Saturday, October 10, 2009

[ALOCHONA] Deadly attack on Pakistan army HQ

Deadly attack on Pakistan army HQ

Six soldiers and four gunmen have been killed in an attack on Pakistan's army HQ outside the capital Islamabad, the military says

Troops battled the gunmen after they attacked the heavily armed complex in Rawalpindi in army uniforms. Earlier reports said eight soldiers died.

Officials said one of the dead soldiers was a brigadier, and that two gunmen remained at large. The attack comes as the army prepares a major operation against the Taliban.

ANALYSIS

Aleem Maqbool
BBC News, Islamabad

The army's main headquarters lies within one of the most heavily secured areas in the country. To attack it in the middle of the day, leaving senior military officials trapped inside, shows a new level of audacity on the part of the militants.

Just a few weeks ago, the government here said it was winning its fight against the militants, and that the Taliban was in disarray. The events of this week will have many questioning those claims.

Speculation that the army will soon launch a ground offensive against the Taliban in the tribal areas of South Waziristan has only left many Pakistanis bracing themselves for more violence in the cities.

It also follows a series of bombings in north-western Pakistan. On Friday at least 50 died in a blast in Peshawar.

The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says that in recent days Taliban positions in the tribal areas have been bombed by the air force, amid speculation that the army's offensive there is soon to be intensified.

There was a period of relative quiet in August after Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud was killed, but the rate of militant attacks has increased since then, our correspondent adds.

No-one has yet claimed responsibility for the latest attack, but the Taliban has been threatening to carry out attacks unless operations against the militant group were stopped.

Police official Mohammed Jalil told AP news agency that gunmen drove up to the army compound in a white van just before midday local time (0600 GMT).

They took up positions, fired on the compound and threw hand grenades, security officials said.

RECENT MILITANT ATTACKS

24 Sept - Seven pro-government tribal elders killed by militants in town of Janikhel, north-western Pakistan

26 Sept - At least 16 people killed in two suicide car bombs, in Peshawar and Bannu

5 Oct - Suicide bomber attacks UN offices in Islamabad killing five

9 Oct - At least 50 killed in suspected suicide bombing in Peshawar

In pictures: Pakistan shoot-out

Roads to the area were sealed off and helicopters hovered over the compound. The military reported that the attack had been repelled after a gunbattle lasting around 45 minutes.

"The situation is under control ... all the gunmen have been killed", Maj-Gen Athar Abbas told local TV.

However, military officials later said that two more militants were still at large, after reports of sporadic gunfire in and around the compound.

AP quoted an intelligence official as saying that the two managed to slip into the compound and troops were trying to capture or kill them.

Islamist militants have carried out a number of attacks against high-profile, high-security targets in recent years.

In March this year gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team in the city of Lahore. Six policemen and a driver were killed and several of the team were injured.

In the same month, dozens of people were killed when a police training centre on the outskirts of the city was occupied by gunmen.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8300371.stm

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[ALOCHONA] Troops all alert on Myanmar front

Troops all alert on Myanmar front

Leaves of BDR men restricted; Nasaka round up 10,000 Rohingyas for push-in

In the wake of the mobilisation of a huge number of Myanmarese troops along the border, Bangladesh is making all-out preparations to thwart any incursion attempt by them, highly placed sources in the government said.

Myanmar authorities continue erecting concrete pillars for barbed wire fence along Myanmar border at Naikkhangchhari in Bandarban

Bangladesh has already sent three army brigades to its hilly border with Myanmar and has readied another brigade following the deliberate provocative moves the latter, sources said.

Intelligence officials said Bangladesh Armed Forces are taking special exercises to handle any eventualities if all diplomatic channels to resolve the conflict are exhausted.

The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) has imposed restriction on all kinds of leaves, a move which is taken only in 'abnormal' situation, BDR Director General (DG) Major General Mainul Islam said.

A Foreign Ministry official, however, said Bangladesh believes that all crises with its neighbours could be solved through diplomatic means. "But that does not mean that we will remain idle if the country's territorial sovereignty is at stake," he said.

The DG of the country's border forces said, "This is an abnormal situation. No country generally deploys its armed forces on the border. We don't like the erection of barbed-wire fences by the engineering corps of the Myanmar army."

He said his forces are always on war footing. "Our boys will just open fire in case of incursion into any part of the country," he told The Daily Star.

Meanwhile, Nasaka, the Myanmarese border guards, has gathered about 10,000 Rohingyas near its border with Bangladesh in a bid to push them into the Bangladesh territory as part of their latest provocative move, sources at the intelligence agencies said last night.

They have been kept at several bordering points opposite Naikhongchhari in Bandarban over the past few days, they said.

The recent Myanmarese military deployment has prompted Bangladesh to strengthen its military presence along the border.

Asked about what further measures he is going to take, Mainul said BDR will be reinforced with more Border Operations Outposts (BOP) on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

The reinforcement was required as the Myanmar military junta deployed huge troops with heavy weapons within five kilometres of the border.

According to different sources on the border, Myanmar has deployed nine military battalions. They were deployed last Friday along the border from Maungdaw to Paletwa. They are: Light Battalions 55 and 20, and Light Infantry Battalions (LIB) 234, 263, 344, 233, 289 and 538.

The LIB 538 based in Rathidaung has been shifted to the Paletwa border and posted at the triangular position facing Bangladesh and India borders, intelligence officials said.

Intelligence sources said Myanmar had recently acquired the technology of building tunnels, aircraft, naval ships and missiles with a range of between 500 and 1,000 kilometres.

Recently the Japanese government has intercepted the supply of magnetic measuring devices used to build long-range ballistic missile system; the shipment was made to Myanmar.

A raid made by the country's police suggests that North Korea has already transferred the Taep'o-dong-2 equipment to Myanmar. Weighed 79,189 kg, Taep'o-dong-2 is the longest of North Korean missiles--it is thought to have a range of 4,000 kilometres.

