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Leading
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Military dictation on admin,
politics cannot be salutary: Justice Habibur
UNB, Dhaka
Former chief justice and ex-chief adviser of caretaker
government Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman on Sunday said
"military dictation" on administration and politics cannot
be salutary for a country and the military itself.
" This is like a universal truth that army’s dictation on
the administration and politics cannot be salutary for a
country and the military itself," he said, and posed a
question: "What merit the Bengalee has to make an
exception and overcome it?"
The former CA came up with the views in the first session
of a national citizens’ dialogue titled ‘Prime Challenges:
National Consensus 2008’ at the Bangladesh-China
Friendship Conference Centre, arranged by ‘Bangladesh
First Bangladesh 2025’.
Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain chaired the session,
also addressed, among others, by former caretaker adviser
Dr Sultana Kamal, chairman of Bangladesh Economic
Association Dr Kholiquzzaman, Chairperson of Sushashaner
Jannya Nagorik (SUJAN) Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, former
FBCCI president Yusuf Abdullah Harun and BGMEA president
Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Parvez.
Chairman of the Regulatory Reforms Commission (RRC) Dr
Akbar Ali Khan moderated the dialogue’s second session
titled ‘Agriculture and Food Security: Rural Development’.
Justice Habibur Rahman said there is the necessity of
amending the constitution and a Constitution Commission
can be constituted for that.
He, however, said little utilization of the Law Commission
does not make him confident about such a commission, as
"government experts consider them big scholars" and do not
like advice of others.
"None is indispensable in this world of Almighty Allah…
We’ve amended the constitution thrice only for one
individual," said the former Chief Justice. "If we resort
to constitutional quackery for an individual’s benefit, it
must be short-lived."
On the question of long-overdue elections, he said people
now rest assured with repeated utterances by the present
caretaker government that parliamentary elections would be
held towards the end of this year and power handed over to
an elected government.
Justice Habibur Rahman noted that threadbare scrutiny of
mistakes made in the last 15 months would not help.
Rather, he added, all would cooperate in holding a fair
election by checking a repeat of the mistakes in the next
nine months. About the skyrocketing prices of essentials,
he said, " It seems that, during our lifetime, we will
have to buy rice at Tk 100 per kg."
He had a word on the suggestion for changing food habit
for potato intake: "By preaching for eating potato or
bread, we cannot change people’s food habit. Nutritionists
say that Bengali foods are the most health-friendly in the
world."
He was critical of "neglect" of agriculture in the name of
industrialization, saying investment in the agriculture
sector will have to be increased very urgently so that the
farmers do not face any crisis of seeds, fertilizers and
power.
Addressing the second session of the dialogue, former
adviser Akbar Ali Khan said government, political parties
and non-governmental organizations, all have to work
unitedly to avert such food crisis in future.
" I had said that silent famine is prevailing in the
country. Later many words like ‘hidden hunger’,
‘intolerable price hike’ etc have been used to explain the
crisis. But the title of the problem is not important.
Only one requirement is that, at any cost, present food
crisis will have to be removed."
The outspoken former bureaucrat said the issue of food
crisis is being discussed not for criticizing the
government. " When I say that silent famine exists in the
country, then I pray so that my statement is proved false.
We want no more food crisis in the country." He was also
critical of the government for its notion that it has
nothing to do for stopping the present price hike of
essentials. " The government is just like father and
mother of people. When people are passing days without
food, then how a government can say that it has nothing to
do?"
He urged the political parties to come up with plans for
the next three to five years—what they will do for
ensuring food security of the countrymen. " The parties
are now only demanding election. But they are not saying
what plan they have for the next three to five years. The
present situation will not change if the political parties
do not formulate long-term plans for the future years."
WB calls for rail-road-waterway
links with India
Staff Correspondent
Media can play vital role in
resolving various problem which are faced by the countries
of South Asian North East Sub-Region through creating
awareness among the political leaders and policy makers,
expert observed at a workshop on Sunday. Bangladesh,
India, Nepal, Bhutan, Srilanka and Maldive can easily
overcome the problems specially relating to trade
facilitation, transport, food security and water
management if the print and electronic media publish and
broadcast the issues in a bid to creating awareness. To
build up a better understanding on regional cooperation
issues World Bank organized the workshop at a city hotel
on Sunday.
The experts said South Asia has attracted global attention
because it has experienced rapid GDP growth over the past
27 years, averaging nearly 6 percent per annum yet it
faces many challenges. "South Asia’s geography shows the
land-locked countries tend to be very poor additionally,
the border areas of other countries tend to be generally
underdeveloped and largely engaged in low- productivity
agriculture due to poor connectivity, lack of investment
and political neglect," they added.
In most cases, economic activities in border areas are
constrained by poor connectivity with the regional growth
centers and by lack of access to international trade
outlets such as a sea port. There is a clear win-win
reform agenda here involving removal of all non-tariff
barriers (NTBs) including transit restrictions,
modernization of transit agreements, streamlining of
customs procedures and upgrading of border check-points.
Mobility within the North-East Sub-Region is a huge
barrier to trade and investment. With appropriate
regulatory reforms and enabling environment, a huge amount
of investment and economic activity can be tapped. The
range of cross-border transport projects is large as noted
in a recent SAARC study.
In terms of development impact, the highest priority is
the conversion of Chittagong and Chalna into modern
international sea ports to serve as regional hubs for
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Northeast India. The port
traffic could be better connected through appropriate
road-rail-inland water networks from these other
countries. The positive impact on trade flows, investment,
growth and employment can be substantial.
Given the peculiarity of geography, the north-east states
of India can benefit tremendously through road-rail-inland
waterway connections that link these states to the rest of
India running through Bangladesh. All parties will win,
especially Bangladesh, as the benefits to Bangladesh from
port charges and transit fees and better connectivity for
trade and investment with neighbors can be large.
Bangladesh can profitably engage in energy trade with
India. Options include exporting power to India based on
gas while importing power from hydro-power sources in the
north-eastern states, Bhutan and Nepal. Over the
longer-term, one could think of an integrated South Asian
power grid that could provide power to all countries on a
market basis.
About the water management the biggest gains are in water
management, particularly for the poor. This is also the
area where the vulnerability is most serious especially
for Bihar which suffers from frequent floods as well as
water shortages and for Bangladesh that lies furthest
downstream before the three mighty rivers of Ganges,
Brahmaputra and Meghna meet the sea. Of immediate priority
is to look at water cooperation that relieves the severe
flooding problems in Bangladesh and India.
AL
continues demanding immediate release of Hasina
Staff Correspondent
Acting AL president Zillur Rahman on Sunday reiterated the
demand of immediate release of the Party Chief Sheikh
Hasina saying, "Set AL president Sheikh Hasina free
unconditionally, the government should send her abroad for
better treatment. The government will be responsible if
any harm is caused to our party chief."
He was speaking at the end of the hunger-strike programme
organized by Dhaka City Unit Krishok League in the
afternoon at the party central office at the Bangabandhu
Avenue in the capital.
Zillur said, "The government is delaying the treatment of
Sheikh Hasina, as she is suffering from many diseases
including myopia. It is not possible to treat her properly
in the country, so the government should send her abroad
setting unconditional release."
AL presidium member Motia Chowdhury said, "Some sections
are hatching conspiracy against our party chief. The
country’s people are passing critical juncture."
Meanwhile, Earlier in the morning at the inauguration of
hunger strike progamme, Awami Laegue Presidium member
Tofael Ahmed also demanded immediate start of the
much-talked about dialogue with the political parties to
dispel people’s confusion about the stalled parliamentary
election.
