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Leading News
Niko graft case
ACC approves
charge-sheets against Hasina and Khaleda
Staff Correspondent
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has sanctioned two
charge-sheets against former Primers Sheikh Hasina and
Khaleda Zia in the Niko corruption case and the
charge-sheets will be submitted next week.
"On Wednesday the ACC approved the charge sheets against a
total of 20 persons including Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda
Zia in two separate charge sheets for their involvement in
the Niko deal which was detrimental to the national
interest", said ACC DG (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal at a weekly
press briefing at the ACC premises yesterday.
Eight new names, which were not accused in the FIR during
filing the cases, have appeared in two charge sheets.
Names of former Secretary Dr AKM Moshiur Rahman and former
Director of Petrobangla Syed Anowarul Huq are included in
the charge sheet against Hasina while names of Principal
Secretary to former PM Khaleda Zia, Dr Kamaluddin Siddiqui,
incumbent Director of Petrobangla CM Yusuf, former GM of
BAPEX, Mir Moinul Huq, former Secretary Md Saifur Rahman,
MD of One Group, Giasuddin Al Mamoon and MD and Chairman
of International Travel Corporation, Selim Bhuiyan.
Two separate cases were filed against them with Tejgaon
police station on charge of causing a huge loss to the
national exchequer by awarding the unskilled Canadian oil
and gas exploration company Niko contracts to explore
natural gas from three gas fields during their tenures.
ACC deputy director ASM Sabbir Hasan and assistant
director Mahbubul Alam filed the cases against Sheikh
Hasina and Khaleda Zia for causing a loss of Tk 13,630
crore and Tk 13,777 crore to the national exchequer
respectively.
The co-accuseds with Hasina are former state minister for
energy Prof Rafiqul Islam, former principal secretary Dr
MA Samad, former energy secretary Dr Toufique Elahi
Chowdhury, former energy secretary Akmol Hossain, former
chairman of Petrobangla Md Mosharraf Hossain and Asia
affairs vice-president of Niko Kashem Sharif.
The other accuseds with Khaleda are former law minister
Moudud Ahmed, former state minister for energy AKM
Mosharraf Hossain, former acting energy secretary Khondker
Shahidul Islam and Asia affairs vice-president of Niko
Kashem Sharif.
The case against Sheikh Hasina was lodged under sections
409, 109 and 511 of the Penal Code and section 5(2) of the
Anti-Corruption Act 1947 whereas the case against Khaleda
Zia under section 109 of the Penal Code and section 5(2)
of the Anti-Corruption Act 1947.
The ACC filed the cases alleging that the AL government of
Sheikh Hasina awarded the contract to Niko, which was
earlier found to be an unskilled gas exploration company
by the Petrobangla, to explore gas from Feni, Kamta and
Chhatak gas fields through a non-transparent graft
agreement.
Later, although the BNP-led four party alliance government
of Khaleda Zia was aware of the facts about the
non-transparent deal with Niko by the AL government, it
signed the final agreement following recommendation of the
law ministry without taking action against those
responsible for signing the non-transparent deal during AL
regime. The agreement signed by BNP government says, 'The
exploration company will get 50 percent of total explored
gas while the government will get remaining 50 percent on
payment.' For buying the Niko's share of 50 percent, it
would incur a loss of Tk 13, 630.50 crore.'
Historic May Day today
Staff Correspondent
The historic May Day will be
observed today (Thursday) in the country and around the
world commemorating toiling people's sacrifice for the
first successful movement of the working class and
renewing the call for establishing their legitimate rights
The day is glorified with the supreme sacrifice of the
labourers at Hay Market in the America City of Chicago in
1886. Police fired into the crowd of workers agitating for
their rights, including eight-hour workday, leaving a
number of the demonstrators dead.
To make the sacrifice of the labourers memorable, it was
decided in the International Labour Conference on July 14
in Paris in 1889 that May 1 would be observed as the day
of international workers' solidarity and establishment of
rights of the working people. Since 1890 this day is being
observed worldwide.
To mark the day different sociopolitical, cultural and
trade unions have taken elaborate programmes. Those
include rallies, discussions, patriotic songs, etc.
President Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Fakhruddin
Ahmed gave separate messages on the occasion of the
International Labour Day.
It's a public holiday. Newspapers will publish special
supplements and radio and televisions broadcast and
telecast various programmes highlighting the significance
of the day. Major political parties, including ruling BNP,
Awami League, Jatiya Party and left-leaning parties, have
taken up programmes to observe the day in a limited scale.
CA likely to announce schedule of formal dialogue
Staff Correspondent
In an address to the nation Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed
is likely to announce his government's plans including
schedule of the formal dialogue with the political parties
and withdrawal of the state of emergency in a bid to hold
a free, fair and credible election.
"The Chief Adviser will make clear in his address to the
nation about the date of formal dialogue, state of
emergency and other steps taken by the government," after
submitting the recommendation on pre-dialogue talks
Communications Adviser Ghulam Quader told reporters.
Asked about when Chief Adviser would address the nation,
the Communication Adviser did not specify the date but
said it is expected that the Chief Adviser would address
the nation very soon
"The report prepared on the basis of recommendations and
suggestions from the political leaders during the
pre-dialogue talks, has been submitted to Chief Adviser.
Later, the Chief Adviser placed it before the council of
advisers and the issue was discussed widely," Quader said
adding the political parties and the government have
reached consensus on a number of issue which focused on
the entire gamut of matters related to transition from the
interim period.
However he said both the government and political parties
have felt the "necessity of reforms within the parties,"
he said.
General Quader, LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal and Commerce
Adviser Hossain Zillur, who held the informal talks with
political parties, met with the Chief Adviser and
discussed the outcome of the pre-dialogue parleys before
finalizing the report.
BNP's
food distribution programme foiled by police
Emergency might be breached: Police
Govt is inhumane: Khandoker Delwar
Staff Correspondent
The mainstream BNP could not observe its three-day long
food distribution programme among the destitute and
distressed people as police did not allow them to do so
anywhere in the country in any of these three days.
On the last day of the three-day programmes on Wednesday,
police barred the BNP Secretary General, Khandoker Delwar
Hossain, from distributing food among the poor and
distressed people as they were standing in the queue for a
long time.
Police argued that the state of emergency might be
violated if the food distribution programmes is allowed
while Khandoker Delwar Hossain dubbed the police
interception as cruel and inhumane.
According to the schedule of the three-day programmes,
Khandoker Delwar went to city's Nayabazar area to
distribute the foods, but he had to return while the
destitute and hungry people went back empty handed. From
the very beginning of the day, police cordoned off the
area as the local BNP workers started gathering there with
packets of food containing 2 kg rice, 3 kg potatoes and a
half kg of lentils. At one stage, police cordoned off the
Yusuf Market where the party workers gathered until the
party Secretary General got back. "The government is
behaving inhumanly with the people of the country as it is
not allowing others to provide the destitute people with
foods where the government itself failed to provide them
with foods," Delwar told newsmen on the spot
When contacted, Assistance Commissioner of Police of
Lalbagh zone Nurul Islam said, "Emergency rules might be
breached, if we allowed them to distribute foods here.
Moreover, they did not take permission from the
authorities."
However, party sources said, "They applied for the
permission, but the authorities responded neither
positively nor negatively."
Cancel
the move to re-demarcate electoral
constituencies, free Hasina before dialogue: AL
Staff
Correspondent
Awami League has demanded of the Caretaker Government to
cancel the Election Commission's decision to re-demarcate
133 electoral constituencies, immediate release of
detained AL president Sheikh Hasina prior to formal
dialogue and lifting of Emergency Power Rules.
