UP
blames Centre for price rise-Seventy officials punished in Aligarh:
Commissioner- Greater Noida farmers, UP govt arrive on agreement in land
row-BSP to release candidates list for assembly polls in Rajasthan Filed under: General
Posted by: @ 3:37 am UP blames Centre for price rise
LUCKNOW, AUG 21 (PTI)
The
Uttar Pradesh government today held the wrong economic policies of the
Central government responsible for spiralling prices and termed the
charges of prices rising after the implementation of VAT in the state
as false. Keeping
in view the needs of common man, the tax rates on 436 items were
reduced after the implementation of VAT on January 1, 2008, an official
spokesman of state government said, while giving the information for
the steps being taken to control price rise. He
said the statement that price rise was due to the VAT was completely
false. In fact the increase in prices was due to the economic structure
and the economic policy of the country, having no connection with VAT. The
main reason for price rise was the increasing inflation that reached to
12.63 per cent for the week ended August 9, the spokesman added. The
spokesman pointed out that no changes had been made in the tax rates of
1,376 items and stock limit had been fixed for food grains, pulses, oil
seeds and edible oils. A committee had been constituted for monitoring the price rise and uninterrupted supply of essential commodities, he added. The
state government had been suffering losses due to the increase in the
prices on petrol and diesel by the Central government, the spokesman
said. It might
be mentioned that the issue had come up in the Vidhan Sabha earlier in
the day with the leader of the opposition blaming implementation of VAT
for price rise. Seventy officials punished in Aligarh: Commissioner ALIGARH, AUG 22 (PTI)
Seventy
officials of Aligarh division have been punished following “surprise
checks” by the divisional commissioner during the past one month,
Commisioner Aligarh Division P V Jagmohan said here today.
“Similar ’surprise checks’ would continue and if any official repeats
the same offence, his services would be terminated,” Jagmohan said..
The list of those punished includes a number of district level
officers, block development officers, tehsildars and naib tehsildars,
he said. The officers have been charged with offences varying from negligence, indiscipline and corrupt pratices, he added. The Commissioner also announced the lauch of ‘New Aligarh township’ project on Aligarh-Delhi national hihgway. Greater Noida farmers, UP govt arrive on agreement in land row NEW DELHI, AUG 20 (PTI)
In
an apparent softening of stand, farmers of Ghora-Bachera in Greater
Noida today left it to the UP government to seek legal advice on ways
to provide them with the dues of land acquired from them in 2006. On
August 13, villagers had clashed with the police, seeking enhanced
compensation for land acquired from them by the state government,
leaving four dead in police firing. UP
Minister Thakur Jaiveer Singh and State Cabinet Secretary Shashank
Shekhar Singh today held parleys with the Greater Noida Kisan Sangarsh
Samiti here to discuss the issue. After
the meeting, Cabinet Secretary told reporters that the farmers have
agreed to leave it to the state government to find legal ways to get
them their dues. He explained that once the compensation is given, no further compensation could be provided for the same land. “However,
we will take legal advice and look into demands made by the farmers for
more compensation earlier. If there are provisions to give more
compensation it will be handed over to the farmers,” he said. The
Samiti also submitted their charter of demands to the representatives
of the state government. The demand included withdrawal of police
cases, more compensation to those killed and repair of damaged property
during the clash. The
state government said no further police action will be taken against
the farmers and also announced to increase the compensation to Rs 10
lakhs each to next of those killed in the police firing. The
government also agreed to provide a plot to erect statues of the
farmers killed in the clash. It also agreed to bear the entire medical
expenditure of those critically injured in the August 13 incident. BSP to release candidates list for assembly polls in Rajasthan JAIPUR, AUG 18 (PTI) The
Bahujan Samaj Party would release a list of candidates for 150 seats on
August 25 for the coming assembly polls due later this year in
Rajasthan, a senior leader of the party said. The
names for the remaining 50 seats would be declared later on after
consultation with the senior partymen and reviewing the political
situation, Dharmasingh Ashok, BSP national general secretary and
incharge of Rajasthan affairs, told a press conference here. Neither
former external affairs minister Natwar Singh, nor his son Jagat Singh,
who recently joined the party, would contest the polls on BSP tickets,
Ashok categorically said, adding “wait for some more surprises during
the polls.” “Next
government in Rajasthan would be of BSP, and the chief ministerial
candidate would only be decided by party supremo Mayawati,” he claimed. BSP
would launch a nationwide “janhit chetna andolan” in view of assembly
polls in four states including Rajasthan and the next year’s Lok Sabha
polls, with Mayawati attending some of the important rallies, he said.
Share files, take polls, and make new friends - all under one roof. Go to http://in.promos. yahoo.com/ groups/
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Militants ready for Pakistan's war
Aug 23, 2008
Militants ready for Pakistan's war
By Syed Saleem Shahzad
http://www.atimes. com/atimes/ South_Asia/ JH23Df01. html
KARACHI - Pakistan has two options. The country can give in to
militancy or it can conduct military operations against it,
influential advisor to the Interior Ministry, Rahman Malik, said on
Thursday. And the government is not going to negotiate with
militants, he added.
His remarks follow a suicide bomb attack outside the country's main
defense industry complex at Wah, 30 kilometers northwest of the
capital Islamabad, which killed as many as 100 people. The Pakistani
Taliban immediately claimed responsibility, saying the attack was in
response to the military's recent air bombardment of Bajaur Agency,
which led to the displacement of 250,000 people.
Rahman's comments amount to a declaration of war on growing
Islamic militancy, but it could be that the new civilian Pakistani
leadership is steering the "war on terror" in the wrong direction.
Rahman's remarks cannot be dismissed as a knee-jerk reaction in the
heat of the moment. Only a few hours before the suicide attack, the
chief minister of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), Amir Haider
Khan Hoti, announced in a policy statement that even if militants
shunned violence and laid down their weapons, they would not be
pardoned.
Similarly, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, who spoke to US
President George W Bush by telephone on Thursday morning, rejected
any possibility of dialogue with militants.
In the wake of Pervez Musharraf, who retired as president on Monday
after flip-flopping on the country's approach to militancy for many
years, the American-sponsored coalition of the willing in Islamabad
appears ready for all-out war at any cost.
Ironically, this uncharacteristicall y clear Pakistani policy emerges
as the political quagmire in the capital deepens. Former premier
Nawaz Sharif has threatened to pull his Pakistan Muslim League out
of the ruling coalition if judges sacked by Musharraf last year are
not reinstated. He set a deadline for next Wednesday. The other main
coalition partners, the Pakistan People's Party, the Awami National
Party and the Jamiat-i-Ulema- i-Islam, said they would put the matter
to parliament for debate, a proposal Sharif is not keen on.
Who do they intend to fight?
The government's approach will be different from that adopted by
Musharraf when he signed onto the "war on terror" in 2001, officials
in Pakistan's top strategic circles tell Asia Times Online.
Then, Musharraf, who was also chief of army staff, acted as he saw
fit, often not to the liking of Washington, which often accused
Islamabad of dragging its feet in the fight against Taliban and al-
Qaeda militancy.
The new elected government is expected to be an active partner in
the South Asian war theater and its military will help the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The coordination will be
similar to that between Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government
and NATO.
NATO command will identify problem areas and Pakistan will hit those
targets. A plan, drawn up between the Americans and Pakistan in
2007, will be implemented under which Peshawar, capital of NWFP,
will serve as a base camp from where, under American guidance, the
Taliban's bases will be targeted. The Taliban use these bases to
launch operations into Afghanistan.
Channels have also been established for the US Embassy in Islamabad
to coordinate with the Pakistani government. As a sign of the
renewed goodwill, the US Embassy has announced US$50,000 as
immediate aid relief for the people displaced from Bajaur. Other
financial packages are expected to follow.
Up until 2007, under Musharraf, Pakistan made a clear distinction
between the Taliban, al-Qaeda, the Takfiris (those who believe non-
practicing Muslims are infidels) among al-Qaeda and criminal gangs
who became a part of the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
The Taliban were viewed as a phenomenon spanning the southwestern
Pashtun lands from Pakistan's Balochistan province to Afghanistan' s
provinces of Kandahar, Helmand, Urzgan and Zabul. This is the
heartland of the Taliban in which leader Mullah Omar and majority of
his shura (council) live.
They have never troubled Pakistan and have not tried to impose
sharia law or interfere in Shi'ite-Sunni feuds or meddle with the
thousands of Hindus living in the border town of Chaman. These are
the "real" Taliban and the core of the resistance fighting against
the foreign occupation of Afghanistan.
Pakistan has never conducted any military operations against the
Taliban in Balochistan - one NATO's main complaints.
In NWFP, the problem was more complex. There are Taliban such as
Jalaluddin Haqqani steering the insurgency in Afghanistan, and
Pakistan has never tried to target his outfit, despite repeated NATO
requests.
Top al-Qaeda leaders also live here and in the tribal regions on the
border with Afghanistan. They are not specifically anti-Pakistan and
there was until 2007 a tacit agreement with the Pakistani security
forces that they would be left alone. American intelligence was
given a free hand to arrest them - al-Qaeda members had to look
after themselves, with Pakistan acting more like a referee.
However, the Takfiris, who include aging Egyptian Sheikh Essa's
group, are a different story. Pakistan has made a clear distinction
with them, including Uzbeks under the command of Qari Tahir Farooq
(Tahir Yaldeshiv) and has gone after them with its proxies in the
tribal areas. The same went for Pakistani criminal groups such as
the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, who joined the Takfiri camp, or camps under
Pakistani Taliban Baitullah Mehsud, who is very close to the
Takfiris.
Pakistan's relations with the Pakistani Taliban have depended on
which leader they followed. If they were part of Mullah Omar's or
Jalaluddin Haqqani's groups, they were left alone; if they were part
of the Takfiri groups, the treatment was different.
In essence, this was Pakistan's war, and it fought it on its own
terms, which was only partially beneficial to NATO. Under the new
leadership, Pakistan's participation in the "war on terror" will be
more for the benefit of NATO.
This could come at a very high cost. Those militants who were
previously left alone will now be targets. In turn, they will
conduct operations against Pakistan.
Osama bin Laden does not have the resources he had in 1989, when he
tried to finance Nawaz Sharif to dethrone Benazir Bhutto's
government (See The pawns who pay as powers play Asia Times Online,
June 2, 2005). But his people certainly have ties within the
security forces to allow them to launch operations like the failed
one in the mid-1990s against Bhutto's government.
Last year, Bin Laden appointed an Amir of Khuruj (Revolt) for
Pakistan, but he died of illness early this year. He has been
replaced by Khalid Habib, a Moroccan, and he is now on standby for
orders.
Thursday's attack at Wah is a portend of what lies in store for the
country. That attack, although claimed by the Pakistan Taliban, was
carried out by Pakistani criminal gangs with religious orientations
and allied with the Takfiris.
Al-Qaeda has executed high-profile attacks, such as the
assassination of Benazir Bhutto last December and the one on Bagram
base in Kabul during US Vice President Dick Cheney's 2007 visit.
Should the Pakistani government really commit to its all-out war on
militants, it will feel more of such wrath.
Syed Saleem Shahzad is Asia Times Online's Pakistan Bureau Chief. He
can be reached at saleem_shahzad2002@ yahoo.com
Militants ready for Pakistan's war
By Syed Saleem Shahzad
http://www.atimes. com/atimes/ South_Asia/ JH23Df01. html
KARACHI - Pakistan has two options. The country can give in to
militancy or it can conduct military operations against it,
influential advisor to the Interior Ministry, Rahman Malik, said on
Thursday. And the government is not going to negotiate with
militants, he added.
His remarks follow a suicide bomb attack outside the country's main
defense industry complex at Wah, 30 kilometers northwest of the
capital Islamabad, which killed as many as 100 people. The Pakistani
Taliban immediately claimed responsibility, saying the attack was in
response to the military's recent air bombardment of Bajaur Agency,
which led to the displacement of 250,000 people.
Rahman's comments amount to a declaration of war on growing
Islamic militancy, but it could be that the new civilian Pakistani
leadership is steering the "war on terror" in the wrong direction.
Rahman's remarks cannot be dismissed as a knee-jerk reaction in the
heat of the moment. Only a few hours before the suicide attack, the
chief minister of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), Amir Haider
Khan Hoti, announced in a policy statement that even if militants
shunned violence and laid down their weapons, they would not be
pardoned.
Similarly, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, who spoke to US
President George W Bush by telephone on Thursday morning, rejected
any possibility of dialogue with militants.
In the wake of Pervez Musharraf, who retired as president on Monday
after flip-flopping on the country's approach to militancy for many
years, the American-sponsored coalition of the willing in Islamabad
appears ready for all-out war at any cost.
Ironically, this uncharacteristicall y clear Pakistani policy emerges
as the political quagmire in the capital deepens. Former premier
Nawaz Sharif has threatened to pull his Pakistan Muslim League out
of the ruling coalition if judges sacked by Musharraf last year are
not reinstated. He set a deadline for next Wednesday. The other main
coalition partners, the Pakistan People's Party, the Awami National
Party and the Jamiat-i-Ulema- i-Islam, said they would put the matter
to parliament for debate, a proposal Sharif is not keen on.
Who do they intend to fight?
The government's approach will be different from that adopted by
Musharraf when he signed onto the "war on terror" in 2001, officials
in Pakistan's top strategic circles tell Asia Times Online.
Then, Musharraf, who was also chief of army staff, acted as he saw
fit, often not to the liking of Washington, which often accused
Islamabad of dragging its feet in the fight against Taliban and al-
Qaeda militancy.
The new elected government is expected to be an active partner in
the South Asian war theater and its military will help the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The coordination will be
similar to that between Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government
and NATO.
NATO command will identify problem areas and Pakistan will hit those
targets. A plan, drawn up between the Americans and Pakistan in
2007, will be implemented under which Peshawar, capital of NWFP,
will serve as a base camp from where, under American guidance, the
Taliban's bases will be targeted. The Taliban use these bases to
launch operations into Afghanistan.
Channels have also been established for the US Embassy in Islamabad
to coordinate with the Pakistani government. As a sign of the
renewed goodwill, the US Embassy has announced US$50,000 as
immediate aid relief for the people displaced from Bajaur. Other
financial packages are expected to follow.
Up until 2007, under Musharraf, Pakistan made a clear distinction
between the Taliban, al-Qaeda, the Takfiris (those who believe non-
practicing Muslims are infidels) among al-Qaeda and criminal gangs
who became a part of the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
The Taliban were viewed as a phenomenon spanning the southwestern
Pashtun lands from Pakistan's Balochistan province to Afghanistan' s
provinces of Kandahar, Helmand, Urzgan and Zabul. This is the
heartland of the Taliban in which leader Mullah Omar and majority of
his shura (council) live.
They have never troubled Pakistan and have not tried to impose
sharia law or interfere in Shi'ite-Sunni feuds or meddle with the
thousands of Hindus living in the border town of Chaman. These are
the "real" Taliban and the core of the resistance fighting against
the foreign occupation of Afghanistan.
Pakistan has never conducted any military operations against the
Taliban in Balochistan - one NATO's main complaints.
In NWFP, the problem was more complex. There are Taliban such as
Jalaluddin Haqqani steering the insurgency in Afghanistan, and
Pakistan has never tried to target his outfit, despite repeated NATO
requests.
Top al-Qaeda leaders also live here and in the tribal regions on the
border with Afghanistan. They are not specifically anti-Pakistan and
there was until 2007 a tacit agreement with the Pakistani security
forces that they would be left alone. American intelligence was
given a free hand to arrest them - al-Qaeda members had to look
after themselves, with Pakistan acting more like a referee.
However, the Takfiris, who include aging Egyptian Sheikh Essa's
group, are a different story. Pakistan has made a clear distinction
with them, including Uzbeks under the command of Qari Tahir Farooq
(Tahir Yaldeshiv) and has gone after them with its proxies in the
tribal areas. The same went for Pakistani criminal groups such as
the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, who joined the Takfiri camp, or camps under
Pakistani Taliban Baitullah Mehsud, who is very close to the
Takfiris.
Pakistan's relations with the Pakistani Taliban have depended on
which leader they followed. If they were part of Mullah Omar's or
Jalaluddin Haqqani's groups, they were left alone; if they were part
of the Takfiri groups, the treatment was different.
In essence, this was Pakistan's war, and it fought it on its own
terms, which was only partially beneficial to NATO. Under the new
leadership, Pakistan's participation in the "war on terror" will be
more for the benefit of NATO.
This could come at a very high cost. Those militants who were
previously left alone will now be targets. In turn, they will
conduct operations against Pakistan.
Osama bin Laden does not have the resources he had in 1989, when he
tried to finance Nawaz Sharif to dethrone Benazir Bhutto's
government (See The pawns who pay as powers play Asia Times Online,
June 2, 2005). But his people certainly have ties within the
security forces to allow them to launch operations like the failed
one in the mid-1990s against Bhutto's government.
Last year, Bin Laden appointed an Amir of Khuruj (Revolt) for
Pakistan, but he died of illness early this year. He has been
replaced by Khalid Habib, a Moroccan, and he is now on standby for
orders.
Thursday's attack at Wah is a portend of what lies in store for the
country. That attack, although claimed by the Pakistan Taliban, was
carried out by Pakistani criminal gangs with religious orientations
and allied with the Takfiris.
Al-Qaeda has executed high-profile attacks, such as the
assassination of Benazir Bhutto last December and the one on Bagram
base in Kabul during US Vice President Dick Cheney's 2007 visit.
Should the Pakistani government really commit to its all-out war on
militants, it will feel more of such wrath.
Syed Saleem Shahzad is Asia Times Online's Pakistan Bureau Chief. He
can be reached at saleem_shahzad2002@ yahoo.com
Rebel ambush claims six cops
Rebel ambush claims six cops
OUR CORRESPONDENT
http://www.telegrap hindia.com/ 1080822/jsp/ frontpage/ story_9727006. jsp
Gaya, Aug. 21: Six policemen and a Naxalite were killed in a
precisely executed ambush in Raniganj village under Imamganj police
station, 65km from here, shortly before noon today.
Around mid-afternoon, 12 heavily armed rebels, belonging to CPI
(Maoists), attacked the Imamganj police station.
A bystander, Dev Nandan Mahto, resident of a nearby village, was
killed during the firing. Four SAP jawans died on the spot, while
two others succumbed to their injuries on their way to the Anugrah
Naran Magadh Medical College Hospital.
The slain SAP jawans have been identified as Satendra Sharma, Umesh
Singh, Ramnath Singh, Samundar Singh and Indrajeet Singh.
Five of the slain personnel were from SAP, a special force
comprising former army personnel created by the Nitish Kumar
government to combat the red menace, the sixth victim was an
assistant sub-inspector, S.N. Singh.
The deputy inspector-general of Magadh range, Praveen Bashist, who
was camping in Raniganj confirmed the incident. According to
Bashist, the rebels, who had positioned themselves at strategic
points near the Raniganj branch of Punjab National Bank, started to
fire indiscriminately at the police station, giving the personnel
little time to react.
A rebel was also killed in the crossfire.
The personnel were conducting routine checks of the banks.
