I feel Pakistan is reeling under the leaderships which does not want people's ameliorations rather than playing on the raw sentiments of the people in order to perpetuate their hold on the power structure. The result brought on the one side large accummulation of wealth for a few and acute deprivation of the large chunk of the population. Military distatorships became stooge in the hands of western power and caused further usurpation of the vital resources and democratic aspirations. The nexus of feudalism, milatary dictators and clergy became galringly nauseating in that beleagured nation. Benazir although with her so many failings she this time wanted to salvage the sagging democratic hope of her countrymen. But enemy of democracy and peopla's emancipation snuffed that hope with the dasdardly assassination of Benzir. I condemn such inhuman acts. Asad, Mumbai
--- __._,_.___
*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm
*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf
*****************************************
MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
*****************************************
Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm
****************************************************
VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
****************************************************
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
__,_._,___
Who killed Benazir Bhutto? Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury Tragic death of Pakistan's former Prime Minister is undoubtedly a matter of great concern for people, who are especially opposing rise of radical Islam and militancy in the name of religion. Right after the tragic death of Benazir, media in the world are continuing to term her as a courageous voice against Islamist militancy. But, the most unfortunate part of the death of Benazir is surely a comment made by Information Advisor of the present interim government in Bangladesh, Barrister Moinul Hussain. Talking to a private television channel [Channel-I], Barrister Moinul criticized Pakistan's offensives on Al-Qaeda. He said, Pakistan has committed blunder by participating in offensives against Al Qaeda, which is not any internal problem for Pakistan. He said, listening to foreign friends, has now placed Pakistan into present crisis. Barrister Moinul's comments gives a very clear signal to the international community that, Bangladesh is not going to be a ally of the United States nor it will take part in any kind of offensives on Islamist militancy. His remarks goes very much in favor of his views of ignoring United State's and international communities concern on rise of Al Qaeda and Islamist militancy in the world, as well in Bangladesh. It may be mentioned here that the previous government started massive offensives on Islamist militancy in Bangladesh and arrested a large number of top kingpins of notorious Islamist militant group Jamatul Mujahedin Bangladesh [JMB]. The government also ensured trial of these notorious people and finally a large number of JMB kingpins had already been hanged to death. But, the latest statement of Barrister Moinul Hussain gives a very solid signal to the international community that Bangladesh is no more inclined to be a partner in the war on terror. It is also important to mention here that, Barrister Moinul is considered to be the most powerful figure in the present interim government in Bangladesh. Now, let us get back to the titled topic. After the death of Benazir, a question is prominently coming to all. Who killed her? Pakistani and international media are now claiming that she was killed by Islamist militant groups in Pakistan. If this was fact, then there is no room to have any doubt that there is remarkable existence of Islamist militant groups in Pakistan. So, President Pervez Musharraf's participation in anti Al Qaeda and anti Islamist militancy was not any naïve decision. It was very much a timely act taken by the President in order to let his nation be freed from the notoriety of radical forces. How the Bangladeshi advisor sees into Musharraf's actions as mistake? Why did he make a open statement in the media opposition Bangladesh's participation on war on terror? There should be question in the minds of the people about the affiliation of this man. By openly opining of Bangladesh's remaining aloof from combating Islamist militancy, did he not show his softness towards Islamist Jihadists? Benazir was not assassinated because of Pakistan's participation in war on terror. Rather, she became a prey of Islamist Jihadists in Pakistan. And by waging war against such elements, President Pervez Musharraf did no wrong. This is exactly what any sensible and peace-loving individual or leader should do. But, by criticizing Pervez Musharraf's actions and global effort to combat Islamist militancy, Barrister Moinul Hussain at least left a bold signal to the world that, he or his government is not a partner in such international effort. Let us see what Bangladesh's interim government's chief advisor says or does about a such notorious statement of the advisor. If the government remains mum on this extremely important issue, then all the anti radical forces in the world may conclude that Moinul's statement was in fact the ideology of the present government. SALAH UDDIN SHOAIB CHOUDHURY Journalist, Columnist, Author & Peace Activist PEN USA Freedom to Write Award 2005; AJC Moral Courage Award 2006 Key to the Englewood City, USA [Highest Honor] 2007; Monaco Media Award, 2007 __._,_.___ *****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm
*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf
*****************************************
MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
*****************************************
Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm
****************************************************
VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
