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Friday, January 7, 2011

[ALOCHONA] One Family In Gaza



One Family In Gaza

By Jen Marlowe

05 January , 2011

Just months after the Israeli assault that killed 1,390 Palestinians, I visited Gaza. Among dozens of painful stories I heard, one family stood out. I spent several days with Kamal and Wafaa Awajah, playing with their children, sleeping in the tent they were living in, and filming their story.

Wafaa described the execution of their son, Ibrahim. As she spoke, her children played on the rubble of their destroyed home. Kamal talked about struggling to help his kids heal from trauma.

What compelled me to tell the Awajah family's story? I was moved not only by their tragedy but by the love for their children in Wafaa and Kamal's every word.

Palestinians in Gaza are depicted either as violent terrorists or as helpless victims. The Awajah family challenges both portrayals. Through one family's story, the larger tragedy of Gaza is exposed, and the courage and resilience of its people shines through.

http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m73589&hd=&size=1&l=e



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[ALOCHONA] Quest for energy fix:Experts suggest a blend of solutions



Quest for energy fix:Experts suggest a blend of solutions; focus on new tech, alternative sources

 
Energy experts have suggested Bangladesh could exploit an array of solutions including the use of new technologies and alternative renewable resources to maintain its gas reserve and ensure long-term energy security.

The country should utilise its coal resources in a way that benefits the people.

The observations came from a foreign and five non-resident Bangladeshi experts at the first-ever The Daily Star Leadership Colloquium on Alternative Energy and New Technology yesterday.

Bangladesh must conduct comprehensive cost-benefit studies to minimise social and environmental costs to achieve the goal. But such studies have not been carried out in Bangladesh, they said.

Reflecting the global trend, they made presentations on how Bangladesh could meet a large portion of its energy demands using solar, biomass, wind power, fuel cell technologies.

The experts said it would be more practical for Bangladesh to go for small-scale nuclear power plants instead of large ones that are costlier.

Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, moderated the colloquium at The Daily Star auditorium in the capital. The programme was sponsored by Summit, Bank Asia and Citi.

Dr Saifur Rahman, director of the Advanced Research Institute, Virginia Tech; Mohammad Farooque, senior vice-president of Fuel Cell Energy (FCE) Inc, USA; Dr Mehdi Anwar, professor at electrical and computer engineering department, University of Connecticut; and Ahmed Badruzzaman of Chevron Energy Technology Co spoke.

Dr Shams Siddiqi from California and Dr Avni Argun from Massachusetts Institute of Technology addressed the colloquium through video conferencing.

"Energy solution is a combination of all solutions. It is a combination of policy and pricing," said Dr Mehdi Anwar, professor at electrical and computer engineering department, University of Connecticut.

Speaking on "Energy Challenges for Bangladesh -- A Roadmap for Sustainable Energy Solutions", he said Bangladesh aims to have a power generation capacity of 14,000megawatt by 2020. This requires generating 1,000MW a year for the next nine years.

He said new and alternative energy sources and technologies are the answers. Large-scale solar plants are still too expensive, but small-scale local application is affordable in the context of Bangladesh.

Dr Mehdi Anwar said Bangladesh could opt for biomass, which is relatively inexpensive. Rice husks could be a good source of biomass.

He recommended that Bangladesh should go for short and long-term sustainable energy, water solutions and adaptive fuel switching, so that it does not have to depend on any particular source of energy.

The expert suggested partnership between the private sector, academia and the government to form ideas for energy generation.

"However, great technology is not the solution if it is not cost-effective," Anwar said.

On "Fossil Fuels Conservation by High Efficiency Power Generation and Utilisation", Mohammad Farooque, senior vice-president and discipline fellow of FuelCell Energy Inc, USA, said it is imperative to develop alternative energy resources and conserve the existing ones efficiently as energy reserves are depleting fast.

He said Bangladesh could try efficient technologies such as fuel cells developed from chemical energy stored in fossil fuels.

"But its cost is a key question," he said.

Fuel cell technologies, which have emerged as viable options for power generation, can ensure green power generation as well as conservation of water sources and saving of fuel up to 30 percent.

Planners in USA, Europe and Asia now strongly favour these technologies. Fuel cell solutions are available for applications -- from sub-kilowatt mobile to multi-megawatt grid-support -- in Japan, South Korea and USA, Farooque said.

Energy demand will grow and eventually threaten to exceed the supply in foreseeable future. Fuel conservation is a must to ensure energy security and lessen economic impacts of high energy costs, he noted.

On solar, wind and biomass technologies, Prof Saifur Rahman, director of the Advanced Research Institute, Virginia Tech, said many countries in Asia, Europe and North America had gone for wind and solar power to meet their increasing energy demands.

He said present global electricity generation from wind exceeds 150,000MW and countries like Germany, USA, Spain, China and India produce 10,000MW each from wind.

Even an oil rich nation like Kuwait aimed to meet a large part of its energy demands from renewable energy fearing its oil resources might not be enough to meet its domestic demand after 2020, the expert said.

Renewable energy sources can meet the demand for electricity in remote areas as well as large power plants, said Prof Saifur adding sources like the sun, wind, biogas and water extend the scope of using electricity by the disadvantaged.

"For Bangladesh, it's a question of survival," he said referring to the country's energy issue.

