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Year X Nr. 406 Mar 3, 10 |
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Holy Father's Missionary Intention for March 2010
Agenzia
Fides - Vatican City - February 26, 2010
"That the Churches in Africa may be signs and instruments of reconciliation and justice in every part of that continent." Commentary.
Africa is a continent full of hope and vitality in the faith, however it also presents some situations that must be solved so that the potential available may reach its full development, for the common good and spread the Gospel. We cannot forget that many of the current shortcomings are the result of past abuses in Africa. At the end of the last Synod for Africa, Pope Benedict XVI said: "We think in particular of our brothers and sisters who in Africa suffer poverty, diseases, injustice, wars and violence, forced migration" (Homily, October 25, 2009). Our African brethren are having to suffer from a series of limitations that have been imposed on them by the greed of others. It has been pointed out that within the borders inherited from colonial powers, the coexistence of ethnic groups, traditions, languages and even religions, often presents serious obstacles due to the mutual hostilities (cf. Ecclesia in Africa, 49).
Benedict XVI has highlighted that "the reconciled Church is the potent leaven of reconciliation in each country and in the whole African continent" (Homily, October 25, 2009). In spite of the wars and ethnic conflicts, the Church seeks to carry out this mission of unity, to make Africa an image of a new humanity, reconciled in love. This reconciliation must certainly occur through what can be at times an heroic act of forgiveness for offenses. "Faith in Jesus Christ when properly understood and experienced guides men and peoples to liberty in truth, or, to use the three words of the Synodal theme, to reconciliation, to justice and to peace" (ibid.).
In order to reach this unity and keep peace, John Paul II encourages a constant dialogue within the Church, as the Family of God, as "openness to dialogue is the Christian's attitude inside the community as well as with other believers and with men and women of good will" (Ecclesia in Africa, 65). This dialogue must be extended in an ecumenical sense, to include all the baptized brethren of other Christian confessions, in order to achieve the unity for which Christ prayed, and to ensure that the Gospel is more credible in the eyes of those who sincerely seek God.
The Church, in her service to man, wishes to tread the path of justice. This is why she conveys the message of salvation by combining evangelization and human promotion. This integral development is the only way to emerge from the bondage of sickness and hunger. "This means transmitting the announcement of hope, following a 'sacerdotal form,' that is, living the Gospel in the first person, trying to translate it into projects and undertakings that are consistent with its principle dynamic foundation, which is love," Benedict XVI has said (Homily, October 25, 2009).
We cannot conclude without recalling a fundamental truth: Christ alone is the Savior of mankind. Technical and human development, in and of themselves, cannot save man. Although it may be a necessary condition, development is not everything. The Church, as a priestly people, is called to lead people to an encounter with Christ, so that they can share in His Life. This is why, through the Sacraments, she brings them into contact with the Divine Doctor, who came not to seek out the healthy, but the sick. "Thus the ecclesial community, in the steps of its Master and Lord, is called to walk decisively along the path of service, to share the condition of men and women in its time, to witness to all the love of God" (Benedict XVI, Homily, October 25, 2009).
World
Social Forum: Reconciling Social and Environmental Needs by Mario Osava
www.ipsnews.net - Salvador - Brazil - January 31, 2010
One
of the greatest challenges facing the world today is to attend to the urgent
social needs of the planet's population, and particularly the one billion people
living "on the brink of survival", while dealing with the equally
urgent demands of the environment.
This
warning came from Brazilian Social Development Minister Patrus Ananias at the
Thematic World Social Forum meeting held here in the capital of the northeastern
state of Bahia.
Meeting
the basic needs of the one billion human beings suffering from hunger today will
require the production of massive amounts of food and other goods, which will
inevitably affect the environment, he noted.
Ananias
addressed the Forum on behalf of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was
unable to attend under doctors' orders after suffering a bout of high blood
pressure on Wednesday.
Close
to 600 people filled the conference room of the Hotel Pestana on Salvador's
beachfront to hear government authorities and activists air their views in a
discussion panel on "Dialogue and debate between social actors and
Brazilian government representatives".
The
panel was the key event at the Thematic World Social Forum meeting held in Bahia
this Friday through Sunday as one of the numerous "decentralised"
meetings organised as part of this year's World Social Forum (WSF).
As
potential means of overcoming the apparent contradiction between food production
and protection of the environment, Ananias stressed the solidarity economy,
family farming, the creation of cooperatives and "above all, reducing
consumption."
Another
apparent contradiction, though one that is totally false according to Ananias,
is "between economic growth and social inclusion."
Brazil's
experience has demonstrated that social policies such as the family allowances
provided to 11 million extremely poor households in exchange for meeting basic
requirements (school enrolment for children, for instance) and pensions for
people with disabilities actually helped the country to weather the effects of
the international financial crisis.
The
redistribution of income and social safety net that lifted millions of families
out of poverty and turned them into consumers contributed to economic recovery
through a "virtuous circle" of economic growth and social justice, he
explained.
"We
are eradicating hunger," said Ananias, adding that, according to a recent
study, if the country's current policies are maintained, poverty in Brazil will
be reduced to the level of a developed nation by 2016.
At
the same, however, the high rate of violence in Brazil, resulting in the
premature death of tens of thousands of young people every year, casts a pall
over the country's economic and social advances. For this reason, Ananias called
on the social activists participating in the meeting to join in a "pact for
life" and do their part to combat the causes of this violence.
For
his part, Bernard Cassen, one of the founders of the WSF in 2001, said that in
the world today, governments face contradictions that they fail to even
recognise when searching for solutions to the problems facing the planet.
The
multilateral free trade negotiated among governments through the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) is the "number one enemy of the environmental
imperative," yet this fact is not considered by those same governments when
they meet at climate change conferences aimed at reducing the greenhouse gas
emissions that cause global warming, he said.
Promoting
international trade results in an increase in emissions through the burning of
fossil fuel required for transportation, noted Cassen, who is also one of the
founders of the Association for the Taxation of Transactions for the Aid of
Citizens (ATTAC).
He
therefore views the failure of the U.S.-backed Free Trade Area of the Americas
(FTAA) as a major victory.
What
is really needed in the world today is "to produce locally, strengthen food
sovereignty, and 'relocalise' the economy," he concluded, referring to free
trade as "a weapon used by the powerful to the detriment of
democracy."
Brazilian
Minister of Strategic Affairs Samuel Pinheiro Guimarães, another panelist,
highlighted the fact that the Lula administration adopted a strategy similar to
the WSF by organising over 60 national conferences at which the Brazilian public
and civil society groups were able to freely voice their views and help shape
state policies.
In
a message to the participants in the Bahia thematic meeting, Lula praised the
World Social Forum as a process that generates "transformational power and
energies" and is much more than merely a counterpoint to the World Economic
Forum, an annual gathering of the international business and banking elite held
at the same time of year in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.
Meanwhile,
João Paulo Rodrigues, one of the coordinators of the Movement of Landless Rural
Workers (MST), stressed the need to continue to struggle for faster agrarian
reform, in order to foster sustainable agriculture and generate employment for
young people in rural areas.
Brazil
is one of the countries with the highest concentration of land ownership in the
hands of a small few, with a great many unproductive large landholdings, he
emphasised.
Also
on the panel were trade union leaders like Artur Henrique, president of the
trade union federation Central Única dos Trabalhadores (CUT), founded in 1983
with the participation of Lula, a union leader himself at the time.
Henrique
stressed the key role of employment in the development model to be pursued, and
particularly the importance of decent conditions for workers, with an end to
employment practices akin to slave labour and the highly precarious nature of
work in the informal sector.
Nair
Goulart, vice president of Força Sindical, another trade union federation, was
the moderator of the discussion panel, and reported that more than 10,000 people
had registered to participate in the three days of discussion and other events
comprising the Bahia forum.
An
analysis of changes at the international level was presented by United Nations
Assistant Secretary-General Carlos Lopes, who is also the head of the United
Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). Lopes highlighted the
"end of the unipolar world," reflected by the changes that have taken
place over the last decade - coinciding with the existence of the WSF - such as
China's accumulation of 2.7 billion dollars in reserves and subsidisation of
consumption in the United States.
The
rise of the Group of 20 (G20, made up of the finance ministers and central bank
governors of world's leading economies) as a forum for discussing the fate of
the world is another result of these changes, although it arose as a
"palliative" for global imbalances, he noted.
New
forms of international negotiation have gained hold in areas like trade and
climate change, and decisions can no longer be adopted without the input of poor
countries, such as those of Africa, he said.
But "the new world is not here yet," and inequalities persist, said Lopes. Moreover, the crises that the world currently faces are "multifaceted" and it is impossible to even adequately gauge their true scale.
Biodiversity:
The Amazon Is Not Eternal by Stephen Leahy*
www.ipsnews.net - Tierramérica - Paris - February 2, 2010
The
Amazon jungle "is very close to a tipping point," and if destruction
continues, it could shrink to one third of its original size in just 65 years,
warns Thomas Lovejoy, world-renowned tropical biologist.
Climate
change, deforestation and fire are the drivers of this potential Amazonian
apocalypse, according to Lovejoy, biodiversity chair at the Washington DC-based
Heinz Centre for Science, Economics and the Environment, and chief biodiversity
adviser to the president of the World Bank.
Lovejoy
laid out the scenario for participants at the Biodiversity Science Policy
Conference in Paris last week, sponsored by UNESCO (United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation), and marking the beginning of the U.N.'s
International Year of Biodiversity.
"The
World Bank released a study that finally put the impacts of climate change,
deforestation and fires together. The tipping point for the Amazon is 20 percent
deforestation," and that is "a scary result," Lovejoy told
Tierramérica in an interview.
The
study, "Assessment of the Risk of Amazon Dieback," released Jan. 22,
drew on the expertise of several international research institutions, including
Japan's Meteorological Research Institute, Britain's Exeter University, Brazil's
Centre for Weather Forecasting and Climate Change (CPET/INPE), Germany's Potsdam
Institute and Earth3000.
The
results and analysis were reviewed by an international blue-ribbon panel of
scientists.
Lovejoy,
head of the committee responsible for this major scientific investigation, said
the Amazon has already lost 17 to 18 percent of its forests. Furthermore,
"it has a remarkable hydrogeological system where the forest generates at
least half of its own rainfall."
This
literally means the rainforest makes its own rain, but it also brings rainfall
to many areas outside of the Amazon, including the central-western Brazilian
state of Mato Grosso and northern Argentina, he said.
What
the study shows for the first time is the combination of global warming on a
path to reach two degrees Celsius, deforestation of roughly 20 percent of the
original forest, and forest fires that undermine the Amazon's unique
hydrogeological system.
The
Amazonian south and southeast will receive much less rainfall. Less moisture
means those areas will be more prone to fires, which not only destroy the forest
but also further dry out the surrounding forest - all of which reduces the
Amazon's ability to produce rain. The process becomes a self-reinforcing
feedback loop.
"The
forest eventually converts to cerrado (the Brazilian savanna) after a lot of
fire, human misery, loss of biodiversity and emission of carbon into the
atmosphere," said Lovejoy.
The
Earth's average temperature has already warmed 0.8 degrees Celsius since the
pre-industrial era. At the 15th Conference of Parties to the U.N. Framework
Convention on Climate Change, held in Copenhagen in December, virtually all
countries agreed that the warming must not surpass two degrees.
The
report's conclusion: "For the Amazon as a whole, the remaining tropical
forest will shrink to about three-quarters of its original area by 2025 and
further to about only one-third of its original extension by 2075 as a result of
these combined impacts of climate change, deforestation, and fire."
"The
good news is that deforested areas can be reforested and provide a safety
margin," said Lovejoy, maintaining some optimism.
It
is estimated that a single hectare of Amazon rainforest contains about 900
tonnes of living plants, including more than 750 types of trees and 1,500 other
plants, the report notes.
A
single pond in Brazil can sustain a greater variety of fish than is found in all
of Europe's rivers, and more than 2,000 species of fish have been identified in
the Amazon Basin - more species than in the entire Atlantic Ocean.
The
Andes mountain range and the Amazon jungle are home to more than half of the
world's species of flora and fauna. For example, one in five of all birds in the
world can be found there.
Sadly,
before the end of this century many, and perhaps most, of those species will
become extinct. After millions of years of existence many plants, insects,
birds, animals will never be seen again on the Earth. Habitat loss and climate
change will be the biggest reasons for their extinction.
The
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change conservatively estimates that 30
percent of all species will be extinct by the end of this century, if global
warming is not kept below two degrees.
Other
experts, such as eminent Harvard entomologist E.O. Wilson, told participants at
the UNESCO conference that extinctions could go as high as 50 percent.
"Our
purpose this year is to focus the world's attention on the need to stop the
destruction of biodiversity, the destruction of nature," Ahmed Djoghlaf,
executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said in the
opening address of the conference in Paris.
The
countries party to the Convention agreed in 1990 to slow the rate of
biodiversity loss by 2010. "We will not meet that goal," Djoghlaf told
Tierramérica.
However,
with the launch of the International Year of Biodiversity, and the many events,
celebrations and conferences to be held around the world, Djoghlaf hopes
biodiversity, which is another term for nature, will garner interest and support
from the public and policy makers.
With
the theme "Biodiversity is life. Biodiversity is our life," organisers
are launching a largely educational effort to explain that plants, animals,
insects, birds, and bacteria make up the world's ecosystems, which provide
humanity with food, fibre and clean water and air.
According
to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, "60 percent of the world's
ecosystems are degraded and failing. We have an obligation to change our ways.
This is not a luxury," Djoghlaf said.
In
October, the 193 countries that have signed the Convention will set new
biodiversity reduction targets at a conference in Nagoya, Japan.
The
failure to achieve the 2010 targets for protecting biodiversity resulted from
countries' inability to define how they would reach them, Djoghlaf said.
He
is confident that, having learned from these mistakes, countries will set
specific national goals to curb species loss, with comprehensive plans on how to
achieve them. That will then feed into a global target for 2020.
"We
will have studies, reports and scientific indicators to guide us, but in the end
it is up to policy makers to set targets and policies that will make it
happen," said the biodiversity chief.
(*This story was originally published by Latin American newspapers that are part of the Tierramérica network. Tierramérica is a specialised news service produced by IPS with the backing of the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme and the World Bank.)
Humans forgotten by finance system: Caritas
Ucan
- Bangkok - February 1, 2010
Caritas
Internationalis Secretary General Lesley-Anne Knight says human beings have been
left out of post-financial crash calculations "with dire consequences for
us all, especially the poor."
"Finance
has been focused on financial mechanisms, profits and bonuses," she said.
"For
humanitarian organizations, such as Caritas, the human person must be at the
heart of everything we do. But this should equally be applied to economic
systems, which are also ultimately at the service of humanity," she said.
Knight,
representing 164 Catholic national charities that work in more than 200
countries around the world, made the comments at the Davos World Economic Forum
(WEF) that ended yesterday [Jan. 31].
Knight
said five steps need to be taken immediately.
*
Financial institutions must consider the human impact of their activities
*
Poorer nations must have an effective voice at international institutions such
as the UN and World Trade Organization
*
Development aid must be delivered free of conditions
*
Recipients should play a greater role in their own development
*
There must be stronger recognition of civil society and faith groups.
The
annual WEF brings together business leaders, politicians and heads of state,
with artists, academics, religious leaders, and other civil society
representatives.
"It
is of course easy enough to identify the values and principles that should form
the basis of systems and institutions," Knight said.
"What
is more difficult is to ensure that these values are applied. This relies on us
as individuals - our consciences, and our capacity for solidarity, for
compassion, for true charity," she said.
"The
richer nations of the world must provide assistance for developing countries who
are bearing the brunt of climate-related disasters," Knight said.