According to reports, the rebels had attacked a local police outpost
in a similar manner. However, the police, as is evident from today's
encounter, did not heed the warning then.
Today, the red army arrived on motorcycles and left one of the
vehicles, behind. Police seized the vehicle.
The army also left a hand-written leaflet, stating that the firing
was "action against police atrocities".
Zonal inspector-general of police Sunil Kumar and inspector-general
(operations) S.K. Bharadwaj left Patna for the mishap site to
monitor the combing operation.
Raniganj is a comparatively big village and the ambush took place in
the busy market area during business hours. The rebels managed to
make a safe exit from the place.
An equally daredevil daylight attack was mounted on Tekari police
station located in a busy centre, a decade ago.
Maoist activity in the district has registered a considerable
increase in the recent months in the district. A few days ago, the
watchman of a mobile phone company was killed by the rebels at
Gurua.
Earlier, the red army blew up a petrol station on the GT Road and
used dynamite to blow the house of a villager of Barachatti police
station area.
No less than 62 activists and leaders of the JD(U) and BJP had to
resign from their respective party posts on the dictat of the Maoist
organization. Some of those who resigned were earlier abducted by
the ultras.
The rebels also looted five self-loading police rifles.
OUR CORRESPONDENT
http://www.telegrap hindia.com/ 1080822/jsp/ frontpage/ story_9727006. jsp
Gaya, Aug. 21: Six policemen and a Naxalite were killed in a
precisely executed ambush in Raniganj village under Imamganj police
station, 65km from here, shortly before noon today.
Around mid-afternoon, 12 heavily armed rebels, belonging to CPI
(Maoists), attacked the Imamganj police station.
A bystander, Dev Nandan Mahto, resident of a nearby village, was
killed during the firing. Four SAP jawans died on the spot, while
two others succumbed to their injuries on their way to the Anugrah
Naran Magadh Medical College Hospital.
The slain SAP jawans have been identified as Satendra Sharma, Umesh
Singh, Ramnath Singh, Samundar Singh and Indrajeet Singh.
Five of the slain personnel were from SAP, a special force
comprising former army personnel created by the Nitish Kumar
government to combat the red menace, the sixth victim was an
assistant sub-inspector, S.N. Singh.
The deputy inspector-general of Magadh range, Praveen Bashist, who
was camping in Raniganj confirmed the incident. According to
Bashist, the rebels, who had positioned themselves at strategic
points near the Raniganj branch of Punjab National Bank, started to
fire indiscriminately at the police station, giving the personnel
little time to react.
A rebel was also killed in the crossfire.
The personnel were conducting routine checks of the banks.
According to reports, the rebels had attacked a local police outpost
in a similar manner. However, the police, as is evident from today's
encounter, did not heed the warning then.
Today, the red army arrived on motorcycles and left one of the
vehicles, behind. Police seized the vehicle.
The army also left a hand-written leaflet, stating that the firing
was "action against police atrocities".
Zonal inspector-general of police Sunil Kumar and inspector-general
(operations) S.K. Bharadwaj left Patna for the mishap site to
monitor the combing operation.
Raniganj is a comparatively big village and the ambush took place in
the busy market area during business hours. The rebels managed to
make a safe exit from the place.
An equally daredevil daylight attack was mounted on Tekari police
station located in a busy centre, a decade ago.
Maoist activity in the district has registered a considerable
increase in the recent months in the district. A few days ago, the
watchman of a mobile phone company was killed by the rebels at
Gurua.
Earlier, the red army blew up a petrol station on the GT Road and
used dynamite to blow the house of a villager of Barachatti police
station area.
No less than 62 activists and leaders of the JD(U) and BJP had to
resign from their respective party posts on the dictat of the Maoist
organization. Some of those who resigned were earlier abducted by
the ultras.
The rebels also looted five self-loading police rifles.
The Nepali Revolution Moves On
The Nepali Revolution Moves On
by Bill Templer
http://mrzine. monthlyreview. org/templer21080 8.html
In a historic vote on 15 August 2008 in Kathmandu, Pushpa Kamal
Dahal (aka Prachanda), chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-
Maoist (CPN-M), was elected first Prime Minister of the Federal
Democratic Republic of Nepal, where now a "Maoist leads from the top
of the world." Prachanda garnered 80% of the votes cast in the
Constituent Assembly. This turn came on the heels of the surprise
election of Ram Baran Yadav of the Congress Party as new President
of the Republic on 22 July, a move then regarded as a momentary
serious blow to the CPN-M.
In elections on 10 April 2008, the CPN-M gained a clear popular
mandate (40% of all elected delegates to the Constituent Assembly)
after a decade-long armed struggle by the CPN-M against the recently
deposed monarchy. As Shyam Shrestha stressed after the
elections: "The Nepali people are rising, their level of arousal is
amazing. They are more ahead in consciousness than the leadership
of the political parties. The feudal class will try to resist
change, but the CA composition and the level of awareness of the
people is very high, they cannot withstand this pressure."
With Prachanda now at the helm of state, the CPN-M is expected to
gain ministerial control of a number of key ministries, as the CPN-M
and its movement are given a chance to prove themselves: "to show
they are serious about the social transformations in whose name they
went to war. They have a very strong presence in the villages, and
many now long for them to be able to build on the starts they have
made at eroding caste and gender discrimination. They also promise
a more equitable system of land ownership."
Yet Prachanda and his party, even after the landslide electoral
victory and now a democratically chosen Prime Minister, still rank
high on Washington's Terrorist Exclusion list. The DoS and the US
Embassy in Kathmandu are juggling various definitions of 'terrorism'
which they can try to apply to the CPN-M. U.S. Ambassador Nancy
Powell is cautious in a recent interview in expressing how
Washington really views the transformation in Nepal and underscores
neoliberal concerns for promoting "the private sector, the free
market and foreign direct investment" in the country: "We strongly
hope that the new government will recognise that the private sector
is by far the most powerful engine for economic growth." Roshan
Kissoon stresses: "When groups on the 'terrorist' list start winning
elections, another curious thing takes place. The very term'
terrorist' becomes inverted, its utter falsity is seen through, and
a kind of moral collapse of the US and what it represents take
place. There is a kind of moral reversal."
It's really important for progressives everywhere to better grasp
the significance of what is happening in Nepal. Reportage on these
pretty momentous developments is generally eclipsed in both the
corporate and independent media, including much of the socialist
press. As Gary Leupp commented last April, "It ought to be the
ballot heard 'round the world. It ought to be front page news."
But it hasn't been. You can read The Red Star, the English bi-
weekly of the CPN-M, for firsthand reporting and views. A broad
spectrum of local opinion on the Revolution and the challenges ahead
in Nepal is reflected on a unique blog, well worth exploring.
The CPN-M is a major party within the Coordination Committee of the
Maoist Parties and Organisations of South Asia (CCOMPOSA), made up
of parties from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the
Communist Party of Iran (ML-M). CCOMPOSA also needs to be better
known outside the region, however we may critique particular
positions or tactics. Its Declaration was adopted in August 2002
and can help us to better understand the orientation of
revolutionary socialists in South (and West) Asia who see themselves
as part of a Maoist movement.
In Europe, the (n)PCI (nuovo Partito Comunista Italiano) in Italy,
founded in Oct. 2004, has been especially outspoken in its support
for the people's struggle in Nepal. Its Founding Declaration sets
out a new vision for revolutionary socialist reconstruction and mass
mobilization in Italy and beyond. An article "The First Great
Victory of the International Communist Movement in the 21st
Century," published in Italian in the party paper La Voce (1 July
2008), stresses the historic importance of what is happening in
Nepal. The Party of the Committees to Support Resistance -- for
Communism (CARC) in Italy, closely allied since 2005 with the (n)
PCI, issued an article on the Nepali Revolution in the current
edition of The Red Star, drawing on the earlier article in La Voce.
It is reprinted below, and raises important points for the broader
international workers' struggle.
The article notes the strong support for the Nepali revolutionary
upsurge inside the International League of People's Struggle. The
ILPS, formed in 2001, is an umbrella organization of many NGOs. It
recently mobilized activists to assist Dave Pugh in connection with
his detention in India for his fact-finding work on the anti-
displacement movement. Jose Maria Sison, ILPS chairperson, issued
a "Letter of congratulations to Comrade Prachanda on his election as
Prime Minister." Few socialist parties or organizations have done
so.
The Nepali Revolution deserves international solidarity. It can be
a source of direct inspiration for people's resistance hands-on
along the southern face of the Himalaya and well beyond. In the
region, it is feasible that "given the extreme and intensifying
contradictions in Indian society, a real revolutionary regime in
Nepal will have immediate and deep reverberations throughout India,
especially the north and northeast. Furthermore, although it has no
common border with Bangladesh, Nepal is only a few dozen kilometers
from that country, most of whose 150 million people live in
conditions of great hardship." Writing in The Red Star, Kissoon is
apprehensive but confident: "we have seen how a coup was engineered
to stop Hamas becoming the government of Palestine. There is every
reason to believe that the US is trying to plan something similar in
Nepal. [. . .] Here, the CPN Maoist has planned accordingly, and
prepared for any necessity." The gains now being achieved and on
the pathway forward need to be protected.
I worked many years in Nepal, but I and my students then never
thought we would see the day of a Federal Democratic Republic
dawning on Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest), now a reality. Roshan Kissoon,
who taught English and much else to men and women of the People's
Liberation Army in the countryside, and who knows the people's
movement at the grassroots, puts it well: "For the masses of people
in Nepal, the poor and the oppressed, the destitute and the
landless, history is only just beginning."
*******
The International Communist Movement and the Nepali Revolution
The ongoing revolution in Nepal is provoking many reactions within
the international communist movement. Many are positive, others
positive with reservations, and some negative. These many reactions
demonstrate the importance of the Nepali revolution, and it is best
if they develop and relate to each other and an open and frank
debate develop within the many forces of the international communist
movement. An open and frank debate is a necessary means for
overcoming sectarianism, that is, in this case, the attitude to
ignore each other, each shut in its own ideological or national
ambit.
Sectarianism is a weakness of the international communist movement,
persisting in this beginning of the new wave of proletarian
revolution. A concomitant expression of this weakness is the
attitude of the great aggregations of the international communist
movement towards the Nepali revolution.
In fact, for decades, some great aggregations have been in
existence, constituted in contrast with modern revisionism, which
collect communist parties and organizations all around the world.
The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) itself is a member of one of
these aggregations, and our party is one of another. These
aggregations have not yet clearly expressed themselves on the
meaning of the Nepali revolution. The only one that did so was the
International League of People's Struggle (ILPS), which, however, is
an aggregation of mass organizations, not of political parties and
organizations.
The fact that the existing aggregations of the international
communist movement have not yet expressed themselves on the meaning
of the Nepali revolution is important. In our view, it shows their
limit.
All these aggregations, in fact, set themselves up and gained
significance as means of struggle against modern revisionism. They
have been useful in fighting this enemy of the communist movement,
whose days, however, have come to an end in many countries. It
maintains its strength in the international ambit and in some
nations (i.e. in India, where it slaughters the popular masses, as
it did in Nandigram, or in China, where it rules the country).
However, elsewhere, revisionists no longer, or hardly, exist. Some
disappeared with the collapse of the first socialist countries.
Some in the imperialist countries practically vanished, as it
happened in Italy with the latest elections. Some keep on existing
but they have already been crushed, as it happened in the elections
for the Constituent Assembly in Nepal. The more revisionists
withdraw, the less anti-revisionism serves as a sufficient means to
unite the various communist forces.
The many existing international aggregations are ideologically
different among them (Marxist-Leninist, Marxist-Leninist with a
positive attitude towards Mao Tse-tung's thought, Marxist-Leninist-
Maoist). Still, they have had anti-revisionism as the common
character and strong point. The more this character loses
importance, the more they lose it as a strong point around which
they can rally.
Today, the various international aggregations of communist parties
and organizations cannot say only what they are fighting against
(revisionism, imperialism, etc.), but they have to say what they are
fighting for. They have to mark out a course for advance. The fact
that they can denounce revisionists' lies and imperialists' crimes,
but they are unable to give their opinion or stutter about the
situation in Nepal where Communists are advancing, is a sign of
their difficulties.
None of the various aggregations of communist parties and
organizations can set itself even as an embryo of a new
International if it does not overcome this difficulty, if it just
restricts itself to denouncing revisionism and imperialism, if it
does not propose a course that could lead communists to victory, in
the imperialist countries and the semi-colonial and oppressed ones,
according to their respective specific conditions.
Such proposals do not arise from some individual genius, nor from
the particular qualities of a single party or organization. They
arise from an open and frank debate among the various communist
parties and organizations on the international level. This debate,
then, must be united to the practical organizations on all the
struggle fronts (against imperialism, for defending the conquests of
the working class and the masses, the oppressed peoples and nations,
women, young people, environment, etc.) and to mutual solidarity.
Then, the debate cannot be reduced to an empty and abstract talk:
the common practice will confirm which positions are right and which
are not.
Open and frank debate, common practice, and solidarity are the
pillars that support the main road of the unity of the International
Communist Movement.
CARC, International Relations Dept., July 2008
by Bill Templer
http://mrzine. monthlyreview. org/templer21080 8.html
In a historic vote on 15 August 2008 in Kathmandu, Pushpa Kamal
Dahal (aka Prachanda), chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-
Maoist (CPN-M), was elected first Prime Minister of the Federal
Democratic Republic of Nepal, where now a "Maoist leads from the top
of the world." Prachanda garnered 80% of the votes cast in the
Constituent Assembly. This turn came on the heels of the surprise
election of Ram Baran Yadav of the Congress Party as new President
of the Republic on 22 July, a move then regarded as a momentary
serious blow to the CPN-M.
In elections on 10 April 2008, the CPN-M gained a clear popular
mandate (40% of all elected delegates to the Constituent Assembly)
after a decade-long armed struggle by the CPN-M against the recently
deposed monarchy. As Shyam Shrestha stressed after the
elections: "The Nepali people are rising, their level of arousal is
amazing. They are more ahead in consciousness than the leadership
of the political parties. The feudal class will try to resist
change, but the CA composition and the level of awareness of the
people is very high, they cannot withstand this pressure."
With Prachanda now at the helm of state, the CPN-M is expected to
gain ministerial control of a number of key ministries, as the CPN-M
and its movement are given a chance to prove themselves: "to show
they are serious about the social transformations in whose name they
went to war. They have a very strong presence in the villages, and
many now long for them to be able to build on the starts they have
made at eroding caste and gender discrimination. They also promise
a more equitable system of land ownership."
Yet Prachanda and his party, even after the landslide electoral
victory and now a democratically chosen Prime Minister, still rank
high on Washington's Terrorist Exclusion list. The DoS and the US
Embassy in Kathmandu are juggling various definitions of 'terrorism'
which they can try to apply to the CPN-M. U.S. Ambassador Nancy
Powell is cautious in a recent interview in expressing how
Washington really views the transformation in Nepal and underscores
neoliberal concerns for promoting "the private sector, the free
market and foreign direct investment" in the country: "We strongly
hope that the new government will recognise that the private sector
is by far the most powerful engine for economic growth." Roshan
Kissoon stresses: "When groups on the 'terrorist' list start winning
elections, another curious thing takes place. The very term'
terrorist' becomes inverted, its utter falsity is seen through, and
a kind of moral collapse of the US and what it represents take
place. There is a kind of moral reversal."
It's really important for progressives everywhere to better grasp
the significance of what is happening in Nepal. Reportage on these
pretty momentous developments is generally eclipsed in both the
corporate and independent media, including much of the socialist
press. As Gary Leupp commented last April, "It ought to be the
ballot heard 'round the world. It ought to be front page news."
But it hasn't been. You can read The Red Star, the English bi-
weekly of the CPN-M, for firsthand reporting and views. A broad
spectrum of local opinion on the Revolution and the challenges ahead
in Nepal is reflected on a unique blog, well worth exploring.
The CPN-M is a major party within the Coordination Committee of the
Maoist Parties and Organisations of South Asia (CCOMPOSA), made up
of parties from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the
Communist Party of Iran (ML-M). CCOMPOSA also needs to be better
known outside the region, however we may critique particular
positions or tactics. Its Declaration was adopted in August 2002
and can help us to better understand the orientation of
revolutionary socialists in South (and West) Asia who see themselves
as part of a Maoist movement.
In Europe, the (n)PCI (nuovo Partito Comunista Italiano) in Italy,
founded in Oct. 2004, has been especially outspoken in its support
for the people's struggle in Nepal. Its Founding Declaration sets
out a new vision for revolutionary socialist reconstruction and mass
mobilization in Italy and beyond. An article "The First Great
Victory of the International Communist Movement in the 21st
Century," published in Italian in the party paper La Voce (1 July
2008), stresses the historic importance of what is happening in
Nepal. The Party of the Committees to Support Resistance -- for
Communism (CARC) in Italy, closely allied since 2005 with the (n)
PCI, issued an article on the Nepali Revolution in the current
edition of The Red Star, drawing on the earlier article in La Voce.
It is reprinted below, and raises important points for the broader
international workers' struggle.
The article notes the strong support for the Nepali revolutionary
upsurge inside the International League of People's Struggle. The
ILPS, formed in 2001, is an umbrella organization of many NGOs. It
recently mobilized activists to assist Dave Pugh in connection with
his detention in India for his fact-finding work on the anti-
displacement movement. Jose Maria Sison, ILPS chairperson, issued
a "Letter of congratulations to Comrade Prachanda on his election as
Prime Minister." Few socialist parties or organizations have done
so.
The Nepali Revolution deserves international solidarity. It can be
a source of direct inspiration for people's resistance hands-on
along the southern face of the Himalaya and well beyond. In the
region, it is feasible that "given the extreme and intensifying
contradictions in Indian society, a real revolutionary regime in
Nepal will have immediate and deep reverberations throughout India,
especially the north and northeast. Furthermore, although it has no
common border with Bangladesh, Nepal is only a few dozen kilometers
from that country, most of whose 150 million people live in
conditions of great hardship." Writing in The Red Star, Kissoon is
apprehensive but confident: "we have seen how a coup was engineered
to stop Hamas becoming the government of Palestine. There is every
reason to believe that the US is trying to plan something similar in
Nepal. [. . .] Here, the CPN Maoist has planned accordingly, and
prepared for any necessity." The gains now being achieved and on
the pathway forward need to be protected.
I worked many years in Nepal, but I and my students then never
thought we would see the day of a Federal Democratic Republic
dawning on Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest), now a reality. Roshan Kissoon,
who taught English and much else to men and women of the People's
Liberation Army in the countryside, and who knows the people's
movement at the grassroots, puts it well: "For the masses of people
in Nepal, the poor and the oppressed, the destitute and the
landless, history is only just beginning."
*******
The International Communist Movement and the Nepali Revolution
The ongoing revolution in Nepal is provoking many reactions within
the international communist movement. Many are positive, others
positive with reservations, and some negative. These many reactions
demonstrate the importance of the Nepali revolution, and it is best
if they develop and relate to each other and an open and frank
debate develop within the many forces of the international communist
movement. An open and frank debate is a necessary means for
overcoming sectarianism, that is, in this case, the attitude to
ignore each other, each shut in its own ideological or national
ambit.