Tofail also demanded immediate release of ailing Sheikh
Hasian saying, "The health condition of the AL president
is deteriorating day by day. The government should release
her immediately and allow Hasina to go to USA for better
treatment as per the advice of her personal doctors."
Demanding immediate withdrawal of emergency to create a
congenial atmosphere for holding the elections by the end
of this year, AL leader said, "Lifting the emergency, the
CG should allow political activities across the country
and the government can resolve the present crisis through
holding dialogue with the political parties."
He said the EC is lagging behind its announced road map as
it is yet to complete a lot of works including the
registrations of parties. Besides, as per the road map, it
is yet to start the delimitation of the constituencies.
Tofail further said the present caretaker government is
the outcome of AL movement and the country had to face a
civil war if the elections of February 22 were held.
Speaking at the moment, AL Organizing Secretary MA Mannan
said, "As the country is passing a critical juncture, so
there is no alternative to unconditional release of AL
President Sheikh Hasina. The AL may launch an agitation
progrmamme across the country demanding our party chief’s
release and if AL launches such a movement, no power would
be able to prevent that."
He also urged the government to control the price spiral
of daily commodities, not the political activities.
Talking to The Bangladesh Today, Deputy Inspector General
(Prisons), Shamsul Haider Siddiqui said, "The former Prime
Minster was brought to Sqaure Hospital at 8:30 am and
taken back to Special Jail after completing a number of
eye tests and other normal check-up at about 10:45 am
yesterday."
Replying to query, he said, "Madam is quite OK. The
condition of Sheikh Hasina's right eye has improved while
doctors are taking care of her problematic left eye. No
major changes in the prescription were carried out
yesterday; but she was given a new medicine for vertigo."
DU
ready for convocation
DU Correspondent
The University of Dhaka is well prepared now for the
holding of its 44th convocation scheduled for today.
The president, Iajuddin Ahmed, also the chancellor of the
university will attend the programme as chief guest. The
venue of the convocation, university playground, has been
decorated with colourful posters, festoons and flags.
The day-long programme will begin with the ‘Chancellor’s
Procession’ in the morning with participation of the
members of senate, syndicate, academic council and
teachers of the university and other affiliated
institutions. DU Proctor Prof AKA Firoz Ahmed said,
stringent security measures will be taken in and around
the convocation venue today to hold the function
peacefully. He said the roads from Doel Square to TSC
intersection and from Doel Square to Centra Shaheed Minar
will remain closed from the morning for the vehicles. This
is for the first time in the 87 years’ history of the
university, the convocation will be held for the second
consecutive year. Language Movement hero Abdul Matin will
be the convocation speaker and the university will confer
honorary doctor of law degree on him and another hero of
the movement, Gaziul Haque.
The vice-chancellor, SMA Faiz, have sought cooperation
from all to make the convocation successful. He said the
university felt proud in having the honour to confer
degrees on the language movement heroes. Degrees will be
conferred on 3,885 graduates, including 33 gold medallists,
24 M Phil and 29 PhD students.
The participants and guests have been asked to take their
seats by 9:15am at the convocation venue. The budget of
the convocation is Tk 62 lakh.
In 2007, the convocation was held on February 28 where
Muhammad Yunus was the convocation speaker and the
university conferred a honorary doctor of law degree on
him.
Adulterated
food flood the city
Fahmida Rahman Karobi
As the drive against unscrupulous traders and
manufacturers of adulterated foods and consumers good, has
become inactive, many food items in the city’s different
markets, restaurants and fast food shops remain
adulterated.
Earlier in the face of massive drive by the mobile court
led by magistrates, unscrupulous traders and manufacturers
and the owners of unhygienic restaurants and fast food had
rectified by themselves, but they again become very active
with their adulterated food and these food items are being
sold under the very nose of the concerned authorities.
While the TBT correspondent on Sunday visiting various
spots saw a miserable scenario prevailing in almost all
restaurants and fast shops. On the other hand, adulterated
foods and consumers goods are now flooding many grocery
and stationary shops as the drive against food
adulteration has been stopped.
Talking to this correspondent many people said government
should not have stopped the anti-adulteration drive and
suggested that mobile court drives should continue until a
significant change is created the quality and hygiene
standards of food.
"I am confused whenever I want to buy something specially
food items for my family members as I have come to know
from media that adulterated food has flooded the market.
Or even the date-expired food items are also being sold,"
a female customer alleged.
According to sources there are about 20,000 restaurants in
the capital but the Dhaka City Corporation has only 18
inspectors to monitor adulteration and hygienic standards
of these restaurants and test samples at the corporation’s
laboratory. Physicians said children are the worst
sufferers as they are vulnerable to adulterated foods.
They often suffer from different diseases like diarrhoea
and dysentery after taking these adulterated foods.
Besides, these adulterated foods also responsible for many
chronic diseases like cancer, kidney failure, liver
ailment, brain haemorrhage and it also directly affects
human health. Various fruits which are now being sold in
the city are chemically treated for ripening, posing a
serious threat to people’s health.
Talking to the correspondent, Rizia Begum a child
specialist working in a private clinic said, "Only strict
monitoring can compel the businessmen to refrain from
using different kinds of harmful color with food items.
The government should give some exemplary punishment to
those businessmen who violate the government
instructions." It may be mentioned that the food
inspectors and sample collectors of BSTI are aware of food
adulteration, but they often turn a blind eye to such
thing preferring bribes to punishment for offenders.
Back Page
Rise of paper
prices create havoc in print media, education
Staff Correspondents
Prices of news print and
white print are on the rise day by day as a well-organised
syndicate is making huge profits, creating instability in
the country's paper market for long.
Sources said, a section of merchants are increasing the
price of different kinds of paper in the local market on
the plea of price spiral of the commodities in the foreign
markets.
While talking to this correspondent, some businessmen in
the citiy's Nayabazar wholesale market said, price of news
print increased by Taka 10,000 per ton over last few days.
A retailer in the city's Arambagh named Mohammad Younus
said, demand for locally-manufactured news prints has
increased largely in the country as the traders are
apparently reluctant to import the product from abroad as
a result of imposition of excess import duty in this
regard. So, a section of paper mills owners and traders
are increasing price of the item through controlling the
newsprint supply in the market.
Unbridled price rise of all sorts of papers is posing a
serious threat to existence of the country's printing
sector, including the newspaper industry, packaging
industry etc.
Now-a-days a huge quantity of newsprint is manufactured in
the country. Gazipur Paper Mills, Shahjalal Paper Mills (Basundhara
Group), Magura Paper Mills (Magura Group), Younus Paper
Mills, Sonali Paper Mills, City Paper Mills, Islamia Paper
Mills, RS Paper Mills and Ananta Paper Mills are producing
newsprint along with different kinds of paper.
Newsprint is mainly used in the newspaper industry.
Newsprint is also widely used by the students as it is
cheaper than white print. Besides, this kind of paper is
used in printing books. So, there is a rising demand for
newsprint in the country.
Availing themselves of the increased demand for newsprint
in the local market, a section of paper mills owner in
connivance with the corrupt businessmen have been making a
huge profit by creating an artificial crisis of paper.
Basundhara and Magura group-made newsprint is widely used
in the country. So, price of these two kinds of newsprint
is very high.
Per ton newsprint (Normal) was selling at Taka 58,000
yesterday against Taka 48,000 last week. On Sunday,
newsprint (Super) was selling at Taka 60,000 compared to
Taka 50,000 per ton one week ago.
