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Leading News
Hasina to contest
elections
Charge hearing on Mig-29 case again
deferred up to May 11
UNB, Dhaka
Detained former premier and Awami League president Sheikh
Hasina on Sunday disclosed her decision to contest the
next parliamentary elections.
"Dreams of those who are out to disqualify me from
election by awarding me conviction through staging hasty
trial will never come true," she told her lawyers during
consultation in the courtroom.
Hasina, who is facing several corruption cases in the
interim period, said a non-elected government cannot
ensure welfare for the people.
"Only an elected government, which has no alternative, can
solve the people's problems and bring stability in the
country," she said. The former Prime Minister again
reminded that she would be in active politics for the
cause of the people-an assertion that confronts head-on
the so-called minus formula courted in the political
reform drives of recent times.
Referring to signature campaign for her release and
treatment abroad, Hasina said some 2.5 million people
signed on the charter of demand for her freedom within a
fortnight in the capital that reflects confidence in her.
And "I will remain in politics to show my respect to the
will of the people".
She urged her party members to take preparation for the
elections and remain alert so the polls are not
forestalled on any pretext.
She also urged the party leaders and workers to face the
present challenges unitedly with patience.
Hasina said that the election schedule should be announced
immediately for handing over power to an elected
government through free, fair and transparent elections.
About the Mig-29 warplane-purchase case, she said, "If I
am put in the dock for purchasing Mig-29 planes, then the
incumbent government will have to face the same music for
whatever they purchased."
About the denial of her treatment abroad, Hasina said her
health condition is very bad. "Those who are depriving me
of proper treatment will have to pay one day for such
inhuman and cruel gesture," she said.
Meanwhile, the arraignment hearing on the Mig-29 purchase
case was again deferred, up to May 11, as co-accused
former army chief Gen (retd) Mustafizur Rahman, who is on
bail, could not appear in the court for illness. He is
undergoing treatment at the Apollo Hospital.
The Dhaka Divisional Special Judge's court relocated to
parliament complex resumed at 9:45am, two minutes after
Sheikh Hasina was brought before it amid tight security.
Five other co-accused persons, who are also free on bail,
appeared in the court.
No decision yet on army representatives’, Hasina &
Khaleda’s presence in dialogue : Hossain Zillur
UNB, Dhaka
The caretaker government has not yet decided whether or
not army representatives will be present during the
dialogue with political parties, meant for preparing an
agreed agenda for transition from the interim regime.
"We have not yet decided whether or not army personnel or
Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina and BNP chairperson
Khaleda Zia should be present during the dialogue…These
matters are to be discussed at Sunday's Advisory Council
meeting," Commerce Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman told
reporters at the Secretariat.
Awami League presidium-member Suranjit Sengupta and BNP
chairperson's adviser Brig (retd) ASM Hanna Shah have said
army representatives should be present during the formal
dialogue as the army is 'ruling the country from behind
the scenes'.
Hossain Zillur said the government is taking preparation
for opening the dialogue with the parties and it would
start from this month.
LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal said he doesn't know anything
about army presence during the formal dialogue as he said
this was not discussed among them and at the advisory
council meeting.
To another query, he said Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin
Ahmed would address the nation by May 8 in which he will
clear government position on the dialogue.
"The nation will see the developments concerning the
formal dialogue within a couple of days," he told the
media.
Delwar terms emergency unconstitutional and unwarranted
‘Emergency has died automatically after 120 days’
Staff Correspondent
BNP Secretary General Khandoker Delwar Hossain on Sunday
termed the promulgation of the state of emergency on
January 11, 2007 unconstitutional, unwarranted and against
the fundamental rights of the people.
After demanding resignation of the CEC and ECs, the BNP
Secretary General heavily came down on the
military-controlled interim government while briefing
newsmen at his Nam residence yesterday.
"In accordance with the Constitution, the state of
emergency can only be promulgated when there is an
apprehension of external attack on the country or when
there is any situation created inside the country that
might jeopardize the overall security of the country, but
there was no such situation created at that period.
Moreover, the President can announce the emergency taking
countersignature of the Prime Minister, but then there was
no Prime Minister in the country. The Chief Adviser does
not act as the Prime Minister," Delwar said.
"So we think the promulgation of the emergency was
unconstitutional and unwarranted. Those who were behind
promulgating emergency must be answerable to the people of
the country," Delwar observed, adding, "Moreover, a
caretaker government in no way can stay in power more than
their stipulated 90 days timeline and it is against the
spirit of the very conception of the caretaker government.
But this government is staying in power illegally through
passing one law after another using the state of emergency
which is against the ideals of independence and against
civic rights."
The BNP Secretary General launched a blistering attack on
the EC for taking steps to redemarcate the constituencies
saying, "the EC has undertaken such a job ostensibly to
delay the national polls as part of their blue-print to
pull rank on the political parties to form a rubber-stamp
parliament. Nobody asked for it. Moreover, country's all
political parties' have long been opposing the move. Even
after that the EC has started delimiting the
constituencies."
Calling upon the government to take necessary steps for
holding the general elections without any further delay
ensuring the participation of Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh
Hasina, Delwar said of the government, "Enough is enough;
now follow the path of Constitution to safeguard the
country's sovereignty and liberty. No polls without Begum
Khaleda Zia and the BNP will be acceptable in this
country."
In reply to a question, he said, "BNP is going towards
launching a tough movement against this government step by
step."
The grassroots level leaders and activists of BNP across
the country are in favour of launching a tough movement as
early as possible demanding immediate release of their
party chief and former Prime Minister Begum Khleda Zia as
they believe it is impossible to free her through legal
battle under emergency.
Besides, they also think a free, fair and credible
election is not possible under the present Election
Commission as it has lost its neutrality and acceptability
through inviting pro-government reformists' faction and
they believe the EC is implementing an agenda of some
quarters forcing Khaleda Zia led mainstream faction out of
the next parliamentary polls.
Talking to this correspondent, a number of districts and
thana unit's leaders said some so-called BNP leaders in
association with the government is hatching conspiracy
against BNP and its Chairperson and they want a immediate
countrywide movement demanding immediate release of its
Chairperson Khaleda Zia and resignation of CEC and two
other Election Commissioner for holding a free, fair and
acceptable election.
On April 27, after the EC-BNP reformists camp talks,
Khandoker Delwar at a press briefing said there are
pressures from the leaders and activists of the party for
launching movement as they believe that this government
would stage drama by making a arrange parliaments to
legitimize their works.
Talking to this correspondent about the possible movement,
a central BNP leader who refused to be named said, "Before
beginning talks with the BNP, the government should free
the detained chairperson from jail to make the dialogue a
success. In case of failure to release her, BNP will go
for movement to free Khaleda Zia defying the emergency."
Contaminated
water, stale food and hot spell cause viral diseases
Amena Khatun Urmee
Diarrhoea, jaundice, dysentery, respiratory, typhoid
diseases has taken a serious turn across the country
especially in the capital and other metropolitan cities as
many people are infected with the diseases every day due
to drinking of contaminated water, eating stale food and
the simmering heat wave.
"During the summer hundreds of people across the country
usually suffer from these types of diseases due to
scarcity of safe drinking water, Oral Rehydration Saline
(ORS), water purification tablets and other medicine used
to contain water borne diseases. On the other hand,
ongoing draught, polluted water and hot spell have
intensified to spread the diseases" talking to the
Bangladesh Today Nazrul Islam, a physician of a government
hospital said suggesting to get rid of these disease
people should drink purified or boiled water and take
fresh food.
Replying to a query, a physician of Dhaka University
suggested people should be made aware about the hazards of
hot summer and emphasized on drinking water after proper
boiling. "Besides, people will have to drink maximum water
to avert dehydration".
According to reports, the patients infected with these
diseases were rushing to the hospitals and clinics. Many
of them were compelled to return without treatment due to
over crowded situation in the hospitals. In the capital
increasing number of patients with severe diarrhoea are
crowding the city's ICDDR,B hospital everyday, said
Azharul Islam Khan a physician.