"Please, complete the tasks which are most essential at
present. Create a congenial atmosphere for holding a free,
fair and credible general election and free Hasina to make
ensuing dialogue a successful," they urged on Wednesday
opining, "If there would be any appeal regarding the
re-demarcation of electoral seats, the EC must settle by
June. Don't try to do everything overnight."
Addressing a discussion meeting of Rickshaw Sramik League
- marking 'International May Day'- at the Bangabandhu
Avenue's AL central office, the AL leaders urged
authorities concern to deploy necessary Army personnel
during the official talks between the Government and
representatives of political parties. Chaired by Yunusur
Ali, key AL leaders asked the government to announce the
date of Parliamentary Polls as early as possible for the
restoration of people's faith on government's activities
as well as democracy across the country.
AL presidium member Abdur Razzaque reiterated his party
demand for arranging the Jatiya Sangsad election before
those of Local Government.
Another presidium member Suranjit Sengupta urged the
Government to resume the activities of Trade Union earlier
banned due to the government's restriction.
He termed the activities of trade unions as one of the
fundamental right of workers.
Among others, Habibur Rahman Siraj, Abdul Matin Master nad
Roy Ramesh Chandra spoke on the occasion.
Back Page
CMM
court premises turns into haven for criminals
Seized firearms, ammunitions and narcotics stored in
Malkhanas rotting since 40 yrs
Ainul Haque Royal
Firearms, ammunitions,
bullets, drugs and others items seized or recovered during
the last 40 years and stored in two government's Malkhanas
of Dhaka collateral building are being damaged and
destroyed for lack of care.
According to police sources, most of the items are kept in
the Malkhanas as alamat of different criminal cases and
can't be removed as the relevant case are awaiting
disposal.
On Wednesday, while visiting the two malkhanas at the
premises of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court in
the capital, this correspondent found that there are huge
numbers of firearms including pistols, guns, pipe and guns
with uncountable amount of bullets and sharp weapons have
been stored haphazardly.
On the other hand, around 3 to 4 thousand motorbikes which
were seized from different parts of the capital as well as
Dhaka district, are being damaged under the very nose of
authorities due to lack of care. The extent of damage is
estimated at Tk 10 crore, according to relevant sources.
"We are keeping these alamats since last 40 years but due
to slow disposal systems, most of the alamats have already
been damaged. Specially different types of narcotic items
including phensidyl, foreign beer, ganja and injectable
and tablet items are rotting spreading odors at all
times," malkhana-in-charge of Dhaka district told this
correspondent.
Meanwhile, CMM court premises turned into a haven for
criminals, drug traders and floating prostitutes after
dusk everyday, with the police allegedly giving them a
sanctuary, turning a blind eye to their anti-social
activities in exchange for money.
The people passing the area often become victims of
muggers and other anti-social elements. The muggers stab
the pedestrians and loot their valuables and later take
shelter on the court premises. The drug addicts frequent
the court premises for drugs which are easily available
there. Floating prostitutes prowling in and around the CMM
court building are another nuisance pestering the
passers-by, sources said.
Another source said, the police are patronising the
criminals in exchange for money on daily basis. The
criminals and the police patronising them are very much
known to every trader and businessman in the area. Anybody
willing to do the businesses here will have to pay daily
or monthly basis token money to the police and the
terrorists, he added.
When asked about the matter, the officer-in-charge of
Kotwali police station said "I am aware of it. Realising
the incidents, security measures have already been
intensified. A patrol team of police led by a
sub-inspector are conducting drive against the criminal
activities and taking legal action against criminal and
anti-social activists."
Cell
phone users being harassed by unknown callers
Fahmida Rahman Karobi
Cellular phone users are being embarrassed and issued
threats by a section of criminals and dishonest people in
different times but the government or the mobile phone
operators are yet to take any initiative to stop such
nuisance activities.
"It is disgusting and painful when an unidentified person
makes a phone call to us and starts talking indecently.
Even many persons writing indecent remarks send short
message service (SMS) to us. Not only that, I have also to
face such embarrassing situation, like us many people
especially young ladies are the worst sufferers. I along
with some friends informed the police and other concerned
authorities but we did not get any positive reply from
them," a group students of Dhaka University told this
correspondent.
While talking to The Bangladesh Today GrameenPhone CEO
Anders Jension expressing grave concern said the authority
of GrameenPhone were not aware about the issue. "To
prevent such nuisance activities, we will take immediate
step regarding the issue as we have taken it seriously,"
he added.
Apart from this, issuing life threat over cell phones,
criminals and extortionists are continuously demanding
toll from various persons and organizations.
Besides, the members of organized gang are abducting
school boys and girls from different school gates of the
capital and demanding huge amount of money from their
guardians using cell phones.
On the other hand, the political leaders and businessmen,
now behind bars are using cell phones and contacting with
their respective numbers violating the jail code under the
very nose of authority.
Noticing these sorts of crime, Dhaka Metropolitan Police
have already formed a cyber-crime monitoring cell and
several teams of different law enforcing agencies are
conducting drive against the crimes, Masudur Rahman, an
official of detective branch of police told The Bangladesh
Today.
Experts prefer under ground mining for coal excavation
Staff Correspondent
On the basis of geographical context of Bangladesh,
experts on Wednesday preferred to excavate under ground
coal mine instead of open pit coal mine in a bid to save
the environment and cultivable land.
Energy Secretary Mohammad Mohsin, Petrobangla Chairman
Jalal Ahmed, UNDP Coordinator for Energy and Poverty
Nandita Mungia and teachers and students of BUET took part
in the discussion on 'sustainable energy development in
Bangladesh with coal as alternative source of energy".
Ajaoy Kumar Ghose, Professor Indian School of Mines
presented a key note paper.
They said Bangladesh needs a soundly based enduring
national energy policy where coal will have a dominant
role to play. "If we want to explore coal mine, we will
have to attach importance in what way we can use our
natural resources. So we need a proper coal policy. On the
other hand, we should give priority of our environment and
cultivable land before exploring coal mine. If we excavate
under ground instead of open pit coal mine, it would not
have impact on our environment and cultivable land," they
said.
They made some recommendations which are: the Government
has to initiate steps for speedy acquisition of land,
launch advertisement advocacy for assuaging the sentiments
of project-affected people so that development and
execution of the project could be facilitated.
An appropriate time-frame for the actions as above has to
be fixed up so that accelerated coal development in
Bangladesh could be translated into reality.
In view of the seriousness of energy crisis looming large
on the horizon, the time for diagnosis and debate is over
and the time to act is now.
Unless Bangladesh strikes some rich gas deposits in the
near future, sustainable energy development and economic
growth could be in serious jeopardy. Coal discoveries in
the northwest offer a window of opportunity, if only these
deposits can be developed in an accelerated manner. The
way forward however is strewn with several road blocks, of
which the hydro-geological issues and resistance from
civil society, merit close review.
Insects in WASA water
Staff Correspondent
Water is the synonym of
life, but to the residents of different areas of the city,
particularly Shantinagar, water supplied by WASA appears
to be a dangerous threat to health, if not life.
Water crisis is acute in the area due to irregular supply,
and worse still the inadequate quantity of water made
available by WASA is full of worms and insects, clay, dirt
and stink resulting possibly from a mix-up of the
underground water and sewerage lines.
The WASA water supplied to this area is so contaminated
that it can not be used for drinking purpose even after
boiling. Complains lodged repeatedly in this regard with
the WASA office has gone totally unheeded and the
residents of Shantinagar area are suffering terribly for
want of safe and adequate water.
In the capital city generally not more than 45 percent of
the dwellers have access to safe water because only 1400
million liters of water are supplied by WASA as against
the demand for 2000 million liters leaving a deficit of
600 million liters daily. In the summer season, the water
crisis has taken a serious turn due to frequent load
shedding that hampers pumping of water.
