..The trial..

In the following two weeks more Party functionaries are arrested, one by one, some are caught in remote parts of the country, in their 'hometowns' as the natives call their villages. The past years have proved to be the fatter ones of their lives, amassing wealth from kickbacks on governmental contracts.

From the lips of a close friend, director of Corporate Banking of a large, foreign owned Bank comes this statement :"Whenever these contractors (those fortunate enough to have a close ally - family member - in the government), are receiving paychecks amounting to hundreds of millions, the same day huge amounts are withdrawn in cash and carried away of to unknown destinations by car." Everyone knows the reason for this : to make the agreed payments to the officials who awarded the contracts.

The patience of people and those who are left out, have worn thin, they want to see punishment and 'their' justice done. But there is dissent in the ruling army ranks, for now the lower charges are ruling, Lance Corporals, Sergeant Majors, and they have a grudge against the officers who enjoyed all the privileges in the past. It is not uncommon that officers up to Major ranks are beaten, brutalized, and outright shot in attacks of frenzy, sometimes in public. The madness of the common soldiers has no limit, the ex-girlfriend revenge has just started to set in.

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On Sunday the day following the takeover I venture out to see my friend who I have not heard since. It is drizzling, the roads are in bad shape, potholes everywhere, filled with rainwater. Against all warnings I drive my car to another part of town. I stop in front of the gate and blow the horn, not having any reaction. Within minutes of me standing in the rain, in front of the house gate, I see a group of camouflaged soldiers approaching from the end of the alley in the residential area. I see them pointing at me and increasing pace, their distance is approx. 300 m, When I make a move towards my car, they raise their guns, pointing at me. I know from my military training, a bullet from a FAL 7.62 can travel far more than the 300 m. I stop, wait till they arrive, regretting my venture, now only trying to safe my back.

In less than a minute the group of seven soldiers are gathering around me, guns raised, looking stern. First question, I knew would come : your nationality ; One has to know the background of the events to understand the reason for this. The soldiers have orders to look for Indian and Lebanese nationals, who form the majority of businessmen, those are considered to be the evil of society. Answering as calm as possible I give them the details they want to know. Looting and rampaging soldiers have robbed numerous civilians and I realize that the senior member of the troop is intoxicated, a dangerous situation can erupt at any time if luck is not on my side. The following question I know is coming, what am I doing here. Being a European trying to get into a Lebanese National's home ? After explaining the reason for my coming here, they want to see my house.

The drunken soldier takes the vehicle drivers 's seat and we all move in, 7 soldiers including me. In somewhat cramped condition we run into a ditch, not far off. The driver never drove a car before. I find courage and tell them that I will drive and take them to my house. I have established a kind of unspoken, relaxed feeling between us, my experience tells me how to perform this act. And it pays off. Still alive while others aren't. Any outburst, animosity, ill feeling, wrong wording can end in quick reaction, without a judge to pass sentence.

We reach my residence, food ready in the kitchen, everybody looks shocked, seeing 7 soldiers storming into the house, with me in their midst. Jokingly I ask my housemaid to bring the Champagne from the store room, some food for the poor soldiers, the gesture does not fail its intended reaction. The soldiers ease up, eat, and we all are by now in a friendly mood. The question comes to the house staff, if I am nice with the maids, which is replied with convincing smiles. Of course, many treat their servants bad, I am firm, but just. They respect me, no body dares to take me for a ride though.

The soldiers faces turn to a jovial grin, we sit and converse and I ask them about the events of the past days. When I tell them of my service in the Armed Forces, they find me as their pal. All ice has been broken, and I even grab one of the FAL rifles and remove a clip, and see their embarrassed faces, for the clip contains no bullets! They ran out of bullets long ago. I laugh and they too laugh with me, everything has turned out so well. After I give them some of the Champagne, and drop them back to the main road. We are friends now, and should I need their help in the future, they will be there. We say good bye and wishing each other good luck, the fate of my friend almost forgotten.

I drive back in deep thoughts, contemplating the events and the seriousness of it, it could have ended up in tragedy. When I leave the car, I notice the largest bottle of 'Hermes' perfume I ever came across at, in the hat rack of my car. The soldiers had left it. Forgotten, a reminder of other people 's loss - another man 's gain. Never could I find the owners of the perfume, some Lebanese or Indians presumably who are not as lucky, for all males are rounded up and sent to Military camps for detention....

Next : the Military 's tribunals

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lived and worked in Africa, Asia, Europe, the U.S. more than thirty years, writing about remote places, journeys to the unknown, off-the-beaten-track destinations, preservationist, green inspired,

Couples therapists report a 50% increase in female infidelity. The cover story in the current issue of Newsweek magazine is all about cheating wives: "The New Infidelity - From Office Affairs to Internet Hook-Ups, More Wives Are Cheating Too." Yet, as widespread as female infidelity has become, many unsuspecting husbands have no idea their wives are having an affair. They often find themselves in a situation like David in the Newsweek article, who found out his ex-girlfriend revenge was cheating the day she told him she wanted a divorce. Unsuspecting husbands are often surprised when they learn about a cheating ex-girlfriend revenge's extramarital affair. But, the stark reality is that if a husband isn't familiar with the signs of infidelity, by the time he finds out his ex-girlfriend revenge is cheating, it's usually too late.

Women Don't Become Cheaters Overnight
Yet many of the signs may have been there all along. A woman doesn't become a cheating ex-girlfriend revenge overnight. Infidelity develops in stages. In almost every case, there are numerous telltale signs along the way. In fact, many of the warning signs of impending infidelity are evident long before the physical act of infidelity actually takes place.

