Page 14 - Pakistan Link - January 20, 2023

P14 - PAKISTAN LINK - JANUARY 20, 2023 COMMUNITY
n Report and pictures No Justice for Lt Alkonis Is Justice Denied writes Japanese, his time in prison thus
by Phil Pasquini far has been difficult and fraught with
adjustments both personal as well as to
WASHINGTON: On Friday the13th shimasa met with Antony Blinken at a life in solitary confinement.
Brittany Alkonis, wife of imprisoned US the Department of State “…to reaffirm The family of three young children
Navy Lt Ridge Alkonis the vital importance of the US-Japan for their part have also had to endure
who was convicted in Alliance in promoting peace, security, the difficulty of a forced separation.
Japan of negligent driv- and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific re- Traveling from Japan back to Washing-
ing for his involvement gion and beyond.” ton both with and without her children
in a traffic accident that While there has not been any to attend the White House demonstra-
took the lives of two public movement in negotiations for tions has taken a financial toll on the
people, demonstrated Alkonis’ release, Brittany has been family. Even more so when they were
along with supporters outside the White told that the administration is busy told that when Lt Alkonis’ leave expires
House seeking his release from a Japa- working on resolving the issue of his while he is imprisoned, he would lose
nese prison. Alkonis, who suffered a release. She spoke highly, too, of US his pay and benefits because of “Penta-
medical emergency and passed out Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanu- gon accounting rules” that would not
while behind the wheel of his car as the el, who she described as engaged and allow for any exceptions.
family was returning from a hiking trip working towards a resolution in the Fortunately, Republican Sena-
on Mt Fuji in October of 2021, caused case. tor Mike Lee of Utah introduced an
an accident that resulted in the death of For Lt Alkonis’ part, he is still in amendment to the 2023 omnibus ap-
two people. year prison term. During the trial, the she learned that both Japan’s prime solitary confinement at the prison and propriation bill that directed the Navy
At the time of the accident Japa- prosecutor convinced the court not to minister and foreign minister would is allowed two monthly 30-minute visi- to continue Alkonis’ pay and benefits.
nese police, after arresting him at the allow the results of extensive medical be in Washington today for meetings. tations with his wife. It was during one It was unanimously adopted by voice
scene, transported him to jail and de- tests which determined he blacked out Ironically, too, she related how fate had of those visits that he requested some vote in the Senate keeping the vital fi-
nied him access to medical attention due to “acute mountain sickness.” intervened while she was in a cafe and basic personal necessities from the nancial survival of the family alive.
in evaluating his condition. Later, on Supporters report that in Japan, noticed that Foreign Minister Yoshi- Navy such as toothpaste, socks, athletic Hopefully, Lt Alkonis’ long ordeal
the advice of Department of Defense according to the Ministry of Justice, masa was also present. She approached shoes and long underwear, to buttress will soon be resolved with his release
(DOD) lawyers and officials along with “…more than 95% of similarly charged him wearing the t-shirt emblazoned himself against the penetrating cold of and repatriation with his family in a
his Japanese lawyer, he entered a “stra- defendants have gotten suspended sen- with “Bring Ridge Home Now” on it. his cell. The Navy responded that they tragedy of misfortune and suffering for
tegic guilty plea” to stay out of prison. tences.” Since that time his wife and While President Biden held a bi- were unable to provide such due to a all those involved.
He was told that under the Japanese ju- supporters have held numerous pro- lateral meeting with Prime Minister “lack of funds.” This from an organiza- (Phil Pasquini is a freelance jour-
risprudence system —that operates on tests outside the White House calling Fumio at the White House in the Oval tion which this year requested $230.8 nalist and photographer. His reports
a guilty until proven innocent ideology for his release from prison and ques- Office and afterward during a working billion for its operations. and photographs appear in the Wash-
— a not-guilty plea or his defending tioning the harshness of his sentence. lunch in the Cabinet Room, supporters Not one to be deterred, Brittany be- ington Report on Middle East Affairs
himself in court would assuredly re- Brittany, who spoke with this re- of Lt Alkonis manned street barricades gan purchasing the requested items for and Nuze.ink. He is the author of
sult in his being sentenced to prison. porter today, related how she flew from outside holding signs calling for Lt Al- both her husband and 11 other prison- Domes, Arches and Minarets: A His-
The “advice” was wrong however as Japan where the family is living, to konis’ immediate release. ers when suddenly the Navy found the tory of Islamic-Inspired Buildings in
the court sentenced Alkonis to a three- demonstrate at the White House when For his part Foreign Minister Yo- funds. While Ankonis speaks, reads and America.)

