Steering Clear of the Hazards Srinagar, the capital of Jammu-Kashmir state, lies 20 miles from the disputed border of India and Pakistan and "experiences frequent explosions and shootouts," according to the Associated Press. During the week of a golf tournament there last October, suicide bombers struck the state legislature, killing 40. Still, state tourism officials were buoyant. The season opener on the Indian professional golf tour was scheduled for Royal Springs, a course fashioned by the renowned designer Robert Trent Jones Jr. and said to feature stunning views of Dal Lake and the Zabarwan Mountains. To allay any concerns, officials explained that the golf club and the hotel that would house the competitors had been "sanitized." That’s a sanitized way of saying there would be more soldiers, more police and more guns. Nine days before the tournament was set to begin, an executive of the state tourism agency, sponsor of the event, said, "We’re hoping this event will help us open up new vistas for golf tourism in Kashmir." Somehow, prospective visitors were able to resist. Four days later, the tournament was postponed until July owing to "the prevailing situation and sentiment." That’s golfers for you. One little explosion on their backswing and they go to pieces. Ed Fowler ============================================================== (c) 2002 Millennium Relief & Development Services, vol. 2 no. 22 'Insight' is a publication of MRDS to interpret current events in light of the experience of members of our international network. 'Insight' archives and other information can be found on our website. 'Insight' may be freely copied with this citation. If you wish to be removed from this mailing list, simply reply and request to be removed. Millennium RDS, 5116 Bissonnet #358, Bellaire, TX 77401-4007 Tel: (713)961-5645 Fax: (713)961-5735 www.mrds.org insight@mrds.org. ==============================================================