Daily Online Alochona: Feb 20, 2008

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

[ALOCHONA] Launch of Global Campaign for Accountable Democracy in Bangladesh

For Immediate Release

Change Bangladesh Launches Global Campaign for Accountable Democracy in Bangladesh

Little Rock, AR, February 21st, 2008 – Change Bangladesh is pleased to launch a global Campaign for Accountable Democracy in Bangladesh (CADB). The campaign will create a grassroots movement to compel the major political parties of Bangladesh to embrace and implement internal reforms towards democracy, accountability, zero tolerance for corruption and a law abiding political culture.

CADB plans to create the grassroots movement through the following strategies:
1.   Collect 10,000 signatures via an online petition by June 20008
2.   Educate and engage through online and offline media
3.   Partner with like-minded organizations to build momentum
4.   Present the petition for change to the major political parties of Bangladesh during summer 2008

The campaign for accountable democracy is being launched on historic February 21st, 2008 to mark the beginning of a new struggle. Just as February 21st, 1952 marked the beginning of the struggle for Bangladeshi nationalism, today marks a new struggle amongst all Bangladeshis to reclaim our nation and destiny from the slavery of corruption, political violence and kleptocracy.

Bangladesh today, is challenged with a rare opportunity to reform and rebuild its institutions of democracy, at the nucleus of which lies the political parties. Since there is no alternative to democratic governance, there is also no substitute to reforming the political parties for altruistic service to the teeming millions.

True democracy will not see the light of the day unless the politicians adhere to some fundamental rule of politics and governance.

•   Practice intra-party Democracy: Hold regular elections for grassroots and top level party leadership positions. Introduce term limits for party officials. Highly committed bright youngsters should be identified for future leadership positions.

•   Accountability: Elect, appoint and promote party leaders based on performance and meritocracy. Under performing party officials should be demoted or removed from party hierarchies.

•   Zero Tolerance for Corruption: There should be zero tolerance for corruption and unethical practices. "Politics of looting" has shamed us worldwide.

•   Adhering to the rule of law: Political parties' modus operandi must at all times be strictly followed. Reconciliation must replace confrontation with either rival political parties or the government. Political parties must stop illegal hartal, political violence, and boycott of parliamentary sessions as instruments of defiance and disagreement on issues of difference and discrepancy.

To make your voice heard and to elicit change in the lives of 150 million people of Bangladesh - sign The Petition at:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/accountable_democracy_bd

http://www.bd-democracy.org

For additional information on the Campaign for Accountable Democracy, contact Kawser Jamal or visit www.bd-democracy.org

Contact: Kawser Jamal
Cell: 501-255-2814
Email: info@bd-democracy.org
www.bd-democracy.org
www.changebangladesh.org

Lets all work together for a better Bangladesh in the years to come.

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[mukto-mona] Cow's Urine as Medicine: Faith's Leap into Blind Alleys ISP Feb 2008 II

*Cow's Urine as Medicine!*

*Faith's leap into blind Alleys*

*Ram Puniyani*

Recently the BJP ruled Uttarakhand Government (Feb 2008) has announced that
it will procure cow's urine, on the pattern similar to the procurement of
milk by dairies, refine it and sell it to Ayurvedic pharmacies. Other BJP
ruled Governments are also working on similar lines.

Cow has been having a central place in the political symbolism of RSS
combine. The place of this symbolism may be only next to Lord Ram. On these
premises, so far cow has been projected as mother. In its major campaign
against minorities' right since 1950s, BJP predecessor Bharatiya Jansangh,
had undertaken a nationwide, *Desh Dharm ka nata Hai Gau Hamari mata
hai*(Cow is related to us through our religion and nation as mother)
and also
*Janm Janm Ka Nata hai Gau hamari Mata hai* (Cow is our mother in our every
birth). Since Muslims, one does not know why Christians were not targeted
for it, are not prohibited from eating beef and since many a butcher belong
to Kasai (butchers) occupation, this fact has been used to demonize the
Muslim community. We worship cows, they eat, they butcher cows! This has
been used to rouse the sentiments of majority community time and over again.

