| September 30, 2006 | Saturday | Ramazan 6, 1427 |
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Political situation in Thailand
Modern Stone Age
The way forward
Appreciating Uri Avnery
Ramazan blessing
Extremism
PTCL clarifies
US threat after 9/11
Appeal to CBR
In a jam
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
THIS is with reference to the Washington Post article ‘Tortured by mistake’, reproduced in Dawn (Sept 28), about Maher Arar, a Canadian of Syrian descent who was unjustly arrested at an American airport and tortured by Syrian authorities. I appreciate the honest and frank analysis of the truth. It was really worth reading.
But the writer has ignored an important aspect of the tragedy which is that justice has finally been given to the oppressed, which is very rare in our part of the world. It is a fact that nothing can compensate for the torture Mr Arar suffered for no reason. But getting justice means a new life for him.
Actually justice is about the fairness for the oppressed, distressed, denied and disgraced. The fair trial in court has given justice to the person who deserved it.
The official judgment said that “Canadian officials bear some responsibility for Maher Arar’s arrest, long detention and suffering”
The honourable judge has made a history by viewing the complicated case from all possible angles with razor-edge intellect and superb honesty. Mr Justice Dennis O’Connor is an excellent jurist and he has shown the highest level of professionalism, dedication and devotion in search of the truth to provide justice to a human being, without any consideration of colour, cast and creed that could have influenced the reason and reality. This is the real teaching of Islam.
Truly, God loves those who are just. My respects to the honourable judge and I also pay tribute to the judicial system of Canada, the strongest pillar of a civilised society and the greatest defence for the weak and oppressed.
The members in the parliament have also shown their greatness by accepting the truth, acknowledging the mistakes and offering their apologies. The chief of the Royal Canadian mounted police also publicly apologised to the victim.
This judgment will make a profound impact on all nations and the standards to which the Canadians hold their values. I wish Maher Arar could have received the same justice instead of torture in the country of his birth.
MEHDI RIZVI
Pickering, Canada
FOLLOWING the recent political development in Thailand, I feel I must write to update your readers on the current political situation as I believe they deserve the most accurate information on what is actually going on before they decide what to believe. While the military intervention which occurred on Sept 19 may be perceived as a setback to democracy in Thailand, I wish to point out that early indicators seem to suggest that Thailand needed to take this step to propel our democracy forward. Indeed, indications are that public support for the intervention has been overwhelming. For example, according to the polls conducted on Sept 20 by a respectable local independent polling agency, Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, 84 per cent of 2,019 who took part in the survey support this political change. Another 75 per cent also believe that it will improve our political situation. Besides, the situation in Thailand has remained calm and peaceful throughout. Our capital, Bangkok, remains as safe a place to be as ever.
Such public support should not, however, be interpreted in any way that our people has turned against democracy. The reality is indeed quite the opposite. Conscious of the public sentiment, ever since the political change took place in Thailand, the Council for Democratic Reform has clearly stated that it would return power to the Thai people at the earliest opportunity.
Concrete actions with participation from various sectors of our society are being taken in order to accelerate the democratic reform process that, unfortunately, could not take place properly under the previous caretaker government. The Council for Democratic Reform has firmly stated that it would do its best to ensure that the ongoing process of drafting a provincial constitution is completed by next week. A national assembly will then be formed, which, in turn, will task a constitution-drafting body to elaborate a new constitution.
Also, the head of the Council for Democratic Reform has firmly and openly stated that he will, within two weeks, transfer all of the Council’s administrative power to a respectable civilian prime minister who will at once form a government to run the country. This government, along with the Thai people, will then have oversight over the drafting of our new constitution. We expect that a free and fair general election, based on the new constitution, will be held within one year, if not sooner. To this end, the election commission which was appointed by the former Senate has already made concrete preparations.
What we ask from all good friends of Thailand is, at least, your understanding. For despite the recent intervention, our friends will see that respect for human rights and the rule of law, together with the profound belief in the principles of democracy, remain very close to our hearts. We remain firmly adhered to the UN Charter and obligations under international treaties and agreements, on the basis of equality of states, as always. No one should doubt that Thailand would resolutely pursue the path of democratic reform to achieve sustainable progress and stability for its people.
PISANU CHANVITAN,
Ambassador of Thailand, Islamabad
IN a move to promote his memoir, President Musharraf has said in a TV interview that the Bush administration after 9/11 warned him of “bombing Pakistan back to Stone Age” if it did not take up the role of a front-line state in the so-called war on terror. Gen Musharraf acquiesced in and Pakistan was saved, so he believes.
A few years later the general made a similar warning and acted upon it. He reminded Baloch nationalists that it was not the 1970s, an insulting reference to the last military operation in Balochistan, and warned: “This time you won’t know what hit you.” Nobody knows what hit the octogenarian Nawab Akbar Bugti, and where else but in a cave. Despite being rich in natural resources, Balochistan still lives in the Stone Age.
President Bush is indirectly responsible for the plight of the Baloch. His disregard for human rights has given his ally a licence to kill and he has a gun in each hand: one aimed at Islamic militants and the other at the Baloch.
