China CCP Wants Farmers to Bail Out Economy

China CCP Wants Farmers to Bail Out Economy

CCP Chinese Communist Party Wants Farmers to Bail Out The Economy !!!

China's exports have been hit hard as the financial crisis cuts down global consumption, and the Chinese regime is hoping the nation's farmers will fill the gap. The regime is offering a 13 percent subsidy on the cost of household appliances in a bid to boost domestic consumption, which accounts for only 35 percent of the nation's GDP. But while state-controlled media say the scheme has been a success, farmers tell a different story.
Global consumption has been hit hard by the global financial crisis. Official statistics show that China's exports have fallen for the past five months.

And with home appliances making up half of China's export revenue, the Chinese regime is looking to the nation's farmers to reignite the economy by buying surplus stock.

Launched in February this year, the Rural Home Appliance Subsidy offers farmers 13 percent off the price of appliances such as televisions and refrigerators.

State-controlled media outlet Xinhua news says the plan has been a big success, and sales of household appliances in rural areas had surged more than 70 percent.

But this farmer from Yantai in Shandong Province, says he doesn't know of anyone who bought appliances.

I didnt buy any. Nobody around me bought any. Hardly anyone bought any. Not even one percent. Those who can afford appliances have bought them already. Those who couldn't afford them still can't afford them. Appliances aren't like food or other consumables. You only buy a new one when the one you have is broken."

Another farmer from Zhongjiang, Sichuan Province says most farmers dont have the money to buy these kinds of items.

Generally, farmers are too poor. The only people taking advantage of the Rural Home Appliance Subsidy are government officials. To be honest there aren't many ordinary citizens buying appliances.

Former Boston University economics scholar Dr. Jian Tianlun says that China's economy has relied too heavily on exports, leading to an oversupply of goods. Dr. Jian doubts the plan will work.

[Jian Tianlun, Former Boston University Economics Scholar]:
Over the past six months, more than 20 million migrant workers have returned to their villages from major cities due to the decline in exports. The migration is still continuing. This will probably affect their household income. So I don't feel optimistic about the Rural Home Appliance Subsidy."

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28690.1

Josie Lau removed from her position as Vice President

Josie Lau’s team in no mood to talk

Members of Ms Josie Lau’s team are not in the mood to talk after Aware’s extraordinary general meeting, it seems.

Calls to them either went unanswered or were met with short replies in which they declined further comments.

The Sunday Times understands that Ms Lau, formerly vice-president for consumer banking group, cards and unsecured loans at DBS Bank, has been redesignated to a new role. When contacted, DBS would say only that she is still working at the bank. Ms Lau did not answer calls.

Former assistant honorary secretary Sally Ang sounded cordial when she returned a call. But when she found out that she was speaking to a reporter, she said: ‘I don’t speak to reporters. I’m sorry.’

Similarly, senior lawyer Thio Su Mien, the self-styled ‘feminist mentor’ to some of the women on Ms Lau’s team, answered the phone with a gruff ‘Who’s that?’

When told she was speaking to The Sunday Times, she declined further comment. When asked if she was hoping for closure to the saga, she said: ‘Closure will come. People should move on and focus on Mas Selamat’s capture.’

Six members of Ms Lau’s team attend the Church of Our Saviour (COOS). Senior pastor Derek Hong had expressed regret over his use of the pulpit to rally support for the team.

Approached by The Sunday Times after a sermon yesterday, he said: ‘I just want to move on and forget about it. I don’t want to comment any more on this issue. God bless.’

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28688.2

MAS SELAMAT: He was a 'bad swimmer'

May 10, 2009

CAPTURE OF MAS SELAMAT

He was a 'bad swimmer'

Mas Selamat had good friends who would help: Jailed terrorist

By Salim Osman, Indonesia Correspondent
		Improvised flotation devices such as rubber tyres or plastic tubes tied together are often used by illegal immigrants trying to slip into Singapore undetetced. -- ST FILE PHOTO

JAKARTA - A CONVICTED Singaporean terrorist who knew Mas Selamat Kastari from the days when both were on the run said on Saturday that the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) leader was a 'bad swimmer'.