With Uma Bharati becoming the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh (2005) for a
brief while, she introduced cow based economy, funds for Goshalas (cow
sheds) were given from Government treasury, and her official residence
became the first such Goshala. Cow based economy aimed at promoting cow
products as the core of economy. The present effort now transcends the
earlier efforts as faith is being transformed into blind faith. The
Government's move to collect urine, to procure it, refine it and sell it as
a medicine defies all the logic of science and medicine. It is converting
the political symbolism into health related prescription which is fraught
with dangers.

As such urine is a product excreted through kidneys and contains the waste
metabolites. It can also contain the bacteria, bovine tuberculosis for
example, and other harmful germs and metabolic products. The biochemical
studies of urine have clearly shown its composition. There are some who
claim magic healing powers of drinking one's own urine, called Shivambhu,
the most famous consumer of the same was Morarji Desai. Some claim that it
contains antibodies which act against the harmful diseases affecting our
body, but analytically and biochemical it has not been proven so far.
Physiologically kidneys do not let the antibodies pass out of the body as
the molecular weight of antibodies is much more than the pore of the kidney
membrane. Of course when kidney is damaged, these antibodies can pass out,
not when the cow is healthy.

Murali Manohar Joshi, who as MHRD minister initiated the introduction of
faith based disciplines like Astrology, Paurohuitya (Ritualism) also
diverted some of the funds for doing cow research. One CSIR lab went to the
extent of obtaining a patent on a pharmaceutical composition contating cow
urine distillate and an antibiotic. Another CSIR lab, in collaboration with
a NGO undertook a study to see the effectiveness of cow urine in cancer
treatment. Our own ayurveda does not mention any medicinal use of cow urine.
Ayurveda as such has lot of valuable empirical observations which can be
deepened by rooting them on firmer rational grounds but that is shrouded in
mystery and faith and any questioning of it meets angry protesters, who
claim their faith is under threat. Baba Ramdeo does claim that his
'Ramdeosim' is scientific but forgets that the basic premise of science is
peer review, facing the questions and a constant transcendence of
inadequacies in our knowledge system. The faith based enterprise of Ramdeo
is too individualistic, too much dipped in faith and has too little to offer
on rational grounds. Same is the method of cow medicine, too much faith, and
that too of blind variety, too much assertion and zero scientific research.
One will like to explore the veterinary sciences to see if there is
something drastically right in cow's excreta in contrast to the excreta of
bullock or buffalo or a dog for that matter. Also one does recall the claims
of the section that cow dung has purifying effect. Impurity brought in by
the shudras touching of water was undone by mixing cow dung with the water
touched by a dalit.

The basic difference between medical sciences, empiricism, and grandma's
medicine needs to be understood before state Government investing and
promoting cow excreta, urine, for human consumption and application.
Mercifully one has not heard so far of such efforts to promote cow dung. The
present effort by the BJP government is an extension of RSS combine's cow
politics. It is totally against the understanding of modern medicinal
sciences and also has no mention in the traditional wisdom gained over a
period of time. In a way it is the translation of RSS combine's political
understanding in to the arena of application to human society. In some
Islamic countries, on similar lines, state sponsored research to undertake
the study on djinns to solve the energy problem. As per mythology djinns are
supposed to be infinite source of energy so why bother about oil and
electricity when these blessed beings can solve our problems for good.
Surely these will also prevent the wars which are taking place in the globe
for controlling the energy reserves. And not on a very different track,
Christian right is asserting creation science to oppose the theory of
evolution.

These efforts have no rational and scientific basis, something which our
constitution ordains us to follow in the public domain. Social auditing of
efforts, which affect human health are mandatory, control by bodies
sanctioning the drugs and other medicinal means are an absolute must for
public safety, all the claims of politics notwithstanding.

As such enough of politics has been woven around cow. Just a few years ago,
one of the eminent historians of Ancient India, Prof. D.N. Jha, came out
with a book on the dietary habits in ancient India, which showed that beef
was one of the major items consumed in Ancient India. The move to project
Cow as holy animal, mother, was a response to the non violence propounded by
Lord Gautam Buddha. With the rise of agricultural society the cattle wealth
was to be preserved. As people started embracing Buddhism, the aggressive
reaction of Brahmanism came up at theological, social and political level.
Cow was projected as the symbol of rising Brahmanism, as a counter to the
non-violence of Buddha, and has remained so through centuries. Many a Mughal
kings in deference to these sentiments, to respect the feeling of the
section of society, advised against cow slaughter. Babar in his will writes
to his son Humayun to avoid the slaughter of cows.