The people in this area are hard hit as the supply of
water is inadequate, on the one hand and, and on the
other, the water supplied in scanty quantity too is
contaminated. They have demanded urgent steps by the
authorities to ensure smooth and safe water supply to
Shantinagar as well as other areas of the capital.
Radha Romon Saha passes away
A Correspiondent, Faridpur
Radha Romon Saha, on of the revolutionist leaders of
British Birodhi Andolon, previously, a teacher of Boalmari
Jorge Academy, President of Thakurpur Government. Primary
School died on April 29, 2008, at his village residence of
Thakurpur village under Boalmari thana in Faridpur
district. He was 100.
The deceased left behind five sons, three daughters and a
host of relatives to mourn his death.
Boalmari Jorge academy, Mayna AC Bosh Institute, Augnibina
Shilpi Sangho and different organizations pined for his
death and sent message of condolence to the grieved
family.
Crime
Bandar
thana OC suspended
UNB, Narayanganj
Officer-in-Charge of Bandar thana was suspended
Wednesday, but the reason was not immediately known.
Police Super Sibgatullah confirmed the suspension of OC
Jamiruddin but could not say the reason.
Informed sources said Jamiruddin recently accompanied
with a relative and expatriated teacher of US university
to the residence of Awami League acting president Zillur
Rahman in Dhaka.
Two killed, one injured in incidents
UNB, Kishoreganj
Snatchers stabbed a young man to death while injured
another at Jaira Banda in Nikli upazila Tuesday night.
Locals said muggers waylaid Nurul Haq, 24, and Murshid,
30, and tried to snatched their valuables when they were
going to Noapara from Dampara in Nikli upazila by
rickshaw at about 9:00 pm
Being resisted by them, the snatcher stabbed Nurul Haq
and Murshid and took away cash and mobile phone sets
from them leaving Nurul Haq dead on the spot.
Murshid was released from the hospital after giving him
first aid. A case was filed.
UNB from Jhenidah adds: A young man was chopped to death
by assailants at Sripur village in Shailakupa upazila
here Tuesday night.
The deceased was identified as Abdul Jalil, son of
Khelafat Hossain of the village.
Local people said a gang of terrorists abducted Jalil
from his house at about 11:30 pm. They took him to a
paddy field and stabbed him to death.
On information, police recovered the body and sent it to
the hospital morgue for autopsy.
Police suspected that Jalil was killed following a
previous enmity.
A case was filed.
UP chairman held
UNB, Gopalganj
Police arrested Nijra Union Parishad chairman Hafizur
Rahman from his house in sadar upazila on Tuesday in
connection with misappropriation of VGF rice.
Being informed by local people police recovered 18 bags
of VGF rice from the house of woman UP member Shahnaj,
360 bags from the late UP chairman Keramt Minar's house
and 146 bags from the houses of some other villagers
Thursday night. Each of those bags contained 15 kgs of
rice.
Besides, they also recovered 11 sacks of rice each
containing 50kg and one sack of 100kg rice.
Suspecting UP chairman Mukul's involvement with the
misappropriation of the rice police arrested him at dead
of night. A case was filed.
One gets life for murdering wife
BSS, Barisal
A court here Tuesday sentenced one person to life term
Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) for killing his wife.
District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Shahidullah handed
over the verdict in absence of the convict Altaf Hossain
Hawlader.
The judge also fined the convict Taka 50,000, in
default, to suffer two years more in jail.
The prosecution story, in brief, is that on April 24,
2004 Altaf Hossain, residence of Rokeya Azim road at
Amanatganj in the city, killed his wife Rashida Begum,
mother of two children.
Rashida's brother Fazlul Huq filed a case with local
police station in this connection.
The police, after investigation, submitted the charge
sheet.
The judge after examining all the relevant documents and
witnesses found the person guilty of the charges and
announced the verdict.
Two netted
with US $
UNB, Thakurgaon
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members arrested two people
and seized several hundred US dollars from their
possession at Gareya village in Sadar upazila on
Tuesday.
The arrested were identified as Farhad, 35, of the area
and Kamal, 45, of nearby Dandapal village in Debiganj
upazila. They both were engaged in illegal dollar
business since long.
Acting on a tip-off, a RAB team in disguise of buyers
went to them in the evening and caught them along with
the dollars.
Later, they were handed over to police. A case was
filed.
5 suspected
criminals held; phensidyl, scrap materials seized
BSS, Rajshahi
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-5, in different
anticrime drives, picked up five suspected criminals
including three drug-peddlers and seized phensidyl and
scrap materials from different areas in three northern
districts during the last 24 hours till on Tuesday
afternoon, RAB sources here said.
They rounded up the drug-peddlers identified as Younus
Ali, 50, Al Amin Bhuiyan, 55, and Shahjahan Bhuiyan, 28,
and seized 61 bottles and 27 liters of loose phensidyl
during three separate drives at different places in
Rajshahi and Dinajpur districts.
In another raid conducted at a shopping mall in Rangpur
town, another RAB team rounded two snatchers identified
as Humayun Khan, 26, and Sahed Bappi, 20, with a
snatched mobile phone set red-handed.
They also seized 70 kilograms of copper and brass scrap
materials, which were supposed to be smuggled out to
India, during a sudden raid at Shahmukhdum airport area
in the city. However, none could be arrested in this
connection.
After recording separate cases in these connections the
arrested persons and the seized goods were handed over
to the concerned police stations.
Relief rice recovered
BSS, Gopalganj
The joint forces recovered 158 sacks of rice meant for
distribution as relief and arrested a union parishad
chairman Badruddoza Mina Mukul from Sadar upazila in the
district on Monday. Police sources said, acting on a
tip-off, a team of the joint forces raided Mollakandi
and Jangal villages under Nijra union and recovered the
rice from vegetable fields adjacent to the house of UP
member Shahnaz Parvin and shops of different
businessmen. A case was filed with sadar thana in this
connection.
8 criminals arrested, foreign currency seized
BSS, Rangpur
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested allegedly eight
criminals including drug traffickers and seized
contraband drugs and US dollars from different places in
Rangpur, Dinajpur and Bogra districts during the past 24
hours till this noon.
Official sources said, acting on secret information, a
RAB team from Rangpur camp arrested two drug traffickers
and seized two kg ganja tied with their bodies from
Modern Mour in the city under Sadar upazila of Rangpur.
They were identified as Ali Hossain, 42, and Abdur
Rahman, 42 of village Ashkarnagar in Nageswari upazila
of Kurigram district. The RAB arrested two members of an
organised gang of cheats, who were engaged in cheating
common people in the name of selling US dollars in
greater Dinajpur and Rangpur districts for long time,
and seized US$ 421 from their possessions from Paschim
Rangalipara in Birganj upazila of Dinajpur.
They were identified as: Appel, 33, son of late Nazrul
Islam of village Dondapaul in Debiganj upazila of
Panchagarh and Kamal Uddin, 47, son of late Mokshed Ali
of village Jhaljholi in Birganj upazila of Dinajpur
districts.
Another team of the elite force from Rangpur camp seized
a precious touchstone idol of Lord Krishna from the
Cluster Village in Fulbari upazila of Dinajpur during
the period.
The RAB members of Bogra camp arrested alleged drug
trafficker Abul Quasem alias Afsar, 50, son of late
Kochim Uddin of Zia Nagar area in Dupchanchia upazila of
Bogra from Sonarapara area there and seized 31 bottles
contraband phensidyl from his possession.
Another team led by Captain Mahbub from Bogra RAB camp
raided Messer's Sultan Filling Station in Dhunot upazila
town of Bogra last night and arrested three employees of
the filling station from the spot for producing and
selling fake and adulterated petrol.
