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Upholding POTA Cheating in polls Bee-ing a queen |
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Thought for the day
American tilt towards India
Brush with humanity
DATELINE COLOMBO
From Pakistan
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Upholding POTA
THE Supreme Court judgement on Tuesday upholding the constitutional validity of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) vindicates the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government’s determination to tackle terrorism in all its ramifications. Notwithstanding the Opposition’s reservations from the very beginning, POTA’s relevance and justification had never been in doubt because the Centre was in dire need of a piece of legislation that would help tackle terrorism firmly and effectively. However, the manner in which it was flagrantly misused by some chief ministers to settle scores with political opponents reminded one of the horrors of the infamous Terrorism and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA). For instance, how would one justify the arrest of MDMK leader Vaiko under POTA for a speech that he had delivered expressing his “moral support” to the LTTE for its role in safeguarding the interests of Tamils in Sri Lanka? The Supreme Court’s explicit ruling that an individual’s mere expression of moral support to a banned terrorist organisation, without any “criminal intent” on his part, does not warrant the use of POTA against him should goad Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to release Mr Vaiko forthwith. This will uphold the majesty of law and meet the ends of natural justice. In any case, on the basis of the Supreme Court’s clarification, the special court should expeditiously dispose of Mr Vaiko’s case. The apex court’s ruling contains several welcome features, including protection of the identity of witnesses necessary for prosecuting offenders, seeking of bail even before the expiry of one year and normal bail provisions after the expiry of one year. However, in addition to the burden of proving one’s innocence, the problem of inordinate delay in the disposal of cases remains. Parliament recently passed the amendment to POTA giving overriding statutory powers to the Central Review Committee, whose decision will be binding on the Centre, the state governments and the investigating officials in case of conflicting findings. This is likely to act as an effective check on the likes of Jayalalithaa. But the amendment should have provided for a specific time-limit for the disposal of complaints by the review committees. |
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Cheating in polls WHEN Chief Election Commissioner James Michael Lyngdoh says cheating is the bane of Indian elections, one cannot but sit up and take notice. Obviously, what weighed on his mind is his recent experience in holding elections in five states. As he admitted in an interview The Tribune carried on Wednesday, he was “stunned” by the kind of mischief played by those in power, especially in Chhattisgarh. They had spared no effort to ensure that the verdict was in their favour. Handpicked officials were posted in key constituencies while the norms set by the commission for free and fair elections were flouted. It required a lot of tough talking and several stern actions by Mr Lyngdoh to bring a semblance of order to the conduct of elections. Despite these measures, the politicians managed to get away with gross violations of the code of conduct. It is difficult to single out a particular state as more villainous than the others. In fact, when it comes to holding elections, every state government behaves in the same manner. There were serious charges of tampering with the electoral rolls in Madhya Pradesh. In many areas voters who were not expected to vote for the ruling party were disenfranchised by simply deleting their names from the voters’ list. All efforts made by the commission to minimise the use of money power were frustrated when political parties, which have access to huge amounts of black money, used it liberally in the elections. Over the years, politicians have devised their own stratagems to overcome the problem of the prescribed ceiling on election expenditure. As a result, the elections are not as free and fair as they ought to be. The root problem is that no political party is serious about electoral reforms. Most of the reforms that were introduced in the past were at the initiative of the Election Commission. As political parties are bothered only about winning elections, they are ready to go to any extent to achieve their narrow objective. Hence their readiness even to field criminals as their candidates. All this does not show the world’s largest democracy in a favourable light. What is urgently needed are reforms to ensure that elections are less costly and people can vote without fear.