In Hindutva politics also there are many streams. While Savarkar called cow
as a useful animal, the other sections ignited the emotions against Muslims
around cow. Irrespective of that many a poor Hindus and Adivasi did consume
beef. Incidentally it is amongst the cheapest source of protein for the
poor. Many a surveys showed that a vast number of Indian communities consume
beef. RSS combine's propaganda went on to assert that Muslims are violent
and one of the reasons is that they consume beef. This is so much against
the pyschosoiological understanding of the human mind and the violence.
While one knows that beef is a staple diet in major parts of the World, one
also knows and modern psychological theories demonstrate that violence does
not emerge from diet but from social and political situations. Beef can
surely build muscle power in conjunction with proper exercises, but violence
is in the mind.

Undoubtedly one should respect those regarding cow as their mother. RSS
combines' many followers devote their lives organizing fodder and other
supports for Guashalas. Some of them, the upholders of Cow as mother, non
violence, go to the extent of justifying violence against dalits on the
ground that they were skinning a dead cow as happened in the killings of
dalits in Gohana. This cow urine in the pharmacy shops defies all the logic
and faith and is directly a threat to health of people of the society. Faith
can take such dangerous turns is to be seen to be believed.

Issues in Secular Politics

Feb 2008 II

Feed back-ram.puniyani@gamil.com

Web www.pluralindia.com

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Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

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Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
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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.

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Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary

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Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm

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Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona

http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/

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MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari

http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm

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German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
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Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm

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[ALOCHONA] Uncertainty looms large over govt import of rice from India

Uncertainty looms large over govt import of rice from India

They said the Indian central government is bargaining to squeeze out a price much higher than fixed earlier by the state government of West BengalUncertainty looms large over import of 5 lakh tonnes of rice from India as New Delhi seeks a price much higher than the West Bengal government offered earlier, reports UNB.The consignment was stipulated to be supplied within 75 days but no deal has yet been signed, officials said.

They said the Indian central government is bargaining to squeeze out a price much higher than fixed earlier by the state government of West Bengal from where the rice will be supplied. West Bengal government has agreed to export 50,000 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh at an average price of US$ 399 per tonne.

The cabinet committee on purchase last week approved import of five lakh tonnes from India at that price. It was hoped the consignment would be delivered within 75 days. But now New Delhi upped the export price to 505 dollars per tonne when the rice price in the international market is 386 dollars."If we want to import from India, we have to pay a higher price and the consignment may be delayed," said a senior official involved in the import of food grains.

A delegation led by director general of food department Wahiduzzaman is currently visiting New Delhi to finalize the purchase deal. In view of the situation, a high level meeting was held at the Food Ministry to review the over all food situation in the country and supply of fertilizers.

After the meeting Food Advisor Dr. M Shawkat Ali indicated that import price might be little bit higher than planned earlier."Indian rice will cost Tk 28 to 29kg if imported at US$ 505 per tonne," he said.He confirmed availability of 50,000 tons, out of 5 lakh tons committed by Indian. Bangladesh team now in New Delhi is negotiating with trading corporations of Indian States.The Adviser said they were also considering rice import from Myanmar and other neighbouring countries.He said the demand for fertilizer may go up in April in peak boro season. They are planning to raise the stock by additional 50 to 75 thousand tonnes to meet the requirement.

http://www.newstoday-bd.com/frontpage.asp?newsdate=#11011

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[ALOCHONA] Gen.Moyeen's New Brand of Democracy !

The Father of the CTG, General Moyeen said that Bangladesh needed a new brand of democracy. Seems to me the ghost of Ayub Khan landed on his shoulders. Mr Khan introduced basic democracy-a blend of military and civil wines. Gen. Moyeen is heading towards his Pakistani Master's vision. I feel very sorry for Prof. Muzaffar Ahmed when he said that Gen. Moyeen saved the country on Jan. 11 last year. Has the emergency saved the nation? from what? corruption?it is going on at the same or higher scale because now the risk is high. Economy already hit the rock bottom, virtually no diplomacy. There is an exception. We have achieved a lot by surrendering to India. The General to going to India shortly to pay respect to his foreign masters in New Delhi. We will wait to see what he will bring back from Delhi.