Sectarianism is a weakness of the international communist movement,
persisting in this beginning of the new wave of proletarian
revolution. A concomitant expression of this weakness is the
attitude of the great aggregations of the international communist
movement towards the Nepali revolution.
In fact, for decades, some great aggregations have been in
existence, constituted in contrast with modern revisionism, which
collect communist parties and organizations all around the world.
The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) itself is a member of one of
these aggregations, and our party is one of another. These
aggregations have not yet clearly expressed themselves on the
meaning of the Nepali revolution. The only one that did so was the
International League of People's Struggle (ILPS), which, however, is
an aggregation of mass organizations, not of political parties and
organizations.
The fact that the existing aggregations of the international
communist movement have not yet expressed themselves on the meaning
of the Nepali revolution is important. In our view, it shows their
limit.
All these aggregations, in fact, set themselves up and gained
significance as means of struggle against modern revisionism. They
have been useful in fighting this enemy of the communist movement,
whose days, however, have come to an end in many countries. It
maintains its strength in the international ambit and in some
nations (i.e. in India, where it slaughters the popular masses, as
it did in Nandigram, or in China, where it rules the country).
However, elsewhere, revisionists no longer, or hardly, exist. Some
disappeared with the collapse of the first socialist countries.
Some in the imperialist countries practically vanished, as it
happened in Italy with the latest elections. Some keep on existing
but they have already been crushed, as it happened in the elections
for the Constituent Assembly in Nepal. The more revisionists
withdraw, the less anti-revisionism serves as a sufficient means to
unite the various communist forces.
The many existing international aggregations are ideologically
different among them (Marxist-Leninist, Marxist-Leninist with a
positive attitude towards Mao Tse-tung's thought, Marxist-Leninist-
Maoist). Still, they have had anti-revisionism as the common
character and strong point. The more this character loses
importance, the more they lose it as a strong point around which
they can rally.
Today, the various international aggregations of communist parties
and organizations cannot say only what they are fighting against
(revisionism, imperialism, etc.), but they have to say what they are
fighting for. They have to mark out a course for advance. The fact
that they can denounce revisionists' lies and imperialists' crimes,
but they are unable to give their opinion or stutter about the
situation in Nepal where Communists are advancing, is a sign of
their difficulties.
None of the various aggregations of communist parties and
organizations can set itself even as an embryo of a new
International if it does not overcome this difficulty, if it just
restricts itself to denouncing revisionism and imperialism, if it
does not propose a course that could lead communists to victory, in
the imperialist countries and the semi-colonial and oppressed ones,
according to their respective specific conditions.
Such proposals do not arise from some individual genius, nor from
the particular qualities of a single party or organization. They
arise from an open and frank debate among the various communist
parties and organizations on the international level. This debate,
then, must be united to the practical organizations on all the
struggle fronts (against imperialism, for defending the conquests of
the working class and the masses, the oppressed peoples and nations,
women, young people, environment, etc.) and to mutual solidarity.
Then, the debate cannot be reduced to an empty and abstract talk:
the common practice will confirm which positions are right and which
are not.
Open and frank debate, common practice, and solidarity are the
pillars that support the main road of the unity of the International
Communist Movement.
CARC, International Relations Dept., July 2008
Nagpur Rocks, Vidarbha Shocks – Exclusive
Nagpur Rocks, Vidarbha Shocks – Exclusive (C)
When I went to find out in Yahoo ID Nagpurrocks I found he is a 22 year old with little experience of life, my attention shifted to poverty and farmers suicides in Vidarbha and was shocked to discover in documents 2.6 million (13%) of Vidarbha population has embraced Buddhism out of 17 million (1.5%) in India.
Just like Amartya Sen, Economics Nobel Laureate, home district is most under developed in West Bengal, Vidarbha home of RSS is the poorest region in India and most of its districts among the poorest in Maharashtra as well.
Vidardha, home of RSS symbolized atrocities on Dalits and highest rate of conversion in India though RSS was founded with aim to unite Hindus but also symbolize exploitation of farmers that has no parallel in the world recording highest suicide rates for Cotton farmers which is the principle crop ahead of oranges.
Charging 120% to even 300% rate of interest on farm loans by upper caste Hindus from lower caste is not the way to unite Hindus. (Reference Vidarbha Report)
[RSS was founded in 1925 by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a Nagpur doctor, with the aim to unite Hindus. Hedgewar proposed that Hindus must unite to face challenges and protect the freedom and diversity of Indian civilization. The organization was able to establish itself throughout the country on account of its nationalistic ideology and sacrifices of selfless karyakartas. The "pracharaks" or "full-time workers", who were spread all over the country, and karyakartas helped make RSS the world's biggest social welfare organisation. Also, the organization took part in the Indian independence movement.]
I have calculated a set of under garments that retail for Rs.100, value of cotton in it is just Rs.10 at present highest level. Farmers get only Rs.5 out of this and accounting for cost of seeds, sowing, harvesting and other operations farmer’s net income is just Rs..2.
A cotton farmer’s family of five that may need 20 sets of under garments a year pay Rs.2000 but cotton in under garments is just 3 kgs and he was paid between Rs.50 to Rs.100 and his net income was between Rs.20 to Rs.40.
Ravinder Singh
August22, 2008
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Vidarbha
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Religion_ in_India
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Rashtriya_ Swayamsevak_ Sangh
http://www.iwmi. cgiar.org/ iwmi-tata_ html/PM2003/ PDF/11_Highlight .pdf
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Dalit_Buddhist_ movement
Posted by Nagur Rocks
Re: Azadi, Azadi, Azadi, Azadi, Azadi for All - Exclusive (C)
There will always be people having less then others. There will be people having less then you. That’s the way the world is made. And that’s the way the world can, and has survived till now.
NOW, Mukesh or Anil collecting/ wasting or throwing away cash is not causing or prevailing poverty. Keep in mind that all the cash he has is just paper. Its value is decided by the government. We have a system here. A system that allows us to live without killing each other when we please.
Also remember that Mukesh and Anil pay taxes to this system. And I bet they pay more tax then u and me. It really hurts me to see people disliking someone coz of his success or wealth. People deserve the success or not, they have had it. The system was designed to help the people, to remove poverty and ensure safe and dignified lives to the citizen. This System, the government, administrator, police, courts, banks, everything. They are responsible for what we see.
When I went to find out in Yahoo ID Nagpurrocks I found he is a 22 year old with little experience of life, my attention shifted to poverty and farmers suicides in Vidarbha and was shocked to discover in documents 2.6 million (13%) of Vidarbha population has embraced Buddhism out of 17 million (1.5%) in India.
Just like Amartya Sen, Economics Nobel Laureate, home district is most under developed in West Bengal, Vidarbha home of RSS is the poorest region in India and most of its districts among the poorest in Maharashtra as well.
Vidardha, home of RSS symbolized atrocities on Dalits and highest rate of conversion in India though RSS was founded with aim to unite Hindus but also symbolize exploitation of farmers that has no parallel in the world recording highest suicide rates for Cotton farmers which is the principle crop ahead of oranges.
Charging 120% to even 300% rate of interest on farm loans by upper caste Hindus from lower caste is not the way to unite Hindus. (Reference Vidarbha Report)
[RSS was founded in 1925 by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a Nagpur doctor, with the aim to unite Hindus. Hedgewar proposed that Hindus must unite to face challenges and protect the freedom and diversity of Indian civilization. The organization was able to establish itself throughout the country on account of its nationalistic ideology and sacrifices of selfless karyakartas. The "pracharaks" or "full-time workers", who were spread all over the country, and karyakartas helped make RSS the world's biggest social welfare organisation. Also, the organization took part in the Indian independence movement.]
I have calculated a set of under garments that retail for Rs.100, value of cotton in it is just Rs.10 at present highest level. Farmers get only Rs.5 out of this and accounting for cost of seeds, sowing, harvesting and other operations farmer’s net income is just Rs..2.
A cotton farmer’s family of five that may need 20 sets of under garments a year pay Rs.2000 but cotton in under garments is just 3 kgs and he was paid between Rs.50 to Rs.100 and his net income was between Rs.20 to Rs.40.
Ravinder Singh
August22, 2008
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Vidarbha
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Religion_ in_India
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Rashtriya_ Swayamsevak_ Sangh
http://www.iwmi. cgiar.org/ iwmi-tata_ html/PM2003/ PDF/11_Highlight .pdf
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Dalit_Buddhist_ movement
Posted by Nagur Rocks
Re: Azadi, Azadi, Azadi, Azadi, Azadi for All - Exclusive (C)
There will always be people having less then others. There will be people having less then you. That’s the way the world is made. And that’s the way the world can, and has survived till now.
NOW, Mukesh or Anil collecting/ wasting or throwing away cash is not causing or prevailing poverty. Keep in mind that all the cash he has is just paper. Its value is decided by the government. We have a system here. A system that allows us to live without killing each other when we please.
Also remember that Mukesh and Anil pay taxes to this system. And I bet they pay more tax then u and me. It really hurts me to see people disliking someone coz of his success or wealth. People deserve the success or not, they have had it. The system was designed to help the people, to remove poverty and ensure safe and dignified lives to the citizen. This System, the government, administrator, police, courts, banks, everything. They are responsible for what we see.
*ARROYO ESCALATES BRUTAL CAMPAIGNS OF SUPPRESSION*
Press Statement
22 August 2008
*ARROYO ESCALATES BRUTAL CAMPAIGNS OF SUPPRESSION*
*AND CLOSES THE DOOR TO PEACE NEGOTIATIONS*
*By Prof. Jose Maria Sison*
Chief Political Consultant
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
In line with her brutal policy of suppressing the revolutionary forces
of the people, Gloria M. Arroyo has apparently closed the door to peace
negotiations by declaring that she would negotiate with "communities"
rather than with the armed revolutionary movements like the National
Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF), unless they first surrender and agree to be
subjected to "disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation" under the
terms of the continuing system of oppression and exploitation.
Arroyo misses the whole point about the peace negotiations as a mutually
agreed process for the conflicting parties to address the roots of the
armed conflict and work out agreements on social, economic and political
reforms in order to realize a just and lasting peace. She is
excessively obsessed with the vain wish to destroy or debilitate the
armed revolutionary movements through all-out military force. This is
complemented by her notion that she can use sham negotiations to trick
these movements to capitulate or to paralyze them with indefinite
informal talks and ceasefire.
She overestimates what she and her armed forces can do and
underestimates what the people and the armed revolutionary movements can
do against her regime. She is oblivious of the fact that the entire
ruling system and her regime in particular are rotten to the core and
are beset by a grave socio-economic and political crisis, that her armed
forces are already fatigued and demoralized by the failures and defeats
of Oplan Bantay Laya and that the armed forces of the NDFP and MILF can
deliver more lethal blows to their common foes if they simultaneously
intensify their offensives in their respective territories.
Indeed, it can be expected that the level of armed resistance by the
revolutionary forces and people will rise on a nationwide scale because
in the first place the Arroyo regime is carrying out a brutal policy of
suppression and is escalating military campaigns against them. All the
organized forces, institutions and people interested in the realization
of a just and lasting peace through peace negotiations should press the
Arroyo regime to end its brutal policy of suppression, to stop the
depradations and atrocities of the reactionary armed forces and to
undertake serious peace negotiations with the NDFP and MILF in
accordance with previous agreements. ###
22 August 2008
*ARROYO ESCALATES BRUTAL CAMPAIGNS OF SUPPRESSION*
*AND CLOSES THE DOOR TO PEACE NEGOTIATIONS*
*By Prof. Jose Maria Sison*
Chief Political Consultant
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
In line with her brutal policy of suppressing the revolutionary forces
of the people, Gloria M. Arroyo has apparently closed the door to peace
negotiations by declaring that she would negotiate with "communities"
rather than with the armed revolutionary movements like the National
Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF), unless they first surrender and agree to be
subjected to "disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation" under the
terms of the continuing system of oppression and exploitation.
Arroyo misses the whole point about the peace negotiations as a mutually
agreed process for the conflicting parties to address the roots of the
armed conflict and work out agreements on social, economic and political
reforms in order to realize a just and lasting peace. She is
excessively obsessed with the vain wish to destroy or debilitate the
armed revolutionary movements through all-out military force. This is
complemented by her notion that she can use sham negotiations to trick
these movements to capitulate or to paralyze them with indefinite
informal talks and ceasefire.
She overestimates what she and her armed forces can do and
underestimates what the people and the armed revolutionary movements can
do against her regime. She is oblivious of the fact that the entire
ruling system and her regime in particular are rotten to the core and
are beset by a grave socio-economic and political crisis, that her armed
forces are already fatigued and demoralized by the failures and defeats
of Oplan Bantay Laya and that the armed forces of the NDFP and MILF can
deliver more lethal blows to their common foes if they simultaneously
intensify their offensives in their respective territories.
Indeed, it can be expected that the level of armed resistance by the
revolutionary forces and people will rise on a nationwide scale because
in the first place the Arroyo regime is carrying out a brutal policy of
suppression and is escalating military campaigns against them. All the
organized forces, institutions and people interested in the realization
of a just and lasting peace through peace negotiations should press the
Arroyo regime to end its brutal policy of suppression, to stop the
depradations and atrocities of the reactionary armed forces and to
undertake serious peace negotiations with the NDFP and MILF in
accordance with previous agreements. ###
Tata threatens to pull out of Singur if violence persists
[As if the Tata Motors are doing a great favour to
those who are being looted of their lands and
livelihoods.
In case the Tatas are eventually boote dout, that'd be
a great lesson for other industrial houses as well:
Don't ignore popular voices. Don't rely too much on
the administration.
That'd be really great.]
Tata threatens to pull out of Singur if violence
persists
Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata has threatened to exit
West Bengal if there was no let up in violence at
Singur, where the company is building a factory to
make the world's cheapest car 'Nano'.
"We are deeply concerned at the violence and
disruption and at the safety of our employees,
equipment and investments at the project site at
Singur," Tata told reporters on the sidelines of the
Tata Tea annual general meeting in Kolkata on Friday.
He said: "Ut is for the people of West Bengal and
Kolkata to decide whether we are unwanted or accept us
as a good corporate citizen. If it is the latter, then
it is good."
He said that if it was the other, then it would be
impossible to alter the plan "following which we would
have to make a move despite whatever investments had
been already made in the project."
A visibly disturbed Tata said that Rs 1500 crore of
investments had been already made in the project.
"There is a sense of tension, violence and disruption
(at Singur). Obviously it is not a conducive
atmosphere. The compound wall is broken down,
materials stolen."
"Whatever be the cost, we will move out if the
situation demands so," he said.
Tata said that there was a general perception that
Tatas were exploiting the state. "We are extremely
sensitive to the needs of the rural community. We have
not come to exploit anyone. We have got the land on
lease and not bought it."
The state had been long ignored by industrial houses,
including the Tatas.
"Despite much flak which we have drawn for locating
the dream project at Singur, we have decided to locate
the project here. We are also gifting a hospital to
the state which would be commissioned in March 2009,"
he said.
Saying that he had no regret for coming to West
Bengal, he said "I am an optimist."
If the project was moved out of Singur, then it would
definitely affect the future flow of investments by
the Tatas in the state, he said.
Explaining the situation at Singur, Tata said: "It is
not possible to work under police protection."
On the issue of 400 acres which had been earmarked for
the ancillary units, Tata said that the small car
'Nano' was a unique product. "It is necessary to
incorporate the ancillary units in the same location
to keep the logistics cost low."
The main opposition Trinamool Congress in the state is
insisting that the company set up operations on 600
acres and return 400 acres of land earmarked for
ancillary units to farmers from whom the property was
acquired forcibly.
With the state government not relenting to the
opposition party's demands, a deadlock has been
created leading to tension and violence in the project
area.
People of WB want Nano car project: Industry minister
The people of West Bengal wanted the Tata Motors small
car project at Singur and the state government was
hopeful about it, Industry minister Nirupam Sen said
in Kolkata on Friday.
"You told me and I heard it. Now you decide," was the
initial reaction of Sen when reporters asked him about
Ratan Tata's statement that Tata Motors would pull out
if the violence and agitation continued at Singur.
He said that the people of the state wanted the 'Nano'
car project and Tata also knew it.
The Industry minister said that the small car project
could not come up if 400 acre was returned as demanded
by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.
Sen who had discussed the Singur project with Tata in
Kolkata on Thursday night, said that the state
government wanted to work out a solution and was open
for talks to find out an acceptable solution.
Appealing to Trinamool Congress, he said, "Let us work
together and identify those families who might be
facing hardship after losing their land at Singur. The
state government is ready to provide them alternative
livelihood."
"I also told the Tatas to come forward in this respect
and they have agreed," the Industry Minister said.
Mamata criticises Tata; not to budge from demand
Criticising Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata for
threatening to pull out the Nano project if violence
and disruption continued in Singur, Trinamool Congress
chief Mamata Banerjee has said she would not budge
from her demand for return of 400 acre of land there.
"We don't want anybody to move out of West Bengal, but
at the same time, we will not bow to any kind of
pressure," Banerjee, whose party planned to lay siege
to the small car plant at Singur on 24th August, told
reporters in Kolkata on Friday.
"There should not be any kind of blackmailing. It is
highly reprehensible that he has chosen to brand
Singur villagers thieves for alleged pilferage of
construction materials."
Asked if she was ready to talk to the Tatas, she said
"in principle, we would like Ratan Tata to concede our
demand for return of 400 acre forcibly taken away from
unwilling farmers."
Banerjee was also critical of Industry minister
Nirupam Sen's meeting with Tata at a hotel in Kolkata
on Thursday, saying the meeting aimed at "secretly
plotting against the people of Singur".
The Trinamool supremo blamed the state government for
the crisis at Singur and said it had not yet made
public the land deal with the Tatas despite several
demands.
http://india. gov.in/outerwin. htm?id=http:
//www.ddinews. gov.in/Homepage/ Homepage+ -+Headlines/
vbcb.htm
those who are being looted of their lands and
livelihoods.
In case the Tatas are eventually boote dout, that'd be
a great lesson for other industrial houses as well:
Don't ignore popular voices. Don't rely too much on
the administration.
That'd be really great.]
Tata threatens to pull out of Singur if violence
persists
Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata has threatened to exit
West Bengal if there was no let up in violence at
Singur, where the company is building a factory to
make the world's cheapest car 'Nano'.
"We are deeply concerned at the violence and
disruption and at the safety of our employees,
equipment and investments at the project site at
Singur," Tata told reporters on the sidelines of the
Tata Tea annual general meeting in Kolkata on Friday.
He said: "Ut is for the people of West Bengal and
Kolkata to decide whether we are unwanted or accept us
as a good corporate citizen. If it is the latter, then
it is good."
He said that if it was the other, then it would be
impossible to alter the plan "following which we would
have to make a move despite whatever investments had
been already made in the project."
A visibly disturbed Tata said that Rs 1500 crore of
investments had been already made in the project.
"There is a sense of tension, violence and disruption
(at Singur). Obviously it is not a conducive
atmosphere. The compound wall is broken down,
materials stolen."
"Whatever be the cost, we will move out if the
situation demands so," he said.