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Bee-ing a queen IT is no longer a royal pleasure to be a queen in this age of republicanism (not to be confused with the Republican values of President George W. Bush). Life for the shrinking royalty is getting tough. It is getting even tougher for the queen bees from other continents if they decide to live in Europe and America. What is a queen's worth if she is not allowed the freedom to decide where to live and how? The size of the royal retinue reflects the status of the queen. Queen bees have the most regal temperament among all forms of life. Their spouses do not live to tell the tale of those moments of sweet intimacy and delight. Now their royal majesties will have to shed their sting and comply with the unreasonably tough laws that America already has and the European Union has now introduced. The health fadists of the West believe that a lot of disease-carrying mites are gaining entry into their sanitised domains by joining the royal entourage of the queen bees. The health authorities believe that the best way to check the menace from spreading is to cut the size of the royal retinue. Henceforth every queen bee shall have to limit the size of her entourage to 20 for gaining the right of residence in the European Union. Any extra honey or bumble bee shall face the risk of being quarantined and deported. Why don't the wildlife conservationists raise a "sting" on behalf of the humbled queen bee? The ban ought to be questioned on grounds of promoting racism. In America state-appointed apiarists have the right of entry to any bee colony to search and destroy diseased and "Africanised" honeybee. |
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Power is the great aphrodisiac. — Henry Kissinger
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American tilt towards India Dr Henry Kissinger proclaimed at the height of the Bangladesh conflict that it was the intention of the Nixon Administration to “tilt” in favour of Pakistan and against India. Ever since the 1971 conflict, policies of successive US Administrations have frequently been labelled as having a pro-Pakistani and anti-Indian “tilt”. This “tilt” was particularly evident in the Pentagon and in the writings of some American scholars on South Asian affairs. But the question to be asked now is whether this “tilt” still exists, or whether there has been a change in the way the United States looks at India. In the recent past, the first six years of the Clinton Administration were marked by apathy, if not hostility, towards India and particularly towards our determination to preserve the autonomy of our nuclear and missile programmes. Paradoxically, American policies changed for the better only after India’s nuclear tests. The tests were followed by a sustained dialogue, in which the Clinton Administration was given to understand that while India would exercise “nuclear restraint”, it would not “roll back” its nuclear programme. The merits of Indian democracy were recognised by Mr Bill Clinton who paid a five-day visit to India, followed by a five-hour visit to Pakistan, during which he gave Pakistan’s military ruler a piece of his mind on every conceivable issue, ranging from democracy to ISI support for the Taliban. What caused this dramatic turnaround in American thinking? The first reason was strong American disapproval of what it felt was irresponsible and adventuristic behaviour by nuclear-armed Pakistan during the Kargil conflict. Mr Nawaz Sharif was forced to accept that Pakistan should respect the “sanctity” of the Line of Control. Secondly, as the “Global Trends 2015” Report of the CIA revealed, there was growing concern in Washington that Pakistan’s internal situation had deteriorated so badly that it was on the road to becoming a dysfunctional state, beset with religious extremism. Finally, Pakistan’s support for the Taliban and the links of the ISI with Osama bin Laden’s International Islamic Front were setting off alarm bells within the Washington beltway. The Bush Administration was forced to change a policy of benign neglect to one of active engagement of Pakistan, after it emerged that terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil endangered America’s national security. Given the crucial necessity of Pakistani assistance to overthrow the Taliban and eliminate Al-Qaeda, Pakistan was described as an indispensable ally in the war against terrorism. Not surprisingly, the entire American effort was one of endeavouring to make Pakistan a “moderate” Islamic state, using a calibrated policy of carrot and stick. Pakistan has been promised American economic and military assistance amounting to $ 3 billion over a five-year period. But this assistance is to be made conditional on moves by Pakistan to end support for terrorism, curb religious extremism and reduce the role of the Army and the ISI in governance. A recent report of an Independent Task Force of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Asia Society in New York (quite obviously set up with State Department backing) has recommended that President Musharraf should be pressed to end support for cross-border terrorism in J&K and for the Taliban on Pakistan soil. Further, unlike in the 1980s, the Bush Administration has rejected Pakistani demands for the supply of offensive weapons like F-16 aircraft. The Independent Task Force has made a number of recommendations on policies towards India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. It has supported “facilitation” of moves that will enable India and Pakistan to “develop a framework to address more constructively issues such as nuclear confidence building measures, de-escalation along the LoC and the Siachen glaciers, expanding trade relations, easing the movement of people and reducing hate propaganda.” The Task Force proposed a ceasefire along the LoC. It is, therefore, obviously in response to American prodding that Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali proposed a ceasefire along the LoC and agreed to the Indian proposal that the ceasefire should be extended to the Siachen sector also. The Americans have rejected General Musharraf’s Kashmir-centric agenda for talks with India and broadly endorsed