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Friday, August 27, 2010

[ALOCHONA] Prothom Alo editor on Ershad



Prothom Alo editor on Ershad
 
 


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[ALOCHONA] Wikileaks CIA Release - Say What?



Wikileaks CIA Release - Say What?
 
Wikileaks offered its first release since the controversial distribution of documents related to the United States effort in Afghanistan.

The current leak was posted to their web site on August 25. It is titled CIA Red Cell Memorandum on United States "exporting terrorism", 2 Feb 2010.

The leak describes Red Cell as a CIA unit created by the Director to develop "out-of-the-box" analysis offering "alternative viewpoints" on key intelligence issues.

This document doesn't disappoint in being out-of-the-box.

CIA Perception Management - How the World Sees the United States

CIA Red Cell starts out by stating, "This report examines the implications of what it would mean for the US to be seen increasingly as an incubator and exporter of terrorism." Don't hold your breath. There's nothing there about the School of the Americas, the shock and awe invasion of Iraq and the carnage that entailed, or 300 dead Panamanians and United States soldiers as a result of the 1981 manhunt for General Manuel Noriega, a former US asset.

This document lists four examples of terrorism exported by citizens of the United States. Five Muslim Americans traveled to Pakistan, tried to join the Taliban, and were arrested. Red Cell notes that, "In 1994, Baruch Goldstein, an American Jewish doctor from New York, emigrated to Israel, joined the extremist group Kach, and killed 29 Palestinians during their prayers." Also singled out are those Irish Americans who provided cash to the Irish Republican Army used to fund terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom.

Of most interest, convicted terrorist David Headley is cited as an example. A Pakistani American from Chicago, Headley recently plead guilty to providing "advanced surveillance" for the 2008 mega-terror attack on the Indian financial capitol, Mumbai.

The London Sunday Times pointed out that Headley had been "working for" the US Drug Enforcement Administration as part of a plea deal in 1997. The Times of India quoted unnamed Indian officials investigating the attacks as speculating that Headley "could have been a double agent for American agencies and Pakistan-based outfits." US government officials deny any connection with Headley after a brief association with DEA.

The analysis concludes "that Americans can be great assets in terrorist operations overseas."

The perception that the US is an "incubator and exporter of terrorism" may create push back by other governments in the War on Terror. The report cautions that this may lead to formal inquiries concerning US citizens by foreign intelligence agencies who may "even request the rendition of US citizens." Renditions involve the transfer of suspected terrorists from one state to another where torture is used to extract information.

The report warns that US failure to cooperate with these requests, "might lead some governments to consider secretly extracting US citizens suspected of foreign terrorism from US soil."

All this might limit cooperation by US allies in anti-terror efforts.

The Red Cell Memorandum Makes No Sense

We are told that the perception of the US exporting terror would limit the cooperation of other nations in anti terror efforts. If that's true, then we would expect that the US would be less than cooperative with other nations that export terrorism, defined as citizens leaving their country and committing terrorist acts elsewhere.

Didn't President George W. Bush kiss the Saudi King and hold his hand in a garden walk in 2005? Was that indiscreetly affectionate behavior deterred by the perception that the Saudis are an "exporter of terrorism" in the form of bin Laden and the Saudi citizens named as pulling off 9/11? Didn't the current Justice Department support Saudi Arabia's attempt to block a suit by 9/11 victims? Didn't the US have up to 10,000 troops in Saudi Arabia from 1991 through 2003 at the very time that Saudi nationals were sponsoring schools throughout the Middle East that taught hatred of what is now called the homeland?

Other nations allow the US to violate their sovereignty to kidnap and torture their citizens as a result of asymmetrical power. The US can crush these nations militarily and financially. The US also offers financial inducements to the leaders of some nations involved. Therefore, they cooperate.

The report assumes that there's some sort of rule book that allows other nations to behave toward the US as the US does toward them, if somehow US citizens leave the country and commit terrorist acts. In reality, there's no referee or rule book, just a one-sided power equation in favor of US action. It's all about power and dominance.

This leak doesn't amount to much more than a peek at what is viewed as a "thought provoking alternative" view within the CIA. It misses the main point regarding the perception of the US throughout the world.