Tata said that there was a general perception that
Tatas were exploiting the state. "We are extremely
sensitive to the needs of the rural community. We have
not come to exploit anyone. We have got the land on
lease and not bought it."
The state had been long ignored by industrial houses,
including the Tatas.
"Despite much flak which we have drawn for locating
the dream project at Singur, we have decided to locate
the project here. We are also gifting a hospital to
the state which would be commissioned in March 2009,"
he said.
Saying that he had no regret for coming to West
Bengal, he said "I am an optimist."
If the project was moved out of Singur, then it would
definitely affect the future flow of investments by
the Tatas in the state, he said.
Explaining the situation at Singur, Tata said: "It is
not possible to work under police protection."
On the issue of 400 acres which had been earmarked for
the ancillary units, Tata said that the small car
'Nano' was a unique product. "It is necessary to
incorporate the ancillary units in the same location
to keep the logistics cost low."
The main opposition Trinamool Congress in the state is
insisting that the company set up operations on 600
acres and return 400 acres of land earmarked for
ancillary units to farmers from whom the property was
acquired forcibly.
With the state government not relenting to the
opposition party's demands, a deadlock has been
created leading to tension and violence in the project
area.
People of WB want Nano car project: Industry minister
The people of West Bengal wanted the Tata Motors small
car project at Singur and the state government was
hopeful about it, Industry minister Nirupam Sen said
in Kolkata on Friday.
"You told me and I heard it. Now you decide," was the
initial reaction of Sen when reporters asked him about
Ratan Tata's statement that Tata Motors would pull out
if the violence and agitation continued at Singur.
He said that the people of the state wanted the 'Nano'
car project and Tata also knew it.
The Industry minister said that the small car project
could not come up if 400 acre was returned as demanded
by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.
Sen who had discussed the Singur project with Tata in
Kolkata on Thursday night, said that the state
government wanted to work out a solution and was open
for talks to find out an acceptable solution.
Appealing to Trinamool Congress, he said, "Let us work
together and identify those families who might be
facing hardship after losing their land at Singur. The
state government is ready to provide them alternative
livelihood."
"I also told the Tatas to come forward in this respect
and they have agreed," the Industry Minister said.
Mamata criticises Tata; not to budge from demand
Criticising Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata for
threatening to pull out the Nano project if violence
and disruption continued in Singur, Trinamool Congress
chief Mamata Banerjee has said she would not budge
from her demand for return of 400 acre of land there.
"We don't want anybody to move out of West Bengal, but
at the same time, we will not bow to any kind of
pressure," Banerjee, whose party planned to lay siege
to the small car plant at Singur on 24th August, told
reporters in Kolkata on Friday.
"There should not be any kind of blackmailing. It is
highly reprehensible that he has chosen to brand
Singur villagers thieves for alleged pilferage of
construction materials."
Asked if she was ready to talk to the Tatas, she said
"in principle, we would like Ratan Tata to concede our
demand for return of 400 acre forcibly taken away from
unwilling farmers."
Banerjee was also critical of Industry minister
Nirupam Sen's meeting with Tata at a hotel in Kolkata
on Thursday, saying the meeting aimed at "secretly
plotting against the people of Singur".
The Trinamool supremo blamed the state government for
the crisis at Singur and said it had not yet made
public the land deal with the Tatas despite several
demands.
http://india. gov.in/outerwin. htm?id=http:
//www.ddinews. gov.in/Homepage/ Homepage+ -+Headlines/
vbcb.htm
Forget Babri, check out monks' wooden slippers
Forget Babri, check out monks' wooden slippers
By Nitish Sengupta
DECCAN CHRONICLE Aug. 21, 2008
Shabana Azmi has all along been admired for her forthrightness. But by her comment in a television interview on Sunday that Indian democracy has not been fair to Indian Muslims, she has unwittingly played into the hands of Muslim fundamentalists and deserted the ranks of those who, irrespective of religious affiliation, are trying to bring the two communities together. The example which she chose as an illustration, that she could not buy a flat in Mumbai on account of being a Muslim, is trivial and misleading, and not weighty enough to justify the conclusion she has drawn. It is hard to believe that she could not buy a flat in Mumbai when so many other Muslims appear to have no difficulty. What one can guess is that she might have been negotiating the purchase with a Gujarati or other vegetarian owner or housing society who generally prefer to have like-minded vegetarians as neighbours, owners or tenants in their houses or apartment complexes. A Muslim,
usually being non-vegetarian by habit, would therefore not be acceptable as the owner or tenant in such places. This is a fact of life in our country, which one cannot ignore, but it does not necessarily have anything to do with the religion that one professes. We can sympathise with Shabana Azmi, but to hold on the basis of this that Indian democracy has not been fair to Muslims is unfortunate.
India's democracy has, in fact, taken extraordinary care to be careful of the sentiments of Muslims, and minorities in general, in sharp contrast to the situation in Pakistan. Whenever there has been a choice between a Muslim and a non-Muslim officer for a position in the secretariat of the Union government, it is generally the Muslim officer who is selected, other things being equal. Similarly, in politics, Muslims joining mainstream political parties have always had a fair deal. One can name at least three Muslims who have become Presidents of India since 1947. There are always several Muslims serving as governors of states. In the Union Cabinet as well as in state governments Muslims have always occupied important ministerial posts. There have been cases of Muslims becoming chief ministers of states where the population is overwhelmingly Hindu. Muslims have occupied very important posts in the bureaucracy at both the Centre and at the state government
level.
If, in the face of this, Shabana Azmi still blames Indian democracy for being unfair to Muslims, she is certainly not being fair in her judgment. It is true that the percentage of Muslims in government services has not been very high. But this is on account of the fact that, at the time of Partition, most Muslims in government service migrated to Pakistan, and a considerable vacuum was created which took an entire generation to fill up. This is not the fault of Indian democracy. And the vacuum is gradually being filled up.
Another aspect which Shabana Azmi has overlooked is the fact that there is a much larger proportion of Muslims than Hindus who are self-employed, or have definite vocations in which they excel and which come to them by heredity, such as in the fields of glassware, carpentry, carpet-making, leather goods, meat production and distribution. It is not widely known that the wooden slippers used by Hindu monks are usually made by Muslims. So also are the fans which are used reverentially before images of Hindu deities in temples across the country. We need not talk about Bollywood, which is overwhelmingly dominated by Muslim actors, actresses and technicians, a fact which even the redoubtable Bal Thackeray has never been critical of. The Sachar Committee report, which Shabana Azmi has cited, ignored all these facts and cited only the percentage of jobs in government services occupied by Muslims. It was, to that extent, a prejudiced report, not an objective
one, and more resembling a lawyer's statement in which the lawyer has referred to only those arguments which are in favour of the brief given to him rather than an objective and impartial statement of the situation.
Shabana Azmi should also remember that it is this same Indian democracy which has nominated her to the Upper House of Parliament. She is also unfair to all those secular-minded people who are trying their best to ensure that our democracy works on the right lines. One should not merely harp on the Gujarat riots or the demolition of the Babri Masjid, both of which were indeed unfortunate events, but should carry on trying to strengthen the truly democratic and secular forces. It is important for Shabana Azmi to remember that her statement will not only strengthen fundamentalists among the Muslims, but will also justify the Hindu fundamentalists' "we told you so" attitude.
Dr Nitish Sengupta, an academic and an author, is a former Member of Parliament and a former secretary to the Government of India
By Nitish Sengupta
DECCAN CHRONICLE Aug. 21, 2008
Shabana Azmi has all along been admired for her forthrightness. But by her comment in a television interview on Sunday that Indian democracy has not been fair to Indian Muslims, she has unwittingly played into the hands of Muslim fundamentalists and deserted the ranks of those who, irrespective of religious affiliation, are trying to bring the two communities together. The example which she chose as an illustration, that she could not buy a flat in Mumbai on account of being a Muslim, is trivial and misleading, and not weighty enough to justify the conclusion she has drawn. It is hard to believe that she could not buy a flat in Mumbai when so many other Muslims appear to have no difficulty. What one can guess is that she might have been negotiating the purchase with a Gujarati or other vegetarian owner or housing society who generally prefer to have like-minded vegetarians as neighbours, owners or tenants in their houses or apartment complexes. A Muslim,
usually being non-vegetarian by habit, would therefore not be acceptable as the owner or tenant in such places. This is a fact of life in our country, which one cannot ignore, but it does not necessarily have anything to do with the religion that one professes. We can sympathise with Shabana Azmi, but to hold on the basis of this that Indian democracy has not been fair to Muslims is unfortunate.
India's democracy has, in fact, taken extraordinary care to be careful of the sentiments of Muslims, and minorities in general, in sharp contrast to the situation in Pakistan. Whenever there has been a choice between a Muslim and a non-Muslim officer for a position in the secretariat of the Union government, it is generally the Muslim officer who is selected, other things being equal. Similarly, in politics, Muslims joining mainstream political parties have always had a fair deal. One can name at least three Muslims who have become Presidents of India since 1947. There are always several Muslims serving as governors of states. In the Union Cabinet as well as in state governments Muslims have always occupied important ministerial posts. There have been cases of Muslims becoming chief ministers of states where the population is overwhelmingly Hindu. Muslims have occupied very important posts in the bureaucracy at both the Centre and at the state government
level.
If, in the face of this, Shabana Azmi still blames Indian democracy for being unfair to Muslims, she is certainly not being fair in her judgment. It is true that the percentage of Muslims in government services has not been very high. But this is on account of the fact that, at the time of Partition, most Muslims in government service migrated to Pakistan, and a considerable vacuum was created which took an entire generation to fill up. This is not the fault of Indian democracy. And the vacuum is gradually being filled up.
Another aspect which Shabana Azmi has overlooked is the fact that there is a much larger proportion of Muslims than Hindus who are self-employed, or have definite vocations in which they excel and which come to them by heredity, such as in the fields of glassware, carpentry, carpet-making, leather goods, meat production and distribution. It is not widely known that the wooden slippers used by Hindu monks are usually made by Muslims. So also are the fans which are used reverentially before images of Hindu deities in temples across the country. We need not talk about Bollywood, which is overwhelmingly dominated by Muslim actors, actresses and technicians, a fact which even the redoubtable Bal Thackeray has never been critical of. The Sachar Committee report, which Shabana Azmi has cited, ignored all these facts and cited only the percentage of jobs in government services occupied by Muslims. It was, to that extent, a prejudiced report, not an objective
one, and more resembling a lawyer's statement in which the lawyer has referred to only those arguments which are in favour of the brief given to him rather than an objective and impartial statement of the situation.
Shabana Azmi should also remember that it is this same Indian democracy which has nominated her to the Upper House of Parliament. She is also unfair to all those secular-minded people who are trying their best to ensure that our democracy works on the right lines. One should not merely harp on the Gujarat riots or the demolition of the Babri Masjid, both of which were indeed unfortunate events, but should carry on trying to strengthen the truly democratic and secular forces. It is important for Shabana Azmi to remember that her statement will not only strengthen fundamentalists among the Muslims, but will also justify the Hindu fundamentalists' "we told you so" attitude.
Dr Nitish Sengupta, an academic and an author, is a former Member of Parliament and a former secretary to the Government of India
Hindu Genocide in East Pakistan
Hindu Genocide in East Pakistan
By Shrinandan Vyas
This article deals with slaughter of about 2.5 million Hindus in East Pakistan in 1971.
This article refers to information provided by Dept. of Planning of Government of Bangla Desh, Encyclopedia Britannica, Senator Edward Kennedy's report to the U.S.Senate Judiciary Committee, Newsweek, New York Times,etc. This information and elementary math are used to show that indeed millions of Hindus were killed in East Pakistan in 1971.
ABSTRACT
It is well known that the 1971 army repression in Bangla Desh (former East Pakistan) resulted in an influx of 10 million refugees into India. Most world renowned relief and news agencies put the number of dead at 3 million. However the fact that is glossed over in these statistics is that THE ENTIRE HINDU POPULATION OF EAST PAKISTAN WAS THE PRIMARY TARGET OF PAKISTANI ARMY DURING THE 9 MONTHS OF REPRESSION IN 1971. Using the population statistics from Bangla Desh Government and US Government publications this article PROVES that 80 percent of the refugees from Bangla Desh were Hindus and that 80 percent of the 3 million killed were Hindus. THUS IT WAS A HINDU REFUGEE PROBLEM and IT WAS A HINDU GENOCIDE THAT TOOK PLACE IN EAST PAKISTAN IN 1971.
10 References - Encyclopedia Britannica, Bangla Desh Government - Ministry of Planning (for statistics), Newsweek, New York Times, Senator Edward Kennedy's report to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
INTRODUCTION
In the December 1970 general election in Pakistan, Awami League won 167 of 169 seats and over 80 % of popular votes in East Pakistan. Numerically Awami League had an absolute majority of seats in the Pakistan National Assembly (167
By Shrinandan Vyas
This article deals with slaughter of about 2.5 million Hindus in East Pakistan in 1971.
This article refers to information provided by Dept. of Planning of Government of Bangla Desh, Encyclopedia Britannica, Senator Edward Kennedy's report to the U.S.Senate Judiciary Committee, Newsweek, New York Times,etc. This information and elementary math are used to show that indeed millions of Hindus were killed in East Pakistan in 1971.
ABSTRACT
It is well known that the 1971 army repression in Bangla Desh (former East Pakistan) resulted in an influx of 10 million refugees into India. Most world renowned relief and news agencies put the number of dead at 3 million. However the fact that is glossed over in these statistics is that THE ENTIRE HINDU POPULATION OF EAST PAKISTAN WAS THE PRIMARY TARGET OF PAKISTANI ARMY DURING THE 9 MONTHS OF REPRESSION IN 1971. Using the population statistics from Bangla Desh Government and US Government publications this article PROVES that 80 percent of the refugees from Bangla Desh were Hindus and that 80 percent of the 3 million killed were Hindus. THUS IT WAS A HINDU REFUGEE PROBLEM and IT WAS A HINDU GENOCIDE THAT TOOK PLACE IN EAST PAKISTAN IN 1971.
10 References - Encyclopedia Britannica, Bangla Desh Government - Ministry of Planning (for statistics), Newsweek, New York Times, Senator Edward Kennedy's report to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
INTRODUCTION
In the December 1970 general election in Pakistan, Awami League won 167 of 169 seats and over 80 % of popular votes in East Pakistan. Numerically Awami League had an absolute majority of seats in the Pakistan National Assembly (167
The Great Caspian Sea Oil Pipeline Game
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, May - June 2001, page 29
Special Report
The Great Caspian Sea Oil Pipeline Game
By Andrew I. Killgore
“[Baku-Ceyhan] would allow Israel to draw oil from Ceyhan [Turkey], the only Middle East government with which Israel has good relations.”
—George Chanturia, president of the Georgia state oil company.
In the 19th century, Czarist Russia and the British Empire jousted for advantage in Central Asia. This came to be called “The Great Game.” The long, drawn-out struggle between the two titans inspired all kinds of books, spy novels, tales of derring-do and film dramas that still titillate. The Great Game was “clean”—just one against one—but its real-life adventures were just remote enough and so little understood in the West that they acquired an aura of exotic romance.
Unlike the Great Game, however, the current “Great Caspian Sea Oil Pipeline Game” is “messy,” with many players and complex competing interests. Multiply the messiness by 10 because, although the oil companies involved overwhelmingly do not support it, Israel wants this longest and most expensive pipeline from Baku, Azerbaijan to Ceyhan (pronounced Jayhan), Turkey—Israel’ s only Middle East ally, as indicated in the quote above. And when Israel is involved everything gets tangled, especially for the United States.
All kinds of estimates of the amounts of oil that may lie beneath the Caspian’s brackish waters are floating about, some putting the potential almost in a league with Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately for Baku-Ceyhan, however, Azerbaijan itself has so far found very disappointing amounts of oil. That means that, as of now, the only source of the extra oil that will be needed to make up the estimated one million barrels a day that an economically viable Baku-Ceyhan would require is Kazakhstan. The American-Israeli need for that extra oil explains an odd little item in the March 26 issue of London’s Financial Times. The U.S. is said to have “succeeded” in getting Kazakhstan to sign a memorandum that it “might” send oil across the Caspian to a future Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline.
The same article quoted Kaireldy Kabyldin, head of Kazakhstan’s national pipeline company, as saying that his country was studying the feasibility of a pipeline route through Iran. “This would be the shortest and possibly cheapest route for oil to Asian markets,” Kabyldin told a recent London conference.
A blow against Baku-Ceyhan was struck on March 26, with the opening of a 950-mile-long pipeline linking Kazakhstan’s huge Tengiz field to Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. “Now that Kazakh oil can go through [Tengiz-Novorossiys k] it undermines the case for…Baku-Ceyhan,” said analyst Daphne Ter-Sakarian in the Economist Intelligence Unit.
The only remaining possible—repeat, possible—source of the extra oil to justify economically a future Baku-Ceyhan line is Kazakhstan’s offshore (in the Caspian) Kashagan field, which may be very large. Although its full potential may not be known for several years, Phillips Petroleum Co. tells the Washington Report that two new wells, 20 miles apart, are very big. Still, Kazakhstan will have to agree to ship the oil across the Caspian Sea to Baku. That means an undersea pipeline, which Russia and Iran would strenuously oppose on environmental and other grounds.
The five states surrounding the Caspian Sea are Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan. Which state owns what part of the sea is up in the air. A summit of the five was scheduled for April to try to decide who can exploit what, or who can grant contracts to multinational companies.
Secretary of State Colin Powell has recently demoted the U.S. “special representative for the Caspian region” to merely a “special adviser.” Under the Clinton administration, two pro Baku-Ceyhan “special representatives” in a row, both with the rank of ambassador, had pushed Baku-Ceyhan against the opposition of the oil companies concerned. Powell’s action will hurt Baku-Ceyhan enthusiasts including Azerbaijan, Turkey and (of course) Israel.
A new development to encourage those still dreaming of Baku-Ceyhan is the sudden reversal of British Petroleum (BP) from anti- to pro-pipeline. Oil consultants at Washington’s Petroleum Finance Company (PFC) are puzzled by BP’s about-face.
Accused at a recent London conference of shifting grounds for political reasons, BP referred to large oil reserves in the southern Caspian. PFC experts tell the Washington Report that they are unaware of any new discoveries in that area.
Whether Baku-Ceyhan ever will be built is increasingly doubtful. Israel needs it to demonstrate to Turkey that Ankara’s alliance with the Jewish state“pays off.” If the line is built it will represent a new Israeli raid on the U.S. treasury, because Baku-Ceyhan will cost $1 billion to $2 billion more than would a line through Iran. The U.S. or an international lending agency under American influence will have to come up with the difference.
To increase Baku-Ceyhan’s chances the U.S. opposes any pipeline going through Russia or Iran. That has thrown the two old enemies together—surely an unintended consequence of a U.S. policy driven by Israel.
Andrew I. Killgore is the publisher of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.
Special Report
The Great Caspian Sea Oil Pipeline Game
By Andrew I. Killgore
“[Baku-Ceyhan] would allow Israel to draw oil from Ceyhan [Turkey], the only Middle East government with which Israel has good relations.”
