," he said. "It didn't matter what I did in the Air Force. Everybody always asked me if I wanted to be a pilot -- I didn't want to be a pilot. I just wanted to be in the Air Force." Mercado said he's thinking about a future career as a kindergarten teacher, or perhaps an Air Force officer. His current people-centric job, he said, is good training. "I love helping people, so it's a good job for me," he said. Mercado said there are many challenging parts to his job that most customers don't see. "We do a lot of paperwork; we have to contact a lot of the agents," he said. "We work side-by-side with the Commercial Travel Office and they help us out and we help them out constantly with people's [travel] entitlements. "The deployment tempo here is very high so we're constantly getting a fluctuation of people coming in and out, and we arrange their travel," he continued. "The volume of people we see is big. I like it, but it's very stressful at times." Yet, life at Kadena is not all work and no play, said Mercado, noting he enjoys learning about Japanese culture. "It's a beautiful island," he said. "There are a lot of things to do. I get out as much as possible in the off-time that I get. I like to go around enjoying the culture and the food here. I love it." �