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Saturday, December 12, 2009

[ALOCHONA] TIBET EXHIBITION



 
 
by Omar Tarek Chowdhury
 

NEW Age's regular contributor Rahnuma Ahmed's post-editorial, 'China-US politics over exhibiting Tibet. In Dhaka' (November 23) has drawn my attention. This was published in response to my post-editorial (Samakal, November 13) on the photographic exhibition (Into Exile: Tibet 1949-2009) 'organised by the Bangladesh chapter of Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), in partnership with Drik.'


   For readers' convenience she has fairly reproduced the views expressed and relevant questions raised in my post-editorial. Based on information available in public domain I have unequivocally pointed out the SFT as a CIA/NED funded network. With logical sequence and analysis, I have also clearly suggested that this exhibition was a well-choreographed media event brought to the public, both in home and abroad, by the PSYOP (psychological operation) warriors of Dharamshala. Though 'Phantom of the Opera'—SFTBD—enjoyed handsome global publicity, its face remained unseen all along this well-orchestrated propaganda gimmick. Long after Mahatma's last visit to riot-ridden Noakhali, we saw the reincarnation of Gandhian zeal of satyagraha, performed by the famous corruption-crusader to protect our 'right to know the neighbours' and 'freedom of cultural expression'. All actors reaped the benefit of publicity dividend for their impressive performance.


   Personally, I won't be surprised to see the SFTBD's Bangladeshi national director (it has quite a corporate style organisational structure), the young devoted lady who 'breathes her time equally between Dharamshala … and Bangladesh' rewarded soon by some heavyweight promoter for her superb service.


   Dress rehearsal of this controversial exhibition by the SFTBD, professionally synchronised mainly with Dalai Lama's Arunachal visit, can be traced back in March 2009 in front of the Chinese embassy at Gulshan. A demonstration of 8-9 wo/men, holding placards and candles in daylight and gamcha (hand-woven towel) slinging from their necks, went unnoticed locally but became useful for the Tibetan propaganda machine. However, the SFTBD's name first appeared in the United States during the campaign against the Beijing Olympics in April 2008. Its national director, jet-flown from Dharamshala, (not to be surprise if this is a paid position. The US chapter SFT's vacancy notice tells the salary range for a junior-level director position is $33-36K) was prominently fed into the BBC's World Service coverage of the demonstration against the Olympic torch march in San Francisco (BBC News, San Francisco, April 10, 2008).


   Circumstantial evidences indicate that this exhibition was 'brought to you' by a front organisation founded and operated with the blessing of the National Endowment for Democracy. NED's financing for various wings of Tibetan movement is no secret. Budget allocated by US Congress for various Tibetan organisations' activities (sans covert operations) for the year 2008 indicates the trend. Moreover, this 'civilian arm' of the CIA has earned some notoriety globally as the promoter of such movement; to be precise, as the purveyor of 'colour revolution' in various countries of Latin America, East Europe, Southeast and Central Asia.


   To unmask the nature of this event, covered by the rhetoric of 'cultural freedom' and 'right to know the neighbour,' I have raised some crucial questions regarding the funding and timing of this event and the identity of the SFTBD as well as its ties with the NED-sponsored global network.


   To make her public response to my views and questions, Rahnuma worked extra hard; maybe, to double check the accuracy of my accusation. She found the smoking guns and realised that answer is 'blowin' in the wind.' Not only the SFT, as far as the Tibetan movement's CIA-NED connection is concerned, all are naked truth. She wrote: 'So, I asked Shahidul, what made you agree to co-hosting this exhibition?' 'I thought it would be an interesting one, he replied. … Our point is to open up the debate.' In a para-long answer, one more time we read the narrative of Drik's version and its track record of unbending struggle but no specific answers to my specific questions. Despite good intention of opening up the debate, the Q&A part seems like a well-controlled make-believe TV show, where the anchor and the guest talk but don't respond to queries of the audience; and the uncritical audience are left to believe that they got the answers.


   The anchor didn't ask further questions to clear the air. My 'indecent' but critical questions remained unasked and unanswered.
   Rahnuma has extensively used Michael Barker's (Griffith University, Australia) study, 'Democratic Imperialism'. She quoted Michael Barker as saying: '… activists truly concerned with promoting freedom and democracy in Tibet should first and foremost cast a critical eye over the antidemocratic funders of many of the Tibetan groups….' She has directly picked up part of different sentences from the Barker study and re-constructed her own to restate Barker's opinion. It was done quite efficiently and accurately. Nevertheless, she has missed two significant points of Barker. He suggested '… cast[ing] a critical eye over … Tibetan groups identified in this study.' Also, 'only then will they [Tibetan groups] be able to reappraise the sustainability of their work in the light of the NED's controversial background.' Interestingly, phrases in italics are missing in her typical style of paraphrasing. Identified in this study means Barker's study quoted by Rahnuma, where the SFT has also been 'identified' as the recipient of 'NED's controversial' funding.