During interrogation by RAB, arrested Akbar Ali, 40,
Jewell, 32, and Abdus Sattar Lebu, 30, admitted their
involvement in producing adulterated and fake petrol by
mixing kerosene and a special type of powder with
petrol. After filing separate cases in these
connections, the RAB handed over the arrested persons
and seized goods to the respective police stations
today, the sources said.
One arrested, phensidyl
recovered
BSS, Barisal
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested one
person with 20 bottles of phensidyl from Raipur in
Nalchiti upazila of Jhalakathi district on Tuesday.
The arrested person was identified as Lokman Biswas, 40,
son of Sadar Ali Biswas of Samta village under Sharsha
upazila in Jessore district.
RAB sources said, acting on a tip off, a team of the
force arrested Lokman, who was carrying the contraband
drug in a peculiar manner, concealing inside jackfruits
and coconuts.
Two hijackers, one drug peddler held
BSS, Brahmanbaria
Police arrested two notorious hijackers and one drug
peddler with 10 bottles of phensidyl in the district on
Monday.
The hijackers, who were arrested from Bou Bazaar
intersection of Dakkhin Mourail with daggers, are Ful
Mia, 23, son of Syed Mia of Uttar Mourail and Lokman
Mia, 30, son of late Kabir Mia of Kashtopara, police
sources said. In a separate drive, the police arrested
one Kawsar Prokash Babul, 28, with 10 bottles of
phensidyl, the sources said.
Editorial
British High Commissioner's Press
Conference
The
British High Commissioner has dropped a virtual bomb-shell by
commenting, at a press conference on 28 April 2008, that
Britain would not support any military rule. Whether he was
stating a general principal or referring specifically to
Bangladesh is not very clear but the statement came at a time
of increasing uncertainty about the stalled parliamentary
elections being held this year or being held at all in the
foreseeable future.
This comment by the British High Commissioner, coming as it
did, a few days after the American Ambassador's statements
that it is difficult to hold elections in an Emergency, has
got the media, the politicians and the civil society worried
and speculating about the imports of such comments. These
worries and speculations are not ill-placed given the fact
that the Emergency was preceded by similar comments by British
and US diplomats. Additionally, people in Bangladesh have got
inured to foreign interference in our politics and economy.
Consequently, when diplomatic representatives of countries
such as US and UK hold press conferences, reporters make it a
point to ask them questions about Bangladeshi politics which
the diplomats answer with an alacrity, uncommon in diplomacy
anywhere else in the world except in Bangladesh.
Coming to the case of Britain not supporting military rule, we
would like to point out that the High Commissioner's
contentions belies facts and realities because countries like
Britain and USA have always been supporting military rules in
diverse parts of the world as long as it suits their interests
and serves their purposes; they back out of such support only
when it leads to such internal conflict, chaos and disorder
that the very existence of the State, in question, is in
jeopardy and along with that British and US interests are in
the process of being altogether disregarded. The example of
Pakistan readily comes to mind here.
As far as Bangladesh is concerned, neither the British nor the
US had ever objected to more than 15 years of military or
quasi-military rule in Bangladesh. As a matter of fact, both
UK and USA were the key players in bringing about this
military-backed Emergency and now that things are moving
towards conflict and confrontation between the Emergency
Government, on the one hand and the people and political
parties, on the other, UK and USA have thought it prudent to
distance themselves from this military-backed government. What
we, Bangladeshis have to understand is that neither Britain
nor USA, or for that matter any other foreign power, is overly
concerned about either democracy or the welfare of the people
of this Country; all they are interested in, is their economic
and geo-strategic interests and any government which is
willing and able to endorse such interests, will receive
enthusiastic support from UK, USA and other foreign powers.
Given our recent experiences, prior to and during the
Emergency, we may take the British High Commissioner's
comments as an advance notice that a military takeover is in
the cards, if not imminent. The warning "shot across the bow"
about Britain not supporting any military rule, is a reminder
to the military and its civilian supporters, that in the
eventuality of a military takeover, British and US interests
be "damn-well" protected otherwise the military might find
itself subject to sanctions and diplomatic isolation, on
principal.
May Day
The
historic May Day is being observed across the world today with
a renewed pledge by the working class to strengthen their
unity and solidarity and uphold their right causes. With the
rest of the world the day is being celebrated in Bangladesh as
well in a befitting manner, but in a limited scale . Today is
an official holiday.
May Day is a celebration of the social and economic
achievements of the international labour movement. May Day
commonly sees organized street demonstrations by millions of
working people and their labour unions throughout the world -
though, rarely in the United States and Canada. The day is
celebrated every year in commemoration of the Haymarket Riot
in Chicago on first May 1886 when a number of workers,
demonstrating for an eight- hour working time and other rights
, were killed in police firing. The bloodbath triggered a
labour movement worldwide and subsequently May Day was
formally recognized as an annual event at the International's
second congress in 1891. The day is observed as a public
holiday almost all over the world and marked by huge street
rallies and demonstrations led by workers and their trade
unions, expressing unity and solidarity of the world's working
people.
The May Day is being celebrated in Bangladesh this year under
the lingering shadow of a serious economic stagnation marked
by skyrocketing prices of essentials and, worse still, a
severe food crisis. The middle class, the lower middle class,
the poor and the country's labour force, in particular, are
the worst victims of this alarming situation. A grim and
gloomy prospect and a very tough time seemingly lie ahead of
the working class as an end to the economic crisis looks a
long way off. Yet, let us hope that the spirit of the great
May Day will provide inspiration and strength for the working
class to withstand the misfortunes and sufferings and work
sincerely in factories, agricultural fields and elsewhere to
sustain the onslaught of the hostile economic environment and
ensure a better future for themselves and the nation.
We convey our best wishes to the country's labour force on
this historic occasion. Long live the spirit of the May Day.
Analysis
May Day: “All power to the workers!”
It is high time that the government ensured the
labor rights for the ultimate benefit of both the workers and
the employers.
Mohammad Shahidul Islam
The
International Congress of Paris [ICP] adopted May 1 as the
International Socialist holiday in 1889, and each following
year, in all civilized country, workingmen and women steer to
demonstrate on that day to demand from a capitalist world
greater political and industrial freedom and better standard
of living.
It was conjured principally as an international demand for an
8-hour day, for social legislation, for equal labor right for
men and women, and as a protest against militarism and war of
intolerable exploitation. In most countries May Day is
celebrated as a workers' holiday.
On this day the class conscious working men and women assert,
if only for a day, their freedom and solidarity from
capitalist domination. And by this hallmark it signifies to
them the great international brotherhood of the working-class,
fighting for liberation from capitalist oppression. Then came
the First World War, and May 1 became a day of sadness.
The observance of the day in Bangladesh is essentially
important and mostly goes mocking of that fortitude, with the
deep-seated rights of the citizens poised under a state of
emergency. There is no rebuffing the fact that the reality for
workers in Bangladesh remains largely similar to that of the
Chicago laborers, who took to the streets for an eight-hour
working day exactly 122 years ago. Tens of millions of workers
in the formal and informal sectors of the country work longer
hours for meager payments.
Conversely, the Chicago laborers at least had the freedom and
right to come together and protest against the exploitation
they had been subjected to. As of now, the workers in
Bangladesh do not even have that freedom. Therefore, the very
goal of whatever programs that we will have to showcase the
day should be to make the case for quick withdrawal of the
state of emergency and restitution of the fundamental rights
of the general people.