"The situation is normal. Usually between the month of
April and May people are infected with diarrhoeal disease
due to scarcity of pure drinking water and hot spell. Of
the patients suffering from diarrhoea, 80 per cent are
aged persons. Besides, a number of children are also being
infected with the disease" the physician told The
Bangladesh Today on Sunday. Over 699 patients were
admitted to the ICDDR'B hospital with severe diarrhoea in
24 hours ending at Sunday.
Myanmar
declares disaster zones after cyclone kills at least 4
AP/UNB, Yangon
Five regions in Myanmar were declared disaster zones
Sunday after Tropical Cyclone Nargis smashed hundreds of
houses, knocked out electricity and left at least four
people dead.
The military-run Myaddy television station said Yangon,
Irrawaddy, Bago, Karen and Mon states were all heavily
damaged by Saturday's cyclone, which packed winds of up to
190 kilometers per hour (120 mph).
Witnesses in Yangon said the storm blew the roofs off
hundreds of houses and cut electricity, while the
state-owned newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported Sunday
that the international airport in Yangon remained shut.
Domestic flights have been diverted to the airport in
Mandalay, it said.
Three people were killed Friday when their boat capsized
as they crossed a Yangon canal, witnesses said, and a
fourth person died Saturday after a tree fell on his
house.
"It's a bad situation. Almost all the houses are smashed.
People are in a terrible situation," said a United Nations
official in Yangon, who requested anonymity because she
was not authorized to speak to the media.
"All the roads are blocked. There is no water. There is no
electricity," she said.
Casualties had been expected after Nargis hit Yangon,
Myanmar's commercial capital, early Saturday.
Neither the U.N. nor the government has provided a death
toll or damage assessment, although a more detailed
picture is expected to emerge after officials reach remote
areas in the coming days. Yangon residents ventured out
Sunday to buy construction materials to repair their
homes. Some people expressed anger that the military-led
government had done little so far to help with the
cleanup.
"Where are all those uniformed people who are always ready
to beat civilians?" said one man, who refused to be
identified for fear of retribution. "They should come out
in full force and help clean up the areas and restore
electricity."
The cyclone hit ahead of a scheduled referendum May 10 on
the country's military-backed draft constitution.
US
Govt donates food aid worth $ 40 mln
Staff
Correspondent
The US Government is going to donate further food aid of
40 million dollars to Bangladesh in a bid to address
current food crisis and price hike.
"The United States Government is donating an additional
$40 million dollars worth of food aid to Bangladesh", said
U.S. Ambassador James F. Moriarty at a press conference
held at the American Club in the city on Sunday.
He said this donation will be given in two phases. Food
worth $30 million will be distributed over a three-year
period among the school children throughout the country
via a school feeding program. The additional $10 million
is emergency food aid.
"Today's $30 million donation shows my government's
commitment to contributing towards Bangladesh's policy of
universal primary education. The program will benefit
approximately 350,000 school children throughout
Bangladesh by providing a 75 gram packet of fortified
biscuits each day to primary age school children. The goal
of the program is to increase primary school enrollment,
attendance and reduce dropout rates," he told reporters.
James F. Moriarty said additional objectives are to
improve the attention span and learning capacity of
students by alleviating short-term hunger.
"We are providing a means and an incentive for children to
stay in school so Bangladesh can prepare the next
generation of leaders. The primary beneficiaries of the
new $10 million emergency food aid will be those still
struggling to recover from the devastating effects of
Cyclone Sidr. This $10 million donation will be used for
direct food distribution, recovery activities through
food-for-work and cash-for-work programs, emergency school
feeding, and feeding pregnant and lactating mothers and
children," the Ambassador said, adding as he discussed
with the Chief Adviser earlier on Sunday, the United
States Government remains committed to assisting the
Government of Bangladesh and its people.
"My message to the people of Bangladesh is a simple one:
We had been here before the cyclone; we were here during
the initial emergency relief phase; and we are here now to
help Bangladesh move forward. The United States Government
has provided more than $5 billion in development
assistance to Bangladesh since independence. Over $2.5
billion of that was in food aid," James F. Moriarty
further said.
He said since October, the U.S. Government has pledged a
total of over $70 million for food aid to Bangladesh, in
addition to the $40 million.
"We continue to look for other ways to assist Bangladesh.
Just last week, the US Government provided $100,000 as an
emergency response to alleviate the suffering of the
people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. This emergency
funding will assist more than 25,000 families in the hill
districts jeopardized by the severe crop damage caused by
the rat infestation. Affected farmers will receive seeds
so they can plant new crops before the onset of the
monsoon," the US Ambassador said.
However, he left the press conference without giving
chance to the reporters to ask any question.
Another
cyclone likely to form in Bay of Bengal this month
BSS, Dhaka
At least one cyclonic storm may brew off one to two
depressions forming in the Bay of Bengal this month, the
met office said on Sunday in its a long-range forecast for
May.
The forecast issued after a meeting of experts at the met
office said the northern and central regions of the
country may experience five to six moderate to severe
nor'westers or thunderstorms. Elsewhere four to five mild
to moderate nor'westers and thunderstorms are likely.
The cyclone in the Bay, if formed would be named Abe, a
Sri Lankan word from a panel of code names for the Bay of
Bengal cyclones as listed by the ESCAP for this year, a
senior meteorologist and cyclone expert Sujit Kumar Dev
Sharma
told BSS.
Back Page
RMG traders set
ablaze two launches at Buriganga
Around 50 injured in police-protester
clash;
Launch owners call indefinite strike
UNB,
Keraniganj, Dhaka
Readymade garment traders
ran riot and set fire to two launches in the Buriganga in
protest against the closure of a river terminal by BIWTA
at Kaliganj in South Keraniganj area on Sunday morning.
Following the incident, Bangladesh Inland Launch Owners
Association, Dhaka, enforced an indefinite strike from 2pm
on Sunday.
Around 50 people, including a dozen cops, were injured as
the shop owners and employees of Zilla Parishad market and
three other adjoining markets here clashed with police
amid the rampage.
Local sources said the protestors came out onto the street
at about 10 am as the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport
Authority (BIWTA) closed the river terminal adjacent to
the markets and opposite to Sadarghat launch terminal in
the capital.
Some 6,000 people-shop owners and employees-of Zilla
Parishad market, Alam Market, Chowdhurynagar market and
Nuru market joined the massive protest.
"As police charged baton on the unruly protestors, they
threw brickbats on the law-enforcers, turning the area
virtually into a battlefield," says a spot account of the
melee.
The agitated traders and their employees set fire to two
double-decker launches-MV Riaz-4 and MV Abhaijan. Later,
firefighters and a Navy team doused the fire at about 1:20
pm.
Police picked up at least four people-former secretary of
Zilla Parishad market committee Abdul Aziz, Obaidul Munshi,
Babul Dhali and Abdus Sattar-from the scene at about
1:30pm. But they were set free at about 4pm as readymade
garment shop owners and employees gheraoed the terminal at
about 2pm to secure their release.
There are around 10,000 shops of readymade garments in the
four markets on the south bank of the river, and they also
went on a wildcat strike demanding restoration of the
terminal.
A case was filed with South Keraniganj thana at about 2pm
against 500 readymade garment shop owners by the launch
owners association seeking compensation.
All the launches were removed from the Sadar ghat terminal
into safety at 2pm amid the mayhem. "No launches will
leave and come to Sadarghat Launch terminal" following the
wildcat strike, the strikers declared.
BIWTA sources said they closed the terminal at Kaliganj
following repeated accidents at the terminal.
Kick-back
trade still persists at the Shikkha Bhaban
M.Waliullah
Kick-back trade in education department still persists as
the teachers from different places of the country
especially in the remote areas were not able to do their
work without satisfying the officials and employees of
Shikkha Bhaban.