By the by, I also see a similarity between Gen. Moyeen and Gen.(retd) Ershad. The former has started writing proses but the latter started writing poems before overthrowing a democratically elected government. Gen. Moyeen often talk about discipline and against corruption. Did he take formal permission from the government to publish his two books which are actually collections of political Essays? As a government servant (sorry the CTG is a servant of him) If he did not, it means if you have a gun, you don't need any permissions. The Gun is mighter than the pen. May Allah save Bangladesh from these vultures.

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[mukto-mona] Surge of Protests In Gujarat

Surge of Protests In Gujarat

a.. PATAN GANG RAPE
b.. POLICE ATROCITIES ON ADIVASIS
c.. POLICE ATROCITIES IN SABARKANTHA DISTRICT

The people of the State came out spontaneously to protest the gang rape incident in the PTC college of Patan. There were rallies by
the students, protest demonstrations, Dharna, rallies etc. by the students, different women organisations, citizens forum, voluntary
organisations, NGOs all over the state.

All India Democratic Students Organisations, All India M.S.S. held protest demonstration on 5th. February in front of Gujarat
University, followed by a rally and demonstration in Ahwa on the same day and a memorandum was sent to the Education Minister. A
joint demonstration was held in Baroda on 7th February where All India DSO and All MSS participated along with PUCL, Sahiyar, Olakh,
Shishumilap and other organisation and concerned citizens. Later on All India DSO submitted a memorandum to the VC of the M.S.
University signed by thousand of students. The All India DSO submitted memorandum to the District collector on 5th of February. On
8th February, Black-Day was observed in entire state on the call of D.S.O.. A demonstration was held in Bhiloda of Sabarkantha
district by Students and Teachers. A demonstration was held in Surat jointly By All India DYO, All India MSS and ALL India DSO in
Chowk Bazaar on 9th February and a memorandum was submitted to the collector of Surat.

A two days Bandh was held in Patan. Various women organisations came together in Patan and held protest meeting on 13th of
February. Women from Ahmedabad, Baroda, Mehsana, attended the meeting to express solidarity.

In Ahmedabad, on 14th February, Citizens' Forum against Patan Incident organised a huge Rally from Majoor Mahajan Sangh and A
Protest Meeting at SardarBaug Footpath, Opp. Roopalee Cinema, Lal Darwaja to protest the incident of Gang rape on the Student of
Patan Women's PTC College by six lecturers. The voluntary organisations like AWAG, Movement for Secular Democracy, S.U.C.I.,
PRASANT, Samvedan Sanskritik Manch, Saherveru, Mahila Punaruthan Sangh, All India D.S.O., Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, C.P.I., R.P.I.,
Dalit Panther, Uthan, P.U.C.L. All India Save Education Committee,Nissane- Sabmhidhan,Gujarat Stree Kelavani Mandal ASHA Parivar,
Women's wing of Mazoor Mahajan Sangha, and eminent citizens like Shri Girishbhai Patel, Shri Indukumar Jani, Prof. Dhaval Mehta,
Shri Manishi Jani, Shri Pravin Pandya, Shri Digant Oza, Prof. J.R. Joshi, Shri Kantibhai Dabhi, Prof. Sanjay Bhave, Shri Ratilal
Dave, Shri Ganpatbhai Rathod, Dr. Mafatbhai Patel, Shri Prahalad Avasathi, Dr. Ilaben Joshi,Ms. Saroop behn Drub,Rajant, Dave, many
others ,women, students and common people participated in the programme in large number.

A rally of thousand women, men, concerned citizens, students- youths with placards and slogan was taken out from the Mazoor Mahajan
Sangha, Laladrwaja which turned into a Protest meeting. A large number of women came from Patan and joined the rally.Students and
youths also came other parts of the state, like Baroda, Surat. Etc.

A memorandum has been sent to the Chief Minister of Gujarat and other concerned authorities demanding the CBI enquiry and fulfill
other demands adopted in the resolution.