—George Chanturia, president of the Georgia state oil company.
In the 19th century, Czarist Russia and the British Empire jousted for advantage in Central Asia. This came to be called “The Great Game.” The long, drawn-out struggle between the two titans inspired all kinds of books, spy novels, tales of derring-do and film dramas that still titillate. The Great Game was “clean”—just one against one—but its real-life adventures were just remote enough and so little understood in the West that they acquired an aura of exotic romance.
Unlike the Great Game, however, the current “Great Caspian Sea Oil Pipeline Game” is “messy,” with many players and complex competing interests. Multiply the messiness by 10 because, although the oil companies involved overwhelmingly do not support it, Israel wants this longest and most expensive pipeline from Baku, Azerbaijan to Ceyhan (pronounced Jayhan), Turkey—Israel’ s only Middle East ally, as indicated in the quote above. And when Israel is involved everything gets tangled, especially for the United States.
All kinds of estimates of the amounts of oil that may lie beneath the Caspian’s brackish waters are floating about, some putting the potential almost in a league with Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately for Baku-Ceyhan, however, Azerbaijan itself has so far found very disappointing amounts of oil. That means that, as of now, the only source of the extra oil that will be needed to make up the estimated one million barrels a day that an economically viable Baku-Ceyhan would require is Kazakhstan. The American-Israeli need for that extra oil explains an odd little item in the March 26 issue of London’s Financial Times. The U.S. is said to have “succeeded” in getting Kazakhstan to sign a memorandum that it “might” send oil across the Caspian to a future Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline.
The same article quoted Kaireldy Kabyldin, head of Kazakhstan’s national pipeline company, as saying that his country was studying the feasibility of a pipeline route through Iran. “This would be the shortest and possibly cheapest route for oil to Asian markets,” Kabyldin told a recent London conference.
A blow against Baku-Ceyhan was struck on March 26, with the opening of a 950-mile-long pipeline linking Kazakhstan’s huge Tengiz field to Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. “Now that Kazakh oil can go through [Tengiz-Novorossiys k] it undermines the case for…Baku-Ceyhan,” said analyst Daphne Ter-Sakarian in the Economist Intelligence Unit.
The only remaining possible—repeat, possible—source of the extra oil to justify economically a future Baku-Ceyhan line is Kazakhstan’s offshore (in the Caspian) Kashagan field, which may be very large. Although its full potential may not be known for several years, Phillips Petroleum Co. tells the Washington Report that two new wells, 20 miles apart, are very big. Still, Kazakhstan will have to agree to ship the oil across the Caspian Sea to Baku. That means an undersea pipeline, which Russia and Iran would strenuously oppose on environmental and other grounds.
The five states surrounding the Caspian Sea are Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan. Which state owns what part of the sea is up in the air. A summit of the five was scheduled for April to try to decide who can exploit what, or who can grant contracts to multinational companies.
Secretary of State Colin Powell has recently demoted the U.S. “special representative for the Caspian region” to merely a “special adviser.” Under the Clinton administration, two pro Baku-Ceyhan “special representatives” in a row, both with the rank of ambassador, had pushed Baku-Ceyhan against the opposition of the oil companies concerned. Powell’s action will hurt Baku-Ceyhan enthusiasts including Azerbaijan, Turkey and (of course) Israel.
A new development to encourage those still dreaming of Baku-Ceyhan is the sudden reversal of British Petroleum (BP) from anti- to pro-pipeline. Oil consultants at Washington’s Petroleum Finance Company (PFC) are puzzled by BP’s about-face.
Accused at a recent London conference of shifting grounds for political reasons, BP referred to large oil reserves in the southern Caspian. PFC experts tell the Washington Report that they are unaware of any new discoveries in that area.
Whether Baku-Ceyhan ever will be built is increasingly doubtful. Israel needs it to demonstrate to Turkey that Ankara’s alliance with the Jewish state“pays off.” If the line is built it will represent a new Israeli raid on the U.S. treasury, because Baku-Ceyhan will cost $1 billion to $2 billion more than would a line through Iran. The U.S. or an international lending agency under American influence will have to come up with the difference.
To increase Baku-Ceyhan’s chances the U.S. opposes any pipeline going through Russia or Iran. That has thrown the two old enemies together—surely an unintended consequence of a U.S. policy driven by Israel.
Andrew I. Killgore is the publisher of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.
How Pakistan Measures Up To Developing Asia Nations
How Pakistan Measures Up To Developing Asia Nations
Posted by: "S Turkman" turkman@sbcglobal.net torkmaan
Date: Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:12 am ((PDT))
The Phrase, 'Per Capita GDP' can not be used for 'Purchasing Power Per Capita' or PPP because 'Per Capita GDP' means GDP divided on Population.
If GDP is correct, yearly Original Per Capita of these countries is as following:
* China $ 2,461 but average Chinese make only about $ 1,000 a year in practice so GDP shown can not be correct. Its completely bogus.
* India $ 932 but average Indian does not make this kind of money so, GDP shown has to be incorrect.
* Indonesia $ 1,869.
* Thailand $ 3,910
* Malaysia $ 6,837
* Phillipines $ 1,624
* Pakistan $ 892
* Bangladesh $ 456, which doesn't sound right at all. It should be more.
If the GDP numbers shown below are calculated by governments of these countries, they have different methods of calculating it.
CONCLUSION:
Finance Ministries of China, India and Bangladesh do not know, how to calculate GDP.
----------------------------
I would appreciate comments on this from Readers.
S U Turkman, an Economist
Posted by: "S Turkman" turkman@sbcglobal.net torkmaan
Date: Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:12 am ((PDT))
The Phrase, 'Per Capita GDP' can not be used for 'Purchasing Power Per Capita' or PPP because 'Per Capita GDP' means GDP divided on Population.
If GDP is correct, yearly Original Per Capita of these countries is as following:
* China $ 2,461 but average Chinese make only about $ 1,000 a year in practice so GDP shown can not be correct. Its completely bogus.
* India $ 932 but average Indian does not make this kind of money so, GDP shown has to be incorrect.
* Indonesia $ 1,869.
* Thailand $ 3,910
* Malaysia $ 6,837
* Phillipines $ 1,624
* Pakistan $ 892
* Bangladesh $ 456, which doesn't sound right at all. It should be more.
If the GDP numbers shown below are calculated by governments of these countries, they have different methods of calculating it.
CONCLUSION:
Finance Ministries of China, India and Bangladesh do not know, how to calculate GDP.
----------------------------
I would appreciate comments on this from Readers.
S U Turkman, an Economist
WORLD SINDHI CONGRESS
WORLD SINDHI CONGRESS
22 Newfields, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 6YT , UK
Phone: 44 (1707) 330437 ~ Fax: 44 (870) 1226007
615 Poplar Avenue, Sacramento CA 95691, USA.T: 818-917-6910. F: 1-866-366-9603
214 McGibbon Dr., Ottawa , ON K2L-3Y4 Canada . T: 613-591-0451~ F: 1- 815-550-5694
Email world_sindhi_ congress@ yahoo.com ~ URL: http://www.worldsin dhicongrss. org
Press Release Date: August 18, 2008
AR Kakepoto
California, USA
World Sind hi Congress (WSC) is deeply relieved at the departure of military dictator General Musharaf. He was particularly against Sindhi and Baloch people and nev er bothered to hide his disliking against them. WSC believes he is the main culprit for the killing of thousands of Baloch and Sindhi people including Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto, Nawab Akbar Bugti and Mir Balaach Marri. During his black era Sindhi and Baloch people were put against wall and thousands of Baloch and Sindhi political activists were kidnapped to torture centers. He supported and implemented all the racist and fascist policies of MQM against Sindhi people to severely damage their historical, political, cultural, social and economic rights. WSC has demanded that he should be tried and punished for his crimes against humanity. WSC has also demanded from the present government that all the actions, policies and crimes committed against Sind hi people by him and MQM should be
nullified and appropriate actions need to be taken to compensate the damage caused.
World Sindhi Congress
22 Newfields, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 6YT, UK
Tel. +44 (01707) 896526 ~ Fax +44 (870)1226007
615 Poplar Avenue, Sacramento CA 95691, USA ~ TELE:: 818-917-6910 ~ FAX: 1-775-599-9226
214 McGibbon Dr., Ottawa, ON K2L-3Y4 Canada ~ TELE: 1-613-591-0451 ~ FAX 1-815-550-5694
Email: world_sindhi_ congress@ yahoo.com
URL: http://www.worldsin dhicongress. org
22 Newfields, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 6YT , UK
Phone: 44 (1707) 330437 ~ Fax: 44 (870) 1226007
615 Poplar Avenue, Sacramento CA 95691, USA.T: 818-917-6910. F: 1-866-366-9603
214 McGibbon Dr., Ottawa , ON K2L-3Y4 Canada . T: 613-591-0451~ F: 1- 815-550-5694
Email world_sindhi_ congress@ yahoo.com ~ URL: http://www.worldsin dhicongrss. org
Press Release Date: August 18, 2008
AR Kakepoto
California, USA
World Sind hi Congress (WSC) is deeply relieved at the departure of military dictator General Musharaf. He was particularly against Sindhi and Baloch people and nev er bothered to hide his disliking against them. WSC believes he is the main culprit for the killing of thousands of Baloch and Sindhi people including Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto, Nawab Akbar Bugti and Mir Balaach Marri. During his black era Sindhi and Baloch people were put against wall and thousands of Baloch and Sindhi political activists were kidnapped to torture centers. He supported and implemented all the racist and fascist policies of MQM against Sindhi people to severely damage their historical, political, cultural, social and economic rights. WSC has demanded that he should be tried and punished for his crimes against humanity. WSC has also demanded from the present government that all the actions, policies and crimes committed against Sind hi people by him and MQM should be
nullified and appropriate actions need to be taken to compensate the damage caused.
World Sindhi Congress
22 Newfields, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 6YT, UK
Tel. +44 (01707) 896526 ~ Fax +44 (870)1226007
615 Poplar Avenue, Sacramento CA 95691, USA ~ TELE:: 818-917-6910 ~ FAX: 1-775-599-9226
214 McGibbon Dr., Ottawa, ON K2L-3Y4 Canada ~ TELE: 1-613-591-0451 ~ FAX 1-815-550-5694
Email: world_sindhi_ congress@ yahoo.com
URL: http://www.worldsin dhicongress. org
The bible books are even some 700 years older than the Quran
The bible books are even some 700 years older than the Quran.
2008/8/21, S Turkman:
No. I don't think even Qoraan should be used in its present form. It needs a lot of deletions because people addressed in Qoraan are according to 7th Century Customs and beliefs. This is 21st Century. If all that stupid B.S. is not words of God, it must have been added on by the Prophet of Islam or others.
Problems with Verses of Qoraan as it exists:
1. Order for killing Non Moslims (more than a few times).
2. "Bad Jews are Pigs and Monkeys".
3. "Bad Jews and Christians would be turned in to Pigs and Monkeys" (but no explanation, how? Would they be re-incarnated like that or by some miracle that never took place as promised?)
4. "Women's only job is to please her husband" (not taking care of children or raising them right)
5. "Women are your Fields to till" (Tilling the Field means, having sex with them but nobody translated it that way).
6. "We made Vagina of Women legal on you" (Was it illegal before Qoraan or it was being told to poor Bedouin, who could not have sex with any woman all their lives because they couldn't afford to buy a Wife or kidnap a girl?)
7. "Collect Protection Money from Non Moslims ...!" (Contradiction here. When all of them have been ordered killed, how come there would be any left to collect Protection Money? Was it because Moslims had gotten tired of killing them?)
8. "Enslave the people of Defeated nation but free them if Ransom Money is paid or out of kindness of your heart". (As the custom of 7th Century was).
These are some of the major problems with Qoraan but Internet Mollaas keep changing the meanings of these Verses because they can not be accepted correct even by their own anymore.
--- On Wed, 8/20/08, Virginia F. Raines wrote:
More of Mik's racist anti-jew nonsense, complely ignorant of the tribal culture there.
Are "Muslim preachers" in Afghanistan teaching things that aren't in the Koran or hadeeths? Certainly -- they're doing the same in other countries, and always have. As Turkman has pointed out many times, hadeeths should not even be used but only the Koran.
2008/8/21, S Turkman
No. I don't think even Qoraan should be used in its present form. It needs a lot of deletions because people addressed in Qoraan are according to 7th Century Customs and beliefs. This is 21st Century. If all that stupid B.S. is not words of God, it must have been added on by the Prophet of Islam or others.
Problems with Verses of Qoraan as it exists:
1. Order for killing Non Moslims (more than a few times).
2. "Bad Jews are Pigs and Monkeys".
3. "Bad Jews and Christians would be turned in to Pigs and Monkeys" (but no explanation, how? Would they be re-incarnated like that or by some miracle that never took place as promised?)
4. "Women's only job is to please her husband" (not taking care of children or raising them right)
5. "Women are your Fields to till" (Tilling the Field means, having sex with them but nobody translated it that way).
6. "We made Vagina of Women legal on you" (Was it illegal before Qoraan or it was being told to poor Bedouin, who could not have sex with any woman all their lives because they couldn't afford to buy a Wife or kidnap a girl?)
7. "Collect Protection Money from Non Moslims ...!" (Contradiction here. When all of them have been ordered killed, how come there would be any left to collect Protection Money? Was it because Moslims had gotten tired of killing them?)
8. "Enslave the people of Defeated nation but free them if Ransom Money is paid or out of kindness of your heart". (As the custom of 7th Century was).
These are some of the major problems with Qoraan but Internet Mollaas keep changing the meanings of these Verses because they can not be accepted correct even by their own anymore.
--- On Wed, 8/20/08, Virginia F. Raines
More of Mik's racist anti-jew nonsense, complely ignorant of the tribal culture there.
Are "Muslim preachers" in Afghanistan teaching things that aren't in the Koran or hadeeths? Certainly -- they're doing the same in other countries, and always have. As Turkman has pointed out many times, hadeeths should not even be used but only the Koran.
THE POST-MUSHARRAF PAKISTAN
On Tue, 8/19/08, syed-mohsin naquvi wrote:
THE POST-MUSHARRAF PAKISTAN
Next came Zia-ul-Haq, the infamous butcher of the Black September in Jordan. He considered himself Khaleefat-ul- Muslimeen. Nearly 150,000 people have been transported from the NWFP and the FATA areas to be resettled in Karachi. Why? The new authorities want to re-organize the demographics of the country. They want to create a new seat in the assembly based on Pashtoon nationalism to counter the MQM in Karachi.
Syed-Mohsin Naquvi
======================================
Dear Naquvi Sahab,
You have missed two things in the above paragraph that Pashtuns and Urdu Speaking Community have no clash of interest at all rather it would be good for both of them to wrok jointly like they used to enjoy excellent relations during the life of Late. Khan Abdul Wali Khan.
Genera Zia was instrumental in creating Ethnic and Sectarian Divide.
Read..
Irfan Sahab says that I single out Generals, well they ought to be single out because they enjoyed and abused powers therefore they must share the responsibility for creating Ethnic and Sectarian Hatred in remaining Pakistan to save their selfish interests. I wonder where is the Quran from which Irfan Sahab quote quite often?
Why dont you discuss this creation of General Ziaul Haq, and this creation of General Ziaul Haq is nowadays Musharraf's key supporter and ally! And another Creation of General Ziaul Haq whose sons are allies of General Musharraf as well.
Very correctly had been pointed out by Late Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah "that Jam Sadiq Ali in his government in 1990 with the tacit approval of the Military Establishment [Ghulam Ishaq Khan, BCCI's Agha Hasan Abidi, General Javed Nasir, General Asad Durrani] had bought out this so-called Sann Jo Saeen Jiey Sadaeen also a Peer and other Peer Altaf Hussain by opening a Jumma Bazaar [Friday Sales Market] of so-called Sindhi and Urdu Speaking Nationalists of Sindh in Sindh Assembly. The same thing is being done by Musharraf in Sindh since 12 Oct 1999 with the above mentioned categories. Half of the Musharraf's Sindh Assembly [2002-2007] was the by product of same Jam Sadiq Ali tactics even some members were cultivated by Jam Sadiq Ali with tacit connivance of Ghulam Ishaq Khan-BCCI-Military Industrial Complex and US Military Establishment as well. You are telling me that G M Syed was a force to reckon with. It was Jam Sadiq Ali that was force to reckon with
even now the above groups didnt even know what hit them in those years, when Jam Sadiq Ali had said sarcastically to late. Saeen Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah "Saeen to keep them [above groups] you need Harami [Bastard] like me". The parties above still licking their wounds.
Quote from a book:
"G. M. Syed lived to make other ill-conceived moves. When in 1983, under Zia, Sindhi blood was being spilled mercilessly, he stood aloof."
G. M. Syed- An analysis of his Political Perspectives by M. S. Korejo.
------------ ---
General Zia and General Jahandad Khan [then Governor Sindh] used to be regular visitors of "Sann Jo Saeen Jeay Sadaaen" when he was being treated for his illness in an Hospital in Karachi. Photos were very cordial, Khakis were all around Ghulam Murtaza Shah Kazmi aka G M SYED [G M Syed used to say that Maudoodi was a great Scholar of Islam in Pakistan and there was no match of Maudoodi in Pakistan}
------------ --------- ----
Quote from another book:
"G M Syed is a great tragedy of Sindh. He descended from Himalyan heights to play the stooge to forces he had always considered inimical to Sindh. His is indeed a great fall. During more than three quarters of the century, he began his life as a rebel against the British. He had come in politics in his late teens. He was instrumental in getting the anti one unit resolution of 1957 passed. He had great comrades in Maulana Abdul Qadir, Shaikh Abdul Majeed Sindh, and Haider Bux Jatoi. It appears with their death he went at a tangent on a wrong track. It is surprising how life can change the status and the image of a man. It is surprising that at this mature and real old age he should succumb to power and temptation [Page 40]
JAM THE MAN AND HIS POLITICS BY Late Sayid Ghulam Mustafa Shah.
MQM was thoroughly nurtured into a Frankenstein´s Monster by General Zia and his rogue establishment to counter PPP in Sindh. It was impossible for MQM to develop itself out of nowhere in a very ruthless Martial Law in the history of Pakistan because the consequences and effects of Zia´s ruthless and anti-Islamic policies are still being felt. General Zia ul Haq was powerful and sole power in Pakistan [like General Musharraf is now] in those days and the then Prime Minister of Pakistan late. Muhammad Khan Junejo was just a Democratic Façade of General Zia´s ruthless Military Establishment specifically the ISI, like present Democratic Façade of Prime Ministers Zafarullah Jamali, Chuadary Shujaat Hussain and Shaukat Aziz but the real power was with General Zia then and real power is with Musharraf now.
General Zia very secretly and invisibly nurtured the nemesis {i.e MQM, SSP, SMP and other Jihadi Mafias} of Jamat-e-Islami and other Political Parties of the Federation {whatever of it was left after the fall}. If you would follow the MQM´s history you would see that MQM gained power during the days of General Zia ul Haq. I am chronologically giving the speeches of MQM´s Founder Mr. Altaf Hussain to carefully read the dates of his speeches were the days of General Zia, even the date of birth of MQM was in the year 1978 {First year after General Zia ul Haq imposed the Martial Law}. In those days General Zia and his Military goons only allowed the Jamat-e-Islami to do politics and no other political party was allowed any political activities. Since every now and then you would have noticed that political leaders alleged that it was Bhutto who formed the political cell in ISI to watch out for opposition and that cell was never abolished and it even
works now so how it can be possible that Zia had no knowledge of MQM was coming into being.