"Economic
growth and development must have regard for inter-generational justice. Rich
countries have profited the most from the industrialization that has led to
climate change, and now they must pay the costs of adapting and mitigating the
damage."
Civil
society interventions to improve policing by Muhammad Nurul Huda
Daily
Star - February 6, 2010
EXPERIENCE
shows that the police organisations of South Asia including Bangladesh have been
more focused on using aggressive tactics to ensure law and order. This attitude
and resultant tactics, though unfortunate, have stemmed from the colonial and
feudal mindset and has placed a premium on control and suppression. It is thus
no wonder that the South Asian countries, professedly democracies, do not have
policing that reflects liberal democratic ideals.
Concerned
citizens are of the view that instead of having the desirable law enforcement
for safeguarding individual rights, the South Asian countries have willy-nilly
fostered the growth of unaccountable and unprofessional police organization.
Such citizens hold the view that since the politicians in these countries have
not demonstrated adequate will to improve law enforcement, it is incumbent on
civil society to play a more active role to achieve better policing.
The
question therefore, is, can civil society organisations improve police
professionalism? To come to specifics if the civil society sees any value in
engaging with police and what could be the possible mechanisms to establish an
effective and productive relationship with the police. In the same vein, the
type of probable assistance the civil society can provide to police could be an
area of interest. Similarly, such society's using of benchmarks to hold the
police accountable for misconduct may be relevant for responsive policing.
Related
to the above ideas could be the strategies the civil society may like to employ
to assist in the vitally required oversight of police conduct. Similarly, one
needs to know if the nature of internal oversight mechanism of police is
understood. Can the civil society address the "brotherhood" within the
police that often permits impunity to flourish? A considered view is that since
external oversight in South Asia is not desirably effective, the civil society
needs to address the scenario.
Observers
believe that while it is right to denounce the human rights violations committed
by police, it is also important to focus on the desirable course by engaging
with the police and participating in the security debate. If this is accepted
then the relation between police and civil society, most often characterized by
caution and distrust, may hopefully evolve into a less polarized and more
cooperative process. However, this cannot happen without supportive
developments.
The
civil society needs to understand that for long term positive impact on police
practice, it would not be sufficient to comment from the sideline. In fact,
extended commitment would be necessary. For their part the police need to
enhance their responsiveness to the community they serve and understand that
cooperation from the public is vital for tactical reasons. For effective crime
prevention and detection, sharing information with willing members of public is
a vital necessity.
It
needs to be remembered that civil society's engagement with police and the
latter responding proactively cannot happen in isolation. The desirable
intervention can take place within the context of broader reforms aiming to
enhance the democratic orientation of the government. In other words, measures
like adoption of human rights oriented legislation, general security sector
reform, appointment of reform minded police leadership, international police
cooperation etc are deemed as facilitating factors.
One
cannot lose sight of the reality that engagement with police poses some
dilemmas. The first dilemma is about how to find a balance between engagement
and criticism. It is indeed difficult for non-governmental organisations
dedicated to protecting human rights to learn to work with, as well as against,
the police. Engagement should not be seen as jeopardizing the organization's
ability to condemn police misconduct.
Another
dilemma is about the core function. Civil society organisations mostly act as
observers rather than players and engagement with police runs the risks of
blurring this distinction. Understandably, this is a less than comfortable
situation. The real challenge is perhaps how and to what extent to cooperate
without losing the ability to condemn abuses.
Improved methods of measuring crime and public confidence in the police can be taken as indicators for professionalism but very little information is available about the impact of civil society engagement. However, the very phenomenon of civil society engagement may be treated as an indicator of democratic policing.
Dhaka unveils ten-year modernisation plan for armed forces
by William Gomes
AsiaNews - Dhaka - February 5, 2010
The
government plans to spend almost half a billion dollar to modernise its army,
navy and air force. Segments of public opinion criticise the choice and want
more money for health care and transport. Half of all Bangladeshis live below
the poverty line.
The
Government of Bangladesh has unveiled a ten-year plan to upgrade the country's
armed forces (army, navy and air force), including new weapons system and
armoured vehicles. Planning Minister Air vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandker, who is
also in charge of the Defence Ministry, made the announcement yesterday in
Dhaka. The modernisation programme comes with a price tag of 338 billion taka
(almost US$ 490 million), this in one of the poorest countries in the world,
where half of the population lives below the poverty line.
The
minister said the money would buy tanks, armoured vehicles, and helicopters, as
well as double domestic ordinance production. Barracks and weapons facilities
will also be improved. Two maritime patrol aircraft will be purchased and five
patrol crafts will be locally built at the shipyard in Khulna, the country's
third largest city.
The
plan includes modernising the country's air defence system with a new fighter
squadron, air-to-air missiles, a surface-to-air missile system, air defence
radar and two helicopters.
Bangladesh's
military modernisation is part of a broader development plan based on the
expectation that by 2017 its economy will reach a 10 per cent annual growth.
At
the same time, the government wants to tackle poverty and corruption.
However,
the plan to invest so heavily in the military has come in for sharp criticism.
In the 2008-09 fiscal year, defence spending ranked eighth in terms of spending
at about 6.4 per cent, higher than Transport and Communications (6.1 per
cent%), Health (5.9 per cent) and Public Order and Security (5.6 per cent).
Bangladesh
has a population of 143 million. It is ranked 140th on the human development
scale.
In
2007, it was estimated that only 3.2 Bangladeshi in a thousand had access to
internet. Illiteracy stood at 59 per cent. In addition, the annual per capita
revenue was around US$ 470.
Dropout
rate must be contained
New
Age - February 5, 2010
Education
for all is one of the main responsibilities of the government towards its
citizens. Although school enrolment of children and gender parity therein has
improved remarkably in Bangladesh, dropout rates are still alarmingly high.
According to a New Age report of February 4, more than 41 per cent of the female
students enrolled in Class IX in the 2008-2009 academic session have dropped out
as they have not registered to take the SSC and equivalent examinations
scheduled to begin on February 11, 2010. Such a dropout rate and that too for a
single session is alarming, but when majority of these defaulting students are
female, it raises double concern.
It is not only the number of students enrolled every year in schools and
colleges that can ensure education in its true sense. What is equally important
is whether the enrolled students are completing the full course and whether they
are getting quality education in their respective institutions. Continuing
education for the full-term depends on the students, parents as well as many
other factors that come to play important roles.
Some of the few major causes of such an alarming dropout rate, as identified by
the education ministry, are early marriage of female students, enrolment of a
significant number of female students only for getting stipends, stipends given
to wrong students and enrolment forged by the authorities to retain the licence
of some schools and madrassahs.
With majority of the people living below the poverty line, it is only natural
that the parents would want their children to become earning members as early as
possible or would want their daughters to marry off to ease their financial
burden.
These parents will consider sending their offspring to seek education only if
there is adequate number of incentives. Steps, therefore, are required to be
taken immediately in that direction so that the students can enjoy the facility
of free education in the true sense of the term.
Imparting quality education also depends on the ability and training of the
teachers to make the lessons more interesting. If the teachers are not qualified
enough, or sufficiently motivated and well trained, the result would be dismal
and the number of dropouts will also increase.
True in the last few years, school enrolment rate and gender parity therein have
improved remarkably in our country and is considered a developmental milestone
in the SAARC region, but the success achieved in this sector might soon become
overshadowed if education cannot be made truly free and brought within the reach
of anyone and dropout rate contained as much as possible.
Khasia tribal people get own Catholic priests
Ucan
- Moulovibazar -
February 2, 2010
|
The
priestly ordinations of two Khasia tribal seminarians is a “historic moment”
for the Bangladesh Church, says the Dhaka archbishop. “A
new history began for the Khasia tribe today. It is a great joy for the
Bangladesh Church as we got new priests from this ethnic tribal group,”
Archbishop Paulinus Costa of Dhaka said during the Jan. 29 priestly ordination
of Oblates of Mary Immaculate deacons Pius Pohdueng and Valentine Bawel Talang
at the Immaculate Conception Church, a predominantly Khasia parish in Lakshipur,
Dhaka archdiocese. About
5,000 tribal and Bengali Catholics, other Christians and those from other faiths
attended the ceremony which featured a traditional tribal mix of song and dance. “Now
the Khasia people will be able to take part in Mass in our own language,
tradition and culture,” said Father Talang, 34. Father
Pohdueng, the other priest, pointed out that with their ordination, the Khasia
will be now be free to come to the parish and “comfortably talk and share
their problems with us in their own dialect.” He pointed out that “So far
they felt ashamed to talk with Bengali priests in their broken Bangla” and so
“kept away aside from other people.” Oblate
Father Joseph Gomes observed that the “Khasia language is quite difficult for
Bengali priests to learn and similarly Bengali is a difficult language for
Khasia people.” |
Babli
Talang, 35, a Church worker and Father Talang’s elder sister, pointed to
another problem. “Khasia people are backward socially in terms of education. I
think the two new priests will help improve the situation for their own
community.” She said many Khasia students become dropouts when they fail.
“They literally give up instead of trying once more. So, the literacy rate is
very poor among them,” she said.
Khasia,
a matriarchal Mongol tribe settled in Bangladesh’s Sylhet region migrating
from India long ago. Presently, they live in 108 villages in three Catholic
parishes and one sub-parish in the region.
They
have their own culture, tradition, religion and language and live completely
segregated from the dominant Bengali influence.
Most
of the 30,000 Khasia in Bangladesh cultivate betel-leaves for a livelihood.
About
80 percent of the Khasia people are Christians with the majority of them
Presbyterian or Catholic. Some also belong to the Baptist Church.
Ucan - Natore - February 3, 2010
The first Catholic school in Rajshahi diocese, noted
for lifting the literacy rate in northwestern Bangladesh, is celebrating its
50th year.
|
About
4,000 former and current students, guests and government and NGO officials took
part in the Jan. 28-29 celebrations for St. Louis High School at Maria Virgo
Potens Church in Borni. The celebrations featured a Mass, speeches and cultural
programs. Archbishop Joseph Marino, the apostolic nuncio to Bangladesh and
Bishop Gervas Rozario of Rajshahi attended the celebration. “The Catholic Church gladly thanks everyone involved in setting up this school and improving education for people in the area,” the nuncio said. Bishop
Rozario thanked teachers past and present for their dedicated service. Father
Shankar Dominic Gomes, the current headmaster said the school was the brainchild
of Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions Father Angelo Canton. The
Italian missioner was appointed pastor for the predominant Bengali Catholic
Borni parish in 1956 and found that almost all people in the area were
illiterate. A
parish primary school he began was upgraded to a high school in 1960 and
named St. Louis High School. In 1963, nine students successfully took
school leaving public examinations for the very first time. Father
Gomes said school began with 40 students in 1960 and now has 700 students. The
students are mostly Bengali and tribal Catholic with those from other faiths
also studying at the school. Over
the years about 2,000 students have passed the school leaving public
examination. |
Many
of them are now government and NGO officials, college and university professors,
lawyers, journalists and writers. One even became a member of parliament, Father
Gomes added.
According
to local the government education office, the literacy rate in the area is about
75 percent, up from the 1 percent it was when the Church school began. People
credit the school for improving the education level in the area during the past
half century.
“I
believe that the ethics I learned from this school has helped me lot,” said
Abdul Majid, 45, a Muslim who is now a college professor. “I came from a poor
family and had to struggle a lot in my early life. Many times I had to starve
but never missed school,” he recounted.
Sujit
Sarkar, 53, another former student and a Hindu, now a Rajshahi University
professor, told UCA News, “This school lit the candle of education when the
whole area was in the darkness of ignorance.” He added his appreciation,
saying, “I would like to thank those Catholic priests who paved the way for us
to gain success in life through education.”
According to the latest Catholic Directory, Rajshahi diocese has a total of 53,151 Bengali and tribal Catholics in 14 parishes and six sub-parishes.
Dhaka
gives green light to crocodile exports by William Gomes
AsiaNews - Dhaka - February 1, 2010
The
government authorises the country's only crocodile farm to ship 67 specimens to
a German university for research. Reptile Farm Ltd managing director says the
product represents an important source of foreign exchange. The goal is to reach
US$ 5,000,000 in earnings by 2015.
For
the first time in its history, Bangladesh is going to export crocodiles for
commercial purposes. On 21 January, the Department of Forests authorised the
country's only crocodile farm, Reptile Farm Ltd, to sell reptiles to Germany.
Exotic animals represent a large market in Europe, the United States and a
number of Asian countries. The goal is to generate up to US $ 5 million in
revenues by 2015.
Mushtaq
Ahmed, managing director and CEO of Reptile Farm Ltd., said that on 31 August of
last year, his company applied for a permit to export 67 frozen crocodiles to
Germany and 10 live ones to Malaysia. After months of waiting, the Forest
Department gave the green light.
He
said an agreement was reached with Heidelberg University of Germany to ship 67
crocodiles, ranging from nine inches to five feet in length, which the
university will use these in research. "We will export the crocodiles next
month," he said.
Reptile
Farm Ltd. is situated in Hatiber village (Mymensingh district), and owns 825
saltwater crocodiles, including 67 specimens that are big size.
Ahmed
noted that the regular export of crocodiles from Bangladesh would be an
important source of foreign exchange earnings. The aim is to export over 5,000
pieces of crocodile skin annually and create a base for "earning up to US$
5 million by 2015."
There
is a huge demand of crocodiles in European nations like France, Germany, Italy
and Spain. Crocodile skins, meat and bones as well as charcoal made from croc
bones used in the perfume industry are in great demand.
To
meet this demand, more crocodile farms could be set up in Bangladesh, Ahmed
said.
A Precipitate Outcome by Reaz Rahman
Daily
Star Forum - February 7, 2010
No
one expected that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's state visit to India would
resolve all outstanding issues. It was a goodwill visit. It was to set the
climate for negotiations and lay down a base for communications.
Despite
all the euphoria over the visit it has been repeatedly underscored that
relations between Bangladesh and India are motivated neither by good intentions
nor by good neighbourly relations but by the logic of "realpolitik."
The
key characteristics are caution, circumspection, pragmatism and hardball
negotiations. It must be remembered that India never concedes an inch. Leader of
the Opposition Begum Khaleda Zia categorically stated that Bangladesh was not
anti-Indian. It was simply not oriented to making it easy for India.
The
purpose of the visit was thus to lay down an agenda that would lay a foundation
for follow-up over time -- a framework as it were, for discussion, agreement and
subsequent implementation. Fundamental concerns of each side were to be spelt
out and a network of existing mechanisms and institutions were to be energised
and reactivated.
Bangladesh's
Fundamental Concerns
Water
sharing: 54 rivers cross into Bangladesh from India. In the last 38 years, a
sharing agreement has been concluded on only one of them. Many in Bangladesh
believe that the 30 Years Ganges Water Treaty is seriously flawed. It was
concluded in haste and abandoned the major planks of Bangladesh's claims for a
reasonable and equitable share. Furthermore, Bangladesh has no protection in
seasons when there is a drastic fall in the flow of waters. The impact of this
agreement has had disastrous adverse consequences for Bangladesh. The
river-linking project embracing 30 rivers hangs over Bangladesh's head like a
Damocles sword. The project is still on the books despite strong protest in
India itself. It remains an incalculable threat to Bangladesh.
Environment:
The issue of water sharing is compounded by larger economic, ecological and
environmental hazards, which call for much greater cooperation especially with
regard to watershed and catchment area management, control of pollution, etc.
Environmental hazards wreak annual havoc to the tune of billions of dollars
downstream. "No harm" assurances have never been realised.