The speakers on the dais, Shri Prakashbhai N. Shah of M.S.D., Shri Ilaben of AWAG, Shri Ramilaben Desai of Yoganjali Ashram,
Siddhapur, Shri Leelaben Desai of Gujarat Stri Kelavani Mandal, Shri Damayantiben Parekh of Mahila Punaruthan Sangh, Shri Arefaben
Parveen, in charge, women's wing, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Gujarat, Shri Fatemaben, in charge, Ahmedabad, Mitaben Vaishnav of Bhagini
Samaj, Patan, Bhartiben Parmar of A.I.M.S.S., Shri Dwarikanath Rath of S.U.C.I. , Shri Nafisaben Barot of Uthan and others condemned
the incident and resolved to carry on a sustained movement against the incident. They expressed concern on the way the women are
subjected to atrocities even in this modern age and the way she is treated as commodity. The incident is an alarming bell for the
entire society.

A Resolution of demands to the government was passed unanimously. The demands were as under:

a.. Handover the investigation to C.B.I.
· Withdraw the degrees of the culprit lecturers

· Activate Sexual Harassment Resistance Committee in all Educational Institutes.

· Activate State Women Commission

· Activate and make attentive the State Human Rights Committee

· Accomplish the entire Judicial procedure within the time period of one month

The meeting ended with firm determination to carry on Prolonged Movement till all the demands are not fulfilled

. Protests are going on against the gang rape of a Tribal girl student by 12 youth in Jhagadia of Bharuch district

A citizen's meeting will be held in Baroda on 23rd. February organised by PUCL on Patan, Police atrocities on adivasis, and the gang
rape on adivasis girl in Jhagadia in Bharuch district.

Rallies are taken out in South Gujarat on tribal rights.

Protest against Police Atrocities on Adivasis In Sabarkantha District.

The People of the state condemns strongly the Police firing and the atrocities on Adivasis of Polo area of Atarsumba Ashram of
Sabarkantha district on 13th February, killing two, injuring seven and arresting six Adivasis.

Just before the last Assembly election, the Chief Minister of Gujarat Sri Narendra Modi was boasting about the Vanabandhu Yojana for
the tribal and wooing them to garner votes. Now saddled in power, armed with the Tribal Forest Act 2006, the Govt. of Gujarat is
implementing it from 1st. January, and the tribal of Gujarat are threatened of their right over forest and their land and they are
fighting for their legitimate rights

A Bandh was observed in Vijaynagar Taluka protesting against the police atrocities.

EKLAVYA organisation headed by the M.P. Sri Madhusudan Mistry has taken up the cause of the adivasis. PUCL has sent an enquiry
committee to Atarsumba which will come out with a report very shortly. Many other organisations have come forward against the police
atrocities.

S.U.C.I. has demanded a Judicial enquiry headed by either Supreme Court or High Court Judge to probe the whole incident. S.U.C.I.
demands adequate compensation to the families of deceased and injured persons and release all the arrested tribals and fulfill their
demands without delay and punish the Police officer responsible for killing and injuring the tribal.

It is going to be two months of formation of Gujarat Government headed by BJP. The aggrieved people are coming out against it.

*****************************************
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

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Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf

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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.

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Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm

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Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm

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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

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Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:

http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm

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VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

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"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
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[mukto-mona] Bengali Language Movement on wikipedia

amader gorbo amader ahonkar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

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***************************************** 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

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[mukto-mona] Luxembourg becomes third EU country to allow euthanasia

All three Benelux countries now allow voluntary euthanasis.

May this trend continue!

Mehul Kamdar

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/330100/1/.html

Luxembourg to become third EU country to allow euthanasia
Posted: 20 February 2008 2358 hrs

Photos 1 of 1

A 'euthanasia kit' as available in Belgium.

LUXEMBOURG : Luxembourg lawmakers have adopted a bill legalising
euthanasia, priming the Grand Duchy to become the third EU country
allowing doctors to help patients end their own lives.

The parliament passed the bill with only a slim majority with 30 out
of 59 lawmakers voting in favour and nearly all of the members of
Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker's Social Christian Party voting
against.

The Netherlands became in 2002 the first EU country to allow
euthanasia, although in strict conditions, and was followed by
Belgium the following year.