It is in Bangladesh more than in any other place that May Day
prolongs to have huge connotation. To be sure, as the country
has gone through the various ways, some of them rather
asymmetrical, in its rally towards industrialization, the memo
of May Day has progressively come to attain a fresh and more
effective meaning for all of us
The painful efforts of workers and farmers of Bangladesh have
been going on, in spite of all the deafening proclamations
that have been made and go on to be made a propos how
developed a society we have been advocating. There are the
facts and figures which continue to report to us what needs to
be worked out. The number of the poor has not grown less. If
anything, it has only been going up. The mass departure of
young people, men as well as women, from the villages to the
towns and cities of the country is testimony, if testimonies
were needed, of the deficiency the broad masses are yet
subject to in this land. And in the urban areas, the laborious
struggle which the poor -we can consider the garments workers,
rickshaw pullers and some other helpers here - have
incessantly put up is an ideal pointer of how far we are
behind other nations in the issue of guaranteeing a welfare
society for the nation.
In general views, thus, May Day is about the establishment of
a civilized, caring, educated society where the self-esteem of
the individual matters. The self-esteem of course comes
through giving the individual the opportunities promised him
or her by the state. In Bangladesh, it is the serious
responsibility of the state to care for all its citizens well.
A breakdown to do that can only create, often, those
circumstances of poverty and corruption that have recurrently
limited our capacity to do better to our fellow countrymen.
The truth for Bangladeshi workers today, conversely, largely
remains similar to that of the Chicago laborers 122 years ago,
although the government as well as political parties observe
the day in pomp; but with the spirit missing. An authentic
report shows that more than tens of millions of workers in the
country's formal and informal industrial sectors are paid at a
rate which is one of the lowest in the world.
More to the point, the private sector workers, particularly
the garment workers, mostly women, are reportedly made to
work, at times, 12 hours a day and seven days a week. And as
for working condition, it is one of the worst in the world -
frequent garment's wages riots being the burning example. Our
governments are never seen serious about addressing the
issues, which is a clear manifestation of their indifference
to the welfare of the toiling laborers. Under these political
and economic circumstances, we can hardly expect the healthy
growth of a resourceful labor force, which is a key to the
healthy growth of national economy principally in the
competitive open market economy of the globe.
The 8-hour day has become the standard of capitalist
production; in every capitalist country universal labor right
is either realized or on the eve of its realization. On the
other hand, the violation of international labor law under
capitalism has become a chimera, permanent peace an empty
phrase, a dream that will not and cannot be fulfilled so long
as capitalism with its greed for territories, markets and
spheres of influence continues to exist.
It is because of these facts that the class-conscious workers,
leaving to the labor lieutenants of the capitalist class the
stage-management of 8-hour day celebrations, demonstrate on
May Day for revolution, and that on May 1 there rings round
the world the timeless slogan: "All power to the workers!" It
is high time that the government ensured the labor rights for
the ultimate benefit of both the workers and the employers,
which would sooner or later result in a considerable economic
advancement of the whole country.
(Mohammad Shahidul Islam is a Tourism Worker. Email:
mohd-s-islam@myway.com)
Restoring Democracy in Bangladesh
There is an urgent need for all sides to negotiate a peaceful
and sustainable return to democracy.
Bangladesh
is under military rule again for the third time in as many
decades. Although the caretaker government (CTG) insists its
plans to stamp out corruption and hold general elections by
December 2008 are on track, its achievements have been patchy,
and relations with the major political parties are
acrimonious. Efforts to sideline the two prime ministers of
the post-1990 democratic period have faltered (though both are
in jail), and the government has become bogged down in its
attempts to clean up corruption and reshape democratic
politics. Even if elections are held on schedule, there are no
guarantee reforms will be sustainable. If they are delayed,
the risk of confrontation between the parties and the
army-backed government will grow. There is an urgent need for
all sides to negotiate a peaceful and sustainable return to
democracy.
The army's intervention on 11 January 2007 was widely welcomed
for preventing a slide into extensive violence. Activists of
the opposition Awami League had stepped up street protests
against efforts by the outgoing Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led
government to rig elections. Clashes had led to some 50 deaths
by the end of 2006, and there was no compromise in sight. The
CTG, headed by technocrats but controlled by the military,
quickly ended street violence and raised hopes of political
change, promising to tackle the corruption, nepotism and
infighting that had crippled fifteen years of elected
governments. It used wide-ranging emergency powers and argued
that the exceptional situation, not envisaged by the
constitution, legitimized its extended tenure and ambitious
program. Its goals attracted support from key international
backers.
Some progress is evident. The creation of a new electoral
roll, with photographic voter identity cards, is underway; the
government has begun to separate the judiciary from the
executive; and it has reconstituted the Election and Public
Service Commissions - essential preliminaries to more
extensive reforms of the electoral system and the bureaucracy.
Its anti-corruption drive has targeted powerful politicians
and their protégés. Debilitating hartals (general strikes)
that sapped business confidence and disrupted daily life have
been banned.
However, despite some continued support from civil society and
the international community, the government's honeymoon is
over. There is now fear the government is undermining the very
democratic institutions it set out to rescue. In its first
year in power, the government made some 440,000 arrests
ostensibly linked to its anti-corruption drive, creating a
climate of fear in the country. Its poor handling of the
economy and natural disasters has aggravated underlying
skepticism over its real intentions. The continued states of
emergency and efforts to undermine popular politicians and
split their parties have left many questioning its sincerity.
Former Prime Ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina weathered
clumsy attempts to force them into exile. They are both under
detention facing corruption charges but still dominate their
parties, and their popularity may get a boost if their
prosecutions are seen as unfair.
The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), the
military intelligence agency and the engine of military
government, has been careful to avoid being front and centre,
but serving and retired officers have been placed in critical
positions, from the Election Commission to the National
Coordination Committee heading the anti-corruption drive.
Senior officers assert that the army has no desire to get its
hands dirty and would rather stay out of politics altogether.
They remember the messy collapse of past military regimes and
are concerned about their and their army's international
reputation and peacekeeping role. Still, there have been
persistent signals that the army would like to
institutionalize a degree of continuing influence after
elections. In any event, it will have difficulty extricating
itself from politics with its prestige intact, unless it can
negotiate a graceful exit strategy with the parties.
There is an immediate need for dialogue between the government
and the main parties. Any viable roadmap for elections and a
smooth return to democracy has to be agreed by all major
actors. The first step must be to address mistrust between the
two sides, as well as the acrimonious relations between the
Awami League and BNP. Ideally, a new consensus would not only
cover how to hold elections but also develop commitments on
post-election behavior (including sustaining institutional
reforms and anti-corruption measures) and democratic
functioning (including safeguarding human rights and political
pluralism).
Failure to negotiate would invite confrontation. Student
unrest in August 2007 showed how quickly frustration with
military rule can boil over. Two floods, a devastating cyclone
and rising food prices have left many Bangladeshis hungry and
the CTG struggling to assert that the politicians it
imprisoned on corruption charges would be equally unable to
handle the food crisis. If the government cannot bring the
politicians along to help it cope with soaring food prices,
the parties are likely to channel popular discontent into
street protests. This would carry the immediate risk of
violent clashes; it would also increase the advantage militant
Islamists are already quietly taking from the situation.
International actors who have too placidly accepted the
government's rationale and supported its agenda should
recognize that the priority is to maintain pressure for timely
and credible elections. They should also be prepared to act as
a possible guarantor to facilitate a delicate transfer of
power and to support a longer-term program of sustainable
reforms to put the country's democracy back on track.
RECOMMENDATIONS
To the Caretaker Government (CTG) and the Military:
1. Lift the state of emergency, including complete
cancellation of the Emergency Power Rules (EPR), at least two
months ahead of any elections to create conditions conducive
for free and fair contests.