In Bangladesh there are opportunities to install renewable energy solutions on rooftops in villages, develop multifamily solar panels, solar water pumping, localised grouping of electricity generation and photovoltaic power generation for national grid.

Dr Ahmed Badruzzaman, an energy scientist for Chevron Energy Technology Co, suggested better utilisation of natural gas, oil, nuclear and coal resources using the latest technology in Bangladesh.

He said the requirement of gas between 2004 and 2030 for a 7.1 percent growth was estimated at 35 TCF.

According to some estimates, an addition of up to 87 TCF including that from the offshore is possible using advanced technology.

He said the coal reserve in the country will be difficult to extract and use without assessing environmental and social impacts.

Besides, large-scale addition to hydroelectric capacity is unfeasible. Current nuclear plants, though they promise a low carbon footprint, can be expensive and risky to introduce in a densely populated country with limited safety, Badruzzaman said.

Even with the rapid growth in production of solar electricity, which is expected to reach 50 MW by 2012, it will be a mere fraction of the 8,500 MW the government anticipates generating by 2013, he said.

Bangladesh in the near future will have to rely on the merger of conventional energy sources -- marketed and traditional -- while it strives for renewable sources, the physicist said.

He said advanced exploration technologies could allow access to new oil-gas reservoirs that are complex, remote or located in ecologically sensitive areas.

CNG can facilitate transport of gas over large distances reducing the need for gas pipelines in a country crisscrossed by rivers or an expensive LNG infrastructure, Badruzzaman said.

Rapidly advancing small modular reactors would be more suitable for Bangladesh, both in terms of safety and economics, the expert noted.

From California, Dr Shams Siddiqi spoke about deregulated electricity market.

He suggested Bangladesh let gas prices reflect global trend, otherwise any renewable energy project would be disadvantaged due to subsidised natural gas and electricity prices.

"We need to introduce tax incentives to encourage renewable projects."

Siddiqi also said Bangladesh must have premium electricity buy-back prices for electricity generated from renewable sources.

From MIT, Dr Avni Argun spoke on Highly Conductive Nanoassemblies for Clean and Sustainable Energy. Argun highlighted the commercialisation of alternative energy.

"Policy is important, of course. Renewable energy should be able to penetrate the free market. Long-term subsidisation and fundamental research are also important," he said.

The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam said the newspaper organised the event to create a platform where NRB experts, national policymakers and private sector can share ideas and find solutions for various development issues of the nation.

The first colloquium focuses on alternative energy and new technologies because the energy crisis is a major issue for Bangladesh, he said. The Daily Star intends to hold a colloquium on different subjects every year.

He said ideas are generated and then fizzle out, but this colloquium is not a one-shot affair for The Daily Star.

"You have a constant partner in The Daily Star to push things forward," he said to the audience in the afternoon session. "Partner with us, intellectually."

"From now, The Daily Star will provide special space for energy efficiency," Mahfuz Anam said.

http://www.jugantor.info/enews/issue/2011/01/08/index.php


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[ALOCHONA] EU diplomats in Dhaka divided



EU diplomats in Dhaka divided 

David Bergman

A difference of opinion has surfaced among Bangladesh-based European diplomats about what public position the European Union should take on the adequacy of the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act 1973.

The 1973 act governs the powers of the International Crimes Tribunal which was set up by the government earlier this year to prosecute the people accused of war crimes and other international crimes during the 1971 independence war of Bangladesh.

Andrew Barnard, the chair of the European Union's Human Rights Task Force which comprises EU diplomats based in Dhaka told New Age a month ago that although there may be some 'technical' shortcomings in the legislation, they 'will not necessarily lead to a miscarriage of justice.'

This is the first time that a senior European Union diplomat had publicly given the legislation conditional international support and the view will be seen as controversial given that the legislation has been widely criticised by international lawyers outside Bangladesh including senior judges and prosecutors from the International Bar Association's War Crimes committee.

Diplomats based at embassies belonging to different European countries were surprised at Barnard's statement and emphasised that the Human Rights Task Force is simply 'an informal Dhaka-based grouping that discusses policy and shares ideas,' and that 'the EU has yet to come to a formal, collective position on the war crimes trials.'

On hearing the position given by the task force, one senior German embassy contacted Andrew Barnard, who is also the head of the political, trade and information section of the European Union, and asked him to send a revised statement to New Age.

Andrew Barnard stated in his subsequent e-mail that 'Rolf [dieter Reinhard] asked me to clarify to you the stance of EU diplomats in Bangladesh on the War Crimes trials.'

The e-mail went onto set out to set out the new position. 'It is for Bangladesh to decide whether to bring perpetrators of crimes during the war of independence to trial. The EU would however urge Bangladesh to ensure that trials meet international standards for fair judicial processes.' Significantly, it omitted any assessment of the 1973 act.

In contrast, a British High Commission official told New Age that the British government accepts the criticisms of the 1973 act made by international lawyers.

Jon Ryan, political and global issues secretary, told New Age, 'We concur with the opinion of the IBA's War Crimes Committee, i.e, that whilst the 1973 act is "broadly compliant" with international standards, we would want to see the adoption of the [committee's] 17 recommendations.'

However, he went onto state in an e-mail, 'Whilst we attach significant weight to the [IBA's] opinion, we are not saying that trials cannot be held to international standards without the wholesale adoption of all recommendations. Much will depend on how the trials are conducted once they begin.'