But he was also a determined survivor, added Mohammad Hassan Saynudin, who is serving time here for killing a Christian school teacher and planning terrorist attacks in Indonesia.

Hassan, at one time a leader of the Singapore JI, was convicted last month and given an 18-year jail sentence.

Asked about Mas Selamat's capture in Johor, he said that while his fellow JI member had no relatives there, he had a few 'good friends' whom he could rely on for help.

'Mas Selamat is a determined survivor. He must have got help from one or two friends he could trust,' said Hassan, who spoke to The Sunday Times by phone on Saturday.

'All our 'ikhwan' in Singapore have been rounded up by the authorities. And very few are left in Johor,' he added, using the Arabic term for 'brothers' to refer to other JI members.

Mas Selamat was born in Indonesia but migrated to Singapore in his youth. Both he and Hassan were in Johor at one time when they were trying to elude capture in 2002.

Hassan said he was initially sceptical when he learnt that his friend had escaped from the Whitley Detention Centre in February last year. As for his recapture, he said : 'It's amazing that this guy was able to escape and lived in Johor for a year without being detected. 'It speaks so much about the man's survival skills.'

When told that the fugitive had swum across the Johor Strait with the aid of an improvised flotation device, he remarked: 'Mas Selamat is a bad swimmer. 'I know this because we went swimming together while on the run in Bali. He can't swim more than 1km of the strait without some help.'

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28568.105

MAS SELAMAT: Escape to Johor

May 10, 2009

CAPTURE OF MAS SELAMAT

Escape to Johor

By Mavis Toh
		Stulang, Johor, as seen from the coastline off Admiralty Road West. A Malaysian newspaper has reported that Mas Selamat had swum more than 1km to Stulang. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN

View more photos

JUST where exactly in Singapore did Mas Selamat Kastari set off from to make that desperate swim across the Johor Strait to Malaysia?

That is a question that has gripped Singaporeans' imagination since news of his capture broke on Friday.

Not tough to swim over to Stulang STULANG in Johor Baru is so close to Singapore that one can read the word 'Senoko' painted on a chimney of the power plant sited on this side of the Causeway. When The Sunday Times visited Stulang on Sunday, we found people swimming and picnicking on the rocky, algae-covered shore. ... more Spots Mas Selamat likely set off from Jalan Bahtera The first thing you see at the end of Jalan Bahtera near Lim Chu Kang is a wire fence lining the shores of the Johor Strait. But walk 10m into the vegetated area that fringes the water and the razor-sharp fence stops. Go a bit deeper and the swampy land opens up to clear waters. ... more

On Saturday, a Malaysian newspaper reported that the terrorist had swum more than 1km to Stulang, Johor. Across from Stulang on the Singapore coast is the Senoko Power Station area. Close to this is Admiralty Road West, a secluded spot where illegal immigrants have been caught swimming to Singapore from Malaysia.

The police have said that Singapore's sea border is porous with 'multiple landing spots'. Secluded spots include Sarimbun Ramp, Lim Chu Kang, Kranji, Admiralty Road West and Senoko.

Since the Mas Selamat escape, the security ring thrown around the island has thickened, with more metal fences put up and police officers on patrol. 'Vulnerable' coastal landing spots have also been closely watched.

The Sunday Times on Saturday visited four spots to check how probable it was that Mas Selamat had swum to Johor from those areas. With us was a former president of the Singapore Nautical Institute, who declined to be named. The maritime expert analysed the water conditions of the four spots and the dangers and challenges of swimming across to Johor.

Some of the areas were partly fenced up with concertina wire. But there were spots a desperate person could enter in order to make his frantic dash across.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28568.104

Mas Selamat: Diary of a manhunt

Mas Selamat Caught
Diary of a manhunt
NO MAS
Around 4pm, Mas Selamat Kastari escaped through a toilet window at Whitley Road Detention Centre, triggering one of Singapore's largest manhunt.
10 May 2009

27 Feb, 2008: The disappearing act

Around 4pm, Mas Selamat Kastari escaped through a toilet window at Whitley Road Detention Centre, triggering one of Singapore's largest manhunt.