****************************************************
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190  __,_._,___
SAN-Feature Service SOUTH ASIAN NEWS-FEATURE SERVICE December 28,2007 Benazir was never destined for an easy or uneventful life By Jason Burke After the execution of her father, she was among the first women elected to lead a major Muslim nation SAN-Feature Service : The Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, who has been killed, aged 54, in a bomb attack at a political rally in Rawalpindi - the northern town where she had once gone to school - died as she had lived, plunged deep in the chaotic political life of Pakistan, a victim, as well as in part a culprit, of its chronic instability. She was back in the country after spending more than eight years in exile to avoid corruption charges. She was born in the southern port of Karachi, the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, an ambitious minor landowner in the province of Sindh who founded one of Pakistan's two major political parties and went on to become the country's prime minister. His daughter was never destined for an easy or uneventful life. One of her abiding memories, described in her memoirs, Daughter of the East, was saying goodbye to her father in a prison cell hours before his execution in 1979 by the military dictator Zia ul-Haq. Subsequently, Ms Bhutto herself spent long periods under house arrest or in solitary confinement before her exile. Yet much of her youth was happy. Educated at elite English-language Pakistani schools, several run by nuns, she lived the life of an indulged and adored wealthy child and teenager. Like many of her social class, she was sent overseas for her further education. From 1969 to 1973 she attended Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and then Harvard University, where she obtained a degree in comparative government before, from 1973 to 1977, studying philosophy, politics and economics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, where as a natural speaker, she was elected president of the Oxford Union. Those who spent time with her over the years became used to her lengthy, eloquent and sometimes well-informed monologues. Ms Bhutto was also known for driving around Oxford in an open-top sports car. But the innocent days of youthful political activism did not last long. Her father was dismissed as prime minister in 1975, sentenced to death two years later and hanged by Zia despite international outrage on April 4 1979. A year later, Ms Bhutto's brother Shahnawaz died in suspicious circumstances in the south of France. After a long period under house arrest in Pakistan, she managed to leave for Britain, basing herself in a flat at the Barbican in the City of London. In exile, she took on the leadership of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the party her father had founded, and on December 18 1987 married, in an arranged match that surprised many, another young southern Pakistani aristocrat, Asif Ali Zardari, who had a reputation of being something of a playboy. They went on to have three children: Bilawal, Bakhtwar, and Aseefa. When Zia was killed in a plane crash in 1988, the way was open for a return to democratic rule in Pakistan. Ms Bhutto, still only 35, returned to her homeland to lead the PPP to victory in elections. Around the world she was feted as young, charismatic, moderate and one of the first democratically-elected woman leaders of a major Muslim nation. Her perfectEnglish, her undoubted good looks and her charm helped too. People Magazine included her in its list of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. But celebrations were short-lived. Political opponents and elements within Islamist parties and the military worked hard to destabilise her inexperienced administration, and within two years, her first government had been dismissed amid allegations of corruption and incompetence. She had had little time to enact any of her campaign promises of social, economic and political reform. Though the accusations did not necessarily involve Ms Bhutto personally, her husband earned the nickname Mr Ten Percent. Zardari denied all allegations against him. Three years later, Ms Bhutto's PPP was returned to power again - with the same opposition, the same manipulation, and the same results. In 1996, the then president once again dismissed her administration, again citing allegations of corruption and gross incompetence. Ms Bhutto's opponents spent millions investigating her business affairs, one mystery in particular - that of the exact ownership of a large manor house in southern England, purchased for millions of pounds to which crates of Ms Bhutto family heirlooms were shipped. Controversy also focused on the exact role of the Ms Bhutto government in the formation and success of the Taliban movement in Afghanistan, which formed in 1994 and took Kabul in 1996, a few days after the dismissal of Ms Bhutto's second administration. She maintained that no military or logistic assistance was offered to the movement, though there was continual "political engagement". This, she said in one of her last interviews, was "logical and reasonable" as it was important to try and moderate the movement and use it to stabilise Afghanistan. Out of power from 1996, Ms Bhutto was vulnerable to moves to convict her on the outstanding corruption charges. A conviction in 1999 for failing to appear in court was later overturned after audiotapes revealed heavy political pressure placed on the principal judge by top aides of then prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Increasingly isolated, she left Pakistan in 1999 to live in Dubai and London. The military coup that autumn made any immediatereturn difficult. General Pervez Musharraf, who took charge, made little secret of his contempt for the civilian politicians whom he believed had nearly ruined Pakistan. However, the PPP organisation remained intact with a strong power base in its heartland of the southern rural Sindh province along