This view differs from either of the statements given by the EU diplomats in that it accepts certain changes are necessary for the 1973 act to allow for a fair trial.

Barnard told New Age that the Human Rights Task Force came to its 'consensus' view that the 1973 act 'will not necessarily lead to a miscarriage of justice,' following meetings in the summer of 2010 with three 'experts'— MA Hasan, the chair of the War Crimes Facts Finding Committee, Adilur Rahman, the secretary of the human rights organisation Odhikar and Shahdeen Malik, advocate of the Supreme Court.

'We did not think it necessary to meet international law experts,' Barnard said.

Both Hasan and Adilur Rahman, however, told New Age that they did not tell the task force that the 1973 act was adequate. Hasan said that he told the EU members that in order 'for the trial to be fair it needed modification.'

Adilur Rahman said that he did not give his view about the adequacy of the legislation, 'as I am not in a position to give one. I am not an expert on this issue.'

Shahdeen Malik was not available to comment but he is previously reported to have said that the 1973 act is adequate to provide for a fair trial.

Abdur Razzaq, one of the senior lawyers acting for the five Jamaat-e-Islami leaders currently detained by the International Criminal Tribunal, told New Age that he was not impressed by the level of expertise consulted by the European Union. 'How can these three people be war crimes experts? The European Union is expected to have better standards.'

The apparent divergence of position within the European Union comes at a time when the Bangladesh government has invited Stephen Rapp, the US War Crimes Ambassador at Large, to come to Dhaka to provide the government assistance with war crimes.

New Age has previously reported that the invitation is seen by the diplomatic community in Dhaka as recognition that the Bangladesh government has begun to acknowledge that changes to the legislation are necessary.

The International Bar Association's advice on the 1973 act stated that there were 'significant omissions' regarding protection of rights of the people on trial and 'out of date' definitions of war crimes.

The Government has rejected the criticisms and pointed to the fact that the IBA's advice also states that the legislation 'provides a system that is broadly compatible with current international standards'.

The International Crimes Tribunal was established by the government in March 25, 2009 and since then five men, all Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, have been detained by the tribunal on accusations of war crimes.

The tribunal on December 30, 2010 passed an order requiring the BNP standing committee member Salauddin Quader Chowdhury to be produced before the tribunal on January 17.



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[ALOCHONA] Col Nadir Ali's Account: A dissenting Pakistani soldier's memories of 71



Account of  Col Nadir Ali (SSG commando) Retd Pak Army of his memories as a soldier in 1971. Full Disclosure his son Dr. Omar Ali a pediatric physician working in the US is a personal friend of mine.

Robin

Some Highlights:

--Dr Yasmin Sakia, an Indian scholar teaching in America, told me once an anecdote. When she asked why in the 1990s she could not find any cooperation in tracing rape-victims of 1971, she was told by a victim," Those who offered us to the Army are rulers now." 

--"It is Mujib's home district. Kill as many bastards as you can and make sure there is no Hindu left alive," I was ordered. 

A khaki dissident on 1971

by Colonel Nadir Ali

Viewpoint

http://www.viewpointonline.net/a-khaki-dissident-on-1971.html

 

"It is Mujib's home district. Kill as many bastards as you can and make sure there is no Hindu left alive," I was ordered. I frequently met Mr Fazlul Qadir Chaudhry, Maulana Farid Ahmed and many other Muslim League and Jamaat leaders. In the Army, you wear no separate uniform. We all share the guilt. We may not have killed. But we connived and were part of the same force

 

During the fateful months preceding the dismemberment of Pakistan, I served as a young Captain, meantime promoted to the rank of the Major, in Dhaka as well as Chittagong. In my position as second-in-command and later as commander, I served with 3 Commando Battalion.

 

My first action was in mid April 1971. "It is Mujib-ur-Rahman's home district. It is a hard area. Kill as many bastards as you can and make sure there is no Hindu left alive," I was ordered.

 

"Sir, I do not kill unarmed civilians who do not fire at me," I replied.

 

"Kill the Hindus. It is an order for everyone. Don't show me your commando finesse!".

 

I flew in for my first action. I was dropped behind Farid Pur. I made a fire base and we fired all around. Luckily there was nobody to shoot at. Then suddenly I saw some civilians running towards us. They appeared unarmed. I ordered "Stop firing!" and shouted at villagers, questioning them what did they want. "Sir we have brought you some water to drink!", was the brisk reply.

 

I ordered my subordinates to put the weapons away and ordered a tea-break. We remained there for hours. Somebody brought and hoisted a Pakistani flag. "Yesterday I saw all Awami League flags over your village" I told the villagers. That was indeed the fact. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Later the main army column caught up to make contact. They arrived firing with machine guns all around and I saw smoke columns rising in villages behind them. "What's the score?" the Colonel asked.

 

"There was no resistance so we didn't kill anyone," he was informed.

 

He fired from his machine gun and some of the villagers who had brought us water, fell dead. "That is the way my boy," the Colonel told this poor Major.

 

I was posted there from early April to early October. We were at the heart of events. A team from my unit had picked up Sheikh Mujib Ur Rehman from his residence on 25th March, 1971. We were directly under the command of Eastern Command. As SSG battalion commander, I received direct orders from General Niazi, General Rahim and later Gen Qazi Majid of 14 Div Dhaka.