Land
boundary issues: Non-ratification by India 36 years after signing the 1974 Land
Boundary Agreement has exacerbated tensions all along the 4096 km
Indo-Bangladesh border. 6.5 km remain to be demarcated, constituting the core of
the most disputed issues. Exchange of territories in adverse possession, and
enclaves in each others territory have now unnecessarily become hot spots of
tension. Willful disregard of border ground rules and shoot to kill orders have
seen mounting toll of innocent civilians killed. Movements of people across the
border, trafficking in humans and drugs, border smuggling, etc remain constant
pin-pricks. Two elements in particular contain huge potential for conflict: (i)
exaggerated claims of large scale illegal immigration, and (ii) the building of
a fence to deter such illegal immigration, check smuggling and prevent
infiltration by Indian insurgent groups. The fence has at points arbitrarily
encroached within 150 yards against agreed border ground rules. India is now
justifying that the fence does not constitute a defense mechanism.
Maritime boundary: Demarcation of the maritime boundary between adjacent states carries significant potential for competition and conflict over living and non-living resources. Both India and Myanmar have adopted an unvarying stand on demarcation on the basis of the most rigid application of the equidistant line.
A joint stand of India and Myanmar could cut-off Bangladesh's access to the limits of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf, and deprive it of its legitimate rights over resources of the sea, sea-bed and sub-soil thereof. Bangladesh's case is based on equity.
Government has precipitately embarked on
arbitration with the international sea-bed tribunal. It appears to have now
reverted to pursuing both options, i.e. arbitration and bilateral negotiations.
The fact is that it has not yet firmed up its position in determining the
equities of its case. One of the key elements is establishing Bangladesh claim
for an extended continental margin up to 350 nautical miles.
Transit
and trade: The government has obscured the distinction between transit and
transshipment by using a loose interpretation of the broader term connectivity.
India's single-minded pursuit is to establish a corridor to North-East India.
Transit is reciprocal in nature and implies mutual benefits. Transshipment is
unilateral in nature and benefits only India. The AL government has sought to
dissemble and cover up the entire issue by arguing that the objective has
broader regional dimensions, embracing not only Bhutan, Nepal, North-East Indian
states, but also Sri Lanka and the Asean countries as well. The fact of the
matter is that the whole exercise was to establish multi-modal transport
connectivity to North-East India. |
Of
major concern for Bangladesh was the burgeoning trade deficit with India.
Despite many promises in the past and the huge benefit it received as a result
of Bangladeshi economic liberalisation policies, India remains reticent to
accord duty free access to Bangladeshi exports or to lift para-tariff and
non-tariff barriers. As an alternative, India had suggested entering into a
bilateral free trade agreement on the lines of the Sri Lanka-Indian FTA. The
matter is still under study. However, some negative aspects are being
underscored. It was opined that there was no compelling case for Bangladesh to
pursue a bilateral FTA with India based on potential economic benefits. Rather,
broad-based liberalisation was preferable and would yield larger benefits. The
risk was also underlined of a captive market if Indian producers were to collude
among themselves or with Bangladeshi importers so as to artificially increase
prices.
Security
and strategic issues: Bangladesh has been made a convenient scapegoat for the
Indian army and intelligence failure to resolve the six decade old separatist
insurgency in North-East India. A drumbeat of exaggerated accusations variously
charge Bangladesh with stoking insurgency with collusion of Pakistan's ISI;
refusing to dismantle camps or repatriate insurgency leaders; harbouring
fundamentalist/extremist groups and their Indian collaborators; allowing
madrassas to churn out radicals; channeling sophisticated arms from South-East
Asia to India's North-East, and even of supporting an umbrella organisation
geared to creating a third Muslim state in India.
These
accusations have been directed at all governments in Bangladesh, including the
Awami League. They cannot be wished away in the euphoria of a so-called new
beginning. Bangladesh has steadfastly denied these accusations in terms of
intent or actual involvement. It has raised the question as to why India's lack
of responsibility at finding solutions to its own problems should be laid at the
doorstep of Bangladesh. Moreover, India has done little to address Bangladesh
concerns relating to criminal elements taking refuge in India and
anti-Bangladesh groups carrying out activities inimical to Bangladesh including
the carving out of a state comprising parts of Bangladesh.
Actual
Outcome
It
is in light of the above backdrop that we must assess the actual outcome of the
visit. At its best, it can be said that the outcome was disappointing. At its
worst, it can be bluntly stated that the nation was unprepared for the stunning
concessions that were made. It was all give and very little take.
India's
Gains
India
gained on four major fronts: (A) Security; (B) Connectivity; (C) Economic
Cooperation , and (D) Psychological.
Security:
With the signing of three agreements whose contents are yet to be made overt,
India appears to have significantly edged forward in securing its objectives to
curb insurgent activity, that of terrorists and militants as well as
repatriation of leaders. These agreements are nothing new and have been on the
boards for some time. The difference was that so far they have been on a
regional or multilateral plane and now they have been pinpointed on a bilateral
basis.
In
November 2008 the AL manifesto called for the creation of a South Asia Task
Force to combat militancy. The then Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab
Mukherjee on a visit to Dhaka in February 2009 said the concept already exists
but what was important was "the sincerity to fight terrorism." He said
that this could be achieved if we had bilateral, regional and global mechanisms.
To what extent and in what direction bilateral cooperation will take place is
unclear. It has given rise to a host of questions: What will be the modalities?
Will it entail a standing military force that will operate jointly? Will it
jointly carry out verification or will each country coordinate its own actions?
How
far Bangladesh will be embroiled in India's security and larger strategic
concerns remains a matter of speculation. The release of Aravind Rajkhowa the
ULFA leader in advance of the summit was a major fillip for India. The two prime
ministers underscored their common ethos for democracy and moderation (euphemism
for vindicating censure of fundamentalism and extremism).
Transshipment:
India's pre-eminent goal of a corridor to its North-Eastern states has been all
but secured. The joint communiqué is rife with commitments that constitute
significant links in the chain of connectivity. These include:
Ashuganj
and Silghat were declared new ports of call. More important was the fact that
the use of multi-modal transport links was ushered in. This was a major
concession. Originally a request was made for one time use of over dimensional
cargo. Now possibility arose of longer term use.
The
understanding to discuss the use of Chittagong port by India has translated to
allowing actual use of both the Mongla and Chittagong ports for movement of
goods to and from India. This is a mega concession.
Bangladesh
agreed to the early implementation of the Akhaura-Agartala rail link to be
financed by India. The
two prime ministers welcomed the start of the Maitree Express and called for the
establishment of road and rail links between the two countries. Nothing was
discussed regarding the long delays that have made the service virtually
unprofitable.
India
announced a credit line of $1 billion for a range of projects including railway
infrastructure, supply of locomotives, rehabilitation of Saidpur workshop,
procurement of buses and dredging projects. The question arises as to why the
people of Bangladesh have to pay off a credit that is oriented to serving
India's interests. Moreover, given the excess of liquidity in the Bangladesh
banks these could have been financed from indigenous sources. The
above elements demonstrate sustained progression towards India's realisation of
a corridor to the North-East. The AL government's cabinet decision of June 2009
to join the Asian Highway network effectively rounded off the process. |
Economic
cooperation: India's constant complaint that Bangladesh has been overly negative
on economic cooperation issues, especially transport connectivity as well as
sale of gas and electricity, was somewhat assuaged when the Bangladesh prime
minister took another quantum leap forward, without any preparation, by signing
an MOU on cooperation in power.
Para.
32, though silent on details, deals with: (i) 250 megawatts electric supply for
Bangladesh from India's central grid and (ii) agreement of the two prime
ministers to: (a) expedite inter-grid connectivity, (b) cooperation in
development and exchange of electricity, and (c) setting up joint projects or
corporate entities. The paragraph entails an open-ended agenda with wide-ranging
implications.
Psychological
gain: The Bangladesh prime minister, in another unprecedented move and without
laying any groundwork, conveyed Bangladesh's support in principle for India's
candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council as and when
reform takes place. It was argued that the BNP government made a similar
announcement supporting Japan's candidature long in advance of the decision to
reform. The AL government has missed the point. The implications of Japan
becoming a permanent member and India becoming a permanent member are not on the
same plane. The Bangladesh PM has given explicit recognition to India as the
dominant power -- the "hegemon" of the region.
Bangladesh's
Gains
Bangladesh made no commensurate gain. India remained tight-fisted. Outstanding
concerns of Bangladesh were not voiced or acknowledged and no foundation laid
for addressing them. Criticism is not being directed at India for the outcome of
the summit but at the AL for over-reaching itself. There was too much give and
too little take. That is why the leader of the opposition called the outcome a
joint communiqué between India and the AL not India and Bangladesh.
Water
related issues: The two prime ministers agreed that discussion on Teesta water
sharing should be concluded expeditiously and the JRC was to meet at ministerial
level by the first quarter to discuss Teesta and other rivers. Differences over
sharing Teesta waters remain so widespread that prospect of early agreement is
negligible. The Bangladesh prime minister, however, has referred to the
"spirit of the Ganges Water Treaty" in motivating a sharing agreement.
This is a recipe for cumulative disaster. Bangladesh's legitimate claims for a
reasonable share were abandoned and the consequences of the Treaty had a
disastrous impact on Bangladesh. The prime minister also made no protest, nor
sought any assurances regarding the river linking project. By accepting
assurances of no harm regarding the Tipaimukh Dam the prime minister has
literally signaled the green flag for its construction.
Trade
deficit: India's response on trade related matters was lukewarm to say the
least, including duty-free access and lifting of restrictions on para- and
non-tariff barriers. It was quick, however, to reiterate its own concerns
regarding port restrictions, containerised cargo, upgradation of standards and
testing to build up capacity for certification as well as lifting restrictions
on Indian investments and on specified commodities. Reference to (i) initiatives
India has undertaken to provide Saarc LDCs duty free access and (ii) the
reduction of a number of items (47) from India's negative list (242) was
pathetic in the face of huge gains India has made as a result of liberalisation
of Bangladesh's economy.
Land
boundary issues: Land boundary issues were placed in abeyance pending
comprehensive address of all related issues. Bangladesh prime minister
inexplicably thanked the Indian PM for facilitating provision of electricity in
Dahagram/Angarpota enclaves. She forgot that the cardinal issue is that after 36
years of signing the Land Boundary Agreement of 1974 Bangladesh is yet to
exercise full sovereignty over the enclaves whereas India has enjoyed
sovereignty over South Berubari Union since 1974. The issue of constructing a
fly-over was a pragmatic solution made three decades ago to which India has
never responded.
Conclusion
The balance between gains made by India and those made by Bangladesh are
seriously askew.
Many of the commitments made by Bangladesh constitute unilateral concessions whose far reaching implications were neither studied nor examined in consultation with the country's parliament, opposition, or experts. No serious review or study was made of Bangladesh's major threat perceptions on such important concerns as water sharing, the dire impact of the river linking project, huge environmental and ecological impact downstream apart from global warming, the real equities of Bangladesh case for demarcation of the maritime boundary and the implications of arbitration, charges of widespread illegal immigration and serious security and strategic issues. On
the economic front, Bangladesh appears to have blindly conceded benefits without
any studies on the capacities of allowing the use of our ports, opportunity and
other costs, the real cost of connectivity and its security and strategic
implications. In the face of this total lack of preparations the AL government
must take serious stock of what it has conceded and what it can implement
without endangering our national interest. |
Reaz
Rahman is a former State Minister for Foreign Affairs and former Adviser to the
Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs.
Daily
Star - February 2, 2010
Stop
the hooligans
EDUCATION
is the backbone of the nation and undermining or vitiating it in any form can
only have disastrous effects on it. Many developing nations, including India,
have used education as a powerful tool for economic progress and prosperity.
But
what are we doing? A congenial academic atmosphere is now absent even in many
reputable institutions due, largely, to the activities of the ruling party's
student wing fanning out in different money-making directions. In addition to
indulging in tender business, the BCL cadres are reportedly thriving on booming
admission business in the colleges.
Dhaka
College, which has a long and glorious history as one of the leading educational
institutions of the country, is now the scene of the BCL activists trying to
control the admission process. They went to the extent of preventing admission
seekers from appearing in their viva voce on Sunday. Of course, they used muscle
power to drive away the genuine students. They are demanding a 'political quota'
of 500 seats for their organisation on the basis of a 400 seats quota they had
last year. Quota means a huge amount of money as the seats will be sold out to
the students wanting to get admission through the dark alleys of corruption --
now almost institutionalised in the academic arena, obviously to the detriment
of the interest of deserving candidates.
Needless
to say, the slide in the standard of education will continue if the admission
business is not stopped as a matter of top priority. The future of the nation is
bound to be bleak if student leaders are allowed to take charge of the admission
process.
The
question is, who will stop it? The BCL has been committing all sorts of excesses
in the educational institutions that couldn't have nor did it escape the AL high
command's notice. The prime minister herself rebuked and warned the errant BCL
activists of dire consequences. But all the warnings and exhortations have gone
unheeded with similar rapidity with which these were spewed out by leaders, with
the result that they have only provided sinews to the culture of impunity they
think they are heir to by virtue of being associated with ruling party.
It
is high time that zero tolerance is shown to vandalism and corrupt practices on
campuses not in mere words, but in actual deeds that make examples out of them
with a deterrent effect. It is hard to believe that the AL cannot control the
ominous forces out to ruin everything in the academic arena. They are expected
to gauge the extent of the danger that the nation is exposed to because of
wheeling and dealing with as sacrosanct an arena as education. It is too
precious an affair to be left to hooligans and vandals. Bring the culprits to
justice
Crowds
gather to attract young to vocations
Ucan
- Gazipur - February 4, 2010
A Year for Priests celebration in Dhaka archdiocese expects to draw more vocations to the priesthood and Religious life.
|
About
10,000 Catholics gathered at Panjora village of Nagari parish in the
archdiocese’s Bhawal region to greet their priests on Feb. 1. Archbishop
Paulinus Costa of Dhaka and his Auxiliary Bishop Theotonius Gomes attended the
program honoring 50 diocesan and Religious priests. “Bhawal
region has contributed 90 priests to the Church, more than any number in any
Catholic settlement in the country,” the archbishop said. He
told the people that their presence shows their love for their priests and is a
“source of hope” for priests whenever they face challenges in their
vocation. The
prelate also urged parents to encourage their children to join the priesthood or
Religious life. The
Bhawal Regional Pastoral Council, that covers six parishes, organized the event.
Dhaka is the country’s only archdiocese. “We hope that this program will inspire people to encourage their children to join the Religious life” said Holy Cross Brother Prodip Louis Rozario, convener for the event. Riten
Rego, a ninth grader, said he was inspired by the celebration to become a
priest. |
“I
learned from the speeches of the priests how beautiful and holy their life is.
It inspired me to make my life as beautiful and holy,” he said.
Beauty
Rebeiro, a Catholic mother, told UCA News that she was overjoyed to see so many
priests at the same time. “I wish to become a proud mother of a priest one
day,” she said. “I sent my son to this program so that he could be inspired
to be a priest.”
The
presence of so many people was an inspiration for the priests too.
“This
program gives me strength to continue my priestly service in this world full of
challenges,” said Holy Cross Father Atul Palma.
“I
was never a good student but I overcame every challenge [to becoming a priest]
with the power of prayer,” the 66-year-old priest told the gathering.
The
Pope declared a year
dedicated to priests from June 19, 2009.
According
to “Pratibeshi,” Bangladesh’s only Catholic weekly, there are 351 priests
in the country among whom 84 are foreigners. The 2007 Catholic Directory of
Bangladesh records about 310,000 Catholics, giving a ratio of roughly one priest
for every 900 Catholics.
Christians
make up less than 1 percent of the country’s almost 150 million people, 88
percent of whom are Muslims.