The teachers who come from the remote areas are
continuously being harassed if they fail to bribe the
officials and employees of education department. In the
name of various reasons and showing different causes, the
officials and employees don't solve their problems. But if
any teacher is able to satisfy the employees, his or her
work is completed within moments.
Teachers entering office room for educational
institutional work regularly become victims of harassment
by a section of unscrupulous officials and staff who
maintain good relations with cheats and middlemen. Such
misbehavior of Shikkhbaban officials and employees and the
presence of such goons always create a suffocating
atmosphere everyday leading to harassment and suffering of
the teachers.
"Several times earlier, I tried to complete my school's
work through proper channel but I failed. And at last I
had to pay extra money as bribe to an employee of
Shikkhabhaban for my institutional purpose," expressing
agony a teacher of Madripur district told this
correspondent.
A college employee hailing from Lalmonirhat district said
earlier he had paid ten thousands taka to the officials of
Shikkhabhan as bribe for completion of the work of the
institution. "The officials have asked me to bring more
five thousand taka to resolve the problems. As we have to
come from long distance from the capital for our work, we
bribe the officials for quick disposal of the work
otherwise we will have to wait for long," he said.
Another teacher from Kushtia said, "I had submitted papers
and documents for getting time scale to the district
education office before six months. But when I arrived
here I came to know that my papers and documents are lost.
The incumbent officials told me that as a number officials
have been transferred, so they can't say where they have
kept the papers and documents. The incumbent officials
asked me to submit papers and documents again."
Expressing grave resentment a group of teachers said even
the brick, concrete and furniture of education department
want bribe. "When in the face of massive drive against
corruption and irregularities, many government
organisation and its officials and staffs are being
rectified, the officials and employees of Shikkhabhaban
are still taking bribe openly. As the members of teachers'
community it is very shameful for us. If the education
department is not freed from corruption, nation will face
another disaster," they added.
Loan defaults rise to Tk 22,628 cr
Staff Correspondent
Bank loan defaults increased to a large extent over the
last one year as a result of year-long economic recession
in the country. Along with the long-standing list of the
defaulting bank loan borrowers, now many new companies are
in default on the bank loan since January last year,
increasing the amount of default bank loans by about Taka
2,500 crore.
During the period from January to December last, total
unrealised bank loan amounted to Taka 22,628 crore. Till
December in 2006, the amount of default bank loan was Taka
20,098 crore.
According to relevant sources, the on-going unstable
situation in the country's economic sphere is mainly
responsible for the increased default bank loans and the
number of loan defaulters. Due to persisting adverse
economic situation, many new companies, who borrowed money
from different financial institutions, failed to repay
loan instalments timely while others could not renew their
default bank loans.
The state-owned commercial banks are on the top of the
list of banks having huge unrealised loans. About 66
percent default loans were issued by the government banks.
The banks are Sonali Bank Limited, Janata Bank Limited,
Agrani Bank Limited and Rupali Bank. The amount of default
loans issued by the four nationalised banks has already
reached around Taka 15,000 crore. In the year 2006, the
amount of default bank loans disbursed by the state-run
banks stood at Taka 11,504 crore.
According to sources in different state-owned and private
commercial banks, around 13.23 percent of the total
disbursed bank loans has turned into default loans. Of
these, some 29 percent of the total loans issued by Sonali
Bank, Janata Bank, Agrani Bank and Rupali Bank could not
be realised yet.
When contacted, a director of private-owned United
Commercial Bank Limited (UCP) said, the list of defaulting
borrowers are likely to increase further as the national
economy is passing trough a crucial juncture.
Talking to The Bangladesh Today, chairman of a
pharmaceutical industry said, different entrepreneurs are
compelled to borrow money from the banks in a bid to
acquire adequate fund to run their enterprises properly.
They have to make a healthy profit regularly to repay the
bank loans in time. Now they are unable to pay the loan
back timely due to economic recession in the country.
BD expats want to be voters
BSS, Dhaka
Probashi Manab Kalyan
Foundation (PMKF) on Sunday demanded enlisting nearly 60
lakh expatriate Bangladeshis in the country's voter list
on a priority basis.
Chairman of the foundation Dr Mohammad Abdur Rahman told a
news conference that the expatriate Bangladeshis living in
various countries mainly in Malaysia, the UK, Canada, the
UAE, Saudi Arabia and South Korea have been contributing
immensely to the national economy by sending remittance.
Held at Dhaka Reporters Unity, the conference was also
addressed, among others, by vice-chairman Dr Jamal Uddin
Khalifa, executive director Professor Dr Ruhul Amin, and
directors Dr Mohammad Shah Alam, Riad Arman Kabir,
Mohammad Hossain Onik and Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid.
Bangladesh labour laws need to be more time-befitting so
that the workers cannot be harassed abroad, said they.
The main objective of the foundation is to help expatriate
Bangladeshis providing legal aid, social security,
creating congenial investment atmosphere and healthcare
facilities, they observed. The PMKF leaders said the
country can earn more foreign currencies if worthy
expatriates are entitled as very important person (VIP)
and commercial important person (CIP).
Crime
Man commits suicide by jumping under train
UNB, Rajbari
A middle-aged man allegedly committed suicide by
jumping under a running train in Lokoshed area of the
district town on Friday.
The dead was identified Jagadish, 46. Police and
witnesses said Jagadish jumped under the Doulatdia bound
train from Rajbari at about 2:30pm when the train was
passing the area. His body was cut into two pieces.
Later, railway police recovered the body and sent it to
hospital morgue for autopsy.
The reason behind the suicide could not be known
immediately.
A UD case was filed.
Brother kills brother
UNB, Shariatpur
A man was allegedly killed by his brother at Uttar
Bilash Khan village in the municipal area on Sunday.
Local sources said victim Khaleq Sardar, 60, had an
altercation with his younger brother Malek Sardar in the
morning over felling of a tree.
At one stage of altercation, Malek threw a piece of
brick on Khaleq which hit on his head, killing Khaleq on
the spot. Police recovered the body and sent it to
morgue for autopsy. A case was filed with Palang thana.
Missing businessman found dead
UNB, Jhenidah
The decomposed body of a sawmill owner was found at
Kaliganj upazila Sadar three days after he went missing
on Sunday morning.
On information, police recovered the body of Lipon, 32,
from Niltala Chatal in Kaliganj town and sent it to the
Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy at about 8:30 am.
Police said Lipon went out for home from his sawmill on
Thursday night and since then he was missing.
Nine youths engaged in unsocial activities held from
hotel
Our correspondent, Chapainawabganj
Three young girls and six boys were arrested along with
a video camera, mobile phone sets and cassettes, while
engaged in unsocial activities, from Chondrima Hotel in
Chapainawabganj town on Saturday night.
Sources said, acting on secret information, a squad of
sadar thana police conducted a drives in the Chondrima
Hotel and arrested them for conducting unsocial
activities. The arrested were identified as Sumaia, 20,
daughter of Mabed Ali of New Nodbaria village under
Bhangura thana in Pabna district, Bristti, 22, daughter
of Shahidul Master of Bashida Nagar under Benabob thana
in Norshingdi, Ambia, 22, daughter of Abdul Gafur of
Mondola Para under Rajar Hat thana in Kurigram, SM Sabuj,
26, son of late Iqbal Shekh of Dumuria village under
Kalia thana in Narail district, Mamun Majumdar, 23, son
of Motahar Majumdar of Ramchar village under Mulda thana
in Barishal, Nabin Sagar, 27, son of Bajlur Rahman of
Babna under Barguna, Faijuddin Razu, 18, son of Khairul
Islam Tipu of Naya Diyarhi village under Gomostapur
upazila in Chapainawabganj, Joy Gopal Sarkar, 27, son of
Purna Chandra Sarkar and Khorshed Alom, 28, son of Sana
Uddin of Badda in Dhaka district.