In his recent US visit, Gen Musharraf did not urge President Bush to address root-causes of Islamic insurgency. Maybe because someone could have asked him why he does not apply this strategy to the Baloch problem.
The world is still governed by the law of jungle and we are witness to third round of the Great Game, with the Baloch question again coming into limelight. In its first round, the Baloch lost sovereignty to the British colonial forces, an act which led to what the nationalists see as forced annexation of Baloch states into Pakistan.
In its second episode, when US-led coalition waged a war against a progressive Afghanistan with the help of Islamic fundamentalists, Balochistan underwent a demographic change caused by settlement of Afghan refugees in the sparsely-populated province.
In the latest round, the Baloch people fear that the so-called Gwadar development project would do to them what Karachi has done to the Sindhis: red-Indianised them on their own soil. For the Baloch, it is a now-or-never situation.
The killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti has turned their sense of deprivation into alienation, again. Does it augur well for the future of a country faced with several other serious problems, including the erosion of writ of state in Pukhtoon tribal hinterland, and the prospect of the United States again ditching Pakistan (as it did after the Afghan war), to pursue the second part of its Great Game agenda: to change the map of the Middle East.
Every war ends at the negotiation table, an opportunity Gen Musharraf is willing to offer to the Taliban, whom he perceives as a threat to global peace, but not to the Baloch. This is the logic of might: power inspires awe and weakness invites wrath.
SHAH DOST
Karachi
POPE Benedict XVI, being Vatican’s head of state and also religious leader of over a billion Roman Catholics, must be judged on two counts for his recent lexis that pained over a billion Muslims. As head of state, was he prudent? As Pope, was his choice of words Christian? For the former, in the century that the Pope quoted, such indiscretion would have led to breakdown of diplomatic relations, if not war. For the latter, reportedly Benedict before his elevation was usually abrasive in demeanour towards his colleagues. In that event one hopes a lesson has been learnt.
Further, various explanations claim the Pope had only wished to convey that over time Christian Church has reformed itself and accepted separation of religion and state, i.e. secularism, which has neither happened in Islam nor was possible. Consequently, to my mind, his apology only regretted the furore resulting from his remarks and not for what he actually said. An interesting double-speak.
In a write-up ‘Papal akrasia and apology’ in the Sept 19 issue of Hindu, the author states: “In Greek philosophy, as Pope Benedict XVI knows very well, akrasia is doing what you know to be wrong. Then why do it? .... In the Pope’s case this something seems to be doctrinal conservatism combining with a temperamental inability to empathies with people of non-Christian faiths and civilisations.
Else, as a cardinal, he would not have spoken of Christianity as the ‘cornerstone’ of Europe, or opposed Turkey’s admission to the European Union.” In discussions on various US and UK TV channels some speakers thought it was also a warning to the growing Muslim population in Europe.
Sura Nisa (74-76) conveys: “Fight in the cause of God and of those who being weak are ill-treated and oppressed.” However, if an adversary be inclined towards peace and seeks reconciliation, Islam enjoins its followers to cease hostilities and try to negotiate an agreement. It would thus be appropriate to accept Pope’s reported invitation to Muslim ambassadors to meet him and to listen to what he has to say without insisting on an appropriate apology first that many feel has been lacking.
Let this be the first step towards a gainful process of bringing mutual understanding between peoples of two great religions of the world. Let this process expand and gradually encompass all religions and cultures of the world. After all, Sura Al Kafrun is clear on this matter when it ends: “To you, your religion (belief); and to me mine.”
VICE-ADMIRAL(r) IQBAL F. QUADIR
Karachi
I READ with great interest Rizwan Yassin’s letter titled ‘An Israeli’s rejoinder to Pope’. He has presented the views of an honest Jew about Islam and Islamic history regarding tolerance of other faiths. Uri Avnery, an Israeli scholar, peace activist and former Knesset member, has proven beyond any shred of doubt that Islam is the most tolerant and peaceful religion.
It is unfortunate that today with enormous power of media and very busy life of common people who have very little time to verify the truth, Islam had been branded a terrorist religion by the global terrorist itself. With the help of Hollywood and other Internet technology, ‘proofs’ are created day and night. The ‘House of White Lies’ is churning out lie after lie and deception after deception. Bush and Blair and the Zionist neo-cons think that there are only idiots in the world who will buy whatever garbage they produce.
I once read an article in New England Journal of Medicine where a Jew had described how the Muslims gave faculty positions to the Jews in Muslim Spain in their then great medical institutions. Unfortunately in this age of deceptions, lies and tricks, agents are hired by anti-Islamic forces that are given Muslim attires and acts of terrorism are committed by them, then Islam and all Muslims are held hostage for a crime which they did not commit.
The Quran clearly says that Allah does not stop Muslims from having good relations with non-Muslims who are not actively engaged in war against them. “Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily Allah loves those who deal with equity. It is only as regards those who fought against you on account of your religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out, Allah forbids you to befriend them, then such are the wrongdoers, unjust”
(60: 8-9).