The Real Export of Terror - Reality Trumps Perception

The United States operates what is commonly known as the School of Americas in Georgia. The school offers training in counterinsurgency, interrogation, and anti terror tactics and strategies. Thousands of Latin American military personnel have trained there over the years. Graduates include some of the worst dictators in that region including those behind the deadly Operation Condor in the 1980s. Some of the worst atrocities in the region were committed by school graduates. The school's level of responsibility for the behavior of it's graduate can't be quantified in precise terms. However, for some graduates, the training failed to instill a respect for humanity and taught tactics that were employed against the citizens that the military leaders were to protect.

The US has held the leadership position in NATO since its inception in 1949. In 1990, the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning Operation Gladio and US involvement (
European Parliament resolution on Gladio, Nov. 22, 1990, Clause G. 2). This involved paramilitary groups in NATO member nations and France. The groups were created by US and British intelligence after World War II. The original goal was to provide resistance in case of a takeover by the Soviet Union. Long after that was a viable concern, the groups continued by staging false-flag terror attacks against their own citizens. The incidents, which killed thousands, were committed by the Gladio groups and falsely attributed to Communists and Soviet sympathizers.

These are just two examples of the unrestrained and counter productive use of power exported by successive US administrations. It's no accident that this information is kept from US citizens. Sufficiently informed, the vast majority would find these programs offensive and counterproductive. But it's no secret to the rest of the world. The concerns expressed in the Red Cell Memorandum are moot. It's too late. The word is out.

http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2010/08/26/wikileakscia



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[ALOCHONA] Will he be freed too ?



Will he be freed too ?
 
 


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[ALOCHONA] Ershad's conspiracy to grab power



Ershad's conspiracy to grab power
 
 
 
 


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Re: [ALOCHONA] On when judges become the enemy of democracy and the people



This similarity, you can find the character of Late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, but not of Late Tajuddin Ahmed of B.A.L.



-----Original Message-----
From: sohailtaj2008 <sohailtaj2008@yahoo.com>
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, Aug 20, 2010 12:21 am
Subject: [ALOCHONA] On when judges become the enemy of democracy and the people

 
On when judges become the enemy
of democracy and the people
 
 
In an earlier article I expressed my distaste for the Acting Editor of Amar Desh, Mr. Mahmudur Rahman, who I felt was intellectually arrogant, pompous and a self-publicist who possessed a knack of popularizing issues through clever editing and presentation.  If anything he is merely a showman who has a gift for selling newspapers but unfortunately not of ideas which takes a much more substantial intellect and character to do with any true success in terms of leaving a tangible imprint on the national consciousness. However, the ruling of the Supreme Court against Mahmudur Rahman for Contempt of Court was an act of utter folly with a bench of `by-chance' judges (who in any other civilized country would not make it beyond the first tier of the judiciary) passing judgment on a `by-chance' acting editor of a popular bangla daily. A clear case of the mediocre passing judgment on the mediocre.
 
It is my opinion that of the two mediocrities it is the judges on the Supreme Court who has committed the graver offence by placing themselves above the law and the Constitution. There seems to be no legitimate restraint on the higher judiciary or any avenue for constructive criticism of their rulings nor any redress for their excesses and certainly no possibility of their being held accountable. The foundation of the courts is no longer based on law but purely on political expediency and the whim of the Prime Minister. Let us not be fooled but the Supreme Court is now merely an instrument of executive power and therefore a threat to both democracy and the people. While the judiciary had in the past been the protector of the fundamental rights and liberties of the citizens this Supreme Court is a usurper in that it has unilaterally accorded itself the means to subvert the true meaning of the Constitution (however flawed an instrument) and undermining the rights of the people of freedom of speech, expression and association. Many other rights are likely to be taken away in the coming months simply through legal fiat rather than executive order which had been the preferred tool of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - soon to be our compulsory or should that be our surrogate father?  
 