what India and Pakistan have agreed to in the Lahore Declaration. It is no longer going to be easy for Pakistan to insist that there can be no progress on issues like trade and people-to-people contacts unless its ambitions on Kashmir are met. Thus, while India will have to live with the reality of behind-the-scene American “facilitation” on issues concerning its relations with Pakistan, the American approach, so far, has been realistic and not characterised by the “tilt” of the Nixon-Kissinger era. India will, therefore, have to adopt pro-active measures not only on relations with Pakistan, but also in promoting harmony and reconciliation within Kashmir. It is in this context that the talks, which Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani is scheduled to hold with the separatist Hurriyat Conference, assume importance. These meetings will, hopefully, commence a process of continuing dialogue between the Hurriyat and the Union Government’s interlocutor, Mr N.N. Vohra. What are the reasons for the emerging changes in the American policies towards India? The United States sees India as a vibrant democracy, set to embark on a process of sustained and, hopefully, accelerated economic growth. On the other hand, Pakistan is seen as a problem child that has to be persuaded by both carrot and stick to mend its ways. The US cannot, after all, afford to allow an Islamic country with nuclear weapons to become dysfunctional. But despite these developments, there are a number of reasons why it would be unwise for India to believe that American policies in South Asia will necessarily coincide with ours. There are disturbing signs that the State Department is following a policy in Afghanistan designed to placate Pakistan, while demonising and marginalising the Panjshiris in the Northern Alliance. This could have destabilising implications and raise concerns in New Delhi, Tehran, Moscow and Dushanbe. Similarly, it would be naďve to assume that the nonproliferation warriors within and outside the Bush Administration would be happy to facilitate the transfer of hi-tech and dual use technologies to India. We will have to keep other options open. Past experience has taught us that there is no substitute for self-reliance in such matters. In his National Security Doctrine unveiled in September 2002, President Bush proclaimed: “We (India and the US) are the two largest democracies committed to political freedoms protected by representative government. India is moving towards greater economic freedom as well. We have a common interest in the free flow of trade through the sea-lanes of the Indian Ocean. Finally, we have a common interest in fighting terrorism and creating a strategically stable Asia.” Despite this larger strategic vision, India’s relations with the US have unfortunately been excessively Pakistan-focused. We are ourselves often responsible for this, because both our government and media have been excessively Pakistan-centric. It is time India’s diplomacy changed in substance and style to reflect the strategic vision enunciated by Prime Minister Vajpayee when he spoke to the armed forces Commanders on November 1. The SAARC Summit in Islamabad and the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand would provide good opportunities for India to articulate a comprehensive view on its role in promoting peace, stability and cooperation from the Straits of Hormuz to our west to the Straits of Malacca to our east. n |
Brush with humanity I saw a man lying in the middle of the road recently. A bike, apparently his, was lying beside him. I was in an official transport and requested Naval, the driver, to park the vehicle nearby. I got off to see the condition of the man. The man was groaning with pain. On inquiry, he murmured, “I have committed a sin. I have drunk a lot in a party....” The man felt guilty and kept apologising. I told him not to be so remorseful. “The whole world drinks. It does not matter,” I tried to console him and asked his phone number. I phoned his family members. After getting satisfied that his family was on the way, I decided to leave, putting him in a more safe position on the road. As he also stayed in Janak Puri, it was easier for me to inquire about his condition. I rang up his residence after a couple of days. He came on the line. I reminded him of that tragic accidental night and his useless “mea culpa” over excessive “partying”. “How are you now, Mukesh?” I asked. “I am OK,” he said. “My hand is fractured, but otherwise I am fine.” “Hope you will soon become fully fit,” I said and told him, “Mukesh, I also stay in Janak Puri. Let’s be in touch. You take down my phone number.” “You have my number, haven’t you,” he said, “You ring up sometimes.” Trying to save myself from embarrassment, I told him, “OK, Mukesh, I have your number, I will be in touch with you. That is how people sometimes respond to a kind gesture. I myself made a similar “faux pas” unintentionally and appeared ungrateful to a person who literally saved my life. If I and my family are in one piece, it is largely because of him. But unfortunately for me, he got the impression that I had been thankless. I tried to dispel this notion but with little success. Five years ago in February, 1998, my wife, child and myself got fatally injured while negotiating a turn. We were on a scooter and were returning from a book fair at Pragati Maidan. As we were just 500 metres from our house, a Maruti van without lights smashed into our two-wheeler. I was thrown up in the air and did not know about the condition of spouse and child as I had lost consciousness. This good Samaritan took us to a hospital in his own car and waited there till our relatives arrived. Since I remained unconscious for quite a long time, I did not know about the selfless service of this man. I simply knew that after our accident, a man took us in his car to a hospital. I did not know his identity. After almost a year of the accident, a story appeared in a newspaper. It was about the road accident victims who were helped by some silent Samaritans. The story focused on some humane souls who took road victims to the doctor’s without reward. Rajneesh Verma’s name figured in that story as one of the kindly men. It’s only then that I came to know that among the many people who helped me that night, this man was the first. He remained silent for long. His only grouse was (as I knew from that newspaper story) that in this case, the victim (yours truly) did not even say “thanks” even though Rajneesh had to spend sometime arguing with the hospital staff and subsequently with the police or perhaps with the court officials. He thought that I had conveniently forgotten about his noble gesture. The truth is I have not. I never will. May the tribe of such Abu Ben Adems grow! May God light up their life! n
