26 Nov 08 Mumbai attacks kill 80 including Hemant Karkare (anti-terrorist chief) with westerners taken hostage :(
Well just moments ago while I was, err, relaxing on the couch and watching parliamentary debate from the House of Commons about government cuts to respond to the economic crisis starting to hit Canada and there was a flash about police fighting attackers with machine guns and grenades. Since the text on the screen didn’t indicate where it was going on, and it was CBC Newsworld, at first I presumed it was somewhere in Canada… kind of unbelievable, but who knows. I then checked several other sources and now the news is fully breaking about multiple shootings and attacks at luxury locations in Mumbai (Bombay) India.
So, those who know me a bit better know that I have roots in India and have been thinking about returning soon to rediscover my roots there… and have tried to make preliminary travel plans. My mom would often mention that the most dangerous places could be the ones considered most luxurious (and supposedly safe)… since they are the most relished targets both for their clients and more so for what they represent – western excess.
And today it’s happened (or is happening)… There have been attacks at both of the most luxurious hotels in Mumbai, the Oberoi Mumbai and the Taj Mahal Palace. These are hotels that have rooms starting at about USD $300 per night and going much higher. The first reports say that 80 persons have been killed, more than 250 injured (sources: BBC UK News and CNN) and IBN that the gunmen are now holding western hostages who had British or US passports at those hotels.
A senior anti-terrorist chief, Hemant Karkare, was killed in the attacks. He was basically the #1 guy in Mumbai fighting terrorist groups…
These are pictures of these luxurious hotels although I suspect they don’t look so pristine at this very moment:
 |
 |
Apparently, they also attacked the trendy and popular Leopold Café located on the Colaba Causeway.
To put things in perspective, USD $300 = approximately 15,000 rupees… for one night at these hotels. According to the Labour Bureau of the Government of India, the average *monthly* wage for a Mumbai resident is about 5000 rupees ($100)…
So… for a Western visitor to any of the large Indian cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkatta, etc) is it perhaps safer to *not* stay in these high-end luxury hotels? I’m thinking a B&B with a local family may be a bit less luxurious, but more fun, more real and… less of a target!
A group called Deccan Mujaheddin is claiming responsibility… that name isn’t familiar to me and there are variations: deccan mujahedeen or Deccan Mujahideen. I’m sure the intel services are working hard on this…
Some sources for the latest news on this:
Live Twitter Updates from Mumbai
IBN Live Streaming Video from Mumbai (surprising stable considering the situation – they’re streaming via an Akamai CDN; bravo!)
Mumbai Metblogs – liveblogging it and updated every 2-3 minutes…
Wikipedia Article on the Mumbai Attacks – also being rapidly updated.
Tags: Anti-terrorism Chief, Crime, Deccan Mujaheddin, deccan mujahedeen, Deccan Mujahideen, Hemant Karkare, Leopold Cafe, Mumbai terrorist attack, Oberoi Grand, Taj Mahal Palace, Terrorism
11 Oct 08 CTV W5 Capital Shame : The great decline of Canada’s national Capital – Ottawa caught in huge crack and meth crisis
I just watched a truly disheartening and frightening CTV W-Five episode covering a subject that is often not discussed – far less so by the Federal ministers on Parliament Hill just blocks from one of the worst drug, prostitution and homelessness problems anywhere in the nation. None of them, including Public Security Minister Stockwell Day, accepted to meet with CTV W-5 saying they were “too busy”…
They hounded the Premier of Ontario, but he also brushed off a reporter and hustled into a building…
Personally, I am not surprised by this report. I’ve been to Ottawa many times over the last 20-25 years; my ex-wife and much of her family were from there, as was my late stepfather.
In January 2008 I began a series of about a ½ dozen business trips, one every month or so, to the National Capital Region and usually stayed in hotels in the Downtown, or Byward Market area. The Byward Market is a charming 3-4 square block neighbourhood which, by day is a nice selection of multicultural restaurants and farmer market type stands. It’s next to one of the largest shopping centre’s in the Ottawa metropolitan area; the Rideau Centre Shopping Centre.
Now being a Montrealer, I like to explore a city’s nightlife and evening culture – we have a massive choice of cafés, lounges, showbars and nightclubs in Montreal – around the market.
A few of the times I stayed in hotels (including the Econolodge and Marriott Courtyard Inn) near the Byward Market. Those are both nice hotels; granted the Econo Lodge Downtown at 475 Rideau street is pretty much no-frills motor inn more than hotel with rooms straight onto an inside parking lot that is directly onto Rideau street across from a 7-11 and in the vicinity of churches, residential homes and … well a little pic of the Econolodge :
(more…)
Tags: Capital Shame, Crime, CTV W-5, CTV W-Five, drugs, Health, Ottawa, Politics, Television, Travel
10 Oct 08 Sarah Palin found guilty of “abuse of power” in Alaskan firing of Walter Monegan (Alaskan Public Safety Commissioner)
You gotta wonder about the timing… eh ?
The top legislators in Alaska have approved the release of a report that finds Sarah Palin guilty / responsible for the unjust firing of Walter Monegan who was the Public Safety Commissioner in Alaska – essentially the highest ranking law enforcement position.
Apparently, the firing resulted from Mr. Monegan refusing to fire an Alaskan State Trooper (Mike Wooten) who was going through a bitter divorce and custody battle.
Supposedly, the Palins (Sarah and her husband Todd) put intense pressure on Commissioner Monegan to fire Wooten…
The McCain campaign had released its own 21 page report on the incident which concluded
“It is tragic that a false story hatched by a blogger over drinks with Trooper Wooten led the legislature to allocate over $100,000 of public money to be spent in what has become a politically-driven investigation”
Can we say smear campaign..
The sad thing in all this is that it is the (real) family that really suffers…
Info and source: BBC News about Sarah Palin
Tags: Alaska State Trooper, Crime, Mike Wooten, Politics, Sarah Palin, Todd Palin, Walter Monegan
16 Jul 08 Rapport d’enquête du CSST sur le décès de la policière Lavalloise Valérie Gignac
Le CSST aujourd’hui a rendu public les résultats sur l’enquête des circonstances entourant le décès de la policière Lavalloise Valérie Gignac…
Tags: Crime, Daniel Tessier, police, Politics, Valérie Gignac