   Despite quoting Barker at length she restrained from telling us whether we 'should … cast a critical eye over' the SFTBD or whether its Bangladeshi activists and sympathisers should reappraise NED's controversial background.
   'Low intensity democracy' theory of William I Robinson (credible researcher on NED's activities in Latin American countries and scholar-cum-Latin America activist) suddenly reminded her of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire. A brief and impressive dossier of Mairead activism for peace was presented to the readers; starting from 70s to up until 'Thank You Tibet' campaign, launched together with Nobel Peace Prize laureates Joddy Williams and Shirin Ebadi, in October 2009. Readers were apprised of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates' moving and passionate campaign statement for Tibet.


   Again, one relevant striking piece of information about Mairead's profile missed Rahnuma's attention. Latin maxim Caveat lector was not followed for the sake of fairness. Mairead's glorious record didn't tell the readers that her compassion for Tibet has some strings attached. Mairead's connection with the International Campaign for Tibet, parent body of the SFT, was not revealed. Neither was her role as adviser to the Points of Peace Foundation, founder of the Voice of Tibet radio station, told.
   Mentioning these significant nexus would h

ave helped readers to understand the driving force of this particular activism of the Nobel Peace Prize laureates. True beauty of any actor can only be judged when the audience gets the chance to take a glance at the greenroom.


   Finally, Rahnuma invoked Michael Pareni (Friendly Feudalism, 2007) to establish her point—'whether Tibet is better or worse off, under Chinese communism.' Which Chinese communism is it anyway? Is it the Chinese communism led by Mao? Or is it the latter-day 'communism' of Free Market's St Deng Xiaoping? Lack of political orientation often leads many people to regard present-day China as a socialist country. But Parenti is no commentator without political orientation. As an eloquent critic of free market and capitalism he knows the differences between the Chinese communism of the Mao and Deng era.


   Rahnuma has missed Parenti's opinion and views. She has overlooked Parenti's description of changes, with limitations and flaws, (land redistribution, education reform, child services, abolition of serfdom, cruel punishment and exploitation by Tibetans lamas and nobles; reduction of unemployment and beggary, installation of water and power systems) that happened in the lives of Tibetan serfs and working class people after the Mao-led revolution. Mistakenly she has equated Parenti's strong criticism of China of 'dazzling 8 percent economic growth rate' (does this apply to pre-1978 period or when HH fled to India?) with the China which 'stood up' in October 1949 under the leadership of Mao and misled her readers grossly by misrepresenting Parenti's views.


   Based on her own smoking gun we don't see Rahnuma draw any judgement about the SFT—the real 'area of contention' between us. Rather we see her abuse the smoking gun to produce smokescreen over a questionable propaganda event.


   http://www.newagebd.com/2009/dec/13/oped.html




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[ALOCHONA] Fw: RE: Water at Pakshi Point





--- On Sat, 12/12/09, Zoglul Husain <zoglul@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
Thank you for forwarding the painful and heart-rending picture of the desertification of Bangladesh (courtesy Amar Desh).
 
It is the India-made curse of Farakka that has dried up the river under the 8 kilimeters (5 miles) long Hardinge Bridge at Pakshi. It was through Mujib's agreement that India grabbed Padma and gleefully started diverting water from Padma. It is through Moeen U's and Hasina's co-operation that India is trying to grab the whole of Bangladesh.
 
We certainly will defend our independence and sovereignty, our national interest and our national resources, however many foreign powers gang up against us for their strategic, economic and political evil interests.
 
Below: Hardinge Bridge at Pakshi, 8 Kilimeters (5 miles) long. No water under the bridge.

 

Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:15:13 -0800
From: bd_mailer@yahoo.com
Subject: Water at Pakshi Point
To: dhakamails@yahoogroups.com

Water at Pakshi Point


http://amardeshonline.com/img/news/P1-Lead_panichukti.jpg





Have more than one Hotmail account? Link them together to easily access both.



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[ALOCHONA] intellectual day '71: survivor of Dr. Md. Fazle Rabbee's family speaks



Dear Moderator, I will be pleased if you publish the following piece on December 14th 2009 to your membership. Many thanks. N. Rabbee

 

The Vision of the Shaheed Intellectuals of 1971

Survivor of Martyred Intellectual Dr. Mohammed Fazle Rabbee's family speaks

N. Rabbee

Dr. Mohammed Fazle Rabbee, a brilliant son of our beloved country, an internationally acclaimed cardiologist and researcher, perished in the 1971 intellectual killing ordered by the Pakistani government. This was an immoral, illegal and heinous act of war crime. Dr. Rabbee's wife had kept his memory and vision alive for three decades. Each year, December was especially hard for the late Dr. Jahan Ara Rabbee and it never got better. On 15th December, 1971 when the Pakistani army and local Al Badars came to pick Dr. Rabbee up for the Rayerbazar killing center, part of Mrs. Rabbee died that moment in their home: the part that was loved dearly by her husband perished alongside him. After Mrs. Rabbee passed away, I have been continuing our family legacy by writing each year in order to enable Bangladeshis to apprehend and appreciate the principles behind the intellectuals who sacrificed their lives and honor in order to secure the freedom for this country. These are our heroes and their vision was the highest for our nation.

