Current Affairs, Socio-Economic Issues, Current Events, News -- NewsDawn

Global Fight Against Terror Suffers Because of US Attitude

2012-01-26T04:02:00.000-08:00

The treat given by an Al-Qa'ida member to blow up a US plane proves that the dangerous possibility of terrorist attacks is still threatening the country despite all efforts. This incident further exposes the US failure to curb terrorism within its territory even though it is leading the international campaign against terrorism.
Suitable Opportunity
It is true that there has been no major attack in the United States after the 9/11 incident. Yet, it cannot be denied that terrorists are looking for a suitable opportunity. They even try to strike occasionally. It is also clear now that terrorist organizations have started raising a terrorist army within the country itself. Apart from the United Kingdom and the United States, many terrorists who have been traced in the Western countries were brought up in these countries. Some of them have even undergone higher education. Only recently five US citizens of Pakistan origin were arrested near Lahore. They had come to receive training on terrorism.
The young man of Nigerian origin who was arrested for trying to blow up a Delta Airlines plane of the United States had received education in Britain. He is also connected with Al-Qa'ida. It is, therefore, quite evident that notwithstanding all restrictions imposed from time to time, terrorist organizations have managed to attract Muslim youths to the so-called crusade.
Frustrating Terrorist Ambitions
The United States cannot rest content just by claiming that it has succeeded in frustrating terrorist ambitions on its soil. In other parts of the world terrorism is spreading rather than being restricted. Barack Obama was expected to reconsider the US strategy on terrorism on assuming office. But this hope was soon belied. Barring a few positive statements the US administration is more or less following its old policy on terrorism.
There are enough reasons to believe that it is only assuring the protection of its own interests as far as the campaign launched by it against terrorism and described as "international", is concerned. As a result, minimum coordination among the different countries participating in this campaign is lacking.
Missing Target
This lacuna has made the task of terrorists earlier. Any big mistake can be made in such circumstances. It was by sheer luck that the terrorist of Nigerian origin Omar Farooq Abdul Multalat was seized just in time. He had managed to enter the United States in spite of being on its list of suspects. It is also a fact that Indian intelligence agencies have not been given the necessary information on David Headley who is believed to have been involved in the 26 November 2008, Mumbai attacks. India is even being made to wait for a sample of its voice. In this situation, how can it be assumed that the United Sates is actually willing to join other countries to fight terrorism?

Growing Problems in Pakistan: Will the Country Recover?

2012-01-25T00:45:00.000-08:00

The uninterrupted provision of basic amenities of life to people has always been the foremost duty of a responsible government of any country.
How far the Pakistani Government has been successful in fulfilling this obligation, can be well gauged from the faces of the poor masses. Power outages had already made the life difficult for the people in scorching heat and now the petrol shortage has created another crisis for them. According to reports, most of the filling stations in several big and small cities of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir (Pakistan-administered Kashmir), right from Karachi to Lahore and Muzaffarabad have been either closed or long queues of vehicles can be seen there because of acute shortage of gas, and people are scuffling for a few liters of gas. Instead of controlling the situation, the administration, is acting like a silent spectator. Taking advantage of this state of affairs, the profiteers have started selling gas in black and they are charging up to 200 rupees (Pre) per liter.
Hike in Prices of Essential Commodities
This situation has badly affected the public transport on one hand while on the other, most of taxi and rickshaw drivers are being rendered unemployed. If this situation persists for long, transportation of vegetables, fruits and other edible items would be blocked, which would further add to the price spiral which has already affected the common folk, and the prices of essential commodities will go out of people's reach.
Shortage of petrol is not the first issue which the people have witnessed in about three and half years of the incumbent government in office. The government has already imposed up to five days off for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) a week. Gas outages, which have been witnessed in winter in the past, have now become a daily routine even in summer season. During diesel shortage, the government instead of overcoming its shortage, had started closing trains.
Power, gas, petrol, and diesel, etc., are important sources of energy, and the standards of development of the United States, Japan, Germany, and other industrialized countries are determined on the basis of how much energy per head is being used. No curtailment is allowed in this ratio at any cost.
Energy Crisis
Pakistan has always been confronted with energy crisis because of incompetence of successive governments. That is why the country could not make strides in development. Billions of rupees were wasted in efforts for the acquisition of rental power. Talks are also underway for purchase of 70 MW power from Iran, whereas India has also offered to sell its power.
The Pakistani people can meet their needs by availing these offers, but lack of decisionmaking power appears to be the main impediment in this regard. There exist vast prospects of hydel power generation in the country, which are not being utilized under one pretext or the other. The Karachi Electric Supply Corporation had the capacity to produce enough power to meet needs of the city, but it could not produce the required power because of mismanagement and undue interference by influential people. After futile experiments spreading over decades, the corporation was disinvested, but even then the issue could not be resolved and Karachi remains plunged into darkness, today.
Instead of enhancing power generation, the government is increasing its tariff, which has sky rocketed during the past three years. Petrol and gas can also be imported from Iran, but the government is reluctant to do so because of the US pressure. Central Asian Republics particularly Tajikistan also want to provide gas and power to Pakistan, but the government is not ready to accept any such offer. The government could not convince its big organizations to clear the dues of service providers in time, and this situation adds to problems with every passing day and ultimately the people have to face the consequences.
For instance, refineries refine the oil and later, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) distributes the commodity. In order to run the refineries, it is necessary that the PSO pays their dues in time, otherwise, it would affect the oil supply. Similarly, there are many other organizations whose production and distribution depend on each other. The government does not control the payment issues. That is why, the supply line does not remain in tact and the shortage of an item crops up. It further increases the prices of items of daily use and overburdens the common man. Contrary to the government's claims, the people are at present faced with serious problems. Price hike, security situation, and unemployment have made their lives difficult.
According to the figures released by federal statistics division, sugar registered an increase of 152 percent, meat 88 percent, wheat 46 percent, milk 86 percent, and pulses 122 percent during the past three years. The number of people living below the poverty line which was 28.4 percent in 2008, rose to 41.2 percent in 2011. It reveals that the number of poor has risen from 47.5 million to 72.5 million during the last three and a half years. These are the people who do not know whether they would be to get the second time meal or not. Those deciding their fate while sitting in their air-conditioned offices do not know about the difficulties poor workers in factories, shops, and other places have to face during power shutdowns.
The people do not want the government to go. Instead of removal of the government, they want resolution of their problems, but if the government continued to entangle them in the marsh of such problems, the day is not far off when the people will take to streets for the solution of their basic problems. If God forbid, this happened, bloodletting will be witnessed on the roads and a bloody revolution will take place.
Tough Time Ahead
The common people will, therefore, once again appeal to the government to focus on its obligations and prove by its performance that it has the capability to run the country and lead the nation. For this purpose, instead of perpetuating its rule, the government will have to resolve basic problems of people. The rulers must not ignore the real problems under the garb of political stunt of taking along all stakeholders. You rulers have come to power with the majority vote of the people. Irrespective of whether someone supports you or not, you must focus your attention on steering the nation out of the present challenges in accordance with the mandate the people have given to you. Your real responsibility is not to take all the stakeholders along, but to resolve problems of the people as per your manifesto. And your performance during the past three years cannot be regarded as satisfactory in any sense.

Disclosure of Tamil Homeland Myth

2012-01-24T01:12:00.000-08:00

International pressure exerted on the Sri Lankan Government seems to be of no small measure when focusing on the issues regarding the alleged human rights violations leveled against the country. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has proposed that a special three-member committee should be appointed to investigate into the said violations of human rights and war crimes allegedly committed by the Sri Lanka Army. Subsequent to this, the US State Department also submitted report on human rights violations said to be committed by the Sri Lankan Government.
These two issues cannot be easily and lightly discarded. Although the Sri Lankan Government protested against these measures, it is has still not understood the next turn of affairs. When Sri Lanka was frequently accused of abusing human rights, the government raises another question instead of producing an answer. It is why the United Nations, which was never, concerned about the human rights violations of the United States Army in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Israel and also in some middle-eastern countries, is now overtly concerned about probing into 'supposed' human rights violations committed by the Sri Lanka Army. When the United States question about rights violations in Sri Lanka, the government in turn asks why the US State Department does not speaks about crimes committed against ordinary civilians when the US Army launch attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq.
Solutions to Challenges
After ending Prabhakaran's terrorism, the solutions to challenges faced by Sri Lanka lies within the counter charges of the government based on the same issue. To maintain cordial international relations, four vital points are identified in political science.
1. To reach conscientious through discussions.
2. Offering grants.
3. Imposing embargoes.
4. Stabilizing domination.
United States and other 'powerful' countries apply all four measures at different stages towards poor and less affluent countries. The way in which the United States intervened in Iraq could be quoted as a clear example. The US intervened initially in Iraq with an accusing finger. The UN intervened to investigate nuclear 'arms factory' in Iraq consequent to US allegations. However, Iraq permitted the UN monitors to carryout their inspections under a 'controlled' situation. Then the US and the UN claimed that Iraq abandoned on its own accord the opportunity of coming to an agreement through negotiations. Subsequently, economic embargoes were imposed on Iraq and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces invaded the country. Thereby Iraq was subjected to two international strategies, i.e., imposing embargoes and stabilizing domination.
The entire world today accepts the fact that there were no nuclear arms in Iraq. Had Iraq being able to convince initially by settling the issue through discussion then it would not have paved the way for the NATO forces to invade the country.
Eradicating Islam Fundamentalism
However, a question arises here if Iraq had convinced the international community that they did not possess nuclear arms, would the NATO forces have invaded Iraq? The world at large is aware that the motive of the western camp led by the United States in projecting Iraq's possession of nuclear arms, was only an excuse to invade the land and not for any other purpose. However, the US gave a clear persuading theory internationally to justify their move, namely the US opinion on Islam fundamentalism. The United States successfully convinced the global community that their stance is eradicating Islam fundamentalism from the face of the earth. If any questions are raised on US attacking Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, the response should be based on this standpoint. It was due to the US adopting such a policy on Islam terrorism that a leading Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan was questioned at the US airport on his entry to the country, because his name was Khan.
Sri Lanka too should resort to US course of action when facing the present challenging situation. It should essentially not follow the mistake committed by Iraq under similar circumstances. In the struggle by Tamil communalists projecting the image of a Tamil Eelam state, the defeated faction was the combat arm of the movement. Although Western pressure was exerted on the government during its fight against these combatants or in other words Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Mahinda Rajapakse government was prudent enough to use good judgment on the face of such pressure. A state policy was in place which gave the military, authority to intensify its war strategies, which ultimately defeated the LTTE. The plan was well formulated and western and global powers could not directly intervene in the operations. The stance of the government was, "A terrorist must be answered in his own language." Although the global powers nurtured the LTTE as their pet in the Indian Ocean region, conspired to salvage them, they could not find room to directly intervene in the government machinery. This was the Sri Lankan policy projected internationally, regarding eradication of the LTTE in the country. This is equal to US's policy projected globally, regarding Islam extremists.
Eradicating Terrorism
The same positive approach Sri Lanka pursued in eradicating terrorism should be shown in dealings with the accusations emitted by the West. At present, although the LTTE terrorism or the armed Tamil extremists are extinct, Tamil communalism is actively evident. Tamil communalists led by Rudrakumaran, domiciled in the US, are now attempting to establish an Eelam state in exile. The Global Tamil Forum which met in Britain hopes to establish Eelam (a separate state) in Sri Lanka by adopting various other measures other than terrorism. Sri Lanka is now facing this challenge. Here again the country should resort to its policy adopted when it defeated the LTTE. The country was able to crush the LTTE, by placing the eradication of terrorism as a government policy and bringing to world to its senses. It did not directly yield to any international pressure. If the Mahinda Rajapakse government did not adopt this steady and unwavering attitude towards the LTTE, it would never have been possible to defeat the outfit. A clear example is the tenure of Chandrika Kumaratunga's regime. During this period, the Sri Lankan Government's policy only showed the global community, the foolishness of its agenda by launching military operations and on the other hand talking of peace. Sri Lanka projected to the world that its policy is launching limited military offensives is a necessity prior to commencement of negotiations. Accordingly, the offensives were launched not to defeat terrorism but to hold discussions with the terrorists, in order to form a separate state or in other words a federal administration. If the same policy was adopted by the Rajapakse government, Prabhakaran would still be among the living.
In this instance, the government should take an example from its own strategy followed to annihilate the LTTE. The demand for an Eelam or separate state by Tamil communalists is based on the myth of Tamil homeland concept. Even Nelam Tiruchelvam identified the Tamil aspirations of Tamils from the platform of the so-called Tamil homeland. The government should respond to the pressures exerted by Eelamists and Western governments by disclosing to the world, by destroying the myth of the Tamil homeland. When this is accomplished, the global community or the West would be in the same situation which it faced at the time when the Rajapakse government forged ahead with the war to defeat terrorism. This is where Iraq failed. If Iraq too openly put forward to the international community a clear-cut policy regarding nuclear arms then the NATO Forces would not have been able to invade Iraq.
Homeland Concept
Sri Lanka should now forge ahead to defeat the present covert moves of the Tamil Eelamists, by taking this as an example. The Sri Lanka Government should adopt as a policy that a historical Tamil homeland concept is a mere myth. The fight against the Eelam concept should commence from this point to preserve the unitary and sovereign status of the country. This would definitely put a check on the wild outburst of Eelamists and other international forces who try to pressurize Sri Lanka.
If the international community is convinced that Tamil Homeland is nothing but a fiction then they would not have further dealings with these Eelamists. This has to be done to bring the Western colonialists to their senses.

Iraq, Afghan Wars Put Cracks in US Society

2012-01-23T00:53:00.000-08:00

Fighting at several fronts simultaneously always results in what the Western, particularly US, forces are suffering these days. While trying to overawe the world with their power, the US policy makers forget that if the victims of wars are humans on one hand; on the other, those who kill are also humans in the end.
Conspiracies and Controversies
How strong the killer can be mentally and how brutal he can be, is evidently manifest from the US wars and conspiracies in Iraq, Afghanistan and other regions of the world. He who kills also has a heart under his ribs. He sees youths, aged ones and specially women soaked in blood with the burst of bullets from his own gun.
At such occasions the victim is recoiling for his life and the enemy cannot do anything for him despite wanting to. Then, when a solitary moment invades the killer and he falls into speech with himself, his conscience riddles him with numberless questions. He finds excuses for what he has done but his conscience, rejecting all these excuses one after the other, renders him answerless and hounds him day and night. Consequently, he has no other option but to kill himself or to kill the one who forced him to do so.
That is why things are happening in the US Army which had never been expected. For instance, last year, 128 US soldiers committed suicide and we hear that this number is expected to rise this year. In addition to the suicides, we have also had the incident of Fort Hood, military base in Texas. In this incident, Major Nidal Malik suddenly opened fire and killed his 12 colleagues, injuring several others. After this incident, President Obama had to lower the US flag in mourning.
Fears and Psychological Problems
According to the available information, Major Nidal was a Palestinian; however, he was born and bred in the United States. Contrary to the wishes of his parents, he joined US Army. He was a psychiatrist in the Army. He specially treated the soldiers returning from Iraq or Afghanistan. The soldiers returning from war are victim to different fears and psychological problems. It is said that he was also being harassed because he was of Palestinian origin. This time around, the decision had been taken to send him to Iraq; however, he did not want to go there. We cannot rule out the possibility that he was horrified by the likely scenes of the killing of the Muslims before his very eyes or at the hands of the foreign troops, as he was a Muslim.
According to his cousin, Nadir Hasan, Nidal had also been trying to get rid of the Army; he had also acquired the services of military attorney and was willing to return the entire salaries he had received during his service. Responding to question by Fox News, K Billy Jason, senator from Texas, expressed the view: "It is not that Nidal was fed up with the Army's service. I think, his appointed in the war-hit areas had horrified him." However, rejecting this view, Nadir Hasan told CNN that it was not so at all. He also told that Nidal had never been a violent person.
Suicides and Incidents of Violence
Several commanders of the US Army admit that fact that the suicides and incidents of violence in the Army are a result of the stress and revulsion which the more than one appointments of the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are engendering. General Peter W Chiarelli, vice chief of staff of the US Army, calls this Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which has spread through the soldiers, as a wound from the war. This disease is a painful mixture of anxiety and revulsion. He has requested his commanders to take this matter seriously and not to taunt any soldier who may be victim to this disease for being weak.
It is to be noted here that, after 2008, the percentage of PTSD and psychological shock among the US troops present in Iraq and Afghanistan has reached 58 percent. These statistics have been released by the US Army itself. According to these statistics, 30 percent military men are those who may not be complete victims to PTSD but they do bear sings of this disease.
Expressing concern over the rising number of victims of this disease, Admiral Michael Mullen, too, admits that Pentagon is considering different ways to deal with this problem. Michael Mullen has said last week that several soldiers, who are victim to this or a similar disorder, either do not go to their doctors or keep their symptoms secret, as they fear that if this secret is divulged, their careers will be affected. He assured them that this disorder is temporary and they can get rid of it or can minimize its effects with instant treatment.
The relatives of the soldiers sent on these wars have become another problem for the US Administration. Very often they glow with rage; particularly, their wives take it out on the officers of their husbands for sending them to war as many as six times. Even when they are here, they are forced to take constant training, they complain. They are not given as much time as they could talk us.
The ex-military men of the United States are also extremely concerned over this matter. They say that because of the irregularities of Iraq war after 2007, the Army is on the verge of disintegrating; however, the military commanders say that they have started to relieve the soldiers' mental stress, as they are now allowed opportunities to give more time to their homes.
The Afghan war is in its ninth year now; while, considering the condition of the US Army in Iraq, the question of the US image has divided its society. Very likely, these wars had affected Major Nidal Malik mentally.
Colonel Terry Lee, a colleague of Nidal, told Fox News that Nidal had been anxious over US Army's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. He had hoped that President Obama will stop these wars and withdraw the forces; however, when his hope was reduced to disappointment, he grew more anxious and frustrated. He further said that Nidal would never hide his ideas about these wars.
Media and Psychological Tactics
When we look at this situation, it becomes obvious that it is not the rest of the world alone that believes that the United States has no excuse for these wars, but the majority of the American society and the US troops, who have been made fuel for these wars, too, believe the same. They are being forced into hell against their will. As regards forcing wars on both these countries, the heads of the United States and the United Kingdom have tried to build a wall on the foundation of lies. They had believed that using their media and psychological tactics they will lend credibility to this wall.
However, this idea of theirs is turning out to be a mere illusion. These wars have not only put cracks in the American society but have also reduced its Army to a crowd of psychiatric patients. It is about time that the US policy makers and President Obama took popular decisions.

Malaysia-China Bilateral Cooperation

2012-01-22T08:31:00.000-08:00

Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Liu Jian pointed out that although Malaysia and China have signed a bilateral agreement on higher education cooperation, there were some unresolved issues between the two. These unresolved issues included the mutual recognition of each other's university degrees and academic qualifications. He added that on this issue, China has no problem. China has maintained a positive attitude toward higher education cooperation with Malaysia and hoped that Malaysia could recognize the Chinese universities discussed in a full-fledge manner.
During the media gathering and lunch hosted by Ambassador Liu Jian at his official residence, the Chinese envoy said it was not easy for Malaysia and China to engage in higher education cooperation. However, having a signed agreement could allow both countries to adjust the agreed upon principle and direction to work through it gradually. He said the positive meaning of the signed bilateral agreement on higher education should not be underestimated.
Hopes To Resolve Differences in Stages
Ambassador Liu Jian hoped that on bilateral higher education cooperation issue, both countries could engage more dialogues and exchanges so that the pending problems on higher education issue could be resolved in stages. He hoped that eventually both nations could turn the black and white agreement into action plan.
He added that there were few thousand Malaysian students pursuing higher degrees in China but on the other hand, the number of Chinese students pursuing higher degrees in Malaysian universities was not many. This was because the Chinese students were concerned that their qualifications were not recognized by the Malaysian university authority. This issue has become an obstacle for both countries to pursue higher education cooperation
"The question of how soon the bilateral higher education cooperation agreement can be materialized will depend on the special effort taken by both countries to work doubly hard on resolving the differences. The education authority from both nations should have more contact and more discussion on this bilateral higher education issue because it is an important issue."
Peaceful Negation To Settle Island Territorial Dispute
As for the territorial dispute over the Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands in South China Sea), Ambassador Liu Jean pointed out that China has always advocated the use of peaceful negotiation and consultation method to resolve the maritime territorial conflicts. This would avoid affecting the broader relationship between China and relevant countries, including Malaysia.
He said that China and Malaysia have reached consensus not to take unilateral action to resolve the territorial dispute on these islands besides using negotiation method. He added that such measure could avoid the maritime territorial issue to turn more complicated than necessary.
Important Message at CPPCC/NPC Session
Ambassador Liu Jian also pointed out to the local media who attended the media lunch hosted by him of the four important messages sent out by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to the local and international media at the press conference held at the end of China's People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and NPC (National People's Congress) joint session.
He said the most important point of Wen's message was that China would continue to take effective measure to continue coping with global financial crisis to ensure China's economy could continue to grow within this year. Ambassador Liu Jian believed that the assurance of a balanced growth of China's economy would not only benefit China, but also the region and the world. A balanced economic growth in China would also help to further speed up global economic recovery.
At the media dialogue held at the Chinese Ambassador's official residence, Ambassador Liu Jian said China's economy in 2009 has achieved better performance than expected. Such achievement amid global financial crisis was not easy to attain. However, it has also indicated that the strategy and policy taken by China to curb global financial crisis was workable.
"This year, the international financial still consists of many uncertain factors. China will also face with similar problems. Nevertheless, China has already taken effective measure to prepare for it. We will do our best to coordinate economic growth with domestic development and economic restructuring, including the handling of inflation, people's livelihood and social justice issue."
Ambassador Liu Jian said the second message of Premier Wen Jiabao at that press conference was that since the global economic situation in 2009 was unstable, China would continue to take a serious and responsible attitude and work with the international community together to jointly resolve the world's major economic and political issues. China would work with the international community to build a new international economic and political order.
He said that the third message of Premier Wen Jiabao was that although the process of modernization would take China a long period to achieve it, but China would continue to insist to take its own path to move along an open and reformed path.
"Although China's economic development has grown faster than the region. China remains a developing country. The development of China at district areas was uneven. Besides, China has a huge population. There is income disparity in China. The economic base of China remains weak. It will take a lot strength and long period of time for China to fulfill its modernization goal."
Ambassador Liu Jian pointed out that Premier Wen Jaibao's fourth message for the media was that in the future, China would continue to insist carrying out its independent and peaceful emergent diplomatic policy.
"The approach we want to take is peaceful emergence. We want to create opportunities to work with other nations through cooperation. We want to take the win-win path to gain mutual benefit. Such development is very important in the development of China-Malaysia bilateral relationship. As Premier Wen Jiabao said, even when China became strong and developed, China would not want to call itself a superpower. Such assurance will never change. China's emergence would not pose any threat to other country. China would instead bring new benefit to the international society."
Transform Free Trade Area Pressure
Ambassador Liu Jian said that since the official launch of ASEAN-China Free Trade Area on 1 January 2010, some Chinese enterprises, especially the agricultural product businesses have also felt the free trade pressure. He said he could understand that some ASEAN countries and some industries would also feel the free trade pressure. However, he felt such trade pressure was normal.
"For some ASEAN countries and some industries that make similar products as to what Chinese manufacturers produce to have fear and competition pressure is normal. However we should look at the overall situation. When trade pressure appears, the industries should push themselves forward and try to improve their competitiveness and improve productivity structure."
Ambassador Liu Jian believed that after going through a period of adjustment and interaction, these industries could eventually overcome their trade pressure.
Central Bank Monetary Agreement Mutually Beneficial
Ambassador Liu Jian said that in 2009, the central bank of Malaysia and China signed a bilateral monetary agreement that carried a total value of M$ 40 billion ringgit.
Ambassador Liu Jian hoped that the central banks or financial institutions of both nations could further cooperate along this area to create a more favorable environment for bilateral trade.
As for the development of Malaysia-China relationship, he said that the bilateral development between the two countries has set off a new upsurge in more friendly bilateral ties since 2009. He said the good relationship between Malaysia and China was because the national leaders from both countries have attained great importance to it. Besides, the response of the local media and active participation of the local community have contributed to it. At this juncture, Ambassador Liu Jain thanked the Malaysia media for their long-term interest and support for the friendship between Malaysia and China.
Recently, was the year we witnessed speedy bilateral development between the two countries. Malaysia and China made good use of the opportunity of the 35th anniversary celebration of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties to realize mutual visits by top national leaders of the two countries. It was during that year that both countries had signed many cooperation agreements to cooperate with each other.
Cooperation in Economic, Trade, Culture and Education
Ambassador Liu Jian said Malaysia and China have deepened cooperation in economics, trade, culture, education cooperation. Despite global financial crisis in 2009, the bilateral trade volume between Malaysia and China has reached an impressive US$52 billion. For the first time, Malaysia said China become Malaysia's largest import country. As for cultural and humanity exchange, especially in tourism field, he said in 2009, as many as 30 million Chinese nationals have traveled abroad but only 1 million of them visited Malaysia. .As such there was room for both countries to develop deeper tourism cooperation.
He also said that China planned to push the exchange of visits and bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and China's political parties, cabinet ministers and parliamentarians to higher level in order to bring more real mutual benefits and for Malaysia-China bilateral ties to attain yet another new milestone.
Chinese Businesses Must Understand Investment Environment in Malaysia. (Sub-heading)
On Chinese investment in Malaysia, Ambassador Liu Jian hoped that the businesses and enterprises in China would not lose confidence to invest in Malaysia because of certain technical problems. He said the biggest problem faced by Chinese investors in Malaysia was the difference in national conditions, difference in national cultural background and large gap between the two countries' legal systems. He hoped that the Malaysian Chinese Chamber of Commerce and local businesses could help the Chinese businesses understand the investment environment in Malaysia objectively, accurately and comprehensively
Mutual Adjustment To Find Win-Win Solution
It is normal for Chinese companies to Malaysia to find incompatible environment or holding different trade opinions. After going through a period of adjustment they should be able to adapt to each other's trade practice. In addition, both parties should also promote more dialogue, exchange and mutual adjustment to find acceptable solution.
Ambassador Liu Jian said that all along, Malaysian investors in China have outnumbered the Chinese investors in Malaysia. However, the new trend now is for more and more Chinese investors wanting to invest overseas. He pointed out that in 2009, China's investment in Malaysia has increased many folds. The total Chinese investment in Malaysia reached $18 million in 2009. The total cumulated investment volume of Chinese in Malaysia was $3.9 billion.
In fact, it is only in recent years that the Chinese enterprises begin to invest in Malaysia. Most of the people I have come into contacts with feel that there is a great development opportunity for Chinese enterprises to invest in Malaysia.