Myanmarese junta has already bought short and medium-range ballistic missiles (SRMBs) from China and North Korea, SRMB air defence system from Russia, low altitude surface-to-surface missiles from Ukraine and Bulgaria.

Our Bandarban correspondent Monirul Islam Monu reports: People living on the Bangladesh-Myanmar bordering areas have become panicky because of a war-like situation at the frontier.

Locals said Myanmar authorities have increased army deployment at the border under cover of setting up barbed-wire fences there.

Sources who have contacts with both sides of the border said the Myanmar army had set up equipments for high-powered artillery fire at Bolibazar area opposite Chakdhala border at Naikhhongchhari upazila.

Myanmar has also stationed 10 fighter planes at Sittowe (Akiab) Airport and anchored 12 warships in its two rivers as "backup".

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=109246

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[mukto-mona] Shabnam Hashmi: another story from Gujarat, India [12 Attachments]

[Attachment(s) from Khalid Azam included below]

FYI

--- On Sat, 10/10/09, shabnam hashmi wrote:

From: shabnam hashmi
Subject: another story ...
To: "shabnam hashmi"
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2009, 6:59 AM

Gujarat: During the past three months from two villages in Mehsana Muslims families have been forced out and in one of the villages women brutally beaten up by the police. In baroda 5 young men illegally detained, tortured in a farm house and then shown arrested after 6 days after underdoing third degree torture and then implicated of possesing a rocket launcher which the poilce has not shown till today.

the latest in the series is building a road in the middle of a grave yard in Dahod with human remains still sticking out. The stories of capturing of grave yards, religious and cultural spaces along with various other ways of very systematic and planned discrimination keeps pouring in from all corners of India.

Those in power as well as the so called secular parties and a sizeable portion of the media has just become deaf and blind. While we celebrate our democracy and India moving into the 21st century , a large section of the population has become second class citizens in their own land. The other marginalised poor -tribals, dalits also facing similar situation. Religion has become the biggest industry with huge turn over and the new age gurus its ambassadors. Indian Middle class conciousness is sliding into medieval time. Indian middle class was never so irrational , superstitious and prejudiced as it has become today.

Shabnam Hashmi

10 October 2009

Attachment(s) from Khalid Azam

10 of 12 Photo(s) (View all Photos)

Old

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**************************************************** Mukto Mona plans for a Grand Darwin Day Celebration: Call For Articles: http://mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?p=68 http://mukto-mona.com/banga_blog/?p=585 **************************************************** 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] Prosecute Bangladesh's war criminals

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/07/bangladesh-war-crimes?commentpage=1

Prosecute Bangladesh's war criminals

British Bangladeshis are among those accused of war crimes in the 1971 war of liberation. The nation needs justice

The war of liberation in 1971 is still a highly charged and emotive subject within Bangladeshi society. The event, through which the country was born 38 years ago, continues to be a polarising issue, haunting the present. The fact that the alleged war criminals – those who committed atrocities against innocent civilians during the nine-month war – have not been brought to justice is a major cause of contention.

It is a source of the ongoing paralysis in the country's democracy and the culture of impunity that dogs all sections of society. It is also at the root of the role of religion in contemporary Bangladeshi identity. Consecutive governments have made pledges to prosecute perpetrators and hold them accountable. None have so far delivered.

Sheikh Hasina, the current prime minister and the leader of the Awami League, the political party that swept to power in the 2008 elections, has promised to hold long overdue war crime tribunals, seeking assistance from the UN. Throughout the country, there is growing optimism that the victims and survivors can finally receive restitution.

With the retreat of the British Raj and the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, East Bengal became a part of Pakistan. Known as East Pakistan, it was separated from West Pakistan not only physically (with India in the middle), but also linguistically and culturally. It soon became clear that Islam, the raison d'être for the Pakistan project, could not unify these vastly different regions. Even the shared faith was practised in radically different ways: the east being far more liberal than the west. This division was heightened by Pakistani suspicion that Bengalis were only nominally Muslim. Their relatively recent conversion from Hinduism (albeit a century or so ago) made them, in the eyes of the West Pakistani ruling elite, unreliable coreligionists.

To pave over the cracks, in 1952 it was ordained that Urdu, with its echoes of the sacred language, Arabic, would be the official language of the two sides. There was widespread resistance to this in East Pakistan and when student protesters were shot dead, the first martyrs of what was to become the liberation movement were created.

The two wings hobbled along together until 1970 when, after 12 years of military rule, East and West Pakistan went to the ballot. The outright winner of the election was the Awami League. However, the West Pakistani administration refused to allow the party's then leader, Mujibur Rahman (father of the current prime minister), a Bengali from East Pakistan, to form the government. Their chosen man was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. As negotiations between both sides broke down and Bengalis launched a campaign of civil disobedience, the Pakistani army launched Operation Searchlight in March 1971. Up to three million Bengalis were murdered in the crackdown and more than 200,000 women were raped or sexually assaulted. To escape the genocide, 10 million people crossed the border into India.

Atrocities were committed by the occupying Pakistani soldiers and their Bengali collaborators. The latter, known as razakars, were against the break-up as it was contrary to their vision of building an Islamic khilafat, or state. Thus the idealism of a secular identity, based upon Bengali nationalism as articulated by Mujibur Rahman was abhorrent to them. The razakars were in the main members of Islamist parties, including the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), which is allied to Wahhabism and to the fundamentalist Deobandi sect.

Using local knowledge, they perpetrated the worst brutalities and massacres of the war. They rounded up and executed people who they thought were colluding with India to divide Pakistan. This included members of the Awami League party, intellectuals, guerrilla fighters who were involved in skirmishes against the army and Hindus. In reality, much of the killing was indiscriminate. The carnage of those few months has been collected in rooms full of black and white photographs in the Liberation Museum in Dhaka.

They depict chilling images of mass burial pits with decomposing bodies, the remnants of the slaughter of entire villages.

Mujibur Rahman did initiate trials against war criminals but he was assassinated in 1975. Last year, the War Crimes Fact Finding Committee, a civil society initiative in Bangladesh, released the most comprehensive list of alleged suspects to date.