A GD was filed with Sadar thana in this connection.
Later, the Chief Judicial Magistrate sent all of them to
jail, police source said.
One killed, 20 injured in clash
UNB, Narsingdi
A young man was killed and 20 others were injured in a
fierce clash between two rival groups at remote
Kacharikandi village in Raipura upazila here Sunday
morning.
The deceased was identified as Jalaluddin, 26, son of
Shahidullah of the village.
Police quoting local people said there was a
longstanding dispute between Ismail Member and
Shahidullah over establishing supremacy in the village.
The clash erupted when supporters of Ismail attacked on
shahidullah's son Jalaluddin near Maniknagar Bazar at
about 8am, leaving him critically injured.
Later, supporters of Shahidullah equipped with lethal
weapons attacked the men of Ismail, triggering the
violent clash that left 20 people from both sides
injured.
Jalaluddin died on the way to hospital while other
injured people were admitted to the local health complex
and clinics. On information, police rushed to the spot
and brought the situation under control.
7-kg heroin seized
UNB, Chapainawabganj
BDR jawans recovered seven kgs of heroin at Hakimpur
border in Sadar upazila Saturday night.
Acting on a secret information that some smugglers along
with heroin have entered into Bangladesh territory from
India, a patrol team of BDR of Hakimpur outpost chased
them at midnight. Sensing danger the smugglers fled away
leaving the contraband drug behind. The recovered heroin
was deposited in BDR battalion headquarters.
Mobile courts realise Tk 1.33 lakh as fine from shops
BSS, Dhaka
Several mobile courts, in separate drives, realized Taka
1,33,200 as fine from different restaurants,
departmental stores and shops in the capital city on
various charges and filed 23 cases against them.
The mobile courts, comprising 10 executive magistrates,
inspectors of Bangladesh Institution of Standard and
Testing (BIST) and health inspectors of Dhaka City
Corporation, conducted separate drives on April 30, a
press release said today.
The mobile courts fined Taka 1,33,200 for adulteration
of food, unhygienic environment and sale of products
devoid of BSTI approval by the restaurants, departmental
stores and shops at Paltan, Sabuzbag, Kotwali, Lalbag,
Newmarket, Dhanmondi and Sutrapur.
Husband kills wife
Our correspondent, Sirajganj
A housewife was killed allegedly by her husband
following a family-feud in Sirajganj on Sunday.
Police, quoting the local people, said Asmat Ali Mandol,
of village Pukurpar under Salanga police station of the
district, physically abused his second wife, Rozuba
Khatoon, daughter of late Moiz Uddin, of Paglapara
village in Taras upazila of the district, at bout 1:30
pm.
Later, he killed her by suffocation and was able to flee
off the scene. After the incident, police having
informed by the locals, recovered the deceased and sent
the body to Sirajganj General Hospital for post mortem
examination. Police, however, recorded a case in this
matter with Salanga police station against Asmat Ali and
his first wife, Shukhitan begum. Md. Ashraf Ali, the
police Officer-in-Charge acknowledged the incident.
Under age marriage foiled in Joypurhat
BSS, Joypurhat
An attempt to early marriage was foiled at Kenduli
Nayapara village under Sadar upazila of the district
yesterday. Police sources said, the marriage of Bulbuli
Khatun, 13, a student of class VII and daughter of
Makbul Hossain, was fixed with one Jahangir Alam, son of
Abdul Gafur of village Kalai Purbapara under Kalai
upazila of the district.
The marriage was about to solemnized at night. Being
informed, the representatives of Sadar upazila
administration and activists of local NGO 'UPAMA' rushed
to the spot with police force and foiled the arrangement
of the marriage.
Body recovered
Our correspondent, Sirajganj
Police recovered a dead body of a youth-weaver in
Sirajganj on Sunday. Police said they recovered the body
from a handloom factory of Shahidul Islam Gani, of
Goprakhi (Moddhayapara) village under Enayetpur police
station at about 5:00 pm.
The deceased was identified as Md. Akter Hossain, 25;
son of Noor Mohammad, of village Rangalia under Kazipur
upazila of the district.
Police, however, recorded an un-natural death (UD) case
in this matter with Enayetpur police station.
Bijoy Krishna Kar, the police Officer-in-Charge, said
that they primarily suspected the incident as suicide,
but even after that, they would send the body to
Sirajganj General Hospital morgue for post mortem
reports.
18 suspected outlaws held
UNB, Natore
Following Friday's gun attack on a police patrol team in
Rajshahi, police in an overnight drive in Naldanga
upazila on Saturday arrested 18 suspected outlaws.
Naldanga police said they conducted drives at different
villages under the police station and arrested the
outlaws suspecting their links with the incident. The
arrested are being questioned, police added.
Editorial
Political Unrests will continue in
Bangladesh
Two recent
reports, one by the International Crisis Group, based in
Brussels (published by The Bangladesh Today, 01 May 2008) and
another by the London based Economic Intelligence Unit (lead
news, The Bangladesh Today, 03 May 2008) reflect what the
world thinks about what is happening in and to Bangladesh.
Both of these reports forecast a period of considerable
political and social uncertainty, unrest, even conflict
throughout 2008 and 2009 because of rising food prices, lack
of employment and income generation, overall poor economic
performance and various actions of the Emergency Government
with negative political, social and economic impacts. Anyone
who reads these reports will have considerable cause for
concern about the future both as an individual and as a
conglomerate, not that the people are already not aware of
what direction this unfortunate Country is heading to but
being largely unempowered to do anything about it, the people
are merely bearing with the situation. How did we come to this
turn of events starting from such an optimistic and hopeful
situation as the declaration of Emergency on 11 January 2007?
We came to our present sad turn of events almost from the day
the Emergency was declared because the Emergency was not the
outcome of a well thought out analysis leading to a well
thought out strategy; the Emergency was the outcome of a
decision by few, very few individuals within the Army
supported by representatives of a couple of foreign powers
based on such nebulous perceptions as "the corrupted
politicians must be sorted out", "the politicians are leading
the Country towards a civil war", "the derailed machinery of
the State must be put on tracks" and "we need our own brand of
democracy".
The Emergency immediately brought to the fore certain
individuals, with diverse motives, backgrounds and
predilections who were then "drafted" to form the Emergency
Government headed by Dr.Fakhruddin Ahmed, a one time banker
with little or no knowledge of what a State is and even lesser
knowledge of how to run that State. The Army, with its rigid
hierarchal structures and chains-of-command was custom made to
"troubleshoot" any problems the Emergency Government might
fall into. Gradually over a period of one year, the Army took
control of everything, manipulating State institutions to
interfere freely in politics, till the Emergency Government
was shorn of every initiative, every vestige of authority to
an extent where politicians are openly demanding a dialogue
not with the Government per se but with the Army, the real
power behind the government.
Meanwhile, as is usual in such circumstances, the Army has
collected a swarm of hangers-on which include marginalized
politicians, retired bureaucrats and Generals, intellectuals,
media persons and members of the so-called civil society, all
of whom now feel their positions as jeopardized if the Army
simply returns to the barracks after having promised them so
much. Therefore we are all back to the "pre-emergency, year
2006 situation" where the BNP Government existed only in name,
with the real power lying with the "Hawa Bhaban" manipulating
a monopoly of State power for personal ends. The parallel here
is too good not to draw: the Emergency Government is a sham,
with the real power lying with individuals within the Army,
who are also manipulating a monopoly of State power for
personal ends.