Bangladesh Fast Moving Toward Great Disaster

2012-01-21T04:00:00.000-08:00

Bangladesh is moving toward great disaster. On one hand, startling activities of the Awami League government has begun in the name of amending the constitution, and on the other the apex court is being made the judicial sister concern of the Awami League in cold-blood through well-drawn out plan. Such irregular incidents are being taken place in the apex court because of the order of the Awami government from the remote-controlled that have not been seen in the local and foreign judiciary in recent times. A person who was the president of Gopalganj unit of the Awami League for 18 years has been appointed the judge to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. His name is Shamsul Huda. As he is very close to the Awami League, therefore, Shamsul Huda has been appointed to the Appellate Division superseding 51 judges of the high court. In the same way, a judge of the high court named Mamtaj Uddin has been appointed to the Appellate Division superseding 47 judges.

According to the experienced, there is no precedence of such blatant suppression in the seven countries under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The incident of violating seniority in appointing chief justice has been identified as the black stain of infamy. Before that A.B.M. Khairul Haque had been appointed the chief justice superseding two senior judges of the Appellate Division. Shah Mohammad Naimur Rahman and justice M.A. Matin were seniors to him. Feeling shame and humiliation Abdul Matin went on a long vacation and took the retirement while on leave. After the violation of seniority Shah Mohammad Naimur Rahman was the seniormost judge in the Appellate Division. Educated and concerned people thought that although the Awami League was not fair to him in the first turn, Sheikh Hasina would straight up her injustice and unfairness in the second turn. But after the retirement of Khairul Haque, Mozammel Hossain has been appointed the chief justice superseding Naimur Rahman again. In protest of this acute injustice and unfairness justice Naimur Rahman has resigned. This resignation protesting the violation of seniority in the apex court is unprecedented in the subcontinent.
Let God Save Judiciary
This is not said by the Weekly Sonar Bangla. This prayer has been uttered by Advocate Khandakar Mahbub Hossain, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association. He also said: "Justice Khairul Haque has murdered the judiciary in cold-blood". A huge anarchy has consumed the Supreme Court. Pro-Awami attorney general and pro-Awami minor part of the Bar Association have given reception to the two newly appointed judges superseding 51 and 47 judges. Thirty-five judges of the Hugh Court abstained from joining that reception. Chairs in the front row were vacant as they did not join. One of the senior justices Nazrul Islam was standing in the back row. Then, chief justice Khairul Haque requested him to sit-in the front row but he did not keep that request. With courtesy he said: "My Lord, Please forgive me." Such incident is also unprecedented in the high court or Supreme Court.
Elected Bar Association wanted to hold reception for the outgoing chief justice Khairul Haque. But M. Khairul Haque did not go to their reception. Then, the Bar Association held the "gayebana (offered in absence of anyone according to Islamic traditions) reception" in his absence. In giving speech in this gayebana reception Bar Association president Advocate Khandakar Mahbub Hossain said after taking the responsibility as the chief justice you have represented the Awami League in the last seven months. Justice Haque has destroyed the judiciary. At the same time he is saying good-bye putting the country in great disaster by destroying the constitution. We pray that the God save the judiciary from your destructive activities. Terming the chief justice ABM Khairul Haque as a cunning man of cold-blood president of the bar association also said the chief justice is a very gentle and kind man. At the same time he is cunning. Like killing people in cold-blood he has murdered the judiciary. Khandakar Mahbub Hossain said after the assumption of power by the Awami League not a single institution is out of politicization. The Appellate Division is also made the part of the Awami League. Being appointed as the guardian of the judiciary the chief justice Khairul Haque had represented the Awami League in his full tenure. After issuing verdict against the government in a bench of the high court he has written the nasty part of politicization by stripping off the power of that bench. Taken decisions in the executive council of the Awami League are being implemented through the Appellate Division. Taking the advantage of annulment of the Fifth Amendment Article 96 of the constitution has been reinstated. As a result, the judiciary has come under the government. The judiciary has faced the massive problem. For these reasons you have to seek forgiveness to the nation.
Judiciary and Administration Are on Verge of Ruining
Noted lawyer of Bangladesh Dr Kamal Hossain directly complained that the judiciary and administration are at the verge of ruining due to excessive politicization. People are not getting justice in the apex court. Daughter of Dr Kamal Hossain, Barrister Sarah Hossain, in a talk show of the television said that she is unable to understand why verdicts to some political cases are being given selectively. It is seen that in every verdict one side is getting satisfied while the other side is getting discontented. Indirectly indicating to Justice Khairul Haque Barrister Sarah Hossain said the way he is giving one-sided verdicts against the political cases, it seems he has not thought where he is pushing the country.
Double Standard in Declaring Verdict in Political Cases
Khairul Haque has declared verdicts to three outstandingly vital political lawsuits. These three lawsuits are: Fifth Amendment to the constitution, Seventh Amendment, and 13th Amendment. All three amendments are being annulled. If the amendments were annulled on the legal aspect fully then those would be discussed from different point of view. But, in fact, it is seen that in each of the three lawsuits the verdicts are given in such a way that in all the three verdicts it is the Awami League that becomes the benefactor unexpectedly and hugely. Although firmness has been shown externally on the question of legal aspect, if these three verdicts are reviewed then it is seen that Khairul Haque has left enough space for Awami League for maneuvering in all the verdicts. The main theme of the annulment of Fifth Amendment was that martial law is illegitimate and unconstitutional. When it was said that the Fifth Amendment was given approval by the Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) by necessary margin according to the constitution then counter logic was given that that election of Jatiya Sangsad was held under the martial law. Therefore the second Jatiya Sangsad election held in 1979 is illegitimate and the formed Jatiya Sangsad through illegitimate election is also illegitimate. For that reason, that Jatiya Sangsad has no legal right to approve. But for General Ershad that Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, i.e., Khairul Haque has practiced a mysterious silence. Third Jatiya Sangsad election was held on 7 May 1986 and that election was also held under the martial law of Ershad. Then Ershad became the president through another election under the martial law on October 1986. Both parties Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Awami League boycotted that election. Silence has been maintained in the final verdict of the Seventh Amendment regarding the legitimacy of the Jatiya Sangsad election held in 1986 and the president election held in the same year. If the Jatiya Sangsad election held under Zia in 1979 is illegitimate then both the Jatiya Sangsad election and president election held in the Ershad period are illegitimate and unlawful. But Khairul Haque bypassed that issue. Is it for this reason that Ershad is the coalition partner of the Awami League government?
Prof Asif Nazrul of Law of University of Dhaka raised a vital question in a talk show aired on Bangla vision at midnight on of 16 May on the basis of constitution and Jatiya Sangsad. He said that all political questions could not be weighed against the standard of law. Existing reality is needed to be taken into consideration as well. There is no system in the constitution called martial law. Based on this logic if several governments and parliaments become illegitimate then the election of 1970 is also become illegitimate. Because that election was held during the martial law of General Yahya Khan and under the Legal Framework Order promulgated by Gen Yahya Khan as the chief martial law administrator. The election of 1970 was held under the martial law. The main responsibilities of those who became the members of the then National Council wining in that election were to frame the constitution of Pakistan. At that time Bangladesh has not become independent. Therefore, their job was not to frame the constitution of Bangladesh. Asif Nazrul said these are all legal statements. But the hard reality is that Bangladesh has become independent through armed struggle. Therefore that legal version of law is not applicable to Bangladesh.
Political Face of Khairul Haque Is Revealing
For obvious reasons questions have been surfaced that if the deeds under the Fifth Amendment are declared null and void against the logic that the Fifth Amendment is the outcome of martial law then why did not Khairul Haque declare the Fourth Amendment, i.e., BKSAL system (Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League -- a political platform launched in 1975 amalgamating all the political parties) as illegitimate? Khairul Haque called the named of president Zia in the verdict of annulling the Fifth Amendment. But he did utter a single word against the massive autocratic step like BKSAL. In replying question regarding this he said the scope of his trial was 15 August 1975 to 9 April 1979. No period before or after that. If that is the case, would he provide reply that his main theme of consideration was whether the Moon Cinema Hall was to be returned to its owner or not. But he talked off the subject. That means, in returning the cinema hall he declared all rules, including Mostaque, Sayem, and Zia. He saved Ershad tactfully in annulling the Seventh Amendment and in annulling the 13th Amendment, i.e., caretaker government he has ensured its existence for another two terms. BNP leader M.K. Anwar and Moudud Ahmed have said for sure that none has made so much harm to the judicial system along with country that Khairul Haque did. This loss is not to be fulfilled easily.

World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012

2012-01-20T08:43:00.000-08:00

The United Nations has warned that the world is on the brink of another recession, projecting that global economic growth will slow down further in 2012 and even emerging powerhouses like India and China, which led the recovery last time, will get bogged down.
The UN “World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012” report has cut the global growth forecast for next year to 2.6 per cent from 4 per cent in 2010.
It has called 2012 a "make-or-break" year for the global economy, which will face a "muddle-through" scenario and continue to grow at a slow pace.
"Following two years of anaemic and uneven recovery from the global financial crisis, the world economy is teetering on the brink of another major downturn," the UN report said, warning that "the risks for a double-dip recession have heightened".
The report said the failure of policymakers, especially those in Europe and the United States, to address the jobs crisis, prevent sovereign debt distress and escalation of financial sector fragility poses the most acute risk for the global economy in 2012-13.
GDP Growth
Growth in developing countries like India and China, which had stoked the engine of the world economy so far, will also slow down to 5.6 per cent in 2012 from 7.5 per cent in 2010
"Developing countries are expected to be further affected by the economic woes in developed countries through trade and financial channels," the report said. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in China and India is expected to "remain robust, but to decelerate," it said.
India's economy is expected to expand by between 7.7 per cent and 7.9 per cent in 2012-13, down from 9.0 per cent in 2010. In China, growth slowed from 10.4 per cent in 2010 to 9.3 per cent in 2011 and is projected to slow further to below 9 per cent in 2012-13.
Notably, the United Nations has revised its 2012 prediction downward for every major country. It projected 1.3 per cent growth for the US (down 0.7 per cent from its last forecast), 1.5 per cent for Japan (down 1.3 per cent), 0.5 per cent for the 27-nation European Union (down 0.8 per cent) and 8.7 per cent for China (down 0.2 per cent).
Persistent Weaknesses
The report stated that a serious, renewed global downturn is looming because of persistent weaknesses in major developed economies on account of problems left unresolved in the aftermath of the recession of 2008-2009. It said that most developed country governments have indiscriminately switched from fiscal stimulus to premature austerity measures. This has further weakened global aggregate demand, already nurtured by persistent high unemployment.
Financial and Commodity Markets
Additionally, the economic woes in Europe and the US are exacerbating volatility in international financial and commodity markets and slowing growth in developing countries. All of these weaknesses are present and reinforce each other, but a further worsening of one of them could set off a vicious circle leading to severe financial turmoil and a renewed global recession for 2012-13.
The report outlines several policy directions that could avoid a double-dip recession, including the optimal design of fiscal policies to stimulate more direct job creation and investment in infrastructure, energy efficiency and sustainable energy supply, stronger financial safety nets, better coordination between fiscal and monetary policies, as well as providing sufficient support to developing countries for addressing the fallout from the crisis.

Corporate Governance in India: Aims and Objectives

2012-01-19T20:37:00.000-08:00

Corporate governance, in plain terms, refers to the rules, processes, or laws by which businesses are operated, regulated, and controlled. The term can refer to internal factors defined by the officers, stockholders or constitution of a corporation, as well as to external forces such as consumer groups, clients, and government regulations.
However, an enforced corporate governance provides a structure that, at least in theory, works for the benefit of everyone concerned by ensuring that the enterprise adheres to accepted ethical standards and best practices as well as to formal laws. To that end, organizations have been formed at the regional, national, and global levels.
In recent times, corporate governance has received increased attention because of high-profile scandals involving abuse of corporate power and, in some cases, alleged criminal activity by corporate officers. An integral part of an effective corporate governance regime includes provisions for civil or criminal prosecution of individuals who conduct unethical or illegal acts in the name of the enterprise.
Aims and Objectives
It is said that good corporate governance helps an organization achieve several objectives and some of the more important ones include:
• Developing appropriate strategies that result in the achievement of stakeholder objectives
• Attracting, motivating and retaining talent
• Creating a secure and prosperous operating environment and improving operational performance
• Managing and mitigating risk and protecting and enhancing the company’s reputation.
Some aspects covered in the poll include:
• Corporate governance regulations in India
• Corporate governance concerns in India and role of independent directors and audit committees in
addressing these concerns
• Board practices, board oversight of risk management and the importance given to integrity and ethical
values
• Practices that are fundamental to improved corporate governance.
In comparison with developed countries that impose stringent penal and criminal consequences for poor corporate governance, penalty levels in India are considered to be inadequate to enforce good governance. 71 percent of the respondents considered penalty levels to discipline poor and unethical governance to be low. 22 percent of the respondents were either undecided or did not know if the penalty levels are low.
Enforcing Clause 49
In recent years, more and more Indian companies have been raising capital overseas by getting themselves listed on international stock exchanges. These efforts have been accompanied by the Indian government's drive to attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Both factors have gone hand in hand with the realization that if Indian companies want more access to global capital markets, they will need to make their operations and financial results more transparent. In other words, they will need to improve their standards of corporate governance.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which regulates India's stock markets, took a major step in this direction a year ago. It asked Indian firms above a certain size to implement Clause 49, a regulation that strengthens the role of independent directors serving on corporate boards. Have these steps made a difference to corporate governance in Indian firms?
Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a concept through which organizations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact their activities have on customers, suppliers, employees, communities and the environment. This responsibility goes beyond compliance with regulations and is about organizations voluntarily taking further steps to improve the quality of life for employees as well as for the local community and society at large.47 percent of the respondents believe that CSR is not high on the agenda of Indian companies. Thirty percent of the respondents were undecided on this aspect.
Integrity and Ethical Values
Indian companies have been focusing on code of conduct and whistle blower mechanism as a fundamental of good governance. Respondents were asked if similar importance was given to integrity and ethical values. Majority of the respondents say that although Indian companies give similar importance to integrity and ethical values, significant scope exists to enhance integrity and ethical values within the organization and the eco-system.
Effectiveness of Corporate Governance
Monitoring the effectiveness of corporate governance practices is also a key concept emerging in India. We asked respondents who should monitor the effectiveness of corporate governance practices. Forty-seven percent of the respondents believe that effectiveness of corporate governance should be monitored by way of corporate governance audits carried out by corporate governance specialists. Twenty-six percent of the respondents believe that it should be monitored by the boards themselves through self-assessment tools. Fifteen percent of the respondents believe that the monitoring should be by way of investors / minority shareholder groups having access to full information and another 12 percent believed that the monitoring should be through rating agencies.
Factors To Improve Corporate Governance
• 85 percent of the respondents think that the remuneration of Chief Executive
Officers (CEO) should be significantly linked to company performance
• Most respondents believe that while steps at introducing the code of conduct
and whistle blower policy have been introduced, there exists a significant need
to enhance integrity and ethical values in the larger eco-system
• 72 percent of the respondents believe it is necessary for an independent and
transparent process to evaluate performance of board members
• Two-thirds believe that exclusive sessions of independent directors are essential
• 47 percent feel that the effectiveness of corporate governance should be
monitored through audits by corporate governance specialists.

Government’s Initiatives
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has proposed the New Companies Bill 2008 which aims to improve corporate governance by vesting greater powers in shareholders. These have been balanced by greater emphasis on self-regulation, minimization of regulatory approvals and increased and more transparent disclosures. 53 percent of the respondents believe that the new Companies Act might have a limited or insignificant impact in addressing contemporary corporate governance issues in India. 28 percent of the respondents believe that its impact is likely to be positive. The remaining 19 percent were undecided.
In October 2011, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs said it was in favor of introducing a corporate governance index that would offer rankings to companies adopting governance standards. The index would offer rankings for corporate houses adopting governance standards.
The Ministry was keen to introduce a corporate governance policy to take forward the government's efforts towards better governance in companies. It had been worked out and the competition law would be revisited and amendments would be introduced soon.
Supreme Court’s Verdict
In May 2011, the Supreme Court has given a very fair judgment, with far-reaching implications both for the government and India Inc., in the Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) vs RNRL gas pricing case. It has established unequivocally that the production sharing contract between the government and RIL overrides any private memorandum of understanding arrived at between two individuals. In short, it refused to give sanctity to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two Ambani brothers. This principle had to be established in the interest of corporate governance or it would have created havoc in the corporate world with promoters of public limited, quoted companies coming together and signing MoUs without a care for the shareholders and other stake holders in the company. Till today the shareholders have not okayed the MoU entered into between Mukesh and Anil Ambani when they divided between themselves the empire created by their father, Dhirubhai Ambani.The second important aspect of the judgment is that the natural resources of a country belong to the government and the government has the right to price it and prioritize the beneficiaries. While it is a well known fact, even internationally, that natural resources belong to the government, the government as a monopoly has the sacred responsibility to put the interest of the nation before everything else when deciding on its use and sale price. This is where the judgment has implications that go beyond the Ambani brothers. The petroleum minister has expressed his happiness that the apex court has upheld his contention that the gas in this case belongs to the government and RIL is only a contractor who can market the product. But it will be the government that will decide at what price it should market it, and to whom it should market it. This is a double-edged sword.

Health, Development and Human Rights in India

2012-01-18T04:53:00.000-08:00

The improvement in the indices of health and development for India has been incredible. Yet for millions hunger is routine and the loss of their livelihoods not newsworthy. While medical services impact the health of individuals, the factors associated with longevity of populations are social and economic.
Education and sponsorship which determine access to work contribute to occupational inequality, which, in turn, leads to socioeconomic outcomes. These sequences operate as a cycle of relative socioeconomic privilege and deprivation transmitting inequalities from one generation to the text.
In fact, health and economic development are dynamically interlinked. Low-income countries have poor healthcare facilities. On the other hand, a high proportion of the population with ill health breeds poverty as these societies lack the basic tools such as medicine, fertilizer, credit, etc., to move out of deprivation through development.
However, the relationship between economic development and income inequality takes the form of an inverted U-turn. Income inequality increases during the early phase of development when the main mechanism of growth is the increase in physical capitals and the fact that resources are allocated to those who save and invest. During later stages of development, this inequality reduces on account of mass education, rural-to-urban and agriculture-to-industry migration and also due to social policies of Governments of mature economies which invest in human capital. The income inequality during the early phase, in fact, exacerbates poverty.
However, rising inequality will eventually put pressure on the Government to rectify the situation using the high incomes attained in the later stages of development. The disparities, as is currently happening in India, tend to split society.
Vulnerability to Ill-Health
The World Health Organization (WHO) has argued that health and human rights are inextricably linked. Violation of human rights can have serious health consequences. Vulnerability to ill-health can be reduced by taking steps to protect such rights (rights to healthy education, housing and freedom from discrimination). It argues that we need to apply a human rights-based approach to health care.
Nevertheless, human rights largely remain the concern of specialist lawyers in the country. In recent years, however, there is increased recognition in the public health community that human rights provide a useful framework for ensuring the conditions in which people can be healthy.
Improvement in health care has been an important part in the overall strategy for socioeconomic development over the planning period. Significant demographic changes and epidemiology shifts have occurred but the health scenario in India is still at crossroads with a wide gap between demand and supply of health services. Some measures of success have been achieved on the communities diseases especially in the case of tuberculosis and leprosy in the case of vector borne diseases, concerted efforts are being made both the Central and State Government under the program while under AIDS, the major strategy has been to build up infrastructure and go in for targeted interventions.
As far as development is concerned, the vibrant economy is a reflection of success of India’s middle and upper classes. They form the engine which is driving the country’s development and evoke the image of a shining India. The hope is that the growth of the economy will also uplift the poor, albeit in a trickle-down effect. While poverty based on headcount has reduced, deprivation, defined as the disparity between base and mean consumption, is increasing in the country.

Model for Human Rights
In the present situation, human rights have attained a new meaning—an accepted phenomenon now. But the irony is that everything encompassed by the motion of human rights is subject of controversy.
India is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN in 1948, just a year after the country attained Independence. It signified the new republic’s resolve to follow the path of democracy, which would ensure human rights to its citizens, despite doubts expressed by leading statesmen of developed democracies about the success of such an experiment in India.
India’s venture was unique in many respects. Democracy was adopted in many countries after completing the phase of industrialization with the launching of the first Five-Year Plan in 1951, and soon after held a general election, on the basis of adult franchise.
Many advanced western nations introduced women suffrage and voting rights to all citizens much after the India did. India has the most diversity in the world—religious, linguistic and racial—united under a democratic set-up.
Yet, threats to individual freedom are formidable. Religious intolerance, caste tensions, regional chauvinism, terror threats, detentions without trial, poverty amidst plenty, crime against women, custodial deaths, corruption in public life and attendant evils constantly violate human rights.
The promise that India had initially showed in the field of human rights and the type of democratic institutions it has evolved, has won it international recognition. For these reasons, it was elected a member of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, which had replaced the Commission on Human Rights in June 2006 by securing 173 out of 191 votes of the UN General Assembly, the maximum number of votes.
The rights of the poor can never compete against the might of the rich. The huge toll on the underprivileged during the initial stages of development needs to be factored into the country’s economic planning. Macroeconomic policies which protect sectors of the economy which are not able to face the sudden opening up of markets and a phased and carefully planned changeover.
The promotion of the healthcare, social and economic right of the poor is the most important human rights struggle of our times. We should think about human rights in the context of India’s public health. It needs to be realized that a higher standard of human rights is in the best national interest. India need not search for a model elsewhere. It should aspire to be a model for others.

Pakistan Faces Chaotic Situation

2012-01-17T01:10:00.000-08:00

At present, Pakistan is facing such a chaotic situation that no other Islamic country has faced such crisis. There is not a single but numerous problems, which are of grave concern to 160 million Muslims. There is not a single but so many reasons behind it, and not a single party, person, or group can reform it. However, the government can establish peace in the country. All people are suffering from the economic recession. Undoubtedly, provincial, national, and religious problems have made people worried. No other Islamic country is confronting both of these kinds of issues.
All military dictators have had to eventually face not only armed insurgencies but also large scale democratic movements. The reason behind this has little to do with Pakistanis being great admirers of democracy, because constant military interventions thwarting the evolution of the democratic process has not exactly produced a democratic polity. The main reason why military regimes have had to face intense political opposition in a not-very-democratic Pakistan is that Pakistan (unlike its monolithic military) is an extremely diverse entity with numerous ethnicities, Muslim sects and religions.
It has constantly waged brutal battles against Baloch nationalists (1960-62; 1973-77; 2003-); mercilessly wiped out whole villages with the help of tanks in the interior of Sindh (1983 MRD Movement); ran circles around MQM activists in Karachi (1992), and, of course, has been accused of engineering a genocide of Bengalis in the former East Pakistan in 1971.
Deepening Internal Conflict
The Pakistan Army remains in control of some key national policies such as nuclear weapons, Afghanistan, Jammu and Kashmir, and its hardware procurement. Over the years, it has also developed huge corporate interests and organizational autonomy. It does not allow its democratically elected government to interfere with them.
After every election and taking over the government, the political leaders and even the judiciary, scared of the Pakistani Army brass, tend to suck up to them. Even when Pakistan Army commits military and non military blunders, they have tried to cover and shield its leaders and image, never making anyone accountable. But whenever they have tried to assert or encroach upon Pakistan Army’s interests, they act clumsily and hand over the initiative to the Army on a platter. This has been repeated several times in Pakistan’s recent history.
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani tonight appeared to reach out to the army but the powerful Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is reported to have adopted a tough stance and wants withdrawal of his statements critical of the military.
With Kayani by his side, Gilani has said that all state institutions will be allowed to play their role, remarks seen as an attempt to resolve the tense stand-off between the civilian government and the military.
Gilani's seemingly conciliatory remarks came on a day when Kayani met President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency, in the midst of a tense stand-off between the military and the government over a move purportedly on behalf of Zardari seeking US help to avert an army coup.
Court’s Order to Gilani
Gilani’s continuance in office appeared to be in doubt after the Supreme Court has summoned him to appear in person on January 19 on contempt charges for failure to implement court order on reopening of a money-laundering case against President Asif Ali Zardari in a Swiss court.
The apex court’s order came hours before the Pakistan National Assembly adopted a pro-democracy resolution moved by ruling PPP-led coalition, which could act as a cosmetic booster for the embattled civilian government which is engaged in a tussle with both the powerful army and the influential judiciary.
Nawaz Sharif, who claims that he was not aware of General Pervez Musharraf’s Kargil plan and action, accompanied Musharraf to Pakistan’s Northern Areas to pacify local Baltis whose family members had been killed in Kargil action and whose dead bodies, Pakistan Army refused to accept from us. He defended Musharraf in public and accompanied him to several military stations.
Later, he tried to get rid of Musharraf in the clumsiest way possible. When Musharraf was returning from an official visit to Sri Lanka, he would not allow his plane to land at Karachi Airport and appointed a new Army Chief who was quite junior and unpopular with the establishment. The result: nine years of Army rule under Musharraf and the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif going to jail and then to exile.
Yousuf Raza Gilani, when appointed Prime Minister, went to call on the Army Chief General Kayani, instead of asking him to visit his office. He tried to place the ISI under civilian control but within 24 hours, he gave in to Kayani’s refusal. He gave Kayani an unheard of three years extension in office and two years extension to Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief General Shuja Pasha.
The ISI’s involvement in toppling civil governments, rigging elections, autonomous handling of foreign relations, vigilantism, picking up people and making them disappear is well known in Pakistan. Shuja Nawaz, in his book ‘Crossed Swords’, writes of a sworn affidavit filed by the Pakistani defense secretary in a High Court stating that ‘his ministry had no operational control over the two rogue agencies-ISI and Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)-and, therefore, was unable to enforce the court’s orders on either agency in matters relating to detentions’.
International Pressure

In fact, since the United States has started interference to achieve it heinous designs in the region, particularly in the Middle East, it has used Pakistan for its own interests. It has started interfering in the internal affairs of the country, and aired different kinds of evils. Resultantly, a Muslim has started coloring his hands with blood of another Muslim.
The only solution to this problem is that the US intervention should be stopped and Pakistan should develop good relations with neighbor countries of India, Afghanistan, Iran and China. Only then Pakistan will get rid of all these issues. At present, not only Pakistan but India, Afghanistan and Iran are also at the verge of terrorism and the United States wants to attack Iran. By carrying out this attack, it wants to fan the fire of sectarianism in Pakistan. The Pakistani Government and people should do nothing but to be united. Steps should be taken to curb these challenges.
Economic and Political Interests
The Pakistani Government's relations with Afghanistan are improving but not to great extent. The ways of communication have also been paved through trade agreements. We must say here that Afghanistan is in dire need of support from Pakistan, as both countries have common economic and political interests and are the need for each other. These needs can be fulfilled only when interference from the United States and other countries, having vested interests, is curbed. Then, there will be no danger of the US involvement in Iran.