BD-Gr
Agreement signed
€31.4m for improving power supply in Dhaka city
3 new 132/33KV substations, transmission lines to be
installed
UNB, Dhaka
German development bank KfW will provide € 31.4 million
(euro) to Dhaka Power Distribution Company Ltd. (DPDC) for
power-supply improvement in the capital under a financing
deal signed on Sunday.
Utilizing the amount, equivalent to US$ 40 million or Tk
280 crore, the new company (DPDC) will set up 3 separate
power substations, each having 132/33 KV capacity, in the
city's Lalbagh, Madertek and Dhanmondi areas and install a
number of underground and overhead power-transmission
lines supporting the new substations.
Bangladesh Government's Economic Relations Division
secretary Aminul Islam Bhuiyan and KfW country director
Christoph Isenmann signed the agreement to this effect on
behalf of their respective sides at the ERD.
As per agreement, the German donor agency will provide the
amount as grant assistance. But the DPDC will receive the
fund from the government as a loan with 7 percent
interest.
The DPDC is a new state-owned public limited company (PLC)
created by the government in 2005 under its power- sector
reform programme.
The latest offshoot in the problematic power sector will
work as a corporate entity like DESCO for power
distribution in the capital where DESA is now operating.
As per a government plan, the DPDC was supposed to replace
the existing Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (DESA) early
this year. But that did not happen as a case remained
pending with a court.
Official sources said that the KfW has agreed to finance
the DPDC considering it as the new entity for Dhaka's
future power-distribution authority.
They said the KfW's financing is taking place under an
Asian Development Bank-financed project - 'Sustainable
Power Sector Development Project'.
The KfW has emerged as co-financer in the project to help
set up the proposed 3 power substations and a number of
132kV and 33kV underground and overhead cables.
DPDC managing director Ataul Masud told UNB that they are
hopeful about the start of physical work under the project
by middle of 2009 and complete the task by 2010. "The
power consumers in the old part of the city and some other
areas will be immensely benefited after implementation of
the project," said the MD of the new power-distribution
outfit.
Police reform plan soon
Bdnews24, Dhaka
The cabinet is set to approve a police reform proposal for
the modernisation of the department in its next meeting,
the home adviser said on Sunday.
"The government is going to approve the police reform
proposal as a part of reform activities done in different
sectors to make the police department more transparent,
multidimensional and modern," adviser MA Matin said, while
inaugurating the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence
Week 2008 in Mirpur.
The police force cannot maintain its current activities
under the outdated Police Act of 1861, the adviser said.
Speaking of the fire service and civil defence, Matin said
the Executive Committee of National Economic Council had
approved Tk 86 crore in funds to purchase modern machinery
and equipment for the department to more effectively
counter risks and losses from fire and earthquake.
"The manpower of the department will also be increased,"
he added. Director general of the Bangladesh Fire Service
and Civil Defence, Brig Gen Abu Naeem Mohammad Shahidullah,
said: "The larger buildings of Dhaka city should have fire
fighting equipment. That will help us to take instant
measures." "We are providing modern training to our divers
to reduce the loss of life from river accidents," he said.
Crime
Bomb
explosion kills man
UNB, Meherpur
A man was killed in bomb explosion on Kazipur frontier in
Gangni upazila early Sunday.
Police and BDR sources said Afazuddin, 42, who was
carrying bombs with him, entered into Bangladesh part from
India through the Kazipur border during the early hours on
Sunday.
But the bombs exploded as he fell down while crossing the
barbwire near main pillar no 144 leaving him critically
injured.
Hearing explosion, local people rushed to the spot and
found Afazuddin lying in a pool of blood. He died on the
way to hospital.
On information, police recovered the body and sent it to
Meherpur General Hospital morgue for autopsy.
Local people alleged that he was engaged in bomb smuggling
from Indian for long.
Leaders detained for violating EPR
Correspondent, Netrakona
Two central leaders of Khelafot Andolan were detained when
they brought out a procession in the town yesterday.
Policed interrupted the procession when it was brought out
from the premises of Borobazar Mosque and scattered it at
one stage and detained some of the organisation members.
The detained were identified as Abdur Rakib, central
coordinator of the organization and Mohammad Ullah Najib,
central youth leader of the same organization. When
contacted over phone Shah Md. Monjur Kader (PPM)
Officer-in-Charge, Netrakona Model Thana said, the
procession was scattered for violating the emergency rules
and they were detained thereby.
Student gunned down by muggers
UNB, Chittagong
A madrassah student, who is also an SSC examinee, was shot
dead by muggers in Jamalkhan area of the port city
Saturday night.
The deceased was identified as Ziaul Huq, 20, son of Haji
Syedul Huq of Ashker Dighir Par of the city.
Police said a gang of three snatchers came by a CNG-run
auto-rickshaw, intercepted Ziaul near Metropolitan
Commercial College at about 11:00 pm when he was going to
his friend's house for collecting notes.
At one stage when Ziaul tried to resist the muggers from
snatching his mobile phone set and moneybag they stabbed
him indiscriminately and fired two shots at him leaving
critically injured.
Later, local people rushed him to Chittagong Medical
College Hospital where the attending doctors declared him
dead.
A case was filed with the Katwali police station.
Fisherman killed in conflict
UNB, Noakhali
A fisherman was attacked and killed allegedly by his
fellow fishermen as he tried to console them during an
argument at Shullukia village in Hatia upazila on Sunday.
Local sources said Nagendra Kumar Das, 45, a leader of
local fisherman community, died on the spot during the
attack.
Police said heated exchanged between fishermen Putul
Majhee and Jiban Majhee in the morning over previous
enmity.
Hearing the news, Nagendra came to the spot and tried to
console them. But, Putul and Jiban attacked him and
started punching and kicking him, leaving Nagendra dead on
the spot.
Police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue
for autopsy.
Putul and Jiban went into hiding soon after the incident.
Four cops injured in mob attack
UNB, Habiganj
Four police personnel were injured in an attack when they
were trying to settle a feud between the people of
Bhadikara and Mudiauk villages in Laghai upazila Sunday
afternoon.
Police said conflict ensued between people of the two
villages as one of the residents of Mudiauk village
commented that there had no gentleman in Bhadikara
village.
On information, police, led by OC Sunil Kanti Bosak, went
to spot to settle the matter.
On their arrival, a group of unruly people attacked the
law enforcers leaving four policemen, including OC Sunil
Kanti Bosak and ASI Jalal, injured. The injured were
admitted to Sadar Hospital.
Additional police have been deployed in the villages to
avert any untoward situation following the incident.
Housewife found dead
UNB, Mymensingh
A young housewife was found dead at Bahadurpur Bazar of
Phulpur upazila Saturday evening.
Police said a gang of miscreants called Shibani Rani Dash,
18, wife of Ashwini Rabi Dash of the area, out of her
house on Friday evening and since then she remained
missing.
Local people found Shibani's body lying on the ground
adjacent to a shop in the bazar on Saturday evening and
informed the police.
Later, police recovered the body that bore marks of
strangulation and sent it to the Mymensingh Medical
College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Police arrested local
UP member Mintu in connection with the murder.
Muggers snatch Tk 9.73 lakh from filling station
UNB, Narayanganj
Muggers snatched Tk 9.73 lakh of a filling station near
Godnail under Siddhirganj thana in Sadar upazila Sunday
morning.
Locals said a gang of terrorists, numbering 6/7, coming in
a private car intercepted Sohel Rana and Abdul Gani,
nephews of the owner of Mouchak Sams Filling Station, when
they were going to Sonali Bank, Godnail branch to deposit
Tk 9.73 lakh of the filling station at about 9:30 am.
