Latest news with #MervynThomas
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Shake it off with a bite at The BAH
Has your favourite watering hole been slowly taken over by the yuppie crowd jigging to mind-numbing music that seems to have no beginning or end? If so, head to The BAH, where you will find a not-so-aged set of like-minded people nursing their drinks while old time country music gently wafts overhead. The BAH, named after that sound of relief that escapes you when we finally sit down for the day, has a conspiratorial sloth as its mascot. Arpita Ganesh, co-founder of The BAH, says, 'I wanted a place where one could come as they were and not think twice about having to dress up, a place where the music was retro and not jarring. I wanted The BAH to be a place I would love to go at the end of the day.' True enough, The BAH's simple, minimalist decor bids you welcome, inviting you to kick off your shoes off and relax. The lighting too, sets a mellow mood. Bar bites and small plates abound at The BAH, ranging from the ubiquitous Congress peanuts (served with the lovely addition of crumbled feta) to bruschetta platters and everything in between. We tried and enjoyed both the peanuts as well as the platter, limbering up our appetites for the rest of the afternoon. With an impressive 14 beers on tap, being parched is definitely off the cards at The BAH. Next up, were the shotgun pork strips and mushroom karagu. Ironically, the pork strips though tasty were outdone by the modestly named mushroom patties served on a mini roti of sorts. They were quite delicious. I would recommend the southern fried chicken whether one is a teetotaller or the tipple of your choice is as varied as they come. Crisp, bite-sized and served with chipotle sauce, the blend of spices is just right, making it a great accompaniment or standalone snack. The cosy pigs — pork sausages in puff pastry — were also quite nice. Once again, the spices and herbs used in the making of these handmade sausages were spot on. The menu is an eclectic one with pastas, steaks and burgers sharing space with rasam, sambhar and curd rice bowls as well as the option of chicken and fish curry with rice. However, all the yummy food aside, it was the drinks menu that won hands down. It is always heartening when your bartender-mixologist can gauge your palate, suggest and then serve to satisfaction. Mervyn Thomas behind the bar at The BAH, does just that. For instance, he elevates the classic screwdriver to a Not Just a Screwdriver with an addition of basil or thyme to add an interesting touch to Coco Bongo, a tender coconut and rum-based concoction. Desserts are simple, tried and tested affairs — tarts, panna cotta, tiramisu, pastries and cake — but their ice cream selections are interesting. We chose the ginger pineapple from the options of coffee hazelnut, chocolate peanut butter and berry sorbet. It's fresh, subtle flavour did not disappoint.
The Independent
18-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Vietnam brands human rights organisation as terrorist group
The Vietnamese government has branded a US-based refugee aid group as a terrorist organisation. Vietnam 's ministry of public security added Boat People SOS to its list of terrorist groups and doxxed the private information of the group's president. The ministry said in a press release BPSOS "operates under the guise of 'refugee relief' but in fact, it uses this activity to connect with and assist organisations and individuals in carrying out anti-Vietnam activities". It claimed the group and its leadership assisted a "number of individuals participating in the organisation Montagnards [Stand] for Justice (MSJ)". The government has accused the MSJ – an organisation that advocates for the religious freedom of ethnic minorities – of carrying out terrorist attacks on two People's Commune headquarters in Vietnam's Central Highlands in June 2023. At least 10 defendants were sentenced to life in prison on terrorist charges and others were awarded jail between four years to 20 after 100 individuals were tried in the case. The government subsequently designated MSJ as a 'terrorist organisation' – a move that was criticised by UN experts for failing to "meet the requirements of due process and judicial protection under international human rights law". The Vietnamese government has escalated its clampdown on dissent by arresting activists, journalists, lawyers and critics with large followings on social media along with banning rights groups. Founded in the 198Os, BPSOS was set up to help so-called boat people flee Vietnam by sea and now aids victims of religious persecution and human trafficking in Vietnam, according to its website. Nguyen Dinh Thang, the executive director of BPSOS, said the terrorist designation was meant to intimidate those who spoke out against repression. 'The international community knows very well who has cooperated with the Boat People SOS committee for the past several decades, including the US government, more than 40 countries in the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance and the human rights institutions of the United Nations,' he told Radio Free Asia. He said by putting the terrorist designation, the Vietnamese government was hoping to frighten those who speak out to the international community to denounce religious repression in the country. 'They expected that people in the country would not dare to contact us or provide information about violations for us to transfer to the international community,' Nguyen Dinh Thang added. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a UK-based rights group, criticised the Vietnamese government's move to designate BPSOS as a terror group. Nguyen Dinh Thang is "a champion of human rights, in particular the right to freedom of religion or belief", said Mervyn Thomas, founder president of CSW. "The fact that he has been targeted like this is a sign that his voice is reaching the ears of the Vietnamese authorities, who are now attempting to silence and intimidate him."