Food
availability for the poor
New
Nation - January 30, 2010
AS
reported recently in the press, there is 'no guarantee of access' to food for
almost half of Bangladeshis living below the poverty line despite country's
tripling of food production since its independence and various kinds of public
safety net programmes. Extreme weather events posing threats of significant
reduction in agricultural production due to the process of climate change have
further endangered the food security for more than 150 million people. The
strategy for making food available through imports if necessary, completely
broke down when food prices soared.
There
were difficulties in procuring food grains due to ban on rice export by a number
of countries in 2007-2008. Domestic food prices jumped up rapidly as traders,
farmers and consumers anticipating higher prices hoarded the food grains
according to a recent policy paper published by the Bangladesh Institute of
Development Studies. The paper noted that the situation led to 'increased food
insecurity' and 'higher levels of poverty', especially for the poorest and most
vulnerable. Private research further showed stunningly that the incidence of
poverty rose to almost 50 per cent from a lower rate of 40 per cent in 2005,
especially due to volatility of food prices.
Such
a situation gave a wake-up call for increasing food production for
self-sufficiency and making social security for the poor and vulnerable groups
to support them with livelihoods instead of providing them with subsistence for
years. This explains the social safety net programmes worth Taka 17,300 crore -
a package of mostly subsistence programmes which is described by the food
minister as one of the world's biggest for the poor. An economist on the basis
of ground-level research however, termed the coverage of safety net programmes
as poor benefiting only about 20 per cent of the deserving people.
Lost
land areas should return to public
Daily
Star - February 6, 2010
Punish
illegal occupants, adopt land use policy and stick by it
THE
plunder of land resources has reached a critical state as is evident from the
disclosure in parliament of the land minister and state minister for environment
and forest on Thursday. It is now known that around 13 lakh acres of khas land,
both farm and non-farm, including large forest swathes, has been expropriated
and held in illegal possession by individuals, industries and businesses over
the years.
Such
turning of public lands into personal fiefdoms is nothing short of a national
betrayal perpetrated through connective tissues of power and influence over the
years by default of the patently culpable variety. But now that the government
has woken up to the criminal denial of resources that belong to the public it
must go the whole hog in ensuring that the these are fully restored to the
people. Basically, those who have committed the illegalities should be
criminally charged with full weight of the powers of the state bearing down on
them.
No
government worth its salt in any country whatsoever of whatever size would have
countenanced the land grabbing on any scale but this is all the more damning and
culpable in our context, especially given the magnitude of expropriation
blatantly taking place in such a land-short and populous country like
Bangladesh.
It
is the fundamental lack of an overarching land usage policy, far less
implementation of any semblance of it, that has given a free hand to wheeling
and dealing with our land resources. Therefore, what the startling disclosure
about the extent of land loss to illegal possession should lead to are serious,
energetic and focused efforts climaxing in the formulation of a balanced land
use policy that is home grown and yet based on best practice methods projected
into the future. We broadly need optimal land utilisation in such areas as
forestry, habitat formation and sustenance, infrastructure building,
industrialisation, agriculture, fishery and horticulture.
A
land constrained country smarting under population pressure and the prospect of
being a victim to global warming has all the requirements in the world to cater
to basic demands for: a) housing; b) more food; and c) industrialisation to
increase livelihood options. Each of these three basic claimants to land is as
strong as the other. The population now hovering at 150 million is projected to
be 220 million by 2025. To that extent, our basic needs are poised to multiply
and in view of this overriding reality, it is a stupendous intellectual
challenge to address such a perspective with an adequate, sustainable and
effective land use policy. There is no trifling with a land management and usage
policy and concrete steps towards it must be taken without any further loss of
time.
Restoring
standard of education
New
Nation - February 1, 2010
PRESIDENT
Zillur Rahman has drawn attention to the alarming picture on the standard of
education at the university level as he addressed the fourth convocation of the
Jahangirnagar University the other day. He expressed concern at the fall of the
standard of education. The President is also the chancellor of most of the
universities. Education at the university level signifies higher education of
international standard with worldwide recognition. Public universities in
Bangladesh, particularly the Dhaka University in the past, occupied a
prestigious position in the world of education. It produced many scholars of
international repute.
The
present reality however is that these highest seats of learning have failed to
retain their good names. Academic atmosphere in these institutions is repeatedly
hampered by violent clashes among members of student organisations. A section of
the teachers, sharply divided politically, are said to be busy with moneymaking
and can hardly concentrate on education and research to empower themselves for
imparting quality education. Poor and meritorious students mostly have higher
education at the public universities which charge less fees. The President has
urged all concerned to come forward to identify the causes and take necessary
steps to upgrade the quality of education.
The
government and the political parties should first take initiatives to free
teachers and students from divisive politics so that they can concentrate on
studies. The stakeholders, students and their guardians, should be conscious
about the graveness of the situation. The university authorities should take
urgent steps based on evaluation of the prevailing situation to restore
congenial atmosphere. The University Grants Commission that acts as the
intermediary between the universities and the government, can help make
varsities to plan ways out of the prevailing mess and turn those into centres of
excellence in education.
International Mother Language Day in the context of Bangla by Mohammad Amjad Hossain
Daily Star - February 21, 2010
EVERY year we religiously observe Ekushey February, but we may not be aware of its history and significance.
We do not follow the ideals for which students gave their blood to establish Bangla as the official language, in turn, establishing Bengali nationalism. Its main purpose was establishing Bangla in every sphere of our lives. Geographically and culturally, both parts of Pakistan were vastly different. Historically, the East Pakistani way of life -- rivers, poetry and music -- was distinct from that of West Pakistan. Their cultural and social practices were also diametrically opposite. Despite this, the federal government, dominated by West Pakistanis, tried to impose Urdu as the only state language -- which was spoken and understood by only 7 percent of the population -- whereas 56 percent were Bangla speaking East Pakistanis. |
Governor General Mohammad Ali Jinnah, a founder of Pakistan, declared at Curzon Hall on March 24, 1948 that only Urdu would be Pakistan's state language. This declaration agitated the student community and certain politicians. Bengalis felt that Mohammad Ali Jinnah should have realised that Dhirendra Nath Datta, a Pakistan constituent assembly member, had proposed on February 23, 1948 to make Bengali one of the state languages -- alongside Urdu and English. Pakistan Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and Khaja Nazimuddin, a former chief minister of Bengal, opposed the proposal.
Datta's proposal should be viewed as the first formal articulation for establishing Bangla as a state language of Pakistan, although Tamaddun Majlish -- a socio-cultural group of East Pakistani intellectuals led by physics professor Abul Kashem -- began the state language movement on September 15, 1947, one month after Pakistan's birth. Tamaddun Majlish arranged a language movement symposium the same day at Nupur Villa of Dhaka's Government Intermediate College, which was presided over by renowned linguist Professor Muhammad Shahidullah, who established Mirpur's Bangla College. Resentment over language increased, and exploded in 1952. Pakistan's rulers had to accept the demand and incorporated Bengali as a state language in the 1956 constitution.
Language is a nation's backbone. The German, Chinese, French or Japanese prospered in the arts, science, technology, and trade because their languages had developed. The only way to educate the masses in science and technology is through the mother tongue. No wonder intellectuals like Rabindranath Tagore, Profulla Chandra Roy, Saytendranath Bose, Qudrat-e- Khuda, Abdulla-al-Muti Sharfuddin and others emphasised using Bangla as the medium of our intellectual endeavours. They published many scientific books in Bangla. Unfortunately, the government did not strongly propagate it, resulting in a country weak in science and technology. However, credit goes to President Ershad for introducing Bangla at different levels. Many diplomats were forced to write in Bangla.
Another equally important element is patriotism. Love for country and language enhances a country's prestige. We should emphasise development of our language and translation of science and mathematics books.
Maybe, we made a mistake in choosing Ekushey February, instead of Atoi Falgoon, for observing Shaheed Dibosh. Falgoon belongs to the Bangla calendar whereas Ekushey belongs to the English calendar. Srijoni Sahitya Gosti, in the mid-'60s, tried to popularise Atoi Falgoon by organising meetings and publishing a journal. Incidentally, this writer was a member of this Gosti in Dhaka.
I met Professor Abul Kashem at Amader Press at Sheikh Saheb Bazaar in Azimpur in 1961 to persuade him to follow Atoi Falgon as Language Day. This Gosti's efforts could not succeed in reversing the Ekushey February trend because Abul Gaffar Choudhury's poem: "Amar bhaiyer rokto rangano Ekushey February, ami ki bhulite pari" greatly influenced the country. That could be a reason why Bangladesh is currently confronted with an identity crisis.
Today, we see the mushrooming growth of English medium schools and universities where graduates are neither conversant in Bangla nor English. We ignore the importance of Bangla in our life, and thus prevent a majority of our population from their right to gain knowledge. English is predominant in offices also.
The students who sacrificed their lives for Bangla in 1952, and a few Bengali-Canadians who continue trying to get the international community to recognise Bangla, deserve our tribute and profound thanks. International Mother Language Day and Bangladesh Shaheed Dibosh generate goodwill and respect for all languages. They open up a new vista of interaction and cooperation in the world. I salute M. Humayun Kabir, former Bangladesh ambassador to the US, for observing this day in 2008 with other world cultures. The embassy also plans a similar event this year.
Focolare throws lifeline to Cambodia's poorest
Ucan
- Phnom Penh - February 3, 2010
A
personal sponsorship program run by the Italian lay organization Focolare is
providing schooling for children in the country who otherwise could barely feed
themselves.
Orphan
Mao Sampors, 14, and his two older brothers, for example, live with their aunt
Im Vang, 59. She earns 5,000-6,000 riel (US$1.20-1.40) by selling cakes from her
home.
That
is just about enough to feed herself and Sampors, while his two brothers work as
laborers but Vang had no hope of sending any of them to school.
The
Focolare movement is helping them with a scheme in which a sponsor
"adopts" a child and finances his or her schooling.
The
program, centered on the Spatoch Catholic church in Phnom Penh, helps some 150
poor or orphaned children and youths across the country.
Sampors,
who has been sponsored for eight years, receives US$15 a month for school
materials, snacks and uniforms, and another 25,000 riel for extra tutorial
classes in mathematics, physics and chemistry.
"I
am very happy that the Church helps me in my studies. I don't have anything to
give back in return, but I will always study hard. I want to finish high
school," the Buddhist boy told UCA News.
Vang
is also grateful.
"I
could not give him a schooling without this Church support," she said.
"I want him to have a good future working in an office or NGO. I don't want
him to be selling cakes like me."
Father
Bob Piche, who heads the sponsorship program, said children need an education to
build a future and contribute to society.
The
Paris Foreign Missions priest said that at the monthly gatherings when the
students receive their funds, he and other Church workers always discuss their
studies.
"We
impress upon their parents or guardians how important education is. We find that
every child wants to study," the Canadian priest said.
The
program is also supported by Enfant du Mekong (Children of the Mekong), an NGO
that runs children's projects in Southeast Asia. Sponsors are mainly from
Canada, France, Italy and United States, as well as Cambodia.
Tsunami alarm lifted. In Chile more than 700 dead
AsiaNews
- Tokyo - March 2, 2010
In the eastern Pacific Ocean waves up to a meter, but in some villages off the Chilean coast, the tsunami left at least 350 dead. Population and economy of the Latin American country hit hard. Price of copper soars. China promises $ 1 million in emergency aid.
The tsunami warning throughout the Pacific in the aftermath of the earthquake in Chile has been lifted. For the countries of the eastern Pacific the tidal wave has had no disastrous effects, but in Chile, near the epicentre of the earthquake, the tsunami swept away entire villages and doubled the number of dead from the disaster.
In a village near Concepion, at least 350 bodies were found. In the port of Talcahuano the waves dragged 20 ships through the streets of the city. Also in the Juan Fernandez Islands, near the Chilean coast, there are five dead and several missing.
A tsunami warning was issued in many countries after the earthquake on Saturday 27 February: Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Japan, but the waves that arrived on the coast were only about one meter.
The Chilean government says that so far there are 711 dead. But there are collapsed buildings that still contain dead or persons trapped beneath the rubble. Over 10 thousand troops are in the area to maintain order and a curfew has been imposed to prevent the looting of shops and supermarkets by survivors seeking food and water.
The earthquake has damaged hundreds of thousands of homes, devastated highways, destroyed bridges, communications and electricity are not guaranteed.
The economy has been stretched to its limit. Chile is home to the world's largest copper mines, and although they restarted operations yesterday, today the markets raised the price of the metal by 6% in fear of a drop in production.
In Shenzhen and Shanghai, shares of China's copper mines grew by 6%.
China today issued a statement promising 1 million U.S. dollars for emergency aid to Chile
Yesterday, Benedict XVI urged the international community for solidarity with the Chilean people.
Dissidents arrested as land disputes continue
AsiaNews - Beijing - February 2, 2010
The
stability of Chinese society continues to be undermined by these two major
social problems. Despite efforts by the central government, violent clashes
continue.
Despite
an appearance of greater openness, China's central government is relentless in
its repression of dissidents. Clashes between ordinary civilians and security
forces over land ownership continue as well, especially in the rural areas of
central and southern provinces.
In
Beijing, the authorities have placed Cha Jianguo and Gao Hongming under house
arrest on 27 and 29 January respectively. They are guarded by police stationed
at their apartment building but are allowed to leave their homes on condition
they travel in police vehicles.
When
asked why, police say that the two dissidents are under surveillance in
accordance with orders from higher authorities. Obviously, the two men cannot
meet any other dissident.
Both
were co-founders of the China Democracy Party in 1998 and for that reason were
arrested on subversion charges.
On
27 January, security staff employed by Guangxi Jiahe Development Group, a real
estate developer, attacked with clubs and shields Huang Jianxian, a 76-year-old
man who enquired about their activity as they stripped away electric cables at
his farm.
Locals
who came to his defence were driven away. Others called police who came only an
hour later.
Later,
about 200 Jiuquwan residents demonstrated outside of the Jiahe Group building.
They were dispersed by about a hundred police agents.
Huang's
family said that their relative is uneducated and he was tricked into signing a
contract to sell his land to the Jiahe Group without being told the full extent
of the deal.
Land
disputes remain a thorn in the side of the central government. Last Friday,
central authorities released new draft regulations to protect homeowners against
buyers; as part of the process, they are asking the public for input.
On
paper, this represents an improvement but laws, in China, have a way of being
ignored by those who are supposed to enforce it.
A land of asylum in Africa discussed at AU summit
Misna
- February 1, 2010
The
African Union, meeting for its XIV general summit in Addis Abeba this week,
shall examine the octogenarian Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade’s proposal
to create a state in Africa for the survivors of the January 12 earthquake in
Haiti. “It is the sense of duty, of memory and solidarity that imposes upon us
president Wade’s proposal to create the conditions in Africa for the return of
Haitians who would like to come after the disaster that has hit their
country”, said, during the opening of the summit, the president of the AU
Commission, Jean Ping. Ping also said that a chequing account has been opened at
the African Development Bank (ABD) to contribute funds toward Haiti’s
reconstruction. Noting the historic ties between the peoples of Haiti, whose
origins go back to the slave trade period – the first to have “dared raise
the flag of the liberation of the black people”, said a Senegalese MP –
Wade, with the backing of the intellectuals of his country, had proposed setting
aside some land for the earthquake survivors. Wade did not indicate how,
exactly, the Haitians are supposed to arrive in Senegal, nor did he consider how
the Senegalese people might take to the idea. Interestingly, in 2009, Senegal
was ranked 166th out of 177 countries in the UNDP Human Development Index. Haiti
was 17 places higher at 149. [AB]
EU delegation visits persecuted Christians of Orissa
by Nirmala Carvalho
AsiaNews - New Delhi - February 3, 2010
Delegates
are met by ultranationalist Hindus. Tomorrow they will travel to conflict-torn
Kandhamal. Mgr Cheenath says things will be back to normal only when Christians
can live in their homes and pray without fear.