Chinese Prime Minister Visits Nepal

2012-01-16T00:47:00.000-08:00

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao paid a visit to Nepal on January 14. Wen’s trip was conducted in complete secrecy and under heavy security lockdown with police and paramilitary forces deployed in strengths in and around the capital. The security forces had as a precautionary measure detained large number of Tibetan refugees apparently to bar them from holding demonstration. The trip has proven a milestone in the development of friendly ties between the two neighboring nations
Aid To Kathmandu
During his stay, China offered $135 million in aid to Nepal to beef up its infrastructure and security during a brief surprise visit by the Chinese prime minister.
Holding hectic parleys with Nepalese counterpart Baburam Bhattarai, President Ram Baran Yadav, Maoist chief Prachanda and leaders of other parties, Wen inked as many as eight agreements amid a virtual media blackout.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

Wen's trip was conducted in complete secrecy and under a security lockdown with police and paramilitary forces deployed in and around the capital. The security forces had, as a precautionary measure, detained a large number of Tibetan refugees.The delegation-level talks headed by Bhattarai and Wen were held in a cordial atmosphere and the two sides agreed to strengthen bilateral relations, expanding economic cooperation.Under a series of agreements, Beijing agreed to provide massive assistance for a number of

India-Israel Cooperation: Krishna’s Visit to Tel Aviv

2012-01-15T09:20:00.000-08:00

India and Israel have vowed to upgrade their relations in all fields amid the emphasis by External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on working out a joint strategy to "checkmate" the scourge of terrorism affecting both the countries. Krishna’s visit to Israel assumes significance because the last such trip took place in July 2000 when the then External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh traveled here.
The two countries signed an Extradition Treaty and a pact on Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners as Krishna wound up his two-day visit here, first by an Indian Foreign Minister in over a decade.
During his stay, Krishna met the top leadership including President Simon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu besides holding elaborate talks with his counterpart Avigdor Lieberman.
Landmark Visit
Krishna’s visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories earlier this week was a landmark one. In this India displayed, for the first time, open even-handedness, compromising neither its core interests nor core beliefs. In Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the external affairs minister candidly laid down the significance of India-Israel relations, speaking without hesitation of the reasons why cooperation with Israel was necessary. He stressed agriculture: this country has in recent years counted on Israeli aid in technologies and techniques relating to dryland farming. But mention must be made of the defense equipment and technologies that we get from Israel, which are vitally needed on our borders. The unmanned aerial vehicles and night-fighting equipment of Israeli make have vastly improved India’s management of the border regions with Pakistan and enhanced our capabilities to neutralize infiltration by terrorist groups. It was, therefore, natural for Krishna to mention anti-terrorism cooperation. In recent years, Israel has emerged as a significant source of military hardware alongside Russia and some Western countries.
Tel Aviv’s Support for New Delhi’s UN Seat
Krishna was received with warmth in Ramallah, headquarters of the Palestinian Authority, after his talks in the Israeli capital, indicating the importance the Palestinians attach to India’s unflinching political support for their cause of “an independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian state”, to quote from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s speech at the UN General Assembly in September, where India made a strong pitch for granting Palestine UN membership in the face of opposition from the United States and its Western allies.

Friendship with both Israel and the Palestinians is not a zero-sum game — one cannot be at the cost of the other, although certain constituencies here continue to adopt such a shortsighted approach. This was underlined without blushing during Krishna’s recent sojourn. If it is important for various reasons to do business with Israel, it is no less necessary to uphold the principle of Palestinian rights and make efforts to give it practical shape.

New Great Game and Afghanistan

2012-01-14T23:16:00.000-08:00

The United Kingdom and Russia were vying for capturing the Central Asia during the 19th century. The United Kingdom was approaching from the Indian side, whereas the Russians were heading toward India while capturing Central Asia. Unfortunately, the Afghan soil was the center of this great game and Pashtuns were its fuel at that time. Both countries were using Afghanistan as a buffer state and playing this game from the Afghanistan soil. The tenure of this classical great game started with Russia-Prussia war in 1813 and ended on Anglo-Russian Convention in 1907. A British intelligence officer, Arthur Konolly had given this title to a geopolitical and strategic war and he had named the entire Central Asia the Great Chessboard. Rudyard Kipling later on gave this great game an unmatched fame and a romantic status in his novel the KIM.
War of Capturing Resources
This new great game is a war of capturing resources, particularly oil, its supply routes, pipelines and mineral resources more than just occupying territories. Another fundamental difference between the two is that the United Kingdom and Russia were the major players in the old great game, whereas Iran played a side role from time to time along with them; whereas, in the new game, a large number of regional and international powers are involved and the fuel are again the Pashtuns and to an extent Pakistanis. The players in this war include, in addition to the United States, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and its allies, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Tajikistan of Central Asia, population of which is even less than 2,000,000.
This war is becoming the most expensive war of all times. Only the United States spent $130 billion in 2010 ($4 billion for social sector, and that too, with a number of conditions because of which the entire amount could not be released) (Parenthesis as published). This expenditure earlier amounted to $50 billion to $65 billion. The expenditure incurred by other countries is in addition to this. With regard to life losses, too, this war is becoming unbearable for the United States and its allies. The number of casualties and injured troops is increasing with each passing day. So far, more than 3,000 US and ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) troops have died, whereas number of injured troops stands close to 8,000. However, according to independent sources, number of casualties and wounded troops could exceed these estimates because the Americans and ISAF sources are trying to fudge the numbers due to public reaction.
As far as the Afghans are concerned, they -- according to famous poet, Faiz Ahmed Faiz -- consider their flesh and blood part of the soil so it became food of the soil (means the body went back to its origin). Majority of the troops, who have returned to their home countries, are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Their treatment, including physical ailments, will cost approximately $650 million. On returning home, these troops assume strange behavior. Some limit themselves within their homes; and some join those Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), which help people in Afghanistan and Iraq.
According to the US Anti-Suicide report, approximately 100 out of these returnees commit suicide every year, whereas, approximately 200 are prevented from committing suicide. Different countries want to have a stake in these countries because of their natural resources and strategic importance.
Natural Resources and Strategic Importance
Let us have a look at the natural resources and strategic importance of this region. The oil experts say huge quantity of oil is present under the Caspian Sea. In addition, the world's largest natural gas reserves are present in Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries. According to survey, conducted during the erstwhile Soviet Union times, 73 million tons coal, 100 billion barrel oil (it appears to be somewhat incorrect) (parenthesis as published) and 5 trillion cubic ft natural gas is present in Afghanistan.
In addition to this, the American National Geological Society conducted another survey in 2007 but released its report in 2010, which says that huge reserves of copper, gold, cobalt and raw iron, which value at $1 trillion, are present on the Afghan side of the Durand Line. The nature's distribution does not observe the geographic limits, set by human beings. It means that there could be huge reserves on the other side of the border, too (means, on Pakistani side). The Pentagon has compared and declared the Lithium reserves here at par with Saudi Arabia's oil reserves. In modern life, Lithium assumes the same importance as the oil, because no battery can be manufactured without Lithium. It is abundantly used in manufacturing several products.
China has initiated a $3 billion project in ionic copper mines, situated in Lugar Province of Afghanistan. It means the Pakistan-Afghanistan Pashtun belt is important as a transit route and it is also full of natural resources.
To benefit from these resources, the United States had first planned to lay a pipeline from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, and then to India and the Arabian Sea. The US firm, Unocal, Bredas of Argentine, and a Saudi company were competing to get the contract for this project. The US firm, Unocal had already spent lot of money on conducting feasibility study and had also arranged funding from international institutions, but the Taliban awarded contract to Bredas, which stunned the United States. Approximately four months before the 9/11 attacks, the US delegation informed every one and particularly Pakistan, during an international conference in Bonn that the Taliban had now become unbearable. And their government will be toppled by the end of the year.
The CIA initiated contacts with Ahmed Shah Masood; otherwise, ZalmayKhalilzad, while representing the US Government, had expressed support to the Taliban in his article, published in The New York Times only two days before this contact (with Ahmed Shah Masood by the CIA was established). In this article, Zalmay had also reprimanded the European countries for banning women veil. The write had suggested the European governments that they should not impose their culture on Afghans, as observing veil is a centuries old Afghan tradition.
The 9/11 attacks provided them (the United States and allies) a golden opportunity and they invaded Afghanistan, which unleashed a new process of destruction and devastation, because the war (in Afghanistan, allusion to Russian invasion of Afghanistan) had, in fact, started 20 years ago before the 9/11 attacks.
Cultural and Religious Influence
From a strategic importance point of view, four historic areas surround this region. Wild tribes, be they in the form of Scythians, White Huns or Mughals, have always marched from the northern plains, Steppe; and finally, Russia's march through Central Asia toward warm waters and Afghanistan and then expansion of Chinese empire from south to the east; and arrival of Indian cultural and religious influence from northwest side.Afghanistan is situated in the southwest of the Middle East region and Wakhan corridor is also situated here, borders of which, touch Azad Kashmir (Pakistan-administered Kashmir) in the south, Tajikistan in the north and China in the east. During 10-year erstwhile Soviet Union war, this was under their occupation; and the United States is also staying here. Iran is also situated in the same area; and Gwadar Port, which is placed as a modern port right at the edge of Asian Gulf, is situated on its eastern side.

Bangladesh Banking Sector Heading Toward Disastrous Situation

2012-01-13T21:44:00.000-08:00

Severe liquidity or cash crisis is going on in the banking sector. Banks have become beleaguered to get rid of this liquidity crisis. As immediate solution to crises, banks are increasing their interest rates on deposits. Some are maintaining their with each passing day expenditures after borrowing from the call money market (for inter-bank transaction) at a high rate. In addition, some of the banks are borrowing from Bangladesh Bank through repos (Repurchase Agreements) after pledging the liquid assets like treasury bills and bonds. Their deposit management cost is increasing as they are collecting deposits at a high rate. Some of them are increasing their lending rate to cope up with this additional cost. As the interest rate on bank financing is rising, the cost of investment of the entrepreneurs is also increasing. As a result cost of production is rising. The entrepreneurs are avoiding bank financing as their cost of production is increasing. According to the bank analysts, the situation in the banking sector is not good at all. They have apprehended that if the current situation is not handled properly, the banking sector will face collapse in the future.
Increase of Interest Rate
However, the businessmen have become worried with the increase of the interest rate. They are saying that their cost of doing business is going up with the increment of the borrowing rate of bank financing. As a result the production cost is getting increased. In this situation, the commodity price is getting out of the reach of the mass people. The businessmen are apprehending that the inflation will increase further in the future. The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) -- the supreme organization of the business community -- has urged intervention of the Bangladesh Bank on reducing the higher interest rate, keeping the service charges within the tolerable level, and revising the interest rates for the financing in the productive sector.
In this regard, a group of businessmen led by A.K. Azad, chairman of this supreme organization of business community recently had a meeting with Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiar Rahman. The businessmen discussed the overall condition of the trade and commerce of the nation with the Governor in a two-hour-long meeting.
Financing in Productive Sector
FBCCI Chairman A.K. Azad said that after the lending cap on the financing in the productive sector was removed on 9 March the banks were almost competing with each other in increasing the lending rate. Even before 9 March, the maximum lending rate for the business loan was 13 percent; whereas after 9 March the lending rate of 15 to 18 percent is being imposed on the businesses. Some of the banks have taken it to even 20 percent. Because of this, the cost of business is increasing. The FBCCI chairman believes that this will further ignite the inflation. The investment will not grow. No new employment will be generated. As a result the rate of unemployment will rise further. Under such condition, he expected that the central bank will take initiatives to determine the interest rate that will be beneficial to the economy.
Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Nazrul Huda has said that the businessmen have requested to redetermine the maximum lending rate. The Bangladesh Bank has informed the businessmen that there is no scope for redetermination of the interest rate. Moreover, the central bank cannot take such measure in the market economy. However, the banks will be requested to keep the interest rate to a tolerable level.
However, the interest rate on bank financing is continuously increasing. Bankers are not paying heed to the protests of the businessmen. Thirty of the local and international banks have increased their lending rate in this April. Among them, some of the banks have increased their interest rate by three to thee and half percent. In April 2011, the rate of interest in business loans has been 18 percent; whereas in March it was imposed maximum at a rate of 13 percent. Among the 30 private commercial banks 26 have increased their rate of interest in the current month. Among the other four there is a specialized bank and three foreign banks.
Businessmen have expressed their grievance at the interest rate increment of so many banks at a time. As per their opinion, the commodity price has already increased due to the rise of fuel price in the international market.
Fund Management of Banks
However, the fund management of the banks are facing cataclysm because of cash crisis. The total liabilities of some of the banks are not matching up with their total assets. As a result bank is losing their capability for settlement of claims including returning the deposits of the depositors.
As per central bank's guideline, in any particular month, the difference between the total assets of the bank and their claims to be settled must not be greater than 20 percent of their total asset. For example, suppose a bank in a particular month will have to pay off 100 takas (Tk), including earlier committed credit, returning the money of the depositors in the maturity of their deposits, and settlement of import payments. However, in that month, the total earning of the bank from adjustment of credit, proceeds from the maturity of treasury bills and bonds, income from different commissions, and income from the deposits has been Tk 80. So, the difference between the asset and liability would be Tk 20.
This is somewhat acceptable as per the asset liability management guideline of the central bank. Bank may adjust the deficit of Tk 20 from the call money market (the inter-bank market for funds) or through repos from the Bangladesh Bank. But if this difference becomes more than 20 percent, there is possibility of many sorts of hazards for the bank. For example, the captioned bank may face severe liquidity crisis. As a result, the bank loses its capability to settle any of its claims. The bank cannot meet the condition for keeping the mandatory cash reserve with the central bank Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR). The Statutory Liquidity Reserve (SLR) becomes deficient. To resolve the crisis, the banks borrow from the market at a very high rate. In addition, they also collect short term deposits at a very high rate. As a result the fund management cost of that bank increases the consequences into collapse of the overall system of the bank.
One of the high officials of the central bank said that as per the fund management of the banks, a bank has to estimate the probable liabilities in a month. Along with that the amount of total inward deposits at that particular month is also to be estimated. The fund management system of a bank is maintained on this basis.
However, many of the scheduled banks are not following this guideline in the recent time. They are incurring greater amount of expenditures not conforming to their income. As a result different bank are getting excessively dependant on the Bangladesh Bank and the call money market. Many banks are not being able to maintain their day to day expenditures.
An industrialist claiming anonymity informed that at the time of encashment of large amount of check, some banks are not paying within a day. After partially paying they are requesting to come in the next day.
For getting out of this crisis, some of the banks are borrowing from the call money market. Again they are rushing toward the Bangladesh Bank . Every day, they are borrowing more than Tk 90 billion as repo (borrowing for short-term) and under special liquidity support. In some days Bangladesh Bank is even lending Tk 100 billion.
Condition in Banking Sector
Bankers believe that the Bangladesh Bank is entirely responsible for such condition in the banking sector. As per their opinion, in the past seven months of 2010 Bangladesh Bank increased the CRR -- The banks' mandatory rate of reserve to the central bank twice. Because of this, approximately Tk 40 billion came to the central bank from the banks. As a result liquidity crisis began in the banking sector. As a result, in the first month of this year the rate of interest in the call money market climbed up to 170 percent that is recorded as the highest until now.
Dr Saleh Uddin Ahmed, former governor of the Bangladesh Bank, said that the initiative of the central bank to increase CRR was not proper and was not a timely step. He said that the reason was that in December, the banks adjust their entire year's transaction. In this time, they normally disbursed less amount of credit and collected greater amount of deposits, he stated. As a result, their balance sheet remained in good shape, he said. But as CRR rate was increased at that particular time, banks had to keep their deposited money with the central bank on mandatory basis, he stated. He said that the result had been as it was predicted. According to the analysts, the central bank has to take responsible decisions for getting rid of this situation occurred in the banking sector. Otherwise they are anticipating that the crisis in the banking sector will have a negative impact on the overall economy.

International Politics and Bin Laden Chapter

2012-01-12T00:56:00.000-08:00

Former Al-Qaida Chief Osama Bin Laden chapter in the international politics had come to an end in May 2011. Bin Laden is now dead. He is now part of history. Many painful stories and incidents of deaths are involved with this history. He had given a new interpretation of the religion of Islam. His interpretation was controversial and it cannot be said Muslims across the world had accepted the version. But it is fact that he produced hundreds of "jihadists" in the Muslim world. These jihadists were ready to embrace "martyrdom" in the name of Islam. Bin Laden wanted to revert to the ancient course of Islam. The "Wahabi" doctrine has this ancient course. Some people prefer identifying the course as the 'Salafi' ideology. The Saudi Royal family is the follower of this ideology.
One Saudi Islamic pundit, Mohammad Bin Abad Al Wahab, is the exponent of this ideology. He was born in 1703. Once the founder of Saudi Royal family, Ibne Saud, was attracted by this philosophy. The family is still following the ideology. It is being told that Saudi Arabia is promoting this doctrine. The Wahabi doctrine gives highest importance to jihad. The followers of Wahabi ideology do not believe in worshipping pir (spiritual leader), mazar (grave), holding milad (a kind of meeting to glorify the Prophet Mohammad), visiting grave, shirk and bidat. Bin Laden used to believe that Islam could be established in the world through jihad.
Significance of Islam
Islam is a religion of peace. Islam has spread to various countries of the world. But in nowhere it expanded through terrorism. The people, who come to our region of the world thousands of years back for preaching Islam, did not resorted to terror activities. They had preached the messages of peace and choose to stay here because of love for the land.
However, for preaching which Islam Bin Laden had stepped into the field? He had inspired hundreds of youths to take part in "jihadist" activities. Bin Laden was an owner of billion of dollars. He spent the money for terror activities. He had developed a big network in the Arab world from Iraq to Algeria. Al-Qaida has a strong base in Yemen. Bin Laden had given birth to the organization named -- Al-Qaida. Allegation has been raised that Al-Qaida was involved with the destruction of World Trade Center on 11 September 2001. Since then the name of Bin Laden has spread to everywhere in the world. He became the "No 1 terrorist of the world." The United States had been on the hunt of Bin Laden since 11 September. After long 10 years he was detected in the Abbottabad City of Pakistan.
Bin Laden has undoubtedly committed crimes. He could be hanged in trials. It would have been normal, if he was tried. But the United States has given rise to many questions by killing Bin Laden. A dead Bin Laden has emerged a more risky man for the United States. Rather the killing of Bin Laden will enhance his popularity. But the question that has assumed prominence to me is that whether this role of the United States would create a big threat to the developing world? The Muslim world is gripped with agitation. One type of hegemony has been created in the name of globalization. In this regard some Islamic pundits (for example Sayyid Qutb of Egypt) think Islam is the solution.
Palestinian Problem
A leader like Bin Laden gives the call for jihad when the Palestinian problem is not solved year after year. The Israeli commandoes kill the Palestinian leaders. And no trails are being held for the killings. It is true that this so called jihad did not get massive support in the Muslim world. But at the same time it is natural that some sorts of agitations and hatred are simmering in the Muslim world as the innocent people are being killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The United States had conducted aggression against Afghanistan on the plea that the Taliban gave shelter to Bin Laden. The US forces have been in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2011. US President Barack Obama also won Nobel Prize for peace. But his hands are tainted with blood. He had a given a promise that the US soldiers will be withdrawn from Afghanistan by 2011. Now the deadline has been extended to 2014. But security experts believe the United States has a big interest in Afghanistan. They will have stay in this country. The Central Asia is abundant with huge energy resources, gas and oil. The US companies have huge investment here. The United States does not want other powers (particularly China and Russia) have a share of these resources.
The energy resources of Central Asia will be controlled from Afghanistan. For this reason this "Islamic militancy" has been born to Tajikistan or Uzbekistan. This militancy is also a threat to the security of the Central Asia. The Asiaism of NATO will centre round this region. As a result, there is a remote possibility of withdrawing force from Afghanistan. In case of Iraq it was told that the country had Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). It had been further told the WMD was posing threat to the security of the region. Under this pretext the United States captured Iraq in 2003. We all know the next stories. The WMD was not found in Iraq. But Saddam Hussein was hanged. Iraq was destroyed. Some US companies are reconstructing Iraq by selling the oil resources of that country. The United States is now searching the path of military intervention in Libya in the name of humanitarian intervention. The oil of Libya is the target of the United States. Libya is the gateway to North Africa. The control of Libya will mean controlling the North African countries having huge resource. The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) was established with this target.
Terrorism in the name of Islam is acceptable. This is not Islam also. But it equally not acceptable to attack any independent country or violating its sovereignty in the name of suppressing terrorism. This role of the US is the violation of the Clause 4 ( 1) and 4( 4) of the UN Charter that deal with "sovereignty" and "territorial integrity." The United States has involved itself with terror activities in the name of curbing terrorism. The concept of "preemptive strike" that US President Bush had used and Obama now using will not at all help America to galvanize its image. History says the United States is committing such incidents time and again.
Violation of International Law
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague in 1986 ruled that the United States violated the international law by using force illegally in Nicaragua and providing help to Contra guerrillas (fighting the leftist government of that country at that time). The United States did not accept the verdict of the international court. But the UN secretary general in a resolution adopted by 94-2 votes had urged the United States to accept the verdict international court. The United States and Israel voted against the resolution.
In the death of Bin Laden a new chapter has been ushered in. It is to be observed what impact this 'death' creates in the Muslim world. But the Obama administration has more responsibility at this moment to enhance the US image in the Muslim world. President Obama's Cairo address had created a prospect in this regard. But a little progress has so far been achieved. Smaller Islamic militant groups like Al-Qaida have been born to a quite good number of Islamic countries. These groups have much influence in the countries like Algeria, Mauritania, Libya, Yemen, Sudan, and Somalia. The Islamic militants in Somalia directly or indirectly control the state power. The organization named Al Sadarb has introduced Shari'ah in the area controlled by them.
Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Salafist Group of Preaching and Combat had called for suicide bombing and worldwide jihad. The AQIM is active in the entire Maghreb region. The responsibility of the Obama administration at this moment is taking initiatives for bringing these militant groups in the mainstream of the society.
Moreover, it is very urgent to start "dialogue" with the militants in Afghanistan.
Existence of Mullah Omar
After Bin Laden, Mullah Omar is the target of the United States. The existence of Mullah Omar could not be found anywhere in Afghanistan in the long last 10 years of hectic searching. The solution to the Afghan problem will not be possible without initiating dialog with the Taliban. However, the Taliban movement and Al-Qaida are not the same. There are differences between the two.
Al-Qaida had given a call for jihad across the world, but the Taliban wanted to establish Islamic rule only in Afghanistan. It is very urgent for President Obama to withdraw soldiers from Afghanistan. The responsibility of the US President has further increased. The problem could not be solved by engraving the body of Bin Laden in the Arabian Sea from the US warship-Karl Vinson, patrolling in that sea. Obama himself will have to take the initiatives to earn confidence of the Muslim world. The death of Bin Laden has given birth to this possibility. President Obama has ensured his victory in the 2012 US President election by killing Bin Laden. Nobody has doubt about this. But various complexities have been created in the Muslim world, Pakistan-US relations and India-Pakistan relations. The complexities will increase regional tension. These will also create tension in the world politics. And the same will be the main obstacle in the way of establishing peace in the world.