It includes the late Yahya Khan, president of Pakistan at the time, but the majority are Bengali razakars as well as previous and current leaders of JI. Many of these fled in the aftermath of the war and some came to the UK.

A Channel Four documentary from 1995 made allegations of involvement by British Bangladeshis in the genocide. Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin, director of Muslim Spiritual Care Provision in the NHS, who was until recently vice-chairman of the East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre and was involved in setting up the Muslim Council of Britain, is one of the most prominent people to be accused of having carried out war crimes.

Mueen-Uddin is alleged to have been part of a group that abducted and "disappeared" people. Witnesses at the time describe seeing him kidnapping a university professor and a journalist in Dhaka during the war. Mueen-Uddin told the documentary makers "all the accusations being made against me are … utterly false and malicious, and either politically motivated or instigated otherwise".

Having left the newly created country of Bangladesh for London, Mueen-Uddin, along with other members of JI set up Islamic Forum Europe, an avowedly Islamist organisation connected to the East London Mosque.

Among the numerous ways in which consecutive Bangladeshi governments have lagged behind public opinion, the inaction with regard to trying the alleged war criminals is the least forgivable for many. Undeterred, Bengali civil society has continued to be vociferous in making sure this issue does not disappear.

Unless trials are seen to be free and fair, they will be perceived as political point-scoring by the Awami League. It is incumbent on the British Bangladeshi community, together with wider British society, to join the demands to bring the Bangladeshi war criminals to justice. It is also time to rethink a period of history which has continuing ramifications for today.

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[mukto-mona] Fw: ‘I Dalit : Reclaiming Dignity’ a film

"Dalit, in Sanskrit means the oppressed or downtrodden. This film is the voice of the oppressed, the voice reclaiming their dignity and reiterating their identity. They present their version of the struggle to eliminate caste based discrimination and the efforts to bring about a social change and equality"
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/1430

With Regards

Abi

"At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst"

- Aristotle

--- On Sat, 10/10/09, Sabyesachi Bharti <sabyesachi@cultureunplugged.com> wrote:

'I Dalit : Reclaiming Dignity'

a film

While Brahmins comprise just 5 to 9 percent of India's 1 billion people, they control 78 percent of India's judicial posts, approximately half of the parliament and 89 percent of the nation's major media outlets.
Synopsis: Dalit, in Sanskrit means the oppressed or downtrodden. This film is the voice of the oppressed, the voice reclaiming their dignity and reiterating their identity. They present their version of the struggle to eliminate caste based discrimination and the efforts to bring about a social change and equality. It is a part of the efforts to bring together the existing Dalit movements and groups in various parts of India.
Director: Nirmala Nair

Click to watch online in "Humanity Explored" online film festival:

http://www.cultureu nplugged. com/play/ 1430

promote films : promote consciousness : promote humanity

Sabyesachi Bharti

Culture Unplugged Studios

studio.cultureunplu gged.com

India | USA I UK | New Zealand

+91 020 65002520

+91 976 539 1242

"promote films. promote consciousness"

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[ALOCHONA] Infidel in the mosque

Infidel in the mosque

During our stay in Saudi Arabia, we were ordered to avoid contact with the locals. But the very few personal interactions I had with Muslims there were with friendly and generous people. I then decided it would be beneficial to me to get more first-hand experience with Muslims and Islam.

By Andrew Zielsdorf, October 9, 2009

I was raised in a Protestant church. The services we had stressed an introspective way of looking at things (i.e., "What is there about me which could use improvement?"). Others will disagree with me on this point, but that's what I got out of it.

As a result of a girlfriend, I spent three years going to Catholic Mass. The mood there was that we were all going to hell because we just weren't good enough. The congregation had been hearing this for years and moved by their hundreds in and out of the church, on schedule, to make way for people coming to the next service. In many ways, their religion stopped at the door to the church.

I was part of the National Guard for 7 years and, while in basic training, had opportunities to go to services of religions I wouldn't have otherwise had a chance to experience. The first service I went to at Basic Training changed from the usual sedate type I'm used to, to a spirit-raising, "Thank you Jesus, I've been saved!" service when the reins were handed over to a Southern Baptist minister.

At least he couldn't force us to stay for the usual 4-hour (or longer) service. That was the only religious service I've ever been to which I would call obnoxious, though there were a few Southern Baptists in the group wondering why we weren't as excited as they were. I guess that, in the end, your preferences are your own.

One of my best friends at Basic was a Jew, so one week he took me to a Jewish service. The service I went to was quiet. I liked that. It's easier to contemplate your place in God's universe when people aren't shouting.

When I went to Mormon services, I announced I was there just to learn something. They promptly smiled and called me an "investigator" (Oh good, two minutes in and already I have a label!). The people were friendly though, and weren't there to convert me (if they knock on your door at home, that's a different story.)

Not too long after Saddam Hussein decided Kuwait would make a nice 19th province, I found myself in Al Khobar (Saudi Arabia) when I heard the call to prayers for the first time. A friend and I ducked into a small clothing store and asked if it was OK for us to look around. The man there wasn't praying and said we could. My companion, a chaplain's assistant, decided this man's failure to pray proved that the whole religion was bogus. I thought several things regarding my companion, none of them complimentary.

During our stay in Saudi Arabia, we were ordered to avoid contact with the locals, as the government didn't want us contaminating their culture. By the time I got there, it was already too late. One fully covered - and I mean fully covered - woman in a cluster of women said 'Hi!' to me then started to giggle. Each of the very few personal interactions I had with Muslims there were with very friendly and generous people.

I then decided it would be beneficial to me to get more first-hand experience with Muslims and Islam.

After a failed first attempt to contact the nearest mosque, 60 miles away, a Muslim military colleague of mine suggested that the next time I was near the next closest mosque, 150 miles away, I should just sort of walk in around noon or one o'clock and say "Hi!." On the next Good Friday, that's what I did.

I parked in the large, almost empty, parking lot. I think I saw two signs saying this was private property - a little different for a house of worship - but, all things considered, it was quite reasonable. Things were going well so far.