The muggers created panic among the local people by firing
gun shots and exploding bombs and snatched the money
carrying bag from the two brothers. Being resisted by
Sohel and Abdul Gani, the snatchers also beat them up
leaving them slightly injured and fled the scene by the
car.
But later, they managed to run away with the money leaving
the car on road as the local people rushed to the spot and
chased them.
Police seized the car but failed to arrest the muggers.
Smuggler killed in Meherpur
A Correspondent, Meherpur
A smuggler was killed by his own bombs on Saturday night
when it exploded automatically at a bordering village of
the district.
The deceased was identified as Afezuddin, 42, son of
Naumuddin of bordering village Kazipur under Gangni
Upazila of the district.
He is known as a smuggler of the area.
According to Police sources, Afezuddin a reported smuggler
was crossing the Indian barbed wire fencing near Dharmadah
border under Daulatpur Upazila of Kushtia district
carrying bombs from India into Bangladesh on Saturday
night and all on sudden the bombs exploded with big bang
as a result he severely injured and his right leg amputed
in the Indian territory.
Editorial
The EC’s Roadmap
The other day the CEC
admitted that for various reasons the EC is unable to keep to
its schedule of carrying out various activities prior to
holding the national elections at the end of this year. Some
of the problems that the EC faces are: the Electoral Rolls
Rules have not yet been finalized and approved by the
Government; the identification and demarcation of
constituencies have not even started; no more than 60 % of the
voters' registration has been completed and no more than 10%
of the registered voters have received their voter ID cards,
although the Army, given the responsibility for registration
and issue of voter ID cards, is insisting that it would
complete the task by October 2008; the dialogue with political
parties have not been completed because the EC had invited a
faction of BNP to the dialogue, leaving the mainstream out of
it, forcing them to go to the courts; the EC has involved
itself in a running battle with the political parties
regarding the holding of local government polls before the
national elections and finally there is the problem of timing
the withdrawal of the Emergency.
All of these acts of omission and commission by the EC have
raised apprehensions that the EC is fast losing control of its
activities and of the situation. One thus sees a lack of
confidence developing among the general public as well as the
political parties regarding the EC's commitment and abilities
of holding an acceptable national election within the
announced timeframe. Already the Khondoker Delwar Hossain led
mainstream BNP has expressed its doubts in the following
words: "The EC itself has created a chink in the people's
confidence through its words and deeds. It could not complete
its scheduled dialogue with political parties as it created a
problem regarding the BNP issue on its own". The comments of
AL leaders, though couched in more diplomatic language, point
to an increasing level of frustration with the activities of
the EC; in fact the AL has as good as accused the EC of
attempting to delay the elections.
The EC's roadmap is not merely off-schedule; it is in danger
of going to tatters. Political parties, the civil society and
even foreigners with an interest in Bangladesh are getting
increasingly concerned about the prospects of elections and
about when and how they would be held. While the Emergency
Government is procrastinating in various ways, demands for
elections are becoming increasingly strident from the
political parties, the civil society and the media who now
once again see an elected political government as the only one
capable of tackling the unprecedented economic and social woes
of Bangladesh, as well as of mobilizing public opinions and
taking the people along with them. Increasingly, diverse
opinions of diverse interest groups are coalescing into one
single demand - lift the emergency and hold elections as soon
as the voter listing is complete. Perhaps the Emergency would
like to disregard this change in public opinion and tendency
but it can do so only at its own peril as many other past
governments have found out to their great dismay and cost.
The return of Yaba
The
much talked-about- drug Yaba is reported to have returned to
the capital belying the general belief that trading on
dangerous drugs including Yaba has been checked following
massive anti-drug drives by law enforcers a few months ago. It
is a very disturbing news that Yaba is on sale again in the
posh areas of the city nowadays although the drive against
trafficking, sale and use of drugs, specially Yaba had
succeeded considerably in the recent past. The sale and use of
drugs like phensidyl, ganja, charas, heroin have been rampant
in the capital since long. The latest addition to this world
of illegal drugs is Yaba which is reportedly very popular
among the young boys and girls of rich families. With the
return of Yaba after a break for a few months, the situation
in this regard has reportedly become very serious.
In the drive against drugs specially Yaba, the law enforcers
had arrested the Yaba ' king' and 'queen' Yaba as well as a
number of young boys and girls from Badda, Shantinagor,
Gulshan and Banani in the capital in the past. Moreover, RAB
had recovered huge cache of Yaba tablets from the capital.
According to press reports Yaba first entered Bangladesh in
2002 as a section of air hostesses reportedly used it. But
within no time the use of it spread fast and more and more
young people continued to be addicted to it. As this drug is
costly, mainly boys and girls from affluent families use it.
Some of them are also allegedly engaged in selling this to
others. However, the situation had improved following
anti-drug drives, but perhaps only to turn for the worse in
the long run.
Yaba and other illegal drugs are serious threat to our moral
values and social fabric as they are causing serious harm to
the youths physically, morally, mentally, and financially. In
view of this, the drive against Yaba, or any other illegal
drug by the law enforcers, will be considered by all as a
welcome step. We would urge the authorities to re-launch a
massive drive against the drug traders and hope that those
involved in the drug trade will be caught and punished
properly.
Analysis
Bringing the Corrupt to
Justice
The onslaught must hit the real target—the
mechanism that breeds corruption.
M Abdul Kabir
Not
long ago, the idea of an objective and worthwhile
anti-corruption drive was frowned upon given the impotence of
the previous Bureau of Anti Corruption and the absence of good
intentions of the earlier governments. Now such a crusade is
going on, thanks to the present CTG’s laudable and moving
initiatives. When the whole nation is eagerly waiting to see
the outcome, however little promising it may be, of this
daring drive, some influential quarters continue to insist on
the administration to stop the campaign and release those
captured. Clearly, this would be suicidal for the country
should the government yield to their demand.
Let us hope that the efforts to bring the corrupt to justice
will not lose momentum, no matter however exigent and risky
the task is. One real force for the pioneers to persist in the
just cause is the public and their boiling sense of loss they
have suffered due to corruption and abuse of power. The vocal
Supports from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) are also the
weapon in the combat against corruption.
In the country’s history there has been no precedence that the
corrupt powerful people can be put to trial. So at the advent
of this mission common people’s perception was that the “big
fish” would be out of the net. Fortunately, the view proved
wrong. In this daringly inclusive drive immensely powerful
people have been booked and produced before the court. This
has reinforced the hope of a substantial change and the public
is more willing to lend supports if asked for.
“Well begun is half done.” This saying is particularly
elevating if one relates it with the current anti-graft drive.
The fact that the Anti-Corruption Commission was revamped
before the fight and that some much-needed institutional
reforms in the judiciary, the EC and the PSC have been
undertaken alongside, indicates what Aristotle would say a
good start. When such a well orchestrated anti-corruption
drive has been possible despite many odds, it is also possible
to carry it on, in order to clean up the nation’s image as
having a corrupt disposition.
In order to do so, the onslaught must hit the real target—the
mechanism that breeds corruption. The oppressive British
colonial rules still in action in the public administrations
reject transparency, allowing authorities to “warm up” in the
guarded walls. The excessive bureaucracy procrastinates
service processing, letting rooms for inducement and bribery.
Political ill-wills further worsen these settings.