with more rural parts of the Punjab where the Ms Bhutto family name lost little of its prestige. During her years outside Pakistan, Ms Bhutto lived with her three children in Dubai, where she was joined by her husband after he was freed in 2004. She gave frequent interviews, continued to organise the PPP and was a regular visitor to western capitals, delivering lectures at universities and meeting government officials. Relations with the press were carefully maintained, with large sums devoted to a major lobbying effort in Washington and the hire of a top-ranking public relations firm. Journalists who referred to the outstanding corruption allegations against her would receive polite emails reminding them that the charges had never been proven and that they were politically motivated. The political climate began to change during 2007 as Musharraf made a series of major political errors, rapidly losing support after clumsy confrontations with the judiciary. A consummate political operator to the last, Ms Bhutto saw a chance to make a glorious return to Pakistan and win power once again. Negotiations with the president and head of the armedforces lasted through the summer, blessed by Washington and London. A deal was done that saw Ms Bhutto's members of the national assembly effectively acquiesce to Musharraf's re-election as president in return for an amnesty preserving her and much of her entourage from investigation for past misdeeds. However, her triumphal return was marred by the suicide bombing that narrowly missed her and killed scores of her supporters in Karachi onOctober 18. Following the attack, Ms Bhutto, who was convinced that a shadowy cabal of retired army officers and Islamic militant sympathisers was behind the strike, told close associates that the deal with Musharraf was off. Winning power at the elections to be held next month was all the more vital. Campaigning with customary verve and energy, inveighing continually against the failure to provide her with sufficient security, she started touring the country two weeks ago. One aim was to reacquaint herself with the people of Pakistan after her long exile. But her performances, hectoring local workers not to allow the government to rig the poll, calling for an end to militancy, and invoking the legacy of her late father, were vintage Ms Bhutto. Her husband, son and two daughters survive her. –SAN-Feature Service Courtesy : The Guardian
__._,_.___ *****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm
*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf
*****************************************
MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
*****************************************
Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm
****************************************************
VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
****************************************************
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190  __,_._,___
SAN-Feature Service SOUTH ASIAN NEWS-FEATURE SERVICE December 28,2007 COMMENT : Honour Bhutto's sacrifice Ejaz Haider Whoever did this wants two things: create unrest through violence; and get the elections postponed sine die. The postponement of elections will only increase the possibility of violence SAN-Feature Service : Ms Benazir Bhutto is dead, assassinated. A grave tragedy, this could likely have even graver consequences. She was walking back to her vehicle after addressing a rally at Rawalpindi's Liaquat Bagh on December 27 when, according to reports, a man approached her, started shooting and then blew himself up. The bullet that entered her neck proved fatal. That Bhutto was attacked is not surprising; it wasn't the first time. What is surprising is that someone could so easily get close to her and had enough time to start shooting before activating his suicide belt. Or were there two people, one shooting and the other blowing himself up? Who could have done it? The answer to this obvious question, unfortunately, is not so obvious. If motive is the benchmark, culprits can range from the rightwing elements — Al Qaeda and its affiliate groups had repeatedly threatened to take her out — to her political rivals to elements within the establishment and intelligence agencies. Anyone, singly or in tandem, could be behind this murderous act. There is a strong undertow in Pakistan still of extremism — rogue elements within the establishment linked to extremist groups and right-of-centre political parties. Bhutto had, after the gruesome Karachi bombings, pointed the finger at what she called the "Zia remnants"; later, however, she had decided not to press with that line. But the manner in which Pakistan's politics is configured, the PPP rank and file will entertain no other thought except that the dark deed was committed by Bhutto's rivals — and rivals range from the army (for whom Bhutto was a bete noire) to intelligence agencies to right-of-centre political parties to the extremist groups on the loose. PPP cadres are already in a foul mood and in the coming days the possibility of increasing violence in the party's strongholds cannot be discounted. The consequences of Bhutto's assassination have to be seen on the basis of the vertical fault-line that has historically run through Pakistan's politics and where the army has overtly and covertly tried to do everything possible to keep the PPP on the margins since its very inception (former Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence, Lt-Gen Hamid Gul, has publicly confessed that he put together the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad in 1988 to thwart the PPP). Even now, while President Pervez Musharraf began to make overtures to the PPP, partly because he realised that the next phase of politics would require a much stronger PPP presence and partly because the Americans pushed him in that direction, Musharraf's allies were extremely unhappy. It doesn't bear repeating that Musharraf presides over a system where many