Power Crisis in Pakistan

2012-01-11T03:58:00.000-08:00

Power crisis in Pakistan has taken a horrible form. In such a situation, voices are being raised from every side whether there is any solution to these problems. If yes, why is it not being implemented? The answer to this question is quite long, and terrible as well.
There are three types of natural resources available in Pakistan in such abundance that if they are exploited, the need for several coming centuries will be fulfilled. One of them is water, which is to some an extent being used in Pakistan. The other two resources are wind and coal, which have not yet been even touched.
China’s Support
Pakistan's eternal friend, China, has expertise on these two technologies. During the last one decade, it has overcome the power shortfall up to the level Pakistan is facing several times within months, not years. In Pakistan also, efforts are being made to do this, and China is also helping Pakistan in this regard. However, the World Bank is standing like an obstacle in the way. It neither implements that project, nor does it allow for it. It is a project of generating power through coal in Thar.
Until five years ago, it was not practicable to produce power through coal in Thar. However, the new technology of gasification has made the crude coal reservoir in Thar gold. Under the new technology, there is no need to dig the coal out of the earth nor is there any need to make stoves. Experts of the entire world agree that 50,000 MW power can be generated from the Thar coal in the next five centuries. Work had been commenced on the project a few years ago. The World Bank objected that if Pakistan produced power there, it would have a negative impact on India. However, India itself is a big country of producing power through coal.
Major Hurdle
In this research report, we have focused on as to why the World Bank has become a hurdle in Pakistan's way to produce the world's cheapest power. What types of plans are formed to meet the growing need of power in the world and how much time they take in implementation? We studied China as a model because it is a friend of Pakistan and also willing to help. In this report, we will also explain what is the cheapest and alternative energy in the entire world? What are the possibilities for it in Pakistan and if work is started on it in Pakistan, how time it will take? Besides talk with Pakistani scientists and experts on energy and economy, research reports carried in world journals were also consulted in preparation of the report.
If you travel along the rough road while moving from Islamkot to Seti Dera village near the Indian border Sindh's Thar desert, you will see official vehicles of the workers busy at the wells of Block 5 moving around. These people belong to the staff of Pakistan's distinguished scientist Dr Samar Mubarakmand and are striving to install 600-ft deep pipe in TP 9 well near Megi Jotar village. Digging of the well has been completed. As the work to put the pipe into the earth is completed, coal in the underground surface will be put on fire through the pipe. The coal reservoir will start burning fast, and from another pipe, gas will still start blowing out. And through this gas, Dr Mubarakmand will start producing power at a small power house established there. Hopefully, production of 100 MW power from that station will start within a few months.
Subsequently, 21 more wells will be dug in Block 5 and every well will produce gas. This would be the cheapest power produced in Pakistan. As for the per unit cost of this power, there are available reports of Planning Commission of Pakistan, Sindh Mines and Minerals Department and Dr Mubarakmand; but, these are Pakistani organizations, and we will refer to an impartial report, leaving these reports aside.
Oracle Coal Fields is a subcompany of Australia's biggest company, Regency Mines, which produces power through coal. It had expressed desire to work on the Thar coal reservoirs, and on getting permission, it got conducted a survey through its engineers. The feasibility report released by Oracle Coal Field explains that the power is generated by getting fire erupted under ground in Thar through the new technology of gasification, the project will take nearly one year in completion, and then power will be generated. It will cost four rupee per unit.
It merits a mention here that the power being used by us in Pakistan costs 10-12 rupees (PRe)per unit in average. This includes hydro power of WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority) and Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) and also the power generated from gas and oil. However, the cost of the power generated through rental power houses is up to PRe 15 per unit.
The coal reservoirs in Thar Desert are 30 percent more than the gas resources in Pakistan. They had been discovered several decades ago, but it was almost impossible to bring them out. According to the report prepared by Dr Mubarakmand for the Planning Commission, the reason was that these coal reservoirs in Thar were 600-ft deep under ground. First, there is 150-ft deep sand and then sea water for another 150-ft, followed by 40-ft soil and again water for another 150 ft. Then, coal starts. Owing to the nearby Run of Kutch and the sea, water is available with so much quantity that it was not possible to dig out the coal. Five years ago, the Australian scientists introduced gasification technology to exploit such sort of reservoirs in the world, and the same technology is being used in Thar.
However, the question is whether Pakistan will succeed in producing power from these coal reservoirs. There does not seem any hurdle in the way technically. However, the World Bank is obstructing Pakistan to work on the project. It says that if Pakistan generates power from coal in Thar, it will harm India. In addition, it is compelling Pakistan to work on a long and costly project worth $6 billion. This project relates to changing of gas pipelines and upgradation of Tarbella Dam. It will not benefit considerably in power generation and Pakistan will come under the debt burden of another $6 billion. In addition to Dr Mubarakmand, the World Bank itself confirms it. We will give its detail in the coming lines.
How can the World Bank prevent a company to establish a power house in Thar? It is an interesting question, but prior to understand this, it is necessary to learn about the nature of the war being fought for power generation in Thar. A detailed information about the vast coal reservoirs in Thar had surfaced in 1990. Later, efforts were again made to dig out coal from these reservoirs, but in vain. The third and successful effort began two years ago in 2009. By that time, power generation from the coal under sea water had started in Australia. China was drilling at large scale in such neglected reservoirs, and the United States had also kicked off aggressive efforts towards this direction. This trend started in 2006, and the Pakistani scientists also became alert at that time. When the gasification technology turned mature, the Planning Commission of Pakistan also submitted its proposal about it to the Pakistani Government. It was immediately approved and work was started under the leadership of Dr Mubarakmand.
When we got information about it from the people in Islamkot and the nearby areas, they said that the government and some foreigners again started moving at the Coal Fields in late 2008 after a suspension of several years. This suggests that work on the Thar Coal Fields had been started in 2008. However, according to Sind Mines and Mineral Department's documents available to us, Thar Coal Field was divided into eight blocks and five of them were given to different companies on contract. The plan was that work will be carried out on the project at a fast pace and within a year, work will be completed on at least 400 wells. It was not very difficult. The exact location of the coal reservoirs had already been identified in a survey. Even over 700 points had also been marked to dig wells in the eight blocks.
Divided Blocks
As we said above that the Thar Coal Field had been divided into eight blocks in the early 2009. The Block No 2 was given to Sindh Coal Mining Company and Engro Chemicals Company. These two companies were to complete the drilling process there in a year and generate 1,200 MW power. These were preliminary tasks, which had to be completed in one year. And for the purpose, 10 percent wells had to be dug in every block, and the remaining wells were to be dug in the coming years. And in this way, the power production would continue increasing, as Oracle Coal Field while making a reference to Karachi has written:
On acquiring the Block 4 in Thar, Oracle signed agreements with Chinese companies so that the drilling process could be started at a fast pace. These companies are already working on such coal wells in China. Second, we have also signed an agreement with KESC, which is facing a shortfall of 500 MW in Karachi at present. According to the agreement singed with the KESC, we will provide it with 300 MW cheap power. Under this accord, it would present us a feasibility report of 300 MW power plant. This plant would be established in Thar. In order to take the power to Karachi, grid line already exists there. In the next phase, as we dig more wells, we will continue increasing power production.
By the end of 2009, everything was moving on rightly in accordance to the schedule. All the companies had started creating their respective environment to work in every block. Dr Murtaza Mughal, president of Economy Watch think tank in Pakistan, conducted a thorough research into it in order to know as to what is the significance to generate power under Thar coal project and if the government can complete this project with its resources. According to Dr Murtaza's report, as it was a mega project and it was being implemented with the foreign collaboration, the Pakistani Government and the Sind Government had allowed all companies to seek funds from foreign agencies with the Pakistani Government's guarantee. Projects of big dams, power generation and related to digging out coal or producing power from it are completed with the loan from the world loan lending agencies in the entire world including Pakistan. So on the survey for the Thar Coal project too, the companies and the Pakistan government spent their resources; however, for project production, decision was taken to acquire funds from the World Bank.
International Aid
Earlier also, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank had been investing on big energy projects in Pakistan, or at least they give guarantee for it, on which basis, investment on these projects is made. The total required funds for power generation through gasification at the Thar Coal Field are PRe 600 billion.
To collect this amount, a conference was convened in Islamabad in late 2009. In addition to the World Bank, representatives of other world financial organizations and companies working on Thar Coal project also participated. When the conference started, the Pakistan officials got surprised, as the World Bank representatives had taken a U-turn.

99th Indian Science Congress

2012-01-10T00:47:00.000-08:00

The five-day 99th Indian Science Congress was held in Bhubaneswar (Orissa, officially Odisha since November 2011) on January 3, 2011. The Congress, which was attended by approximately 15,000 delegates, including 12 Nobel laureate scientists, from across the globe, including scientists and policymakers, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Prof Geetha Bali, general president of the Indian Science Congress Association, presided over the inaugural session of the Congress
The Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) jointly hosted the Congress, the largest gathering of the scientific community. The focal theme of the five-day scientific extravaganza is “Science and technology for inclusive innovation — Role of women”.
India’s Research and Development
Pointing out that India’s Research and Development (R&D) spending as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had been ‘low and stagnant’, the prime minister made a strong pitch for increasing it to at least 2 per cent of the GDP from the current level of less than 1 per cent. He said: “This can only be achieved if the industry, which contributes about one-third of the total R&D expenditure today, increases its contribution significantly.”
The prime minister made a frank assessment of the country’s progress in science and technology area, highlighted the lacunae in the policies and implementation and called for greater alignment of the S&T sector with the inclusive development needs of the country.
Decade of Innovations
Stating that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government had declared 2010-20 as the ‘Decade of Innovations’, he appealed to scientists and policy makers to use the research-based knowledge productively for social benefit. “For a country grappling with the challenges of poverty and development, the over-riding objective of a comprehensive and well-considered policy for science, technology and innovation should be to support the national objective of faster, sustainable and inclusive development,” the Prime Minister said.
Coinciding with the mega event, he announced that the Centre was considering a proposal to build national capacity and capability in supercomputing to be implemented by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, at an estimated cost of Rs 5,000 crore. Another proposal to establish a Neutrino Observatory in Tamil Nadu with an investment of Rs. 1,350 crore was also under consideration.

Bangladesh To Set Up Nuclear Plant

2012-01-09T01:00:00.000-08:00

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has provided Bangladesh the assurance to assist in establishing nuclear power station in Rooppur. Recently, IAEA Director General Eukia Amano assured the issue in a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It is to mention that the proposal of building nuclear power station in Rooppur was approved in the national parliament on 9 December 2010. Meanwhile during Sheikh Hasina's tour to Russia, a mutual agreement was signed between two countries regarding establishment of nuclear power plant in Bangladesh. According to the source, the proposed power station in Rooppur is expected to produce 1,000 MW of power per year at a cost of 100 billion takas (Tk). It is to be mentioned here that the preliminary estimate of establishing nuclear plants in different countries ends up in few times higher than the projected cost. However, a power station producing 250 MW power costs Tk 12 billion. That means, with Tk 100 billion, eight power stations of this sort can be developed where in aggregate 2,000 MW of power can be generated.
Expensive and Risky Venture
In addition, from the estimate that International Energy Agency (IEA) has given on establishment cost of power stations based on coal, gas, and nuclear materials, it can be assumed that the construction cost of nuclear power stations is much higher. As per the estimates provided by IEA, a 250 MW coal based power station costs Tk 17.75 billion. That means, with Tk 100 billion, six power stations of this sort can be developed where in aggregate 1,400 MW of power can be generated. In addition, as per the IEA's estimates, a 250 MW gas based power station costs Tk 10.65 billion.
So, with the said fund, nine power stations generating 250 MW of power can be established. Besides, the establishment cost for solar and wind based power stations are lesser. Moreover, it has been found in different researches that the management cost of nuclear power station is few times higher than that of the power stations based on oil, coal, gas, water, wind, or solar energy. There is no risk of health hazards. Then why is Bangladesh moving toward this expensive and risky venture?
Matter of Honor for Country
The energy adviser to the prime minister, Tawfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury said that it was a matter of honor for the nation to build a nuclear power station. In the same week, Yafes Osman state minister for science, information and communication technology, said that although Bangladesh is in earthquake risk zone, the nuclear power station in Rooppur will be built with the capability to persist earthquake measuring up to 10 in Richter Scale. He could not inform anything on whether any research has been conducted regarding the issue or on what scientific basis he provided the information. Normally, question has arisen on the suitability of such project costing Tk 100 billion. Extensive debate on nuclear wastages, and financial and health risk was going on prior to the current debate. Debate was going on over different aspects of profit and loss, excessive operating costs, disposal of nuclear wastages, and health risks associated with this nuclear power plant costing four times higher than the other means of power generation. However, the Bangladesh Government is ignoring the opinions of the specialists and the general people; this is a serious risk not only to the current generation but also to the future generation. The critical picture we find from the history and the present phenomenon tends that one such project is sufficient to destroy Bangladesh.
Dr Mahbub Ullah, professor at Development Studies Department in Dhaka University, said that the burning issue was whether it would be appropriate to carry on the agreement with Russia regarding establishment of nuclear power plant. Bangladesh is a very densely populated country. In such a country, if any explosion happens because of human error or natural calamity, it would be impossible to save people from the radiation that will be generated. In one side, many people will die instantly; on the other hand the curse of radiation is to be carried out for generations. Because of this curse, birth of retarded children and the severity of incurable diseases like cancer will grow to such an extent that it will be impossible for Bangladesh to bear. We must have to be careful after the incidents occurred in Japan and Chernobyl.
Fear of Devastation
Another source says that, taking the issues like Uranium mining, building nuclear reactor, cooling the towers, transportation of nuclear wastages under consideration, there is no doubt among the scientists that nuclear power plant endangers the atmosphere, environment and the animals. Nuclear power plants were excluded from Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. Through a research in 2004, John William and Phillip Smith have shown that a nuclear power plant emits one third Green House Gas than a modern natural gas-based power station. In addition to few thousand times harmful Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) is released from the Carbon-Dioxide of nuclear power stations. Alleged for environment pollution, CFC was proscribed internationally in "Montreal Protocol." Although every year the nuclear reactors emit around a trillion Curie (unit of radiation) radio-active isotopes in the atmosphere. Neutral gases such as Krypton, Xenon, and Argon are in the list of those isotopes. These isotopes are dissolvable in the fats and can be transferred into the fatty tissues of the body including the genital organs through inhalation of the people residing in the adjacent areas of a reactor. Moreover, Gamma ray that radiates from the radioactive atoms can create sudden impacts on ovary and the sperm that may cause genetic diseases. There is a hydrogen isotope named Tritium that creates radioactive water after reaction with oxygen. This water may go into the DNA molecules of human body through skins, lungs, and digestive system that may end into disaster.
In 2008, the German Government conducted a research on the children residing in the adjacent areas of 16 of their commercial nuclear power plants. The finding of the research was that the closer you go to the nuclear plant, the higher the risk becomes of children getting attacked in cancer, especially leukemia. The research also shows that the risk of children residing within 5-km circumference of the nuclear power station getting attacked in leukemia is almost double than that of the children living elsewhere. It is found in the research that in the localities adjacent to the nuclear reactor, death rate in breast cancer is 26-28 persons per hundred thousand; whereas the average rate of death in breast cancer is 20-22 persons per hundred thousand. This research has been conducted in the United States that produces the maximum amount of nuclear power in the current age. In the research of Energy Department in the United States, it was found that the death rate in breast cancer has grown 37 percent from 1950-54 to 1985-89 in the areas near to the oldest nuclear plants; whereas throughout America, on an average the same rate increased by only 1 percent.
On 26 April 1986, one of the four reactors exploded in a nuclear power plant in the Chernobyl of Kiev city in former Soviet Union. Radioactive molecules spread out in Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and many other regions of Eastern Europe. Chernobyl city is abandoned till now. As per the updated information, the overall loss in the Chernobyl accident crossed $100 billion. It took $4 billion only to close down the power plant.
A nuclear accident occurred in Three Mile Island of Pennsylvania in United States on 28 March of 1979. After that accident, the United States has not built any more nuclear power plants till now. Immediately after the Three Mile Island accident demand was raised to ban nuclear power plant in the Sweden Referendum in 1980. After the Chernobyl incident in 1986, everyone thought that the days of nuclear power plants are over. Germany not only stopped making new nuclear power plants but also closing down the expired plants. Belgium, Taiwan, and Japan are also gradually moving away from nuclear power production. Even the people of France that get 77 percent of their power from nuclear power are immensely pressurizing their government to close down their nuclear power stations.
In May 2000, the Aangra-1 nuclear plant of Brazil emitted thousands of gallons of radioactive saline water since their machines frequently used to get out of order and this news has not been published in Brazil. The company in charge of management of the plant did not inform the government. As a result plenty of people were exposed to health risk.
Germany closed down seven of their nuclear plants after the devastation in Japan. However, some other countries including France and the Philippines closed down few nuclear power plants prior to the incident in Japan.
Importing Nuclear Power Plant
When everyone is closing down nuclear plants one after another, the Bangladesh Government is planning to be "honored" by building nuclear power plant. Bangladesh wants to import nuclear power plant of model VVR-1000 from Russia. Russia will only sell reactor and its raw material Uranium. Even if we disregard the overall risk including health and financial aspects, question remains whether Bangladesh has the capability to install, operate, and maintain the nuclear power plant that it is going to purchase from Russia. The source of fuel for producing nuclear power production is Uranium. It is questionable that why Bangladesh is trying to generate nuclear power without having the capability to process the raw material of Uranium.
The one time investment for installing nuclear power plant is huge. Moreover the estimate in the beginning does not remain fixed. The amount of investment increases as the days go by. Bangladesh will have to avail suppliers' credit for the nuclear power plant. Until today, in all countries, including Bangladesh that initiated projects availing suppliers' credit or credits from different banks and donor agencies, the ruler class was benefited; people have become more indebted.
If we see the example of Brazil, the establishment cost of their first nuclear power plant established in Rio de Janeiro in 1970 was $320 million. In 1983, after the installation of the plant, total expenditure stood $2.10 billion. In 1983, the establishment cost of their second nuclear plant was estimated to be $1.60 billion. After 18 years of the stipulated time, its cost became $10 billion. It took $20 billion to finish only 35 percent of the third nuclear plant. Later on, the Brazilian Government adjourned the project.
Possibility of Mass Destruction
It is not possible for a third world country like Bangladesh to check the probable mass destruction arising out of any accidents in the nuclear power plant. A developed country like Japan even fails to avoid the crisis in the nuclear power stations. The bigger accidents like Chernobyl and Three Mile Island took place in the countries standing in the apex in terms of technological advancement. All these countries developed nuclear power plants based on their own skills. It cannot even be imagined that a sophisticated technology like nuclear power plant will run smoothly in a country like Bangladesh where simple power stations based on water, oil, and gas frequently get out of order and remain unfixed for years.
However, not only the nuclear power stations of Bangladesh, it is also necessary to close down the power stations of India and Pakistan. In India, 4,780 MWs of power is generated in six of their power stations utilizing 20 nuclear reactors. Five more power plants are under construction. There are three nuclear power plants in Pakistan from which 2.4 percent of the total power is produced. The concerned people in India have been protesting for long against their nuclear power plants.

Causes of Growing Global Terrorism

2012-01-08T00:24:00.000-08:00

The United States has never wanted peace in the world. Every country of the world is compelled to obey the United States out of fear. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the United States got the title of "sole superpower." International community should make the United States understand that elimination of terrorism is necessary but regretfully Americans do not want to end the causes of terrorism?
Post World War Scenario
The United States appears to be standing behind every war since the World War. More than 2 million Koreans were killed in the Korean war from 1949 to 1953. When the Vietnam war was fought in the next decade, more than 4.1 million Vietnamese were killed from 1959 to 1975. These include the citizens of North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and Cambodia. The confrontation was still on when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 and 1.3 million Afghans were killed. Then, the flames of Gulf war engulfed the entire region. Thousands of Iraqi children died a helpless death. Thousands of people craved for medicines in hospitals and severe food shortage emerged. The world was still recovering from this shock when the United States landed its troops in Afghanistan. The United States invaded the resource-rich country to hunt Osama Bin Laden. Later, Iraq was also ruined and the United States claimed that Iraq had chemical weapons.
Similarly, Kashmir issue remains unresolved until today in spite of having been recognized at international level. Many other devastations of this nature hit the world over the past eight decades but most of them were related to natural calamities. If matters are closely observed, it would appear that the United States is behind all these devastations and wars in one way or another. The United States launches wars under one pretext or the other and then devastation becomes the fate of the country where it enters. The United States is, at present, the largest arms supplying country. The United States sold weapons worth $800 million in 2007, whereas its own defense budget is over $700 million.
US intellectual Noam Chomsky has been drawing the world attention to this since long. According to him, the United States is assuming the role of an international rascal. On one hand, the United States is raising the attractive slogan of the "war on terror," and on the other, it has assumed the role of the greatest terrorist. Moreover, the United States is pursuing the communist ideology of telling lie and then standing firm in it.
Noam Chomsky considers the United States an international terrorist country in this situation. If we take stock of the international situation after 1990, we will be compelled to believe in what Noam Chomsky says. The way in which the United States made unjust intervention into different countries clearly proves that it is following the policy of imperialism.
US Intervention in Middle East
The greatest responsibility lies on the United States if peace could not be established in the Middle East to date. The United States openly supported the Jewish Israel. The United States supports atrocities being committed against the unarmed Palestinians. If Israel makes the lives of Palestinians miserable in flagrant violation of the UN resolution, the United States recklessly uses its veto in the UN Security Council to support it [Israel]. Thousands of Palestinians have been living in refugee camps in inhuman conditions since 1948. Not only this, Israel massacres innocent Palestinians even in the refugee camps. The killing in the camps of Sabra and Shatila is a clear instance in this regard. Ever since the establishment of Israel, the United States used it like a policeman in the Middle East and did so for the accomplishment of its agenda and to ensure protection of its national interests, particularly the oil supply. Even the United States declared the recent Israeli excesses just that it committed in the form of attack on Lebanon. The United States did not condemn the killing of hundreds of Lebanese citizens and recklessly used its unjust right in the Security Council in support of Israel. As a result, the war continued for approximately 40 days and scores of human lives were lost. The United States set up a puppet regime in Iraq to seize the country's oil reserves. Moreover, the potential threat that Jewish Israel could have faced from a powerful Muslim country [Iraq] has been eliminated. Having tightened Iraq into its clutches, the United States wants to fully focus on Iran, which aspires to acquire nuclear power. It is obvious from the problems that the United States had to face in Iraq regarding Iran, that it will not launch such an attack on Iran.
The US intervention in Afghanistan is approximately 26-year-old and its consequences are before us. Despite all of their drawbacks, the Taliban had succeeded in establishing a stable government in Afghanistan, but the United States made hundreds of Afghan target of its bombing on the basis of suspicion and pushed the country back into the Stone Age and established a puppet regime there. The prevailing situation in Afghanistan is such that innocent people are being killed every other day and the US brutality has crossed all limits.
Antihumanity Measures
When the Islamists set up a stable government in Somalia, which had plunged into civil war and peace started to return to the country, the United States attacked Somalia with the help of Christian Ethiopia. The United States annihilated approximately four Somali villages in the very first attack. The civil war has been going on there ever since.
The man of the contemporary world is fed up of these US antihumanity measures. Smaller and weak countries have started considering it "superpower" to remain safe from its mischief. It is necessary to reign in the US aggression if the terrorism is to be eliminated because it is promoting terrorism.

US Sinking Under Tides of Economic Crisis

2012-01-07T05:41:00.000-08:00

Today, the United States is poor, not capable enough to govern and administer the world. The world's richest country has now become the world's most indebted country. The super power, which used to provide loans to others, is itself heavily indebted today. Today, the United States has trillions of debt, which it cannot pay.
What a good proverb that one has to pay for his deeds, or that what you sow so shall you reap. The United States has been impoverished by its recklessness and arrogance.
Causes and Reasons
If we go a little back, we can see that in 2000 Christian era (when Bill Clinton was relinquishing power to George W. Bush), the United States had a surplus amount of $300 dollars in its exchequer. However, when, in the wake of the 9/11 incidents, Bush resorted to huge military and financial spending, this surplus moved to negative, meaning that $300 billion expenditures were incurred in two years. In the subsequent two years, this expenditure doubled, rising to $600 billion. In the following two years, it further grew to $900 billion, and in 2009 it blew up to $1200 billion (meaning $1.2 trillion), and today we see that it has soared to $1700 billion (meaning $1.7 trillion), which has no precedence in the US history. It forced Washington to obtain loans to prop up its falling economy. It obtained heavy loans from Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf countries.
In Bush's first tenure, the debt of the United States was $ 7.6 trillion while in his second tenure, it rose to $10.6 trillion while today it has increased to $14.02 trillion. These figures show that half of this loan has been taken during the past six years (when wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were on their height). If this $14 trillion loan is divided among all the Americans, every American will have a debt of $453,000.
Economic experts say that the United States may spend $1.3 trillion more than the its revenue this year because the budget deficit is adding $ four billion to the national debts every day, and this loss is gradually leading the United States to sinking. This means that Washington borrows 41 cents of every dollar, which it spends. The finance minister had said that such an eventuality had never occurred in the US history.
Impact of War and Fragile Peace
A matter of more shame is the fact that both the parties blame each other for this big crisis, each of them absolving itself of the responsibility. The Congress is under compulsion to do one of the following two things: either it would have to raise the upper limit of procuring loan so the government can obtain more loans, or it would have to make a huge reduction in spending and budgets. Whatever it does would not prove beneficial because debt always grows in war and fragile peace, although not as much as Bush had incurred. He impoverished the state and handed it over to Barack Obama in a bankrupted condition.
Regrettable is the fact that almost equal to half of this $14 trillion, meaning $6 billion, is to be paid as mark-up. Although the actual mark-up is $900 billion but for several reasons, it increases to$6 trillion:
1. As the government cannot pay the debt, it has to pay more markup.
2. The lenders (governments, companies, banks, and individuals) increase the ratio of their mark-up.
3. As the government loses the trust of the lenders, every one avoids paying more loans or imposes conditions of their choice.
4. It maintains its high defense expenditure and budget, therefore, both the wars are continuing on borrowed money.
The Pentagon's budget for 2011 or the present year is $707 billion. An additional $200 billion is being specified for Afghanistan, Iraq, and the so-called war on terror. Why? The Soviet Union has collapsed and WARSAW Pact has also perished. Then why is it ransacking itself and the world? Why did it lost its 6,000 soldiers without any justification and threw $3 trillion into fire? That is the reason that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have left three questions unanswered:
1. Would the United States receive so much loss if there had not been these wars?
2. Would the United States be so much indebted if there had not been these wars?
3. Would the United States is such a massive economic crisis if there had not been these wars?
Not Accepting Bitter Reality
Naturally, the answers are in negative. The attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq and the huge military expenses in both the countries tumbled the stock market. The companies were plunged into losses and bankruptcy. A big financial crisis ensued in 2007-2008. It accelerated and intensified the financial and trade deficit, badly affecting the mortgage sector. The economy melted like snow. More loans were obtained. Excessive dollars were printed, which further lowered the dollar rate. It caused inflation and financial deficit grew further. Big companies got closer to closing down until the government provided billions of dollars to save them from collapse. Unemployment ensued, grew, and perpetuated. All these factors formed a chain, which has tied the hands and feet of the United States in such a manner that the latter finds it difficult, rather impossible, to get rid of it.
See, even the Soviet Union once did not accept that the Afghan war impaired it. The same way, today the United States is not accepting this bitter reality. So, the question is: If the base of this big crisis is not the Afghan war, what it is?
How and in how much time would the United States get itself out of the $14.2 trillion loan? The answer is totally obscure. Therefore, we can say that this is a very back-breaking and insurmountable crisis, which is gradually submerging the United States. Cannot we say that this huge tide is rising like those violent waves of the Red Sea, which had submerged Pharaoh?