 

Ironically, the resistance was led by General Zia Ur Rehman (later to become Bangladesh's military ruler) was a fellow instructor at Pakistan Military Academy. Similarly, General Khalid Musharaf, who overthrew Zia in a counter-coup, was my course mate as well as a room-mate at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA). He was also a fellow officer in SSG. Brig Abu Tahir, who brought General Zia back to power in a counter-counter coup, was also a friend and fellow officer in SSG. He was a leftist, jailed and later hanged by Gen Zia Ur Rehman whom he brought back to power in the fateful months in Bangladesh's history, after the murder of founding father, Sheikh Mujib Ur Rehman.

 

Another leftist friend was Major Zia Ud Din. He was a freedom fighter and as Naxalite remained under ground from 1971 to1989 when a general amnesty was declared.

 

I came back to West Pakistan for getting my promotion to Lt. Colonel, in my parent corp, Ordnance, in October 1971. From December 1971 onwards, I began to suffer memory loss till my retirement on medical grounds in 1973. I remained in the nut house for six months in 1973. As a Punjabi writer, I regained my memory and rebuilt my life. I remember every moment from the year 1971.

 

For operations and visits to my sub units, I travelled all over East Pakistan. I never killed anybody nor ever ordered any killing. I was fortunately not even witness to any massacre. But I knew what was going on in every sector. Thousands were killed and millions rendered homeless. Over nine million went as refugees to India. An order was given to kill the Hindus. I received the same order many times and was reminded of it. The West Pakistani soldiery considered that Kosher. The Hamood Ur Rehman Commission Report mentions this order. Of the ninety-three lakh (9.3 million) refugees in India, ninety lakh were Hindus. That gave us, world-wide, a bad press and morally destroyed us. Military defeat was easy due to feckless military leader ship. Only couple of battalions in the north offered some resistance. For example, the unit of Major Akram, who was awarded highest military medal, Nishan-e-Haider, resisted and he lost his life.

 

East Pakistan, part of the country a thousand miles away, was "a geographical and political absurdity" as John Gunther said in "Inside Asia Today".

 

With federal capital  in Islamabad, dominated by West Pakistani civil servants and what they called a Punjabi Army, East Pakistanis felt like subjects of a colony. They never liked it ever since 1947. In early sixties, my fellow Bengali officers called each other general, a rank they would have in an independent East Pakistan. We all took it in good humour. But 1971 was not a joke. Every single Bengali felt oppressed. Their life and death was now in the hands of what they called "Shala Punjabies".

 

 I granted a long interview, recounting what I saw and felt in 1971, to BBC Urdu Service in December 2007. The Bangladesh Liberation Museum asked for a copy of the interview. It was too lengthy for me to transcribe, translate and type. Here, I attempt to re-collect bits and pieces yet again.

 

What drove me mad? Well I felt the collective guilt of the Army action which at worst should have stopped by late April 1971. Moreover, when I returned to West Pakistan, here nobody was pushed about what had happened or was happening in East Pakistan. Thousands of innocent fellow citizens had been killed, women were raped and millions were ejected from their homes in East Pakistan but West Pakistan was calm. It went on and on .The world outside did not know very much either. This owes to the fact that reporters were not there. General Tikka was branded as "Butcher Of Bengal". He hardly commanded for two weeks. Even during those two weeks, the real command was in the hands of General Mitha, his second-in-command. General Mitha literally knew every inch of Bengal. He personally took charge of every operation till General Niazi reached at the helm. At this juncture, General Mitha returned to GHQ. General Tikka as governor, was a good administrator and made sure that all services ran. Trains, ferries, postal services, telephone lines were functioning and offices were open. There was no shortage of food, anywhere by May 1971. All in all, a better administrative situation than Pakistan of today! But like Pakistan of today, nobody gave a damn about what happens to the poor and the minorities. My worry today is whether my granddaughter goes to Wisconsin University or Harvard. That nobody gets any education in my very large village or in the Urdu-medium schools of Lahore, where I have lived as for forty years so called concerned citizen, does not worry me or anyone else.

 

 In Dhaka, where I served most of the time, there was a ghostly feeling until about mid April 1971. But gradually life returned to normal in the little circuit I moved: Cantonment, Dacca Club, Hotel Intercontinental, the Chinese restaurant near New Market. Like most human beings, I was not looking beyond my nose. I moved around a lot in the city. My brother-in-law, Riaz Ahmed Sipra was serving as SSP Dhaka. We met almost daily. But the site of rendezvous were officers' mess, some club or a friend's house in Dhanmandi. Even if I could move everywhere, I did not peep into the hearts of the Bengalis. They were silent but felt oppressed and aware of the fact that the men in uniforms were masters of their lives and properties. I frequently met Mr Fazlul Qadir Chaudhry, Maulana Farid Ahmed and many other Muslim League and Jamaat leaders in one government office or the other. Prof. Ghulam Azam and Ch Rehmat Elahi also used to meet me to provide me volunteers to carry out sabotage across the Indian Border.

 

Dr Yasmin Sakia, an Indian scholar teaching in America, told me once an anecdote. When she asked why in the 1990s she could not find any cooperation in tracing rape-victims of 1971, she was told by a victim," Those who offered us to the Army are rulers now."