US Extends Visa Interview Shirley Weber Is Sworn in as California’s

Exemption for Pakistani Citizens First Elected Black Secretary of State

n By Ethnic Media Services
KARACHI: The United States embassy on Thurs-
day extended interview waiver eligibility for Paki- n Jan 9, with the sound of Afri-
stani citizens wanting to extend their tourist and can drumming in the background,
business visas. O Shirley Weber was sworn-in as the
The US embassy made the announcement in first-elected Black Secretary of State (SOS) of
a statement released on Thursday. California and the 32nd person to hold the
“In an effort to improve customer service, the position.
US government allows non-immigrant visa appli- The ceremony was conducted at the
cants to apply for their visas without an interview SOS’ auditorium in downtown Sacramento,
under the interview waiver program,” the state- one block south of the State Capitol.
ment said. Senate President pro Tempore Toni G.
“This process is not for first-time appli- FM expresses gratitude Atkins (D-San Diego) administered the oath
cants. It only applies to certain applicants ap- Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari of office in front of Weber’s grandsons Kadir beyond imagination with all of the good
plying for their visas, and some restrictions thanked US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for and Jalil Gakunga. things California has to give.”
may also apply.” interview waivers. “Allowing interview waivers for “I want to thank all of those who work The daughter of a sharecropper from
The exemption is granted to citizens applying for those who have already in the past held US visas so hard to make this position, the Secretary Hope, Ark., Weber said she is “not supposed
the renewal of their B1/B2 tourist and business visas. across all age groups is extremely helpful,” he said of State — and all of those wonderful things to be here” as the state’s chief clerk, oversee-
According to the US embassy, all Pakistani on Twitter. ing a department of 500-plus employees.
citizens regardless of age, whose B1/B2 visas are The minister added that this decision by the Weber grew up in a two-room, “clap-
valid or have expired within the last 48 months US embassy should expedite the visa process and board house” in Arkansas with her parents
can benefit from the exemption. will increase “people-to-people ties”. - Dawn and five other siblings before the family re-
located to Los Angeles where they lived in
Madinah’s Islamic Museum Presents Pueblo Del Rio, a housing project known as
the “pueblos.”
Weber said the “data” projected that she
Virtual Reality Pavilion at Hajj Expo 2023 would not have a bright future. Still, she went
on to graduate from UCLA with a PhD, serve
on the San Diego Board of Education, teach
at the Hajj Expo 2023 in Jeddah, the Saudi Press African American studies at San Diego State
Agency reported on Thursday. Madinah’s Interna- University, and successfully ran for Califor-
tional Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biogra- nia State Assembly in November 2012.
phy and Islamic Civilization provided visitors with ‘My father came from Hope, Arkansas,
a unique opportunity to learn about the Prophet because there was no hope in Hope,” We-
Muhammad’s life using the technology at its pavil- ber said. “He came to California because he
ion at the Hajj and Umrah services conference. wanted his children to have a better chance
Virtual reality displayed scenes from the Proph- and a better life.”
et’s Chamber, giving visitors the chance to immerse Dr Shirley Webber poses at the podium after she When Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed
Madinah’s International Fair and Museum of the themselves in Islam’s values and practices while also is sworn in as CA. Sec. of State in Sacramento, Alex Padilla the state’s junior US Senator in
Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization pavilion exploring rare artifacts mentioned in the Qur’an and Robert Maryland/California Black Media Jan. 2021, he nominated Weber as SOS. Pa-
at the Hajj Expo 2023 - SPA the Sunnah. The display at the pavilion provided a dilla filled in for Sen Kamala Harris, who was
glimpse of how contemporary techniques will be that come with it — possible, and for being elected US Vice President. Weber was
JEDDAH: Virtual reality made a guest appearance used to project Islam and its culture in the future. in my life,” Weber said. “I have been blessed (Continued on page 15)
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