There wasn't much activity upon entering the front doors, so when a man came by, I stopped him. I explained I was an infidel who was there to learn something. He was very nice and told me to put my shoes in the empty rack, then to sit in one of the chairs in the back of the room. There were probably half-a-dozen people in this very large room, one of them reading a Qur'an.

At about this time I started wondering why my brother-in-law, who is usually up for anything new, didn't want to come with me. This was as innocuous a setting as I've ever seen. The size of the room told me that, at some times of the year, there must be a large group of people who come here. That's the way things are at my own church. Besides, small numbers offered a better chance to talk to people, maybe even the Imam (if there was one). By about 12:30 probably another dozen people had wandered in. An older gentleman moved to the front of the room and started the service, alternating between English and Pashtu.

He talked about being Muslim. He talked about not rushing in to prayers. How could you have a quiet mind after you've come rushing in? Next time you should leave for prayers earlier. If you must wear those short American shirts, put on a longer shirt before coming to prayers, no one wants to see the top of your backside during prayers.

Speaking of American shirts, the ones that advertise alcohol should not be worn in the mosque. Remember how you were complaining about your neighbor behind his back? This is NOT Islamic. If you are going to say something about your neighbor, say it to his face. Have you ever learned to do prayers correctly? Do you finish before the leader? If you never learned how to do prayers correctly, learn. If you don't remember what you learned, ask for help. When you come to prayers, park between the lines in the parking lot. Showing common courtesy is part of Islam.

I kept thinking to myself, "This guy has got problems just like anybody else."

Next he said, "And if the FBI wants you to inform for them, you tell them 'No'. If any Muslim is acting in an un-Islamic way, you tell ME."

OK, so he has a few problems I don't. I would have told everyone it was OK to talk to the FBI, but make sure they get paid first, whether they had anything to say or not. I would have kept the part where people were supposed to tell him about anyone acting in an un-Islamic way though. As the sermon progressed, more and more men, and a few children, wandered into the room. At about 12:50 a young man came to the front of the room and started singing the call-to-prayer. I like the call-to-prayer. I'm not sure if the song is the same everywhere, but everywhere it appeals to the musician in me.

By one-o'clock the place was packed to overflowing, with more men coming in all the time. Another sermon started, and this time there was talk about people around the world who called themselves Muslims, yet did very un-Islamic things like blow themselves up. These are BAD people. These are NOT Muslims. This is NOT what Allah wants.

By the time prayers started, there were more men in the room than I could have imagined, along with calls to go to the basement if you were standing in the hall. It occurred to me that if this room was so filled with men, there was likely another room just as packed with women. I also noticed that the chair I was sitting in was most likely intended for an elderly man, like those sitting next to me, who would have had difficulty doing traditional prayers. Maybe being required to sit with the infidels is part of growing old in Islam.

It was getting to be about 1:30 and I had no idea how long prayers were going to last. Meanwhile I had an anxious wife, sister, and parents all waiting for me to return from they-didn't-know-what. I was going to have to leave soon or risk upsetting a large part of my family. I did my best to quietly get through the doorway, which was jammed well past what the fire code allows, and back into the entry area. Now where did I put my shoes?

The shoe rack must have had 6 pairs of shoes in it when I arrived, now there were closer to 200. I wasn't going to be finding my shoes any time soon. The man I met when I first came in was still there herding men into the basement. I explained the problem with my shoes and asked if I'd be able to get back into the building later in the evening to retrieve them. Instead he pointed to a pile of shoes on the floor and suggested I take a pair from there. I took this as being very generous, and would likely be agreed to by anyone there.

Maybe his wife would think it was OK for him to come home with the wrong shoes, but mine wouldn't. It took a little doing, but I convinced him that I found it acceptable to wear my socks home without any shoes, then come back and find my shoes. Next I had to get out of the parking lot, which was now jammed. At least I wasn't fighting with other traffic trying to leave.

I went home with the story about how I was quietly welcomed into the mosque, but needed to go back for my shoes (A co-worker later warned me that a "Christian who enters a mosque risks losing his soles"). I thought again about my experiences with the services of the various religions and found that, at the mosque, I was comfortable with the people and the message. And, as if to return the favor, I went back to the mosque the next morning and found my shoes to be one of the two pairs which were still there, neatly placed side-by-side.

Andrew (fester) Zielsdorf is a former National Guardsman and a veteran of the the first Gulf War. He  currently fixes industrial machinery in a small town between New York and Los Angeles.

http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/a/3327

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[mukto-mona] Playing for Change.Unifying the world through music.Details at www.weforpeople.com

Playing for Change is a unique multimedia movement which is dedicated to break down boundaries and bring the world together through music. It is the brainchild of Grammy winning filmmaker Mark Johnson which brings together musicians from all over the world to create and share music. It believes that no matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race.

They built a mobile recording studio and traveled to places all over the world and recorded music with musicians from different countries participating in the same album. The given video 'Song Around the World' draws inspiration from an Indian folk tune and has been recorded in places like Argentina, Israel, South Africa, Portugal, Italy and India and have featured local musicians who have come together and created this beautiful melody.

Playing for Change has traveled in different places like South Africa, Afghanistan, China, India, United Sates, United Kingdom and created music. Some popular PFC videos are
Stand By Me ; One Love ; War: No More Trouble ; Chanda Mama;Don't Worry ; Mystery Train

In 2007 they formed a separate non profit foundation, by the name of Playing for Change Foundation(PFCF)to give back to the society. Through it musicians from all over the world perform benefit concerts that build music and art schools in communities which are in need of inspiration and hope. In addition to benefit concerts, the Playing for Change band also performs shows around the world. When audiences see and hear musicians who have traveled thousands of miles from their homes, united in purpose and chorus on one stage, everyone is touched by music's unifying power.

Details at http://weforpeople.com/2009/08/playing-for-change-unifying-the-world-through-music

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[mukto-mona] Is it a crime to be born a Muslim in India? ISP Oct 2009 II

Is it a Crime to be born a Muslim in India?