 

One can tell and twist the tale. The untold part also matters in history. Two Bengali soldiers whom I released from custody, were issued weapons and put back in uniform. They became POWs along 90 thousand Pakistani soldiers and spent three years in Indian jails. I discovered one of them serving as a cook in 1976 in Lahore. I had regained my memory. "Kamal –ud-Din you?" I exclaimed on sighting him. "Sir you got me into this!"

 

The Pakistani Army had thrown them out. The other guy teaches in Dhaka now.

 

The untold part of the story is that one day I enquired about one soldier from Cammandos unit. He used to be my favourite in 1962. "Sir, Aziz-ul –Haq was killed", the Subedar told me rather sheepishly.

 

"How?" was not a relevant question in those days. Still I did ask.

 

"Sir! first they were put in a cell, later shot in the cell".

 

My worst nightmare even forty years later is the sight of fellow soldiers being shot in a cell. "How many ?" was my next question. "There were six sir, but two survived. They pretended to be dead but were alive," came the reply.

 

"Where are they?"

 

"In Comilla sir, under custody".

 

I flew from Dacca to Comilla. I saw two barely recognizable wraiths. Only if you know what that means to a fellow soldier! It is worse than suffering or causing a thousand deaths. I got them out, ordered their uniforms and weapons. "Go, take your salary and weapons and come back after ten days." They came back and fought alongside, were prisoners and then were with difficulty, repatriated in 1976. Such stories differ, depending on who reports.        

 

All these incidents, often gone unreported, are not meant to boast about my innocence. I was guilty of having volunteered to go to East Pakistan. My brother-in-law Justice Sajjad Sipra was the only one who criticized my choice of posting. "You surely have no shame," he said to my disconcert. My army friends celebrated my march from Kakul to Lahore. We drank and sang! None of us were in two minds. We were single-mindedly murderous! In the Air Force Mess at Dacca, over Scotch, a friend who later rose to a high rank said, " I saw a gathering of Mukti Bahini in thousands. I made a few runs and let them have it. A few hundred bastards must have been killed" My heart sank. "Dear! it is the weekly Haath (Market) day and villagers gather there," I informed him in horror. "Surely they were all Bingo Bastards!," he added. There were friends who boasted about their score. I had gone on a visit to Commilla. I met my old friend, then Lt. Col. Mirza Aslam Beg and my teacher, Gen. Shaukat Raza. Both expressed their distaste for what was happening. Tony, a journalist working with state-owned news agency APP, escaped to London. He wrote about these atrocities that officers had committed and boasted about. It was all published by the 'Times of London'. The reading made me feel guilty as if I had been caught doing it myself! In the Army, you wear no separate uniform. We all share the guilt. We may not have killed. But we connived and were part of the same force. History does not forgive!

 

The writer is a retired Army Officer , Punjabi poet and short story writer.  

 



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[ALOCHONA] energy





Saturday, January 8, 2011
Front Page

The Daily Star Leadership Colloquium

Quest for energy fix

Experts suggest a blend of solutions; focus on new tech, alternative sources



Energy experts have suggested Bangladesh could exploit an array of solutions including the use of new technologies and alternative renewable resources to maintain its gas reserve and ensure long-term energy security.

The country should utilise its coal resources in a way that benefits the people.

The observations came from a foreign and five non-resident Bangladeshi experts at the first-ever The Daily Star Leadership Colloquium on Alternative Energy and New Technology yesterday.

Bangladesh must conduct comprehensive cost-benefit studies to minimise social and environmental costs to achieve the goal. But such studies have not been carried out in Bangladesh, they said.



http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=169196




where...all these great men , and their politician - friends were......... hibernating, in the past 25 years!!!!!



best wishes.





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[ALOCHONA] At Cairo's Churches Muslims guard Coptic Christmas Masses




Egyptian Muslims Serve As Human Shields For Coptic Christmas Services

First Posted: 01- 7-11 02:44 PM   |   Updated: 01- 7-11 02:44 PM
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Coptic Christmas Demonstration
Egypt's Muslim community followed through on their promise to support the country's embattled Christian population as they celebrated their Christmas Eve masses on Thursday night.
 
Anxiety among the nation's Coptic Christians, who make up approximately 10 percent of the population, was at a fever-pitch in the wake of the New Years day attack on Saints Church in Alexandria.
 
Egyptian newspaper al-Ahram reported that prominent Islamic leaders and celebrities had called for a massive show of support by Egypt's Muslims in order to send a message that the majority of the nation would not stand for extremist violence and persecution.
 
"We either live together, or we die together," was the sloganeering genius of Mohamed El-Sawy, a Muslim arts tycoon whose cultural centre distributed flyers at churches in Cairo Thursday night, and who has been credited with first floating the "human shield" idea.
 
Among those shields were movie stars Adel Imam and Yousra, popular preacher Amr Khaled, the two sons of President Hosni Mubarak, and thousands of citizens who have said they consider the attack one on Egypt as a whole.
 
"This is not about us and them," said Dalia Mustafa, a student who attended mass at Virgin Mary Church on Maraashly. "We are one. This was an attack on Egypt as a whole, and I am standing with the Copts because the only way things will change in this country is if we come together."
 

Read the whole story from al-Ahram here.