MQM's first-ever public meeting at Karachi's Nishtar park on August 8, 1986, was marked by heavy aerial firing from the; pistols and rifles which the party activists were carrying on them. On that day, windowpanes of a traffic police kiosk opposite Quaid-e-Azam's mausoleum were broken, and stones were pelted on petrol pump near Gurumandir. Addressing the rally, Altaf Hussain said: "Karachi is no more mini-Pakistan. We will accept help no matter where it comes from, from east or west, north or south" (dailies Jang, Jasarat and other newspapers of August 9, 1986).
Two months later, on October 25, 1986, while addressing a press conference at Hyderabad Press Club, Altaf Hussain told the Mohajir youth to "collect arms. If our rights are not given to us, we will use every kind of force". On October 31, while addressing a public meeting at Hyderabad's Pakka Qila, he said: "At first we fought for freedom. Now that we have freedom, we are searching for a country" (daily Amn, Nov 1, 1986).
Riots broke out in Karachi the same evening. Twelve persons were killed, 25 wagons, autorickshaws and motorbikes were set on fire, and four houses and eight shops were torched.
Riots spread to Hyderabad where seven persons were shot dead in two days. Curfew was clamped in both cities to contain violence, and Altaf Hussain alongwith ten others was arrested by he police on November 2 for attempt to murder and rioting. Nine other MQM activists were also taken into custody and firearms recovered from their possession, whereas 63 persons from other parties to the rioting were arrested from Sohrab Goth area. On November 3, ten persons were killed in hand-grenade attacks in Orangi Town area while six others died in street trouble, brining the week's death toll in Karachi to 52.
On November 18, armed MQM activists fired in the air to disrupt a cricket match in Hyderabad's Niaz Stadium. On November 21, at the end of a one-day cricket match between Pakistan and West Indies, armed MQM activists blocked all roads leading to Karachi's National Stadium. 30 persons received bullet wounds in indiscriminate firing in the Liaquatabad. Teen Hatti, Gulbahar, Orangi, Sabzi Mandi, Nazimabad and other areas of the city. A bank was burnt in Liaquatabad, while a bus was put on fire on Shahrah-e-Quaideen. One November 22, three buses and an oil tanker were burnt in Landhi, while a branch of the National Bank was ransacked and torched in Liaquatabad.
Another government bus and a minibus were burnt in Malir and Old Numaish, and several buses were pelted with stones on November 23. On November 24, 11 vehicles were burnt down in New Karachi, Federal B' Area, Paposhnagar, Gulbahar and Nasirabad. On November 28, armed clashes between MQM activists and the police took place in Hyderabad during which five bank branches were damaged and one bus put on fire.
MQM announced a strike in Karachi on December 9 and asked its followers to remain peaceful. The 'peaceful' strike led to the burning of 11 vehicles and seven bank branches. One youngster was killed, and nearly 40 wounded in indiscriminate firing. Demonstrators pelted stones on the police and a bomb was blasted near Liaquatabad police station. The police became helpless against protesters" (daily Amn). On December 14, MQM's secretary general Dr Imran Farooq stated that the situation could be brought under control only if Altaf Hussain and his companions were freed.
That night, 50 persons lost lives during ghastly manslaughter in Orangi Town. The army was called in and curfew clamped. According to newspapers, the entire Ghetto Township had passed into the hands of a group of klashnikov-weilding youngsters. 70 more persons were killed on December 15.
According to available statistics, as many as 173 persons were sacrificed on the alter of MQM struggle for rights, while 10 banks, 75 vehicles 24 houses and 20 shops were burnt during the last 153 days of 1986. The battle for Karachi's so-called rights had begun. On December 20, MQM Chairman Azim Ahmad Tariq demanded justice for Mohajirs, and advised President Zia-ul Haq to issue arms licenses to Mohajirs. After this, we will neither invite the police or the administration to defend us, nor criticize the government on this score" (daily Jang Karachi).
1987
With the onset of 1987, lawlessness in Karachi caused curfew for a record number of days. This was also the year when MQM's anti-press traits began to shape up. The coming days were to expose some of the most fundamental contradictions inherent in the party's structure and philosophy.
It was on January 31, when Altaf Hussain made the first most controversial public statement of his career. Addressing a series of welcome receptions in Liaquatabad on that day, he told his audience. "Mohajirs will have no god use for their VCRs, color televisions and other luxuries because these things cannot defend us. They will have to arrange for their own security" (daily Jang, Feb 1, 1987).
On February 1, in the central committee meeting of Awami National Party at Lahore that was presided by Khan Abdul Wali Khan, a resolution was passed stating that Sindh's Mohajirs were a part of the larger Sindhi nationality, and that there was no such thing as a Mohajir nationality. ANP was later to become one of MQM's most trusted allies in national politics.
On February 19, Altaf Hussain addressed another rally at Burns Road in Karachi. As the party activists started shooting their guns in the air, Altaf Hussain stopped them, saying "save your ammunition". The audience raised hands to give Altaf the permission to meet anyone, including G.M. Syed. During his address, Altaf said that Sindh could not bear any more population. "There are also Lahore and Faisalabad in the way. These too are Pakistani cities".
On February 20 and 21, 16 persons were wounded and one Suzuki van, four motorbikes and a KTC bus were put on fire during rioting in Liaquatabad, Shershah, Federal B' Area and Sabzi Mandi. Young boys in Liaquatabad pelted stones at the police the whole day.
On April 5, at the book launching ceremony of Shakil Ahmad Zia, Altaf made a hard hitting speech against Punjab, the Punjabis and the army. "You used force, and the result was that the country broke into two History offers no example of such a large number of troops laying down arms. For those who want to send us back to India, let me say that we will not go alone. The whole Pakistan will go to India". During the same address he issued his first threat to the press. One newspaper is becoming a party against Mohajirs. It should take warning" (daily Amn. April 6, 1987).
On May 21, a young man was killed when riots broke out in Malir and Khokhrapar in protest over the arrest of some MQM workers. Six vehicles were also burnt in the area.
In an interview with daily Nawa-e-Waqt's Irashad Ahmad Arif, published on May 25, 1987, Altaf Hussain said: "Urdu language is Punjab's problem, not ours. We have never demanded that it should be made the national language".
On June 11, while addressing the foundation day celebrations of All-Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO), he demanded that Mohajirs be issued with arms licenses. He said the religious parties did nothing for the Mohajir Shaheeds but when a Punjabi died everyone from top issued statements of condemnation to bottom. He also said that anyone who met the Muslim Leaguers or was hand in glove with the government ministers had no place in MQM ranks (daily Amn, June 12, 1987).
On June 21, MQM chairman, Azim Ahmad Tariq, stated that the anti-Mohajir policy of daily Jang would be fully resisted. He announced Jang's boycott, and asked people not to read it. The same evening, dozen-armed persons attacked Jang's bureau in Hyderabad and put the premises on fire.
From July 22 to August 30, clashes between MQM and a rival group called Punjabi-Pukhtoon Ittehad (PPI) caused the death of 22 persons, while 300 were wounded. Five policemen also died in riots, while 38 were wounded. Seven KTC buses and a local train also became targets of terrorism. Clashes between the two rival groups had first broken out in April, but arrests on both sides had caused the trouble to temporarily subside.
On August 4, during an address to MQM's general workers' meeting, Altaf Hussain said that the days of the power of the army and the police were numbered. These forces have been bullying us in our airfields, police stations, neighborhoods and streets. They have put the entire Pakistan in their pockets". He further said on August 14, MQM would announce that mini-Pakistan is not Karachi, but Lahore. "Throw open the gates of Lahore to Afghan refugees on that day, and let them do what they please" (daily Amn, August 5, 1987).
On August 9, the campaign to collect sacrificial hides began in Karachi and Azim Tariq, in a statement, alleged that the Jamaat workers robbed MQM volunteers of their hides at gunpoint. He condemned this act, and issued a warning to Jamaat. On August 21, Altaf Hussain told a meeting at New Karachi that the problems could no longer be solved without rendering sacrifices, and asked people willing to make sacrifices to give their names. Addressing the Mohajir police trainees, he said that if they are forced to quit their job, they should break the legs of their instructor. A time will come when our people will be sitting in police stations he said.
On August 26, bloody-armed clashes between two groups in Shah Faisal Colony led to the death of nine persons. 80 persons were injured. Eight platoons of police, riding in 32 mobile vans, were present at the scene but could not bring hostilities to an end. Riots also broke out in Hyderabad on August 27. Curfew was clamped which continued unbroken for twelve days, until 4 p.m. on September 7. On August 28, chairman Jiye Sindh Mahaz (JSM), Abdul Wahid Aresar, expressed support for the "suppressed" Mohajirs, saying that the army, the police and Punjabi settlers had attacked the Mohajirs as if they were a conquered people (daily Amn, August 29, 1987).
On October 31, MQM announced a strike to commemorate last year's killings at Sohrab Goth. During the strike, indiscriminate firing led to the killing of two persons. 85 others were injured while six vehicles, seven shopsand two banks were put on fire. A telephone exchange was burnt in Orangi. Three women, a girl and a man were injured in roadside firing in Liaquatabad and a petrol bomb in Pak Colony injured two police constables. Riots in Kotri and Hyderabad resulted in injuries to DSP and SSP Hyderabad, while offices of the Muslim League and Wapda, a post office, an office of social security, four bank branches and 17 vehicles were set on fire.
1988
Rioting, arson and murder continued into January 1998, ten months before the restoration of democracy in the country. On January 10, stabbing incidents and acts of terrorism in Golimar, Liaquatabad, New Karachi Shah Faisal Colony, Banaras, tin Hatti, Chand Bibi Road and Rizvia Society led to the killing of five persons, and the injuring of several pedestrians including three journalists. 13 vehicles were also set on fire. The army was called in to control the situation. On January 18, four persons were killed in bloody clashes between MQM and PPI activists. Moreover, 37 houses and shops of the area were put on fire in petrol bomb attacks. Curfew was clamped to disengage the warring factions.
Nine persons were killed and 60 hurt in riots that engulfed Nazimabad, Liaquatabad and Sohrab Goth on February 4. The property put on fire included 28 houses, several shops, two factories, a petrol pump and several vehicles. Six more people were killed, and two vehicles burnt, in Liaquatabad, Pak Colony and Gulbahar areas on February 8. Curfew continued in different areas of the city. In a statement on February 21, Altaf Hussain said that Jamaat-e-Islami was another name for the drug mafia and the police. He called Jamaat's Prof. Ghafoor a liar, and accused him of towing Jamaat's "traditional" policy of hypocrisy (daily Amn, Feb 22, 1988).
On March 1, the driver of an oil tanker lost control when he came under attack of rioters in Liaquatabad, the vehicle breaking into a house and killing four inmates. This incident was followed by violent protest in which rioters injured 12 policemen including SDM and DSP Liaquatabad. Nine police vans, a minibus and an autorickshaw were damaged. Four more vehicles were put on fire. On March 3, curfew was clamped in Liaquatabad to prevent further trouble. On March 13, in his address to the Karachi bar, Altaf Hussain advised Punjabis and Pukhtoons to go back to their own provinces and demand jobs from their governments.
On April 30, an accident between a motorbike and a Suzuki van led to incidents of stabbing and firing in Orangi in which four persons were killed. 10 injured a bank branch and several shops burnt. The trouble spread, and by May 9, 31persons had fallen to death in factional fights in Orangi, Nishtar Road, Lighthouse, Pak Colony, Khwaja Ajmer Nagri, Nazimabad and elsewhere.
On May 11, the incidents of stabbing rickshaw drivers in the curfew hit areas started. Six rickshaw drivers were seriously injured. On May 23, MQM activists hiding in Jutland Lines and Shah Faisal colony started attacking policemen and magistrates in order to harass them.
On June 18, riots broke out in Hyderabad in which six persons died and 12 vehicles were destroyed. Two more persons died on the following day inspite of the imposition of curfew.
July 17, in the riots following attack on Mayor Hyderabad. Aftab Shaikh, eight persons were killed and much damage done to property. The bodies of the victims were sent to Sindh interior. On July 21, women activists of MQM stormed the Latifabad police Station and freed 18 arrested persons. G.M. Syed told newsmen on July 22 that both the government and Altaf Hussain were responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation. Altaf Hussain had become arrogant, inflated, he said. On the following day, Altaf Hussain called on Syed at Haider Manzil and the two leaders made and remove misunderstandings.
As per Amnesty International Report {1996}:
The earliest political organization of Mohajirs, the All Pakistan Mohajir Student Organization (APMSO) founded in 1978 by Altaf Hussain, evolved into the MQM in 1984. Ethnic and religious divisions in Sindh were exacerbated during the years General Zia-ul Haq was in office (1977 to 1988, of these 1977 to 1985 under martial law) as he used them to suppress and divide democratic opposition to his rule. Ethnic strife between Mohajir and Sindhis who had initially jointly opposed the influx of Punjabis and Pathans into Sindh, rapidly increased in Karachi and Hyderabad from the mid-1980s. The MQM, led by Altaf Hussain, meanwhile consolidated its hold on the Mohajir community. In November 1987, the MQM won local body elections in Karachi, Hyderabad and other urban centres in Sindh.
General Ziaul Haq died in an assassination on 17 Aug 1988 with US Ambassador to Pakistan Mr. Arnold Raphel and other US and Pakistani Military Officers. And since then MQM and Jamat-e-Islami shared power with several civilian governments {actually Military and ISI Controlled Democracy} with no power on Foreign Policy, President appointment, COAS appointment, Nuclear Policy yet people still condemn the politicians. These two Establishment´s pet Frankenstein´s Monster i.e. MQM and Jamat-e-Islami at the behest of their masters never let the Civilian governments from 1988 to 1999 to run the affairs smoothly never cooperated with the civilian government instead they accepted bribes from famous Mehran Bank Scandal of General Mirza Aslam Baig, General Hameed Gul and General Asad Durrani against PPP and then they worked against PML-N as well as it was always MQM and Jamat-e-Islami who created trouble at the behest of Generals to create situation of anarchy
and political chaos and they are still doing it in a very strange way. The amazing thing is that MQM and Jamat-e-Islami are both in the Military Government one way or another and to save face they are not solving any problem of their voters rather they are creating the new ones. MQM shares power with the Military Government in Islamabad and Sindh, and Jamat-e-Islami share power with the Military Government in Baluchistan and NWFP whereas on differences and Federations wrong policies Late. Mufti Mehmood and Sardar Attaullah Mengal resigned from the government in the first Bhutto government in 70s but not these vagabonds of nowadays whom we remember as MQM and Jamat-e-Islami.
From 1988 till 1999 MQM had always been anti-establishment and its workers were treated very ruthlessly [that is condemnable to the hilt] in the same period by the Pakistan Army but now the same MQM is with the same Pakistan Army which the MQM used to criticize vehemently. Now all those workers who were killed in extra judicial encounters or fake police encounters are forgotten, those workers are also forgotten who were kept incommunicado for days and months and still many are vanished without a trace.
MQM is in the Government rather MQM is the government.
A glimpse of what Altaf Hussain used to say even in the early days of General Musharraf´s Military regime:
"QUOTE"
Policemen involved in extrajudicial killings being rewarded, alleges Altaf
LONDON: Chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Altaf Hussain said on Wednesday that he would keep the nation informed about the secret planning of the law enforcement agencies to commit genocide of Mohajirs. According to press release issued from London, Altaf said the MQM Intelligence Bureau had collected information based on solid proofs over a long period of time of the secret hands involved in the planning of carrying out genocide of Mohajirs. He said he would inform the people about these proofs so that the nation could understand the facts regarding the genocide of Mohajirs and in the light of these facts could comprehend the reasons and rationale behind his strategy. Altaf Hussain said that on the one hand the present government and its officials were claiming that they would take action against the police personnel involved in the extrajudicial killings, but on the other hand, the information collected by the MQM Intelligence Bureau revealed that
personnel involved in the extrajudicial killings of Mohajirs were placed on high offices, they were being rewarded and commendations were bestowed upon them by the higher officials of the present government.
Altaf Hussain said that according to the MQM Intelligence Bureau, a week ago, Corps. Commander Karachi, General Muzaffar Usmani invited the 'most notorious' SHOs (Station House Officers) of Karachi, involved in the extrajudicial killings of Mohajirs in general and the MQM workers in particular. Not only he invited them, he embraced them, praised them for extrajudicial killings of the MQM workers and presented them with expensive Rolex watches, Altaf Hussain said.
He said that having read this, the MQM workers in general and the Mohajir intellectuals in particular should understand clearly the conspiracy and should not have any hopes from the high ranking Mohajir officials. Altaf Hussain, quoting information of the MQM Intelligence Bureau, said that on December 4, 1999, the ISI (Inter-Service Intelligence Agency) Chief for Sindh met the ring leader of 'Haqiqi terrorists' in the barrack number 74 of Malir Garrison where he also arranged a telephone conversation between the ring leader of 'Haqiqi terrorists' and the D G (Director General) ISI. Altaf Hussain demanded of the Chief Executive, General Pervaiz Musharraf and senior officials of the GHQ (General Headquarters) to have the report of the MQM Intelligence Bureau verified. He also appealed to the MQM workers not only to read his statements minutely but also save them as part of their record. He finally stated that he would continue to have the report of the MQM
Intelligence Bureau published in the newspapers from time to time.
"Altaf to expose plot against MQM
LONDON, Dec 29: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has said that he will soon inform the nation about the plans of the intelligence agencies to annihilate Mohajirs. In a press statement issued here on Wednesday, the MQM chief claimed that his party has collected hard evidence and facts about the intelligence agencies' plans.
The statement came a day after Altaf Hussain announced that he would reveal his future strategy to the people very soon. The MQM chief said that the details of the plans would enable the people to understand his new strategy. He said on the one hand the government and its officials were claiming that action would be taken against all those police officials involved in extra-judicial killings in the past while on the other hand, according to MQM information, government officials were conferring awards on those police officials who are involved in extra-judicial killings.
Mr Altaf Hussain said that according to MQM Intelligence Bureau Report, last week Corp Commander Karachi, General Muzaffar Usmani invited all those Station House Officers (SHOs) who were involved in extra-judicial killings and not only praised their "efforts" but also gave them costly wrist watches. "Mohajir people should not expect any good from any senior government official," he said.
The MQM chief said according to another MQM Intelligence Bureau Report, on December 4, 1999, the head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Sindh, met the head of the "Haqqiqi activist" at Barrack No 73 of Malir Garrison. He claimed a telephonic meeting was also arranged between the "Haqqiqi activists" and the Director General of ISI in Islamabad. He called upon General Pervez Musharraf and other army officials in GHQ to investigate these incidents. Mr Altaf Hussain also asked the MQM workers not only to seriously read his statements but also keep the cutting of the newspapers in which these are published for future reference.