Representatives
from the European Union were met by ultranationalist Hindu protesters from the
Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) as they began their visit to the State of Orissa,
scene of anti-Christian violence at Christmas in 2008 and the summer of 2009.
The European delegation is in India to take stock of the situation in that state
but their presence has caused resentment among Hindu extremists who made sure to
tell the diplomats to "go back" home.
Heavy
police presence kept protesters far from the delegates, who are from Hungary,
Poland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Britain, Finland and Sweden.
Tomorrow,
they will meet officials from the state of Orissa and the local police. The next
day they will travel to Kandhamal, and then fly back to the Indian capital on
Friday.
The
protest comes after VHP national leaders expressed their opposition to the
visit, going so far as to call on the government of Orissa to ban it.
Mgr
Raphael Cheenath, archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, told AsiaNews "vested
interests are not interested in the truth. They are afraid that the truth might
come out and that the EU might want to address this problem" of
anti-Christian persecution in Orissa.
In
fact, the situation in Kandhamal is still difficult, the prelate said.
"Many Christians are still forced to live on the outskirts of villages, not
allowed to live in them. Many are also afraid of being forcibly converted to
Hinduism because in some places being Hindu is a prerequisite to live in the
villages," the archbishop explained.
"We
do not have accurate data, but we do know that a large proportion of Christians
is still refugee. Some are living in temporary shanties in Bhubaneswhar; others
have moved to other states in search of security."
"Our
people continue to live in a precarious situation, in fear. Intimidation by the
majority community continues, even if it has lessened somewhat," Bishop
Cheenath said. However, "in Kandhamal, life will be normal only when all
the people have returned to their village and can live in peace in their homes,
and pray safely in their churches. At present, some of those involved [in the
carnage] are on trial, but the real criminals, the perpetrators of communal
violence, are still at large."
Orissa:
state government removes Christians as EU delegations arrives
AsiaNews
- Gudaigiri - February 4, 2010
Extremists
had forced a group of 91 Christians, victims of religious violence in August
2008, to leave their native village to seek shelter in a refugee camp. Now they
are being "cleansed" ahead of a visit by a European delegation.
The
Government of Orissa has forced a group of 91 Christians, victims of the
religious violence of 2008, to set up a shantytown on the outskirts of G
Udaigiri. Now they are being threatened of forced removal from there as well, as
part of a forced "cleansing" operation before the visit by a European
delegation to the State today and tomorrow. The All India Christian Council has
sent a letter a letter to the delegation from the European Union and the State
government expressing its deep concern over the decision. In
the letter, John Dayal, who is the council's secretary general and a member of
the National Integration Council, explains who the refugees are and why they are
being persecuted. "The
families are originally from the villages of Killaka, Kutuluma,
Rotingia-Porakia, Kiramaha, Dokadia, G-Mangia, Ratingia, Dhangarama, Lorangia,
Dakapala, Rudiangia, in Raikia and other blocks. [. . .] they had to flee
their villages in the first wave of violence on 25-26 August 2008," the
letter said. Right
after the attack, these "families were resettled in a government refugee
camp. In the past few months, the government of Orissa has shut down the camp
and dispersed its residents. Some of the men have found work in shops in G
Udaigiri or farms around the town, but none of them has received any support or
assistance from the government." Instead, "they have always been
subjected to harassment by local residents," Dayal said. |
The
reason is simple. "Only by converting to Hinduism can these families get
any help. Now however with the arrival of the European delegation, the local
government has changed its tune. The local market committee secretary,
Jeevan Pattnaik, came with uniformed men to clear the camp. Once again,
Christians were forced to leave and so set up their shanties along the
road."
The
misadventures of the 91 Christians were not over though. "When I left, at
10 am, a government representative came saying that he would be back to clear
the shanties from the road. Some protested, to no avail. Now we want their
situation to be solved. These Christians should not be forced to convert to
Hinduism in order to live in a dignified manner."
Church attacks increase in SBY's first 100 days
Ucan
- Jakarta - February 2, 2010
Catholic
and Protestant leaders have blamed the Indonesian president for recent church
attacks, saying that he failed to maintain religious freedom during the first
100 days of his second term.
President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was re-elected last year, beginning his new five-year
term on Oct. 20.
Yudhoyono's
100-day program "was not clear," Christian leaders said.
"The
number of church attack cases increased. Eighteen Catholic and Protestant
churches were attacked, including arson attacks at Protestant churches in North
Sumatra," said Father Benny Susetyo, executive secretary of the Indonesian
Catholic bishops' ecumenical and interreligious affairs commission.
Batak
Society Christian Church and Pentecost, two Protestant churches in Padang Lawas
district of North Sumatra province were burned on Jan. 23 by groups protesting
religious activities conducted in both churches.
Yudhoyono
was blamed for not pushing hard enough for an apolitical religious affairs
minister. "It is different from previous cabinets whose religious affairs
ministers were not from any particular political parties. Hence, they could
focus on their programs," Father Susetyo said.
He
also lamented that the Interreligious Communication Forum (FKUB) at both
national and regional levels could not work well because of bad management.
Reverend
Gomar Gultom, general secretary of the Communion of Protestant Churches, also
blamed Yudhoyono for the church attacks.
"I
got the impression that he let those [attacks] happen," he told UCA News.
He
observed that within his first 100 days, Yudhoyono failed to take legal action
against the perpetrators. "It is obvious that such attacks are against
human rights," he said.
Reverend
Gultom also criticized interreligious dialogue programs organized by the
religious affairs ministry, saying that they have stagnated at the higher levels
and failed to touch the grassroots.
"Groups
at the grassroots must be empowered to understand the law so they do not commit
violence," he added.
He
suggested that the national government act firmly using existing laws to deal
with any case of violence.
Jesuit
Father Johanes Nikolaus Haryanto, general secretary of the Indonesian Conference
on Religion and Peace (ICRP) reported 20 cases of church-building disputes,
church attacks, and attacks on followers of religions regarded as cults during
Yudhoyono's first 100 days.
"It
is against human rights and respect for religions," he told UCA News.
The
ICRP has submitted a report on sectarian violence to Yudhoyono but has received
no response yet. "I do not expect too much. For me, what is most important
is to educate civil society on pluralism," he said.
Theopilus
Bela, general secretary of the Indonesian Committee on Religions for Peace, also
said that the church attacks were because of Yudhoyono's laxity. "He is a
good person, but he is weak. He does not act firmly against radical groups and
local authorities that commit violence.
"I
am very disappointed as similar cases happen again and again in Indonesia, and
none has been resolved," he said.
A Faulty Truth
by Nader Rahman
Daily
Star Magazine - February 6, 2010
It
has been close to eight years since the Iraq war started and even today it
elicits just as much passion and emotion as it did in the summer of 2003. But a
lot has changed in those eight years, the war which so many Americans backed
close to a decade ago is now one of the most unpopular conflicts since, well,
Vietnam. But unlike the Vietnam conflict the war in Iraq was never fully viewed
as the United States' war alone, it was always the US and UK war on terror. In
those heady days of 2003, George W. Bush and Tony Blair each created the perfect
environment in their respective countries for the war not only to be justified
but generally backed by the majority of their people. The only problem is that
of hindsight.
A
few months into the conflict it was clear that there was no enriched uranium in
Iraq and claims of weapons of mass destruction never existed. That was when
things went sour. This week Tony Blair took to the stand in England as he sought
to justify his decision to go to war and in the highest profile question and
answer session since Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama went head to head two
years ago. It was the moment people around the world had been waiting for and as
such it turned out to be a supreme disappointment. The questions were basic at
best and a master orator like Blair handled them with consummate ease. He never
seemed perturbed or ruffled and eventually seeing him in front of the camera
answering questions about the legitimacy of the war was like seeing question
time in the House of Commons. The only problem was that eight years ago the
House of Commons failed to ask the right questions as well.
Interestingly
when it was finally announced that Blair would give evidence to commission, most
viewed it as possibly the last time the former PM would have to account for the
reasoning behind his decision to go to war. The commission was given six hours
to interrogate him and what should have been nothing short of a roast eventually
petered out into a walk down memory lane.
Blair
remained unrepentant for his actions, claiming that if he were in the same
position again with the information that he had, he would have made the same
decision. And while that did not 'shock and awe,' it was a slap in the face of
the United Nations, yet again. When the UN was bypassed for the war against
Iraq, Bush and Blair played it cool, they talked of the importance of getting
the timing right and why that led to them unilaterally acting against Iraq
without proper UN approval. They made it seem like a one off, it would never
happen again. But this time Blair cleared out the issue beyond doubt that it was
more than just a one off, but an attitude that any perceived enemy of theirs
would be dealt with swiftly, with as little reliable intelligence as possible
and of course without a UN resolution because obviously that is for wimps who
actually care for the law.
While
that may be a little harsh of Blair it remains true, after hundreds of thousands
of lives have been lost including a few hundred British soldiers this was the
ideal opportunity for him to apologise for the flimsy reasoning behind the war.
It may not have soothed everyone's feelings but would have gone a long way to
restoring his tarnished image. But seemingly that was not on his mind, he
decided to defend his decision and stand by them through thick and thin, in a
way his performance was rather heroic, if only his actions and intention were.
What
proved to be the most frustrating aspect of his testimony was how smug he was
through it all. He never once looked under pressure and for the most part spoke
with a smile on his face. It was like looking at a man on death row who was
happy to be there, except unfortunately the enquiry would not lead to death row.
It would just lead to another report or dossier no one would read and whose
outcome people knew from the beginning all along.
It
left one fuming, that the man who went into an illegal and immoral war could sit
in front of millions of people and continue to tell them how little he cared for
the UN system. He stood and looked people in the eye and said he did not have
the requisite evidence to go to war and yet he still did. He looked people in
the eye and said he would do it all again, if the information was the same. Then
right before our eyes he talked of Iran and the threat it posed and expected us
to believe him. After one faulty, problematic, expensive and draining war he
moved seamlessly into what now seems like his second war. His claims that Iran
is a threat to peace in the area are not un founded, but that is only if their
rhetoric is to be taken seriously. To prove they are producing or going to
produce weapons of mass destruction will take more than another faulty report.
Worryingly
Blair had the world's attention when he made his claims against Iran, one only
hopes the decision makers were either not listening or they understood how
eerily similar his words about Iran were to his rhetoric against Iraq when he
was still in office. As the middle east envoy for the Quartet Blair has done
nothing of note, but he certainly found time to wage war against Iran. If only
he did his basic reading properly he would have understood that meaningful
foreign policy in the Middle East will only come around once both Iran and Hamas
are at the table. Waging a war against them would be more than a step back, it
would be a disaster. But that is not to say that Iran has not given reason for
the west to get worked up. But their strategic importance means they have an
important voice, it would be in Blair's best interests not to drown out that
voice with bombs and mortars. They tried that in Iraq and look where that got
them.
When
the history of the 21st century is finally written, there will be a fair amount
to say on Tony Blair. If someone like the recently deceased Howard Zinn has his
way with the writing of it, then Blair better not read it. If only he had found
a way to apologise for the war, if only he had looked down and said 'sorry',
then maybe history would have been kinder than it should have towards him. But
he chose what must be for him the moral way, he decided to stick to his
decisions through thick and thin and while that may have worked for Britain
during his decade in power, it did not work so well for the rest of the world.
Iraq's
democracy by Forrest Cookson
The
Independent - February 5, 2010
Difficulty
with Iraq's evolution as a democratic state comprising three different groups -
Shiite Arabs, Sunni Arabs, and Kurds (Sunnis) living under a common Constitution
- has once again come to the fore. As American influence is declining disputes
between the Sunni Arabs and the Shiites and between the Arabs and the Kurds is
increasing. As Iraq approaches the next Parliamentary election there are
increasing difficulties over qualifications of candidates. In particular 511
largely Sunni Arab candidates are being disqualified on the grounds they were
active members of Saddam Hossain's Baath party. This action has precipitated yet
another crisis with the election scheduled for March.
Go
back to 1991 and the events surrounding Iraq's attack on Kuwait, the defeat of
the Iraqi armies by an American led coalition, and the revolts of the Kurds and
the Shiites against Saddam's Government. The Kurdish areas were isolated by
American air power allowing Kurds to build their own country for a decade
without Baghdad's participation and since 2003 within a Iraqi Government, but
still with a very high degree of independence. The Shiite revolt was put down
brutally by Saddam. The series of trials of "Chemical Ali" for the
chemical warfare attacks against Shiites and Kurds culminated in his death by
hanging and symbolise the abuse of these groups by Saddam's Sunni Government.
Saddam's legacy was a bitter hatred, historical but fuelled by contemporary
actions by Saddam, between Sunnis and Shiites.
While
Bangladeshis often deny the depth of this Sunni-Shiite split, in Iraq it is deep
and bitter. The behavior of the Shiites is at two levels: First, their
determination to dominate the society putting the Sunni down to a secondary
role. Second, to fight among themselves for dominance within the Shiite
population. Shiite dominance of Iraq is virtually assured. The United Sates and
many others have followed a dream of a united Iraq with the three sectarian
groups living under a democratic regime. The Shiites have a majority of the
population so unless there are non-sectarian political movements should have the
leading voice. So long as American power, military and economic, has been
present the society struggled towards acceptance and compromise. As immediate
American influence wanes the willingness of Iraqis to make compromises also
falls. The history, theology, personal arrogance, and past grievances loom
larger leading to confrontation and conflict. Obama's determination to keep to a
timetable for removal of the American military from Iraq makes this worse. The
certainty of withdrawal of the U.S. is a highly destabilising event. Ironically
the world demands such withdrawal, certain to increase the level of violence.
Uncertainty
as to the length of American presence is the strongest medicine to encourage
cooperative democratic behaviour. Iraq is headed for chaos as the two major
conflicts explode. All will look on in despair as these conflicts increase in
violence. First is the conflict between Shiite and Sunni. After decades of
repression and maltreatment deliverance is at hand. The Shiites will want
everything for themselves. There is a lot to divide! Oil production is headed
for at lest 5 million barrels per day which at $80/barrel is an income of $400
billion less production costs etc. of $10/barrel leaving $350 billion available
to the state every year. Who gets this money and what will be done with it is
the central issue of Iraqi politics. Do you think the Sunnis are going to get
much? Out of the question! Spreading these good things around is what Iraqi
politics is about.
The
Sunnis response to their marginalisation will be to turn to the Saudis for
guidance and help. The response is uncertain, but compromise will not come
easily - neither side has leaders able to reach out for such an outcome. The
most likely outcome is violence led by the Sunnis in an attempt to negotiate a
stronger Constitutional position. As the US presence winds down Sunni inspired
violence will grow. We see evidence already in the increasing violence now
emerging in Iraq. There is no obvious solution. Unless great leaders emerge,
there is only continuing arrogance and anger, with bombs and bullets as
arbitrators.
The
second conflict is between Kurds and Arabs. The Arabs neither feel nor
demonstrate acceptance of the Kurds as equals. The Kurds have been up in their
mountains hemmed in by Iranians, Iraq Arabs and Turks. Over the years this
ethnic group has been abused and marginalised economically. The past two decades
Kurds have experienced a renaissance under the protection of the Americans. The
Kurds have no intention of giving up the progress they have made. After
centuries of repression and exploitation they are prepared to defend their new
status. One mystery is what will the American Government do? In the past
the United States Government has betrayed the Kurds withdrawing support when it
was convenient. Further difficulties arise from the attitude of Turkey.
