India is like an outpost of the West in the East: global, modern, open, democratic, capitalist, a country of stock markets and the Bollywood dream factory. Terrorism in India apparently want to strike two enemies at once.
The terrorists want to strike a blow at modern India, to revenge their suppressed fellow Muslims. But they want also attack the West, as evidenced by targeting of famous luxury hotels where German, British and American citizens stay.
October 29, 2005
At least 58 people were killed and more than 250 people injured in a series of bombs in Delhi just three days before the popular Hindu festival of Diwali. (read more on Times Online)
July 11, 2006
Seven bombs exploded on packed commuter trains and railway stations in India’s financial capital Mumbai (Bombay). Nearly 200 people lost their lives and more than 600 were wounded in the repeated blasts. (read more on New York Times)
February 19, 2007
A terrorist attack on a train killed 66 passengers. The so-called „Peace Train“ was travelling from Delhi to the Pakistani city Lahore. An estimated 80 people were injured by the two homemade bombs. (read more on The Age)
August 25, 2007
Two bombs exploded in a street restaurant and at a laser show in a popular city park, killing 42 people also injured a further 80 people in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. (read more on The Independent)
May 13, 2008
At least 80 people including 10 children were killed and another 200 injured during a terror attack Jaipur. Seven bombs were detonated within minutes in the city center of the popular north-western tourist destination. (read more on Telegraph)
July 26, 2008
Sixteen bombs exploded in Ahmedabad’s crowded old city dominated by its Muslim community killing at least 29 people and wounded 88. (read more on International Herald Tribune)
November 26, 2008
Terrorists killed at least 101 people and took hostages during a series of attacks in Mumbai. Hundreds of injured were sent to hospitals. The Islamist organization Deccan Mudjahideen claimed responsibility for the attack. (read more on The Times of India)
Weiter ging es mit unserem Maiausflug am Samstag in Lausanne. Die Geschichte von Lausanne reicht bis ins vierte Jahrtausend v. Chr. zurück. Wie auch Montreux zeigt sich Lausanne sehr mediterran angehaucht. Mich erstaunt was die wenigen hundert Kilometer in Richtung Süden ausmachen.
In Ouchy, dem traditionellen Hafen von Lausanne, konnten wir zahlreiche prächtige Fassaden, blühende Parkanlagen und viele Skulpturen begutachten. Auch das Olympische Museum und das Olympische Feuer befinden sich in Ouchy. Das Internationale Olympische Komitee (IOC) hat seinen Hauptsitz in Lausanne.
Unsere Heimreise traten wir schließlich zu Wasser an. Ein Schiff brachte uns über den Lac Léman zurück nach Genf. Auf der Fahrt machten wir Halt an einigen anderen Städte, die teils in der Schweiz und teils in Frankreich liegen. Nach gut dreieinhalb Stunden erreichten wir schließlich unser Ziel am anderen Ende des Sees.