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[ALOCHONA] Original Resolution on International Mother Language Day: Correction



I agree with Mr. Chowdhury but he did not mention that Bangla was accepted as the other National Language of Pakistan and separation of East Pakistan and 56% of population of Pakistanis of 1971 from Pakistan did not take place on that issue. It took place because Pakistan Army had refused to accept the decision of majority of Pakistanis and had declared Election void.
Punjabis are the biggest Ethnic group of former West Pakistan, wrongfully calling itself Pakistan but since their language is written in Dev Nagri Script or Hindu-like Script and they do not want to learn that, their Languages has almost become a Non Written language. This is why they have no choice but to accept Urdu as their National Language.
In Pakistan, Urdu is more understood language than any other language so, it sounds practical to keep it as National Language. Since all of them can understand Hindi, the Mother Language of Urdu, Hindi or old Indian Urdu and Punjabi words have been creeping up in Pakistani Urdu for more than a quarter century because of smuggled-in Indian Movies. Since 1990's because of Indian Satellite TV Channels this has gained more strength. 
Since it has become a part of Islam of Mollaas to teach Hate against Non Moslims, anybody making some sense is always declared an Indian or Foreign Agent, Kaafir etc all the time. Nothing new in Mollaa Anis's accusations against you.

From: Shamim Chowdhury <veirsmill@yahoo.com>

 

It's not understandable why you jumping from one topic to another. You wrote something which has no base and the information was bogus, I just pointed it out for you to correct, instead you jump to another topic with another baseless bogus data. You need to do a little study before you write.

Anyway, what wrong you see when India picks up one of its own homegrown language Hindi as India's official language beside English? Just for your information Hindi is NOT India's national language. India does not have any national language. India's constitution allows other Indian states to choose their own state language as they wish to.

On the other hand Pakistan's Official as well as National language is Urdu which is a foreign language to majority of Pakistanis other then some Mohajirs (repatriated Indians) in Karachi. There are 5 times more Urdu speaking people in India then Pakistan and there is more then one state in India whose official language is Urdu. According to all linguists Urdu is nothing but a form of Hindi using Arabic alphabet. Language has not much history other then Mughals picked up this made up language for running the courts and some official business with native Muslim Indians.

Mr. Anis bashed India for imposing their homegrown language Hindi on their own people but overlooked Pakistan imposing a foreign language on their own national. We all know about the fate of our own language Bangle in the hands of brutal Pakistani juntas when they declined our demand Bangla to be one of the national languages of then Pakistan though Bangla was spoken by majority people of Pakistan. Repressive Pakistani government killed scores of people when they brought our rally demanding Bangla as national language on February 21st of 1952. Pakistan dire attempt to alter our Bangla alphabets with Arabic went into vain when heroic Bengalis challenged that outrageous conspiracy.

Pakistan's support for 21st February as International Mother Language Day UN charter was nothing but just a makeover of their dreadful deeds of 1952 and their after against the people of Bangladesh. Pakistan was always against Bengalis and Bangladesh and will remain so for unseen future.

I do not want to reply to his comments about Home Minister because it's just tasteless and nasty.

Thanks,
Shamim Chowdhury
Maryland, U.S.A.

--- On Thu, 1/6/11, anis.ahmed@netzero.net <anis.ahmed@netzero.net> wrote:

> Unless
> Mr. Shamim Chowdhury is a die-hard supporter of RAW
> manifesto than most Indian Citizens (more than people
> of West Bengal, Assam, Punjab,
> Kashmir, etc.) he would not make any comment after
> reading my latest and corrected (please find below)
> email.  Perhaps,
> Mr. Shamim Chowdhury and his RAW supporters of Bangladeshi
> origin know very well that India does not have any official
> language but she (India) imposes Hindi as official
> throughout her all states including West Bengal, Assam,
> Punjab, etc. Secondly,
> Indian Government and it's RAW made Bangladesh as
> Brothel through Whore (Home) Minister in the name of
> secularism by eliminating
> Islam.  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ovimot/message/672  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ovimot/message/682 Anybody
> can judge about India and
> RAW's role in her own nation and to neighboring country,
> Bangladesh. It's
> not the question of Anti-India, it is about patriotism and
> integrity. Thanks
> for your
> understanding. Anis
> Ahmed Date: Wed, 5 Jan
> 2011 10:09:11 -0800 (PST)
> Subject: [notun_bangladesh] Re: Original Resolution on
> International Mother Language Day: Correction
> Reply-To: notun_bangladesh@yahoogroups.com
>  
> I am not sure what Mr. Anis
> has in mind other then bashing India to serve his
> master Pakistan. He will suggest things that are baseless
> and absolutely untrue.
> His posting about international mother language day is just
> another anti Indian
> hoax.
>
> Here is the truth, I also put the link for you to verify.
>
> Link to UNESO web portal:
> http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=28672&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=-512.html
>
> Resolution adopted by the 30th Session of UNESCO's
> General Conference (1999)
> 30 C/DR.35 (submitted by Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia;
> supported by Oman,
> Benin,Sri Lanka, Egypt, the Russian Federation, Bahamas,
> Dominican Republic,
> Belarus, the Philippines, Côte d'Ivoire, India,
> Honduras, Gambia, the Federated
> States of Micronesia, Vanuatu, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea,
> Comoros, Pakistan,
> Islamic Republic of Iran, Lithuania, Italy and the Syrian
> Arab Republic)
> relating to paragraph 05204, the Commission recommends that
> the General
> Conference proclaim "International Mother Language
> Day" to be observed on 21
> February.
>  
> Thanks,
> Shamim
maryland, U.S.A
>