28 Feb, 2008: Hello? I'm Mas Selamat

A 58-year-old man made a prank call to the police claiming to be fugitive Mas Selamat.

Within minutes, the police traced the call to a public telephone at Block 10, Haig Road, and arrested the man.

29 Feb, 2008: Sighting at cemetery

A petrol station attendant alerted the authorities to a limping man making his way to Bukit Brown Chinese Cemetery off Lornie Road. It was a false alarm.

29 Feb, 2008: Another sighting at Bukit Batok

Special Operations Command officers and Gurkhas converged on Bukit Batok Nature Park after a bus commuter's tip-off. But the overnight search yielded nothing.

1 Mar, 2008: False claims

Police sent on a wild-goose chase after a 49-year-old SMRT bus driver, Ng Hang Hai, called the police twice on 1 Mar claiming to have information about Mas Selamat.

Ng had a road-rage run-in with a motorcycle owner and wanted to get him into trouble.

On 24 Mar, Ng was given 21 months' jail.

Other mistaken identities:

# The police were alerted on 4 Mar after someone thought Mr Md Iqbal Hussain, 28, a Bangladeshi national who walks with a limp, was Mas Selamat.

# Comedian Ahmad Stokin, 51, who walks with a limp, also found himself the subject of unwanted scrutiny because of his likeness to Mas Selamat.

18 Mar, 2008: Mas Selamat in East Java?

The Jakarta Post reported on 18 Mar that Mas Selamat was seeking refuge in Tuban, East Java.

But this was later refuted by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

27 Mar, 2008: Vice den found instead

Police stumbled upon a vice den run by Thai nationals while combing for Mas Selamat in a forested area in Yishun.

Eight men and 13 women between the ages of 21 and 39 were detained for immigration offences in the jungle along Yishun Avenue 6.

5 Jun, 2008: 100 days after escape

Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said that he believed Mas Selamat had not left Singapore, reiterating a point made in Parliament in April.

This is because the police has received no information that he has fled to another country.

Jul 2008: MHA says Mas Selamat not in Indonesia

No intelligence to suggest he is there, said MHA in response to a Sunday Times report that he might be in Indonesia.

28 Nov, 2008: Hunt in Bukit Batok

Cops swarm Bukit Batok area after a tip-off that Mas Selamat was spotted.

Police officers from the special operations command and Gurkhas swung into action.

But only an illegally built hut was found in the forest.

Dec 2008: PM Lee says we will catch him

PM Lee, replying to a question on where fugitive JI leader Mas Selamat could be, said: 'We don't know. He could be here, he could be overseas...

'But the game is not over and one day we will catch him.'

Jan 2009: More likely fugitive has fled

Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng said he could be in Singapore and hidden by sympathisers unknown to the authorities, or, he could have fled the country.

When asked which was more likely, he said the latter was more plausible.

Early April 2009: Fewer Mas Selamat posters seen

Since early last month, posters of the fugitive slowly disappeared from public spaces.

REMAIN ON GUARD

'Yes, we've got Mas Selamat in Malaysia and we'll get him back one day but do not for one moment believe that there will be no JI or terrorist threat now. Singaporeans must not think that just because Mas Selamat is arrested, the threat of terrorism will not be there anymore.

'It's important that Singaporeans be on guard. More importantly, it is important for all of our agencies to remain vigilant.

'Apart from Mas Selamat, there are other JI members still out there, and we haven't caught them, there could be many others that we do not know of. So we must not believe that with the arrest of Mas Selamat, we can let our guard down.'