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DATELINE COLOMBO COLOMBO: Coming to Colombo after a year, that too in December, one gets blurred impressions about Sri Lanka. One notices numerous road blocks and check points, where security personnel stop vehicles, and the prevalence of a general atmosphere of fear of re-emergence of insurgency due to the stand-off between President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickramesinghe. On November 4, Mrs Kumaratunga took over the portfolios of Defence, Interior and Mass Communications. This disrupted the ongoing peace talks with the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam. The city is festooned with multicolour lights and hotels are agog with pre-Christmas festivities. Flights to Sri Lanka these days are full and so are hotels. Air tickets from Europe or India, to Colombo, and hotel tariffs are exorbitant. Popular shopping centres such as Crescat and Odel, traffic roundabouts, Indian Oil Petrol and Diesel outlets, hotels and restaurants are lit with multi-coloured lights. Christmas partying has already commenced. There is, however, a sombre mood among the businesses and more politically aware sections of society. The political impasse between the Southern political parties, it may be recalled, led to suspension of peace talks with the LTTE to resolve the decade-old ethnic conflict. The peace talks were conducted during the last one-and-a- half years with the encouragement from India, the US, Japan, and the European Union. The Norwegians were facilitating the talks. Scanning the morning newspapers and conversation with some diplomats, academics, journalists and captains of industry, this writer realised how much they would like peace to continue in the island. Newspapers carried bold advertisements urging political leaders to show statesmanship and patriotism by resuming the peace talks. A full-page advertisement in a Colombo daily appealed to leaders for a common approach to handling the peace process. Titled “It's now or never”, the sponsors referred to the positive benefits the peace brought to the island’s economy and people’s lives during the last two years. They added that it was no secret that in the past it was the divisive politics that repeatedly thwarted attempt to find a solution to the crippling ethnic issue which has had serious repercussions on the nation’s economy. The sponsors appealed to the leaders not to allow history to repeat itself. The country and its people needed them to sweep aside prejudices by joining hands and working together for peace in the interest of the nation. “This is the greatest gift that you, as our leaders, can give to our nation, our people and our future generations. Please do not deny us. This is our last chance”. The next day another newspaper prominently displayed a statement made by a country’s most respected banker, Mr Rienzie Wijetillake, of Hatton National Bank, calling for saner counsels from “our leaders” and hoping they would reach a consensus before further damage was caused to the economy. He said that the bomb had hit just as the economy had begun to recover. The stock markets boomed from 800 to 1400 points after the ceasefire and resumption of peace talks and a promise of a hefty aid package. After November 4, the stock markets reacted sharply, but the losses were contained to about 300 points. This was due mainly to promises by the President and the Prime Minister not to resume hostilities and make every possible effort to resolve differences among the Southern parties and the LTTE’s promise to adhere to the ceasefire. Notwithstanding differing opinions of some in the South and East of the country on how the government should deal with the LTTE, there is near-unanimity among the saner sections of communities all over the country that the President and the Prime Minister and the main Sinhala parties should heed the good advice given by business leaders, captains of industry and elite among various communities in the North. People have tasted peace and promise of economic boom and so they have a vested interest in peace. Meanwhile, the LTTE, which had pulled out of the talks six months ago, protesting that the government had not lived up to the assurances given at the negotiating table, indicated they were ready to resume negotiations. For the first time, it had given to the Norwegians a blueprint for resolving the ethnic problem. The draft proposal for an interim self-governing body, with sweeping powers to govern North and East of the country, submitted by the LTTE, came in for much criticism. “Experts”, however, criticised the LTTE proposals saying their acceptance would lead to the creation of a Tamil homeland. They therefore appealed to the Lankan government and others to reject the proposals. The LTTE has indicated that the proposals are there for discussion. However, hardliners want the government to reject them. The LTTE has demanded the self-governing body within a federal structure. Sinhala parties believed that the LTTE had used the ceasefire period for strengthening militarily and strategically while the Sri Lankan government, during this period, became weaker. Experts believe that in case of resumption of hostilities, the LTTE would be able to capture strategic towns of Jaffna and Trincomalee. The LTTE continues to eliminate moderates among the Tamils and Muslims living in the east and the north, the two who oppose LTTE domination of the Affine and Trincomalee. This is Sinhalese dilemma. They would like the government to defeat LTTE militarily, but the government forces are too weak to defeat the LTTE in any military confrontation. Here come the Indians