2. Carry out the following steps ahead of elections:
(a) Immediately rescind the emergency ban on all political
party activity and freedom of association, as well as press
restrictions, and repeal Section 16(2) of the EPR granting
immunity from prosecution to the Joint Forces;
(b) Continue good faith efforts to adhere to the election
roadmap for parliamentary elections by the end of 2008 at the
latest, by setting a specific election date and keeping in
mind Islamic holidays to ensure full participation;
(c) Begin discussions immediately with the main political
parties on core political issues not addressed in talks
between those parties and the Election Commission;
(d) Refrain from using coercive measures to induce and
expedite political party reforms and allow sufficient time for
party leaders to build support for internal reforms at all
levels; and
(e) Desist from anti-corruption arrests without warrants or
sufficient evidence.
3. Disavow the "minus two" policy as part of the political
reform process, and in regard to the trials of Sheikh Hasina
and Khaleda Zia:
(a) Refrain from interfering and allow them to be held in open
court;
(b) Conduct them before the general election;
(c) Ensure they are speedy and verdicts are delivered in time
for the accused to stand for late 2008 parliamentary election
if found innocent; and
(d) Respect the High Court or High Court of Appeal's verdicts.
4. Identify and encourage non-partisan national observers to
monitor all elections outlined in the roadmap and invite
international election observation missions to monitor
elections, in consultation with the parties.
To the Parties:
5. Demonstrate a willingness to reciprocate goodwill gestures
by the CTG (such as removal of the ban on party activity) by
promoting internal party democracy, rejecting those convicted
in corruption cases as candidates and forging consensus on an
election code of conduct.
6. Promote internal party democracy by:
(a) Holding regular elections for all leadership posts at all
party levels;
(b) Rewarding committed and effective party workers with
greater opportunities to rise through the ranks, including
running for office, gaining access to funds and other
resources for their candidacies and winning promotions to
important committees;
(c) Selecting candidates to stand for elections who enjoy the
confidence of their local party workers; and
(d) Determining a quota, in consultation with the Election
Commission, for ensuring women's representation at all levels.
7. Do not boycott the elections, and if they are deemed free
and fair by credible observers, accept the results.
To Both the CTG and the Parties:
8. Seek to ensure a smooth transition to democracy and a
credible parliamentary election by December 2008 by entering
into a dialogue, with a clearly defined agenda from the start
that aims broadly to:
(a) Achieve a common minimum commitment on sustaining
institutional reforms such as the independence of the
judiciary, maintaining a non-partisan public service
commission and refraining from political interference in
police and army promotions and assignments;
(b) Agree on how to ratify actions of the CTG, whether by
approving ordinances (which might mean amending current
ordinances to make them more acceptable), by a constitutional
amendment or by other means;
(c) Ensure a smooth transfer of power after elections, with
safeguards against retaliatory prosecutions, demotions or
transfers of CTG officials and military officers for
administering routine ministerial, government and security
functions and formulating and implementing institutional
reforms such as the Anti-Corruption Commission, Public Service
Commission, judicial and other reforms necessary for
strengthening democratic functioning, but without foregoing
the state's responsibility under domestic and international
law to investigate and prosecute civilian and military
officials who have ordered, condoned or directly participated
in human rights abuses to enforce the state of emergency;
(d) Consider mechanisms for institutionalizing pluralism and
empowering opposition voices in parliament such as creating a
bicameral legislature; repealing Article 70 of the
constitution, which imposes rigid party discipline in the
parliament; and ensuring meaningful bipartisan participation
in parliamentary committees and working groups; and
(e) Intensify efforts by the next government to: reduce space
for radicalism, cooperate in dismantling terrorist groups and
tackle any linkages between violent extremists and state
institutions, political parties and politicians, and members
of the business community, as well as between violent
extremists and organized crime or other sources of domestic
and international funding.
9. Include in any agreement a common reiteration of commitment
to all fundamental rights, including concrete promises for
action in areas such as extrajudicial killings, torture and
illegal detention, and protection of minority rights, women's
rights and refugee rights.
10. Hold, upon conclusion of the talks, several roundtable
discussions with a wide range of civil society organizations
in the six division capitals so as to forge a broader national
charter for post-election governance and respect for human
rights.
To the International Community, especially Australia,
Canada, the European Union, Germany, India, Japan, the UK, UN
and U.S.:
11. Maintain pressure on the CTG to hold timely and credible
elections, as well as technical support for the electoral
process and unity in public and private messages to the main
political actors.
12. Consider official visits to Bangladesh in the upcoming
months at foreign minister or under-secretary-general level to
remind the CTG that its legitimacy depends on meeting its
elections target, and the army that its international
reputation rests on assisting a smooth transfer of power and
remaining outside of politics, and ensure that senior visitors
also meet with leaders of the main political parties.
13. Encourage strongly an inclusive dialogue both between the
CTG and parties and among the parties, stand ready to assist
the resumption of talks if they breakdown and give public
support to any agreement reached.
14. Support non-partisan national election monitoring
mechanisms, prepare to send electoral observation missions and
agree on benchmarks for credible elections, which likely
should include:
(a) Participation by all major parties;
(b) Lifting of the state of emergency at least two months
before the elections, including the end of all restrictions on
fundamental rights;
(c) Minimal pre-election violence; and
(d) Minimal candidate and voter intimidation by the CTG, the
military or the parties.
15. Emphasize to the CTG its responsibility to uphold both
domestic and international human rights standards, including
investigating and holding to account past and present human
rights abuses, particularly those committed by the security
services, and be prepared to offer technical and financial
assistance to Bangladesh's human rights commission.
(The above is a Brief on Bangladesh released by the
International Crisis Group on 28 April 2008. Source:
www.crisisgroup.org)
Viewpoints
Heads I win, Tails You Lose
Selfless national leaders do not gamble with
the nation's destiny with a "Heads I win, tails you lose!"
policy.
Ikram
Sehgal
Even
though one felt perturbed about the superior judiciary seeming
to take over the functioning of govt, Nov 3 was not only
unfair and arbitrary, but Pervez Musharraf's last action as
COAS was clearly for his own individual benefit. While the
superior judiciary should be restored en masse, in hindsight
there should have been more flexibility about the time period.
Should the PPP have given way to the overwhelming pressure
exercised by PML (N) to concede blanket reinstatement without
a constitutional package? If PPP had submitted to blackmail
(no other commensurate phrase can describe the PML (N)
threat), they would have been politically dead. The PPP did
right by being polite and not being rushed. Those who do not
break under isolation and torture are certainly not going to
get railroaded by alternate sweet talk and intimidation into
shooting themselves in the foot. Asif Zardari refused to
blink, give him "A plus" for nerves of steel, 8 years in jail
does wonders for building up resilience!
This was a no-win situation for PPP; conversely PML (N) is on
a win-win formula, Mian Nawaz Sharif trying to achieve what he
failed to do at the polls, a decisive veto over the nation's
governance. Besides the "loss of face" for the PPP, the
majority party would then be subject to PML (N) whims and
caprices, accepting diktat on diverse national and regional
issues, major and minor. Other parties and independents would
have stampeded into line behind the perceived political force
actually calling the shots. For a democrat with a sizeable
percentage of the popular vote, Mian Sahib is a closet
dictator used to bulldozing his way. This includes the sacking
of a President, a Chief Justice, an Army Chief and a Naval
Chief, etc all at his own sweet will! Unfortunately he did not
heed what I had written in "Power Play" on Oct 17, 1998 only a
few days after he obtained the "resignation" of Gen Jahangir
Karamat (JK) as the Army Chief and appointed Musharraf as COAS,
to quote " A power play did take place on Oct 7, 1998 and even
though Mian Nawaz Sharif seems to have come out ahead, he
should thank his lucky stars he had Gen Jehangir Karamat to
contend with, a mild man with a gentlemanly demeanor, known
not only for his superior intellect but a firm commitment to
democracy. If the inclination of the politicians to indulge in
power play in the uniformed ranks persists, the PM may well
have sufficient cause to remember JK with a lot of nostalgia,
sooner rather than later", unquote. When he tried the same
thing a year later with Pervez Musharraf, who had made
meticulous preparations for Mian Sahib's predilections, he was
unceremoniously shown the door. The restoration of the judges,
in a fortnight or so, better late than never, may still give
Mian Nawaz Sharif political dividends, with a compliant and
grateful CJ (and restored judiciary) beholden to him.