It is often thought that corruption will run away if politics
can be disinfected. However, with politicians predisposed not
to change, only punitive actions to sterilize politics are not
enough to heal corruption. We have yet to see the so called
“people’s representatives” apologies, what they should have
done long ago if they cared for people, before us for their
acrimonious power struggles, for which the country has
suffered an irrevocable loss. Rather, they are ready to deride
this government, accuse it of harassment despite no proof in
the affirmative, despite many members from their “clique”
being convicted on charges of corruption. In the build-ups to
the next general elections they even intimidate the government
by slogans like “release … or face movements. “ It is they who
are more or less going to be parts of the next government. And
we do not know what they would do then.
So, hopes for instantly “clean politics” are thin. But we can
take breaths on those crucial structural reforms in the
judiciary and the EC which all the previously elected
governments promised but failed to deliver. Similar reforms in
the burdened public administrations, in the police would be
the key. We have to bear it in mind that a weak, laden society
cannot bestow a strong, benign government.
Our real hopes lie in the fact that we have at last come
across a worthy model. What had not happened for good
governance after 36 years of independence, happened in 2007.
We must appreciate and treasure this legacy. From now on we
must be watchful in order to check any ill attempt of undoing
what have been done so far. If we can ward off such efforts in
the future and press on the continuation of the legacy
bestowed by this caretaker government, only then could our
desire to clean up the crooked disposition of the society be
realized.
(M Abdul Kabir;BSC.ETE ;NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY
Mobile: 01715078819)
Youth for next generation
To turn them into good
politicians, businessmen, or administrators, country has the
responsibility to make sure that all children have a good
education.
Ripan Kumar Biswas
“Think
about all the power that’s represented here in all of you. If
you all grab that arc, then I have no doubt, I have absolutely
no doubt, that regardless of what happens in this presidential
year and regardless of what happens in this campaign, America
will transform itself,” Democratic Presidential candidate
Senator Obama (IL) boomed last year to the young crowd at
George Mason University’s Johnson Center in Fairfax, Virginia.
He is absolutely right. Because according to Robert F Kennedy,
the 64th Attorney General of the United States, the world
demands the qualities of youth: not a time of life but a state
of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of imagination, a
predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for
adventure over the love of ease. What happens in the country,
if youth comes forward to take the lead and give decisions as
youth believes that nothing more difficult to take in hand,
more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success
than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of
things.
The same ideology was echoed at Bangladesh-China Friendship
Conference Centre in a two-day National Youth Festival program
started on April 1, 2008, organized by the International
Republican Institute (IRI) and USAID. All 40 exhibitors,
prominent writers, media celebrities, human rights activists,
and individuals, who were present at that festival emphasized
the importance to encourage young people. “Bangladesh this
time is going to witness a very good national poll as now the
young people are much more aware of their responsibilities to
vote the right persons to lead the nation,” IRI President Jeff
Vanness underlined in his inaugural speech.
Youth participation leads to better decisions. It is an
integral part of a democratic society. Young people need to be
engaged in order to define and address public problems and
their participation is important for democracy as they are
tolerant, patriotic, and idealistic, and some have invented
such novel and impressive forms of civic engagement.
Specially, young people in a country that going through
transition from authoritarian rule or in countries coming out
of conflict, can play vital role.
The importance of the youth vote to any democracy is central
to this cross-cultural analysis of the unique role of
elections—and the dangers of abstention—in a democratic
society. Many youth understand voting as a key element of
democratic governance, a hard won democratic right, and a duty
of democratic citizenship yet most indicate they do not plan
to vote because voting does not make a difference. Youth
disenchantment and disengagement in democracy is primarily
evident in formal political behavior, especially through
voting, declining membership of political parties, assisting
at elections, contacting politicians, and the like. One-third
of the country’s voters is now young and will vote for the
first time.
Young people including others, played an active role in 1952
language movement, 1971 independence, and the re-installation
of democracy in Bangladesh to make today’s Bangladesh rich
history and culture and its landscape . Since then, country
has tasted one party government, autocracy, martial law, care
taker government, parliamentary democracy, and the recent
ongoing military backed interim government.
Besides their exercise in election, they can play a vital role
to reduce unemployment, corruption, and present food-price
inflation as young people have a body of experience unique to
their situation – and they are social actors with skills and
capacities to bring about constructive resolutions to their
own problems. They develop skills, build competences, acquire
confidence and form aspirations – all part of a virtuous
circle leading to development.
According to the study, a section of corrupt businessmen in
alliance with corrupt officials and politicians have
contributed to the continuing decadence of business ethics in
the country. One of the biggest and important reasons may be
the lack of interest to promote honest entrepreneur,
especially young honest entrepreneur who has credibility to
bring a new era in business not only in Bangladesh but also in
the world. After observing present food-price inflation and
corrupt business dealings, governments, institutions, and
industries should welcome young entrepreneur because they
struggle for credit and credibility.
In addition, around 30 million eligible people in Bangladesh
don’t have any work while 2 million new job seekers enter into
the job market every year whereas more than 2000 industries
have been closed since last five years, the Bangladesh
Institute of Labor Studies says. Bangladesh never thinks that
the country needs to get more of the young people into
business, not merely get them into jobs markets.
The theme of the International Youth Day 2008 on August 12, is
“Youth and Climate Change: Time for Action,” which will focus
on the fact that climate change has already begun to devastate
communities and deepen the effects of poverty and hunger. This
situation complicates the challenges that youth face. And
young people around the world are increasingly adding their
voices to the call for action on climate change. There is an
unprecedented level of awareness about climate change among
people and leaders worldwide, but young people in Bangladesh
can raise their voice that none of us will be spared the
affect of climate change.
Teaching, parenting, and guiding children to turn them into
good human beings in the future, are an act of worship that is
pleasing to God. The future of the nation is dark because
school students lack adequate academic knowledge as Bangladesh
kids spend less time in schools among SAARC countries. Besides
137-day official holiday including temporary closure due to
natural calamities, school going children can enter into the
school premises overall 228 days every year and less than 30
hours every week. To turn them into good politicians,
businessmen, or administrators, country has the responsibility
to make sure that all children have a good education.
Although evidence does not support the claim that adults in
either the public and private sphere always make decisions in
the best interest of young people, but young people will have
lack of experiences and examples where adults can articulate
their concerns. For that, a conscious effort must be made to
include views of young people and to strengthen their
participation in decision-making.
Few will have the greatness and credibility to bend history;
but each of young people can work to change a small portion of
the events, and in the total of all these acts will be written
in the history of the generation.
(Ripan Kumar Biswas is a freelance writer based in New
York. E-mail: Ripan.Biswas@yahoo.com)
Why Pakistan and Israel are at a Stalemate
Rehan Rafay Jamil
KARACHI,
Pakistan - It seems not a day goes by in Pakistan without the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict making headlines. Entire
generations have grown up seeing the region on our television
screens as synonymous with perpetual conflict. From Yeshiva
seminary students gunned down in Jerusalem to the beleaguered
residents of the Gaza Strip punished through economic
blockades, the immense human suffering never ceases to shock.
I live hundreds of miles away from Jerusalem, in Karachi. But
like so many people in Pakistan, I care about what happens in
that part of the world. I care, not because it is a "religious
conflict" as many here would like to believe, but because it
is a human conflict, whose repercussions extend beyond the
borders of Israel-Palestine and have a tangible impact on
Jewish-Muslim co-existence elsewhere.
I don't claim to be an impartial observer in this conflict.
Palestine is something I have grown up hearing about. My
father and his siblings were leftists for whom Palestine
represented a major Third World struggle for freedom. My uncle
went to Jordan in the 1970s to receive training with the
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
By contrast, I studied at a liberal arts college in the United
States, where I forged friendships with Jewish students and
self-identified Zionists. It was while breaking bread at
Shabbat that I truly understood just how closely related the
Abrahamic faiths of Judaism and Islam really are.