Ram Puniyani

The rising tide of communal violence from the decade of 1980 has consolidated the communal politics, politics in the name of religion. The party riding on the chariot of religious nationalism became the second largest party and tasted power at center for six long years and is now entrenched in few states and is knocking at the door of power in few other states. The hope that its recent defeat in Lok Sabha elections will reduce the impact of communal politics in society or will ensure that all communities can breathe the air of civil rights and equal citizenship rights with ease, seems to be like distant drums!

The impact of the rise of this politics and accompanying effect on minorities has resulted in worsening their lot. This downward slide in the condition of minorities is very obvious, is going from bad to worse, to worst. It has resulted in the conditions for minorities where they have to live in fear, alienation and the impact of constant profiling in different walks of life. This communal politics has been talking of Hindu nation, has been spreading hate against minorities, against Muslims in particular. The Muslim community has been the major target of attack and has been bearing a huge brunt of the divisive politics being spearheaded by RSS, its progeny and by those influenced by the RSS ideology. They are not only there in the state machinery and media but also in other crucial spots of Indian social, economic and political life. The worsening plight of Muslim community got reconfirmed in the recently held national meet on 'What it means to be a
Muslim in India Today', organized by Anhad in Delhi (Oct 3-5).

The meeting was addressed by the victims and social activists working in the area of human rights particularly of minorities. The pain and anguish of the Muslim community was heart rending, coming through different narrations of illegal arrests, tortures, detentions and adverse judgments. The latest trick is to implicate the Muslim youth in multiple cases in different states. This will ensure their being behind the bars for good. The communal violence which has broken the back of the Indian community is being supplemented by the intense and blind police action against innocent Muslim youth, in the name of terror attacks. While the communal violence is now being orchestrated at low intensity and is scattered far and wide, in the post 9/11 period another front for torturing the community has been opened. Here the modus oprendi is simple enough, there is 'Intelligence' tip and that makes our efficient police machinery to arrest the Muslim youth, being
Muslim is the major 'tip' for arresting and torturing innocent youth by the guardians of law. Many a youth in the middle of their education for professional lives face immense obstacles, their illegal arrests are never compensated for and nor are they supported to complete their education despite being proved innocents.

There had been many such arrests followed by all sort of illegal steps by the police. Using cars without number plates, taking victims blindfolded to farm houses for third degree tortures are new addition to the 'efficient methods' of the police machinery. There are enough grounds of doubts in Batla House encounter, but it will not be taken up for honest investigation. The argument to avoid honest investigation is that it will demoralize the police force. Can we have such a police force whose morale depends hiding truth?

Following Mecca Masjid blast, there was a shooting by the police which killed more people than the number killed by blast. The pretext was that the crowd was menacing, which it was not. Truth of Ishrat Jahan case is out in the open but the perpetrators will remain in the seats of power unscathed, barring an odd official living in jail. While such enthusiasm in arresting Muslim youth is there for all to see, those arrested by Hemant Karkare's ATS in Malegaon blast case, are currently being treated with kid gloves. The apprehension is that these guilty gang against whom evidence was collected by late Hemant Karkare may not get the punishment it deserves.

The families battered by such brutal police actions and the families shattered by communal violence are on the streets unattended, marginalized and neglected by society and state. Those Muslims having successful business have been targeted to ensure breaking their economic backbone. This not only in Gujarat but also in other BJP ruled states. This economically marginalized community is practically boycotted by financial institutions, telephone companies and other. There are many cases where the community is being denied space for graveyards, which are either being taken away or not allowed to expand where there is need for more space. The plight of Shabana Azmi or Imraan Hashmi not getting the house in desired locality is not isolated; this phenomenon is becoming more widespread. The walls of separation along religious community lines are becoming stronger. The Sachar Commission and the Prime Minister's 15 point program remain a showpiece for purposes
best known to the state!

The myths and stereotypes in the media and social space are very much there. The large section of school text-books reinforces the stereotypes and myths about the community. So where does all this lead us? In a democracy, in a secular state the minorities should be provided safety and dignity irrespective of their religion. The present condition of Muslims in India is nothing but abysmal from the point of view of security, economic condition and social life. A large section has started feeling the deprivations in a very painful manner.

One recalls under the domination of Brahmanical values, caste based exclusionary social-political-system, the caste of Shudras was systematically denied the life of dignity and made to live in subjugation and ghettoization. The efforts of 'Brahmanical ideology based politics', the one of RSS and its progeny, is achieving the same pattern with some difference. Now Muslims are being reduced to second class citizens. This is precisely what RSS wants, this is what is coming to be practiced at all the levels in the country. RSS progeny being in power or out of it does not matter as far as the life of Muslim community is concerned. The RSS workers and ideology have infiltrated the 'social common sense' through media and education. It has infiltrated the state machinery. The limit of this can be seen that RSS controlled Bhonsla Military School in Nasik is supplying large number of recruits for Indian army one of them being Lt Col Prasad Shrikant
Purohit, an accomplice of Pragya Singh Thakur, alleged culprits of Malegaon blast. If RSS, a fascist organization wrapping its politics in the cloak of Hindu religion, swaymsevaks can infiltrate army, which institution in the society is safe from slow communal fascist infiltration? Which institution can be trusted for upholding Indian Constitution?

It is with this gloomy scenario around that many a victims deposing in the meeting said with pain and anguish, "Is it a crime to be born a Muslim in India?"

--
Issues in Secular Politics
October 2009 II
www.pluralindia.com
ram.puniyani@gmail.com

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Mukto Mona plans for a Grand Darwin Day Celebration:
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[ALOCHONA] Our boundary our diplomats

To my knowledge -
Dipu Moni is 'no ambassador'
She never had a diplomatic career or engagement.
She never had obtained theoratical knowledge on diplomatic practices its technicalities and international relations....

Yet she is our Foreign Relations Manager (minister).

A woman, a vetern Awami Leager may serve well the domestic party politics but for nations international relations if some one thinks Dipu Moni can handle I wouldn't waste any effort on the argument.