If the PPP had not called the PML (N) bluff, they would have
been even bigger losers, a constitutional package restraining
a marauding CJ will somewhat restore the balance. Albeit for a
higher purpose, Iftikhar Chaudhry inadvertently politicized
the Supreme Court, while his speeches before the various Bars
were apolitical, taking part in huge processions was
political. Hairsplitting by Senator Aitzaz Ahsan about this
being political or not is simply sleight of hand, this man of
conscience should know better. Without CJ's campaign, the
nearly 60 PCO-2 affected judges, deserving restoration many
times over, would remain in the wilderness, sharing the same
fate accorded Chief Justice Saeeduzaman Siddiqui and others
sent into the cold by PCO-1 by enacted by Pervez Musharraf on
Jan 30, 2000.
After former CJ's first comeback one did get a perception of
bias based on resentment, his consequent actions were raison
d'etre for the second downfall. The manner is which he was
removed (and mistreated) was certainly "casus belli" for his
pursuing the adage, "all's fair in love and war". All hell
could break loose if he strikes down the NRO (which would not
be a bad thing) or moves to strike down Musharraf's
Presidency. Given that the "minus one" (without the former CJ)
formula cuts no ice with the rank and file of the lawyers'
movement, the compromise is that the CJ will revert to the
original fixed tenure. The constitutional period was 5 years,
the PPP wanted 3 but it seems the compromise will possibly be
for 4 years, the twice born-again CJ staying on till his term
expires in June 2009, i.e. if he is not removed again.
Nevertheless in the year left to him under the "revised"
proposed formula he could well make life legally difficult for
the PPP.
Subject to adjustment of timing, Asif Zardari is not one to
back down from a deal, be it with Musharraf or Mian Nawaz
Sharif. Since Musharraf has delivered on the NRO, impeachment
is not likely. Notwithstanding his rule being mostly benign,
Pervez Musharraf was an absolute monarch, appointing many
undeserving cronies to ambassadorial and lucrative posts in
and public sector companies. While technically he will
continue as President, there are daily attacks in the media
and by all and sundry cutting him down to size on issues right
or wrong. In addition inter-action between the Presidency and
senior military hierarchy is now being routed, as it should
be, (denials notwithstanding) through the Army Chief,
measuring a correct constitutional "distance" between the Army
and the Presidency. This should be demeaning to his inherent
pride and self-respect. While the Pakistan Army will never
allow its former Chief to be humiliated and/or hounded out of
office, if his departure from the Presidency (temporarily in
the Army House as symbolic asserting of the seat of power)
becomes messy, history will not be kind on him. Musharraf has
many real successes to be proud of; these may get buried if he
goes down in flames. Tears will be shed much later but only if
Musharraf makes a graceful exit.
If the PML (N) had left the coalition, PPP would have been
forced into one of three options, all Hobson's Choices, viz
(1) carry on without a majority in the NA (2) form a coalition
with the PML (Q) or (3) call for snap elections. In a charged
political atmosphere, all three alternatives would play into
PML (N) hands. Exiting the coalition in the Punjab as quid pro
quo, the PPP would probably not try and unseat the Provincial
Govt unless PML (N) made any hostile moves in the Centre. If
the PPP made a coalition with PML (Q) in the Punjab and at the
Federal level, the PML (N) would turn to street power in the
Punjab to support the lawyers movement, mobilizing public
opinion on the back of food shortages, electricity breakdowns,
rising prices and unemployment. In the political environment
created out of economic apocalypse, PML (N) could sweep the
polls, is this in fact their strategy? Very cynical perhaps
but deadly effective!
Selfless national leaders do not gamble with the nation's
destiny with a "Heads I win, tails you lose!" policy.
(Ikram Sehgal is an internationally renowned columnist and the
Editor of the Pakistan Defence Journal)
Moving on the road to peace
By and large, it seems only around 20 per cent
of the people on both sides of the border are actually
concerned about what is happening in Kashmir.
Babar Ayaz
A
CROSS-SECTION of the Indian intelligentsia is convinced that
the momentum in the normalisation of relations with Pakistan
is likely to continue even if Musharraf has no role to play in
the country in the coming years.
While Pakistan's misadventure in Kargil has now been all but
forgotten, President Musharraf's bold peace initiative, the
positive statements of PPP leader Asif Zardari and PML-N's
Nawaz Sharif have been quite reassuring for Delhi
opinion-makers.
But this does not mean that the president's distant dream to
exit the political scene after 'solving' the 60-year-old
Kashmir imbroglio is in sight.
Certain previous government insiders had confided that much
progress had been made on the Kashmir issue between the two
governments. According to them, "The differences have been
narrowed and a quasi-independent Kashmir is possible with
joint management by Pakistan and India allowing free movement
and trade between the two parts." The president, they said,
would give this as a parting gift, thanks to his friend George
Bush who is facilitating the move. Most journalists, former
diplomats, retired civil servants and corporate leaders I
talked to on my recent visit to Delhi, however, pointed out
that no major breakthrough should be expected in the coming 18
months, as the election process in the Indian states is
starting from May 2008 and the Lok Sabha elections are due in
spring next year. Veteran journalist and president of Safma
(South Asian Free Media Association) in India, K. Katyal, says
that no political party in India can afford to take a major
decision on the Kashmir issue in the election year. A keen
Pakistan-India relations watcher for the last three decades,
Katyal feels that the normalisation process is not reversible
now and the Musharraf factor will not interrupt the momentum
of the peace process. His view is that the Indian government
has consciously kept itself aloof from the domestic political
conflict between the president and the coalition parties.
But Ashok Jaitly, who has served as the chief secretary of
Indian Kashmir, feels that Musharraf had taken a bold stand by
offering an out-of-the-box solution to the Kashmir issue
despite the failure of the Agra summit. "This opportunity was
not utilised by us," he lamented. Jaitly thinks that India and
Pakistan could not focus on the Kashmir issue in the last one
year because of the domestic political situation in Pakistan
and now the Indian leadership would find it difficult to move
ahead because of its own elections.
A counter-question asked by most Indian intellectuals is
whether the solutions to the Kashmir dispute offered by the
Musharraf regime have the backing of the new military
establishment and the leading coalition government political
parties. My contention was: firstly, the normalisation policy
with India has the support of our ruling classes, which are
now led by a majority of the big industrialists. They have
been pushing for better trade and economic relations since the
nineties. Secondly, the military leadership also realises that
in the post 9/11 world, Kashmir cannot be kept bleeding by
encouraging jihadi organisations to destabilise the
Indian-held state. The time has come to disassociate the
government from these organisations. They have already started
to convince these organisations that the final solution would
have to be negotiated at the table and will have to be
acceptable to the Kashmiris. From his experience in the Valley
as chief secretary, Ashok Jaitly also thinks that fatigue is
setting in as far as the Kashmiri indigenous movement is
concerned and its supporters are looking for a workable
solution.