The
Turkish Government is becoming more Islamic in its choices, turning away from
its secular occidentation. Many Turkish leaders have given up on joining the
European Union after the EU raised obstacle after obstacle. The EU leaders have
signaled they do not want Turkey in the union; the Turks have consequently taken
actions that widen their breach with the EUs human rights rules making it appear
that the Turks are at fault. Actually the EUs fear of Islamic immigrants has
driven their rejection of Turkey. One consequence is that proper treatment of
the Kurds implicit in the move to join the EU became less important. Recently
the Turkish Supreme Court banned a Kurdish political party undermining political
cohesion of the Kurds. The Turks will more and more apply pressure on the Kurds
who are trying to protect their language and culture. The future is not bright.
If the United States stands with the Kurds their new "nation" will
survive. But if Obama lifts American military protection we will see a new
chapter in the book of genocide. It will be a tough call for the Obama
administration. What will happen? I certainly have no idea - but if you own land
in Kurdish areas of Iraq, sell!
I
have long argued that Iraq could not survive as a government ruling over the
three groups. Under the "peace of Washington" the three have warily
coexisted. Without this peace one group will seize power or the state will
fragment. Dominance of one group in a non-democratic environment is really no
longer possible. Too much has happened. The Kurds are now much stronger and the
Sunnis will turns to KSA for support. Few believe in Iraq as a political
construct, and show limited loyalty to the abstract Iraqi nation. The battle is
over the oil resources and the unwillingness by the Shiites to let anyone else
have a share!
The
outlook for Iraq is not bright. The British forced these three groups into the
skin of Iraq. There is nothing natural about this arrangement! Sunni
imperialism and brutality held Iraq together for decades. Now the mantle is
passed to the Shiites. The inability to work cooperatively and to reject the
religious biases is a phenomenon we see elsewhere in the world. Intolerance and
ideology lead to unhappy endings. Bangladesh has its own problems along these
lines with distrust and fear blocking cooperative behaviour. Iraq's future as a
democracy is unstable. The best hope is for a federal system with a high degree
of devolution of power. This is unlikely to be achieved. Civil war seems a
more likely outcome.
Suicide mission
Ucan
- Tokyo - February 1, 2010
For
the twelfth year in a row, the number of people who committed suicide in Japan
has topped 30,000. According to statistics released by the National Police
Agency on January 26, a total of 32,753 people took their own lives in 2009.
This was the fifth highest toll in history, an increase of 504 persons over the
2008 figure and on average one such death every 16 minutes.
Thirty
years ago, the "typical" suicide was a woman in her 20's or 30's who
faced romantic difficulties such as a break up with a boyfriend or the prospect
of never finding a spouse. Another group was women who suffered marital
difficulties. These often killed their children as well, since it would be poor
mothering to leave them orphans.
Nowadays,
the profile has changed, with 71 percent of 2009's suicides being men. The most
common reason for killing themselves is financial difficulties, the loss of a
job or unpayable debts.
Another
group that has recently attracted attention because of a spike in suicides are
children. Schoolyard bullying and poor grades seem to be behind this phenomenon.
Suicide
is not unknown even among Christians. There is probably no priest in the country
with more than a few years' experience who has not in the course of his ministry
been called upon to deal with the aftermath of suicide.
Those
of us who live in Tokyo are not surprised at the police reports' high numbers.
In recent years, more than 300 people have committed suicide each year in the
region by jumping from station platforms in front of oncoming trains. Being
stuck on a train delayed by a suicide somewhere along the line is a common
experience for Tokyoites, especially during morning rush hours.
Railroads
have installed special lighting and replaced black asphalt platforms with white
tiles in the hope that a brighter environment might deter jumpers. Gradually,
fences and gates that block access to the tracks until after trains have come to
a stop are being installed on platforms.
Japan
has always had a high suicide rate and the country has been fairly tolerant of
self-destruction. Traditionally, suicide has been an honorable way to atone for
failure or to resolve intractable problems. It was even turned into a ceremony
in the practice of "seppuku," ritual self-disembowelment. (The
commonly used word for it in English, hara-kiri (belly cutting), is somewhat
vulgar in Japanese.) The Tokyo site of the 1912 joint ritual suicide of Count
Maresuke Nogi and his wife Shizuko upon the death of Emperor Meiji is a Shinto
shrine where the count is revered as a divinity.
However,
Japan's mildly tolerant attitude toward suicide is changing, and not simply
because people are annoyed at having their morning commute disrupted by train
delays caused by jumpers.
The
increase in suicide is seen as a symptom of something gone wrong with Japan.
Those who kill themselves are not judged for their actions. The country is.
After
the total destruction of Japan in World War II, the Japanese set themselves to
rebuild economically and socially. In 1964, the nation hosted the Olympics. In
connection with that event, the "bullet train" high-speed rail system
was built. Modern highways were constructed. That year marked the country's
re-entry to world-class status as a nation, an end to the post-war period of
humiliation and reconstruction. The young man chosen to light the Olympic flame
symbolized that. Yoshinori Sakai was born in Hiroshima on the day an atomic bomb
was dropped on that city.
Japan
went on to become the second largest economy in the world. In 1979, an American
book spoke of "Japan as Number One." But, then it all fell apart. The
economy stagnated, the population showed inexorable signs of aging and decline.
It seemed that just as the suffering, sacrifice and hard work of the post-war
reconstruction was about to bear fruit, Japanese increasingly realized that
something had been lost along the way. There was no longer anything left to
achieve in the way of economic growth, but the achievement turned out to be not
worth the effort. And those who put forth the greatest effort, no longer having
something for which to live, began to choose death.
Where
does this leave the Church? What does it mean to proclaim Good News in a wealthy
land that has the means to live, but may be losing the will to do so?
The
Church does a good job when what the bad news people face is hunger, ignorance
or disaster. However, bad news in the midst of wealth is a new challenge. The
best way to face it remains a mystery. The search for answers in Japan may
provide the model for missions in the 21st century as more and more of Asia
moves beyond mere subsistence and finds that the pursuit of wealth may mean the
loss of something more important. It may also become a model for the
re-evangelization of the West, which was once a model for Japan, but now seems
more and more to be imitating Japan in its wealthy poverty.
Pro-Israel Lobbies Work on Europe
by David Cronin
www.ipsnews.net - Brussels - February 2, 2010
Defenders
of Israel's aggressive stance have for many years been recognised as a powerful
force shaping United States foreign policy. A less well-known fact is that the
pro-Israel lobby has been making a concerted effort to strengthen its presence
in Europe.
The
lobby's determination to make an impression on European Union policy-makers was
exemplified by a new booklet published on Jan. 28.
Titled
'Squaring the Circle?: EU-Israel Relations and the Peace Process in the Middle
East', the booklet advocates that EU should "rebalance its priorities"
and pursue closer relations with Israel regardless of whether progress is made
in resolving the conflict with the Palestinians.
Unlike
the plethora of publications on EU affairs that quickly fade into obscurity,
there are good reasons to believe that this one will not go unnoticed in the
corridors of power.
First,
it was published by the Centre of European Studies, the official think-tank for
the network of Christian Democrat and conservative parties that dominate
European governments.
Secondly,
its author, Emanuele Ottolenghi, has already demonstrated his capability to
catch the eyes of politicians by penning several pamphlets for Labour Friends of
Israel, a group that boasts of the top figures in Britain's ruling party among
its members.
Ottolenghi
is the director of the Transatlantic Institute. Also styling itself as a
think-tank, this Brussels-based institute was set up by the American Jewish
Committee (AJC) in 2004.
"The
AJC is the foreign policy wing of the Israel lobby," says Muhammad Idrees
Ahmad, a researcher in Scotland's University of Strathclyde, who monitors the
activities of hawkish pro-Israel groups for the website neoconeurope.eu
"The two places that it has decided to focus on most are Latin America and
Europe. This is because it has a sense that American power might be in
decline."
The
AJC has been successful in convincing the EU that many criticisms of Israel can
be considered as a general slur on Jews. In 2005, the EU's Monitoring Centre on
Racism and Xenophobia (which has been subsequently renamed the Fundamental
Rights Agency) published a working definition on anti-Semitism, admitting that
it had been drawn up in consultation with the AJC and the like-minded
Anti-Defamation League.
According
to this definition says that criticisms of Israel, which contend that the
establishment of that state was a "racist endeavour" or which compare
Israel's attacks on the Palestinians to the behaviour of the Nazis during the
Second World War, should be considered as anti-Semitism. Ottolenghi's new
booklet invokes that definition to call on the EU to declare campaigners
critical of Israel ineligible for funding from those sections of Union's budget
dealing with the promotion of human rights and democracy. It is
"curious," he argued that EU financial support has gone to
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) "whose work depicts Israel as a
racist society and an apartheid regime."
"In
other words, EU Commission money is helping certain NGOs spread a message that,
according to another EU agency, is considered to be anti-Semitic and thus
against EU values," he wrote.
Ottolenghi
has been active, too, in urging the EU to adopt a tough line against Iran's
nuclear ambitions. His book 'Under a Mushroom Cloud,' which was published last
year, posited the theory that Arab leaders are unconcerned by how Israel had
developed nuclear weapons of its own decades before Iran started work on its
nuclear programme.
"Arab
leaders sleep soundly under the shadow of Israel's nuclear umbrella; it is
Iran's nuclear quest which gives them nightmares," Ottolenghi wrote.
"They know - they have always known - that Israel's military prowess serves
its survival and does not seek to impose a political diktat on its neighbours.
The same cannot be said of Iran, with its hegemonic ambitions, and its desire to
refashion the region."
Yet
since the book was published Arab governments sponsored a resolution on Israel
passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The resolution noted
that Israel is the only state in the region that has not signed the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty, a 1968 agreement designed to curb the spread of
nuclear weapons. This was the first such call directed at Israel approved by the
IAEA, an official body of the United Nations, in 18 years.
Along
with the AJC, several other pro-Israel lobby groups have opened new offices in
Brussels over the past decade. These include the European Jewish Congress and
B'nai B'rith. Another group, the European Friends of Israel (EFI), has been
formed as a cross-party alliance of members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
During
Israel's offensive against Gaza last year, the EFI circulated briefing papers
that defended the killing of Palestinian civilians. According to the EFI, it was
impossible for Israel to avoid civilian deaths because Hamas, a Palestinian
resistance movement, had ordered its members "to discard uniforms and dress
in regular clothes that made them indistinguishable from the civilian
population".
Michael
Gahler, a German Christian Democrat MEP who describes himself as pro-Israel,
said that such lobby groups have "always been very influential" in
Europe. Gahler argued, though, that the groups should not ignore the widespread
opposition in Europe to Israeli actions in the occupied Palestinian territories.
"They should be here and listen," he told IPS. "They should not
only be a loudspeaker."
Luisa
Morgantini, a former vice-president of the European Parliament and a veteran
Palestinian solidarity activist, said that all forms of racism and anti-Semitism
must be opposed.
But Morgantini also suggests that pro-Israel groups are exploiting the history of Jewish suffering in Europe to dissuade its modern-day politicians from taking robust action against Israeli oppression in Palestine. "They are using the holocaust as blackmail," she said. "It is time for us to stop this blackmail."
Why
does the US turn a blind eye to Israeli bulldozers? by Robert Fisk
New
Age - February 3, 2010
'Palestine'
is no more. Call it a 'peace process' or a 'road map'; blame it on Barack
Obama's weakness, his pathetic, childish admission - like an optimistic doctor
returning a sick child to its parents without hope of recovery - that a Middle
East peace was 'more difficult' to reach than he imagined.
But the dream of a 'two-state' Israeli-Palestinian solution, a security-drenched
but noble settlement to decades of warfare between Israelis and Palestinians is
as good as dead.
Both the United States and Europe now stand idly by while the Israeli government
effectively destroys any hope of a Palestinian state; even as you read these
words, Israel's bulldozers and demolition orders are destroying the last chance
of peace; not only in the symbolic centre of Jerusalem itself but -
strategically, far more important - in 60 per cent of the vast, biblical lands
of the occupied West Bank, in that largest sector in which Jews now outnumber
Muslims two to one.
This majority of the West Bank - known under the defunct Oslo Agreement's
sinister sobriquet as 'Area C' - has already fallen under an Israeli rule which
amounts to apartheid by paper: a set of Israeli laws which prohibit almost all
Palestinian building or village improvements, which shamelessly smash down
Palestinian homes for which permits are impossible to obtain, ordering the
destruction of even restored Palestinian sewage systems. Israeli colonists have
no such problems, which is why 300,000 Israelis now live - in 220 settlements
which are all internationally illegal - in the richest and most fertile of the
Palestinian occupied lands.
When Obama's elderly envoy George Mitchell headed home in humiliation this week,
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrated his departure by planting
trees in two of the three largest Israeli colonies around Jerusalem. With these
trees at Gush Etzion and Ma'aleh Adumim, he said, he was sending 'a clear
message that we are here. We will stay here. We are planning and we are
building.' These two huge settlements, along with that of Ariel to the north of
Jerusalem, were an 'indisputable part of Israel forever.'
It was Netanyahu's victory celebration over the upstart American President who had dared to challenge Israel's power not only in the Middle East but in America itself. And while the world this week listened to Netanyahu in the Holocaust memorial commemoration for the genocide of six million Jews, abusing Iran as the new Nazi Germany - Iran's loony president supposedly as evil as Hitler - the hopes of a future 'Palestine' continued to dribble away. President Ahmadinejad of Iran is no more Adolf Hitler than the Israelis are Nazis. But the 'threat' of Iran is distracting the world. So is Tony Blair that day, trying to wriggle out of his bloody responsibility for the Iraq disaster. The real catastrophe, however, continues just outside Jerusalem, amid the fields, stony hills and ancient caves of most of the West Bank.
'Religious must reach out to all people'
Ucan
- Yangon - February 2, 2010
Religious
must reach out to all the people, Salesian Archbishop Charles Bo said today.
The
Yangon archbishop told UCA News during the annual Consecrated Day for Religious
in the country that the occasion was one to renew lives of witness for Christ.
The
Catholic Church celebrates World Day of Consecrated Life on Feb. 2, the Feast of
the Presentation of the Lord.
About
130 Religious priests, men and women Religious, novices and postulants
participated in the celebration in Yangon, the sixth annual such event.
Archbishop
Bo pointed out that "Diocesan priests gain their spirituality through
service" but "with the Religious, although there is service as well,
we are concerned in witnessing." He said Religious "gain spirituality
through witnessing and so we can say it is the witness of life."
The
celebration consisted of a Mass, the blessing of candles, a presentation by
Archbishop Bo, group discussion, social games, reporting and evaluation of the
year's work.
"I
feel like I received a new life and it also reminds me to renew my whole
life," Sister Lucy Ja Bawk from the congregation of the Missionary Sisters
of St. Paul told UCA News.
Sister
Victoria from the Servite Sisters of Mary congregation of said it was a great
privilege for all Religious from different congregations to gather and meet each
other as a family.
"Each
congregation takes their responsibilities in the celebration and it shows that
we have mutual love and mutual understanding among ourselves," she said.
De
La Salle Brother John Hla Maung told UCA News that it was a great chance to
exchange experiences.
"We
can ask what we do not know and it is the great chance to grow in
spirituality," he said.
In
Mandalay, Archbishop Paul Zinghtung Grawng led a Mass concelebrated with five
Religious priests.
About
80 Religious attended the celebration at the Sacred Heart Cathedral.
There
are 32 men and women Religious congregations and about 1,800 Religious serving
the Catholic Church in Myanmar.
Police carry out torture, killings and rapes in the region of Terai
AsiaNews
- Kathmandu - February 3, 2010
Organization
for Human Rights condemns the continuing abuses of police and armed forces in
the prisons of 11 districts of Terai (southern Nepal). Mainly affected the
ethnic and religious minorities. Among the tortured children aged 9 years.