Even at home while among with the whole cabinets, diplomatic engagements mainly means Ifter party pleasantries and shaking hands in the airport tarmac.
Luming crisis on our boundary, minerals, international trade, visa procedures none can be articulated and analysed to respective shrewed and seasoned diplomats of other countries. We are bound to loose with others and that is what we are destined for.

http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=2&id=144596&hb=top

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Re: [mukto-mona] Submission : Proposal for a South Asian regional union By William Gomes

Sweet dream, Mr. Gomes!

You want a secular South Asian Regional Union, including Afghanistan! The problem is Pakistan and Afghanistan are too far into the ditch of Islamic fanaticism. In 2006, under all the guns of the United States, an Afghan Muslim who converted to Christianity could not stay in his homeland, because he would be killed there for his so-called crime of changing his religion. The best George Bush could do to save his life was to smuggle him out of that country. Regular school textbooks of Pakistan teach children to hate non-Muslims and non-Islam. Bangladesh is a lot better than Pakistan and Afghanistan, but still very much in the gutter of hatred and discrimination against religious minorities.

How in the world are you going to have a civilized union, when the core of much of the entities that you are talking about is uncivilized?

Cheers for your unrealistic thoughts, which I believe will remain unrealistic for at least a few hundred years.

Sukhamaya Bain

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[mukto-mona] Run-up to India-ASEAN FTA : Vietnam & Thailand gear up+Environment Issues

NEWS Bulletin from Indian Society For Sustainable Agriculture And Rural Development

---------------------------------------------------

1. Run-up to operationalisation of India-ASEAN FTA - Thailand for boosting bilateral trade with India, eager on investment - Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement on the anvil

2. Ahead of operationalisation of India-ASEAN FTA - Vietnam seeks more Indian investment - IT, textiles, banking, energy, mining, infrastructure are key areas

3. India: National Ganga River Basin Authority to act soon - Environment ministry not for linking rivers - Proposes Save Dolphin Project

-------------------------------------------

Run-up to operationalisation of India-ASEAN FTA

Thailand for boosting bilateral trade with India, eager on investment

Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement on the anvil

http://news.anypursuit.com/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=782

http://www.zopag.com/news/thailand-for-boosting-bilateral-trade-with-india/8211.html

By: ASHOK B SHARMA on: Wed 07 of Oct., 2009 13:08 UTC

New Delhi, Oct 7 : Thai Government would sort out critical trade issues like rules of origin and safeguard measures to give a fillip to Thailand-India? bilateral trade and investments even as it foresees a greater flow of two-way investments following the conclusion of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on August 14 this year.

India and Thailand are eager for a comprehensive agreement including more of services and investments. Thai companies are eager to invest in infrastructure projects in India.

The Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh will visit Thailand in late October, this year to sort out trade irritants and the Thai Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva is scheduled to visit India around early December, this year.

Addressing Indian and Thai business leaders at the India-Thailand Business Forum, organised by FICCI, Royal Thai Embassy and the Board of Investment of Thailand in Delhi on Wednesday, the visiting Thai Deputy Prime Minister, Korbsak Sabhavasu said : "The India-Thailand? Free Trade Agreement Framework signed in October 2003 covers trade in goods, services, investment and cooperation between the two countries. The Early Harvest Programme started since 2006 has already reduced tariffs in 82 categories of goods such as plastic pellets, air conditioners, fans, refrigerators, radios, ball bearings and automotive components. At present both the countries are engaged in converting the FTA into a comprehensive agreement to include more services and investments. This will further boost the growth in trade and investment between India and Thailand in the future."

Sabhavasu said that he would talk to the India government for encouraging more Thai investment in Indian infrastructure.

India-Thailand bilateral trade rose to $4,108.91 million in 2007-08. The trade balance was heavily tilted in favour of Thailand with its exports amounting to $2,301 million while India's exports to Thailand was $1,807.91 million. Major items of Indian exports were gems and jewellery, non-ferrous metals, primary and semi-finished iron and steel and oil meals. Major items of Thai exports were electronic goods, non-electrical machinery, artificial resins and plastic materials, iron and steel.

Sabhavasu informed that the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement signed on August 14, 2009 would create a new free trade area of 1.7 billion people covering 11 countries – India and 10 ASEAN countries with a combined GDP of $2.3 trillion. This FTA would lead to tariff reduction for more than 4,700 categories of goods in the member countries from January 1, 2010.

He said, "I also anticipate even greater flow of investments in the near future between India and Thailand. I believe that India's 'Look East Policy' and Thailand 'Look West Policy' would help in improving the economic relations between the two nations as also supplement each other in enlarging market size and business opportunities."

The Thai Deputy Prime Minister said that with the strategic location of Thailand and its bilateral and regional FTAs, Indian enterprises could enjoy access to the Southeast Asian market, particularly the Mekong region. A growing number of Indian companies have opened branches in Thailand such as the Aditya Birla Group, Tata Steel, Dabur Pharma, Usha Martin, Ranbaxy, Lupin Laboratories, Indo-Rama? Group, 3i Infotech, Infosys, Satyam Computers and NIIT. Most recently, in 2006, Tata Steel took over the Thailand-based Millennium Steel with an investment of $ 130 million.

"The Government of Thailand will give priority to mutual cooperation between India and Thailand. We are confident of the Indian skills, knowledge, resources and potential. We will ensure effective implementation of the existing agreements and policies, and seek new measures to facilitate more investments from India," Sabhavasu said adding that he was looking to support investments from India, especially for projects that will create a knowledge-based economy and enhance economic sustainability. Thailand, he said, was ready for investments and cooperation from India to increase the prosperity and strengthen the relationship between the two nations.

The head of the India desk in the Board of Investment of Thailand, Songsak Limbanyen, pointed out that doing business with Thailand was an attractive proposition as there were no restrictions on foreign currency remittances, no export requirement, no foreign equity restrictions in the manufacturing sector and no local content requirement.