This Emergency Government is belying everything it has told us
earlier: the anti-corruption drive is petering out;
preparations for elections are nowhere in sight; the economy
is shot to pieces; food is short and prices of commodities are
beyond the reach of everyone except the rich and finally the
political arena is as divisive and as confrontational as it
ever was, with the Government, the Army and intelligence
agencies sparing no efforts to add fuel to fire. If this
Government fails, the consequences would be far worse than was
apprehended before 11 January 2007 - we would quite simply be
facing the disintegration of our State and consequent
violence, conflict and chaos. If this Government and the Army
which is controlling it, is assuming that the people of this
Nation will pay any price, bear any hardship to avoid such a
consequence, thus continuing to provide support to it, it a
making a BIG mistake, a VERY BIG mistake.
Analysis
Mendacity in journalism
A dedicated pressman devotedly committed to the
ethics of his profession cannot be biased; he cannot afford to
look at the world through frosted lens.
Maswood Alam Khan
On
the May Day last almost all the newspapers in Bangladesh
published on their front pages lead news, about charge sheets
approved by Anticorruption Commission against two former prime
ministers, on their involvements with common irregularities
reportedly committed in awarding works to NICO, a foreign
mineral exploration company.
A rare instance indeed where two former prime ministers are
indicted for a common crime involving a common company!
Readers belonging to two opposing political parties must have
gone through the news with a kind of equanimity as both their
leaders were equally charged. Nevertheless, some readers might
have scanned the news item to find out whether either of the
two leaders was less culpable than the other. But, in fact,
the charges as we read in the news are of same gravity equally
shared out---perhaps to utter frustration of those who were
eager to see their own leader with a lesser liability.
Lest readership of a particular group of subscribers plummets,
newsmen representing a few not-so-reputed journals and
newspapers at times feel ambivalent and adopt a variety of
trickery while editing and headlining such a news involving
two important personalities each having a great number of
followers and present the contents without ostensive
distortion, but always keeping in mind how best to appease a
particular segment of readers as well as their bosses inside
and outside of their offices.
On May Day, newspapers published the news on NICO scandal with
former premiers' photographs of exactly equal sizes as to
their lengths and breadths except a subtle difference as to
facial expressions in the photographs: one in her best
possible appearance radiating a serene mood and the other
reflecting a sour disposition---two hugely different
personalities by photographic vocabulary conveying two
contrasting messages to two groups of people opposing each
other.
Either of the former premiers was shown with her sulky face in
one newspaper and with her composure in another depending on
how she is deemed by editors and readers of the respective
newspapers. By the newspaper's choice of a photograph,
expressing disgust or pleasure, of a former premier, a reader
could easily discern what group of people the newspaper was
eager to please---if not by contents of the news, at least by
language of a face in the picture.
Unless it is a cartoon drawn by a cartoonist to make a comedy
on both the ladies a pressman should not exercise his
prerogative to pick from his archives discriminating
photographs of two former prime ministers to portray two
diametrically different expressions when they both reportedly
committed the same crime of same nature: one, for instance, of
a devilish expression coincidentally snapped by a
photojournalist at a moment of her emotional variance and the
other of an antonymous meaning.
The gravest intellectual corruption in the present day world,
to my humble opinion, is committed by a self-opinionated press
or electronic medium that pampers a group and antagonizes the
other. A newspaper's only claim to fame is its neutrality.
When neutrality is compromised while pressing or airing a news
item the concerned newspaper or the TV channel no more should
claim itself a virgin medium to uphold the interest of the
general public---it then rather becomes a confirmed
spokesperson of a parochial entity.
The greatest invention in the last 1000 years is perhaps the
printing press that has enabled us to believe by seeing a
printed message obviating the need for traveling far afield to
believe by seeing an incident with our own eyes. We have had
eyes at the back of our heads for a long time as we have been
accustomed to looking at events through the eyes of a
pressman.
A dedicated pressman devotedly committed to the ethics of his
profession cannot be biased; he cannot afford to look at the
world through frosted lens. A pressman can do no wrong in his
eyes. A pressman is our trusted messenger who helps quench our
thirst for knowledge and moulds our opinion. A pressman is our
guardian as a last resort to protect us from the onslaught of
injustices perpetuated by a demonic regime. A pressman is the
most important linchpin connecting us with the unseen and the
unheard.
A pressman imbues a child or a simpleton not only with the
texts of his message but also with a related photograph of an
appropriate expression to articulate pieces of information he
so painstakingly gleans and weaves leaving a lasting imprint
in the child's embryonic mind or in the simpleton's naive
psyche. A pressman must think many times before s/he pens down
his/her words which would have far reaching effects on the
societal and cognitive foundations of the present and future
generations. To a child who has just developed the habit of
reading newspaper while taking his breakfast in the morning
the pressman is his guide and philosopher at his formative
age.
But, not all pressmen of our information world are so
trustworthy. Some of them harbor a grudge against a group of
people---political or apolitical. They know how to use teeth
of their pens to grind down the group of people they oppose to
settle their personal vendetta. They are a new class of brutal
force, people in general are afraid of the way forces of
pirates wielding swords and guns were once looked down with
trepidation.
Many of them who had failed to qualify themselves for an entry
into a prestigious newspaper or a reputed electronic news
medium ultimately chose the dark alley to thrive on their
blackmailing skills under the shelter of a mushrooming press
that must have been financed by a tsar who also prospered
perhaps through robbery and thievery before declaring himself
as a publisher of a newspaper, a prestigious and powerful
intellectual weapon he badly needs to guard his ill-gotten
fortunes.
Like in every profession there are black sheep in the press as
well. But, there are sanctuaries where zero tolerance should
be maintained to debar entry of a black sheep. When domains of
business are infested with viruses of one or two black sheep
it is not as worrisome as when domains of defence, justice,
press, and education are.
When police forces who are supposed to guard us from thieves
steal our properties, when armed forces who are supposed to
shield our sovereignty from the enemies turn the barrels of
their guns on our heads, when judges who are supposed to
dispense justice to the victims side with the perpetrators,
when journalists who are supposed to protect us from misrules
sell their pens to blackmailers, and when teachers appointed
on political considerations misguide the pupils with wrong
lessons there is enough reason for all of us to shout in
unison.
Bangladesh is perhaps one of very few developing countries in
the world where the press enjoys maximum latitude of freedom.
Here, journalists don't mince their words while criticizing
any authority responsible for any misdoings. Many reforms have
been made possible only after our valiant journalists had
uncovered crimes nestled inside the corridors of power, grains
of falsehood alloyed with the truths of facts, menaces blended
with public life in urban and rural areas and terrorisms
disguised as faiths in religions. Our society would have
turned into an apocalyptic hell had under the prying eyes of
the journalists the musclemen not feared while committing
their crimes.
The council of advisers the other day gave final approval to
the Contempt of Court Ordinance 2008 with provisions allowing
objective and constructive criticism of the final verdict of a
court that, as it was, will no more be deemed a contempt of
court. Amendment to the provisions of the law on Contempt of
Court that were enacted in the past colonial era undoubtedly
augurs well for our democratic right to speak against any
verdict that to our opinions transgresses the limits of
acceptability.
But many of us are afraid that the phrase "constructive
criticism of the final verdict" may be misconstrued by some
journalists, not being well conversant with the legal world,
who may unintentionally trigger a 'press trial' immediately
after promulgation of a verdict in a lower court of law
without waiting for a verdict from the highest appellate
court.
Our blood boils the moment we read news about a gruesome
homicide and in our imaginary court we immediately seat
ourselves as judges to preside over the murder trial. Most of
us are too impatient to empathize with the real situation of
the murderer when he had committed the crime. We are always
trigger-happy to sentence any murderer outright to death.
But, real judges in the courts are equipped with a special
biological thermostat that keeps their blood cool allowing as
maximum benefits of doubts as possible to the alleged criminal
with a view to punishing not an innocent person by a chance
even if such liberality allows a criminal to manage himself to
fish out through the pores of legal nets.