functionaries of the government are not particularly enamoured either of his policy of alliance with the US or his idea of cultural liberalism and moderation. An alliance between Musharraf and Bhutto, even one based on self-interest, was not in the interest of such players. That her rally in Karachi was targeted within hours of her landing on Pakistan's soil shows that these elements meant business. It also proved that they considered her a grave threat and would strike again. Turmoil suits extremist groups; the absence of Bhutto suits some political groups as well as some elements within the establishment. But unlike the extremist groups, those who are in this game to seek power must realise that some basic rules of the game are important all round — for themselves as well as the rivals. Without règle du jeu, the country can never acquire the stability which makes politics the only profitable game in town. Where does Pakistan go from here? That's the question now and its answer will depend on Musharraf. He will have to make a decision and a smart one. And the only sensible decision is to not postpone the elections. Whoever did this wants two things: create unrest through violence; and get the elections postponed sine die. The postponement of elections will only increase the possibility of violence by signalling to an already bereaved PPP rank and file that the dastardly act of killing Bhutto was aimed at eliminating a political threat and keeping the country away from democracy. In fact, the only way Musharraf can show his sincerity and even get himself, the army and perhaps his political allies absolved of the accusations that will now fly thick and fast, such being the nature of Byzantine politics, is to go ahead with the elections. The talk about imposing another emergency will be akin to playing with fire. Investigations into this tragedy need sincerity, not a blanket imposition of drastic measures curtailing basic rights, not least because emergency in and of itself can have no impact on the efficacy of investigations intended to unearth the culprits who did this. Indeed, imposition of emergency and postponement of elections will serve to do just the opposite: convince the PPP cadres as also the majority of Pakistanis that Bhutto was targeted only so the ancien regime could carry on merrily. Musharraf's appearance on state television condemning Bhutto's death, declaring three days of mourning and asking people to stay calm was a good gesture; that he did not mention any possibility of emergency is also a good signal. However, there has been rioting in various cities and if violence spreads it could give the government a reason to take extraordinary measures. That is what must be avoided. While it is important to maintain law and order, that can be done without getting into the morass of emergency. This is a death whose shadow will linger over Pakistani politics for many years to come. There's also a lesson in here for those who have ruled Pakistan for so long and defied the logic of establishing a succession principle. If Pakistan were a stable state, this death would still be mourned but no one would consider even a tragedy as big as this to be the undoing of the state itself. Bhutto was fighting for just such stability; the only way to honour her and her sacrifice is for the country to return to democracy and to the creation of a legal-normative framework. And the first step to that is free and fair elections.—SAN-Feature Service Ejaz Haider is Op-Ed Editor of Daily Times and Consulting Editor of The Friday Times. He can be reached at sapper@dailytimes.com.pk __._,_.___
*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm
*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf
*****************************************
MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
*****************************************
Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm
****************************************************
VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
****************************************************
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
__,_._,___
WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/45736 She had no chance of winning majority seats in Parliament of Pakistan and that's why Presiddemt Musharraf couldn't have ordered her assassination. Govt. People do not sacrifice their lives to kill someone anyway. They have better ways to do that. Only crazy JehaaDi zealots do this kind of stuff. *****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm *****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf ***************************************** MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona. *****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm *****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm *****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm *****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
*****************************************
Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona: http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm **************************************************** VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
****************************************************
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/ <*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email:
mailto:mukto-mona-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:mukto-mona-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
mukto-mona-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Benazir Bhutto's assassination in a gun and bomb attack, at a rally in Rawalpindi, is an enormous tragedy not just for Pakistan but also for all of South Asia. Indeed, perhaps the world. The world needs to be extremely anxious about the state of Pakistan following this heinous murder. This is not a routine assassination, because it snuffs out whatever faint hope there was of free and fair elections early next year.