The chairman of the committee on India-Thailand/India-ASEAN FTA and BIMSTEC, Boonpong Santiwattanatam said that both countries can benefit through ASEAN-India FTA. The Thai side will benefit from colour television, aluminimum, plastic, gems and jewellery, iron and rubber while India will benefit from gems and jewellery, copper, plastic, rubber, marine products. "It is necessary to push forward the negotiations in India-Thailand FTA and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral? Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), he said.

He said Thailand has invested in India in electricity and electronics, automotive and chemical products and partly in food sector. India is interested to invest in Thailand in agriculture machinery, tractor, auto parts, textiles, medicine, food and rubber.

The chairman of India-Thailand Joint Business Council (JBC) and Managing Director, Indo Rama Synthetics (I) Ltd, OP Lohia said that while India and Thailand were connected to each other by over 200 flights per week, this connectivity needed to be improved in terms of roads and railways. "The idea of a road link between India and Thailand cannot but captivate one's imagination. For India, it would mean road connectivity with all of ASEAN, for Thailand, it would mean road connectivity with a market of more than a billion people," he said.

He said that there were huge opportunities for both countries for two-way investments in the development of urban infrastructure, knowledge economy, chemicals and petrochemicals industry, food processing, tourism, health and wellness industry, and gems and jewellery.

The business forum was also addressed by the Ambassador of Thailand to India, Krit Kraichitti, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand in India, Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya and Mr. Rajan Kohli, Advisor, FICCI.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Ahead of operationalisation of India-ASEAN FTA

Vietnam seeks more Indian investment

IT, textiles, banking, energy, mining, infrastructure are key areas

http://www.news.anypursuit.com/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=769

http://www.zopag.com/news/vietnam-seeks-more-indian-investment/8063.html

By: ASHOK B SHARMA on: Thu 01 of Oct., 2009 13:22 UTC

New Delhi, Oct 1 : Vietnam has sought greater Indian investments in e-governance, IT software, garments and textiles, banking and finance, energy, mining, infrastructure, consumer goods, science and technology and environment protection.

The visiting Vice President of Vietnam, Ms Nguyen Thi Doan, while addressing a business meeting organized by the apex Indian industry body – FICCI – in Delhi on Thursday, said : "Vietnam could avail of India's expertise in e-governance, IT software and agriculture, while India could import light engineering products from Vietnam."

Doan is leading a 70-member official and business delegation to India. Vietnam is slated to don the mantle of the presidency of ASEAN in 2010. India has recently signed a free trade agreement with ASEAN, which is likely to be operationalised from January 1, 2010 as far as trade in goods is concerned. Thus in this context Doan's visit assumes importance.

She said that despite the global financial crisis, the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Vietnam continued to rise. The total FDI flows in 2008 was US$ 71.7 billion, a 200% rise over the previous year. The strong commitment of foreign investors to the Vietnamese economy follows the government's pursuance of the reforms aimed at improving the investment climate, ensuring equal economic opportunities for all sectors of the economy and its commitment to develop physical infrastructure as also education and health programmes.

In 2008, Vietnam's GDP growth rate was estimated at 6.23%, export growth rate at 29.5%. In 2008 India's exports to Vietnam was valued at $2094.4 million while India's imports from Vietnam was estimated at $388.99 million. However in the first half of 2009, India's exports to Vietnam have fallen by 38.66%, while Vietnam's exports to India have declined by 3.64%.

Major items of India's export to Vietnam include animal feed, pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals, plastic and linoleum products, sea food, machinery and equipment, iron and steel, pesticides, leather and leather garments and other kinds of metals and fabrics. India's imports from Vietnam include pepper, tea, coal, rubber, coal, cinnamon, electronic components, leather and leather made-ups, coal, electronics, machinery and coffee

Major India companies like Tata Steel, ONGC Videsh Ltd, Nagarjuna group, KCP group, Ranbaxy India, DSM Manufacturing and Services, Godrej group, Vallabhdas Kanji Ltd, Alliance Minerals, SOL Pharmaceuticals, RK Marble Pvt Ltd, Arihant Oil, Vedic Elements Ent Ltd, Shiva Plastics, Astral Computers, Sachna Exports, Olam Co, N Ranga Roao & Sons, United Phosphorus, Java Softech, Microtel Sterilisation Services, Roha Dyechem, GIMPEX, Minda India, Suvidha Business Solution, Mangalam Alloys, Epicentre Research Technologies, Spices Import Export Co, Consus Pvt Ltd, Inkor Autotech India, Jonvest Co and Iwa Direct Co have set up joint ventures in Vietnam.

Doan urged Indian industry to invest in IT software, garments and textiles and banking and finance.

Vietnam's Vice Minister of Planning and Investment, Nguyen Duc Hoa said that his country has the potential to attract investments on account of a stable environment, good connectivity and diverse natural resources. He urged the Indian industry to invest in oil and natural gas, mining, energy, consumer goods, infrastructure, human resources development, science and technology and environment protection.

The chairman of Dak Lac People's Committee, Lu Ngoc Cu invited Indian entrepreneurs to invest in Dak Lac Province particularly in coffee, rubber, forests, cashew nut plantations, aquaculture, mining and eco-tourism. The chairperson of Vietnam Women Entrepreneur Council and leader of the business delegation, Tran Thi Thuy urged Indian industry to invest in IT and agriculture sectors.#

--------------------------------------------------------

India: National Ganga River Basin Authority to act soon

Environment ministry not for linking rivers

Proposes Save Dolphin Project

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/environment-ministry-not-for-linking-rivers/525314/0

http://www.news.anypursuit.com/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=775

http://www.zopag.com/news/govt-declares-dolphin-national-animal/8115.html#

By: ASHOK B SHARMA on: Tue 06 of Oct., 2009 09:38 UTC

New Delhi, Oct 6 : There seems to be two different views in the Indian government on linking river basins. Notwithstanding the Union Ministry for Water Resources aggressively pushing for linking major river basins in the country, the Union minister of state for environment and forests, Jairam Ramesh has openly opposed the move saying that it would not only invite "environmental and ecological disaster but also the problem would assume international dimensions."