So, at times when a criminal will be freed by a court of law
on technical grounds, not quite palpable to minds of ordinary
people, and when a news item blaming the verdict would be
reported by a journalist who having no legal expertise was
perhaps hurriedly thrown to the court to cover the verdict---a
phenomenon known as 'parachute journalism'---a hue and cry may
be raised among the public that may tantamount to a contempt
of court. A judge in any of our courts, I am afraid, may not
pluck up the courage to sue the journalist for a contempt of
court deeming his reporting as not 'constructive criticism' of
his verdict under new provisions of the law.
Jobs of a medical surgeon or of an architect or of an air
traffic controller are very delicate and demanding considering
lives of millions of people dependent on their decision making
authorities. A slight mistake on the part of an air traffic
controller in guiding an aircraft on to the airport or a minor
deviation in designing a multi-storied building on the part of
an architect or a wrong pair of forceps used by a medical
surgeon may mean instant deaths of people. So, a series of
periodic examinations and tests these lifesaving professionals
must undergo to reassure the public that they are fit for
their jobs.
Comparatively job of a journalist is far more delicate than
that of those mentioned above as a deviation in the course of
his job from ethical standards means not instant death of
people, but destruction of moral fabrics of an entire
generation, given the omnipotent influence of both print and
electronic media in changing social mores and shifting
political convictions.
Mendacity in journalism is equivalent to detonation of a
cultural atom bomb that may cause an irreversible paradigm
shift to a wrong angle. Our posterity will not forgive the
members of our think-tank if they fail to impose stern
strictures on issuing licenses of journalism so that only
those proven pressmen, who would treat their professionalism
far more precious than their own lives, would choose which
photographs of two indicted personalities are suitable to
publish when both, who were once prime ministers elected on
the strength of overwhelming majority of our people, are yet
to be convicted.
(Maswood Alam Khan is General Manager, Bangladesh Krishi
Bank.
E-mail: maswoodalamkhan@gmail.)
Pakistan: Sharif's Tirade against Musharraf
The Presidency in Pakistan has reportedly evolved a strategy
to obstruct the restoration of the sacked judiciary through a
stay order if the new coalition government attempts to restore
them through an executive order.
Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal
If
there is any one in Pakistan who hates president Pervez
Musharraf from the core of his heart, that is undoubtedly
former premier and Quaid Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Mian
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and with his own solid reason. It was
General Musharraf who removed him from power in 1999 when
Sharif was reigning in full speed in Islamabad. His own father
later repented for his son's immaturity in rubbing wrong
shoulders with the military establishment. Sharif seeks
revenge and wants to punish Musharraf.
Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has made known his anguish against
Musharraf in full public view and it seems he would never
forget or forgive him, unless Musharraf quits the presidency.
It is clearly immaterial to him if he succeeds Musharraf or
the country now limping back to a sort of normalcy now, gets
back to turmoil. The situation in Pakistan will once again
lead to a political crisis. Restoring the judges has been a
top priority for the two main parties in Pakistan's month-old
government, but disputes over how to bring the judges back had
threatened to break up the ruling coalition.
Before the formation of the government last month, both PPP
and PML-N signed a declaration that they would reinstate the
sacked judges within 30 days of assuming power. The two sides
differ widely over the modalities of restoring the judges,
especially the proposed constitutional package that envisages
fixing the tenure for the chief justice. The PML-N is averse
to the idea of fixing any tenure for the post. Moreover, the
PPP wants to link the constitution package for curtailing the
powers of the president and the resolution to restore the
judges, while the PML-N does not want to link the two issues.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif and
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari
sounded a positive note as they met again at the residence of
Zardari in Dubai to discuss restoration of sacked judges who
were deposed after the imposition of emergency by President
Pervez Musharraf last November. The deadlock over the deposed
judges continued hounding the coalition partners as after
seven-hour talks between Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif in
Dubai their negotiations remained inconclusive, though "There
was some progress on the issue of deposed judges". Stand-off
over the issue had been threatening Pakistan's ruling
coalition. However, 'talks are going on and I am confident
that there will be a positive outcome,' Sharif told reporters.
There were doubts about the outcome of the meeting as Zardari
has been saying that the judges gave him no relief when he was
jailed. Zardari, the widower of the slain PPP chief Benazir
Bhutto, was arrested in November 1996 when the PPP government
was sacked by the then president Farooq Leghari. He was
released in 2004.
The talks are seen as crucial to the newly formed coalition,
as the PML-N is determined to undo the decisions of Musharraf
and assert the democratically elected government's authority,
while the PPP is not too keen on linking constitutional
reforms and restoration of judges. PML-N sources said party
leaders wanted the judges to be restored within the set
deadline as they believed any delay would leave a bad
impression on the lawyers' community in particular and the
public in general.
Talking to reporters in Lahore before leaving for Dubai,
Shahbaz Sharif, brother of Nawaz and Chief Minister of Punjab
said his party had taken a clear stand that the issue of the
judges' reinstatement should not be linked with the
constitutional package that is meant to undo the amendments
made by Musharraf and to cut his powers. Another PML-N leader
said the party may give a few days to the PPP to reinstate the
judges after the April 30 deadline expires. 'If they still
refuse to restore the judges, the PML-N will consider options
like sitting in the opposition,' he said.
The Former Prime Minister said that the politicians, political
parties, democratic parties, press, media and masses would
have to take final decision that they would not allow any
dictator to rule the country in future. In past, media,
politicians and judges were also part of dictatorship but
today masses have taken decision that they would not support
dictatorship in the country, he said, adding, today some
element want to create differences between ruling alliance of
PPP and PML-N but the nation would foil their nefarious
design.
Sharif said he would never accept Musharraf as president even
if he agreed to give up his power to dissolve the parliament -
another key target of the ruling coalition. "We will not
accept him even if he accepts everything," he said. "His
illegal and unconstitutional status cannot change until he
gives up his office." Nawaz Sharif challenges Musharraf on the
reported threat of dissolving the parliament. He has made it
clear no one would be allowed to dissolve Parliament, adding,
"we would break the hands of those who pave the way for
dissolution of Parliament". Sharif repeats: "The rule of
President Pervez Musharraf is not only painful for the masses
but also dangerous for democracy. If corrupt people can be
held accountable then why cannot those who breach the
constitution and law be impeached", he asks. Sharif would like
to have Musharraf badly insulted so that he quits presidency.
Even if they don't, some argue the humiliation of the judges'
returning could prompt Musharraf to resign. Musharraf would
have to be "absolutely shameless" to continue as president if
the judges come back, said Khawaja Asif, a key Sharif aide. He
said Musharraf also risked impeachment.
But Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, a former minister and prominent
Musharraf ally, predicted the coalition's plan would run into
legal problems. A constitutional amendment was required to
reverse Musharraf's purge of the courts, he said.
Meanwhile, the Presidency in Pakistan has reportedly evolved a
strategy to obstruct the restoration of the sacked judiciary
through a stay order if the new coalition government attempts
to restore them through an executive order. According to
reports, a committee headed by Attorney General Malik Qayyum
has been constituted for this purpose. A petition has already
been drafted to get a stay order against any executive order
intended to restore the sacked judges. The committee has been
tasked with preparing this new constitutional package after
reviewing all recent developments related to the judges'
restoration and to amendments in the Constitution. Musharraf
had accused Chaudhry of corruption and conspiring against
Pakistan's gradual return to democracy. Zardari, meanwhile,
has said Chaudhry and other judges were "playing politics" and
failed to deliver justice to him during the years he spent in
jail on unproven corruption charges.
Even when Zardari, the most powerful politician in Pakistan
now, has softened his opposition to Musharraf, but Sharif has
not, at least, yet. None can bet on the defeat in the standoff
of the former General, who still stays on in his military
Bungalow, and Sharif should consider revising, albeit
temporarily, his present anti-Musharraf strategy for mutual
accommodation and in consideration of nation's prosperity.