 

Today Dr. Rabbee is gone. Dr. Mrs. Rabbee is gone. A whole generation who envisioned the best for our country has either been killed or died after working hard without seeing their dreams come to fruition. Our country is in much worse shape than when this exceptional couple began their lives as young graduates of the Dhaka Medical College in the 1950s. Today Bangladesh has topped all the lists for pollution, corruption or lawlessness in society. International media only utters her name when reporting congested roads or boats, corrupt regimes, or polluted cities.

The leaders of our nation have done the country wrong over the past five decades. They have led us through journey after journey without a destination or a roadmap. They have lacked the moral conviction for undertaking systematic nation building. The vision for building this independent nation was encapsulated in the minds of the 1971 intellectuals and they had the capacity to lead us from a poor country, plagued with ethnic and religious strife, to a fully democratic nation over time.

 

Thirty eight years later we are far from that vision: we are no longer dreaming of the best, but expecting and tolerating the worst for ourselves. We need to demand that our leaders have the vision and willpower for expanding our nation's infrastructure, our economic prosperity, social freedom and improving our global stature. That is the right and duty of a citizen of an independent democracy.

 

I am elated to see we are finally bringing to justice those who murdered the father of our nation, founding President Shiekh Mujibur Rahman! This is a huge step forward in regaining our self-respect. As far as the genocide and intellectual extermination of 1971, I know that no country can stand in pride when it has failed to bring to justice those who have willingly committed massive human, spiritual and intellectual destruction against its good citizens.


We, the surviving family members of the freedom fighters and shaheed intellectuals, will not go to our graves without seeing justice brought to those who committed genocide and grave violations of human rights against our families in 1971.

Dr. Nusrat Rabbee, daughter of Dr. Fazle Rabbee and Dr. Jahan Ara Rabbee, is a scientist in the field of Bioinformatics and Statistical Genetics. She may be contacted at nrabbee@yahoo.com.



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[mukto-mona] Pakistan political report --Killers of innocent people are beasts --



 

Killers of innocent people are beasts  

 2009-12-08:

Lahore, Dec. 8 : Liaquat Baloch, Secretary General of the Jamaat e Islami, Pakistan, has said that those targeting innocent people, women and children in bomb blasts were beasts and had nothing to do with humanity. There has been a sudden surge in terrorist activities all over the country and the Punjab province is being especially targeted which clearly shows the enemy plot against this country, he said while talking to the families of those killed in the Monday night bomb blasts at Allama Iqbal Town Moon Market. Liaquat Baloch said the plot designed by the US and India in the country was now quite obvious. For quite sometime, he said, there have been hue and cry that terrorists had spread over the southern Punjab and military operation there was inevitable. The current bomb blasts seemed to be part of that plan to spread the terror war through out the country, to weaken the armed forces by pitting them against the nation and create an anarchic situation so as to take over our nuclear facility. Later, he visited the Jinnah Hospital and the Sheikh Zayed Hospital to enquire about the health of those injured in the bomb blasts. He was accompanied by JI deputy SG Dr Farid Piracha , office bearers of the Shabab e Mili, Punjab and large number of JI workers.

 



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[mukto-mona] FW: SC stops publication of guidebooks :A Welcome Decision--Asia Post editorial dated 11.12.09



 

 


 

Supreme Court  stops publication of guidebooks :A Welcome Decision

 

 

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the High Court verdict that had allowed the government to take action to prevent publication, distribution and sale of guidebooks for the primary and secondary school students.The three-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin, passed the order after dismissing an appeal against the HC verdict.The HC on March 13 last year in a verdict ordered the government asking the deputy commissioners of the country to take action to prevent publication, distribution and sale of guidebooks, which are not approved by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board.President of Bangladesh Book Publishers and Sellers' Association (BBPSA) Abu Taher filed an appeal in November this year with the SC against the HC verdict.After holding hearing, the apex court dismissed the appeal.Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told The Daily Star that following the SC order the publishers can not publish any guidebook without approval of the government.

We feel that it will end publication of guidebooks for the primary and secondary school students .Creativity of students were badly affected which means loss of quality in analysis, assessment and interpretation. A large section of teachers also encouraged it and avoided a full teaching in the classes with extremely bad result for the country.We hope all these will end now.We also hope this will be enforced strictly. .

 



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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

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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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