Pakistan is not directly involved in the Arab-Israeli
conflict, nor do Israel and Pakistan have any direct reason to
be at odds. Rather, it is the occupation of Palestine that
inhibits relations between our two countries. In the past,
many Israeli heads of state have called for formal accords to
be established and it is no secret both countries have had
informal relations stemming back several decades.
In 2003, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf called for a
public debate concerning the recognition of Israel. But public
opinion in Pakistan was against any reconciliation unless
there were concrete efforts toward the establishment of a
Palestinian state.
Two years later, in a move that raised many eyebrows,
Pakistan's then foreign minister, Khurshid Kasuri, met with
his Israeli counterpart, Silvan Shalom, marking the first time
a Pakistani and Israeli official did so publicly. The meeting
was followed by protests in Gaza and across Pakistan. Since
then, Musharraf has reverted to Pakistan's traditional stance
that there will be no recognition of Israel until the creation
of a Palestinian state.
In March 2002, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia proposed what has
been called the Arab Peace Initiative in Beirut. The proposal
calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on
1967 borders, with Israel accorded full recognition by Arab
countries in return.
The initiative, which was re-endorsed in Riyadh in 2007, makes
clear that security for Israel is inextricably dependent upon
justice and a sense of hope for the Palestinian people. It has
been embraced by many Muslim states, including Pakistan, and
seems like one of the last remaining hopes for peace in the
region.
For those of us who reject apocalyptic theories of a clash of
civilizations but are alarmed by growing polarization in the
world, the creation of a viable Palestinian state has become
more critical than ever. I am convinced that if there is to be
reconciliation between Israel and Pakistan, there must be an
end to the occupation. An independent Palestinian state is
Israel's best bet for peace, security and acceptance in the
wider Muslim world.
Rehan Rafay Jamil is a journalist and freelance writer
living in Karachi. This article was written for the Common
Ground News Service (CGNews).
Source:middleeasttims.com
Viewpoints
Slowly but surely,
hearts are turning
Let us hope that reconciliation continues, an
endeavor that, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, “the world
will forever applaud, and God must forever bless.”
Dvir Abramovich
MELBOURNE—The
heartbreaking and seemingly intractable Israeli-Palestinian
conflict seems to embody W. B. Yeats’ feeling that “Too long a
sacrifice can make a stone of a heart”. And indeed, the
situation in Gaza may have reinforced the perception that
hatred, irreconcilable differences and hopelessness make up
the prevailing mood between Israelis and Palestinians.
Yet another tale is slowly emerging. Although the news reports
tend to zero in on the religious division, tension and
violence, the truth is that reconciliation efforts between
Israelis and Arabs are quietly gathering momentum. Small and
faithful acts of hope form part of a continuum of peace-making
possibilities propelled forward by tireless warriors who are
driven by the belief that the mightiest tree may grow from the
tiniest seed.
Determined not to allow extremists such as Hezbollah and Hamas
to win, Israelis and Palestinians have been doggedly
attempting to build peace from the ground up, breaking through
the years of distrust and suspicion, and boldly trekking
towards co-existence.
Consider the Open House initiative, a centre situated in the
Arab town of Ramle that is devoted to building trust and
friendships between Muslim and Jewish children. Among its
programs is a summer camp for 100 Jewish and Arab teenagers
and an Arab and Jewish parents’ network, as well as a day-care
centre for Arab children.
In Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam (Oasis of Peace), a Nobel peace
prize-nominated community in Israel founded in 1972,
Palestinians and Israelis live harmoniously side by side and
teach their children the histories and national narratives of
both peoples.
The eminent Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim has created the
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, an ensemble of young Jewish and
Arab musicians, including participants from the Palestinian
territories, Syria and Egypt. The collection of talented
players has performed in Britain, Brazil and Argentina.
In the spirit of building understanding and unity, four
Israelis and four Palestinians scaled an icy mountain and
braved rough seas in Antarctica as part of the Breaking the
Ice expedition in 2004. After reaching the top, the group
named the snow-capped point ‘Mountain of Israeli-Palestinian
Friendship’. Their joint statement read: “We have proved that
Palestinians and Israelis can co-operate with one another with
mutual respect and trust … We hereby declare that our people
can and deserve to live together in peace and friendship.”
Then there is Hello, Salaam! Hello, Shalom! a telephone
hotline that allows Israelis and Palestinians to talk with
someone on the other side. Within the first seven months of
the launch, more than 80,000 people from across Israel and the
Palestinian areas have called the line, talking for a total of
about 300,000 minutes.
Particularly significant is the Pathways to Reconciliation
project, an inspiring program that sends about 80 Israeli
Jews, Israeli Arabs and Palestinian educators to Turkey each
year to take part in a conference entitled Continuing Dialogue
in Times of Crisis. When they return, the teachers work to
strengthen the peace education program that has been running
for 12 years in 60 Palestinian and Jewish high schools. Much
of the program’s power comes from the tremendous change it
brings about in the mindset of the participants.
In June 2003, a group of about 250 Israeli Jews, Israeli
Arabs, Palestinians, and Jews and Muslims from France took
part in a four-day journey to the Nazi death camps of
Auschwitz-Birkenau and Krakow. Amid the ghastly images, the
group walked along the railway tracks where the diabolical
selections of Jews had taken place; they then entered the gas
chambers, the crematoriums and prisoners’ huts.
After hearing the testimonies of survivors, the group erected
a small memorial near the Death Wall, where Jews were lined up
and shot. Then, Arab participants read out the names of the
mission’s Jewish members’ relatives who perished there. At
this moment of shared charity and compassion, the delegation
began singing traditional songs of the Holocaust.
One cannot avoid mentioning the bereaved parents who have lost
loved ones to spasms of violence. Israeli Roni Hirshenson lost
his eldest son, Amir, in a bus bombing only to lose his second
son, Elad, when he committed suicide after his best friend was
killed in a bombing. Rather than choose vengeance, the
shattered father remarkably chose reconciliation, believing
that only by erecting common interests between Israelis and
Palestinians can the senseless slayings stop.
He heads the Parents’ Circle Relations committee, an
interfaith organization composed of 200 bereaved Jewish
parents and 200 Palestinian bereaved parents who have lost
children to the protracted violence.
The group has lectured to more than 50,000 students, in
addition to staging political rallies and donating blood to
each other’s hospitals.
Let us hope that reconciliation continues, an endeavor that,
in the words of Abraham Lincoln, “the world will forever
applaud, and God must forever bless.”
(Dr. Dvir Abramovich is director of Jewish Studies at the
University of Melbourne.
Source: The Age, 31 March 2008, www.theage.com.au.Copyright
permission is granted for publication.)
Increased
Tourism threatens the world’s biodiversity?
Tourism generates 11 percent of global gross domestic product
(GDP), employs 200 million people and transports nearly 700
million international travelers per year – a figure that is
expected to double by 2020.
Mohammad Shahidul Islam
Conservation
International (CI) and the United Nations Environment Program
(UNEP) logically believe that tourism has increased by more
than 100 percent between 1990 and 2000 in the world’s
biodiversity hotspots, regions affluent in species and facing
severe threats. In some places the growth has been astounding.
Over the last couple of decades, tourism has increased by more
than 2000 percent in both Laos and Cambodia, nearly 500
percent in South Africa, over 300 percent in the countries of
Brazil, Nicaragua and El Salvador, and 128 percent in the
Dominican Republic.
