Fresh ultimatum from Somali pirates

AMRITSAR: Somali pirates who had hijacked MV Suez, a ship of Red Sea Navigation , in the Gulf of Aden have given five days ultimatum for the life of six Indians and four Pakistani if they didn't get $ 2.3 million, informed United Nations Expert Advisor on Human Rights, Ansar Burney who claims to be in touch with the pirates for the release of the hostages. 

While talking to TOI over phone from Karachi on Tuesday, Burney said that he was negotiating with the Somali pirates on humanitarian grounds for the greater interest of human dignity and to save the lives of six Indians and 4 Pakistanis. The pirates had earlier demanded $5 million for the release of hostages, he added. 

MV Suez with the flag of Panama was hijacked by the Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden on August 2, 2010, with 6 Indians, 4 Pakistani, 4 Lankans and 11 Egyptians on board, said Burney. 

Pakistan's former Federal Minister for Human Rights and Chairman of the Ansar Burney Trust International, Burney, said that the condition of the hostages was critical as they had been sailing in the Somali sea for past nearly eight months ."They were being given some boiled rice and fish by their captors", he said. 

"They established contact with me on Tuesday and gave ultimatum for the hostages life if their demand was not met" said Burney, adding that earlier he had contacted them on Saturday for the release of crew members. 

Read more: Fresh ultimatum from Somali pirates - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Fresh-ultimatum-from-Somali-pirates/articleshow/7601127.cms#ixzz1FLYtLaTc

Sikhs' bravery in world wars

AMRITSAR: To remember the forgotten Sikh soldiers and make the world aware of their heroic deeds in 'Sikhi Saroop' (complete Sikh appearance), Birmingham-based film-maker Jay Singh Sohal officially released his documentary movie 'Sikhs at War' on the net on Thursday.

The film recalls the forgotten Indian Sikhs who had fought the world wars for the British Empire in the name of king and country they had never seen.

Earlier, the movie was screened in the British Parliament in December.

More than 1,00,000 Sikhs had participated in these wars. Sikhs comprised 20% of the British Indian army in action, despite being only 2% of the Indian population.

Fighting on all fronts in Europe, Turkey and Africa, miles away from their homeland, the Sikhs displayed immense bravery and courage.

Of the 22 Military Crosses awarded for conspicuous gallantry to Indians, 14 were to Sikhs. Out of those, who had left the lush fields of Punjab, thousands did not return.

As many as 83,005 Sikh soldiers were killed during both the world wars and more than 1,09,045 were wounded.

Sohal said launch of the movie in the British parliament was a momentous occasion and expressed gratitude towards the British attorney general, Dominic Grieve, for his support to the Sikh community.

''For a senior government official to pay such a tribute is a sign of how important the Sikh contribution has
historically been and how vital this vibrant community still is in all walks of British life,'' he said.

The film narrates Sikhs' story for the first time by following a young teenager retracing his great grandfather's footsteps in the trenches of Flanders.

Jaspal Singh, 15, was inspired by his forefather's heroic action during the wars to maintain his own Sikh identity (with uncut hair and turban) despite being bullied.

''From his hometown of Coventry to Ypres and Neuve Chapelle, Jaspal discovers the important role that the Sikh soldiers had played in stopping the German advance towards Europe,'' said Hardeep Singh, who is also attached with the movie crew.

Source:-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Sikhs-bravery-in-world-wars/articleshow/7338356.cms