M A I L B A G

Lessons from hijacking

THE Government of India deserves all appreciation for the way it finally handled the situation in saving many lives in the just concluded case of the plane hijacking, though at a great cost, for hardly any other alternatives were available to it.

In fact, in the overall circumstances obtaining, anyone else would also have taken the same final stand if precious human lives were to be saved. But if nothing else the latest hijacking episode has surely magnified a thousand gaping holes in our collective abilities to quickly and effectively diffuse any major crisis.

A comprehensive disaster-cum-crisis management plan, inter alia, must address the following:

The role of the government, the Opposition, the common people, including the most directly affected population, the media, such social organisations as can galvanise immediate voluntary relief or morale-boosting measures, the police and the Army is significant.

The government of the day must be respected and given unstinted support by all the segments of society at least during such hours of national trial.

As it is, there should be no need to convene special sessions of Parliament to seek the support of the Opposition so that the precious time of the government is not lost in channelling its strength internally as well as internationally to address the problems before it.

The media has to mature in toning down the projection of any negative or depressing reactions from any quarter in live international telecast of our internal crisis, which should aim at concentrating only on disseminating the right, timely and objective information to the viewers.

In the matter of negotiations it is never a case of enough is enough. Even the parting moments can bring a breakthrough. Therefore, all objective negotiations invariably become a long drawn affair trying to wear out the other side, often raising unwarranted suspicions in the minds of important personalities, who also classify themselves as intellectuals but are or cannot be directly involved, for a negotiating team cannot carry with it the whole of the country or an organisation.

Those not directly involved in handling the crisis should surely continue contributing from behind the scenes but not through globally open international channels. Any think tank of experts, voluntary or otherwise, if available should be easily accessible to the negotiating team.

No personal baggage except reading or listening (audio) material with passengers should be permissible inside a plane. All kinds of foodstuff, including fruits, should be supplied by the crew so that, as someone stated, no one can befool the crew or the passengers with a handgrenade made of an orange.

TEJINDER SINGH BEDI
Noida

Always demanding

We Indians are always demanding. We are only interested in seeing what others do. Whether others do their duty or not is always our paramount concern. But we never introspect whether we have done what we are require to do.

Most of the public dealing offices do not work till they are bribed. This corruption is leading the country from bad to worse. It is high time we did self-introspection to find out whether we have done anything good for the country or society in this week/month or year. Have we taken bribe/gratification for doing something which was legal/illegal?

Please remember that corruption will breed corruption. Today those who are taking bribe will create a society where only corruption will prevail.

They will understand the situation if someone very dear to them is seriously sick and the doctors demand bribe to cure the patient.

S. K. SHARMA
Kapurthala

Case for a world treaty

Let the Ministry of External Affairs take the initiative and convince all the nations of the world to sign a comprehensive anti-hijacking treaty on the following lines:

(a) No pilot or co-pilot will take off a plane as per diktats of hijackers even when they start killing passengers/crew members or threaten to blow up the plane.

(b) No government will allow any unscheduled landing of a hijacked plane at any of its airports for excuses like refuelling.

(c) No official, including those representing the UN, will talk directly or indirectly to any hijacker, what to speak of conceding their demands even when VIP passengers are involved!

Scientists are requested to invent a device that will open the doors of a plane from a half kilometre distance even when it’s bolted from inside. In this age when an ordinary person can open his TV, car or computer with a remote control and scientists (from the earth itself) can repair/open aircraft already sent to the moon or Mars, such discoveries are probably only a day away!

MOHAN BHATNAGAR
New Delhi

Depressing views

This refers to the article, "The wise elephant: India's changing economic profile", by Mr Gurcharan Das (The Tribune, Jan 3). The author has got both good news and bad news for us.

First the bad news: "India will not grow as rapidly as the Asian tigers, nor wipe out poverty and ignorance as quickly". The reason cited: the plurality of interests, the lack of discipline and teamwork, and the contentious nature of our people will render the pace of economic reforms slow and incremental.

This means we will have to become more disciplined, improve our teamwork and accord top priority to national interests instead of individual and regional interests.

Now the good news: "India is more likely to preserve its way of life, and its civilisation of diversity, tolerance and spirituality against the onslaught of the global culture."

This news hardly cheers me up when the author springs a surprise: "India is in the midst of a social revolution" wherein, according to him, the Indians who did not traditionally accord a high place to making money have now joined the rat-race irrespective of their caste and creed.

This means the spirit of materialism has overpowered us, market forces are everywhere, consumerism has completely overtaken us and "Money" has replaced "God".

Lieut-Col ONKAR CHOPRA (retd)
Ludhiana

Tailpiece

Guess as to what the USA's basic foreign policy is?

Answer: Friendly to everyone and sincere to none!

K.J.S. AHLUWALIA
Amritsar