Premier Gilani is too keen to lift Pakistan above poverty and
war, tensions and backwardness and Sharif and Zardari on whom
people have bestowed confidence, should rise above petty
politics to uplift Pakistan and give its new face lift - for
Pakistan's sake and Pakistanis sake and for the sake of
Kashmiris who look upon the Pakistani brethren for their
effective survival and freedom form hegemonic India. That will
indeed be the victory for Pakistan.
(Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal is a Research Scholar at the
School of International studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University;
New Delhi)
Viewpoints
A Global Power Shift in the Making
At the international level, Asia's rising
powers must be given more representation in key institutions,
starting with the UN Security Council.
James F.
Hoge, Jr.
The
transfer of power from West to East is gathering pace and soon
will dramatically change the context for dealing with
international challenges -- as well as the challenges
themselves. Many in the West are already aware of Asia's
growing strength. This awareness, however, has not yet been
translated into preparedness. And therein lies a danger: that
Western countries will repeat their past mistakes.
Major shifts of power between states, not to mention regions,
occur infrequently and are rarely peaceful. In the early
twentieth century, the imperial order and the aspiring states
of Germany and Japan failed to adjust to each other. The
conflict that resulted devastated large parts of the globe.
Today, the transformation of the international system will be
even bigger and will require the assimilation of markedly
different political and cultural traditions. This time, the
populous states of Asia are the aspirants seeking to play a
greater role. Like Japan and Germany back then, these rising
powers are nationalistic, seek redress of past grievances, and
want to claim their place in the sun. Asia's growing economic
power is translating into greater political and military
power, thus increasing the potential damage of conflicts.
Within the region, the flash points for hostilities -- Taiwan,
the Korean Peninsula, and divided Kashmir -- have defied
peaceful resolution. Any of them could explode into
large-scale warfare that would make the current Middle East
confrontations seem like police operations. In short, the
stakes in Asia are huge and will challenge the West's
adaptability.
Today, China is the most obvious power on the rise. But it is
not alone: India and other Asian states now boast growth rates
that could outstrip those of major Western countries for
decades to come. China's economy is growing at more than nine
percent annually, India's at eight percent, and the Southeast
Asian "tigers" have recovered from the 1997 financial crisis
and resumed their march forward. China's economy is expected
to be double the size of Germany's by 2010 and to overtake
Japan's, currently the world's second largest, by 2020. If
India sustains a six percent growth rate for 50 years, as some
financial analysts think possible, it will equal or overtake
China in that time.
Nevertheless, China's own extraordinary economic rise is
likely to continue for several decades -- if, that is, it can
manage the tremendous disruptions caused by rapid growth, such
as internal migration from rural to urban areas, high levels
of unemployment, massive bank debt, and pervasive corruption.
At the moment, China is facing a crucial test in its
transition to a market economy. It is experiencing increased
inflation, real-estate bubbles, and growing shortages of key
resources such as oil, water, electricity, and steel. Beijing
is tightening the money supply and big-bank lending, while
continuing efforts to clean up the fragile banking sector. It
is also considering raising the value of its dollar-pegged
currency, to lower the cost of imports. If such attempts to
cool China's economy -- which is much larger and more
decentralized than it was ten years ago, when it last
overheated -- do not work, it could crash.
Even if temporary, such a massive bust would have dire
consequences. China is now such a large player in the global
economy that its health is inextricably linked to that of the
system at large. China has become the engine driving the
recovery of other Asian economies from the setbacks of the
1990s. Japan, for example, has become the largest beneficiary
of China's economic growth, and its leading economic
indicators, including consumer spending, have improved as a
result. The latest official figures indicate that Japan's real
GDP rose at the annual rate of 6.4 percent in the last quarter
of 2003, the highest growth of any quarter since 1990. Thanks
to China, Japan may finally be emerging from a decade of
economic malaise. But that trend might not continue if China
crashes.
India also looms large on the radar screen. Despite the
halting progress of its economic reforms, India has embarked
on a sharp upward trajectory, propelled by its thriving
software and business-service industries, which support
corporations in the United States and other advanced
economies. Regulation remains inefficient, but a
quarter-century of partial reforms has allowed a dynamic
private sector to emerge. Economic success is also starting to
change basic attitudes: after 50 years, many Indians are
finally discarding their colonial-era sense of victimization.
Other Southeast Asian states are steadily integrating their
economies into a large web through trade and investment
treaties. Unlike in the past, however, China -- not Japan or
the United States -- is at the hub.
The members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN), finally, are seriously considering a monetary union.
The result could be an enormous trade bloc, which would
account for much of Asia's -- and the world's -- economic
growth.
THE STRAINS OF SUCCESS
Asia's rise is just beginning, and if the big regional powers
can remain stable while improving their policies, rapid growth
could continue for decades. Robust success, however, is
inevitably accompanied by various stresses.
The first and foremost of these will be relations among the
region's major players. For example, China and Japan have
never been powerful at the same time: for centuries, China was
strong while Japan was impoverished, whereas for most of the
last 200 years, Japan has been powerful and China weak. Having
both powerful in the same era will be an unprecedented
challenge. Meanwhile, India and China have not resolved their
42-year-old border dispute and still distrust each other. Can
these three powers now coexist, or will they butt heads over
control of the region, access to energy sources, security of
sea lanes, and sovereignty over islands in the South China
Sea?
Each of the Asian aspirants is involved in explosive
territorial conflicts, and each has varying internal stresses:
dislocated populations, rigid political systems, ethnic
strife, fragile financial institutions, and extensive
corruption. As in the past, domestic crises could provoke
international confrontations.
Taiwan is the most dangerous example of this risk. It has now
been more than 30 years since the United States coupled
recognition of one China with a call for a peaceful resolution
of the Taiwan question. Although economic and social ties
between the island and the mainland have since grown,
political relations have soured. Taiwan, under its current
president, seems to be creeping toward outright independence,
whereas mainland China continues to seek its isolation and to
threaten it by positioning some 500 missiles across the Taiwan
Strait. The United States, acting on its commitment to
Taiwan's security, has provided the island with ever more
sophisticated military equipment. Despite U.S. warnings to
both sides, if Taiwan oversteps the line between provisional
autonomy and independence or if China grows impatient, the
region could explode.
Kashmir remains divided between nuclear-armed India and
Pakistan. Since 1989, the conflict there has taken 40,000
lives, many in clashes along the Line of Control that
separates the two belligerents. India and Pakistan have
recently softened their hawkish rhetoric toward each other,
but neither side appears ready for a mutually acceptable
settlement. Economic or political instabilities within
Pakistan could easily ignite the conflict once more.
North Korea is another potential flash point. Several recent
rounds of six-party talks held under Chinese auspices have so
far failed to persuade Kim Jong II to scrap his nuclear
weapons program in exchange for security guarantees and aid to
North Korea's decrepit economy. Instead, the talks have
brought recriminations: toward the United States, for offering
too little; toward North Korea, for remaining intransigent;
and toward China, for applying insufficient pressure on its
dependent neighbor. Now recently disclosed evidence suggests
that North Korea's nuclear efforts are even more advanced than
was previously believed. As Vice President Dick Cheney warned
China's leaders during an April trip, time may be running out
for a negotiated resolution to the crisis.
SHIFTING PRIORITIES
For more than half a century, the United States has provided
stability in the Pacific through its military presence there,
its alliances with Japan and South Korea, and its commitment
to fostering economic progress. Indeed, in its early days, the
Bush administration stressed its intention to strengthen those
traditional ties and to treat China more as a strategic
competitor than as a prospective partner. Recent events,
however -- including the attacks of September 11, 2001 -- have
changed the emphasis of U.S. policy. Today, far less is
expected of South Korea than in the past, thanks in part to
Seoul's new leaders, who represent a younger generation of
Koreans enamored of China, disaffected with the United States,
and unafraid of the North.
Japan, meanwhile, faced with a rising China, a nuclear-armed
North Korea, and increasing tension over Taiwan, is feeling
insecure. It has thus signed on to develop a missile defense
system with U.S. aid and is considering easing constitutional
limits on the development and deployment of its military
forces.