Again, Pakistan proved to be a complete failed state. Pakistan is done. It's existence until now is a rare miracle. Pakistan created based on religious emotions failed to unite the people of this country and proved mixing politics and religion is compared to mixing gasoline in fire. My condolence and deep sorrow on the death of Benajir Bhutto, probably the last hope for Pakistan existed until today. What a tragedy, Mr. Bhutto was hanged, his eldest son Murtaza Bhutto was killed on a crossfire by Pakistan police, his other son was poisoned to death by military rulers and now the last post of the family Benajir Bhutto has been gun down!
The terrorist attack on the convoy welcoming Benazir back from exile, which killed hundreds, followed soon after by this latest, successful attempt at assassinating her, shows that terrorism is now lodged in the heart of Pakistan. Its getting worse, not better. Its now time for the international community to brainstorm and do something about Pakistan, soon. And while everyone puts their heads together, the starting point must be to realise that tried and tested approaches have failed. The top priority has to be stabilising the nation.
That might seem, at first sight, to mean reinforcing the military and emergency powers for Musharraf. But its precisely on their watch that Pakistan has arrived at it's present parlous state. Musharraf's administration has focused it's energies on targeting lawyers, political activists, supreme court judges and mediapersons, sending thousands of peaceful activists to jail. While being unable to prevent terrorists from striking at will, not even in Rawalpindi, which is a garrison city as well as ISI's home base. The military has also been diverting aid meant for front-line troops fighting the Taliban and the Al-Qaida, for the sake of trophy arms buys if not outright corruption.
Even if it seems counter-intuitive at first instance, there has to be at least a medium-term plan to get the military out of the way and make Pakistan a democracy with strong institutions in place. Making Musharraf the main prop of the nation's stability has failed, decisively.
May His Holiness bestow upon political leaders, army rulers and civil societies the wisdom and courage to seek and find humane, just and lasting solutions in Pakistan and elsewhere in this planet. Gopal Sengupta Canada __._,_.___
*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm
*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf
*****************************************
MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
*****************************************
Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm
****************************************************
VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
****************************************************
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
__,_._,___
Benazir Bhutto's assassination in a gun and bomb attack, at a rally in Rawalpindi, is an enormous tragedy not just for Pakistan but also for all of South Asia. Indeed, perhaps the world. The world needs to be extremely anxious about the state of Pakistan following this heinous murder. This is not a routine assassination, because it snuffs out whatever faint hope there was of free and fair elections early next year.
Again, Pakistan proved to be a complete failed state. Pakistan is done. It's existence until now is a rare miracle. Pakistan created based on religious emotions failed to unite the people of this country and proved mixing politics and religion is compared to mixing gasoline in fire. My condolence and deep sorrow on the death of Benajir Bhutto, probably the last hope for Pakistan existed until today. What a tragedy, Mr. Bhutto was hanged, his eldest son Murtaza Bhutto was killed on a crossfire by Pakistan police, his other son was poisoned to death by military rulers and now the last post of the family Benajir Bhutto has been gun down!