The bill, which still has to be approved in a second reading to take
effect, fuelled passionate debates in Luxembourg, where Catholic
values remain firmly entrenched. The medical community was mostly
against it.

"This bill is not a permit to kill," said Socialist lawmaker Lydie
Err, who helped draft it.

"It's not a law for the parents or the doctors but for the patient
and the patient alone to decide if he wants to put an end to his
suffering," she added.

According to the bill, euthanasia will be strictly regulated and can
be mentioned in a "living will."

Doctors will have to consult with a colleague to confirm that the
person is suffering from a "grave and incurable condition."

A national commission made up mainly of doctors and officials would
also be created to check on a case-by-case basis that all legal
conditions and procedures are respected.

The bill still has to be approved at a second reading before it can
take effect. - AFP/de

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[mukto-mona] Re: Please publish

Pointing gross error in Mr. Guha's write-up should not be
considered "intolerance to others practicing their right of freedom
of speech." Mr. Sitangshu Guha has every right to express his
opinion but he should not peddle factually wrong statement nor should
he do a disinformation campaign. Freedom of speech does not mean
anybody has the right to engage in misinformation campaign.
Furthermore, there was not an ounce of objectivity in Mr. Guha's
write-up. It was all ramblings of who he is going to vote for and
who said what to him, etc. Mr. Sarker expressed a view that is
disingenuous. Mukto-mona forum should be in my humble opinion a
platform where people could express their view with reasons. There
is enough ad hominem write-ups grace the pages of this forum. And it
is not a crime of the century to remind our participants that Mukto-
mona was created for freethinkers. In my book neither Mr. S. Hannan
nor Mr. Sitangshu Guha is freethinker. I can back my statement with
their posts. Is this a sign of intolerance, Mr. Nripendra Sarker?
Could you please illuminate the M-M readers on this? Where did you
witness the bout of intolerance vis-à-vis Mr. Guha's write-up?

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[ALOCHONA] Burma: Sandwiched between giants

Burma: Sandwiched between giants

Shwedagon Pagoda towers over the city of Rangoon

Burma lies between two emerging Asian powerhouses - China and India. Almost six months after the suppression of pro-democracy protests, a BBC correspondent reports from the country's main city, Rangoon.

"You can take my picture but please don't put it in any magazines," the old man said with alarm.

Then he paused and shook his head apologetically. "We live in fear in this country," he said.

I'll call him Tin Ngwe. Printing his real name would probably land him in jail; printing mine would get me on a journalist's blacklist.

I followed him as he shuffled around the Shwedagon temple complex in the shadow of the huge golden stupa which forms the spiritual centre of Rangoon.

Last September, when hundreds of Burmese monks took part in a three-week protest against the government, Shwedagon became their focal point.

I asked Tin Ngwe where all the monks were now, as I had only seen a handful in what is one of Burma's most important religious sites.

He led me away from the crowds to the eastern gate, and pointed to the road below, where the first demonstration by monks had begun.

I know my country and I know my government. It won't happen

One man's opinion on the junta's promise of elections

"Thirty-one of them," he said, "all shot".

Many other monks and protesters are, according to human rights groups, still being held in jail.

Last week the Burmese state-controlled media announced that a national referendum on a new constitution would be held in May, and general elections in 2010.

No-one I met had any faith in the promise.

A young man in his 30s told me: "We read that paper and we laugh. It's already taken so long. I know my country and I know my government. It won't happen."

It has been 18 years since the last polls. The government lost them to Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, so they ignored the result.

In August 1988 the military government crushed a national uprising, killing an estimated 3,000 people.

Ms Suu Kyi has spent most of her time since then either in jail or under house arrest, where she is today.

Chinese influence

Many observers believe the junta has decided to make this new promise of elections because of pressure from China.

The Chinese are finding lucrative business in Burma

Beijing's influence in Burma is considerable, if not yet decisive.

I recently asked a Rangoon-based diplomat what role she thought China was playing in the country.

Speaking off the record, she answered "whatever best protects their commercial interests".

The Chinese were not bothered by the fate of Aung San Suu Kyi or the progress of reform, she said - they just want things stable so they can keep doing business.