Story of China-Pakistan Friendship

2012-01-06T01:29:00.000-08:00

A Persian verse is the true reflection of the China-Pakistan friendship. The translation of the said verse is: "a friend in need is a friend indeed."
Time has always proved that China is the only country in this world, which helped Pakistan in testing times. Although the United States also claims to be our friend but in fact it is a friend about which we can surely say, "the one who has friends like you, does not need heavens to be his enemy."
Foundations of Ties
There is no denial the fact that the credit of strengthening Pakistan's friendship with China goes to late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, whose efforts not only gave it a new direction but eternity. However, not many of us know that the foundations of the China-Pakistan friendship were laid by Pakistan's first Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan and Prof Ahmed Ali was the first person to hoist Pakistani flag in Beijing. Before performing this important duty he migrated from Hong Kong to China and established ties with the then communist leadership in China. Resultantly, not only Chu En-Lai, the right hand of Mao Zedong but the other senior members of the Communist party used to visit Pakistan's embassy but often used to sit and talk for hours in the night at Ali's home.
Late Prof Ahmed Ali does not need an introduction as he was in the vanguard of progressive writers' movement and was considered a famous writer of Urdu and English. He no only translated Chinese poetry prior to the revolution but owing to his emotional attachment, he also paid tribute to China in his poems. Ali's personal relations of Chu En-Lai played an important role in furthering China-Pakistan relations. Ali and his family were popular among Chinese and he used to celebrate his Eid along with Chinese Muslims with zeal and zest. Ali had a great affiliation for Chinese pottery, in addition to Chinese arts and paintings. He visited China for the last time with Pakistan's Prime Minister Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy in 1956, which proved to be of historic importance for strengthening the roots of the friendship between both the countries. While appreciating Chinese, Ali writes: "Chinese are extraordinary self-respecting, practical and nationalist people. They are proud of their ancient history and culture. Affects of their culture could be felt world over. Chinese are proud of having an edge on the other nations of the world and their emperors used to call themselves "Tie'nTzu," i.e., sons of God. Chinese are patient, lively, energetic, and tasteful people. Their cuisine is popular all over the world."
Role in International Relations
Today, China is an excellent power, approved by the entire world, including the United States, the only superpower. Interestingly, the struggle by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Liaqat Ali Khan for a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent under the banner of the Muslim League coincided with the revolutionary changes in China in forties. Ali was in Nankeng at the time of partition of India.
After Pakistan came into being his family migrated and settled in the nascent state. Later on Ali also traveled through sea and joined his family in Pakistan. Soon he was appointed Director Foreign Publicity. His book the Muslim China was published in 1949 by Pakistan Institute of International Affairs Karachi. In the same year Chinese ruler Chiang Kai-Shek fled to Formosa after defeat and People’s Republic of China (PRC) came into being. Prime Minister Khan encouraged Ali's inclusion in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs because of his ability and knowledge about China. He took charge of Far East Desk in the Foreign Office. He introduced Pakistani leadership with the newly born PRC and its role in the international relations.
People-to-People Contacts
There is no doubt that Pakistan and China share relations higher than Himalayas and deeper than oceans. The sincere friendship of both the countries has become a precedent. Anti-Pakistan powers are worried and scared of this exemplary unity and solidarity. They cannot find a way to create rift between them. The clear and courageous support has pulled Pakistan out of isolation after killing of Osama Bin Laden. Therefore, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's recent visit to China is much important. China has warned in clear words that no country has any right to violate Pakistan's sovereignty and integrity and no power in this world should dare look at Pakistan with malicious intent.
The most important quality of China-Pakistan relations is people-to-people contacts and both the countries consider each other as obligatory. China has openly announced that China-Pakistan relations would remain unaffected irrespective of any changes in the world. It is imperative that not only the 60th anniversary of China-Pakistan friendship was celebrated with extraordinary zeal but it should be fully reflected through the media. Meanwhile, issuing a commemorative coin will be appreciable. It is must be remembered that Pakistan was the first Islamic country to accept China.

Bangladesh Government Faces Challenge in Controlling Prices of Commodities

2012-01-05T00:45:00.000-08:00

The Bangladeshis are bearing the brunt of rise in the prices of essential commodities in the international market. The poor people of the country are passing their days in hardship in spite of various social safety net programs of the government. A consumer at this moment has to spent taka 110 (Tk) for commodities which he could purchase with Tk 100 in 2010 because of rise in inflation. Under this ground reality, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith is going to announce the budget of the coming fiscal year (2012-13).
Economists and market analysts are saying that controlling prices of the commodities will be the main challenge in the coming budget. The prices of essential commodities made a further high jump because of a recent rise in the prices of fuel oils and CNG, and an enhancement of transport fares as a sequel to this.

Tackling Inflation
The finance minister will announce budget in parliament on June. This will be the third budget of the present government. Debates have already begun on what good news a hopeful Abul Maal Abdul Muhith will give in the new budget or whether there will be any surprise there. All are in unison that inflation is a big enemy of the economy at this moment. The finance minister himself has admitted that inflation is the main problem. Economists have suggested the government to ensure social security, including enhancement of food supply, to gear up rural economy, increase investment, and reduce the impact of inflation.
It was reported that the finance minister will undertake efforts in gearing up social safety net programs in the new budget for controlling the inflation. All existing allowances, including elderly and widow grants, will be continued in the new budget. But proposals will be made to expand the areas of allowances instead of enhancing the amounts.
Honorarium of the freedom fighters will also be increased. A special emphasis will be given to keep the food supply normal. For this reason, plans have been undertaken to build an adequate stock of foods. A proposal will be made to construct new warehouses to increase the capacity of food stocking.
An announcement of recruiting 100,000 new employees in the public sector will also be made in the new budget. A proposal for making the highest allocation in the education will also be made in the budget. The new budget will continue all existing stipend programs for the students. Like in the past, the energy and power sector will be given the highest priority in the fiscal plan.
In fact, tackling the inflation will be the main challenge of the government in the coming budget. He thinks that the government has no adequate mechanism in its hands to contain the price hiking. The government can keep the food supply normal and gear up the social safety net programs.
Maintaining the growth and controlling the inflation will be the main challenge of the government in the next budget. Adopting a monetary policy with more contractions for controlling the inflation. But the principle objective of the next budget would be to increase investment and employment by keeping the inflation under control.
The areas of Value-Added Tax (VAT) and tax would be expanded in the coming budget to increase revenue from internal sources. But no big change will be made in the tax structure. Additional 500,000 taxpayers will be identified for the expansion of area of income tax. The people will be given some sorts of relief from tax burden. In this regard, a proposal will be made to fix the tax-free income at Tk 180,000 for individual by rebating Tk 15,000. But minimum income tax rate at Tk 2,000 will remain intact in the budget.
For discouraging smoking, prices of cigarettes will be increased. A proposal will be made in the budget to restructure duties in car import to stop tax evasion. Facilities of tax rebate will be reduced to increase collection. There will be a proposal for expanding the tax net up to the upazila (subdistrict)-level. An announcement will be made in the new budget for paying VAT rate equally by all small and big traders for abolishing rebate facilities against value addition tax of VAT goods and service sector.
The highest 25 percent tax will be maintained for protecting the interest of the local industries, whereas a proposal will be made for continuing one more year the regulatory duties on all imported finished goods. An announcement will be made in the budget to increase the tenure of bond license from the existing one year to two years for the convenience of the entrepreneurs. A provision will be made for duty-free import of necessary equipment for building solar power plants for generating alternative energy to face electricity crisis. An announcement will be made for enhancing more two years the preshipment inspection system. The interest on savings certificate will be increased.
The new budget will make a set of reform proposals in the income tax sector. A proposal has been made in the next budget to realize an additional tax of Tk 55billion through increasing the tax net and taking various reforms and administrative measures. An announcement will be made to set up 100 taxpayer centers across the country to reach the income tax service at the doorsteps of the common man. Provisions will be made so that the taxpayers can submit their return online.
At present, Tk 0.40 (0.4 percent) is realized as source tax on the export earning of the garment sector. In the coming budget the source tax might be imposed on all the export oriented sectors other than garments. At present the eligible persons have been brought under the income tax net only in the urban areas. A proposal will be made to expand the tax net up to the upazila-level. The new budget will made an announcement on introducing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to settle litigations quickly for increasing revenue earning. Massive reform programs will be undertaken to make the National Board of Revenue (NBR) a powerful organization. The laws will be announced to make the VAT rules more simplified.
Prices of Essential Commodities

The inflation in March was at 10.49 percent on a point-to-point basis. This rate of the inflation is the highest after 2008. The people of fixed income group suffer the maximum because of any rise in the inflation. The negative impact of the inflation is that it does not increase the income at a rate the commodity prices make the jump. And as a result, the poor people lose their purchasing capacity.
The cause of concern at the high trend of inflation is that most of the people in our country live below the poverty level. This creates some sorts of unrest in the economy. At present the rate of inflation surpassed the double-digit mark. It has become a very difficult task for the common people to meet the cost of living amid the continuous rise in the inflation.
ADP: A proposal for a huge Annual Development Program (ADP) will be made in the coming budget for increasing investment in the public sector. The possible size of the ADP might between Tk 465 billion and Tk 470 billion. The resources committee has recommended for an ADP of Tk 460 billion. Prior to her foreign visits, the prime minister issued instructions to allocate more fund for the ADP. The Planning Commission has finalized the draft of the new ADP. The National Economic Council (NEC) will approve the ADP at the end of May following return of the prime minister from abroad.
A proposal has been made for allocating Tk 273.170 billion for the new ADP from internal resources increasing the domestic share in the program. The rest of the ADP fund will come from foreign assistance. There will be 1,013 projects in the proposed ADP. Of those, the number of new projects will be over 200. Most of these projects are under the ministries of local government and communications. Many people believe that these projects are worthless and those being taken in political consideration.
The Planning Commission said that a demand for Tk 620 billion has come from different ministries in the new ADP. It has been learnt that the proposal for maximum allocation in the newly proposed ADP is made for the electricity sector. The proposed allocation for the power sector in the new ADP is about taka 72 billion, which is 44 percent higher than that of the current fiscal year (2011-12). The allocation for the power sector in the current fiscal is Tk 50.170 billion. A proposal has been made for allocating Tk 11.140 billion for the energy sector which was Tk 10 billion in the current fiscal.
The Local Government Division has made a proposal for allocating Tk 95.550 billion in the new ADP for the development of rural infrastructures. In addition, proposals for allocating Tk 35.120 billion for primary mass education and Tk 21.430 billion for education ministry have been made in the new ADP. The implementation rate of the ADP still April was 60 percent.
Subsidy: Subsidies will be continued in the coming budget. A proposal has been made to allocate Tk 250 billion for the purpose. The maximum of the subsidy is given to the power and energy sectors. A sum of Tk 120 billion will be allocated for the power and energy sector. The rest of the subsidy money will go to agriculture, food, and social safety net programs and export sector. A big chunk of the budget money is spent for subsidy. At present the allocation in the subsidy sector is about 9 percent of the total budget. In the current fiscal year, Tk 170 billion was allocated as subsidies for different sectors. The amount in the revised budget increased to Tk 200 billion. Most of the subsidy money was spent in the energy sector as the prices of fuel oil increased in the international market. In this regard, economist and researcher Dr Hasan Mansur said that budget deficit would increase if the amount of subsidies rises. And this would leave a negative impact on the inflation, he added.
Size of Budget: The government is going to announce a big-volume budget in the coming fiscal year to boost investment. The outlay of the new budget could be at Tk 1,630 billion. Of this, revenue budget is Tk 117 0billion and development budget Tk 470 billion. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) target in the new budget might be fixed at 6.9 percent or 7 percent. The budget deficit has been fixed at 5 percent.

New Geopolitical Equation in Asia

2012-01-04T00:49:00.000-08:00

After the dramatic announcement of killing of Osama Bin Laden, a big change in the geopolitics of Asia has become evident centering the dilemma in the relations between Pakistan and the United States. Through this incident, signals are being received regarding a visible role of China and a shrink in the influence of the United States in this region as a split has been created in the relationship between Pakistan and the United States. The plummeting in the Washington-Islamabad relations first came to the limelight through the arrest of a US contractor Raymond Davis, who is known as a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) spy, for his involvement in the killings of two Pakistani citizens. After languishing for three months in prison, Raymond Davis was freed in March with the payment of blood money.
Since then, it was being thought that the US pressure on Pakistan would be mounted. Exactly this happened. Subsequently, the United States claimed that their commandoes have killed Bin Laden in a raid. Pakistan has described the raid as a blow to its sovereignty. However, the United States has brought an allegation against Pakistani intelligence agency for providing shelter to Bin Laden. Though a number of questions have surfaced centering this raid -- whether Bin Laden was really killed in the attack or he was killed much earlier or anybody else was killed in the name of Bin Laden.
War on Terror
Centering this incident whatever it might be -- the actual Bib Laden killed or no -- Pakistan is trying to come out of the influence of the United States, a long time friend of that country. Within 15 days of the killing of Bin Laden, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani visited China. The Chinese leaders categorically announced that Pakistan has significant contribution to the war on terror. This country is also a victim of terrorism.
The Western countries must show their respect to the sovereignty of Pakistan. The Chinese leaders further announced that Beijing will consider any attack on Islamabad an attack against it and China will always stand beside Pakistan. This announcement from Beijing in the face of an intense pressure from the west was not only a matter of ease for Islamabad, but a clear indication that China support Pakistan at the time of difficulty.
Building Gwadar Port
Massive steps were taken to enhance military relations between China and Pakistan during this visit of Gilani. The area of cooperation also includes transfer of military technology side by side with military assistance. China has assured Pakistan of supplying more than 50 JF Thunder Aircraft within a shortest possible time. In addition, the two countries have reached an agreement on purchasing frigates for the navy and training on operating submarines. Seventy-five percent arms of Pakistani Armed Forces comes from China. Very soon 260 Chinese fighter planes will be added to the Pakistan Air Force. It is being though that Pakistan is going to be a member of Shanghai Cooperation from an observer at the behest of China. And this might add a new dimension to China-India relations in the coming days. During Gilani's visit to China this time, the most important military on the agenda was the proposal of setting up a naval base at Gwadar Seaport, built on assistance from Beijing.
China and India have long been involved in a race for expanding influence in the India Ocean. Comparatively India navy is now stronger in the India Ocean. It can be said India has its hegemony on the sea. An intensive relationship of cooperation of India navy with the US Navy has been added to this. China has to import its fuel oil from the Middle East through the narrow strata of Malacca under the India-US naval surveillance. During any adverse situation the India-US naval power may close down this supply route for China. Alternative sea routes are very essential for China. Beijing is going to be achieved this opportunity this time completely. Gwadar seaport has multifaceted military significance. Virtually this port will be the main center for China to maintain its influence in the southern seacoast of Asia. From there China will be able to maintain its surveillance on the Indian and US Naval Forces.
Gwadar Seaport is very close to the seacoast of Oman. The distance of the Persian Gulf from here is not so far. Before 1958, Gwadar was under Oman. Later, the area was handed over to Pakistan. In 1973, US President Richard Nixon visited Pakistan. During the visit, the then Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto requested Richard Nixon to help building a seaport at Gwadar. Bhutto proposed that Pakistan would ensure benefit of the US Navy from Gwadar if the port was built with assistance from his country. But Nixan did not make any response to that proposal.
Failing to get any support from the US for building the seaport at Gwadar, Pakistan did not abandon its plan in this regard. Later, they sought helps from China in this regard. The work on building the seaport began in 2002 with assistance from China. China invested $200million for construction of the seaport. The first phase of the construction of the port ended in 2006. Singapore Port Management Authority was given the responsibility of running the port. Now China will be given the responsibility of running the port from Singapore Port Authority. A decision has been taken to review soon the port management by Singapore Port Authority.
The work on establishing direct road and railway communications with China from Gwadar seaport has begun so that oil tankers could be transported to Chinese territory from the port. China began the expansion of road network on Karakoram Highway from Gilgit in Pakistan to Xinjinag province of China. In 2006, Islamabad and Beijing signed agreement to build a road from Kashgar in China to Abbottabad in Pakistan. The two countries took the decision of constructing an alternative land route in consideration that Karakoram Highway might be risky for bigger containers. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari visited China in July 2010. During his talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao, a decision was taken to set up 3,000 km railway line from Kashgar to Gwadar.
Security experts believe China will use this port equally both for civil and military purposes. Chinese ships will not anchor at the port only, but its submarines use the same as a base. In a recent report by New Delhi-based Institute of Defense Studies and Analysis said this port is a threat to India. Gwadar Port is very close to Hormuz strata. During any adverse situation, Pakistan might impose restriction on this route. However, Beijing will be able to conduct a complete surveillance on Indo-US naval maneuverings in the Arab Sea and Persian Gulf.
Pressure From Western Countries
Both the United States and India are worried over this strategic and military cooperation between Pakistan and China. Many people think the conflict between the CIA and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is rooted in the relations between China and Pakistan. It seems that the US has toned down to Pakistan as Islamabad successfully played the China card in face of relentless pressure from the Western countries.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a surprised visit to Pakistan along with Admiral Mike Mullen, then chairman of the Joint US Chief of Staff. Hillary announced that the United States will continue its cooperation and the war on terror with Pakistan. So long the United States has been alleging that Bin Laden had been hiding inside Pakistan with helps from Pakistani intelligence officials. But during her visit to Islamabad, Hillary said she did not believe top Pakistani official knew about the hiding of Bin Laden in that country.
The US security adviser has already announced that Washington's assistance to Pakistan will not be stopped. The US concern has started unfolding at a time when Pakistan is set to go under the total influence of China.
Despite conducting drone attacks inside Pakistan to eliminate the Taliban militants, the United States has been holding talks with the Taliban at the mediation of Turkey. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) officials have already held meeting with mid ranking Taliban leaders. Recently, former NATO official and former foreign minister of Turkey Hiqmat Setin said that Turkey was going to hold high level talks with the Taliban soon.
It is being observed that the United States contact with the Taliban still exists. However, Pakistan has been made the target of the Taliban. Questions have now been raised from inside Pakistan about the motive behind the recent attack on Pakistani naval base in Karachi and destruction of two naval surveillance aircraft. Whether any special message is being given by this type of attack. It has become clear from the nature of the attack that the target of the raid was to hit the military strength of Pakistan. A section of the mass media in Pakistan has alleged that those who have been conducting this type of attack in Pakistan in the name of the Taliban have special links with the US and Indian intelligence agency.
Pakistan's Military Cooperation with China
However, India has already expressed concern over Pakistan's military cooperation with China. Following the claim of killing Bin Laden at Abbottabad by the US force, a hint was given from New Delhi that India might conduct similar attack on Pakistan. The reaction shown by Pakistan in response to that desire of New Delhi is another cause of concern for India. Pakistan made it clear that if India dared to conduct such raids Islamabad will limited scale nuclear weapon or tactical nuclear arms. It was not so long known that Pakistan has such sophisticate nuclear arsenals.
At the same time, India plunged into another diplomatic difficulty. India handed over a list of 50 terrorists residing in Pakistan to Islamabad authorities and demanded their extradition for trials. The following day reports were published in the Indian newspapers that two of the listed terrorists detained in Indian prisons. Indian wanted to mount pressure on Pakistan in line with the United States, but they himself got entangled in trouble. And as a result, the image of India was tarnished.
After the killing of Bin Laden, the competition launch between the United States and China for expanding influence centering Pakistan gives a signal of a new strategic equation of the Asian superpowers. Iran has also joined the race. Iran has already expressed its solidarity with the integrity of Pakistan. It is being thought that Pakistani military officials have been maintaining contacts with Iran.
Importance of Islamabad
Except China, Pakistan has taken initiative of enhancing cooperation with Russia. President Asif Ali Zardari had already visited Russia. He was given a rousing reception in Moscow. The new relations of China and Russia with Iran and Pakistan could turnout to be a big concern for the United States in future. This will make the position of US-led NATO force in Afghanistan weak, and also deal a blow to the US initiatives of establishing control over the energy resources in Central Asia. In addition, Russia, China is also enhancing its influence in the Central Asia. A cooperative relation between China and Pakistan will help Beijing to make another step forward in expanding its influence in this region. Because of road communication with Central Asia and port facilities, the importance of Pakistan has increased. Despite multifaceted pressure from United States and acts of sabotage inside the country, Pakistan is playing the cards of its good relations with China and Russia because of its geostrategic position. And this is the main weapon of Pakistan. Because of this it is very easy to criticize Pakistan, but difficult to avoid.

People of Arab World Hijacked

2012-01-03T00:58:00.000-08:00

All of a sudden, the love of the prime minister for religion has gone up. Even the Menons (left politicians like Rashed Khan Menon and his accomplices) are uttering verses of the holy Quran. The religion trade is now going on massively by making efforts to stop 'fatwa' (religious addict) saying it is a trade of religion traders and uttering the ideals of Islam. Taking the office of a "religion-less" or irreligious state, the love for religion is nothing but a lie and deception.
The people of the country know in whose interest the women policy has been framed. The CIDAW is a charter of conspiracy for turning the women into a commercial commodity. In 1997, a so-called declaration in the United Nations for ending or abolishing all discriminations against the women had got recognition. It is not a charter for development of the women but a story of deception or intrigue. The real Islamic scholars and leaders have taken to the street. They are united not only against the women policy but against all the anti-Islamic policies. Slogans are being raised everywhere in the country that fatwa will be the constitution of the country in future.
Unity of Society
So it is not hartal (closure strike), what is the great need of the country is unity of the society of religious leaders and Islamic thinkers. And only united strength can protect the dignity of the holy Quran. The people of the Arab world have been hijacked. The people are not seeing the dream of freedom. Their fear always is that when bombs and grenades of the hyenas are thrown into their homes. The boisterous sound of weapons and missiles is shattering the life and peace of human habitats. The people are rushing toward hospital in corpse, carrying ambulances with mutilated and severed bodes of the human beings. What they wanted and what is happening; it is like bringing crocodiles by digging canals. In fact, the character of the United States is one and identical. The difference is only in their complexion or in the color of their skin. So the Nobel Peace Prize winning Barack Obama is doing the same thing as his predecessor George W. Bush did. Overtly, it may seem they are not united, but, in fact, they are. The imperialism is the core policy of the United States. As hyenas do not feel good, the United States does not find it comfortable without aggression. They are carrying out killings as they have been doing in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are a nation of hyenas. They are selling life-destroying tablets and pills in the packets or phials of peace.
US Responsibility
It is also the US responsibility to protect those who they purchased. The movements are a convocation or installation of grabbing anew. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a purchased grouping of the United States. And the United Nations is their place for their pastime and gossiping.
The attention of Obama is fixed not on the people of Libya but on their oil resources or oil wealth. Thrown into deep recession, it is the need of the United States to plunder the resources of Muslims to get their luxurious lifestyle going. When the United States citizens are beset with unemployment and are about to start begging at that time their government has attacked the Libyan people to grab their oil resources. Other autocratic Arab rulers joined NATO air attacks. And the responsibility of the United States is to ensure security to the evil doers or Satans. Sending warships to Libya they gave a signal to others that no more now, the game is over. Our target has been achieved.
Warplanes and Warships
The last desire of former US President Bush was to launch attack on Iraq and Libya. Obama has fulfilled that desire of Bush. But the difference is Bush has already been insulted trough the hurling of shoes while Obama is yet to get that treatment. The people across the world have been fuming. Obama is playing such a game where the world is clapping with contentment when Libya is being bombarded. It means there will be attacks, but quietly. There would be killing but without any sound.
Obama! You are not t he last. The more your atrocities will grow, the more your days will be numbered. Your nuclear weapons will lose their strength and prowess. Look at Fukushima of Japan. They are counting their days for ruination with their own arms. Not much time would be needed to end your game of pride. Your warplanes and warships would crash onto the roof of your White House only in three minutes. Your nuclear reactors would add gloom to the taste of your dream. The wait of the Muslim ummah (community) is for the help of God. The things for which you boast are your deathtrap.

Pulling Out Bangladesh Army From Chittagong Hill Tracts: Conspiracy To Create Unrest

2012-01-02T00:45:00.000-08:00

Negative propaganda has been extensively spread over the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) issue since long ago at the international level. The United Nations Forum on Indigenous Issues in one of its meetings has demanded withdrawal of army at a time when law and order situation has extremely deteriorated there on an alarming scale in consequence of internal feud among the indigenous people themselves. Since long, similar demand is being made by the tribal organizations of the CHT. This has been only echoed in the session of the United Nations Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Signing of Peace Pact
But we are aware that at a time, with the help of a neighboring country, the separatist movement was launched in the CHT and at that time Army was deployed to ensure integrity and security in that region. After the signing of the peace pact between the government and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) in 1997, many Army camps were packed up. But we are observing that peace and stability have not been restored in the CHT; on the contrary, threats prevail in that region in respect of territorial integrity. Only a few days ago PCJSS leader Santu Larma threatened to launch armed struggle in the CHT if needed. More than one armed hill organizations of the UPDF have established a reign of terror in the CHT. Under the circumstances, if the Army is withdrawn from the CHT, it will be tantamount to keeping the region insecure and handing it over to the terrorists.
Bangladesh is an independent and sovereign country. It is entirely the business of this nation to decide where it should have or have not its garrison or the Army camp in the CHT. No other organization has any authority to poke its nose into its affairs. What is unfortunate is that baseless allegations of human rights violations, including rape and torture, have been brought against the Army personnel. Although sweeping generalization of allegations has been made, nevertheless the date, day or names of alleged persons or the names of the victims have not been mentioned. From the lack of basic facts, it can be perceived that the sole goal of this allegation is to malign the Bangladesh Army personnel globally.
UN Peacekeepers in CHT
To any Bangladesh citizen such allegations by the United Nations Forum on Indigenous Issues are a matter of anxiety, because behind the allegations, there is a motive to help the separatist armed groups. What is more, it was discussed to deploy UN peacekeepers in the CHT. Such articulations clearly suggest symptoms of East Timor in the CHT. Various quarters from different forums are expressing apprehensions that a scheme is in progress to separate the CHT from Bangladesh. A section of the civil society and some NGOs are involved in this process by using different forums of the United Nations. Different intelligence bodies of the government have corroborated these activities.
We feel, time has come to take punitive actions against those who are involved in such activities. Otherwise, the situation may further deteriorate. At the same time, the Army position should be further integrated to ensure the security and integrity of the region.

Secularism: Has It Become Confusing Propaganda?