As far as the major coalition government partners - the PPP
and the PML-N - are concerned, both have a history of moving
forward towards normalisation with India as evident when they
were in power in the 1990s. Ms Bhutto made a breakthrough with
Rajiv Gandhi and Nawaz Sharif's moves got a positive response
from BJP Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Their parties
have now hinted at de-linking the normalisation process from
the resolution of the Kashmir issue.
A CEO of an Indian company raised the question about what
corporate India should do to push forward the peace process
between the two countries. I suggested that it should lobby to
break the inertia in the institutions which are afraid of
change. After all, it was the corporate lobbies in India and
Pakistan which managed to get the land routes opened to
facilitate the export and import of cement and cotton.
By and large, it seems only around 20 per cent of the people
on both sides of the border are actually concerned about what
is happening in Kashmir. The Indian youth, now comprising 60
per cent of the population, is too busy climbing up the social
ladder in the highly competitive market. Areas further south
are bogged down in issues like the Dalits' uprising.
Interestingly, UP Chief Minister Mayawati is spearheading the
trend.
The Maoist upsurge in almost 200 districts of central India,
the immigrants' issue in Assam, and now the number one issue
in all developing countries, the spiralling food prices, are
top Indian concerns, not Kashmir.
The big question is whether 'lateral thinking' can replace the
traditional approach at South Block in Delhi and GHQ in
Rawalpindi. My friend Adit Jain, who runs an 800-member strong
Indian CEOs forum, thinks that the present ruling generation
in India is not ready to change its mindset. He may be right
as the average age at the top government level in India is
over 50 at least. But we have to shrug off the burden of
history. Former Indian Ambassador Fabian, who recently led a
delegation to Pakistan, said it well: "People have moved on
with excellent relations, but the governments on both sides of
the divide have to catch up with them."
The urge to break these shackles of history is being felt in
India as much as it is in Pakistan. The need is to find an
accommodating and creative solution. Decision-makers, please
rise to meet your appointment with history!
Source:www.dawn.com
Comment
Gag reflex
Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath
Chatterjee's long-running exasperation with the flock of
parliamentarians that he minds touches a chord with most of us. He has
tried to reason with, shame, coax and bully MPs into better behaviour,
out of a genuine conviction that parliamentary democracy rests on
accountability. He instituted the telecast of House proceedings to
ensure people can watch their representatives in action, and MPs might
in turn feel the constant scrutiny of the people. The drop in the number
of functioning hours, the inattention and absence of MPs from vital
debates that they themselves raise, and most visibly, the theatrics and
chaos that hijack precious time allotted for legislative discussion are
all issues that plague the Indian Parliament.
And the anguish of the speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari is
well-publicised, with the speaker dramatically demanding the burning of
the rulebook near Mahatma Gandhi's statue, and recently claiming to have
turned the lights off "with shame and regret" in the middle of the din
over the T.R. Baalu issue (it was a power failure). Certainly,
cooperation and respect for parliamentary norms would allow a richer,
more rational debate, instead of personal attacks, stalling proceedings
to register protest, et cetera. But fetishising discipline must not
detract from a thorough engagement with issues that concern people, even
if these debates are not always seemly or decorous. While the speaker
and the chairman have irreproachable intentions in trying to keep the
Question Hour productive, there must also be an acknowledgement of
legitimate discord, and going overboard with the class-monitor act might
also be counterproductive. After all, a Parliament session is not a
ceremonial but the live, contentious arena of our political life.
The opposition's chance to raise hell and demand answers must be
respected. Recently, Hamid Ansari invoked a rarely used rule to evict
AIADMK leader V. Maitreyan from the House, after the clamour over the
T.R. Baalu issue. This sort of rule, while within the bounds of the
chairman's powers, must not be wielded without carefully assessing the
"erring" MP's previous record, whether the disruption was part of a
destructive pattern or a demand justifiable in spirit at least. The
NDA's protest, by putting their fingers on their lips and refusing to
ask questions marked against their names, is a response to this
infantilising of our MPs. In a fullthroated democracy, we cannot expect
a perfect signal to noise ratio.
Source:
www.indianexpress.com
International
Nepal’s Maoists
threaten to go it alone in new government
AFP, Kathmandu
Nepal's ex-rebel Maoists, surprise winners in landmark
polls this month, will lead the new government with or
without the help of the parties they defeated, their
spokesman warned Wednesday.
"We will lead the government as we are the biggest party,"
spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara told AFP on the sidelines
of a Maoist central committee meeting. "If the other
parties don't want to join us in a coalition, we will form
the government by ourselves," Mahara said.
The ultra-leftists-who waged a bloody guerrilla war for a
decade-took 220 seats in a 601-member body that will chart
Nepal's political future-twice the number of seats won by
their nearest rival.
Nepal's constituent assembly is set to abolish the world's
last Hindu monarchy in its first meeting, and then go on
to write a new constitution for the impoverished Himalayan
country sandwiched between China and India.
Established political parties fared dismally in the
elections, despite predictions they would win. The Nepali
Congress garnered just 110 seats and the Communist Party
of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) 103.
Both the defeated parties are currently holding internal
meetings amid deep divisions in their ranks about whether
they should join the Maoists in government.
The April 10 elections were a central plank of a peace
deal struck in 2006 between Nepal's Maoists and mainstream
parties.
The peace pact ended the "people's war" launched in 1996
that left at least 13,000 people dead and destroyed an
already fragile economy.
Meanwhile, Nepal's former rebel Maoists have won 220 of
601 seats in the constituent assembly elections after
final adjustments were made, an election official said
Friday.
"The Maoists have won 120 seats under first past the post
(system) and 100 under proportional representation,"
election official Raju Man Singh Malla told reporters.
The surprise win makes the Maoists the largest party by
far in the assembly that is set to abolish the monarchy
and write a new constitution for the impoverished
Himalayan nation.
The Nepali Congress (NC), their nearest rivals and
election favourites before the poll, won a total of just
110 seats, the election official said.
The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN(UML))--
who before the polls were Nepal's second largest
party-took 103 seats
The Maoists have said they plan to lead the government
that will be formed from the assembly, but have appealed
to their defeated rivals to join them in a coalition
government.
"The parties have been asked to give the names of their
candidates who will represent under the proportional
representation seats within seven days," said Malla.
It will then take three days for the election commission
to formally approve the candidates put forward by the
parties, the official said. Election rules dictate that
once the lists of candidates has been approved, the first
meeting of the constituent assembly has to be held within
three weeks.
India, Iran agree to push for deal on gas pipeline pact
AFP, New Delhi
Iran said Tuesday it hoped to finalise a gas pipeline deal
with fuel-starved India "in the near future", stressing
the much-delayed project was more than just a commercial
agreement.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he held
detailed talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
including "positive" discussions on the petroleum natural
gas project.
"The talks were positive and we hope that in the near
future we will finalise the project," Ahmadinejad,
speaking through an interpreter, told a news conference
after a one-day visit to New Delhi.
He said the 7.5-billion-dollar project, which aims to
transport natural gas from Iranian oilfields to Pakistan
and India, was not just a commercial deal as India and
Iran "shared common roots and had deep historic and
cultural ties."
"This is a very important, very immense project-not only
the pipeline but the very issues involved in this
programme have social, economic and political
ramifications for both our countries," he after visiting
South Asian neighbours Pakistan and Sri Lanka this week.
The project was mooted in 1994 but stalled by disputes
over prices and transit fees.
Indian foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon sounded upbeat
after the meetings. "Its doable," he told reporters in a
separate brief.
"We not only need to treat it as a commercial deal because
it is much more than a commercial deal," the top Indian
diplomat said.
"I think we need to see it also in terms of its potential
as a confidence-building measure between the three
countries and therefore we need to do things, find ways of
assuring supply," he said.
"This is a pipelin |