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[ALOCHONA] Re: [KHABOR] Father Timm's Letters of 1971 (CITIZENSHIP )



Dear Mr. Golam Akhter


I am not against awarding Citizenship to any personality who are suppose to have had a good track record for doing good to our nation Bangladesh. Moreover, I am also not against voluntary conversion as happens in Western countries(as cited by you) but definitely oppose conversion by taking advantage of poverty, illiteracy,ignorance and alluring for better life. This is case with almost all the foreign NGO's who thronged in the aftermath of our independence war  as dole giver. As a missioner Mr. Timm's first priority was to conversion as done by such missioners in all poor countries of the world. In HINDUSTAAN there are uproar against such clandestine activities in some state like Assam/Karnataka/Gujrat etc etc resulting in communal riot lately.Some political parties there are demanding tight control over the missionaries to stop conversion. 

I wonder when I see the people with the placard of HR and democracy shouts(Stangsu/Captain Choudhury n their Hindustani gong)) day and night to hang the alleged Razakars n war criminal without carrying any credible investigation and proven by the court of Law. But they want to hide the visible(for them no problem) act of conversion and award him citizenship.I opposed Golam Azam's citizenship on the ground of his proven complicity with the bestial Pakistanis to coerce then East Pakistani people.

According to your argument/opinion  then thousands and thousand Hindustani soldiers who fought(????) and civil activists who took care of the refugees from then Bangladesh surely have attained the right get Bangladeshi citizenship. 

I again reiterate that I do not contest Mr. Timm as a teacher since he was my elder brother's teacher as well but as missioner I will continue to object how much the Sitagshu/Capitano barks since they have gone out of their mind as BALIST who gets mad when see truth is standing in front of their evil design.

Regards

Faruque Alamgir

 

On Fri, Jan 7, 2011 at 9:16 PM, Golam Akhter <akhtergolam@gmail.com> wrote:

Subject: Re: [KHABOR] Re: Father Timm's Letters of 1971 (CITIZENSHIP )
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2011 19:19:23 +0600
 
Dear Mr.  Faroque Alamgir,
 
We, Bangladesh-USA Human Rights Coalition Inc. with due respect want to oppose your contention to your proposition that Father Timm does not deserve to be considered to be awarded the coveted citizenship of Bangladesh. the reason you cited that his mission was to convert "After leaving the teaching he joined CARITAS �a well known foreign funded Christian NGO like MCC, OXFAM, TERE DES HOMES, WORLD�VISION and many others whose clandestine aim is conversion.There were lot of reporting in late 80's and early 90's about such illegal acts of conversion by the NGO's. The foreign funded �NGO including some UN agencies are now trying to create law n order situation in the Chittagong Hill Trak as reported lately so, the Govt. has put restriction on the activities."
Your view on conversion or attempt to convert freely,  openly, with the consent of converts is not illegal, (reference Article 18, below), I do not know where do you live or what you read , in USA and other law abiding and all signatories of UN charter can not and should not obstruct any conversion at all, (Muslim conversion in UK is doubled---https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/12d5d250494ea55e  )it is  part of our freedom as a human being.
Mr.  Faroque Alamgir, let us come to more serious concept and definition of human being, according to Article 1, we are endowed with 'reason and conscience ' this is the only quality which differentiate us from animal, animal does not have ' reasoning  and conscientious behavior' otherwise they have all feelings like us. so if our views, behaviour and writings do not have 'reason and conscience' then we should be considered as animal though we look like human being - eat and dress like human being. Now let me cite one of your reasoning-    you want freedom of opinion, freedom of expression and you also want freedom or religion then where is your logic to obstruct conversion on some one's free will, if we behave like that then we are animal and deserve to be treated like animal restrict our unlikable irrational activities, like the Taliban, Alquida, and Afghanistani terrorists are doing irrational things and getting killed by bombs by drones, if you propagate those irrational views, simply declare yourself as Taleban and make us easier to identify you and take proper steps to bring you to proper senses to make you a rational human being with 'reason and conscience'. First thing you have to do; go to 30 articles of human rights as given below in the reference, and read "   reason and conscience    " going by the given link, again and again, until you feel the sensation of real human being and then write, talk, go for your daily routine as human being other wise you are an  a..........while you dress like a human being.
Your behaviour and logic sounds very irrational that you were against the citizenship of 'THE GREATEST JANWAR RAZAKAR GOLAM AZAM'; Prof Golam azam got his citizenship, because he was born in Bangladesh according to Article 15, below:
Regards.
Yours sincerely,
Golam F. Akhter
Bangladesh-USA Human Rights Coalition Inc.
==================================              
 
Article 1 
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
 
Article 15 
  1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.
  2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.
............
Article 18 
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
 
1. Reference: Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Adopted and ratified by 190 countries of the world including Saudi Arabia after 9/11
========================
=======================
 

Friends

It is surprising that some�enthusiasts�are again pleading for citizenship Mr. Timm. But why and for what role he played to the nation that we will have to be grateful and award him the coveted citizenship ???????????????

It reminds me that date back in October 1991 there were few sporadic write up by some enthusiasts of Mr. Timm �who advocated in high voice for the same showing�arguments�that Mr. Timm is�inseparable�to our independence for so and so n so contributions. I along with some other�Bangladeshis�vehemently opposed to the proposal of awarding coveted citizenship to Mr. Timm( re:The Dhaka Courier October 25-31, 1991 issue)..