Speaking to mediapersons in Delhi on Monday, the minister said "though linking of Ken and Betwa rivers basins and Krishna and Godavari rivers basins have proved to be beneficial, we have to be very careful in our plans to link other river basins. Many of the proposed river links may not only invite environmental and ecological disaster but also the problem would assume international dimensions."

Emphasizing the need for making the sacred river Ganga pollution free, Ramesh said that his ministry would launch Save Dolphin Project in the near future to increase the population of this aquatic creature which has dwindled to 2000. The presence of adequate number of dolphins in river Gaga would vouch for its cleanness, he said and added that dolphin would soon be declared as National Aquatic Creature.

The dolphin issue was raised by the Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar at the first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) chaired by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday. The Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank suggested setting up of the Ganga Museum. NGBRA was set up in February 20, 2009 under Environment Protect Act as an empowered authority.

Ramesh said that his ministry was of the view that in and around the 130 km long area of the river Ganga (Bhagirathi) stretching from Gomukh to Uttarkashi there should be no industrial project to pollute the sacred river. The both the environment and power ministries would conduct a study on the existing three hydro-power projects – Loharinag Pala, Pala Maneri and Bhairon Ghati – and submit a report to NGRBA within 60 days.

The NGRBA would launch Mission Clean Ganga Project and World Bank has been engaged for long term support of authority's work programme. Assistance of $1 billion is indicated for first phase. Proposal of $3 million project preparation facility was forwarded to World Bank and has been approved, the minister said and added that a proposal has been submitted to 13th Finance Commission for one time allocation of Rs 1320 crore for meeting O&M needs of STPs for 5 years;.

No untreated municipal sewage and industrial effluent would be dumped into river Ganga by 2020. Currently there is a sewage treatment capacity of only about 1000 mld against 3000 mld sewage being generated in towns along Ganga. An estimated investment of Rs 15,000 crores over next 10 years will be required to create the necessary treatment and sewerage infrastructure. It was proposed that the Union government would bear 70% of the expenditure and the state governments the remaining 30%. It was, however, decided that matter would be decided after consultations with the Planning Commission

While comprehensive river basin management plan will be ready by December, 2010, on-going sewage treatment projects to be put on fast-track and states to formulate DPRs for new such projects in critical pollution hotspots and major towns on Ganga and major tributaries by November 30, 2009. Tripartite MOAs to be signed by February 1, 2010 and initial portfolio of projects to be sanctioned by March 1, 2010.

Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to work with states to prepare specific action plans for dealing with problem of industrial pollution in Ganga Basin by January 31, 2010
A Standing Committee of NGRBA to be constituted headed by Union Finance Minister to meet more frequently and review implementation. An empowered Steering committee headed by Unoion Environment Secretary to be set up for fast track clearance of projects on JNNURM lines. Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to create separate and distinct professional team to service the NGRBA and the Empowered Standing Committee.

It may be recalled that Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was initiated since June 22, 1985 and Rs 900 crore had been spent so far but the results have not been encouraging. According to Ramesh the GAP undertook the responsibility for cleaning the Ganga water around select cities, while the new Mission Clean Ganga of NGRBA would cover the entire stretch of Ganga

NGRBA has invited EOIs for preparing a comprehensive Ganga river basin management plan. RFPs have been issued to 10 shortlisted firms. Work will be awarded by Dec 15, this year. Rs 250 crore have been allocated in the Union Budget for 2009-10 for NGRBA. Rs 500 crore per year allocation in the remaining 2 years of 11th Plan has been agreed to by the Planning Commission.

Empowered State River Conservation Authorities have been notified for West Bengal, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. A Model Tripartite Memorandum of Agreement between Centre, States & ULBs has been prepared by National Institute of Urban Affairs. It has been circulated to States for comments. The MOA will link flow of funds to achievement of milestones and measurable improvement in water quality. Pilot projects of Sankat Mochan Foundation at Varanasi (pond based treatment) and National Botanical Research Institute (plant based wastewater management) at Hardwar have been approved, in order to encourage innovative approaches to river cleaning

Work on GIS based mapping of Ganga basin has been entrusted to NIC. This will be completed by June 2010. It will be a useful decision making tool.. Consultations with state governments, urban local bodies and experts have been held for identifying river conservation projects to be implemented in PPP mode through special purpose vehicles. Action has been initiated for third party evaluation of schemes. Independent institutions will be appointed by Dec 2009 for this purpose. Improved water quality monitoring system is being put in place. Work on online data transmission from monitoring organisations and public access to WQM data is expected to be completed by Dec 2009.

NGRBA has finalized a proposal for awarding consultancy by January 2010 for creation of a state-of-the-art knowledge centre on Ganga. A Compendium of sewage treatment technologies has been prepared by IIT-Kanpur for guidance of implementing agencies/ULBs. The NGRBA is reviewing a status paper on Ganga has been prepared by Alternate Hydro Energy Centre, IIT Roorkee providing an overview of Ganga Basin.#
------------------------------------------------------------

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[ALOCHONA] Deadly attack on Pakistan army HQ

Deadly attack on Pakistan army HQ

[ALOCHONA] Troops all alert on Myanmar front

[mukto-mona] Shabnam Hashmi: another story from Gujarat, India [12 Attachments]

[mukto-mona] Prosecute Bangladesh's war criminals

Prosecute Bangladesh's war criminals

[mukto-mona] Fw: ‘I Dalit : Reclaiming Dignity’ a film

[ALOCHONA] Infidel in the mosque

[mukto-mona] Playing for Change.Unifying the world through music.Details at www.weforpeople.com

[mukto-mona] Is it a crime to be born a Muslim in India? ISP Oct 2009 II

[ALOCHONA] Our boundary our diplomats

Re: [mukto-mona] Submission : Proposal for a South Asian regional union By William Gomes

[mukto-mona] Run-up to India-ASEAN FTA : Vietnam & Thailand gear up+Environment Issues

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