[DAWN/The News International, KARACHI 31 December 1999, Friday, 22 Ramazan 1420]
ISPR denies Muttahida claim
KARACHI: The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday denied that corps commander Karachi awarded any policemen recently. Referring to a statement by Muttahida Qaumi Movement Chief Altaf Hussain, published in newspapers on Thursday, an ISPR spokesman said that Altaf Hussain had stated that corps commander Karachi invited some SHOs to an Iftar party and offered them costly wristwatches. The spokesman said that these remarks were baseless. "This statement appears to be based on disinformation. The corps commander has not given any party to anyone in the holy month of Ramazan. Therefore, the question of inviting any police officers to an Iftar party or presenting them any gift does not arise. The remarks made in the statement are totally concocted, baseless and malicious," said the spokesman.
Altaf rejects ISPR rebuttal
KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has rejected the ISPR rebuttal on his statement regarding distribution of costly wrist watches among certain police officers involved in extrajudicial killings and termed it as a 'bundle of lies'. In a rejoinder issued from London late on Thursday night, the Muttahida chief said that the ISPR reply compelled him to disclose further details of the function in which the watches were distributed among station house officers (SHOs) as reward. Altaf said that according to the Muttahida Intelligence Bureau Unit, the function was held at the Army Guest House in Karachi, located near the Mehran Hotel. He claimed that Col Abbas of the Military Intelligence, ISI Sindh chief Brig Junaid, Maj Masood of the MI and Col Naim of the ISI, beside Corps Commander Muzaffar Usmani was present in the function.
The Muttahida chief said that Col Abbas was assigned to bring the SHOs secretly at Mehran Lodge behind Mehran Hotel from where they were taken to the Army Guest House, just opposite the Mehran Lodge. "The Corps Commander was already present at the venue where the SHOs were presented commendation certificates and Rolex watches as reward," he added. Altaf claimed that the SHOs were assigned duties and areas to carry out operation against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. "At the end of the function, the personal staff officer of the Corps Commander reached the Corps Headquarters and telephoned DIG Karachi Jawed Iqbal, informing him that certain SHOs were assigned specific task, thus they should not be bothered by the police command," he added. Altaf also claimed that to maintain secrecy, the staff of both Mehran Lodge and Army Guest House were changed and at the end of the function at 10:30 pm the regular staff resumed their duties. The Muttahida chief
demanded of Chief Executive General Pervaiz Musharraf and GHQ officials to investigate the fact that he had disclosed so that the country could be saved from vested interests. He said the proof regarding the function could be provided to any of the reliable colleagues of General Musharraf with added disclosures.
[DAWN/The News International, KARACHI 31 December 1999, Friday, 22 Ramazan 1420]
"UN-QUOTE"
No doubt that the workers of MQM were treated inhumanly, barbarously and very cruelly by the Military Establishment from 1992 to onwards but this very same Army Establishment is enjoying power thanks to MQM and MQM is now part of the same Intelligence Agencies which the MQM used to condemn in the very near past as you have read above. The MQM´s concerns for Pakistan´s Crippling Economy must be appreciated but keeping in mind the loss MQM caused to it when there were civilian governments ruling the country and MQM was conniving with the same establishment which was working against the civilian governments of the country and MQM even used the dead bodies of their own workers to put an end to PPP and PML-N governments [1988-1990], [1990-1993], [1993-1996], and [1997-1999] and no doubt the further boast to cripple their governments was given by persons like Former President Farooq Laghari, and General Naseerullah Baber and their myopic thinking.
In these years more than 5000 persons fell to sniper bullets in Karachi and Hyderabad, while more than 1000 others were wounded. Property set on fire on otherwise destroyed included 475 vehicles, 20 banks, 102 houses, 95 shops, two telephone exchanges, 20 offices of different political parties, 12 petrol pumps, 2 factories, one office each of Wapda and social security, two post offices and 4 police stations. MQM insists that its strikes are peaceful. But the facts speak other wise, In a total 38 strike calls spread over these years, MQM prevented Rs 30 billion worth of business transactions from taking place. Hundreds of thousands of people had to do without postal and other communication facilities. As per another study Karachi, which is the hub of the Pakistani economy has been effected terribly by the violence. A major aspect of this is the flight of capital to other industrial centres in Punjab.6 A study commissioned by the Karachi Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (KCCI) concluded that a working day lost by strike in Karachi costs Rs. 1.3 billion ($ 38 million) and in 1995 a total of 34 working days were lost as a result of strikes called by the MQM.
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA330011996?open&of=ENG-PAK
on the pursuance of the then COAS Mirza Aslam Baig [check the special issue of Herald 1990 when Ghulam Ishaq Khan dismissed the PPP Government, Mirza Aslam Baig shamelessly admitted that he has taken away the support of 14 MQM MNA's from the PPP to make the government crumble].
Altaf Hussain (MQM) Rs 20 million
Afaq of the MQM Rs 0.5 million
Yusuf Haroon 5 million [he confirms having received
this for Altaf Hussain of the MQM]
We never learn from history By Ardeshir Cowasjee
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/20020721.htm
We never learn from history-2 By Ardeshir Cowasjee
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/20020804.htm
We never learn from history-3 By Ardeshir Cowasjee
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/20020811.htm
We never learn from history-4 By Ardeshir Cowasjee
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/20020818.htm
We never learn from history-5 By Ardeshir Cowasjee
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/20020825.htm
Pakistan: Information on Mohajir/Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Altaf (MQM-A)
Query: Provide information on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Altaf (MQM-A) in Pakistan.
Amnesty International (AI). HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS IN KARACHI (1 Feb 1996, ASA 33/01/96),
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA330011996?open&of=ENG-PAK
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
Human Rights Watch (HRW). WORLD REPORT 1998, "Pakistan" (Dec 1997),
http://www.hrw.org/worldreport/Asia-09.htm#P823_214912
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
Jane's Information Group (Jane's). JANE'S WORLD INSURGENCY AND TERRORISM-17, "Muthida [sic] Qaumi Movement (MQM-A)" (14 Feb 2003),
http://www.janes.com [Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS). "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" (23 May 2003),
http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/fs/2003/12389.htm
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS). COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES FOR 1998, "Pakistan" (Feb 1999),
http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1998_hrp_report/pakistan.html
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS). COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES FOR 1996, "Pakistan" (Feb 1997),
http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1996_hrp_report/pakistan.html
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS). COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES FOR 1995, "Pakistan" (Feb 1996),
http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/democracy/1995_hrp_report/95hrp_report_sasia/Pakistan.html
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS). COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS
PRACTICES FOR 1994, "Pakistan" (Feb 1995),
http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/democracy/1994_hrp_report/94hrp_report_sasia/Pakistan.html
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS). COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES FOR 1991, "Pakistan" (Feb 1992).
U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS). COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES FOR 1990, "Pakistan" (Feb 1991).
Attachments:
Jane's Information Group (Jane's). JANE'S WORLD INSURGENCY AND TERRORISM-17, "Muthida [sic] Qaumi Movement (MQM-A)" (14 Feb 2003),
http://www.janes.com
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
THE POST-MUSHARRAF PAKISTAN
Next came Zia-ul-Haq, the infamous butcher of the Black September in Jordan. He considered himself Khaleefat-ul- Muslimeen. Nearly 150,000 people have been transported from the NWFP and the FATA areas to be resettled in Karachi. Why? The new authorities want to re-organize the demographics of the country. They want to create a new seat in the assembly based on Pashtoon nationalism to counter the MQM in Karachi.
Syed-Mohsin Naquvi
======================================
Dear Naquvi Sahab,
You have missed two things in the above paragraph that Pashtuns and Urdu Speaking Community have no clash of interest at all rather it would be good for both of them to wrok jointly like they used to enjoy excellent relations during the life of Late. Khan Abdul Wali Khan.
Genera Zia was instrumental in creating Ethnic and Sectarian Divide.
Read..
Irfan Sahab says that I single out Generals, well they ought to be single out because they enjoyed and abused powers therefore they must share the responsibility for creating Ethnic and Sectarian Hatred in remaining Pakistan to save their selfish interests. I wonder where is the Quran from which Irfan Sahab quote quite often?
Why dont you discuss this creation of General Ziaul Haq, and this creation of General Ziaul Haq is nowadays Musharraf's key supporter and ally! And another Creation of General Ziaul Haq whose sons are allies of General Musharraf as well.
Very correctly had been pointed out by Late Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah "that Jam Sadiq Ali in his government in 1990 with the tacit approval of the Military Establishment [Ghulam Ishaq Khan, BCCI's Agha Hasan Abidi, General Javed Nasir, General Asad Durrani] had bought out this so-called Sann Jo Saeen Jiey Sadaeen also a Peer and other Peer Altaf Hussain by opening a Jumma Bazaar [Friday Sales Market] of so-called Sindhi and Urdu Speaking Nationalists of Sindh in Sindh Assembly. The same thing is being done by Musharraf in Sindh since 12 Oct 1999 with the above mentioned categories. Half of the Musharraf's Sindh Assembly [2002-2007] was the by product of same Jam Sadiq Ali tactics even some members were cultivated by Jam Sadiq Ali with tacit connivance of Ghulam Ishaq Khan-BCCI-Military Industrial Complex and US Military Establishment as well. You are telling me that G M Syed was a force to reckon with. It was Jam Sadiq Ali that was force to reckon with
even now the above groups didnt even know what hit them in those years, when Jam Sadiq Ali had said sarcastically to late. Saeen Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah "Saeen to keep them [above groups] you need Harami [Bastard] like me". The parties above still licking their wounds.
Quote from a book:
"G. M. Syed lived to make other ill-conceived moves. When in 1983, under Zia, Sindhi blood was being spilled mercilessly, he stood aloof."
G. M. Syed- An analysis of his Political Perspectives by M. S. Korejo.
------------ ---
General Zia and General Jahandad Khan [then Governor Sindh] used to be regular visitors of "Sann Jo Saeen Jeay Sadaaen" when he was being treated for his illness in an Hospital in Karachi. Photos were very cordial, Khakis were all around Ghulam Murtaza Shah Kazmi aka G M SYED [G M Syed used to say that Maudoodi was a great Scholar of Islam in Pakistan and there was no match of Maudoodi in Pakistan}
------------ --------- ----
Quote from another book:
"G M Syed is a great tragedy of Sindh. He descended from Himalyan heights to play the stooge to forces he had always considered inimical to Sindh. His is indeed a great fall. During more than three quarters of the century, he began his life as a rebel against the British. He had come in politics in his late teens. He was instrumental in getting the anti one unit resolution of 1957 passed. He had great comrades in Maulana Abdul Qadir, Shaikh Abdul Majeed Sindh, and Haider Bux Jatoi. It appears with their death he went at a tangent on a wrong track. It is surprising how life can change the status and the image of a man. It is surprising that at this mature and real old age he should succumb to power and temptation [Page 40]
JAM THE MAN AND HIS POLITICS BY Late Sayid Ghulam Mustafa Shah.
MQM was thoroughly nurtured into a Frankenstein´s Monster by General Zia and his rogue establishment to counter PPP in Sindh. It was impossible for MQM to develop itself out of nowhere in a very ruthless Martial Law in the history of Pakistan because the consequences and effects of Zia´s ruthless and anti-Islamic policies are still being felt. General Zia ul Haq was powerful and sole power in Pakistan [like General Musharraf is now] in those days and the then Prime Minister of Pakistan late. Muhammad Khan Junejo was just a Democratic Façade of General Zia´s ruthless Military Establishment specifically the ISI, like present Democratic Façade of Prime Ministers Zafarullah Jamali, Chuadary Shujaat Hussain and Shaukat Aziz but the real power was with General Zia then and real power is with Musharraf now.
General Zia very secretly and invisibly nurtured the nemesis {i.e MQM, SSP, SMP and other Jihadi Mafias} of Jamat-e-Islami and other Political Parties of the Federation {whatever of it was left after the fall}. If you would follow the MQM´s history you would see that MQM gained power during the days of General Zia ul Haq. I am chronologically giving the speeches of MQM´s Founder Mr. Altaf Hussain to carefully read the dates of his speeches were the days of General Zia, even the date of birth of MQM was in the year 1978 {First year after General Zia ul Haq imposed the Martial Law}. In those days General Zia and his Military goons only allowed the Jamat-e-Islami to do politics and no other political party was allowed any political activities. Since every now and then you would have noticed that political leaders alleged that it was Bhutto who formed the political cell in ISI to watch out for opposition and that cell was never abolished and it even
works now so how it can be possible that Zia had no knowledge of MQM was coming into being.
MQM's first-ever public meeting at Karachi's Nishtar park on August 8, 1986, was marked by heavy aerial firing from the; pistols and rifles which the party activists were carrying on them. On that day, windowpanes of a traffic police kiosk opposite Quaid-e-Azam's mausoleum were broken, and stones were pelted on petrol pump near Gurumandir. Addressing the rally, Altaf Hussain said: "Karachi is no more mini-Pakistan. We will accept help no matter where it comes from, from east or west, north or south" (dailies Jang, Jasarat and other newspapers of August 9, 1986).
Two months later, on October 25, 1986, while addressing a press conference at Hyderabad Press Club, Altaf Hussain told the Mohajir youth to "collect arms. If our rights are not given to us, we will use every kind of force". On October 31, while addressing a public meeting at Hyderabad's Pakka Qila, he said: "At first we fought for freedom. Now that we have freedom, we are searching for a country" (daily Amn, Nov 1, 1986).
Riots broke out in Karachi the same evening. Twelve persons were killed, 25 wagons, autorickshaws and motorbikes were set on fire, and four houses and eight shops were torched.
Riots spread to Hyderabad where seven persons were shot dead in two days. Curfew was clamped in both cities to contain violence, and Altaf Hussain alongwith ten others was arrested by he police on November 2 for attempt to murder and rioting. Nine other MQM activists were also taken into custody and firearms recovered from their possession, whereas 63 persons from other parties to the rioting were arrested from Sohrab Goth area. On November 3, ten persons were killed in hand-grenade attacks in Orangi Town area while six others died in street trouble, brining the week's death toll in Karachi to 52.
On November 18, armed MQM activists fired in the air to disrupt a cricket match in Hyderabad's Niaz Stadium. On November 21, at the end of a one-day cricket match between Pakistan and West Indies, armed MQM activists blocked all roads leading to Karachi's National Stadium. 30 persons received bullet wounds in indiscriminate firing in the Liaquatabad. Teen Hatti, Gulbahar, Orangi, Sabzi Mandi, Nazimabad and other areas of the city. A bank was burnt in Liaquatabad, while a bus was put on fire on Shahrah-e-Quaideen. One November 22, three buses and an oil tanker were burnt in Landhi, while a branch of the National Bank was ransacked and torched in Liaquatabad.
Another government bus and a minibus were burnt in Malir and Old Numaish, and several buses were pelted with stones on November 23. On November 24, 11 vehicles were burnt down in New Karachi, Federal B' Area, Paposhnagar, Gulbahar and Nasirabad. On November 28, armed clashes between MQM activists and the police took place in Hyderabad during which five bank branches were damaged and one bus put on fire.
MQM announced a strike in Karachi on December 9 and asked its followers to remain peaceful. The 'peaceful' strike led to the burning of 11 vehicles and seven bank branches. One youngster was killed, and nearly 40 wounded in indiscriminate firing. Demonstrators pelted stones on the police and a bomb was blasted near Liaquatabad police station. The police became helpless against protesters" (daily Amn). On December 14, MQM's secretary general Dr Imran Farooq stated that the situation could be brought under control only if Altaf Hussain and his companions were freed.
That night, 50 persons lost lives during ghastly manslaughter in Orangi Town. The army was called in and curfew clamped. According to newspapers, the entire Ghetto Township had passed into the hands of a group of klashnikov-weilding youngsters. 70 more persons were killed on December 15.
According to available statistics, as many as 173 persons were sacrificed on the alter of MQM struggle for rights, while 10 banks, 75 vehicles 24 houses and 20 shops were burnt during the last 153 days of 1986. The battle for Karachi's so-called rights had begun. On December 20, MQM Chairman Azim Ahmad Tariq demanded justice for Mohajirs, and advised President Zia-ul Haq to issue arms licenses to Mohajirs. After this, we will neither invite the police or the administration to defend us, nor criticize the government on this score" (daily Jang Karachi).
1987
With the onset of 1987, lawlessness in Karachi caused curfew for a record number of days. This was also the year when MQM's anti-press traits began to shape up. The coming days were to expose some of the most fundamental contradictions inherent in the party's structure and philosophy.
It was on January 31, when Altaf Hussain made the first most controversial public statement of his career. Addressing a series of welcome receptions in Liaquatabad on that day, he told his audience. "Mohajirs will have no god use for their VCRs, color televisions and other luxuries because these things cannot defend us. They will have to arrange for their own security" (daily Jang, Feb 1, 1987).
On February 1, in the central committee meeting of Awami National Party at Lahore that was presided by Khan Abdul Wali Khan, a resolution was passed stating that Sindh's Mohajirs were a part of the larger Sindhi nationality, and that there was no such thing as a Mohajir nationality. ANP was later to become one of MQM's most trusted allies in national politics.
On February 19, Altaf Hussain addressed another rally at Burns Road in Karachi. As the party activists started shooting their guns in the air, Altaf Hussain stopped them, saying "save your ammunition". The audience raised hands to give Altaf the permission to meet anyone, including G.M. Syed. During his address, Altaf said that Sindh could not bear any more population. "There are also Lahore and Faisalabad in the way. These too are Pakistani cities".
On February 20 and 21, 16 persons were wounded and one Suzuki van, four motorbikes and a KTC bus were put on fire during rioting in Liaquatabad, Shershah, Federal B' Area and Sabzi Mandi. Young boys in Liaquatabad pelted stones at the police the whole day.
On April 5, at the book launching ceremony of Shakil Ahmad Zia, Altaf made a hard hitting speech against Punjab, the Punjabis and the army. "You used force, and the result was that the country broke into two History offers no example of such a large number of troops laying down arms. For those who want to send us back to India, let me say that we will not go alone. The whole Pakistan will go to India". During the same address he issued his first threat to the press. One newspaper is becoming a party against Mohajirs. It should take warning" (daily Amn. April 6, 1987).
On May 21, a young man was killed when riots broke out in Malir and Khokhrapar in protest over the arrest of some MQM workers. Six vehicles were also burnt in the area.
In an interview with daily Nawa-e-Waqt's Irashad Ahmad Arif, published on May 25, 1987, Altaf Hussain said: "Urdu language is Punjab's problem, not ours. We have never demanded that it should be made the national language".
On June 11, while addressing the foundation day celebrations of All-Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO), he demanded that Mohajirs be issued with arms licenses. He said the religious parties did nothing for the Mohajir Shaheeds but when a Punjabi died everyone from top issued statements of condemnation to bottom. He also said that anyone who met the Muslim Leaguers or was hand in glove with the government ministers had no place in MQM ranks (daily Amn, June 12, 1987).
On June 21, MQM chairman, Azim Ahmad Tariq, stated that the anti-Mohajir policy of daily Jang would be fully resisted. He announced Jang's boycott, and asked people not to read it. The same evening, dozen-armed persons attacked Jang's bureau in Hyderabad and put the premises on fire.