2012-01-01T01:06:00.000-08:00

Secularism is a state philosophy. It emerged following a different political situation in Europe. Not projecting that political and historical background, many people are explaining its meaning through only theoretical analysis of the word. Even many learned ulema (Islamic scholars) are expressing opinion in favor or against secularism not realizing its significance. In our country, most of the people who work for secular state philosophy are talking about the matter not realizing its A to Z significance. Against this backdrop, we think that it is very necessary to highlight this that, in which historical background this political philosophy had emerged.
When the Romans were conquering state after state, they could not earn people's love and sincere support as they were not attentive to people's education, culture, and economic development of the society. As a result, when the foreign forces like German, Teutonic, and Babrians were out to attack on Rome, its people were failed to play an enterprising role in protecting the country. In 376, Barbarians took positions in Serbian and Bulgarian regions. Later in 410 Visipathak King attacked Rome under the leadership of Oilaric. After a heavy fighting, the Roman Empire was broken like a house of cards. The defeat was unprecedented for the big empire. The historians think that the reason for falling of the big empire easily was not to people's response for various reasons.
Ancient Religious Belief
At the beginning, the Romans were mainly established on their ancient religious belief. Jerusalem was the main land of Christians. With the expansion of Christianity in Rome, the Romans started taking Christianity leaving the old religion. The Christianity became the main religion of the Romans gradually. The Christianity got the patronization of the Roman emperors 300 years after the birth of the Prophet Jesus. Rome was broken into pieces 17 years that means in 410 after the Christianity was given the status of the state religion. But this breaking was initiated much earlier. The capital of Roman Empire was moved to Constantinople from Rome for administrative need breaking Rome into East and West Rome.
Control of Pope
Because of shifting of the capital to Constantinople, the authority of Rome had gone under the control of Pope, head of the Roman Church. The founder of Roman Church was St Peter, who got massive recognition by all quarters as a priest and preacher of religion. Because of his influence, the domination of Roman Church was recognized by the all quarters. Earlier, St Peter sent various missions and carried out massive campaign to baptize Teutonic communities into Christianity. As a result those who were baptized into Christianity recognized the domination of Roman Church normally. In addition to those churches built in the West were established under the Roman Church. And the Roman Church used to enjoy annual financial benefit from these churches. So, the superiority of the Roman Church was recognized by Western Christian society. In addition, the Roman Bishop had been considered the successor of St Peter. For this reason, they honored Roman Bishop.
Later once a time, the Teutonic conquered Rome and through this, the legal authority of the Constantinople government over Rome ended. In this favorable situation, the chief Pope of Roman Church was became the ruler. Because of the support of the Western countries and their churches to Roman Pope, his influence increased to such an extent that the Constantinople ruler had no political and administrative power on him.
However, after moving the capital to Constantinople, a church was established there and its Pope was controlled by the government. As a result the church was run as per the wishes of the state. Their activities became limited by observing religious rituals. They were very conservative in religious rituals and they earned much fame in observing the rituals. But they became isolated in the day to day life. Moreover, Roman Bishop had to work with much reformist attitude because of the influence of Western countries. In addition to state power and amassing wealth, the lifestyle and austerity philosophy of the Pope and priests of the Roman Church were relaxed to some extent. Many changes in religious belief and practice had to bring for coordinating the Christianity with the lifestyle. As a result, two main churches were establishing in separate trends. Because of declaration of Christianity the state religion, the influence of religion on the state increased to a great extent.
In fact, the time of Rome 's fall by Teutonic has been mentioned as the Middle Ages in the history of state philosophy. The Middle Ages were divided into two parts -- the beginning and the last. St Asroze, St Augustine Pope, and Gregory were prominent state philosophers of the beginning part, which was mentioned as the golden era. Since the crown was in the head of Pope, the church was conquering and rules of the Christian religion spread across the world. But the power of the church was cut in the last part of the Middle Ages and the dignity of Pope was lackluster before the emperors. Rationalism got priority instead of religious faith. This time was mainly the mutual conflicting time between the church and state. At that time, a group of philosophers presented strong opinions in favor of the philosophy. They included St Augustine, Pope Gregory, and St Acunus. They projected Pope as essential like the nature and an absolute ruler.
Introduction of State System
And other group tried to tarnish the image of Pope and advocated for introduction a state system without philosophy. They were Dante, Marseille William, and John. They tried to make Pope obedient under the state and considered the state in the form of a religion-less structure. Machiavelli expressed the matter in a clear language.
In running the state, the responsibility and the obligation for maintaining the religious edicts by the Pope had initiated conflict between the state and Church. The head of the state wanted one thing, but Pope wanted other. In the consequence Church would have won most of the time as the people supported to the religion because of their natural emotion. In addition, some willful people were power-mongers. But if the Pope was not satisfied with them and they become not followers of religious edicts, the Pope did not arrange installation ceremony for them. As a result their latent hope was never implemented. For this reason, they were enraged to the religious authority over the state.
People's Latent Affection to Religion
These enraged class people worked unitedly against Popism. As a result, the conflict between this class and religion followers became inevitable. But the religion won repeatedly in the final struggle because people's latent affection to the religion is awaken one day and become united in favor of the religion. The conflict between the state and churches continued for the entire Middle Ages. Sometimes the state won against the churches and sometimes churches won against the state. Sometimes people gave tax to the churches and sometimes to the state. Sometimes they paid tax to both churches and state by becoming the victims of the situation. As a result, the entire Europe witnessed serious instability. For this situation, they held responsible each other.
To resolve this conflict, Pope Galcius placed his parallel philosophy or two-sword policy in 500. He thought that there were two separate goals of the human life. One is happiness of worldly life and other is eternal development and peace. The state mainly works for happiness and peace of people's worldly life, whereas the church works for achieving people's eternal development and peace. One is closely linked with other. Life does not complete excluding anyone. So two separate authorities may exist for the two fields. Against this backdrop, Galcius outlined two parallel forces. So he said the dues, the emperor wants, to give him and the dues, the God desires, to give him. It is mainly the two sword policy or parallel policy. In fact, Galcious wanted to solve the conflict through this system. But it was not possible to avoid the conflict. It continued until 1200. In the meantime rationalism was strengthened. As a result, the matter of taking issue related to worldly life in the light of logic got priority. A group of people expressed opinion for taking decisions in the light of logic instead of religion. The summary of their opinion there is no need of the presence of the religion in the state affair. In this context, people would move through the logic and justice. And the religious edicts would be applicable to the issues of people and religions. As a result, efforts were made to bring the church and emperor as the parallel status, and Dante was the proponent of this philosophy. He said that two guides were needed to achieve two goals of human life. The Pope would show the holy path by holding torch of the religious book. And the Emperor will be the guide of worldly life by holding rational and philosophical commodity. He also thought that God is the entity of the greatest kindness. And the church and empire both are blessed at his signal. It would not be wise of thinking that the church is superior to the emperor.
Through the remarks of Dante, undermining the superiority and dominance of the Church was initiated, which later reached to the level of toppling the church and religion from the state. Later philosopher Marcello announced superiority of the state over the church and confined the religion into the arena of eternal freedom by retreating it from the worldly life. He used to say the main work of the priests is to give assurances of ensuring better life, whereas the work of the state is to provide better life not only worldly life, even the world hereafter. In worldly life, the taste of better life will get through the practicing through conscious, prudence, logic and philosophy. But to get blessings of better life in hereafter, we have to depend on divine messages and priests. So, the main work of the priest is to help earn freedom in the world hereafter. The priests have nothing to do for worldly happiness. Whatever they will have to do is for the world hereafter. It is not proper for the priests to make interference in worldly matter. So, they have no rights to apply authority and enjoy facilities as the special class. Like other classes, this class will have to do work under the complete state authority. In the worldly matter, the state control over the priests will be like the control over agriculture and trade.
In this way, Marcello has brought the Pope and the priests under the authority of the state by bringing down their parallel status of the emperor. He wanted to curtail simultaneously the influence of the religion and the system for introduction of state rules and regulations, which have been continuing since ancient period. Nobody did show such courage earlier. In this way, Marcella axed the root of the traditional parallel policy and two-sword policy, and denied the universal characteristics of the religion. He crushed the lone sovereign authority of the church with the soil. Because of his philosophy, the church was downgraded at the level of a division controlled by the state. The music of religion, which was resounded in all spheres of the life, was confined to the limited level of the world hereafter. In this context, the activities of the church were controlled by the state and became its obedience. Spiritual or worldly life, the church and priests became subordinate of the government and the state, whereas the superiority of the state over the church was declared. He discussed in the details of this philosophy in the book entitled the Defencor Papis. The book was severely criticized by the contemporary people. For this, Pope VII Clement described Marcello the most hatred sin.
Unrest and Disorder in Europe
Marcello thought that conflict of power between the state and the church was the main reason for unrest and disorder in Europe. He also thought that it would not be possible to remove the conflict and disorder in any way if the church and state became parallel and hold equal authority. For this, he took measures to bring the church under the state control. However, the process for removing the conflict could be like that the state would be under the control of the religion and it was logical. But Marcello did not move to that thought. Because he wanted to undermine the priest authority and axe the root of the absolute power of Pope. His main goal was to send the religion into exile from the ruling system. Not to face the hit of rationalism, he brought the state under the logic and announced through all out forces that any interference of the religion in worldly matter is not proper. But his thought was not accepted in the contemporary world and people also did not accept it. However, 200 years after his death this was recognized as the state philosophy and got public support through Machiavelli. He was born in the Italian city of Florence in 1469 and died in 1527. He was considered the father of secular state philosophy. He, in fact, did not believe in religion. He believed that there was no goal in the world hereafter. The world is the field of earning completeness of life of the people. The qualities like fame, power and nobility give the people immortality. So, there is no need of any divine rule in the state life. For maintaining solidarity of the state, there is no need of the rulers to be confined themselves to the fence of the morality. He also thought that the citizens and rulers will be ruled under the same policy. Because the state is the greatest social organization and it is a carrier of social wellbeing. So, the state and its administrator cannot be brought at the level of the common people. The goal of the state is noble and the judgment of its work must be in separate criteria. He used to think that in people's life, the church and its policy are completely unnecessary. Because the principles of the church are meaningless in people's worldly life. By freeing of religious edicts from the secular state philosophy that means state administration, charging of the logic and judgment was the one of his innovations. In fact, during his time the entire Europe was the victim of disorder. Like the Greek city state, there were number of small states in Italy. Like Venice and Florence, there were also some republic states. But most of them were under the autocratic rule. Political conflict and competitions were the common phenomenon among the states, whereas the foreign forces observed the development in the region with sharp eye. Taking the scope for internal conflict, strong countries like Germany, Spain, and France were out to capture the states. As the situation became stable in 1600, five big countries were born comprising hundreds of city states. They were Naples, Vatican, Milan, Venice, and Florence. Although Italy remained in the world map, its internal situation was vulnerable. For this reason, Machiavelli advised that Italy needs such a ruler who will be very powerful. If needed, he will be clever like fox and strong like lion and he would not be confined of moral bonds in his or her own works.
The basic principles of the political thinking of the entire Middle Ages were the religion-based followers of divine rules. The powerful people were considered the representatives of God. All things of political, social, and economic life were under the religion and under the control of the church. All things were nurtured at the lap of church in the light of the religious theory. But Machiavelli was one of the philosophers who worked for rooting out the dominance of the religion through the influence of rationalism. Both Marcello and Machiavelli considered the church the biggest barrier to the path of the Italian unity. In this regard, Machiavelli was more aggressive than Marcello. He announced the church completely unnecessary and its policy meaningless for the worldly life. He also give stand the political, social, and economic life on the enjoyment of the rationalism and charged of life from the rationalism. Through this long review, it becomes clear like daylight that the secular philosophy was not born from the efforts of expressing liberal attitude to all religions or it was not initiated from the spirit of giving scope to all for practicing religion independently. Rather rooting out Islam from the state life and running people's life in the light of the rationalism had worked as the main spirit behind the emergence of the secular state philosophy.
We are not denying it that the Christianity was the religion for time being. There were not adequate elements in the religion, which can compete in the necessity of people of time immemorial. But the Christian priests tried to make impossible possible by taking initiative for establishing it as a universal religion. In addition, they cheated with the desire of divine by following evil strategies for establishing the religion for people to come in one hand, and they fell into their own trap to burden the religion, which has no elements to fulfill people's necessity on the people all time. It was proved that the Christianity was failed to fulfill people's expectations of the expanding world and solving their problems. As a result people took shelter to the rationalism by boycotting the religion.
Coordinating With Logic
In addition, people lost respect to the priests for their over willfulness, greediness, and moral erosion. For this reason, people did not want to follow them. As a result, people have disrespected to the religion and these have encouraged people to take shelter to the rationalism by coming out of the religion. Moreover, main problems, which have arisen, were the loosing of the main religion. It was mentioned earlier that the church of the Vatican was the reformists. To coordinate with the lifestyle of Barbarians, they relaxed the religious edicts in many fields. While coordinating with the logic, they were also compelled to change the religious rules. They had to bring changes in many field to establish the Christianity as a universal religion.
However, the church of the Constantinople was separated from the conservative life and world. Through the followers of the church, the Christianity has been described philosophical religion, which is separated from the life and world. As a result, there was a great crisis in front of the followers of the Christianity. By undertaking which explanation, they would hammer out a work plan. For this reasons, they were compelled to create a new way for running life in the state and its related fields by utilizing the logical philosophy and excluding the religion. For this, the secular philosophy was a great blessing for the Europe. But there is no logic to burden this philosophy on the Islamic world and the Muslim-dominated region.
State-Related Rules
The advent of Islam has been made as a universal religion. God has selected the religion for people until the day of judgment. The dynamics of the world people and solution of their problems until the day of resurrection have been mentioned in it. In addition, Islam is not a philosophical religion. It is closely related with the life and world. Islam has no scope for conducting any chapter of life by making it devoid if religion. In Islam, mosques are run on the basis of the divine rules. Similarly, the state is run on the basis of divine dictations.
There is no difference between the two. In addition, in the state-related rules, Islam has no crisis of inadequateness, which exists in the Christianity. In the overall rules of Islam, there are sufficient rules for state policy, economy, and social fields.
Significance of Islam
The main trend and main significance of Islam were not lost or distorted. For these reasons, there is no scope for thinking separate the state system from the Islamic code of life. Rather Islam is complete with own state system and code of life. If anybody thinks that Islam is separated from the state, it will be his or her incomplete faith in Islam. It cannot be called a complete faith. For this reason, there is no scope for a Muslim to become a believer in secular philosophy.
However, many people give explanation of secularism in this way that everybody will perform their respective religions independently. It has been mainly called to burden the secularism on the state. In fact, the secularism does not obstruct the rituals, which are performed at the personal level. But the intrusion of the religion into the state is curbed in iron hand, which we have realized against the backdrop of secular philosophy. There is no way of implementation of the Islamic edicts that are related with the state. Even there is no way of undertaking initiatives for implementing those. Moreover, there remains no scope for resisting politically if the state takes any anti-Islam step.

Japanese Prime Minister’s India Visit: Tokyo-New Delhi Hold Annual Summit

2011-12-31T10:16:00.000-08:00

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has paid a visit to India. During his stay he met his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh. After the meeting he said that Japan could contribute to India’s rapidly growing manufacturing sector. A total of 421 Japanese companies have established their presence in India and created 150,000 jobs.
India and Japan need to establish firm partnerships and enter a new era of economic cooperation to capitalize on mutual complementarities, Noda said while addressing the joint business forum organized by industry chambers Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said both countries need to work closely to address current global challenges and have a defining influence in Asia and beyond. The two-way trade can reach a level of US $25 billion by 2014, up from $13.82 billion in 2010-11.
Sharma said Japanese firms have a major opportunity in India’s infrastructure and manufacturing. The country plans to invest $1 trillion in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17) to build infrastructure.
The Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor and dedicated freight corridor are the most ambitious infrastructure projects conceived so far which will have integrated townships. At the same time, the national manufacturing policy aims to boost production in sectors like electronics hardware, information technology, agro food processing and green power technologies. The Japanese government is committing $4.5 billion for implementation of this project.
Steady Progress in Relations
The meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Yoshihiko Noda, the sixth of the annual India-Japan summits, is a marker of the steady progress. It yielded the first official confirmation since Japan's devastating tsunami-earthquake-Fukushima meltdown that the country has not shut the door on a civilian nuclear deal with India. While Noda stressed the importance of learning the right lessons from Japan's nuclear accident, it appears that negotiations on a deal to assist India develop peaceful nuclear energy will continue.
The Japanese prime minister’s pledge of $4.5 billion over the next five years for the development of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, a commitment of financial assistance for two more infrastructure projects — Phase 3 of the Delhi Metro and a biodiversity conservation project in West Bengal — and his interest in sharing high-speed railway technology with India are significant.
Currency Swap Arrangement
During the Japanese prime minister’s stay, New Delhi and Tokyo have agreed to a $15 billion currency swap line, in a positive move for the troubled Indian rupee, Asia's worst performing currency this year.
India and Japan previously had a $3 billion swap arrangement that expired in June, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The currency swaps are expected to support the Indian rupee as it continues to weaken against the greenback and Europe's sovereign debt crisis hits India's exports. The dollar-swap arrangement with India follows a similar agreement with South Korea in October.
New Beginning Intensified
Noda's India visit started a year of intense bilateral activity. The foreign ministers of the two countries held a strategic dialogue in October, followed by talks between the defense ministers. In February, the two countries signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement covering trade in goods as well as services; it came into effect in August.
Earlier in December 2011, India, Japan, and the United States held their first trilateral strategic dialogue. It is creditable that despite the political instability in Japan, and the scandal-induced paralysis in India, both countries managed to fit in these high-level exchanges. It is crucial that growing India-Japan ties are viewed independently of each country's relations with China.
Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement
The 10-page India-Japan joint statement has no doubt called for concluding the agreement with “due regard to each side’s relevant interests, including nuclear safety.” But this will hardly lessen the fears in the minds of millions of people who live in the vicinity of the areas where nuclear power plants are located or planned.
It is not surprising that Noda has been making a strong plea for the resumption of negotiations on a civil nuclear cooperation agreement between his country and India. He was a man on a mission, reiterating this whenever he got an opportunity during his stay in New Delhi as part of the annual summit between the two nations’ prime ministers.
The stakes are high as India expects to have 20,000 MWe of nuclear capacity on line by 2020 and Japan would like a share in this. India has already signed civil nuclear agreements with the United States, Russia, France, Britain, Canada, South Korea, Argentina, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Namibia. Negotiations with Japan were brought to a halt after three meetings held last year after the March 2011 disaster that hit one of Japan’s oldest nuclear power plants — Fukushima Daichi Nuclear Power Station — which saw a meltdown after being crippled by a tsunami.

Cambodia Benefits From Internationalizing Border Clashes

2011-12-30T01:49:00.000-08:00

The situation of clashes at the Thai-Cambodian border in Surin is still very worrying. Both sides rushed to build up troops and transport heavy weapons to build up bases for launching full attacks. The bases have been built along over 15-km-long borderline from Ta Khwai Temple to Ta Muean Thom Temple.
Cambodia has deployed troops from the Special Taskforce 91, which is under direct command of Major General Hun Manet, favorite son of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Main Reason
I believe Hun Manet wants to show and prove his fighting skill to the Cambodian people. This was the main reason that the Cambodian troops crossed the border to try to seize the Ta Khwai Temple three times but they were bombarded by troops from the Second Army Region, causing them to flee back.
It should be noted that when the Thai and Cambodian troops bombarding each other with artillery, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made two-day visit to Phnom Penh as a special guest of Hun Sen.
I believe Hun Sen and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, who is a great ally of Cambodia, definitely held a closed-door meeting to discuss the Thai-Cambodian border clashes.
What should be monitored is whether Hun Sen would seek military help from Vietnam if the fighting drags on. It should also be monitored how Vietnam, which is a member of Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), will play its role regarding to this problem.
So far, what has become certain is that the Thai-Cambodian border clashes have been internationalized and sent to the United Nations very fast.
Maintaining Cease-Fire
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement, demanding the two countries to stop using force to attack each other. The UN secretary general also called on the two countries to exercise restraint, so that they could hold negotiations to sustainedly solve the problem.
The UN secretary general also called on the two countries to come up with measures for effectively maintaining cease-fire, which should be verified immediately.
I see that the stand of the UN secretary general and ASEAN chairman, who called on the two countries to cease-fire and call for a measure for verifying ceasefire immediately, went along with the wish of Hun Sen.
Hun Sen wants third countries to get involved in the conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia.
This is a main problem that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra must rush to solve.
As a result, Yingluck has made preparations to seek a talk with Hun Sen during an ASEAN Summit in Indonesia early May.
Negative Impacts
Yingluck raised a condition that such a talk must be a bilateral one without participation of any other country or organization.
The use of heavy weapons to bombard each other by the two countries has caused several negative impacts as following:
1. The longer the fight continues, the more casualties of troops of the two countries will happen. Although more Cambodian troops were killed than Thai troops, it was not an issue that we should rejoice.
2. The longer the clashes continue, the more budget will be spent.
3. Now that the situation in the bilateral ties has been under much tension, the hope has become diminished for two Thais, who have been detained by Cambodia on spying charges, to be released and sent back to Thailand.
4. More than 40,000 people in Surin and Buri Ram, including children and aged people, had to be evacuated and had to leave their homes and farmlands behind.
5. The border clashed prevented peoples living along the borderline from visiting each other like what they could do in the past.
6. The protracted fight will damage the border trades.
All in all, the border clashes had tremendous negative impacts.
Only a group of people do not care about the ongoing fighting.
They are Thai gamblers who continued to cross the border to gamble in casinos in Poipet.
As long as the casinos in Poipet are still open, the Thai gamblers will be willing to cross the border to fight against the casinos' owners.
And they will always return home empty-handed.

Similarities and Differences Between Withdrawal of Russian and US Forces

2011-12-29T01:13:00.000-08:00

Russians started withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1367 Hijri (1988). Later, the Afghan Government fought the opponents alone until 1371 (1992) and defeated them in the month of February, the same year. Now, the history is about to repeat itself. Some indications are emerging that after the withdrawal of the United States, whether or not the Afghan Government will prolong? To answer these questions it is necessary to analyze the past and present.
With the Russian arrival in Afghanistan, comparatively general uprising was started from north to south and east to west of the country. The uprising was initially at public level. However, later, Jihadist organization came to fore. Currently, only the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and a portion of Hizb-e-Eslami are fighting against the government. During the Russian period, mujahidin were supported by the neighboring countries, the Arab world, Western Europe, the United State, China, and almost half of the world. However, no country openly sympathizes with the Taliban. The Pakistani Governments and Iran have been blamed. However, they never accepted these allegations.
Mujahidin’s Control
Following the war, former mujahidin were equipped with the spirit of Islam and Jihad. Government forces also had the spirit of patriotism. A proof to it is that in 1367 (1988), mujahidin carried out a fierce attack on Jalalabad. At that time, Nangarhar local government units surrendered. Only the national security and police units protected Jalalabad. The military guards coming to Kunar from Jalalabad were also cooperating with them. Mujahidin had taken control of the airport and had reached the city gate. In this war, Pakistani forces also supported mujahidin logistically. It is said that their artillery was also used in the war.
The time was close when the entire Jalalabad would have fallen into the hands of mujahidin. Dr Najibullah ordered 9th battalion, controlling the road security of Jalalabad, to reach Jalalabad. The first group of this battalion, which reached there was Group-155. Its commander was Arozgai Asadullah. The brave army commander of Nangarhar asked him to defend the airport. Assadullah said: I will object it. Commander asked how many men do you have? He had about 250 troops. He maintained his troops on Pica and other weapons. Then he started communicating with him. During the telephonic conversation, another language was heard. He asked his troops, if they understand that language. They said yes, they are speaking Urdu. He asked whose language is it? Troops replied: of Pakistanis. Asadullah said: Pakistanis have attacked our homeland. Homeland is like a mother. Those of you who respect the dignity of mother should stand up with me; if you do not, you are free to go. All the troops said: we will fight.
Commander Asadullah said: we will be fighting in standing position. There will be no lying or kneeing position. Injured and dead will not be carried out. Similarly, we will fight the enemy face to face. Then, he led and the troops followed him. They advanced for 2.5-km. They repulsed the enemy. All of them were killed. However, many of the enemy personnel were massacred.
Defeat of Mujahidin
The offensive of these 250 troops later caused the defeat of mujahidin. They were only fighting in the name of homeland and not for the national ideology. At that time, the government forces were equipped with the spirit of patriotism. They were taking mujahidin as enemies of the homeland. They were observing that mujahidin were setting ablaze schools, destroying bridges, uprooting electricity towers, killing teachers, same as the Taliban are doing now. However, right after the fall of Dr Najib's government, mujahidin started looting and plundering across the country, and proved their enmity with the homeland.
In March, Interior Minister General Bismillah said: "There is lack of patriotic spirit in army and police". Earlier, military commanders used to be patriotic. They were not looters. They were real men and were equally treating their troops, without any differences. However, now situation is not the same. Probably, due to the same reason, soldiers are less patriotic now than before. When Russians were withdrawing from the country, there were thousands of tanks, hundreds of transport and combat air-crafts, hundreds of helicopters, equipped artillery, Luna, (military) equipment, Scud missiles, and complete resources and possibilities of anti-air craft were in control of the Afghan Government. However, now our army does not have weapons, not even Pica and RPG.
UN Peace Plan
With the well maintained army of that time, an active and dynamic president like Najibullah was working for the country. He himself fought a war as a leading commander. However, President Karzai does not posses similar physical capacity or a consistence vision. He keeps on changing his statements. At times, he becomes furious and at other moment a cool minded person. Equipped army, high morale of troops, strong president, and fair administration was the bases of prolonging the rule of Najibullah. However, his government was not toppled because of mujahidin but internal conspiracies. Initially, the coupe d'état by Shahnawaz Tanai broke the backbone of his government. Later, the coalition between General Momin, Dostam, Syed Kian and Ahmed Shah Masud limited the writ of the government to Northern part of the country. General Nabi Azimi and Karmal's cooperation blunt the UN peace plan, and forced Dr Najibullah to resign.
Can the Hamid Karzai government sustain after the US withdrawal? According to the aforementioned points, now the opponents of the government are limited to two confronting political groups. They do not have support from any international element. They do not enjoy greater support because of the incidents of setting the schools on fire, destroying bridges, roads, and hospitals, and suicide attacks. The Taliban do not have capacity for face to face fight. They can only conduct sniper and suicide attacks. They can only be caught through intelligence and detective information. The government forces are incapable against them and do not have air forces and air defense. They do not have cannons, tanks, and other heavy weapons. Above all, the soldiers are not as loyal as they should be. Another good point is that there is no excuse for the government to fight against the Taliban after the US withdrawal. Most of the Taliban will surrender due to the peace talks.
Following the Russian withdrawal, Jihadist organizations told their fighters that the government has loyalties to Russians; therefore, we need to do Jihad against them. They leveled decree of infidelity against Dr Najib. Mjahidin did not clear their hearts for Dr Najib no mater how many testimonies he was making. However, now no one suspects Karzai. It is being said that he offers Tahajud Prayer (mid night prayer). Therefore, he sleeps until 0900 and does not attend his office.
After the Russian withdrawal, the Afghan Government was left alone. Only the Soviet Government was supporting it. Now, when the United States will withdraw, the entire world will support Afghanistan. As we have trained ex-army soldiers, they can be reappointed in army and their expertise can be utilized. Our former Army officers are accustomed with the Russians weapons. If heavy weapons are taken from Russia, three years is not a long time to establish air force and build air defense. Until our air force is not self sufficient, the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) can take the responsibility of country's air force and army. The government can maintain its troops for patriotism.
Financial Support
It is only possible if the Taliban are propagated against their crimes. The Taliban should be shown videos of them killing the people, setting ablaze the schools, and destroying the public welfare infrastructure. They should be forced to realize that they should not forget the sacrifices of the people. On the other hand, those soldiers who have been martyred for the sake of homeland, their families should be provided financial support. By doing so, soldiers will be free of the worries of their families' sustenance. As the Taliban cannot fight face to face, and stress upon suicide and sniper attacks; therefore, the government should make its intelligence stronger. If all this is done, then there is a greater possibility that the government can stay for a longer period. However, weak leadership of Karzai is a matter of concern. If he cannot do it, he should find an active, dynamic, and strong person for war strategy and administration.