- DPM Wong Kan Seng

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28568.102

Mas Selamat: Most S'poreans polled say: Restrict his privileges

Mas Selamat Caught
Most S'poreans polled say: Restrict his privileges
NO MERCY
THE words made famous by one-time boxing champ Roberto Duran, when he buckled under unrelenting blows from his opponent Sugar Ray Leonard, were 'no mas, no mas'.
10 May 2009

THE words made famous by one-time boxing champ Roberto Duran, when he buckled under unrelenting blows from his opponent Sugar Ray Leonard, were 'no mas, no mas'.

In English, it means no more, no more.

This echoes the overwhelming reaction of 100 Singaporeans towards any further bids by Mas Selamat to exploit security lapses.

No mercy, no second chances, say Singaporeans who want all his privileges taken away.

He will be brought back to WDRC when the Malaysian authorities complete their investigations.

And when the detention doors slam shut, it should remain shut, say Singaporeans polled.

Failure to do so would mean Singapore's security services losing face again. And that would be unthinkable.

The New Paper asked 100 Singaporeans: Should Mas Selamat be treated as a normal Internal Security Department detainee? Or should his privileges be restricted?

A whopping 81 per cent picked the latter.

Many still remember how Mas Selamat's audacious escape last February had caused Singapore embarrassment internationally.

Social Costs

His actions also resulted in major inconveniences - traffic jams on the roads and at checkpoints, hundreds of people mobilised in the manhunt, a population gripped by fear over a terrorist chief on the loose.

Undergraduate Nick Lie, 22, said: 'His privileges should be restricted because his escape led to Singaporeans having less confidence in the Home Affairs team.

'There were also extra costs incurred when the (Government) had to mobilise NSmen to conduct searches and when they had to recruit more security-based personnel.'

Many suggested that Mas Selamat be locked up in a cell of the highest security.

Undergraduate Ivan Yeo, 25, said: 'He's a threat to the public. The Government cannot afford to let him slip away again.'

Ms A L Chan, 31, a marketing executive agreed, noting: 'He's already escaped twice.'

She was referring to his first bold escape from Indonesian authorities before he was caught and sent to Singapore.

'Nothing less than maximum security for him will do,' said Ms Chan. If previously he had three guards to watch over him, perhaps he should have six guards now.'

Toilet Watch

The people also wanted Mas Selamat to be watched over when he visits the toilet.

After all, he did make his jailbreak from a toilet window, they pointed out.

Mr Kenneth Tan, 27, a bank executive, said: 'Follow him into the toilet.'

Student Emily Tan, 22, even suggested that Mas Selamat not be allowed to go to a toilet outside his cell.

Instead, put a potty in his cell, she said.

Others suggested taking away all visitation rights.

Businessman Ken Lim, 32, said: 'That should be his punishment for escaping.'

Mas Selamat and his wife have five children - four boys and a girl - now aged 8 to 19.

Last year in Parliament, Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng said that family visits to sustain the detainee's bonds with his wife, children and other family members are an important part of the rehabilitation programme for detainees.

A handful - 19 per cent - felt that there was no need to restrict Mas Selamat's privileges despite his actions.

Mr Aravin Raaj, 26, who is unemployed, said: 'It might be seen as inhumane, especially by other countries.

'But the security at (WRDC) should be beefed up instead.'

All the other people we polled shared Mr Raaj's sentiments about stepping up security at the detention centre.

Indeed, Mr Wong told reporters yesterday that WRDC is 'today very different from the one on Feb 27, 2008' - the day Mas Selamat escaped.

'Many security measures have been put in place and that is the place we are going to put him.'

- Joanna Hor, Geraldine Yeo, Audrey Tan, Naveen Kanagalingam, Han Yongming, Jovita Chua, Kay Tan, Shea John Driscoll, Ervina Mohd Jamil, newsroom interns

HARD WORK PAID OFF

'ISD officers worked very hard, even after the setback last year which was a painful lesson for all of them. They did not give up and they continued to work their leads, they looked at every lead possible and for this particular one they developed this lead on their own, confirmed its credibility and shared it with the Malaysians.'

- Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28568.99

Mas Selamat: No $1 million pay-off for 3 S'pore bounty hunters

Mas Selamat Caught
No $1 million pay-off for 3 S'pore bounty hunters
NO MONEY
POOR bounty hunters.
By Desmond Ng
10 May 2009

POOR bounty hunters.

Now that Mas Selamat Kastari has been arrested by the Malaysian authorities, there goes the $1 million reward for information leading to his capture.

Months of hardwork, clandestine infiltration and covert operations have all gone up in smoke.

But that's part and parcel of bounty work, surely.

As it turned out, the three Singaporean bounty hunters who had quit their private sector jobs here to look for Mas Selamat last July had been looking in the wrong country - Indonesia.

Mas Selamat was captured in Malaysia last month.

And in all likelihood, Crime Library founder Mr Joseph Tan said the trio are still looking for him.

The three men have been volunteers with Crime Library since 2004.

Said Mr Tan: 'They (the bounty hunters) probably haven't received the news about Mas Selamat's capture yet. I'm sure they'll be disappointed because the $1 million reward is gone.

'Their gamble didn't go right. I think they'll be coming home if they know that he's been captured.'

Five months after Mas Selamat escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre, two anonymous businessmen had approached the government and offered the $1 million reward out of their own pockets.

The amount is Singapore's largest-ever reward for the capture of a wanted person.

Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng had said then that the police force does not offer cash for information on fugitives, unsolved crimes or help from the public.

But it does not object to private companies or individuals making the offer for Mas Selamat's whereabouts, he added.

So, is anyone getting the $1 million reward?

Mr Wong said that no private individuals were involved in providing the lead.

It was intelligence leads provided by Singapore's Internal Security Department late last year which played a key role leading to the arrest.

Tempted by the $1 million reward, the three bounty hunters packed their bags and headed to Indonesia last July .

Mr Tan - the founder of this non-profit organisation - said that he last spoke to them in January this year.

Back then, the bounty hunters, who are in their 20s, were still in Kalimantan, Indonesia, looking for Mas Selamat.

And they've been moving around Indonesia for the last 10 months in search of him.

The trio work as a team. Their aim was to blend into local communities in Indonesia and to seek leads that might pinpoint the hideout of the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) leader.

Mr Tan, 42, is acting as their spokesman and their point of contact in Singapore.

He declined to reveal more details about the men for fear of blowing their cover.

He said he did not have their telephone numbers and the bounty hunters were the ones who have been contacting him instead.

They contacted him about once a month last year, and only once this year in January.

No problems

Said Mr Tan: 'They will update me about their situation there, but never in great detail about their operation or where they are.

'They'll also tell me about how they're doing. But so far, they said they've no problems there.'

The trio, who are all single, had undergone commando training during their national service, he said.

And they had been depending on their savings to fund their search.

Said Mr Tan: 'When I last spoke to them, they said they were following up on some leads and were mixing around with the locals.'

Mr Tan said Crime Library will not get a cut of any cash rewards if the bounty hunters managed to find any fugitives.

The organisation has helped solve about 440 missing person cases since it was founded in 2001.

Mr Tan said that after Mas Selamat went missing last February, all the leads were pointing towards Indonesia.

That was why the men decided to try their luck there.

The reward had created a buzz in the security industry, including those in neighbouring countries.

Mr Ponno Kalastree, 61, managing director of security and investigations agency Mainguard International, had mobilised agents in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines to look out for Mas Selamat last year.

He said that he heard about the arrest yesterday and has since told his bounty hunters about it.

But most of them are in various countries looking for other fugitives, so they would not be recalled home simply because Mas Selamat has been found.

Some terrorists have been caught after rewards were offered for their capture.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, mastermind of the 11 Sep attacks, was captured in Pakistan in 2003 after a US$25 million ($37m) bounty was offered.

In 2007, four Filipinos were paid US$10 million ($15m) after Abu Sayyaf leaders Khadaffy Janjalani and Abu Sulaiman were discovered and killed.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28568.98