News Makers

Lone gunman gets lawyer

An Indian court appointed a lawyer yesterday for the only gunman charged in last year's terror attacks in Mumbai and said trial proceedings will start in a special court on April 6.

Mohammed Ajmal Kasab communicated with the court via video link from prison because of concerns about his security. Special judge M.L. Tahiliyani told Kasab that Anjali Waghmare, 40, would be representing him during the trial.

Last week, Kasab had told the court that he had no lawyer of his own and agreed to being represented by government-appointed legal counsel.

Tahiliyani told Kasab that his lawyer would also assist him in reading legal documents, which are in the local Marathi language and English. Kasab only understands Urdu, a language commonly spoken in Pakistan.

Waghmare told reporters that she was confident of providing him a good defense.

Kasab, 21, was charged last month with 12 criminal counts, including murder and waging war against India and could face the death penalty if convicted. Nine other attackers were killed during the three-day siege in November, which left 164 people dead and targeted luxury hotels, a Jewish center and other sites across the city.

Abhisit avoids blockaded office

Thailand's prime minister avoided his office yesterday as thousands of protesters calling for his resignation and allied with deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra surrounded the seat of government for a fifth day.

Protesters ignored police warnings to stop blocking entrances to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's office, where they have gathered since Thursday in the largest protests since his administration arrived in December.

Abhisit said last week he would enter his office at Government House yesterday. But he revised the plan yesterday morning, saying the situation remained under control, but he would not be going to his office before traveling to London today. "I have not received any report of anything abnormal," he said.

Law lecturer questions 'gift'

An Australian academic has braved the wrath of millions of his compatriots in an attempt to stop the government giving them hundreds of dollars each and urging them to go shopping.

The cash handouts are part of a 42 billion Australian dollar ($28 billion) economic stimulus package designed to kick-start the flagging economy amid the global financial crisis.

Law lecturer Bryan Pape has challenged a plan that would see 700 million taxpayers who declared earnings of less than 100,000 Australian dollars last year getting payments of up to 900 dollars each in the mail or in their bank accounts this week. Pape says the plan is unconstitutional.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd calls the payments a "tax bonus".

Pape, who lectures at the University of New England, says calling the payments a tax bonus is false.

"Saying so doesn't make it so, and the first question will be 'Is it a law with respect to taxation?'" he told ABC radio ahead of the case. "I say it is not. I say it is a gift."

AP-AFP

(China Daily 03/31/2009 page11)