And old Tin Ngwe agreed. He told me that in the long run it did not really matter what the government promised to do, because "the Chinese will be running the country soon".

"They are buying up everything we have," he said. "We should be a rich country, we have gems, jade, gold, everything but diamonds, but the people are still poor.

"This government steals everything from us and sells it to the Chinese. Go downtown," he said. "You'll see them."

Indian competition

But the commercial hub of Rangoon is not only dominated by Burma's huge northern neighbour, China.

Burma is sandwiched between two emerging Asian giants.

Both are seeking the regional upper hand. Both are still wary of each other, with a legacy of mistrust stretching back to a border war in 1962.

This place is going down... but there are good gems here

Indian businessman

Off a corner of Maha Bandoola Garden street in downtown Rangoon, I found some of the men benefiting from India's decision not to take a stand against the junta and to actively oppose sanctions.

Sitting in a huddle around an Indian Paan-wallah, who was making something like chewing tobacco but from betel nut, were four Muslim businessmen from Mumbai.

"There are a lot of Indians here," I said to one in Hindi. "The Indians are here, the Chinese are over there," he said with a smile.

"Where are the Burmese?" I asked him. "Up there," he said with a dismissive wave.

"This place is going down man," he added, then lent back on his chair and, smiling again, he said: "But there are good gems here."

Meanwhile, uptown, his foreign secretary, Shiv Shankar Menon, was doing business with the military junta.

A few years ago Delhi did try to take a principled stand against one of its rogue neighbours, by threatening action against the King of Nepal in the dying days of his autocratic rule.

Men sell newspapers containing the announcement in Rangoon on 10 February 2008

Burma's unexpected gamble

But the Chinese simply offered the king their support instead, so India had to back down.

Delhi has learnt from that lesson. It is clearly not about to risk losing Burma and the prospect of new gas, oil and infrastructure projects.

The Indian press are already being briefed about Delhi's growing influence, with claims that Mr Menon's chat with the Burmese generals secured another visit to Burma by the UN secretary general's special adviser Ibrahim Gambari.

Mr Menon is a busy man. A few weeks ago he was in Beijing lauding the signing of a document between the Indians and Chinese that promised a "shared vision" for the future.

The consequences of that seem to suggest a shift in perspective more from the Indian side than from China's, which has never claimed to be a champion of human rights.

Unfortunately for many Burmese, this "shared vision" suggests that the world's largest democracy has decided to turn a blind eye to the violent suppression of democracy in the country next door - at least, that is, while the Burmese junta still have something to bargain with.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7250517.stm

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[ALOCHONA] Re: Free Good Governance and Puppet Triangle

Mr. Imtiaz Ahmed,

I found some issues with you article in jaijaidin. You mentioned
that during the past 15 years of democratic rule, Bangladesh moved
FAR AHEAD of India in all the human development indexes. I don't
know which source you have used in your article. But the source in
the following link tells a different story:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_In
dex

[This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included
in the United Nations Development Program's Human Development Report
2007/2008, compiled on the basis of 2005 data and published on
November 27, 2007. It covers 175 U.N. member countries (out of 192).]

It shows India's HDI is 0.619, Pakistan's 0.551, and Bangladesh's
0.547. Truly, only country is Indian subcontinent that is in a
superior position is Sri Lanka with HDI of 0.743.

You have ignored a very important factor while giving credits to the
past democratically elected governments, which is corruption.
Corruption eats up the whole development process. So in this
context, you should have mentioned how corrupt Bangladesh was and it
still is. Bangladesh is a straight five times champion in corruption
which is a world record. Bangladesh is still placed towards the
bottom at 162, Pakistan 138, and India 72.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index

Yes, the news of stealing of 20,000 crores taka from the power sector
alone might be an exaggeration, but the figure of 6,000 crores (which
is still huge) is widely accepted. Even Khaleda's own state minister
for power, Anwarul Kabir Talukder, mentioned the same figure while
disclosing pervasive corruption (hari-lut) of power sector before
1/11. When Army chief mentioned 20,000 crores in one of his speeches
after 1/11, the then-adviser of that sector Tapan Chowdhury corrected
it to be 6,000 crores.