Money-Laundering (Amendment) Bill, 2011

2011-12-28T01:04:00.000-08:00

Money laundering refers to the process of concealing the source of illegally obtained money. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount of money laundered, either worldwide or within their national economy. In 1996, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated that two to five percent of the worldwide global economy involved laundered money. However, the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), an intergovernmental body set up to combat money laundering, admitted that "overall it is absolutely impossible to produce a reliable estimate of the amount of money laundered and therefore the FATF does not publish any figures in this regard." Academic commentators have likewise been unable to estimate the volume of money with any degree of assurance.
Regardless of the difficulty in measurement, the amount of money laundered each year is in the billions (US dollars) and poses a significant policy concern for governments. As a result, governments and international bodies have undertaken efforts to deter, prevent and apprehend money launderers.
PMLA (Amendment) Bill, 2011
Keeping these points in view and to bring prevention of money laundering legislation on par with global norms, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has introduced PMLA (Amendment) Bill, 2011in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to allow confiscation of proceeds of crime even during the trial.
The Bill also provides that in any proceedings relating to proceeds of crime "...it shall be presumed that such proceeds of crime is involved in money-laundering".
The proposed Bill has provision for attachment and confiscation of the proceeds of crime even before conviction, "so long as it is proved that offence of money-laundering has taken place and property in question is involved in money-laundering. The amendment was necessiated in view of India being an important member of the FATF and also chairing its Asia Pacific group. Therefore, it was important to make the existing PMLA in tune with the practice being followed across the world.
Provisions of Indian Law
The Bill proposes to introduce the concept of corresponding law to link the provisions of Indian law with the laws of foreign countries and provide for transfer of the proceeds of the foreign predicate offence in any manner in India.
The Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002 was enacted to prevent money laundering and to provide for confiscation of property derived from, or involved in, money laundering. The Act was amended in the year 2005 and 2009 to remove the difficulties arisen in implementation of the Act.
Moreover, the amendment bill seeks to use proceeds of crime as criminal activities and remove existing limit of five lakh rupees of fine under the Act.
About FATF
The FATF, formed by the G7 countries in 1989, is an intergovernmental body whose purpose is to develop and promote an international response to combat money laundering. The FATF Secretariat is housed at the headquarters of the Organization of Economic Cooperation Countries (OECD) in Paris. In October 2001, FATF expanded its mission to include combating the financing of terrorism. FATF is a policy-making body, which brings together legal, financial and law enforcement experts to achieve national legislation and regulatory AML and CFT reforms. Currently, its membership consists of 34 nations and territories and two regional organizations.
In addition, FATF works in collaboration with a number of international bodies and organizations. These entities have observer status with FATF, which does not entitle them to vote, but permits full participation in plenary sessions and working groups.
FATF has developed 40 Recommendations on money laundering and 9 Special Recommendations regarding terrorist financing. FATF assesses each member country against these recommendations in published reports. Countries seen as not being sufficiently compliant with such recommendations are subjected to financial sanctions.

RBI Releases Financial Stability Report

2011-12-27T00:57:00.000-08:00

At a time when there is growing uncertainty about the health of many Western banks, the latest version of the Financial Stability Report (FSR) just released by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is reassuring. Indian banks remain robust though capital adequacy ratios have fallen and Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) have increased.
Capital Adequacy of Banks
Stress tests show banks are reasonably resilient though the capital adequacy of some banks could be adversely affected under severe credit risk stress scenarios. At a more disaggregated level, the picture is less encouraging. In particular, the consequences of, largely, public sector banks' headlong rush into lending for infrastructure projects, often at the behest of the government and the RBI, are now evident.
The report warns the 'growth rate of credit to the power sector has been much higher than the aggregate banking sector's credit growth and could unravel in case of a sharp economic downturn'. The same could also be said about bank lending to other infrastructure sectors such as real estate and airlines.
Low-Interest Rate Regime
A slowdown in domestic growth could raise the risks for the banking system as loans made in the low-interest rate regime of the previous two years turn sticky. More so since, as the report points out, all components of domestic demand, private, government, consumption and investment, have decelerated. On the external front, Indian banks with their limited exposure to overseas markets are relatively safe.
Nonetheless, contagion from the European sovereign bond markets to international banks could trigger further deleveraging and raise the cost of foreign currency loans for Indian banks and corporates. However, to the extent regulatory arrangements worldwide have been strengthened with national regulators recognizing the importance of a coordinated approach, the system is, hopefully, less vulnerable than before.
Real Test
The real test is whether the financial market infrastructure, in particular the payment and settlement systems, will continue to function without major disruption, when the next crisis strikes. As long as the lessons of the 2008 crisis have been learnt, there is reason to second the FSR's vote of confidence.

Assembly Elections in Five States

2011-12-26T00:58:00.000-08:00

In a move that has apparently upset Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s electoral plans, the Election Commission has announced the schedule for the Assembly polls in five states, setting the stage for a key electoral battle that is bound to have a bearing on national politics.
The election to the 117-member Punjab Assembly will be held in a single phase on January 30 while Uttar Pradesh, which has a 403-member Assembly, will witness a seven-phase voting on February 4, 8, 11,15, 19, 23 and 28.
The elections in Uttarakhand will be held on January 30, Goa on March 3 and Manipur on January 28. Counting of votes will take place in all the five states on March 4.
The notification for the elections in Punjab will be issued on January 5, Uttarakhand on January 5, Manipur on January 4 and Goa on February 6. The notification for the elections in UP will be issued on January 10, 12, 16, 21, 25 and 28 and February 2 respectively, for the seven phases.
Model Code of Conduct
The model code of conduct has come into force with immediate effect. The election schedule is likely to affect the presentation of the Railway Budget and the Federal Budget for 2011-12. The budgets are normally presented in the last week of February, but this time the Model Code of Conduct will last till March 9. Asked whether the schedule will affect the budgets, Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi said: “That is something the government will have to take care of.”
In a first, the Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs) will have signs in Braille to facilitate the blind voters. The Election Commission has also introduced a toll-free number 1950 for redressel of complaints.
Cutting short the term of the Assembly by about two months could deprive Mayawati an opportunity to use her absolute majority in the House to boost her party’s strength in the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha in April. The Congress is using all the forces at its command to improve its tally in the state.
The decision of the Centre to grant 4.5 per cent reservation to the minorities within the 27 per cent OBC quota is being seen as a clear move by the UPA government to woo the Muslims, who play a significant role in deciding the verdict in many constituencies in Uttar Pradesh.
The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which wields considerable influence in western Uttar Pradesh, recently joined the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) which could boost the prospects of the Congress in UP.
In Punjab, it will again be a battle between the Congress and the Akali Dal-BJP combine while Uttarakhand will see a straight contest between the Congress and the ruling BJP, which had recently changed its chief minister to give an image makeover to the state government.
Misuse of Black Money
In an attempt to check the misuse of black money in the polls, the Election Commission has decided to appoint adequate number of expenditure observers and assistant expenditure observers who would exclusively monitor the expenditure of the contesting candidates.
For greater transparency and for easy monitoring by the Election Commission, candidates would be required to open a separate bank account and incur their election expenses for that very account. Comprehensive instructions for the purpose of effective monitoring of the election expenditure of the candidates, including formation of flying squads, video surveillance teams in the constituency and involvement of investigation directorates of the income tax department, have also been issued by the Election Commission.
To deal with ‘paid news’, monitoring committees have been set up at district, state and Election Commission levels and necessary instructions issued to the district election officers.
The Election Commission also conducted a meeting with director generals (Narcotics) of five states to prevent the use of drugs during voting period.
Quraishi said the election dates have been decided taking into consideration climatic conditions, academic schedules, festivals, law and order, availability of security forces, time needed for their movement and deployment and other ground realities.

Sub-Quota for Minorities: Is It A New Political Gimmick?

2011-12-25T07:32:00.000-08:00

The federal Cabinet has approved a 4.5 per cent sub-quota for minorities, which will be carved out of the 27 per cent quota for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Central government jobs and Central educational institutions. This means that minorities can claim 4.5 out of every 100 government jobs and university seats (where quotas apply).The decision comes just ahead of the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most politically significant state, where 18per cent of the population is Muslim and is expected to help Congress general secretary's goal of ensuring a good show for the Congress in the forthcoming assembly elections as well as reviving the party in its former bastion in the long run.
Muslims, the most significant minority in Uttar Pradesh, have a significant to decisive vote share in 120 of the state's 403 seats and 21 of the state's 80 Lok Sabha constituencies.
Nationally Declared Minorities
Backward castes and communities belonging to the five listed religious minorities of India — Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists,Christians and Parsis — will be entitled to 4.5 per cent sub-quota within the existing 27 pc reservation currently available to OBCs for appointment and admission to federal government institutions. Even Sikh OBCs will benefit. Since the sub-quota has been carved out for five nationally declared minorities, backward OBCs from these minorities will get the benefit even if they are a majority in a given state.
the 4.5 pc sub-quota could be revised upward after the government receives the final figures of Census 2011 and the Caste Census currently in progress. The current sub- quota is an interim measure based on the OBC population estimates the Mandal Commission had extrapolated based on the 1931 Census data.
The sub quota will specially benefit Muslim OBCs from states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar where the population of Muslim OBCs has been on the rise. In case of UP, the growth in Muslim OBC population (as per National Sample Survey Organization rounds which Sachar Committee used) was 17.6 pc in five years.
Uttar Pradesh Assembly Polls
The decision will benefit Muslims more than other minorities as there are many Muslim communities designated as OBCs.
In the 2009 elections, the Congress won 21 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, thanks to a shift in the Muslim vote from the Samajwadi Party. But with the gradual return of that vote to the SP, the Congress needed to do something to bring that vote back ahead of next year's Assembly elections.
A decision to this effect was taken at the meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The decision will pave the way for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for minorities as defined in Section 2 (C) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. It will come in the form of an executive order, which was to be notified later Thursday night and would be applicable from January 1, 2011.Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis) are notified as minority communities under Section 2 (c) of the act.The decision is based on the recommendation of the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities (NCRLM). “The caste and communities of the said minorities which are included in the Central list of OBCs notified from time to time by the ministry of social justice and empowerment shall be covered by the said sub-quota,” sources in the government informed.
The NCRLM had pegged the OBC population at 52per cent of the country’s population, of which minorities constitute 8.4per cent. Based on the 2001 census, the Centre proposed a proportionate 4.5 per cent sub-quota for minorities.
According to the cabinet note: “The home ministry mentioned that some OBCs may protest against the ‘perceived’ reduction in the space for non-minority OBCs but that is the inevitable result of providing a quota within the reservation.”
Reservation for India’s 150-million Muslims is likely to have a sharply polarizing effect, even though the November 2006 Sachar Committee Report had found the minority community starkly under-represented in all spheres of professional and public life. The ruling Congress had then promised “reservations” to them in its poll manifesto.
Sachar Committee Report

The Sachar Committee Report entitled, ‘Social, Economic and Educational Status of the Muslim Community in India’, has initiated a new debate on the social, economic and educational status of Muslims in India. Although the debate has been going on for several decades, quite a few Governments have initiated studies on the community and evolved administrative measures on their basis. The findings are indeed shocking and revealing. What should be our response to this pathetic state of India’s largest minority? On account of a variety of factors, the work of the Sachar Committee and its report has greater significance and relevance than earlier initiatives. The seven-member high-level committee headed by Justice Rajinder Sachar, constituted by the UPA government, has done a great service to the Muslim community and entire country by identifying issues of equity as central to Muslim backwardness. The report states that the minority community in a society may remain deprived of the benefits of opportunities that become available through economic development. The sense of inequity, states the Report, is perpetual or a result of discrimination that the minority may face due to difference in identity.

Lokpal Bill: Political Parties, NGOs Come Under Scanner

2011-12-23T01:01:00.000-08:00

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-led federal government has finally introduced in the Lok Sabha the much-debated Lokpal Bill. The Bill envisages creation of anti-graft institutions at the central as well as state levels with a provision for including marginalised minorities and other sections as members.
The government also introduced a separate bill for amending the constitution to confer constitutional status to the proposed institutions.
About New Bill
The all new Lokpal Bill has provisions to probe corruption charges not just against the prime minister and ministers but also against managers, secretaries and directors of religious institutions and political parties that receive donations from the public.
The new clause appears to imply that the Lokpal can inquire into complaints of corruption against managers of temples, gurdwaras, mosques and churches, even sports clubs or any other association which accepts donations from the public.
All NGOs that receive annual grants of more than Rs 10 lakhs under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 will be under the Lokpal and so will all political parties, because they also receive donations from the people. The catch-all clause would conveniently cover Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) like Parivartan,which Arvind Kejriwal, member of Team Anna, heads and even the NGO being run by another Anna colleague Kiran Bedi and others that reportedly receive funds under FCRA.
But the government has ensured some balance in the provision by offering the coverage of political parties as well. A political party under RPA 1951 is defined as “an association or a body of individual citizens of India registered with the Election Commission as a political party under Section 29 A.” The clause is wide enough to cover all sports clubs or any group of people working for any cause.
Salient Features
* The Lokpal's writ will extend to the Prime Minister (with some exclusions), Ministers, current and former MPs (except in respect of what they say or how they vote in the House), and group A, B, C, and D officers and officials of the Central government.
* Fifty per cent of the members of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas shall be from amongst Scheduled Castes (SCs)/ Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and women. “Minorities” was added to this quota in the corrigenda circulated to MPs shortly before the introduction.
* NGOs and institutions receiving donations of more than Rs. 10 lakhs per annum from foreign sources will also be covered.
* Lokpal to have constitutional status and be accountable to Parliament
Though some of the suggestions made by social activist Anna Hazare and his supporters find reflection in the new draft, the UPA government's Lokpal continues to differ on several key points from Team Anna's version:
* Government nominees have a majority of one on the selection committee, which will choose the Lokpal's chairperson and eight members
* The CBI will continue to remain under the administrative control of the government and not the Lokpal.
* The judiciary and the citizens' charter are not part of the Lokpal but will be covered by other laws
Provisions Under Old Bill
The old Bill covered the prime minister only after he demitted office and bureaucrats of under secretary level and above. But the new draft law covers all Group A, B, C, D public servants, allowing the Lokpal to inquire corruption by lower bureaucracy, as sought by Team Anna. Others covered are MPs (except for conduct inside Parliament), ministers, government funded associations and NGOs receiving over Rs 10 lakh annual funding under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.
The new Bill comes quite close (except on the issue of citizen’s charter) to the ‘Sense of the House’ statement issued on August 28 at the height of Anna’s agitation. The statement had stated, “The Houses agree in principle that an effective Lokpal law must cover corruption by lower bureaucracy through appropriate mechanisms, have an in-built grievance redress system and provide enabling laws to establish Lokayuktas in states.”
The present Bill (unlike the old one) provides for Lokayuktas and the Constitutional (116th) Amendment Bill, 2011, introduced, mandates states to adopt Central Lokpal and Lokayuktas law, a provision Sushma Swaraj slammed as anti-federal and an encroachment on the rights of the states, some of which already have Lokayuktas.
Although the Lokpal will have its own Inquiry and Prosecution wings and won’t require prosecution sanction, it would not control the CBI as Anna wanted. It can ask the CBI for preliminary inquiry (PE) and investigation into complaints but the Bill clarifies, “Lokpal will have powers of superintendence over Delhi Special Police Establishment (CBI) in respect of matters referred to it for PE or investigation and can’t direct it to conduct inquiry in a particular manner.”
The Bill says the Lokpal will, after deciding on PE, refer complaints against all government officers to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). While the CVC will submit a report to Lokpal for prosecution of Group A/B officers, for Group C/D public servants, it will conduct its own prosecution under the CVC Act, 2003, and send periodic action taken reports to Lokpal. This recommendation was made by Congressman Abhishek Manu Singhvi-led parliamentary panel?s December 9 report on the Lokpal Bill.
The Bill also does not have an inbuilt grievance redress system as Anna wanted. It makes the Lokpal and Lokayuktas final appellate authorities in cases of non-delivery of public service due to corruption but doesn’t guarantee service delivery through Lokpal.
Opposition Against the Bill
Several parties, including the main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Shiv Sena, the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the AIADMK opposed introduction of the Bill in the current form. The RJD, the SP, and the AIADMK were also opposed to bringing the Prime Minister within the purview of the Lokpal which, they contended, would not be “accountable” to anyone. They were also vociferous in their opposition to a provision which made it mandatory for States to set up Lokayuktas, contending it was an infringement on the “federal structure” and encroachment on the powers of a State government.
The problem, though, now lies outside it. If Hazare's efforts have brought the Lokpal issue where it has now, it would be unfortunate if the same Mr Hazare, out of some millennial spite that mistakes accommodation for weakness, sets off on a different agenda altogether. For at stake here is not who won and who didn't - defining which is about politics, not law-making - but whether a necessary anti-corruption law.

Withdrawal of Last US Troops From Iraq

2011-12-22T00:50:00.000-08:00

The last US soldiers have rolled out of Iraq across the border to neighboring Kuwait, whooping, fist bumping and hugging each other in a burst of joy and relief. Their exit marked the end of a bitterly divisive war that raged for nearly nine years and left Iraq shattered, with troubling questions lingering over whether the Arab nation will remain a steadfast US ally. The mission cost nearly 4,500 American and well more than 100,000 Iraqi lives and $800 billion from the US Treasury. The question of whether it was worth it all is yet unanswered.
Captain Mark Askew, a 28-year-old from Tampa, Florida who was among the last soldiers to leave, said the answer to that question will depend on what type of country and government Iraq ends up with years from now, whether they are democratic, respect human rights and are considered a US ally.
Whither Stubborn Sectarian Clashes
US officials acknowledged the cost in blood and dollars was high, but tried to paint a picture of victory for both the troops and the Iraqi people now freed of a dictator and on a path to democracy.
But gnawing questions remain: Will Iraqis be able to forge their new government amid the still stubborn sectarian clashes. And will Iraq be able to defend itself and remain independent in a region fraught with turmoil and still steeped in insurgent threats.
Many Iraqis, however, are nervous and uncertain about the future. Their relief at the end of Saddam Hussein, who was hanged on the last day of 2006, was tempered by a long and vicious war that was launched to find nonexistent weapons of mass destruction and nearly plunged the nation into full-scale sectarian civil war.
Some criticized the Americans for leaving behind a destroyed country with thousands of widows and orphans, a people deeply divided along sectarian lines and without rebuilding the devastated infrastructure.
Some Iraqis celebrated the exit of what they called American occupiers, neither invited nor welcome in a proud country. Others said that while grateful for US help ousting Saddam, the war went on too long. A majority of Americans would agree, according to opinion polls.
The low-key exit stood in sharp contrast to the high octane start of the war, which began before dawn on March 20, 2003, with an air strike in southern Baghdad where Saddam was believed to be hiding. US and allied ground forces then stormed across the featureless Kuwaiti desert, accompanied by reporters, photographers and television crews embedded with the troops.
Saddam’s Secret Nuclear Weapon Program
The task assigned to them in 2003 has been accomplished. The United States under President George W. Bush entered the Iraqi war theatre after it had made substantial gains in Afghanistan where it had toppled the Taliban regime in the wake of 9/11. He found an excellent opportunity to use the anti-terrorism plank to achieve Washington’s larger objective of ensuring energy security. Unverified intelligence reports about Iraqi ruler Saddam’s “secret” nuclear weapon program were enough for President Bush to go ahead with his new plan. He also found out that Saddam had close connections with Al-Qaida mastermind Osama Bin Ladin.
The United States also did not bother about seeking the UN Security Council’s sanction for attacking Iraq. Even when it was conclusively proved that Iraq had no Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and that Saddam had no link with Al-Qaida — both being ideologically poles apart — Iraq was bombarded and Saddam dethroned. Later, he was captured and executed. Iraq was liberated from the clutches of the tyrant. What could have been done by the people of Iraq during the Arab Spring now was finished by the US with the use of its military might. But can this be justified legally, morally, ethically or otherwise? The debate is still on.
Iran-Iraq Shia Bloc
Ousting and killing Saddam, a secular despot, may have gladdened US Arab allies, who are despotic but quasi-theocratic. Ironically, it also pleased Shia Iran as the United States leaves behind a Shia-run Iraq. A consolidated Iran-Iraq Shia bloc will be to the liking of neither America’s Arab allies nor the United States itself. In short, the times ahead in West Asia are likely to be threatened with prospects of heightened tension. Such a state of affairs may not always fall short of actual fighting, not least when the US continues to play the ouster game in West Asia in the name of promoting democracy.
Undoubtedly, the Iraq war was unpopular from day one within the United States. It had been launched on clearly false premises. US President Barack Obama wanted to end the campaign he had inherited. He gave himself the deadline of December 31 this year, and has stuck to it. But it is lost on no one — not in Iraq, not in the United States — that the United States may have wanted to extend its stay in a reduced way for strategic reasons, but could not.

India-Russia Summit: Efforts To Resolve Bilateral and International Issues

2011-12-21T00:49:00.000-08:00

The India-Russia summit has recently been concluded in Moscow. During his discussions with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made an emphatic point about the utility, execution and expansion of the Russia-assisted Koodankulam nuclear power project, underlines the unerring durability of the relations between the two countries. The value of the relationship for both has transcended changes of government in New Delhi and the changed character of the state from communist to capitalist in Moscow. There were contretemps in Russia when the switch-over to capitalism was in progress, but the dispelling of doubts was swift as the new masters in the Kremlin looked around their region and the globe.
India’s continued pairing with Russia on a range of issues — to do with national security on the political as well as the hardware side, science and technology, and now possibly the education sector in terms of the understanding reached at the just-ended summit — plays a role of balance at a time when India’s relations have been fruitfully advanced with the West, especially the United States. Anxieties in the minds of not a few that the United States is invading every sphere of policymaking in this country appear misplaced when the significance of the Russian connection is understood in its widest meaning. The coming into being of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India and China) bloc in international affairs in recent years further cements India-Russia relations, which are not bedeviled by irritants in the bilateral sphere.
Areas of Mutual Interest
The agreements covered all the key areas that underpin the “special and privileged” strategic partnership between the two countries — energy, defence, space, trade and investment, and working together on the international scene. While a formal agreement on Units 3 and 4 at Kudankulam nuclear power project was not signed, pending the resolution of the safety issue controversy in India, the sides moved forward with the project. They agreed on exceptional soft loan terms for the new reactors that will ease the financial burden for India at the time of a global economic slowdown. The talks in Moscow also firmed up prospects for India to expand its presence in Russian oil and gas through joint ventures with Gazprom and Novatek.
Besides the global and regional issues, India and Russia have to further expand their bilateral cooperation in different areas of mutual interest like trade and industry, defense-related matters and civilian nuclear energy.
The two countries do not have a mere buyer-seller relationship. The prime minister has to ensure that more joint ventures, particularly in the area of defense, are undertaken so that India gets cutting-edge technologies from Russia.
Defense Supplies and Technology
In the four decades since the Indo-Soviet treaty the global political, strategic and economic landscapes have changed dramatically, but the core of the bilateral relationship was (and remains) cooperation in defense supplies and technology. In the years following the treaty, Moscow became a very dependable source of defense sales and technology transfer. To be sure, there was uncertainty and disruption of supplies and spares after the implosion of the Soviet Union. But these proved manageable.
Following India’s nuclear tests of 1998 and the ensuing international censure and sanctions, New Delhi and Moscow began moving closer. After Vladimir Putin became president in 2000, Russia and India concluded a fresh strategic partnership agreement.Bilateral Trade TiesDefense and nuclear energy will figure prominently in the prime minister’s discussions in Moscow. Yet it is equally important that both sides resolve at the highest levels to upgrade their economic relations. Bilateral trade has risen from a mere $1.67 billion in 2003-04 to $8.75 billion in 2010. But this fell short of even the modest projection of $10 billion.
An inter-governmental commission has been considering a range of measures to redress this state of affairs, including a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement and revival of the north-south transport corridor through Iran. Unless the two countries are able to add a solid economic layer to their relationship, its strategic dimension cannot be fully leveraged.
Strategic Partnership
Diverse areas of cooperation, from pharmaceuticals and hydrocarbons to information technology and aerospace engineering, which are yet to be explored, allow for optimism. Also, increased defense cooperation between the two countries has provided noteworthy results. At the start of the previous decade, India was only concerned with buying military technology from Russia.
The strategic partnership agreement has also facilitated cooperation in the energy sector. As a net importer of energy, India has increasingly turned to Russia as a major source of oil and natural gas. The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Videsh has a 20 per cent stake in the Sakhalin-I oil and gas fields. New Delhi has also been keen on acquiring a comparable stake in the Sakhalin-III projects. India has been pursuing this for nearly six years now, but Russia is yet to respond favorably.
International Challenges
Putin takes over as president the following year and India can be assured of Russia’s continuing support with him around. After all, Putin has taken India-Russia relations to a new level since 2000, following the dry years of Boris Yeltsin. The real challenge is to reconcile the positions taken by India and Russia on the Afghanistan issue. While India believes that the US-led the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces should stay in Afghanistan until local forces are adequately equipped to take over, Russia insists that they should leave by 2014.
Moreover, the two countries are also faced with the challenge of evolving complimentary responses to a host of international challenges. The most pressing of these stems from Afghanistan. Even as the US and its allies prepare to drawdown their military presence in Afghanistan, the insurgency remains strong.
Both India and Russia are concerned about continuing instability, but their emphases are somewhat different. India is keen to ensure that Afghanistan does not again become a haven for terrorists, whereas Russia is more concerned about the problem of drugs flowing from that country. Moscow’s somewhat narrow approach is understandable in the light of its troubled history of involvement in Afghanistan. But it will be interesting to see how Russia’s policy shapes up in the aftermath of the US drawdown. The endgame in Afghanistan will unfold at a time when Russia’s relations with the United States are dipping.