The terrorist attack on the convoy welcoming Benazir back from exile, which killed hundreds, followed soon after by this latest, successful attempt at assassinating her, shows that terrorism is now lodged in the heart of Pakistan. Its getting worse, not better. Its now time for the international community to brainstorm and do something about Pakistan, soon. And while everyone puts their heads together, the starting point must be to realise that tried and tested approaches have failed. The top priority has to be stabilising the nation.
That might seem, at first sight, to mean reinforcing the military and emergency powers for Musharraf. But its precisely on their watch that Pakistan has arrived at it's present parlous state. Musharraf's administration has focused it's energies on targeting lawyers, political activists, supreme court judges and mediapersons, sending thousands of peaceful activists to jail. While being unable to prevent terrorists from striking at will, not even in Rawalpindi, which is a garrison city as well as ISI's home base. The military has also been diverting aid meant for front-line troops fighting the Taliban and the Al-Qaida, for the sake of trophy arms buys if not outright corruption.
Even if it seems counter-intuitive at first instance, there has to be at least a medium-term plan to get the military out of the way and make Pakistan a democracy with strong institutions in place. Making Musharraf the main prop of the nation's stability has failed, decisively.
May His Holiness bestow upon political leaders, army rulers and civil societies the wisdom and courage to seek and find humane, just and lasting solutions in Pakistan and elsewhere in this planet. Gopal Sengupta Canada __._,_.___ 
__,_._,___
WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/45751 Benazir Bhutto ignored the threat from terrorist Al-Qaida and as a result she had to sacrifice her life. Althoiugh we donot know yet for sure who was responsible for her assasination. Some saying military Dictator and U.S.ally Mosharraf might have played a role for her assasination. It's still early to blame Mosharaf for her assasination. Secular politician like Benazir and Mosharaf is hated by Pakistani fundamenatalist groups as well as powerful Al-Qaida activists,who is fighting against U.S. Ally Mosharaf. Benazir had understanding with Mosharaf recently before her return from exile. Most probably it was U.S.'s interest to see her as next Prime Minister of Pakistan therefore her assasination went against U.S. interest.Other foreign intelligent agencies involvlmemnt could not be ruled out yet. Most people believe that Paklistani strongman President Gen. Zia also assasinated by foreign intelligent agency. Benazir's fate was not unexpected even she complained before her death that she has been targeted by different groups. Until a throgh investigateion is done by national and foreign experts we cannot come to conclusion about the identity of her killer. Right know two probable killer could be Al-qaida or Mosharraf.
Pakistan's democratic future will remain bleak and painful. *****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm *****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf ***************************************** MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona. *****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm *****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm *****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm *****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
*****************************************
Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona: http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm **************************************************** VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
****************************************************
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/ <*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email:
mailto:mukto-mona-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:mukto-mona-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
mukto-mona-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/post?
act=reply&messageNum=45733 Ami Isseroff, As far as facts are concerned, we are always happy to work with them.
As rationalists, we do accept that they are the best way forwards.