In wars too, Allah does not allow Muslims to be unfair and do more damage than what the enemy had done to you. Muslims as a whole are not against Jews. They are against Zionists who practise utter racism and commit state and several other forms of terrorism. We appreciate the scholars like Mr Avnery who speak truth and do not create deceptions.
PROF ANWAR ULHAQUE
Islamabad
On the Friday before Ramazan every maulvi, may he be any caste or creed and irrespective of the length of his beard or the colour of his turban, had only one topic to shout about. Similarly, the leaders of all religious parties irrespective of their party size saw only one thing wrong in the whole world. They all shouted themselves hoarse hurling abuse at the Pope.
To them, all I say is ‘shut up’. Islam is not in danger. Allah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Quran are not in danger. Allah Himself is enough for everything. He is above all these things. He does not need any of you people.
It is the common man who is in danger. That poor man needs help. It is the common man who needs to be protected from his so-called Islamic brothers. The holy month of Ramazan is here. It is supposed to be a month of blessings.
The common man does not see any blessings; he is being crushed by his Muslim brothers under the garb of increased prices of daily commodities. This did not happen all of a sudden; we cannot say that we did not foresee it. It is the same story every year.
Could this not have been a topic for them on Friday? Could they not have declared a jihad against the Ramazan price hikes? Could they not have gone about in every street and reasoned with the profiteers?
Could they not have preached about hell and fire for the hoarders? Would it not have been better if they had taken out ‘million men marches’, called wheel jam strikes, and marched through cities against the hoarders and profiteers? But no, for them this was not an issue comparable to the passport issue.
Increased prices do not concern them because they are not affected. It is not they but common man who will be crushed. They themselves will put on more weight this Ramazan. O Allah, give them sense, they know not what they say. Ameen.
SHAKEEL KHAN
Karachi
FREQUENT reference is made to the extremists in Iraq and Afghanistan, and sometimes to other factions like the Hamas and Hezbollah. But were the invasions of Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon not extreme acts?
The invasion of Iraq was opposed by some responsible European countries, not to mention that the leaders of some Middle East countries warned of the problems it would create.
The invasion of Lebanon was described as disproportionate by practically all countries. Newton’s third law of physics states that: To every action (force applied) there is an equal but opposite reaction (equal force applied in the opposite direction).
Therefore, can we honestly expect that an ‘extreme’ action applied will not invite an ‘opposite reaction’?
So the perpetuators of initiating that first act of extremism must be defined before pointing a finger at those considered as being ‘extremists’.
Has it been considered that those deprived are led to resort to such extremism?
Rafi Ahmed
Karachi
THIS refers to the news report ‘PTCL fails to restore phones’ (Sept 29). As regards telephone # 4989190, the PTCL would like to clarify that after the publication of the news a lineman was sent to the customer’s premises where he found the line in working order.
The fault was in the telephone set, as also confirmed by the customer.
SALEEM KHAN PRO, STR-III
Karachi
THIS refers to the headline ‘US threatened to bomb Pakistan after 9/11’ (Dawn, Sept 22). Gen Musharraf said that the threat came from former deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage, through Pakistan’s Intelligence director.
Mr Armitage said, according to the report, “Be prepared to be bombed. Be prepared to go back to the Stone Age”. This was disclosed in the interview with the ‘60 Minutes’ investigative news programme. Musharraf says: “One has to think and take action in the matter and that is what I did”.
The president’s disclosure is shocking and humiliating. To succumb to the threat by the US deputy secretary of state shows his lack of courage. The general should have taken into confidence the people before committing anything. Pakistan is a sovereign state and also a nuclear power. The people would have never accepted such humiliation.
President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, before the UN General Assembly, calls Bush a devil and the Bush administration the greatest threat to peace. Iran is defiant and standing up to the US pressure. Ayatullah Khomeini of Iran used to call the US a great ‘Satan’. Castro of Cuba did not succumb to the US threats. How dare they are!
There appears a discord on ‘hot pursuit’. Bush wants to send troops into Pakistan in ‘hot pursuit’ but the president says ‘No’. Keep it up, general, the nation is with you if you are on right path.
ABDUL SAMAD KHAN
Karachi
SINCE August rain disruptions for weeks together and then the persistent power breakdowns and loadsheddings have marred a number of small business organisations which are not equipped with electronic gadgets and depend on clerical assistance for writing their accounts.
Thus they have not been able to complete their accounting work related to fiscal year ended June 30, 2006.
Therefore an appeal is made to the authorities to kindly extend the date for filing income-tax returns from September 30 to October 31, especially this year in consideration of the aforementioned reasons.
M. M. KHAN
Karachi
THE Karachi Metropolitan pages of Sept 26 contained an article in which city officials had claimed that there was no traffic jam in Karachi on the first day of Ramazan. However, two pages later, there is a picture of a major traffic jam near Empress Market.
While the irony may have been unintended, your photographer seems to be more aware of what’s going on in the city. As a result, I would strongly recommend that he take the city nazim and the traffic police on a tour of the city.
That would hopefully stop the officials from coming up with such ridiculous statements. Or, then again, maybe nothing can.
N. MUJTABA
Karachi
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