The Supreme Court being an unelected body cannot make law which is the sole prerogative of Parliament but that is exactly what the court has been doing in the last few months as it impulsively strikes down one Constitutional amendment after another. The courts function is limited to interpreting law and not to annulling laws and constitutional amendments that were validly passed by Parliament. In doing this the court has now become the de-facto supreme law-giver as it now holds more power than even Parliament which is the elected body assigned by the Constitution to do this particular job. Simply put the Supreme Court acting in excess of its powers accorded to it by the Constitution is a threat to both democracy and the people whose rights are now being gradually eroded through legal technicality rather than by open political debate and discussion. The Human Right Commission Chairman Prof. Mizanur Rahman was absolutely correct to lament that the Rule of Law does not exist in Bangladesh. More precisely the Rule of Law was murdered by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman but then resurrected by Ziaur Rahman after the former Presidents assassination in 1975. The Rule of Law was then emasculated by H.M Ershad during the 1980's and was then again rendered comatose during the period of democracy from 1991- 2008.  Finally the Rule of Law is having a wooden stake driven through its heart by this present Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Fazlul Karim – a name that will become synonymous with infamy and the betrayal of the people and democracy.
 
Sohail Taj
 
(Now a postgraduate student of UCL)
 
 
 
                                            


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Re: [ALOCHONA] Burqa can't be forced: High Court



What's going on Bangladesh!
 
During this holy month of Ramadan, Election Commission (BEC) declared:  Prostitution is a (legal) profession.
 
High court made verdict: Burqa can't be forced.

Judges of higher courts are much more Awami leaguers than dedicated followers of Awami League.
 
Read the fifth and seventh amendments, you can easily understand. 


 
-----Original Message-----
From: Mo Assghar <moassghar@yahoo.com>
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, Aug 23, 2010 11:02 pm
Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] Burqa can't be forced: High Court

 
But Secularism can be forced? Give me a break!!

Did not hindu hasina learned anything from her Father?


--- On Mon, 8/23/10, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com>
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Burqa can't be forced: High Court
To:
Date: Monday, August 23, 2010, 2:36 AM

 
Burqa can't be forced: High Court

 
The court also ordered relevant officials to explain why forcing girls to wear burqa (veil) and keeping them out of sports and cultural activities were illegal.


Dhaka, Aug 22 (bdnews24.com)—The High Court has ruled that no women can be forced to wear burqa at work and educational institutions. In it's ruling The High Court on Sunday in a suo moto order directed the government to ensure that no women were forced to wear veil or religious dress in the educational institutions and offices.

The court also ordered the government to ensure that the cultural activities and sports in the educational institutions are not restricted.The orders came in the wake of a public interest petition filed by Supreme Court lawyers Mahbub Shafi and A K M Hafizul Alam on Sunday. The bench of justices A H M Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain also ruled that they cannot be barred from taking to culture and sports

The court also ordered relevant officials to explain why forcing girls to wear burqa (veil) and keeping them out of sports and cultural activities were illegal.

The A Bengali daily news item said that principal of the college in Natore ( Northern Bangladesh ) has stopped any cultural activities and sports at the college and forced female students to wear Borka or veil in the college.The HC also directed principal of the college Mozammel Haque to appear before the HC bench on August 26 to explain the matter.

It also issued a rule upon the government to explain why imposition of restriction on cultural activities and sports in the educational institutions and offices and forcing the female students to wear veil should not be declared illegal.

Secretaries to the ministries of home, education, social welfare and women affair and principal Mozammel Haque has been made respondent to the rule and orderThe education, home, social welfare, and women and children affairs secretaries and principal of Rani Bhabani Mohila College Mozammel Huq were asked to reply to ruling. Following a brief hearing, the court also asked the principal to appear before it on Aug 26.

The lawyers in their petition on Sunday cited a report carried by a Bengali newspaper the same day headlined, 'Burqa mandatory at Rani Bhabani Mohila College'. The lawyers stated such enforcement was discriminatory.



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Re: [ALOCHONA] 2009 Human Rights Report: Bangladesh



Bless the poor souls of the state department. These people are not respected within their own people [ As pentagon/Fox news/Multinationals corporate views are more popular within common American people]. They had to judge others on human rights when human rights in the US are creating concerns among people of the world. Iraq war is a classic example how state department was thrown out the window and reduced to the status of witnesses of gross human right violations that followed ever since.