I personally feel there is no earthly reason to award citizenship toa religious missioner who prime aim was to covert poor Hindu/Muslim/Santals n other simple minded tribal living in bordering ares.He along with other accomplices succeeded in alluring the simple populace with money,job and dream for future and converted big chunk of these tribal populace.

IN THE SAME SMALL WRITE UP I ALSO VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO THE DEMAND OF GRANTING COVETED CITIZENSHIP TOTHE GREATEST JANWAR RAZAKAR GOLAM AZAM.BUT THE HIGHEST�JUDICIAL�COURT AWARDED CITIZENSHIP TO THE�RAZAKAR. I CANNOT MAKE�ANY�COMMENT OVER THE VERDICT OF� HIGHEST�JUDICIAL�COURT.

I still maintain that there is no earthly reason why we have to give in to the pressure since we know very clearly his purpose of coming to this part and his achievements. After leaving the teaching he joined CARITAS �a well known foreign funded Christian NGO like MCC, OXFAM, TERE DES HOMES, WORLD�VISION and many others whose clandestine aim is conversion.There were lot of reporting in late 80's and early 90's about such illegal acts of conversion by the NGO's. The foreign funded �NGO including some UN agencies are now trying to create law n order situation in the Chittagong Hill Trak as reported lately so, the Govt. has put restriction on the activities.

Lately, this Mr. Timm has become Champion of HR and that he advocates for the minorities to create a sense of distinctive separation between the people of the minorities and the majority . This is done with purpose to keep our poor country under psychological pressure from other so-called HR Champ nations including the powerful neighbour n succumb to illegal demands. They also do not raise any objection to killing of innocent�Bangladeshis�by the Bestial Security Forces(BSF) on the daily basis.The HR Champs do never raise a single voice when the majority havenots �of our own country are coerced, suppressed by the brute politics. They also keep their tight lipped when the minorities in the powerful neighbour are subject to random killing, rape n pushed back in inhuman condition.�

So, we can clearly make an assessment of the purpose of Mr. Timm's coming here and work for humanity(?????). It is correct that the minorities of any given territory are subject to deprivation, humiliation and coercion( which is random in our neighbouring friendly nation HINDUSTAN n this needed serious attention. But for this we do not need any alien to come and teach us since we have enough conscious group to cater the need.�


I personally appreciate his feelings and endeavours in this respect. But it reminds me of �a phrase that"charity begins at home".I am sure honest readers will agree with me that Mr. Timm is much needed in his own country since millions and millions of Blacks/Hispanics and�immigrants�from different continents are in�disheveled condition resulting in deprivation of their HR on every count. He should have been there to help those unfortunate people had he had real love for the minorities as propagated by the over enthusiasts.

Faruque Alamgir

 

On Thu, Dec 30, 2010 at 11:41 AM, Captain Chowdhury <captchowdhury@yahoo.ca> wrote:

 

I am sorry to skip out his Long over-due deserve to obtain CITIZENSHIP.
If GOLAM AZAM like notorious criminal gets reward, father TIMM's enormous contribution, unfortunately remain hidden.
Definitely, present Govt will look into the matter.

From:
costa rosie <costa_rosie@yahoo.com>
To: Captain Chowdhury <captchowdhury@yahoo.ca>; khabor@yahoogroups.com
Cc: editor@thedailystar.net; editor@prothom-alo.com; rana.dasgupta@yahoo.com; rana_dasgupta@yahoo.com; danaprnt@bdcom.com; Sabbir Khan Rahman <sabbir.rahman@gmail.com>; sabbir.khan@telia.com
Sent: Thu, December 30, 2010 10:30:01 AM
Subject: Father Timm's Letters of 1971 (WAR CRIMINAL PROCESS)

Dear Friends,

It is very nice to hear from you and your appreciation for Fr. Timm's contribution in building our country, development and human rights. He is still very active and coming regularly to the office. If you could write to him about all good appreciation that you are writing, he will feel good. He became old but his mind is still young and active.

I really thank you all and wish that you will continue your efforts for Fr. Timm's citizenship in Bangladesh. If you all write from your own perspective as you know Fr. Timm, I feel this government will ultimately grant his last wish - to die as Bangladeshi.

With you all a very blessed, happy, prosperous and bright New Year - 2011.

Rosaline Costa



From: Captain Chowdhury <captchowdhury@yahoo.ca>
To: khabor@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, December 29, 2010 10:01:53 PM
Subject: Re: [KHABOR] Fw: Father Timm's Letters of 1971 (WAR CRIMINAL PROCESS)

Nice to see our beloved ex-Principal who is still engaged on good write-ups boldly including keeping social work , bearing in mind his determined contribution during '71.
Present govt shud encourage him for attending on Jury board as "PRATTAKHA DORSHI' and rewarded with exemplary contribution to 1971 war.
His datas are like recent Modhu Babu son's report !!!
Nice to see that victimized people are coming up with their courageous comments !!


From: Sitangshu Guha <guhasb@gmail.com>
To: khabor@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wed, December 29, 2010 7:50:32 AM
Subject: [KHABOR] Fw: Father Timm's Letters of 1971

 

Please read the exclusive coverage of Father Timm's works in Bangladesh, specailly his letters written in 1971, to draw attention of the US Senators to the plight and suffering of Bangladeshis.�
Thanks!

 





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