From July 22 to August 30, clashes between MQM and a rival group called Punjabi-Pukhtoon Ittehad (PPI) caused the death of 22 persons, while 300 were wounded. Five policemen also died in riots, while 38 were wounded. Seven KTC buses and a local train also became targets of terrorism. Clashes between the two rival groups had first broken out in April, but arrests on both sides had caused the trouble to temporarily subside.
On August 4, during an address to MQM's general workers' meeting, Altaf Hussain said that the days of the power of the army and the police were numbered. These forces have been bullying us in our airfields, police stations, neighborhoods and streets. They have put the entire Pakistan in their pockets". He further said on August 14, MQM would announce that mini-Pakistan is not Karachi, but Lahore. "Throw open the gates of Lahore to Afghan refugees on that day, and let them do what they please" (daily Amn, August 5, 1987).
On August 9, the campaign to collect sacrificial hides began in Karachi and Azim Tariq, in a statement, alleged that the Jamaat workers robbed MQM volunteers of their hides at gunpoint. He condemned this act, and issued a warning to Jamaat. On August 21, Altaf Hussain told a meeting at New Karachi that the problems could no longer be solved without rendering sacrifices, and asked people willing to make sacrifices to give their names. Addressing the Mohajir police trainees, he said that if they are forced to quit their job, they should break the legs of their instructor. A time will come when our people will be sitting in police stations he said.
On August 26, bloody-armed clashes between two groups in Shah Faisal Colony led to the death of nine persons. 80 persons were injured. Eight platoons of police, riding in 32 mobile vans, were present at the scene but could not bring hostilities to an end. Riots also broke out in Hyderabad on August 27. Curfew was clamped which continued unbroken for twelve days, until 4 p.m. on September 7. On August 28, chairman Jiye Sindh Mahaz (JSM), Abdul Wahid Aresar, expressed support for the "suppressed" Mohajirs, saying that the army, the police and Punjabi settlers had attacked the Mohajirs as if they were a conquered people (daily Amn, August 29, 1987).
On October 31, MQM announced a strike to commemorate last year's killings at Sohrab Goth. During the strike, indiscriminate firing led to the killing of two persons. 85 others were injured while six vehicles, seven shopsand two banks were put on fire. A telephone exchange was burnt in Orangi. Three women, a girl and a man were injured in roadside firing in Liaquatabad and a petrol bomb in Pak Colony injured two police constables. Riots in Kotri and Hyderabad resulted in injuries to DSP and SSP Hyderabad, while offices of the Muslim League and Wapda, a post office, an office of social security, four bank branches and 17 vehicles were set on fire.
1988
Rioting, arson and murder continued into January 1998, ten months before the restoration of democracy in the country. On January 10, stabbing incidents and acts of terrorism in Golimar, Liaquatabad, New Karachi Shah Faisal Colony, Banaras, tin Hatti, Chand Bibi Road and Rizvia Society led to the killing of five persons, and the injuring of several pedestrians including three journalists. 13 vehicles were also set on fire. The army was called in to control the situation. On January 18, four persons were killed in bloody clashes between MQM and PPI activists. Moreover, 37 houses and shops of the area were put on fire in petrol bomb attacks. Curfew was clamped to disengage the warring factions.
Nine persons were killed and 60 hurt in riots that engulfed Nazimabad, Liaquatabad and Sohrab Goth on February 4. The property put on fire included 28 houses, several shops, two factories, a petrol pump and several vehicles. Six more people were killed, and two vehicles burnt, in Liaquatabad, Pak Colony and Gulbahar areas on February 8. Curfew continued in different areas of the city. In a statement on February 21, Altaf Hussain said that Jamaat-e-Islami was another name for the drug mafia and the police. He called Jamaat's Prof. Ghafoor a liar, and accused him of towing Jamaat's "traditional" policy of hypocrisy (daily Amn, Feb 22, 1988).
On March 1, the driver of an oil tanker lost control when he came under attack of rioters in Liaquatabad, the vehicle breaking into a house and killing four inmates. This incident was followed by violent protest in which rioters injured 12 policemen including SDM and DSP Liaquatabad. Nine police vans, a minibus and an autorickshaw were damaged. Four more vehicles were put on fire. On March 3, curfew was clamped in Liaquatabad to prevent further trouble. On March 13, in his address to the Karachi bar, Altaf Hussain advised Punjabis and Pukhtoons to go back to their own provinces and demand jobs from their governments.
On April 30, an accident between a motorbike and a Suzuki van led to incidents of stabbing and firing in Orangi in which four persons were killed. 10 injured a bank branch and several shops burnt. The trouble spread, and by May 9, 31persons had fallen to death in factional fights in Orangi, Nishtar Road, Lighthouse, Pak Colony, Khwaja Ajmer Nagri, Nazimabad and elsewhere.
On May 11, the incidents of stabbing rickshaw drivers in the curfew hit areas started. Six rickshaw drivers were seriously injured. On May 23, MQM activists hiding in Jutland Lines and Shah Faisal colony started attacking policemen and magistrates in order to harass them.
On June 18, riots broke out in Hyderabad in which six persons died and 12 vehicles were destroyed. Two more persons died on the following day inspite of the imposition of curfew.
July 17, in the riots following attack on Mayor Hyderabad. Aftab Shaikh, eight persons were killed and much damage done to property. The bodies of the victims were sent to Sindh interior. On July 21, women activists of MQM stormed the Latifabad police Station and freed 18 arrested persons. G.M. Syed told newsmen on July 22 that both the government and Altaf Hussain were responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation. Altaf Hussain had become arrogant, inflated, he said. On the following day, Altaf Hussain called on Syed at Haider Manzil and the two leaders made and remove misunderstandings.
As per Amnesty International Report {1996}:
The earliest political organization of Mohajirs, the All Pakistan Mohajir Student Organization (APMSO) founded in 1978 by Altaf Hussain, evolved into the MQM in 1984. Ethnic and religious divisions in Sindh were exacerbated during the years General Zia-ul Haq was in office (1977 to 1988, of these 1977 to 1985 under martial law) as he used them to suppress and divide democratic opposition to his rule. Ethnic strife between Mohajir and Sindhis who had initially jointly opposed the influx of Punjabis and Pathans into Sindh, rapidly increased in Karachi and Hyderabad from the mid-1980s. The MQM, led by Altaf Hussain, meanwhile consolidated its hold on the Mohajir community. In November 1987, the MQM won local body elections in Karachi, Hyderabad and other urban centres in Sindh.
General Ziaul Haq died in an assassination on 17 Aug 1988 with US Ambassador to Pakistan Mr. Arnold Raphel and other US and Pakistani Military Officers. And since then MQM and Jamat-e-Islami shared power with several civilian governments {actually Military and ISI Controlled Democracy} with no power on Foreign Policy, President appointment, COAS appointment, Nuclear Policy yet people still condemn the politicians. These two Establishment´s pet Frankenstein´s Monster i.e. MQM and Jamat-e-Islami at the behest of their masters never let the Civilian governments from 1988 to 1999 to run the affairs smoothly never cooperated with the civilian government instead they accepted bribes from famous Mehran Bank Scandal of General Mirza Aslam Baig, General Hameed Gul and General Asad Durrani against PPP and then they worked against PML-N as well as it was always MQM and Jamat-e-Islami who created trouble at the behest of Generals to create situation of anarchy
and political chaos and they are still doing it in a very strange way. The amazing thing is that MQM and Jamat-e-Islami are both in the Military Government one way or another and to save face they are not solving any problem of their voters rather they are creating the new ones. MQM shares power with the Military Government in Islamabad and Sindh, and Jamat-e-Islami share power with the Military Government in Baluchistan and NWFP whereas on differences and Federations wrong policies Late. Mufti Mehmood and Sardar Attaullah Mengal resigned from the government in the first Bhutto government in 70s but not these vagabonds of nowadays whom we remember as MQM and Jamat-e-Islami.
From 1988 till 1999 MQM had always been anti-establishment and its workers were treated very ruthlessly [that is condemnable to the hilt] in the same period by the Pakistan Army but now the same MQM is with the same Pakistan Army which the MQM used to criticize vehemently. Now all those workers who were killed in extra judicial encounters or fake police encounters are forgotten, those workers are also forgotten who were kept incommunicado for days and months and still many are vanished without a trace.
MQM is in the Government rather MQM is the government.
A glimpse of what Altaf Hussain used to say even in the early days of General Musharraf´s Military regime:
"QUOTE"
Policemen involved in extrajudicial killings being rewarded, alleges Altaf
LONDON: Chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Altaf Hussain said on Wednesday that he would keep the nation informed about the secret planning of the law enforcement agencies to commit genocide of Mohajirs. According to press release issued from London, Altaf said the MQM Intelligence Bureau had collected information based on solid proofs over a long period of time of the secret hands involved in the planning of carrying out genocide of Mohajirs. He said he would inform the people about these proofs so that the nation could understand the facts regarding the genocide of Mohajirs and in the light of these facts could comprehend the reasons and rationale behind his strategy. Altaf Hussain said that on the one hand the present government and its officials were claiming that they would take action against the police personnel involved in the extrajudicial killings, but on the other hand, the information collected by the MQM Intelligence Bureau revealed that
personnel involved in the extrajudicial killings of Mohajirs were placed on high offices, they were being rewarded and commendations were bestowed upon them by the higher officials of the present government.
Altaf Hussain said that according to the MQM Intelligence Bureau, a week ago, Corps. Commander Karachi, General Muzaffar Usmani invited the 'most notorious' SHOs (Station House Officers) of Karachi, involved in the extrajudicial killings of Mohajirs in general and the MQM workers in particular. Not only he invited them, he embraced them, praised them for extrajudicial killings of the MQM workers and presented them with expensive Rolex watches, Altaf Hussain said.
He said that having read this, the MQM workers in general and the Mohajir intellectuals in particular should understand clearly the conspiracy and should not have any hopes from the high ranking Mohajir officials. Altaf Hussain, quoting information of the MQM Intelligence Bureau, said that on December 4, 1999, the ISI (Inter-Service Intelligence Agency) Chief for Sindh met the ring leader of 'Haqiqi terrorists' in the barrack number 74 of Malir Garrison where he also arranged a telephone conversation between the ring leader of 'Haqiqi terrorists' and the D G (Director General) ISI. Altaf Hussain demanded of the Chief Executive, General Pervaiz Musharraf and senior officials of the GHQ (General Headquarters) to have the report of the MQM Intelligence Bureau verified. He also appealed to the MQM workers not only to read his statements minutely but also save them as part of their record. He finally stated that he would continue to have the report of the MQM
Intelligence Bureau published in the newspapers from time to time.
"Altaf to expose plot against MQM
LONDON, Dec 29: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has said that he will soon inform the nation about the plans of the intelligence agencies to annihilate Mohajirs. In a press statement issued here on Wednesday, the MQM chief claimed that his party has collected hard evidence and facts about the intelligence agencies' plans.
The statement came a day after Altaf Hussain announced that he would reveal his future strategy to the people very soon. The MQM chief said that the details of the plans would enable the people to understand his new strategy. He said on the one hand the government and its officials were claiming that action would be taken against all those police officials involved in extra-judicial killings in the past while on the other hand, according to MQM information, government officials were conferring awards on those police officials who are involved in extra-judicial killings.
Mr Altaf Hussain said that according to MQM Intelligence Bureau Report, last week Corp Commander Karachi, General Muzaffar Usmani invited all those Station House Officers (SHOs) who were involved in extra-judicial killings and not only praised their "efforts" but also gave them costly wrist watches. "Mohajir people should not expect any good from any senior government official," he said.
The MQM chief said according to another MQM Intelligence Bureau Report, on December 4, 1999, the head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Sindh, met the head of the "Haqqiqi activist" at Barrack No 73 of Malir Garrison. He claimed a telephonic meeting was also arranged between the "Haqqiqi activists" and the Director General of ISI in Islamabad. He called upon General Pervez Musharraf and other army officials in GHQ to investigate these incidents. Mr Altaf Hussain also asked the MQM workers not only to seriously read his statements but also keep the cutting of the newspapers in which these are published for future reference.
[DAWN/The News International, KARACHI 31 December 1999, Friday, 22 Ramazan 1420]
ISPR denies Muttahida claim
KARACHI: The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday denied that corps commander Karachi awarded any policemen recently. Referring to a statement by Muttahida Qaumi Movement Chief Altaf Hussain, published in newspapers on Thursday, an ISPR spokesman said that Altaf Hussain had stated that corps commander Karachi invited some SHOs to an Iftar party and offered them costly wristwatches. The spokesman said that these remarks were baseless. "This statement appears to be based on disinformation. The corps commander has not given any party to anyone in the holy month of Ramazan. Therefore, the question of inviting any police officers to an Iftar party or presenting them any gift does not arise. The remarks made in the statement are totally concocted, baseless and malicious," said the spokesman.
Altaf rejects ISPR rebuttal
KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has rejected the ISPR rebuttal on his statement regarding distribution of costly wrist watches among certain police officers involved in extrajudicial killings and termed it as a 'bundle of lies'. In a rejoinder issued from London late on Thursday night, the Muttahida chief said that the ISPR reply compelled him to disclose further details of the function in which the watches were distributed among station house officers (SHOs) as reward. Altaf said that according to the Muttahida Intelligence Bureau Unit, the function was held at the Army Guest House in Karachi, located near the Mehran Hotel. He claimed that Col Abbas of the Military Intelligence, ISI Sindh chief Brig Junaid, Maj Masood of the MI and Col Naim of the ISI, beside Corps Commander Muzaffar Usmani was present in the function.
The Muttahida chief said that Col Abbas was assigned to bring the SHOs secretly at Mehran Lodge behind Mehran Hotel from where they were taken to the Army Guest House, just opposite the Mehran Lodge. "The Corps Commander was already present at the venue where the SHOs were presented commendation certificates and Rolex watches as reward," he added. Altaf claimed that the SHOs were assigned duties and areas to carry out operation against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. "At the end of the function, the personal staff officer of the Corps Commander reached the Corps Headquarters and telephoned DIG Karachi Jawed Iqbal, informing him that certain SHOs were assigned specific task, thus they should not be bothered by the police command," he added. Altaf also claimed that to maintain secrecy, the staff of both Mehran Lodge and Army Guest House were changed and at the end of the function at 10:30 pm the regular staff resumed their duties. The Muttahida chief
demanded of Chief Executive General Pervaiz Musharraf and GHQ officials to investigate the fact that he had disclosed so that the country could be saved from vested interests. He said the proof regarding the function could be provided to any of the reliable colleagues of General Musharraf with added disclosures.
[DAWN/The News International, KARACHI 31 December 1999, Friday, 22 Ramazan 1420]
"UN-QUOTE"
No doubt that the workers of MQM were treated inhumanly, barbarously and very cruelly by the Military Establishment from 1992 to onwards but this very same Army Establishment is enjoying power thanks to MQM and MQM is now part of the same Intelligence Agencies which the MQM used to condemn in the very near past as you have read above. The MQM´s concerns for Pakistan´s Crippling Economy must be appreciated but keeping in mind the loss MQM caused to it when there were civilian governments ruling the country and MQM was conniving with the same establishment which was working against the civilian governments of the country and MQM even used the dead bodies of their own workers to put an end to PPP and PML-N governments [1988-1990], [1990-1993], [1993-1996], and [1997-1999] and no doubt the further boast to cripple their governments was given by persons like Former President Farooq Laghari, and General Naseerullah Baber and their myopic thinking.
In these years more than 5000 persons fell to sniper bullets in Karachi and Hyderabad, while more than 1000 others were wounded. Property set on fire on otherwise destroyed included 475 vehicles, 20 banks, 102 houses, 95 shops, two telephone exchanges, 20 offices of different political parties, 12 petrol pumps, 2 factories, one office each of Wapda and social security, two post offices and 4 police stations. MQM insists that its strikes are peaceful. But the facts speak other wise, In a total 38 strike calls spread over these years, MQM prevented Rs 30 billion worth of business transactions from taking place. Hundreds of thousands of people had to do without postal and other communication facilities. As per another study Karachi, which is the hub of the Pakistani economy has been effected terribly by the violence. A major aspect of this is the flight of capital to other industrial centres in Punjab.6 A study commissioned by the Karachi Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (KCCI) concluded that a working day lost by strike in Karachi costs Rs. 1.3 billion ($ 38 million) and in 1995 a total of 34 working days were lost as a result of strikes called by the MQM.
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA330011996?open&of=ENG-PAK
on the pursuance of the then COAS Mirza Aslam Baig [check the special issue of Herald 1990 when Ghulam Ishaq Khan dismissed the PPP Government, Mirza Aslam Baig shamelessly admitted that he has taken away the support of 14 MQM MNA's from the PPP to make the government crumble].
Altaf Hussain (MQM) Rs 20 million
Afaq of the MQM Rs 0.5 million
Yusuf Haroon 5 million [he confirms having received
this for Altaf Hussain of the MQM]
We never learn from history By Ardeshir Cowasjee
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/20020721.htm
We never learn from history-2 By Ardeshir Cowasjee
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/20020804.htm
We never learn from history-3 By Ardeshir Cowasjee
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/20020811.htm
We never learn from history-4 By Ardeshir Cowasjee
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/20020818.htm
We never learn from history-5 By Ardeshir Cowasjee
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/20020825.htm
Pakistan: Information on Mohajir/Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Altaf (MQM-A)
Query: Provide information on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Altaf (MQM-A) in Pakistan.
Amnesty International (AI). HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS IN KARACHI (1 Feb 1996, ASA 33/01/96),
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA330011996?open&of=ENG-PAK
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
Human Rights Watch (HRW). WORLD REPORT 1998, "Pakistan" (Dec 1997),
http://www.hrw.org/worldreport/Asia-09.htm#P823_214912
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
Jane's Information Group (Jane's). JANE'S WORLD INSURGENCY AND TERRORISM-17, "Muthida [sic] Qaumi Movement (MQM-A)" (14 Feb 2003),
http://www.janes.com [Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS). "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" (23 May 2003),
http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/fs/2003/12389.htm
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS). COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES FOR 1998, "Pakistan" (Feb 1999),
http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1998_hrp_report/pakistan.html
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS). COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES FOR 1996, "Pakistan" (Feb 1997),
http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1996_hrp_report/pakistan.html
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS). COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES FOR 1995, "Pakistan" (Feb 1996),
http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/democracy/1995_hrp_report/95hrp_report_sasia/Pakistan.html
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS). COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS
PRACTICES FOR 1994, "Pakistan" (Feb 1995),
http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/democracy/1994_hrp_report/94hrp_report_sasia/Pakistan.html
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS). COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES FOR 1991, "Pakistan" (Feb 1992).
U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS). COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES FOR 1990, "Pakistan" (Feb 1991).
Attachments:
Jane's Information Group (Jane's). JANE'S WORLD INSURGENCY AND TERRORISM-17, "Muthida [sic] Qaumi Movement (MQM-A)" (14 Feb 2003),
http://www.janes.com
[Accessed 6 Feb 2004]
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