who must be wooed to frustrate the LTTE’s designs. Will India respond or should it respond to such calls is a subject to be dealt at a later date. There is another problem facing the country — the irreconcilable differences between the two main political parties in the south which are leading the two warring political groupings, one under the leadership of the President and the other led by the Prime Minister. The President wants a third term, prohibited under the Constitution used by her to take over three ministries. The Prime Minister is looking forward to presidential elections. One way out is to amend the Constitution to enable the President to have a third term. She knows, however, that it would necessitate two-thirds majority in Parliament, which she does not have. The other way out is to go in for early elections, which are not due for another few years. The President can call the elections after lapse of one year of Parliament (last elections were held two years ago). Mr Wickramesinghe has said it was ready to face elections. He would fight on the plank of peace and prosperity pushing the President to contest elections on the issue of no compromise with the LTTE, which may not be popular with the business and international communities. |
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From Pakistan ISLAMABAD: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) leaders have criticized the Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal (MMA) for its stand on the issue of vote of confidence for Gen Pervez Musharraf. Talking to Dawn here on Tuesday, various ARD leaders severely criticized the religious alliance for agreeing to facilitate the government in amending the Constitution to introduce a clause through which the President would be required to seek a vote of confidence from parliament and provincial assemblies. The ARD leaders, who do not want to openly condemn the MMA before presentation of the proposed constitutional package to the parliament, said any such move by the MMA would be unconstitutional. They said if the MMA supported the government in changing the president's election procedure then the religious alliance would be equally responsible along with General Musharraf for "mutilating" the 1973 Constitution.
— The Dawn
Militancy ISI’s main worry
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s spymasters may have changed their tune. These days fighting domestic Islamic militancy is their main worry, they say, even if concern about India is never far from their minds. "Our overall strategic policy is to end extremism," a senior intelligence officer told Reuters in a rare interview at the headquarters of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) directorate. Finding the perpetrators of Sunday’s assassination attempt on President Musharraf is the urgent priority for the secret service. The new priority is a change from the not-too-distant past when "the external threat" — India — would have been the first phrase on any ISI man’s lips. —
The News International
Local govts to
continue
ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday announced that the local government system would not be excluded from Schedule 6 of the Constitution and local government associations would be formed all over the country to protect the interests of district governments, National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) Chairman Daniyal Aziz told reporters at a press conference. The NRB chief said the president announced this in Rawalpindi while presiding over a meeting on the local government system attended by all stakeholders of the devolution system. According to the Constitution, the laws in Schedule 6 cannot be amended without the President's approval. The President, he said, had rejected the demand of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) regarding the removal of the local government system from the schedule.
— The Dawn
Honouring the old & the weak
ISLAMABAD: A gathering of the Pakistan Muslim League on Monday witnessed a shocking incident reflecting the yawning gulf between the rulers and the ruled when an old woman attempting to hand over an application to party chief Chaudhry Shujat was pulled back so roughly by security officials that she fell to the ground. Ironically this sad incident took place at a function organized by a self-claimed welfare organization, Shelter, whose president, Dr. Amjad, has re-appeared on the political scene after presidential referendum, with the hope of getting the party ticket for the coming elections for Islamabad’s district nazim. — The Nation
Plea for more rights to women
ISLAMABAD: The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) has demanded more powers for bringing about amendments in various Islamic laws like the Hadood Ordinance which adversely affect women’s rights. This was stated by NCSW Chairman Justice (retd) Majida Rizvi at a press briefing here on Monday. She said that the Commission has initiated an indepth research study on the Islamic laws as Qisas and Diyat to deliver justice in cases of women and provide them security. The Chairman said, “We have prepared the concept paper and taken opinion from religious leaders, scholars, retired judges, criminal lawyers, parliamentarians, and the representatives of civil society.”
— The Nation |
Look at the anvil of a blacksmith — how it is hammered and beaten; yet it moves not from its place. Let men learn patience and endurance from it. — Sri Ramakrishna It is in the mind alone that one feels pure or impure. A man first makes his own mind guilty and then sees another’s fault. Can you injure anybody by enumerating his faults? You only injure yourself. — Sarada Devi Never say ‘No’; never say ‘I cannot’, for you are infinite. Even time and space are as nothing compared with your nature. You can do anything and everything, you are almighty. — Swami Vivekananda Except you, I have no one else to surrender to and no one to bow down to. You bless the poor, unfortunate souls just by mere thinking. You cannot ever harm the loving devotee. Hence O Merciful! Have mercy on me. —
Shri Adi Shankaracharya One realises what one reads only through wisdom. — Guru Nanak
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