Tourism generates 11 percent of global gross domestic product
(GDP), employs 200 million people and transports nearly 700
million international travelers per year – a figure that is
expected to double by 2020. It is considered one of the
largest, if not the largest, industries on the planet. With
nature and adventure travel one of the fastest-growing
segments within the tourism industry, the Earth’s most
fragile, high biodiversity areas are where most of that
expansion will likely take place. While tourism has the
potential to provide opportunities for conserving nature,
tourism development, when done improperly, can be a major
threat to biodiversity.
Now, people are at a crossroads in the Earth’s last strong
holds for biodiversity, where nature, struggling communities
and the expanding world of tourism meet. By linking tourism
development with biodiversity conservation and the well being
of local communities, we have to develop strategies that both
conserve Earth’s most endangered ecosystems and help make a
significant contribution to alleviating poverty.
Poorly planned tourism development in the biodiversity
hotspots has a range of negative impacts. These include
removing pristine forests for infrastructure development,
pollution, introduction of invasive species, water shortages
and degradation of water supplies.
In addition, tourism development is increasingly linked to the
economies of the world’s developing countries, which are often
home to high biodiversity areas. Tourism is a principal export
of the 49 least-developed countries and number one for 37 of
them. While economically significant, tourism can also prove
to be volatile to local communities. Tourism development can
uproot indigenous peoples, cause local goods and services to
increase, force currency fluctuations and cause social and
cultural disruption.
Tourism has huge potential for good or evil. It is in
everyone’s interest, particularly the industry’s, that the
economic power of 21st century tourism is harnessed for the
benefit of local people and wildlife. Tourism relies on stable
and healthy communities and environments. It cannot prosper in
areas of environmental decay. So it cannot ruin the very
wildlife and landscapes the visitors pay to see and then move
on. Otherwise we can rapidly run out of the biologically and
culturally rich locations that underpin the profits of the
holiday and vacation business. Fortunately, there are many
sparkling examples where tourism has balanced the needs of the
industry and the visitor, with the needs of wildlife and
people. We need to encourage and extend these across the globe
so that they do not become islands of good practice in a sea
of environmental decline.
A report made by Conservation International illustrates how
tourism development guided by the principles associated with
ecotourism – environmental sustainability, protection of
nature, and supporting the well being of local peoples – can
have a positive impact on biodiversity conservation and
provide important economic alternatives for local communities.
“Integrating biodiversity conservation into tourism planning
can result in better business for the industry, while
destroying the environment would be considered synonymous with
killing the goose that lays the golden egg,” said Russ
Mittermeier, President of Conservation International.
If we think of the issue in the backdrop of Bangladesh,
tourism versus environment is appalling. Most of parks in our
country, Cox’s Bazaar, Kuakata, Chittagong Potenga and Parki
beaches, Shundarban, Kaptai lakes, Madabkunda, Shuvalang and
Himchari water falls, hunting forests, angling bigger ponds
etc, all hotspots where tourists and non tourists are brimming
over, are struggling to revitalize their originality and
ecosystem. Improper management, behavior and lack of knowledge
over some rare spots like Shundarbans and Saint Martin are now
facing a decline in biodiversity.
We have to understand that if the environment is not secure,
let alone tourism, our whole ecological balance would be under
colossal threat. Tourism, though less organized in Bangladesh,
can come forward to contribute to conservation of environment
through proper planning and management.
(Mohammad Shahidul Islam is a Freelance Travel Writer and
Faculty Member of National Hotel and Tourism Training
Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Email: mohd-s-islam@myway.com)
Opinion
Tibet’s most practical solution lies
in meaningful autonomy
During
the past few days the scenes of unrest in Lhasa and elsewhere
have reminded the world of the Tibetan problem despite efforts
by the Chinese government to restrict media access. Some
Tibetans do want complete independence from China.
Indeed, there are historical and legal arguments supporting
claims for Tibetan independence. However, other Tibetans
including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who has long lived in
exile in northern India, have been more pragmatic. Contrary to
the often bizarre claims of Chinese propaganda, the Dalai Lama
has continually stated that he would be willing to accept
something less than full independence.
In true Buddhist fashion, the Dalai Lama repeatedly stresses
nonviolence even if a few individual Tibetans may have
occasionally resorted to violence out of frustration. He
advocates a "Middle Way" between the ideal of Tibetan
independence and the current reality of strict Chinese
control. Specifically, as a compromise, the Dalai Lama has
called for "meaningful autonomy" for Tibet.
Although a portion of what was traditionally Tibet forms the
entity that the Chinese government calls the Tibet Autonomous
Region (TAR), large parts of the territory of Greater Tibet
are not included in the TAR. Moreover, recent events have
tragically shown that there is precious little autonomy even
in the TAR today. Clearly, something needs to be done. Under
the present circumstances, meaningful autonomy sounds
attractive.
So, what might such meaningful autonomy look like? The Dalai
Lama seems to have places like Hong Kong in mind. Certainly,
Hong Kong could be a model for the future of Tibet that should
prove to be acceptable to many Tibetans and Chinese alike.
Since the British handover in 1997, Hong Kong has been a
Special Administrative Region of China. Under the late Deng
Xiaoping's principle of "one country, two systems," Hong Kong
has been able to maintain its own free market economy, its
status as a member of international economic bodies like the
World Trade Organisation, the Asian Development Bank, and the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and even its own currency
in the form of the Hong Kong dollar.
Hong Kong has retained the English common law as the basis for
its legal system in contrast to the mixture of socialist and
civil law found on the Mainland. Hong Kong has also kept its
own police force along with its own immigration authority.
Both Chinese and English are official languages today in Hong
Kong.
Politically, the people of Hong Kong enjoy a local government
that is much more open than that of Mainland China. Moreover,
the government in Hong Kong is generally viewed as lacking the
widespread corruption found among many public officials on the
Mainland.
All of these factors together with a strategic location,
talented workforce, and excellent infrastructure have helped
Hong Kong to continue to flourish as important commercial and
financial hub in East Asia.
Macau is another example of meaningful autonomy within China.
Although smaller than Hong Kong in terms of both population
and geographical size, Macau is also a Special Administrative
Region. Since Portuguese colonial rule ended in 1999, Macau
has enjoyed a status roughly comparable to that of Hong Kong
with its own currency, legal system, etc. In fact, Macau's
economy has grown considerably in recent years. Arguably,
Macau is better off now at least economically than it was
under Portugal. Generally speaking, the concept of one
country, two systems appears to be working in Macau as well as
in Hong Kong. Could it be applied elsewhere?
For Hong Kong and Macau, economic freedom was especially
important given the higher standards of living in those
territories compared to the Mainland. While there are
certainly some economic aspects to the Tibetan problem, many
ethnic Tibetans seem to be more concerned about human rights
in general and issues like cultural survival, language
preservation, and religious freedom in particular.
If Tibet were to become a Special Administrative Region or
something very similar, then some controls over migration
would appear to be in order to ensure that Tibetans avoid
becoming a minority in their own land. Among other things,
Tibetan should function as a true official language and
comprehensive education should be made available to Tibetan
children in their mother tongue. The important role of Tibetan
Buddhism in shaping Tibetan culture should be recognised
somehow. Human rights including religious freedom should be
protected for all in Tibet, Buddhists and non-Buddhists,
Tibetans and non-Tibetans.
Meaningful autonomy would be good for Tibet. But, such a major
change would also be a positive thing for China as a whole.
The global image of China as a rising power would surely
improve if Beijing were to follow a peaceful and flexible
right path when dealing with the legitimate grievances of
Tibetans.