Every former Bangladeshi government was corrupt, but the last five-
year rule of BNP-Jama'at was record breaker in every sector. The
grand scale corruption, looting, and rampant politicization of every
sector with political murders, violence, nepotism and favoritism
based exclusively on party loyalties brought the whole country to its
knees. Here is one such recent example (probably a drop in the
ocean):

http://bhorerkagoj.net/online/news.php?id=35853&sys=3

EC under Aziz-Mahfuz-Zakaria clowns, 12 to 15 million fake voters,
appointing exclusively party members and supporters as Upzila
Election Commissioners, Dab under Zahid, PSC under Tahmida and
Mahfuz, horror stories of nearly bankrupt Biman, dudok under Sultan
Hossain Khan, distortion of history, travesty of justice we witnessed
of all terrorist bombing and political murder cases are just endless
nightmares. And you are writing fairy tales! To me to some extent,
1/11 means no more killing of the opposition MPs, and no more grenade
attacks at opposition rallies. I can live with that.

Another point is in some parts of the Muslim world, the people are
choosing the lesser of the evils. You don't like Karzai, what other
options do you have? The half savage Talibans? Iraq is not much
exception. Genuine democracy over there will always elect a Shiite
(with 60% Shiite majority) who will want to persecute the Sunnis the
way Sunnis did to the Shiites for centuries. The Shiite memory of
that persecution is very fresh and it will remain such for a long
time. If we cannot take care of our own problems humanely, then the
puppets will come to rule us. And it is decided by the Almighty.

The current CTG may not be perfect, but they are doing a lot of good
things. The most sinister mind of Bangladeshi politics, Moudud the
political prostitute, is behind bar. That itself is a remarkable
achievement. They at least showed good intentions on war crime
trials, but I am also aware of evil pressures from some of the
corrupt and repressive but rich Muslim countries who played very
glorious roles during our 71 liberation war.

Lastly, compare our billionaires (if there are any) with that of
India's - how ours gather(ed) wealth vs. theirs.

India has 4 dollar billionaires - Feb 27, 2004:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3494308.stm

India has 36 dollar billionaires - March 9, 2007:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6433367.stm

India has 54 dollar billionaires - Nov 15, 2007:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7097043.stm

The Indian chromosome - by Dr Farrukh Saleem, an Islamabad-based
columnist:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/editorial_detail.asp?id=85171

Regards-

Mohammad Musa Sarkar

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Imtiaz Ahmed <imtiaz_ahmedbd@...>
wrote:
>
> Dear Members,
>
> A picture of our Chief Advisor along with Karzai and Mosharraf has
been published in almost all national dailies. Does it have any
significance? Has it anything to do with the failures of the CTG?
Please read my article in JaiJaiDin which tries to answer these
questions.
>
> http://www.jaijaidin.com/details.php?nid=55271
>
>
> Regards.
>
> Imtiaz
>
>
>
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[ALOCHONA] There we go again........Bangladesh needs 'own democracy' Gen Moinu

Bangladesh needs 'own democracy'

The chief of the Bangladesh army says the country needs its "own brand of democracy".

Gen Moeen U Ahmed said the country had tried "Westminster-type parliamentary democracy" for the last 15 years and it had not worked.

The general said that in past elections, people had fallen victim to large-scale vote rigging.

The army is the main backer of the country's interim government, which has pledged to hold elections in 2008.

Correspondents say Gen Ahmed's comments are significant because the army will play a key role in determining when exactly the vote takes place.

Speaking at the launch of a compilation of his essays, Gen Ahmed said the country should have "a form of democracy that is suitable for us".

"We have tried to practise Westminster-type democracy for the past 15 years," he was quoted by Bangladesh News 24 as saying.

"In such democracies, the prime minister is equal to other ministers. But what happened here? Everything was with the prime minister."

Correspondents say this is not the first time the general has criticised the system of government that was in place until a military-backed interim administration assumed power at the beginning of last year.

In April last year, he said the country should not go back to being run by an "elective democracy".

He said at that time that democracy in Bangladesh had led to corruption, rights violations and criminalisation, threatening the state's survival.

The government says that it will announce a date for the polls once corruption has been eliminated and up-to-date voter lists are compiled.

__,_._,___

[mukto-mona] There we go again........Bangladesh needs 'own democracy' Gen Moinu