When you speak of standards, though, we cannot accept the use of
scriptures of any kind as "facts." YOU might consider Biblical
scripture absolute truth, as would your friend Tarek Heggy, others might think the same about Islamic or other scripture. Rationalists would prefer to have DNA studies instead to establish who had an historical claim to the lands in various parts of the world, for example, in addition to historical studies of human migration patterns into and out of the region etc. To someone who disputes the idea of a god the whole business of something being "promised" to one side or another is nothing more than silly fable. And, if you have suggestions on how conflicts may be resolved in specific parts of the world, we have no difficulty with discussing these ideas as long as they are based on facts, again, not on religious grandmothers' or preachers' tales. We are as much for peace as those religionists who claim to be working for the same if not significantly more. Don't, however, try to impose religious standards or doctrine on us - you have as little right to do that as we would have to ban you from practicing a certain religion, or of continuing your belief in a god or a green tomato. Where there could be a meeting point would be in
discussing interpretations of a situation or an event, something that
we have done with Hindus, Muslims and Christians so far. If you would
like to offer a Jewish viewpoint, you're welcome. Don't expect to let
a "my god insists this is what it is and that is why it must be true"
statement to go unchallenged. When you mention specific journals for us to use, there is something
simple for you to note. If you feel that "Blitz" is a magazine worth
reading, we have no problem with either you or someone else from the
magazine posting aticles here for members to discuss. That is what
our forums are for, and, discuss various issues is what we do. However, there is a strict limit on the number of posts we could approve on a single day. We get vastly more posts than we could do anything about because of the number of members we have, their varied tastes and concerns and the issues that life simply throwsa up every day in different parts of the world. We do have an informal priority as far as what posts we approve are concerned and what posts we defer or don't approve. Now that you're a member here, it is a question of
time before this becomes clear to you. You will see that we clearly
value open debate. Finally, let me point out that we have several people, atheists of
Jewish descent, associated with Mukto Mona right from the time these
forums and our group came into existence. These people are cultural
Jews and non believers and they have many of the concerns about
history and current affairs affecting the Jewish people and other
communities in different parts of the world, whether it relates to
the Middle Eastern issue or to the Christian Right and its attempts
at bulldozing its religion down our throats in the US. Many of them
know Dr Jaffor Ullah personally and are good friends with him. They
have not called someone whom they know Anti-Semitic. And, they have
been reading his articles here for longer than you have. While I am
not interested in asking you to change your views or to not post your
arguments with any member here on our forums, I must point this out
because there are Jewish members here who would consider your
allegations of Anti-Semitism as far as Dr Jaffor Ullah is concerned, as unfounded based on facts. Welcome to Mukto Mona and we are glad to have your viewpoint here. Do
feel free to invite anyone who wishes to be a part of our group and
to post interesting material here for discussion. Just don't expect
everyone here to accept what you post unchallenged - you will have to
have facts and not scripture or opinion based on scripture to offer
for something to be accepted. Mehul Kamdar *****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm *****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf ***************************************** MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona. *****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm *****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm *****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm *****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
*****************************************
Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona: http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm **************************************************** VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
****************************************************
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/ <*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email:
mailto:mukto-mona-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:mukto-mona-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
mukto-mona-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Hasni Essa Peace & Pluralism __._,_.___ *****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm
*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf
*****************************************
MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
*****************************************
Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm
****************************************************
VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
****************************************************
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190  __,_._,___
The violent removal of Benazir Bhutto from the Pakistani political life is a serious blow to that nation's quest for a democratic future. A lethal brew of religion and politics is working full time now in Pakistan. It's unfortunate but true that Pakistan never sincerely tried to establish democracy in its sixty years long history as a sovereign nation. Whenever there was an effort made outside forces intervened and derailed the process. The curse of the successive military dictatorships always crushed any budding democratic effort and as a result the entire political life was corrupted and weakened. The boggy of Islam and India were constantly used by the military oligarchies to perpetuate their rule. No sincere effort was made to forge a united and coherent nation. The military dictatorship of Gen.Ziaul Huq did the most damage to Pakistan by introducing religious extremism in the country. He deliberately let the nation to be overwhelmed by the Islamic fundamentalists in the name of helping Afghan resistance for cheap money from the United States. A Frankenstein was created in the name of religion which has brought peril to the nation. After September 11, 2001 another military dictator, Pervez Musharraf, committed the same blunder by allowing the Taliban's along with thug Osama bin Laden to take refuse in Pakistan. Although he pretended to be an ally of the United States but he was never sincere in his mission. He underestimated their powers and let them to settle in the unruly tribal areas without going after them with determination to crush and destroy them. He played with time and grossly miscalculated the powers of these terrorists. He was deliberate in his callousness to deal with them and now he is reaping the grave consequences. A fractured nation is in almost ruins now.A latest report says that Al qaeda has claimed responsibility for this murder. Can anyone prescribe a verse from the Quran to get rid of Osama bin Laden?
Akbar Hussain
__._,_.___ *****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm
*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf
*****************************************
MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm
*****************************************
Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm
****************************************************
VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
****************************************************
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190  __,_._,___
|