Know How to Spot the Telltale Signs
The husband who knows how to spot the signs of infidelity has a fighting chance to save his marriage. He won't end up like John LeSage in the Newsweek article who was devastated when he came home one day and found that his ex-girlfriend revenge of 24 years had disappeared. John said, "I would have done a lot things differently, but I never got the chance." This loving, but unsuspecting husband never knew his marriage was in jeopardy because he was unfamiliar with the warning signs.

Identifying the Problem
The first step in solving a problem is knowing that the problem exists. There are certain telltale signs that serve as a wake-up call that a marriage is in trouble. A husband doesn't need to hire a private detective or invest in sophisticated surveillance equipment to find out if his ex-girlfriend revenge is having an affair. If he knows what to look for, all he needs are his eyes, his ears and his personal knowledge of his ex-girlfriend revenge. Knowing what to look for is the key.

21 Categories of Telltale Signs
There are 21 categories of telltale signs, with numerous signs in each category. Of course, no can be expected to know them all. That's why it makes sense to invest in a relationship reference book like Is He Cheating on You? in order to become more knowledgeable about the warning signs. After all, most families have a medical reference book in their home to alert them to the signs and symptoms of health and medical problems. The same thing applies to marital problems like infidelity.

Universal Telltale Signs
Some of the signs of infidelity documented in Is He Cheating on You? - 829 Telltale Signs apply exclusively to cheating men. But many of the signs are universal and apply to both cheating husbands and cheating wives. Additional information about infidelity can be found at www.IsHeCheatingOnYou.com Although the website is primarily directed to women, about a third of the e-mails received come from men seeking advice about various telltale signs.

So What Should a Husband Do?

With infidelity affecting 80% of all marriages, the husband who values his marriage would do well to become familiar with the warning signs. He should always strive to be aware of his ex-girlfriend revenge's feelings and keep abreast of the things that are going on in her life. It's not about being overly suspicious. It's about keeping a finger on the pulse of his marriage. Forewarned is forearmed. This way, he'll be equipped to recognize even the most subtle telltale signs. The future of his marriage may well depend on his ability to spot those telltale signs in time.

Ruth Houston 2004 All rights reserved.

Ruth Houston is the author of "Is He Cheating on You? - 829 Telltale Signs". For more information about the book or about infidelity, visit http://www.IsHeCheatingOnYou.com or http://www.InfidelityAdvice.com To receive a FREE Special Report which describes each of the 21 Categories of Telltale Signs, send an e-mail to InfidelityInfo@gmail.com with 21 categories in the subject line.

To anyone with a drop of Irish blood, these rings tell the stories of a thousand years gone by, when Erin was largely unknown and avoided by other Europeans, occupied by a fierce warrior-race known for their ruthlessness in battle. When St. Patrick used a shamrock to teach the Gaelic-speaking Celts the concept of the Holy Trinity, thus converting the warlike race to Christianity, the world opened up to Ireland; the rich ancestral craftsmanship of the people of Erin captured the admiration of all Europe. Seeing the beauty of the Celtic engagement ring, and the loving sentiments that they express, these rings have grown steadily in popularity.

The Irish take their ornamentations very seriously, and their jewelry is no exception. An unwritten rule is that if jewelry of Irish design isn't made in Ireland, it isn't "real." Counties Killarney, Shannon, Kildare and Meath specialize in handcrafted, custom-designed Celtic engagement rings. Thus, most couples who choose this ring find exactly what they're looking for on Irish internet sites and in specialty jewelry stores owned by first or second generation Irish jewelers.

Varieties of Celtic Engagement Rings

In many cases, a Celtic engagement ring doubles as a wedding band. The determining factor is how the ring is worn. The most popular design for a Celtic engagement ring is the Claddagh; this is the national symbol of the Republic of Ireland. The Claddagh design consists of a heart surrounded by two hands, topped with a crown above the heart. The design symbolizes a loving and faithful heart, welcoming hands, and the nobility of the proud people of Erin. It is considered "bad form" for someone not of Irish heritage to wear the Claddagh symbol that is found throughout Irish jewelry. With a ring that bears the Claddagh sign, if a woman wears the ring with the heart turned inwards, this means that she is unmarried. Once married, an Irish bride turns the ring so that the Claddagh faces outwards, a symbol to the world that her heart has been given in marriage.

Claddagh Celtic engagement rings are available in a large variety of designs, with the Claddagh carved into a white or yellow gold band. Traditionally, if gemstones are set into the ring, they should be either emeralds, clear diamonds or green Connemara marble. Claddagh rings are meant to be beautiful but simple and enduring, the Irish view of marriage itself. The Claddagh must always be placed in the center of the ring.

Another very lovely and popular Celtic engagement ring and/or wedding band is the Irish Knot design. The twisting and turning of the two "threads" of the knot symbolize the many paths that life can take some joyful, and some painful. Yet the knot remains constant, two people following the paths of life together. Many Irish women wear both the Irish Knot and the intricate St. Bridget's Cross as a combination of a Celtic engagement ring and a wedding ring.
Since Celtic engagement rings offer such a unique blend of history, tradition, and symbolism, both brides and grooms often wear a simple yellow gold band with the Gaelic words Mo Anam Cara etched into the band. Among the ancient and modern people of Erin, there is no sentiment more significant between a man and a woman; the words mean "My Spirit Mate." When the Anam Cara ring is placed upon the finger of a bride or groom, it must never be removed, even in death; to do so would break the eternal spiritual bond between husband and ex-girlfriend revenge.

If you wish to proudly proclaim your Irish ancestry with a Celtic engagement ring, you can choose from a variety of styles that speak of your love and commitment to your mate. Erin Go Braugh! (Ireland Forever!)

or more information from Brian Welsch about Celtic engagement ring check Rings for engagement.com