And the Israel factor. Apparently  Gaza  natives  does not  require any  "Human Rights". When civilian population of Gaza were severely  punished  for  action of few, it was all "Halal" ......

;-)

Shalom.......

-----Original Message-----
From: Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com>
Sent: Wed, Aug 25, 2010 4:52 pm
Subject: [ALOCHONA] 2009 Human Rights Report: Bangladesh

 
2009 Human Rights Report: Bangladesh
 
US Dept of State
 


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Re: [ALOCHONA] Experts divided over benefits of billion dollar deal



India has given many Bangladeshis good reasons to "Hate"( At least doubt) India. This is not limited to this country rather all Indian neighbors share such feelings towards India. Indian hostile foreign policy is the reason. Historically we have emotional ties with Indian people and we have long common history. it is hard for us the hate Indian people.

Even many Indians from south, North (Punjab and Kashmir for example) and east ( Seven sisters states) and Maoist from all over "Hates" policies of federal government of India. Many of them do not want to be part of India anymore!!

I think India should take a serious look at her and be ready to be understand that, we have NO reason to "Hate" India. As we buy billions of dollars worth of Indian goods every year. We just like to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect of a free nation.

Simple solution. Isn't it? ;-)



-----Original Message-----
From: ANDREWL <turkman@sbcglobal.net>
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, Aug 23, 2010 5:57 am
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Experts divided over benefits of billion dollar deal

 
The ones, who disagree are not Experts. They are only India Haters.

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Isha Khan <bdmailer@...> wrote:
>
> Experts divided over benefits of billion dollar deal
>
> The billion dollar Indian credit line agreement has come up for critical
> scrutiny apparently on the merit of the projects as to how much they are
> having national priority to be implemented by taking a commercial loan.
>
> The 14 projects to be executed under the loan are on top of the list of
> India for opening its transit route through Bangladesh to the northeast.
>
> The Awami League-led government has taken the political decision to this
> effect but critics wondered why it has taken the decision to finance
> basically Indian projects with a huge loan.
>
> The projects in the list are aimed at developing supportive infrastructures
> to create necessary conditions to create transit through Bangladesh.
>
> BIDS research director Dr KAS Murshed in a recent work on
> India-Bangladesh-Northeast: Transit and Strategic Configuration ruled out
> the claim that Bangladesh will anyway benefit from the opening of transit.
>
> Many people here toeing the government policy line tend to say that
> Bangladesh would fetch up to US$ 3.0 from transit related activities
> annually.
>
> The Indian team visiting Ashuganj after the signing of the loan agreement to
> see the riverine spot to develop the port of call there made similar claim.
> But all such claims are misleading and having no basis of any cost-benefit
> calculation, knowledgeable sources said.
>
> Even the World Bank and such other organisations promoting the transit
> corridor is yet to carry out such cost-benefit estimate and people wonder
> why they are not doing it. Murshed, however opined that railway may have
> some relevance to transit but the revenue prospect from railway transit will
> also remain limited up to US$ 30 million. But the country may stand to lose
> market in the northeast from such opening to direct Indian traffic, he
> maintained.
>
> People wonder if the country is really buying troubles with the credit line
> and moreover how will it repay the money without viable revenue income from
> the facilities.
>
> Akbar Ali Khan, a former secretary and adviser of the caretaker government
> wondered whether the projects to be funded under the loan are really
> essential for Bangladesh.
>
> He told the press that taking such loans is not something new, but the
> nation must have critical assessment on the merits and demerits of such
> loans to be used for funding projects.
>
> He said India always remained a critical factor to Bangladesh politics. So
> before doing anything the country should have its own critical exercise.
>
> He said the serious question is not the rate of interest at 1.75 percent per
> annum with 0.50 commitment fees on unutilized credit after 12 months or the
> 20 repayment period is enough or not.
>
> It is reported that under the agreement, Bangladesh has the obligation to
> buy 80 percent of the merchandise from Indian suppliers, in addition to
> sourcing hundred percent consultancy services.
>
> It means the tied loan will make sure the recycling of the money to the
> Indian economy, except making some payment to local labours.
>
> The higher commitment fees for the loan is moreover, focused on making sure
> that the entire loan should be used in time to avoid penalty and to
> achieving total Indian strategic goals without failing.
>
> This is why the Prime Minister is reported to be partly unhappy with the
> terms of the loan, news reports said.
>
> BNP and the major opposition termed the loan as quite 'disgraceful' and
> landed sharp criticism against it. But Finance Minister AMA Muhith said it
> would help create condition to making Bangladesh a 'best servicing transit
> nation' in the region.
>
> Pranab Mukherjee speaking after the signing of the agreement here said, he
> is "confident that this credit line will be the stepping stone for a shared
> destiny to transform our bilateral engagement."
>
> http://www.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/08/10/news0033.htm
>