Summary
executions and the use of torture in prisons in the region of the Terai
(southern Nepal) a hotbed of ethnic conflict, are on the increase. The Human
Rights organization Advocacy Forum (AF) in a 93-page report released yesterday
documents the repeated violence - murders, rapes, kidnappings, torture - carried
out between January and September 2009 by police and armed forces against ethnic
minorities in the region.
The
Af report entitled "Torture and extrajudicial executions amid widespread
violence in the Tarai" refers to a total of 15 executions that remained
unpunished. According to the organization, the Nepal Police (NP) is responsible
for 13 killings, while two were committed by members of the Armed Police Force
(AF). The dead belong mostly to political groups linked to the Madeshi
community, the ethic minority in the region that is fighting for autonomy.
Witnesses said the victims were arrested during clashes between police and
Madeshi members and killed on the spot by the officials.
"Once
again we see how the Nepalese government has failed to conduct credible
investigations and prosecute those responsible for these crimes," said
Mandira Sharma, director of AF. "Impunity - she adds - shows the lack of an
adequate security system. All this only adds to the resentment of ethnic groups
towards the central government in Kathmandu.
The
document is also a survey based on interviews with 1473 inmates. This shows the
prevalence of torture in prisons in 11 districts: Banke, Barda, Dhanusha, Jhapa,
Kanchapur, Kapilvastu, Morang, Siraha, Sunsari, Rupandehi and Udayapur. In the
prison in the district of Dhanusha more than 30% of respondents admitted to
having been tortured. In particular, women complained of continuous sexual abuse
by the guards. Torture also cover 52% of children, in some cases as young as 9
years old. Mainly the ethnic and religious minorities are subjected to torture.
Prisoners belonging to the Terai ethnic groups or Muslims are the most affected,
while Hindus are given a better treatment.
In
July 2009 the Nepalese government launched a special security plan to limit
police violence, particularly in the region of Terai. Nevertheless it has not
yet been implemented and no measure has been taken against the policemen
responsible for violence.
"Until
the law is applied and there is more investigations of these facts - says
Mandira Sharma - the police will continue to use electric shock treatment in
prisons, to carryout extrajudicial executions and use violence against
detainees, including children, without having to account anyone.
The murder of a 12-year-old Christian girl could go unpunished
by Fareed Khan
AsiaNews - Islamabad - February 2, 2010
The
murder of young domestic worker, raped and murdered by her employer, is marred
by delays and red tape. The murderer, a rich lawyer from Lahore, is getting a
VIP treatment from police. Catholics and members of human rights groups have
come out in support of the family and are suing the culprit.
Catholic
leaders and Pakistani human rights activists are alarmed that the rape and
murder of a 12-year-old girl, Shazia Bashir, on 23 January might go unpunished.
The main suspect is a rich and powerful Muslim lawyer from Lahore, Chaudhry
Muhammad Naeem, who was employing the girl as a domestic. The city's bar
association has sided with the suspect, a former president of the association,
who is being treated as a VIP whilst in custody. Prosecutors meanwhile have
delayed filing charges.
Shazia's
family said they had no confidence in the committee set up by Punjab's chief
minister Shahbaz Sharif because of its delaying tactics. Some of her relatives
and a number of human rights activists have staged a protest in front of the
Lahore Press Club and have decided to sue.
Peter
Jacob, executive secretary of the National Commission for Justice and Peace
(NCJP) of the Catholic Church of Pakistan, told AsiaNews that the government is
ill equipped when it comes to punishing the powerful and defending the rights of
the poorest sections of society.
Along
with members of human rights groups, the Catholic activist wants to continue the
"struggle for justice" and have Shazia's murderer pay for his crime.
On
29 January, a judge extended Chaudhry Muhammad Naeem's remand in custody for
another six days. Police has also deployed massive security around him. His
lawyers also got a court order banning media from the courtroom. Outside the
courthouse (pictured), Shazia's family and supporters shouted protest slogans.
Meanwhile,
two Christian organisations, the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) and the
Pakistan Masihi League (PML), have appealed to the chief justice of the Supreme
Court to do something about the culprit.
PML
President Salamat Akhtar said that the girl's death certificate was tampered
with. He has also accused the police of treating the suspect as a "guest of
the state" with all sorts of special privileges.
He
also said that, whilst Lahore Bar Association "may defend their friend in
court", they cannot make "unlawful and unethical threats against the
girl's family" without "damaging or destroying justice" itself.
In
a statement jointly signed by NCJP President Mgr John Saldanha, and Peter Jacob,
Shazia's murder is described "as not an isolated incident" because
domestic workers are often "the victims of violence and coercion by their
employers."
Because
the federal and provincial governments are unable to "ensure justice,"
the cabinet must ban child labour and "guarantee speedy trials".
Muslim
lawyers will "burn alive" anyone who defends murdered 12 year old
Christian by Fareed Khan
AsiaNews - Islamabad - February 6, 2010
No
lawyer comes forward to defend Shazia Bashir, the servant girl murdered by her
employer. The powerful association of lawyers in Lahore, arrayed in defence of
the murderer, launches death threats and prevents access to the Court. Christian
Association condemns this new form of terrorism.
Because
of the threats posed by the powerful Lahore Bar Association - an umbrella
organization of city lawyers - no Christian or Muslim lawyer is ready to take on
the defence in the murder of 12 year-old Shazia Bashir, it was reported
yesterday by The Pakistani Christian association that deals with legal
assistance.
The
girl, of Christian faith, died on Jan. 23 as a result of violence - even sexual
- at the hands of her employer, a wealthy and powerful Muslim lawyer in Lahore.
The alleged murderess, Chaudhry Mohammad Naeem, is a former president of the
Lahore High Court Bar Association. The girl, just 12 years old, had worked as a
maid in the home of Naeem in the last six months.
The
Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) denounces that access to
the courtroom where the court hearings were held against the accused was denied,
because a group of Muslim lawyers (pictured) 'prevented' entry. The association
is fighting - for free - for the rights of the poorest and marginalized groups
has been threatened by thousands of lawyers - friends of the
murderer - that promise to burn alive anyone who wants to represent the victim
in court. "
M.
Joseph Francis, director of Claas, asked members of civil society, political and
religious leaders to rise up and take steps to "condemn this new form of
terrorism" by lawyers who "should ensure justice." The Pakistani
newspaper The News reported that on Feb. 4, the police conducted the accused to
the courts amid "tight security. And, as usual, officials prevented
journalists and relatives of victims to come into the hall for "security
reasons".
Shazia
Bashir's family could not access the court not once but three times, a strange
fact, regarding the judiciary in Pakistan. Police officials explain that it
would "not be possible" to prevent clashes and violence, where
"Shazia's relatives and representatives of minorities to enter the
courtroom."
Meanwhile
Ashgar Ali, heading the investigation, requested the accused appear before the
courts and an extension of the terms of custody for six days. The magistrate
added that the murder weapon has not yet been recovered and the accused could
provide the names of accomplices, who participated in the torture and murder of
the 12 year old Christian girl. The court, however, has only partly accepted the
request, ruling only four days in jail.
Catholic
puts first Urdu Bible on line
Ucan
- Rawalpindi - February 3, 2010
A
Catholic school teacher is working on what is being billed as the world's first
online audio Bible in Urdu.
Riaz
Masih Gill, 31, a software developer says he actually got the idea while
installing Qur'an software three years ago.
"My
Muslim friend used to listen to the Qur'an in Arabic. I copied the concept since
there is no software for the Bible in local languages available in local
markets" he told UCA News.
Gill
launched in Dec and has been publicizing his project via cell phone text
messages among Christians. His website features an almost complete audio option
for the Protestant Bible. Audio narration for a few books of the New Testament
is in its final phase.
Father
Nasir Javed, his parish priest, has commended Gill's efforts. "Most in our
community are poor and illiterate. This website gives them a chance to listen to
the word of God even if they can't read it", he told UCA News adding that
the Internet has opened new doors for evangelism. Father Javed is the parish
priest at Immaculate Conception Church in Rawalpindi.
The
Pakistan Bible Society (PBS) confirms Gill's effort is the first online Bible in
Urdu "with audio option". Speaking to UCA News, Anthony Lamuel General
Secretary PBS said the society is working on a virtual Bible on Unicode; a
standard which defines the internal text coding system in computers. It provides
a unique number for every character irrespective of the platform, program or
language.
"The
Unicode Bible is 70 per cent completed", Lamuel added.
Gill
said he opted for a "Protestant" Bible due to the availability of
pastors for support and guidelines. "I wrote a letter to the local Catholic
Bible Commission a few years ago but got no reply."
However,
the project was not without its challenges. He invested 50,000 rupees (US$ 581)
in his online Bible even though he earns 12,000 rupees a month at St. Mary's
Cambridge School in Rawalpindi.
"I
paid a few pastors for narrations. However I raised the money through some
tuitions work and many customers bought other software I had developed," he
described.
According
to Gill, a few Muslims also expressed support for his work through text
messages. "You have done good work. I did not have this holy book before in
my house", he quoted one of them as saying.
Gill
now plans to upload the Bible in four other local languages with both text and
audio option.
Russian Orthodox Church, close to Catholics, but far from
Protestants
AsiaNews - Moscow - February 4, 2010
The
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill notes closeness between Rome and
Moscow on the major challenges of modernity, globalization, secularization,
erosion of traditional moral principles. Instead distances increase with
Protestants accused of betraying the Christian heritage to the standards of the
world.
As it finds itself drawing increasingly closer to the Catholic Church at least on the major challenges of the contemporary world, the Moscow Patriarchate can not say the same of the Protestants.
So says the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill, speaking at the meeting of bishops that took place in the capital on 2 February. "With the Church of Rome - he said - we have similar positions on many issues facing Christians in the modern world. Such as secularization, globalization and the erosion of traditional moral principles. It should be noted that in many matters, Benedict XVI has taken positions which are close to Orthodox ones". However,
its distance from the various Protestant denominations seem to be increasing. In
recent years, "there has been a decrease in the collaboration of
Protestant communities in an effort to preserve the Christian heritage" and
that, says Kirill, is because of "constant liberalization" of their
world. "Not only - adds the Patriarch -have they failed to propagate
Christian values in secular society in a practical manner, rather many
Protestant communities have preferred to adapt to those standards." The
reference appears to be to the recent election of a woman bishop, Margot
Kassmann, as head of the Evangelical Church in Germany. Kirill
says clearly that in dialogue with Protestants, the Orthodox Church must seek
ways to overcome the fundamental differences and if this is not possible, "
many other important issues will remain, not directly related to the achievement
of unity in faith and ecumenical structure, but important in terms of
cooperation for the sake of peace, justice, of creation and to resolve other
important problems that require a joint effort by those who believe in the
Trinity. " |
Discrimination and religious intolerance the evils of Saudi Arabia
by
Nirmala Carvalho
AsiaNews
- New
Delhi - February 6, 2010
A
Christian of Indian origin, O'Connor spent seven months in the prisons of the
Kingdom on the false accusations of proselytism. He stresses that the
"unlimited powers" of the religious police perpetrate crimes and
violence. He prays every day for the country, the rulers and administrators.
In
Saudi society, "discrimination and intolerance" are an
"evident" matter of fact, exacerbated by the "unlimited
powers" enjoyed by the muttawa - the kingdom's religious police - who
perpetrate crimes, violence and promote a system of widespread corruption. This
is the statement of Brian Savio O'Connor, a Christian of Indian origin, for 7
months and 7 days a prisoner, chained and tortured in a Saudi jail on charges of
proselytizing.
For
his release AsiaNews had launched an international campaign. We asked the
41-year Christian in Karnataka - who has launched a centre for orphaned
children, open to any religious faith - to comment on the results of an
investigation into the political and social situation in Saudi Arabia, carried
out with a poll conducted in November 2009 by Pechter Middle East Polls, a
private polling institute based in Princeton (United States).
Below
the AsiaNews interview with Brian O'Connor (pictured with family):
Mr
O'Connor, where does the problem with corruption begin?
Unless
the Saudi kingdom, permit Religious Freedom and respect the Spirit of
Reciprocity, corruption will continue to plague the Saudi Kingdom and have
disastrous social consequences. The 'muttawas' have unquestionable
powers and yield their powers to harras people of other faiths, evidence
is planted, prayers in the privacy of the homes are cause for arrests and jail
terms, While these are also the ways and avenues for corruption of
these 'police.
What
was your experience of corruption in jail?
[Prison]
is a haven for corruption, any favours could be 'bought for a price' from the
jailors, and for the non- muslims, it was even worse, they would be attempts by
the jail authorities to subtly get us to renounce my faith and embrace Islam,
and this was the case with most who were thrown into jail on fabricated(faith
based) cases. The corruption had even stooped to a level that even a
change of name to a Mohammedan one sufficed to some fringe benefits inside the
jail. It is significant that arbitrary powers of the Muttawas, have spurred the
rise of religious fundamentalism which has implications for social development,
for social justice and human rights.
Can
you describe to readers your days in the Saudi Kingdom?
In
Saudi society, discrimination and in tolerance toward non-Muslims is evident and
it is worrisome, that all this lacks transparency, to there can be cases of
indiscriminate harassment of non- Muslims leading to human rights abuses.
In my humble opinion, it is the rigidity of the Saudi society, and denial of
religious freedom that, engenders fundamentalisms. However, from recent
account, in Riyadh (where I lived), the muttawahs have lessened their vigilance
and harassment/intimidation of private worship and this is encouraging.
What
according to you can help Saudi emerge from this corruption and extremism?
It
is known that in the Saudi Kingdom Freedom of religion is legally not recognized
and this opens avenues for legal sanction for corruption. In order to weed
out the source of corruption, it is urgent that by Law, the Saudi authorities
ensure protection for private worship for all religious groups, curb
harassment of religious groups, and promote tolerance toward all religions.
What
about Muslims, are things easy for them?
For
our Muslims brothers and sisters, the issue of Religion does not arise; however,
such strict and rigid laws on Religious Freedom are bound to impact society as
well- even for our Muslim brethren. From my experience, on the one hand
the clerics attempt to impose a dogmatic world view, and dogmatic ways of
interpreting truth, religious texts and the world with intent to control the
individual and/or society as a whole. While on the other, they discourage those
who challenge their world vision and staunchly oppose any democratic values and,
pluralism.
How
has life been for you after your jail term in Saudi?
I
am married, my wife Liza and I have two children. Here in Hubli, Karnataka, we
have stated a "Disciple Training Centre', transmitting faith to pastors and
the lay people. Everyday I pray for the Saudi Kingdom, for the rulers and
administrators that Freedom of Religious may be permitted for the good of the
Saudi kingdom and for its people.
The death of Italian "Fr. Gandhi"
by Melani Manel Perera
AsiaNews
- Colombo - Frebruary 6, 2010
Yesterday,
the funeral of Pastor Angelo Stefanizzi took place in Lewella, central Sri
Lanka. The priest has spent 58 years in the island, working with farmers in the
area. Provincial of the Jesuits: "a big heart and a profound
education."
Many
farmers in the province of Kandy in central Sri Lanka, attended the funeral of
Italian missionary Fr Stefanizzi Angelo, who died February 3. The funeral of
"Fr. Gandhi" - this is the nickname given by the faithful - took place
yesterday in Lewella. The remains of the priest, who spent 58 years in the
country, were buried in the Jesuit house, the order he chose when he entered the
novitiate August 1936.
Fr.
Gandhi spent the last period on a wheelchair because of arthritis, treated with
affection and devotion by his confreres. He lived the disease with serenity and
presence of mind, without ever losing his missionary zeal, his devotion to
prayer and the Eucharist.
K.s.s.a.
Francis, director of the organization Foliseb Sri Lanka based in the town of
Hatton, remembers him as a "saint of our times" and "a thorough
and excellent guide for all workers of the earth". He stresses the special
attention shown by Fr. Stefanizzi for the poor farmers of the province and his
commitment "to try to talk to them and help them solve problems, so we
called him affectionately ... Fr. Gandhi.