Draft National Food Security Bill

2011-12-20T01:01:00.000-08:00

The federal cabinet has approved the draft National Food Security Bill. It seeks to provide subsidized food grains to over half of India's 1.2 billion population. The bill is likely to be presented to parliament in the next few days and would be referred to standing committee. The food security bill promises 75 percent of rural population and 50 percent of urban households, the right to 7 kg food grains per person, at Rs.3 per kg for rice, Rs.2 per kg for wheat and Rs.1 per kg for coarse grains to the priority beneficiaries. The general category will be provided at least three kilograms of food grains per person per month at half the minimum selling price.The bill will also provide rations or cooked meals to children under 14 years of age, destitutes including women and persons on the margins of society. It is the pet project of the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council and was part of the Congress manifesto for the 2009 general election.The bill provides for cost-sharing to pacify the states, which will implement the law. The states have also objected over the authority to decide on the criteria to identify the beneficiaries.A three-tier grievance redressal mechanism at district, state and national level is also part of the legislation.Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had expressed concern that food subsidy, currently at Rs.63,000 crore ($12 billion), may go up to Rs.1.2 lakh crore ($23 billion) if the bill is implemented. Rising fertilizer prices and the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of the grains was another concern. Sources said managing the fianances would not be a problem but procurement would have to be improved. It is estimated that against the current procurement levels of 54 millions tons, the requirement may go up to 62 million tons. Government food grain stocks in August 2011 were 61.27 million tons.
Benefit for Women and Children
About 2.25 crore pregnant women and lactating mothers are expected to benefit from the legislation that proposes to give Rs 1,000 per month for six months as maternity benefit. Maternity benefits that are available only in 52 districts will be extended across the country. All this is commendable but there is need for caution since the economy is showing signs of sluggishness. The budget deficit will need to be watched. Finding the money to fund the ambitious scheme would also be no mean task. With procurement of food grains required to rise from the current 54 million tons to 62 million tons, the Union government would be up against a major challenge especially in years of drought.
Aiming to empower women, the Bill also proposes that the ration card will be issued to the eldest female member of the family. The proposed Bill also holds great promises for children. Children in the lower and upper primary classes would be entitled to mid-day meals as per the prescribed nutritional norms.
The federal budget for 2011-12 had provided for Rs 55,586 crore for food subsidy. But while revised estimates are that the food subsidy bill this year will be around Rs 63,000 crore, the new law would require more food grains and a lot more money to implement.
Fears have been expressed that the new Bill, as and when enacted, will fuel both shortages and inflation. The fears are not misplaced because in August this year, the food grain stock with the government was 61.27 million tons, short of what will be required to implement the scheme. The annual procurement of food grains by the government stands at 54 million tonnes and will have to be raised to at least 62 million tons, if the scheme is to be implemented.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had warned that the government should be prepared for two successive years of drought before the scheme is rolled out.
The scheme was also opposed by several states, which apprehend food scarcity and higher food inflation as and when the Bill becomes the law. They had also objected to the discrepancy between the proposed central scheme and the existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAA) under which the poor are entitled to 35 kg rice at Rs 2 per kg. The Centre sought to go round the issue by raising the entitlement of everyone to 35 kg under the new, legal entitlement.
Other View
The proposed law aims to benefit 65 per cent of the population, which makes little sense unless the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government, by implication, is admitting that the vast majority, or two-thirds of the people of India, cannot survive without heavily subsidized food. Since that is not the case, it remains inexplicable as to why such a large number of beneficiaries are being targeted. While it makes sense to protect the poorest of the poor from hunger and malnutrition, it is absurd to extend the same benefit to those who can do without heavily subsidized food.
Moreover, there are three related aspects, apart from enhanced and ill-affordable subsidy, which merit comment. First, the demand for food grains will result in a shift in agricultural patterns across the country with farmers focusing entirely on rice and wheat. This is bound to cause a shortfall in pulses and cash crops. To meet that shortage, Government will have to resort to imports which, in turn, will fuel prices. Second, a scheme of this nature can be implemented only if there is a flawless storage and distribution system — since neither exists, implementation is bound to suffer. Third, the main problem with the NAC-conceived cockamamie schemes is that they are premised on the one-size-fits-all logic. There may be States which would rather spend the money on projects that can fetch long-term benefits and sustainable economic security for the poor.

Kim Jong-il Passes Away: End of an Era in North Korea

2011-12-19T04:31:00.000-08:00

Kim Jong Il, the mercurial and enigmatic North Korean leader whose iron rule and nuclear ambitions dominated world security fears for more than a decade, has died at the age of 69.
Kim's death 17 years after he inherited power from his father was announced on Monday by the state television from the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.
Kim's longtime pursuit of nuclear weapons and his military's repeated threats to South Korea and the United States have stoked fears that war might again break out or that North Korea might provide weapons of mass destruction to terrorist movements.
Kim is believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008 but he had appeared relatively vigorous in photos and video from recent trips to China and Russia and in numerous trips around the country carefully documented by state media.
Principle of Self-Reliance
Kim Jong Il inherited power after his father, revered North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, died in 1994. He had been groomed for 20 years to lead the communist nation founded by his guerrilla fighter-turned-politician father and built according to the principle of "juche," or self-reliance.
In September 2010, Kim Jong Il unveiled his third son, the twenty-something Kim Jong Un, as his successor, putting him in high-ranking posts. Even with a successor, there had been some fear among North Korean observers of a behind-the-scenes power struggle or nuclear instability upon the elder Kim's death.
Unknowable Figure
Called the “Dear Leader” by his people, Kim, the son of North Korea’s founder, remained an unknowable figure. Everything about him was guesswork, from the exact date and place of his birth to the mythologized events of his rise in a country formed by the hasty division of the Korean Peninsula at the end of the Second World War.
North Koreans heard about him only as their “peerless leader” and “the great successor to the revolutionary cause.” Yet he fostered what was perhaps the last personality cult in the Communist world. His portrait hangs beside that of his father, Kim Il-sung, in every North Korean household and building. Towers, banners and even rock faces across the country bear slogans praising him.
Country’s Nuclear Arms Arsenal
Kim was a source of fascination inside the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which interviewed his mistresses, tried to track his whereabouts and psychoanalyzed his motives. And he was an object of parody in American culture.
Kim Jong-il was also a driver of the secret nuclear weapons program, which continued with secret help from Pakistan's A.Q. Khan network after a 1994 agreement with the Clinton administration supposedly froze all developments.
Kim sought to build up the country’s nuclear arms arsenal, which culminated in North Korea’s first nuclear test explosion, an underground blast conducted in October 2006. Another test came in 2009.
Mass starvation among the North Korean population, after the collapse of the Soviet Union ended critical external aid and floods ruined successive crops, did not divert Kim from his cultivation of the Korean People's Army, under his ''Songun'' (army first) doctrine.
Role as Defense Chief
Kim's role as chairman of the National Defense Commission, commanding the army, became more important than the general-secretary role in the Worker's Party. Frequent on-the-spot ''guidance sessions'' and sharing of meals with frontline soldiers were aimed at reinforcing personal loyalty among the soldiers.
The death comes at a sensitive time for North Korea as it prepares for next year's 100th anniversary of the birth of founder Kim Il Sung - Kim Jong Il's father. The preparations include massive construction projects throughout the city as part of Kim Jong Il's unfulfilled promise to bring prosperity to his people.
Seoul and Washington will worry that Kim Jong Un 'may feel it necessary in the future to precipitate a crisis to prove his mettle to other senior leaders', according to Bruce Klingner, an Asia analyst at The Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington.
Personal Interests
Kim was said to have cultivated wide interests, including professional basketball, cars and foreign films. He reportedly produced several North Korean movies as well, mostly historical epics with an ideological tinge.
A South Korean film director claimed Kim even kidnapped him and his movie star wife in the late 1970s, spiriting them back to North Korea to make movies for him for a decade before they managed to escape from their North Korean agents during a trip to Austria.
Kim rarely travelled abroad and then only by train because of an alleged fear of flying, once heading all the way by a luxury rail car to Moscow, indulging in his taste for fine food along the way.
One account of Kim’s lavish lifestyle came from Konstantin Pulikovsky, a former Russian presidential envoy who wrote the book The Orient Express about Kim’s train trip through Russia in July and August 2001.
Paroxysm of Grief
Kim's death was unlikely to plunge the country into chaos because it already was preparing for a transition. Kim Jong Il indicated a year ago that Kim Jong Un would be his successor, putting him in high-ranking posts. North Korea will now go into a paroxysm of grief that may continue until the 100th anniversary of Kim Il-sung's birth in April.

Human Rights Violation in Kashmir

2011-12-14T08:57:00.000-08:00

The entire world is observing World Human Rights Day on December 10 at a time when 64 years have passed and neither the Palestinians have got their right of liberation and nor the United Nations has granted the right of self-determination to the Kashmiris in accordance with resolutions adopted by the same. Women, children, and men are plunged into darkness in both parts of the Islamic world. The world is enjoying a sound sleep by depriving them the oppressed of comfort and ease, or observes World Human Rights Day once a year to cover up their long-forgotten duty and then again go into a deep slumber.
Horrendous Facts and Figures
When we analyze Kashmir from the point of view of human rights violations, such horrendous facts and figures emerge that they move our hearts. These are the latest figures and it can be guessed that how horrific atrocities the Indian forces are perpetrating on oppressed and wronged Kashmiris. These facts and figures are of the period from 1989 to 30 November.
Hold your heart and have a look at them. Killed (men) 90,178; killed (women) 4,255; missing (men) 8,979; missing (women) 1,335; injured (men) 554,937; injured women (24,011); detained (men) 222,300; detained (women) 4,149; incidents of molestation of women, 9,908; widowed women, more than 25,000; orphan children more than 60,000; graves of unknown people, 2,700; killed people's graveyards more than 5,500; and 1,04,801 ruined homes.
Withdrawal of Indian Forces
The general situation in Occupied Kashmir (India-Administered Kashmir) is such that 800,000 Indian troops have been given open license to massacre unarmed Kashmiris, rape women, and destroy properties under the protection of savage and black laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA), Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), and PSA.
The entire state has been turned into a military camp and all the cities, towns, villages, and streets appear to be under curfew, baton charge, reckless use of teargas, and echoes of bullets. Gatherings of hundreds of thousands of people appear to be demanding the full withdrawal of the Indian forces from Kashmir, and an end to coercive occupation.
Even some conscientious Indian intellectuals like Arundhati Roy, Gotam Naulakha, Justice Sachar, and the Indian negotiators, who came to Kashmir, have expressed their final opinion that the Kashmiris do not want to live with India at any cost, now. During his recent visit to India, US President Barack Obama termed Kashmir disputed and a resolvable issue, contrary to the Indian desire. Linking mediation with the willingness of the two countries, the United States urged the immediate resolution to the issue through bilateral talks. The decisive power of South Asia: China, has also termed Kashmir disputed territory and has refused to grant visa to Kashmiris on the Indian passport. Even, it refused to grant visa to the Indian General Jaswal on the ground that he assumed command in disputed Kashmir. The supreme head of Iran, Ayatullah Ali Khamene'i termed Kashmir and Palestine resolvable issues and urged for the support of Islamic world. Former Libyan President Qadhafi urged the resolution to the Kashmir issue from the UN forum. The EU and its parliament has time and again stressed on honorable resolution to the Kashmir issue. Thus, international pressure is mounting on India for an immediate solution of the Kashmir issue, but the human rights violations see no decrease.
On one hand, India tries to crush the peaceful struggle of the Kashmiri people in the backdrop of international pressure, and on the other, it is expanding its military occupation and plundering Kashmir's resources. Approximately 800,000 troops are stationing on 2800,000 Kanal of land, whereas gardens, picnic spots, and forests are being forcibly taken into custody for more land. Only in Shopian District, 5,200 Kanal of forest land was occupied and 300,000 to 400,000 trees were cut. The local people are not allowed to install wood cutting or grazing machines while the troops are busy in getting furniture prepared from precious timber and are sending it to their native homes. Timber worth billions of rupees has been sent to interior India to date and the process continues.
Struggle of Kashmiri People
Similarly, power worth billions of rupees is being generated through power projects on water resources of Kashmir and 88 percent of it is being sold to Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Delhi whereas only 12 percent is being provided to the people of the state. India is also pursuing a strategy under a preconceived plan to change the Muslim majority of the state by a full scale cultural invasion along with political and military domination. The forces have set up a network of schools in the name of "Sadhwana" where an attempt is being made to mold innocent students and girl students into the Indian color through the Hindu education system and training.
Jammu Province of the state, where Muslims and Hindus are living in mixed population, the local administration and police force are playing a shameful and gruesome role to harass and terrify Muslims in collaboration with local sectarian organizations like the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevek Sangh), Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal, and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), and they are practically being forced to migrate while attempt is being made to settle Sharnartheon (as published) in their place to change the Muslim majority identity of the state. Such demographic changes can have adverse effect on possible plebiscite. However, the international community is also mum on this.
We believe that being the main party to the issue, Pakistani Government should stand firm in its 64-year-old principled stand and should provide all its support to the liberation struggle of Kashmiri people. The historic struggle of Kashmiri people should be highlighted through full-scale diplomatic campaign and by activating media besides exposing the Indian atrocities and highhandedness on every forum of the world. How horrible is that the United Nations did not make any reference to Kashmir in the list of disputed territories its published this year because this issue has not cropped up for discussion for three years in a row, i.e., from January 2007 to 2010. It is a grave criminal negligence by Pakistan on diplomatic-level. We believe that the Kashmir issue should be the nucleus of Pakistan-India relationship like in the past. Talks should not be held with India until it gives up its traditional obstinacy and unrealistic approach and accepts the disputed and central status and tripartite status of the Kashmir issue. More than 150 rounds of talks have been held during the past 64 years, but these remained futile. Whenever the talks are held, then these should be Kashmir-centric and tripartite. This is not a border dispute that can be resolved through talks between the two countries. It is the issue of political future of 135 million Kashmiris and they are the prime and the most important party to this issue. Their direct participation in talks is inevitable.
Demand of Situation
The people of state have made this reality clear time and again that nothing, except full independence, is acceptable to them. Internal autonomy, division of state, or cross-border trade of potatoes or onions is not the resolution to the issue. The Kashmiris do not want any thing except full independence and this is the cause for which 125,000 sons of the soil have laid down their lives so far.
This should be noted that Kashmiris are not willing to budge an inch from their stance. They appeal to the entire world today, on the occasion of World Human Rights Day, to play its role in stopping the human rights violations in Kashmir and exert pressure on India for the resolution to the issue. If not, the international community should stop observing Human Rights Day because such violations are not stopped by seminars and walks but by something practical will have to be done for this. The world is negligent of its role to a great extent.

Importance of BRIC

2011-12-13T08:26:00.000-08:00

The importance of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) in the world economy has increased manifold since the acronym was first coined nearly seven years ago. Few could have imagined then how the American economy would collapse and bring down with it much of the rest of the world. It is worth revisiting the original formulations on the significance of these four major countries that were made by representatives of a major American investment bank — now a much-maligned tribe and justifiably so — to understand why these economies would together influence the future of the planet we live in.
In October 2003, a report by two economists then employed by Goldman Sachs, Dominic Wilson and Roopa Purushothaman, argued that over the next half-century, the four countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China would become a much larger force in the world economy than the Group of Six (G6) developed countries, namely, the United States of America, Japan, Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom. According to the report, in 2050, India’s economy would be the third largest in the world after China and the United States. However, in terms of per capita income measured in US dollars, India would come last among the 10 countries being compared.
Economic Stability
The four BRIC economies taken together would be bigger than the G6 by 2039, it was pointed out. By 2025, these countries could account for over half the size of the G6 whereas the combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the four economies were worth less than 15 per cent at the time the report was written.
The report predicted that in terms of US dollars, China would overtake Germany by 2007, Japan by 2015 and the United States by 2039. India’s economy could be larger than all but the United States and China in 30 years and Russia would overtake Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom. Of the current G6 countries, only the US and Japan may be among the six largest economies in the world by 2050.
What is noteworthy is that the Goldman Sachs report pointed out that India has the potential to show the fastest rates of growth over the next 50 years compared to the other nine nations. The real rate of growth of India’s GDP could be higher than five per cent over the next 30 years and close to five per cent till as late as 2050, the report claimed. India would be the only country among the BRIC economies recording growth rates significantly above three per cent per year. These figures appear rather conservative today — the Indian economy has grown by over nine per cent four years in succession and even at a time when the world economy is in recession, the most pessimistic estimate of this country’s GDP growth rate would be four to five per cent.
Goldman Sachs Report
It is important to note the downside that was mentioned in the Goldman Sachs report. Despite much faster growth, individuals in the BRIC "are still likely to be poorer on an average than individuals in the G6 economies by 2050". The exception would be Russia, which would catch up with the poorer among the G6 countries in terms of income per capita by 2050. China’s per capita income could be similar to where the developed countries are now (about $30,000 per capita per year) for, by 2050, the per capita income in the US would be roughly $80,000. By way of contrast, India’s per capita income would be a much lower $18,000 against around $50,000 in Russia and over $26,000 in Brazil, the report prognosticated.
A second report focusing only on India was written by Ms Purushothaman in April 2004 in which she pointed out that India and China (together account for 40 per cent of the world’s population) have both witnessed strong growth, both have surplus labour and both countries have diasporas to contribute to economic development. Yet, according to her, India was 10-15 years behind China in the "reform process", suggesting that better growth was yet to come in India.
Ongoing Economic Crisis
While pointing out the differences in economic orientation, Purushothaman did not mention the important political differences between the world’s two most populous nation-states: India is a heterogeneous, noisy, anarchic democracy while Chinese society is relatively more homogeneous, regimented and wary of granting its citizens excessive political freedom. On hindsight, it is also apparent that the BRIC report by the economists engaged by Goldman Sachs erred extremely on the side of caution. After the ongoing economic crisis, it has become apparent that the gap between the BRIC countries and the G6 would narrow at a much faster pace than had been anticipated.
India currently has no choice but to engage with Brazil, Russia and China in a more proactive manner, simultaneously competing and collaborating with them. Over the past three years, China has overtaken the United States as India’s largest trading partner. Russia, the world’s largest exporter of oil and natural gas, had been badly hit by the sharp fall in world oil prices but is expected to revive with oil prices firming up and expected to rise further. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected in April that Russia’s economy would grow by 0.5 per cent in 2010 after shrinking by six per cent during the current calendar year.
Changing Geo-Political Realities
With more than an element of hyperbole, there is no gainsaying the potential of Brazil becoming the "granary" of the planet, China the world’s "factory" and India, its "communications centre." Many in this country, particularly the Left, have been critical of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his ideological "tilt" towards the imperialist and capitalist US and the West. But in today’s recession-hit world, economic ideologies have turned upside down and India certainly cannot ignore the rapidly-changing geo-political realities or the fast shift in global economic power balances.
There is one glaring omission in the BRIC combine that needs urgent rectification. The acronym needs to be made BRICS with the addition of the letter "S" to include South Africa, the most powerful economy in the continent of Africa. That would make the grouping truly representative of the world and, perhaps, even a formidable combination for the future.

Stabilizing South Asia

2011-12-05T01:00:00.000-08:00

With the beginning of 2011, the overall geopolitical and security scenario across the globe will appear to be distinctly dismal with 2010 not having witnessed any significant political breakthroughs toward peace and stability. Severe recession plagued the world’s economy as never before and the scourge of terrorism unrelentingly expanded its global footprint in more dangerously innovative forms.
Environment and Climate
Unbridgeable chasms in managing the world’s environment and climate continued to bedevil the developed and the still developing fraternity among nations where billions still remain deprived of the most basic sustenance.
Nearer home, South Asia presents a bleak picture with most of our neighbors suffering, apart from economic deprivation, political instability underscored by the ever-expanding specter of terrorism.
Mercifully, as alluded to by our no-nonsense home minister, India did not witness any major terror strikes in 2009 with over a dozen of these strikes perhaps averted, thanks to some improvements in our overall security architecture, besides the always welcome “luck” factor.
Terrorism Menace
Terrorists and all those agencies, predominantly foreign and now some home grown, which mastermind terror will undoubtedly be waiting in the wings to fructify their evil agendas soon for 365 days without a major terror act in the Indian hinterland would be unpalatable to them.
As such, 2010 could prove to be very challenging to India’s security apparatus, besides, once again, testing the resolve of the Indian state to combat terror. India thus has to look inwards to ensure its own well-being by itself, and as an extension of its ethos and values and as the premier power in this region, do all it can to stabilize South Asia.
To our immediate west lies the most dangerous expanse of the world, namely, the Af-Pak region. Pakistan, globally acknowledged as a fountainhead of terror, is at the cross-roads with its own existence as a nation-state under grave threat attributable to those very elements of the Taliban and Al Qaida it nourished for years to foment terror in India and Afghanistan as an extension of its myopic state policy.
Almost daily major acts of violence all across Pakistan have virtually brought it to a halt, but is Pakistan still sincere in combating terror or will its death wish take it to further ruin? An unstable albeit nuclear-armed Pakistan in the danger of imploding has severe security implications for India and we thus have to monitor the overall situation with great caution.
Though adopting a posture of benign neglect towards them may have some takers in this country, yet indifference towards Pakistan may not prove prudent in the long run. As we remain firm in not restarting the composite dialogue till the 26/11 perpetrators are brought to book by Pakistanis and as unambiguously stated by our Prime Minister that no redrawing of boundaries could be ever considered, India could mull over two steps in the larger interests of peace and stability for this region.
We must impress upon Pakistan that, in Afghanistan, India’s sole interest is to bring peace and development to that hapless nation and thus Pakistan must refrain from carrying out any anti-India activities there.
Accordingly, the first step India could contemplate is that if Pakistan officially commits to genuinely stop abetting terror, India may once again offer a no-war pact on the lines of one that was suggested by the Prime Minister in Amritsar four years ago.
Consequently, Pakistan could safely withdraw as many troops they wish from their eastern border to pursue their internal war against the Taliban and al-Qaida terrorists more vigorously.
The second step could be to invite the main centre of power in Pakistan, namely their Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, for a frank ‘one-to-one’ discussion with the Indian government on some security collaborative measures which need to be taken.
Our democratic dispensation in India will naturally be hesitant to have parleys with the Pakistan Army Chief in India instead of their political leadership and thus such meetings could be managed even outside the country in a confidential manner.
Nevertheless, as we must upgrade our badly lagging and ageing military preparedness, India must not remain indifferent to the happenings inside Pakistan and the small yet civilized constituency for democracy and sanity inside Pakistan needs our encouragement.
Importantly, India must also impress upon the United States that for stabilizing Afghanistan, more than a unilateral approach, getting together all the principal players of the region like Russia, even China, Iran, India, Pakistan and itself to collaborate, under the UN banner, may prove beneficial to that fragile and impoverished country.
Towards our East, after years of an uneasy relationship with Bangladesh, the scenario is positively encouraging with the friendly regime of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handing over the bulk of the Bangladesh-located rebel ULFA leadership to India.
This major goodwill measure needs to be reciprocated in a substantial manner by our government and we need to address the problems of the Farraka Barrage, the Tin Bigha corridor, the trade deficit problems with equanimity and in a spirit of cooperation.
India must make maximum use of this window of opportunity to cement a multi-faceted relationship with Bangladesh, especially during the forthcoming visit of its Prime Minister to India.
Notwithstanding the fact that Dhaka’s military establishment and intelligence agencies (predominantly its Directorate General Forces Intelligence) have had very close linkages with both the Chinese military and Pakistan’s ISI, a fresh approach to foster security relationships with them be tried. The cooperation of Bangladesh is vital for peace in our restive North-East region.
Maoists Issue in Nepal
With Nepal, over the years, our relationships have been peculiar of love and hate. Nepal, since the end of monarchy, has itself been witnessing a fratricidal struggle owing to the power and ideological struggles between the pro-democracy elements and the Maoists.
Notwithstanding the Maoists’ unfavorable perceptions of India, the visit of Nepalese leader Madhav Kumar to India in August 2009 was indeed a promising beginning for Indo-Nepalese relations. India must strive for the speedy implementation of the various trade and river waters treaties in existence and those signed recently.
We also need to give a fillip to the Bilateral Consultative Group on Security to address all security issues, including cross-border crimes. However, Nepal has to be firmly told that anti-India activities being masterminded by the ISI from Nepal, especially of sending in trained terrorists and the use of Nepalese territory as a conduit for smuggling in fake Indian currency to India has to be dealt with effectively.
China and Sri Lanka Factors
The Indian establishment needs to work out long-term strategic-cum-intelligence arrangements with the Nepalese establishment, notwithstanding the current opposition to it by pro-China elements inside Nepal. In addition, fencing of the currently open Indo-Nepal border could be thought of, besides revisiting the 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
Though we have warm relations with Sri Lanka, India does not appear to be proactive in furthering its multi-faceted relationship with the island territory. With the Chinese ever active in the implementation of their “string-of-pearls” strategy, it is embarking on the construction of the strategic port of Hambontota in Sri Lanka, which has security implications for us.
And now with Tamil Tiger Prabhakaran out of the way and the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka, India could consider supplying most of the military equipment for the Sri Lankan armed forces as possible and carve out newer areas of cooperation with its tiny neighbor. India has to prevent the Chinese doing a Myanmar in Sri Lanka.
The world acknowledges our “seat on the high table” and the potential of India as a significant global player in the coming years. A strong, secure and self-reliant India must play its major role to bring peace and stability to South Asia and the world at large.