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Re: [ALOCHONA] Burqa can't be forced: High Court



I think burqa should not be forced but the new law does not have some "Common sense" exceptions. For Islamic institutions "Islamic" dress should be enforced (That may include Burqa if the local community feels right about it). Albeit there are difference of opinion among scholars if Burqa is mandatory in Islam or not. Most scholars think "Hijab" covers Islamic requirements for women.

While I agree Burqa should not be forced but secularism should not be forced on our people either. Maybe  experts should be looking into the verdict more to ensure some "Activist" judges going overboard or not. There are some concerns from liberal groups about civil rights in another ruling regarding Shaheed minar.

Personally I feel that, God created us as "FREE" men and women and gave us freedom to obey or disobey Him. Therefore, we should encourage honest and open discussions/debates about religion. Blaming everything Islamic TODAY for what some Jamaat-e-Islami leaders did 40 years ago does not seem fair or logical to me.

Peace.



-----Original Message-----
From: Mo Assghar <moassghar@yahoo.com>
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, Aug 24, 2010 9:02 am
Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] Burqa can't be forced: High Court

 
But Secularism can be forced? Give me a break!!

Did not hindu hasina learned anything from her Father?


--- On Mon, 8/23/10, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com>
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Burqa can't be forced: High Court
To:
Date: Monday, August 23, 2010, 2:36 AM

 
Burqa can't be forced: High Court

 
The court also ordered relevant officials to explain why forcing girls to wear burqa (veil) and keeping them out of sports and cultural activities were illegal.


Dhaka, Aug 22 (bdnews24.com)—The High Court has ruled that no women can be forced to wear burqa at work and educational institutions. In it's ruling The High Court on Sunday in a suo moto order directed the government to ensure that no women were forced to wear veil or religious dress in the educational institutions and offices.

The court also ordered the government to ensure that the cultural activities and sports in the educational institutions are not restricted.The orders came in the wake of a public interest petition filed by Supreme Court lawyers Mahbub Shafi and A K M Hafizul Alam on Sunday. The bench of justices A H M Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain also ruled that they cannot be barred from taking to culture and sports

The court also ordered relevant officials to explain why forcing girls to wear burqa (veil) and keeping them out of sports and cultural activities were illegal.

The A Bengali daily news item said that principal of the college in Natore ( Northern Bangladesh ) has stopped any cultural activities and sports at the college and forced female students to wear Borka or veil in the college.The HC also directed principal of the college Mozammel Haque to appear before the HC bench on August 26 to explain the matter.

It also issued a rule upon the government to explain why imposition of restriction on cultural activities and sports in the educational institutions and offices and forcing the female students to wear veil should not be declared illegal.

Secretaries to the ministries of home, education, social welfare and women affair and principal Mozammel Haque has been made respondent to the rule and orderThe education, home, social welfare, and women and children affairs secretaries and principal of Rani Bhabani Mohila College Mozammel Huq were asked to reply to ruling. Following a brief hearing, the court also asked the principal to appear before it on Aug 26.

The lawyers in their petition on Sunday cited a report carried by a Bengali newspaper the same day headlined, 'Burqa mandatory at Rani Bhabani Mohila College'. The lawyers stated such enforcement was discriminatory.



__._,_.___


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