His
secret, says K.s.s.a. Francis, was his ability "speak both the Sinhala and
Tamil fluently, although he was a foreigner", a special gift that enabled
him to "win the hearts of people" who could "approach him without
encountering barriers or obstacles."
Fr.
Mary Anthony, provincial superior of the Jesuits in Sri Lanka, told AsiaNews
that "we have lost a long-time missionary with a big heart and a profound
education." "I liked to call him the man of the poor," continues
the brother, because "he was ready to work in the middle of every
difficulty. He was not interested in an easy life, he just wanted to be close to
poor farmers".
Fr.
Angelo Stefanizzi (pictured) was born in the town of Matino, in the province of
Lecce, October 2, 1919. He entered the Jesuit order as a novice in Naples in
1936 and studied philosophy in Gallarate, in the province of Varese (northern
Italy). In 1949 he left for India, where he studied theology, Tamil language and
was ordained priest on 21 November of that year.
In
1952 he moved to the island of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and also embarked on
studies of the Sinhala language. His missionary life was spent in contact with
the population, with particular attention to the poor farmers of the land. Until
his death on 3 February.
Gov't
Defends Detention of Suspected Tamil Rebels by Feizal Samath
www.ipsnews.net - Colombo - February 3, 2010
Sri
Lanka is rejecting claims that some 11,000 people who surrendered as suspected
Tamil rebels just before the decades-long bloody conflict ended in May 2009 are
being held incommunicado or risk being tortured.
"These
allegations are untrue. The surrendered persons have access to relatives and
family and we are working with UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) and the
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in their rehabilitation and
reintegration programme," said Major General Daya Ratnayake, Commissioner
General of Rehabilitation, which is in charge of all rebel suspects undergoing
rehabilitation.
On
Tuesday, the U.S.-based rights campaigner, Human Rights Watch (HRW), urged the
Sri Lankan government to end the alleged indefinite, arbitrary detention of more
than 11,000 people held in "so-called 'rehabilitation centres'" and
release those who are not being prosecuted.
In
a 30-page report titled, 'Legal Limbo: The Uncertain Fate of Detained LTTE
[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] Suspects in Sri Lanka,' HRW said its
information was based on interviews with the detainees' relatives, humanitarian
workers, and human rights advocates, among others. The government has routinely
violated the fundamental rights of the detainees, it said.
"The
government has been keeping 11,000 people in a legal limbo for months," HRW
Asia director Brad Adams was quoted as saying. "It's time to identify who
presents a genuine security threat and to release the rest."
The
HRW claim was backed by Sri Lankan Tamil Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran,
who said even agencies like the International Committee of the Red Cross were
not allowed to visit these centres.
"Nobody
knows who is in these camps. When we met President Mahinda Rajapaksa last
September, he agreed to our request to release the names of those in these
centres. But nothing has happened so far," the parliamentarian, whose party
represents the interests of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority community, told IPS.
Sarasi
Wijeratne, spokesperson for the ICRC, said they have not had access to these
camps since July 2009. "We did a registration of the inmates at that time.
There has been no access since July," she told IPS.
However,
a local human rights group said that access has improved for the detainees in
the last two months, owing to the recently concluded Jan. 26 presidential poll.
"As
far as we are aware, parents and relatives have access to these camps in recent
weeks, though there is a lot of bureaucracy ... in getting approval. All this, I
believe, is because the government wanted to win the Tamil vote," said a
spokesperson for the agency, who requested that her name and that of her
organisation remain anonymous for fear of repercussions.
Thousands
of young and older people from the rebel movement surrendered to the authorities
just as the war was winding down in May 2009. The rebels, fighting for a
separate homeland for minority Tamils, were finally defeated by government
troops after nearly 30 years of conflict.
Some
11,000 former fighters or supporters of the LTTE since then have been housed in
what the government calls 'rehabilitation centres' and access to them has been
limited.
In
an interview with IPS, Ratnayake said his department is focusing on
rehabilitating the former rebels under a government programme, which starts
after the authorities have identified the hardcore rebels who need to be
prosecuted; those who have not been active and need rehabilitation; and those
with marginal involvement, who will be released.
"This
process is nearing completion, and on Jan. 9 we released 712 detainees while a
few more remaining, under this category, will be released soon," he said,
without giving a time frame.
However,
the spokesperson for the local human rights group, which has provided legal aid
for political prisoners for more than two decades, said they were checking
reports that about 200 of the released detainees were being housed at a
government detention centre for suspected rebels in the southern town of Galle.
"Last
week a 60-year-old Tamil man, who was released from the southern centre, told us
that 200 of those released on Jan. 9 were actually brought to the Galle centre.
He urged us to help them. We are checking out these reports and plan to send
lawyers to that centre," said the spokesperson.
The
group of detainees was released by Rajapaksa himself in the northern centre,
weeks before the Jan. 26 election in a widely publicised event, which opposition
politicians said was a pre-election stunt to win Tamil votes.
With
Parliamentary polls due in March, the government is still keen on winning Tamil
support, sources said.
While
Rajapaksa won the recent national poll, securing 57 percent of the votes cast
compared to 40 percent obtained by his closest rival, former army commander
General Sarath Fonseka, he failed to win any district in the Tamil-dominated
areas in the north and the east, where the voter turnout was low due to reported
intimidation and threats to voters from individuals who were believed to be
supporters of Rajapaksa.
Rehabilitation
Commissioner Ratnayake said the rehabilitation process has begun and some 600
child soldiers are housed in two camps in Colombo and northern Vavuniya, where
he said they receive education and therapy.
"Once
they are rehabilitated, hopefully in a year, they would be sent back to their
homes," he assured.
The
same applies to 80 percent of all the detainees who, Ratnayake said, would be
rehabilitated to prepare them for their reintegration into society. The
remaining 20 percent of the detainees were perceived to be hardcore rebels and
are the focus of continuing investigations.
The
department has prepared a profile of all the detainees, indicating their
backgrounds, educational attainments, skills, aptitudes and aspirations.
"We wanted to establish what kind of persons they are before working out a
conceptual framework and an action plan, which is now being implemented,"
he said.
Ratnayake
said the children and adults - segregated by sex - will be moved in groups to
around 20 locations, where they undergo educational or vocational training.
The
programme, financially supported by international agencies and the country's
private sector, has already begun conducting training in short-term courses,
such as those on information technology and cosmetology for the females, said
Ratnayake.
In
the case of some 200 to 300 detainees, their parents cannot be traced. "We
are still working on this," he said, denying claims that the rest do not
have access to their families.
He
said, in fact, on Sunday, one of the 2,000 girls detained was taken under escort
to her home in northern Jaffna as a member of the family had died, and brought
back.
"The
government, with the help of the private sector, wants to give every able-bodied
male or female a job once they leave these centres. However, before that, the
integration part is important to prepare them, their family and also the
community, because they have been involved in antisocial activity," he
said.
Whether
the detainees are hardcore rebels, sympathisers or simply forced by the rebels
to join their movement, they should be charged or released, said Parliamentarian
Premachandran. "(But) the government released just a few to win
votes," said.
HRW
said the government has denied the detainees the right to be informed of
specific reasons for their arrest, to challenge the lawfulness of their
detention before an independent judicial authority, and to have access to legal
counsel and family members
"While
the government has the right and responsibility to protect public safety, it
also has to do so in a lawful manner that respects basics rights," the
report said.
Has
Sri Lanka stumbled onto path to democracy? by Barrister Harun ur Rashid
Dhaka
Courier - February 5, 2010
Sri
Lanka is known to pride itself as a democratic country since it achieved its
independence in1948. But the latest Presidential election on January 26 has
raised grave doubts in many quarters about its adherence to democratic norms
Incumbent
President Mahinda Rajapakse was declared elected on 27th January for another six
year term but his main challenger, a retired army General Sarath Fonseka, who
was close ally with the President until a few months ago, rejected the tally and
demanded a new vote. It is reported that he would challenge the result in the
court.
"We
have already collected enough evidence of sophisticated vote-rigging at counting
centres and at the time of computer processing of the results,' Fonseka told
reporters at his Colombo home, reports AFP.
Rajapakse
had stolen 1.4 million votes, he said. 'I should have been the president. I am
the people's president,' he declared, adding that he would contest parliamentary
elections that are due before April.
Although
there was no major fraud in the voting, election observers and advocacy groups
have questioned the fundamental fairness, accusing the President of using
state-resources to run his campaign. Reportedly state-owned media all but shut
out opposition candidates. In essence the equality of opportunity was not
provided to the opposition candidates and as such the election failed in
maintaining fairness to all.
The
head of a Commonwealth observer mission to Sri Lanka, K D Night, the former
Jamaican Foreign Minister who led the mission, expressed concern about the abuse
of state media and other government resources in the pre-election period by the
President. He told The Times that the abuses did not substantially affect the
results of the first presidential election since the defeat of the Tamil Tigers
in May 2009 but did affect its freeness and fairness, as well as Sri Lanka's
reputation inside and outside the Commonwealth.
Until
such problems are addressed the electoral process in Sri Lanka will not fully
meet key benchmarks for democratic elections, he said, urging the government to
implement an overdue constitutional amendment that would de-politicise state
institutions.
The
United States has pressed for a probe into the charges of vote fraud. The
European Commission too issued a statement calling for an investigation.
On
28th January, a Swiss public radio reporter was asked to leave the country - a
move she attributed to questions she asked at a government press conference
about alleged voting irregularities.
A
long night of counting ballots confirmed that turnout in northern Tamil areas
was very low while voters have flocked to the polls in President's southern
stronghold. This shows ethnic and religious divides in the country exist and the
President will face a difficult task to reconcile the country after 26 years of
deadly civil war.
Some
election observers said that explosions and other disturbances along with the
heavy militarization of northern and eastern Tamil areas discouraged them to
vote as well.
The
General counted on support from Tamil voters who he hoped would choose him over
the President but it did not occur. He also sought to capitalise on
dissatisfaction with the President in some quarters of Sinhalese majority who
expressed concern about the concentration of power in President's family (one
brother is a defence secretary and the other is a senior adviser) and many
members of President's extended family work in senior government positions.
In
a rare call, the public servants in Sri Lanka publicly supported the President
in the election and many believe that his extended family who has entrenched in
the public service had a big role in persuading public servants to support the
President.
Ordinarily
public servants remain publicly neutral and non-partisan but they vote according
to their choice in secret. This long-tradition of neutrality seemed to have been
breached seriously. Now they are seen as partisan and politicisation of public
service is no good for larger interest in the country.
On
28th January, the defeated candidate , General Fonseka expressed fear for his
life after accusing the government of endangering his security, reports South
Asia News.
General
Fonseka told a news conference that his 80-member security detail and their
vehicles had been withdrawn by the government and replaced by four armed
policemen, making him vulnerable.
Earlier,
Brigardier Udaya Nanayakkara confirmed that four vehicles, including a
bulletproof car and 20 army personnel, had been withdrawn from Fonseka's
security assignment.
The
spokesman declined to comment on any other security arrangements the general may
be entitled to as the army's former chief.
'I
am a man who safeguarded my life from terrorists, but now I am hiding to protect
myself from state terrorism,' said the General
Fonseka
said his name had been given to airports by the government to prevent him
leaving the country, though he did not have any criminal charges against him.
'I
am aware that the government is accusing me of trying to create a coup from a
five-star hotel as the results were coming in after the elections. That's not
the best place to stage a coup,' he said.
As
preliminary results of the January 26 elections were announced, troops
surrounded a Colombo hotel where Fonseka was staying, but the government denied
it was trying to arrest the candidate.
Later
on a Fonseka spokesman confirmed that the siege had ended and the general had
been able to leave the hotel.
The
former general led the military campaign against Tamil separatist rebels, a
campaign which the government won in May,2009 and the removal of his security
could pose a danger to his life, politician Vijitha Herath said.
The
head of the Commonwealth Observer mission reportedly aid that the government had
damaged its international reputation by deploying troops around the main
opposition candidate's hotel headquarters during vote-counting for a
presidential election.
Meanwhile
on 29th January, the police raided the office of defeated presidential candidate
while press photographers and television crews were kept away by security forces
but a police officer at the scene said they were looking for 'illegal material'
in the compound.
Opposition
spokesman Rauf Hakeem told reporters the search was an infringement of
democratic rights and branded the raid government intimidation. 'This is an
assault on democracy,' Hakeem told reporters. 'They are trying to intimidate us
as we collect evidence of vote-rigging.'
Observers
say that although the President has emerged stronger from the election than
before, the contested election result will have some sobering effect on him and
already he has shown olive branch to Tamil minorities for reconciliation so that
he can be a President for all Sri Lankans-Sinhalese and Tamils.
[Barrister
Harun ur Rashid is former Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva]
UN and AU push for national unity
Misna
- February 2, 2010
"These
are unprecedented challenges", said African leaders, at a special meeting
in the context of the African Union (AU) summit in Addis Abeba, about the
electoral rounds and the maintenance of peace in Sudan, as well as the region
and the whole continent. In a few months the Sudanese people will go to the
polls to vote for a new president, while next year, they shall have to express
their vote in a referendum to decide whether South Sudan will have to remain
united to the country or become independent. The issue of an independent South
is starting to raise many serious concerns in African countries and in regional
institutions. The referendum, in fact, would raise doubts about the viability of
the principle (one of the very pillars of the AU) of the intangibility of the
borders drawn in the continent by the former colonial powers and many suggest
that the potential separation of North an South, could lead to analogous efforts
in other areas of the continent. The presidents of six major African countries
and the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ramtane Lamamra, has underlined
the need to "work with all those responsible to promote peace in the
country" and, highlighting the need to fully respect the will of the
Sudanese people, he added: "in any case we have to work hard to make unity
attractive". Lamamra's words, clearly indicating a preference to see
Sudanese unity persist, echo a note sent from UN secretary general, Ban Ki Moon,
in his speech at the opening of the AU summit. Some Sudanese government members
have deemed the position to be 'tardy'; they say that the populations of the
South have already formed an idea of the vote they will be giving next year in
the referendum. Meanwhile, part of the Sudan people's liberation movement (SPLM)
the main political formation in South Sudan, also part of the national unity
government, has also criticized the suggestions.
Food security and the fight against corruption, Thai PM's priorities
by Weena
Kowitwanij
AsiaNews - Bangkok - February 1, 2010
At
the World Economic Forum, Abhisit Vejjajiva promotes international cooperation
to improve quality of farm products and agricultural development. Thai PM
emphasises his country's economic progress and the global economic role played
by East Asian nations.
In
his address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, held on 29-31
January, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva focused on ways to improve food
security, fight corruption and recognise the role of East Asia in the global
market.
Other
2,500 representatives from more than 90 nations also took part in the annual
event, which focused this year on "Improve the State of the World: Rethink,
Redesign, Rebuild".
The
three-day event gave participants an opportunity to discuss ways to especially
improve the banking system and deal with the aftermath of the Haiti quake, which
killed tens of thousands of people.
International
cooperation has a crucial role to play in strengthening global food security and
sustainable agriculture, the Thai premier said.
As
a major rice producer, Thailand must "be responsible towards consumers in
terms of food quality and security."
The
prime minister also insisted on the importance of "fair trade".
Abhisit
also addressed the issue of corruption, illustrating his country's progress.
"The public sector plays an importance role in fighting corruption,"
he noted.
Significantly,
he explained that after meltdown of the world's financial system in 2008, the
Thai economy was doing well, and that it was well on its way to recovery, with
tourism and agriculture as the leading engines.
Finally,
he emphasised the greater role now played by East Asian nations in the world
economy.