Such moves have been unsettling to Japan's neighbors, which
would become even more uncomfortable if Japan lost faith in
its U.S. security guarantee and opted to build its own nuclear
deterrent instead. Even worse, from the American perspective,
would be if China and Japan were to seek a strategic alliance
between themselves rather than parallel relations with the
United States. To forestall this, Washington must avoid, in
all its maneuverings with China and the two Koreas, sowing any
doubt in Japan about its commitment to the region.
Yet Japan, given its ongoing economic and demographic
problems, cannot be the center of any new power arrangement in
Asia. Instead, that role will be played by China and,
eventually, India. Relations with these two growing giants are
thus essential to the future, and engagement must be the order
of the day, even though some Bush officials remain convinced
that the United States and China will ultimately end up
rivals. For them, the strategic reality is one of incompatible
vital interests.
Militarily, the United States is hedging its bets with the
most extensive realignment of U.S. power in half a century.
Part of this realignment is the opening of a second front in
Asia. No longer is the United States poised with several
large, toehold bases on the Pacific rim of the Asian
continent; today, it has made significant moves into the heart
of Asia itself, building a network of smaller, jumping-off
bases in Central Asia. The ostensible rationale for these
bases is the war on terrorism. But Chinese analysts suspect
that the unannounced intention behind these new U.S.
positions, particularly when coupled with Washington's newly
intensified military cooperation with India, is the soft
containment of China.
For its part, China is modernizing its military forces, both
to improve its ability to win a conflict over Taiwan and to
deter U.S. aggression. Chinese military doctrine now focuses
on countering U.S. high-tech capabilities -- information
networks, stealth aircraft, cruise missiles, and
precision-guided bombs.
Suspicious Americans have interpreted larger Chinese military
budgets as signs of Beijing's intention to roll back America's
presence in East Asia. Washington is thus eager to use India,
which appears set to grow in economic and military strength,
as a counterbalance to China as well as a strong proponent of
democracy in its own right. To step into these roles, India
needs to quicken the pace of its economic reforms and avoid
the Hindu nationalism espoused by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Officials of the Congress Party pledged to continue economic
reforms while also addressing the needs of the rural poor who
voted them back into office. Bullish in victory, Congress
spokespersons said that they would push to increase India's
annual growth rate to ten percent from its current eight
percent.
Unless Congress follows its secular tradition in governing, it
will undercut any utility India might have for the U.S.
campaign to counter the influence of radical Islamists. To
date, the aberrant religious ideology that opposes all secular
government has developed only moderate traction among the
large Muslim populations of India and the surrounding states
of Central and Southeast Asia. For example, fundamentalist
Islamic political parties fared poorly in winter and spring
parliamentary elections in Malaysia and Indonesia. In other
ways, however, radical Islamists are becoming a serious threat
to the region. Weak governments and pervasive corruption there
provide fertile ground for back-shop operations: training,
recruitment, and equipping of terrorists. Evidence points to a
loose network of disparate Southeast Asian terrorist groups
that help each other with funds and operations.
Recent public-opinion polls show that sympathy is growing for
the anti-American posturing of the radical Islamists, in large
part due to U.S. activities in Iraq and U.S. support of the
Sharon government in Israel. The full impact of outrage over
the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners is still to be determined.
But deep anger is already in place among Muslim communities
worldwide over the perceived slighting of Palestinian
interests by the Bush administration. A settlement of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict would not end terrorism, and
Muslims themselves must lead the ideological battle within
Islam. Yet the United States could strengthen the hand of
moderates in the Muslim world with a combination of policy
changes and effective public diplomacy. The United States must
do more than set up radio and television stations to broadcast
alternative views of U.S. intentions in the Middle East. It
must replenish its diminished public diplomacy resources to
recruit more language experts, reopen foreign libraries and
cultural centers, and sponsor exchange programs. Given the
large number of traditionally tolerant Muslims in Asia, the
United States must vigorously assist the creation of
attractive alternatives to radical Islamism.
NEEDED CHANGES
To accommodate the great power shift now rapidly occurring in
Asia, the United States needs vigorous preparation by its
executive branch and Congress. The Bush administration's
embrace of engagement with China is an improvement over its
initial posture, and the change has been reflected in
Washington's efforts to work with Beijing in the battle
against terrorism and negotiations with North Korea. The
change has also been reflected in the reluctance to settle
trade and currency differences by imposing duties. In other
ways, however, Washington has yet to shift its approach. On
the ground, the United States appears undermanned. Despite a
huge increase in the workload, the work force at the U.S.
embassy in China numbers approximately 1,000, which is half
the employees envisioned for the new embassy in Iraq. Training
in Asian languages for U.S. government officials has been
increased only marginally. As for the next generation, only
several thousand American students are now studying in China,
compared to the more than 50,000 Chinese who are now studying
in U.S. schools.
Going forward, the United States must provide the leadership
to forge regional security arrangements, along the lines of
the pending U.S.-Singapore accord to expand cooperation in the
fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction. It must also champion open economies or risk
being left out of future trade arrangements. The United States
must also avoid creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of
strategic rivalry with China. Such a rivalry may in fact come
to pass, and the United States should be prepared for such a
turn of events. But it is not inevitable; cooperation could
still produce historic advancements.
At the international level, Asia's rising powers must be given
more representation in key institutions, starting with the UN
Security Council. This important body should reflect the
emerging configuration of global power, not just the victors
of World War II. The same can be said of other key
international bodies. A recent Brookings Institution study
observed, "There is a fundamental asymmetry between today's
global reality and the existing mechanisms of global
governance, with the G-7/8 -- an exclusive club of
industrialized countries that primarily represents Western
culture -- the prime expression of this anachronism."
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has embraced the idea of
elevating to heads-of-state level the meetings of the G-20
group, which is composed of 10 industrialized countries and 10
emerging market economies. This could incorporate into global
economic governance those countries with large populations and
growing economies.
The credibility and effectiveness of international bodies
depends on such changes; only then will they be able to
contribute significantly to peace among nations. Although
hardly foolproof, restructuring institutions to reflect the
distribution of power holds out more hope than letting them
fade into irrelevance and returning to unrestrained and
unpredictable balance-of-power politics and free-for-all
economic competition.
(James F. Hoge, Jr. is Editor of Foreign Affairs. Source:
www.foreignaffairs.org)
Talks With Dalai Lama
At
last the Chinese government has proposed reopening talks with
the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. The
mystery is that Beijing did not realize the necessity months
ago, long before the Olympic torch began its controversial
world tour past crowds of pro-Tibetan protesters. By some
vagary of the political system, no one in the government seems
to have realized what a publicity disaster the torch carrying
would become. Given that both the government and ordinary
Chinese people have invested such effort and hopes in the
Summer Olympics, this was an extraordinary piece of bad
judgment. However, those outside China who are now suggesting
that had Beijing been talking the Dalai Lama, there would have
been no protests at all, are very probably wrong. So
emotionally charged has the issue of Tibet become for the
Western liberal establishment (which at the same time wholly
ignores a similar issue among China's Muslim Uighur population
in Xinjiang) that the multicountry procession of the Olympic
torch was bound to be used as an excuse for demonstrations.
The irony is that the Dalai Lama himself, though obviously
heartened by the renewed spotlight on Tibet, has not changed
his life-long commitment to peaceful protest. He seeks not
Tibetan independence but rather autonomy within China that
will permit his people to live according to their ancient
traditions. Nor has he ever disapproved of China's staging of
the Olympics. Rather than demonizing the Tibetan leader, the
Chinese should have been negotiating with him these past
months. Now they enter into talks as if under duress and are
strongly suspected of seeking merely to assuage international
opinion until the Games are over. The Dalai Lama's people are
hoping that the proposed discussions will amount to more than
a temporary publicity sticking plaster. Were Beijing to offer
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