Source: www.khaleejtimes.com
International
Sri Lankan
minister, 11 others killed in bomb blast
AFP, Colombo
A senior Sri Lankan government minister was killed Sunday
in a powerful bomb blast that also left at least another
11 people dead and 50 wounded, police said.
Highways minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, 55, was presiding
over a flag-raising ceremony in the town of Weliveriya
outside of the capital Colombo when the blast occurred,
police said.
Police said they suspected a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber
detonated explosives at the ceremony where locals had
gathered to mark traditional New Year's celebrations.
"The minister was raising the national flag to kick off
the New Year celebrations when the blast occurred," a
police officer at the scene said when contacted by
telephone.
About 50 people were seriously wounded and rushed to
hospital, while 11 people were thought killed, including
the minister, the officer said.
Fernandopulle had been a vocal critic of the separatist
Tamil Tiger rebels and was a member of Sri Lanka's failed
peace talks with the guerrillas.
The defence ministry said the minister was assassinated in
a "cowardly LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)
attack."
Fifteen Taliban killed
AFP, Kabul
Fifteen
Taliban insurgents have been killed in separate raids by
Afghan and NATO forces in southern Afghanistan, the
defence ministry said Sunday. Ten Taliban militants were
killed in a joint operation by Afghan and NATO-led forces
in Zhari district of Kandahar province on Saturday, the
ministry said in a statement. Another five rebels were
killed in a similar operation in another part of the
district-a hotbed of Taliban activities-also on Saturday,
the statement said. The rebels were "involved in terrorist
activities," and several weapons were destroyed, it said.
Kandahar, the birth-place of the Islamic Taliban movement
which was in power between 1996 and 2001 is one of the
most troubled regions in southern Afghanistan where the
Taliban-led insurgency is intense.
Nepal’s Constituent Assembly election on April 10
AFP, Kathmandu
Nepal stages historic polls on April 10 to elect an
assembly meant to write a new constitution and likely
abolish the Himalayan country's monarchy.
The vote is taking place in a dramatically changed
political landscape since Nepal's ruler dismissed the
government in February 2005.
King Gyanendra, vaulted to the throne after a 2001 palace
massacre in which most of the royal family were slain,
seized control after accusing the government of being
unable to end a deadly Maoist revolt.
The political parties and Maoist rebels staged massive
protests, forcing the unpopular ruler to cede power to an
interim government in April 2006.
Before the year was out, the government and the Maoists
signed a peace deal ending the decade-long insurgency and
joined the administration.
Key Issues:
The monarchy -
Nepal's caretaker government announced in December the
body elected to draft a new constitution would abolish the
monarchy at its first meeting. But although the country's
three major political parties are pushing for a republic,
the legal procedure for ending the 240-year-old dynasty is
unclear.
And while the current king is widely disliked, almost half
of Nepalis said they wanted to keep some form of monarchy,
according to a February survey.
Some 80 percent of Nepal's 27 million people are Hindu and
the monarch is seen by many as a reincarnation of the
Hindu god of protection Vishnu.
A constituent assembly -
The Maoists have demanded a more inclusive constitution
since taking up arms in 1996, and the agreement to elect a
constituent assembly that would draft such a document was
key to the peace agreement.
The latest constitution would be the third in a country
which has had little experience of stable democracy. Nepal
had a brief flirtation with democracy in 1960 when
elections were held but that experiment ended two years
later when a new constitution was drawn up under which the
monarch exercised sole power.
King Gyanendra's late brother Birendra in 1990 agreed to a
new democratic constitution and multi-party elections were
held in 1991 under which the current Prime Minister Girija
Prasad Koirala took power.
Basra unrest ‘anomaly’ as US mulls troop drawdown
AFP, Baghdad
A week of bitter clashes
that rocked Iraq's Shiite areas has exposed the fragility
of security gains from the US surge in troop numbers, even
as Washington mulls a new drawdown of its forces.
US ambassador Ryan Crocker, who with the commander of
US-led forces in Iraq General David Petraeus is due to
testify before Congress next week, said he believed the
violence was an "anomaly."
"It in no way erases signficant progress in various areas,
political and economic, over the last number of months, as
well as security," Crocker told reporters in Baghdad on
Thursday.
"It was a spike obviously and-knock on wood-given the
course of the last few days, it is shaping in being just
that, an anomaly," Crocker said.
"We have to see what happens... Gains are fragile and this
episode demonstrates that."
On March 25, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered his
forces to take on Shiite militiamen in the southern city
of Basra in a crackdown which mostly targeted Mahdi Army
fighters loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
The Basra assaults quickly fuelled clashes in other Shiite
regions of Iraq, including in Baghdad. When the dust
settled, at least 700 people had been killed and 1,500
wounded, according to United Nations figures.
The fighting subsided after Sadr ordered his fighters off
the street on Sunday following days of fierce fighting.
Defence analysts said the inconclusive clashes exposed the
limitations of Iraq's security forces, showed the power
the cleric yields in Shiite areas and battered Maliki's
image.
Petraeus has made it clear he would prefer a "pause" in
troop drawdowns once the last of the 30,000 or so "surge"
troops have been withdrawn by July, saying he would like
to assess the impact on security of the lower troop
levels.
He has the backing of US Defence Secretary Robert Gates
and the chief of the US military, Admiral Michael Mullen.
The surge began soon after Petraeus took command of US
forces in Iraq in February last year but it was not until
June that the extra troops sent by the Pentagon were in
place.
China’s campaign won’t win over
Tibetans: Rights groups
AFP, Beijing
China's re-energised "patriotic education" campaign to win
over the loyalty of Tibetans is doomed to failure and
could even backfire spectacularly, observers and rights
groups say.
Tibetan exiles, activists and rights groups warn the
government's latest tactic in trying to end nearly a month
of resistance against its rule of Tibet will only lead to
more resentment and deepen the divide between the two
sides.
"To be candid, re-education is nothing but an attempt at
brainwashing," said Chukora Tsering Agloe, a researcher
with the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, an
organisation run by Tibetan exiles in India.
In the state-run Tibet Daily newspaper, China announced on
Saturday it would step up "patriotic education" for
Tibetans, to run alongside a controversial security
crackdown aimed at ending protests that began on March 10.
"Especially reinforce education of young monks about the
legal system so that they become patriots who love
religion and observe discipline and law," Tibet's deputy
Communist Party chief, Hao Peng, was quoted as saying.
Going by previous campaigns, this means forcing Buddhist
monks and nuns to denounce their revered spiritual leader,
the Dalai Lama, while devoting time in their monasteries
to Communist Party theories instead of Buddhist
scriptures.
"If these monks and nuns refuse to do so, there are very
serious repercussions. They can be detained, they are
tortured. But most seriously for them, they face expulsion
from their monasteries," Tsering Agloe said.
He highlighted the cases of 14 nuns who were jailed in
Lhasa for their disloyalty to the state, then had their
sentences extended after secretly recording a cassette
tape in 1993 of political and religious songs.
"Classical, traditional re-education tactics were used on
them," he said of the women, who became known as the
"Singing Nuns".
One of the nuns, Ngawang Sangdol, who was 15 years old
when she helped make the recording and now lives abroad,
spoke to AFP in London recently about the treatment she
suffered and saw during six years in prison.
"I have seen many things, like how Chinese torture
Tibetans and how they destroy our culture," she said,
adding she suffered a dislocated shoulder and had guards
stick lit cigarettes into her on her first day in jail.
Tibetan activists said jailing monks and nuns, forcing
them to denounce the Dalai Lama and making them study
communist theories inevitably led to more protests.
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