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Wednesday, June 1, 2011

[ALOCHONA] Care-Taker debate



Care-Taker debate


http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-06-02/news/159178

Shahjahan Sardar:
http://www.bd-pratidin.com/?view=details&type=gold&data=Mobile&pub_no=395&cat_id=1&menu_id=1&news_type_id=1&index=2

Barrister Rafiqul Huq:
http://budhbar.com/?p=5194

Haider Akbar Khan Rono:
http://opinion.bdnews24.com/bangla/2011/06/01/%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AC/




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[ALOCHONA] The US, Pakistan and Afghanistan



The US, Pakistan and Afghanistan

Where are We Headed After the Clinton / Mullen Visit?

By SHAUKAT QADIR

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Admiral Mike Mullen's surprise visit to Pakistan was confirmed by the Foreign Office on May 26th. However, this is the first instance that I can recall when their reception at the airport did not include the politico military list of 'who's who'! Perhaps the coolest reception ever accorded to the US Secretary of State and the Chairman joint Chiefs. Not unsurprising was the repeated emphasis of both in expressing their gratitude for the warmth of their reception.

Having met the Pakistani leadership, they held a press conference at which the Pakistani leadership was prominent by its absence. What is more, no response or clarification have been issued by Pakistan: mum's the word. Appearing somber, even grim, the US Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs addressed the press at the US Embassy in Islamabad. The body language was clear: all was far from well.

After three weeks of recrimination and accusations of 'complicity' or 'incompetence' directed at the Pakistan military/ISI, during which no such clarification was issued, Ms Clinton stated categorically that, 'there was no evidence that anyone in the Pakistani hierarchy was aware of Osama's presence' Both praised the courage, the sacrifices, and the commitment of the Pakistani people and their security forces. Once again, contributions by Pakistan's intelligence services were also acknowledged.

Noteworthy was Ms Clinton's acknowledgement to the effect that, in the event of a negotiated settlement for Afghanistan's future, Pakistan had a prominent role to play. Following this, in response to a question regarding Pakistan's response (or lack of it) and the US reaction, to the US' demand for Pakistan to undertake military action in North Waziristan (NWA) against the Afghan Haqqani group, she failed to respond.

Admiral Mullen mentioned the need to rebuild trust and that he 'was not unaware of the differences in opinions'.

Obviously, no one is talking about what actually transpired during the meeting between Clinton/Mullen and the Pakistani leadership. One is, therefore, forced to draw conclusions from what was said during the press conference, what was left unsaid, and the ominous silence of the Pakistani leadership.

My first impression was that there is, finally, awareness in the US administration that they have pushed Pakistan as far as they could; and that, any further attempt to push them will result in severing this tenuous, uneasy, and unhappy relationship.

From her comment on a negotiated settlement of Afghanistan and her refusal to comment on the US demand for military action in NWA by Pakistan, I conclude that, at least until a negotiated settlement of Afghanistan with Pakistan's assistance is reached; or if the US-Afghan coalition can find a way to reaching such a settlement without Pakistan's assistance, the US still needs Pakistan and is prepared to retreat on some of its demands to appease Pakistan's leadership.

It is also my opinion that the US might now be prepared to negotiate with not merely Mullah Omer, but also the Haqqani group, so long as 'they denounce Al-Quaida: a spurious and unnecessary demand, since the relevant chapters of the Afghan Taliban (not the Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan, TTP, the Pakistani chapters of Taliban) have already broken free from Al-Quaida. Even Gen McChrystal's report for Obama two years ago, mentioned that the Afghan Taliban were prepared to sever ties with Al-Quaida.

Some readers might recall my explanation for US Vice President Biden's visit to Pakistan, in which, quoting the Washington Post, I listed some of the messages he was carrying to us. The relevant one here is the end of the US demand for the Pakistan army to undertake operations against the Haqqani Taliban, who are provided safe haven in North Waziristan (NWA), by the Wazir tribe.

Circumstances have changed; and now that demand is under discussion in Pakistan again, whether or not it has been tabled by the US is a matter for conjecture. I will attempt to explain here, why it must not be obeyed, no matter how much the US protests.

To the uninitiated, there are many Taliban factions, both Afghan and Pakistani. While all are/were loosely associated with Al-Quaida, they did not always obey it. In 2007, when Al-Quaida declared that its 'enemy #1 was no longer the US but Pakistan', only two factions of the Taliban responded to that call, both Pakistani: Baitullah Mahsud in South Waziristan and Maulana Fazlullah in Swat. All factions of the Afghan Taliban, including the Haqqani group, condemned it.

In September 2008, when the Pakistan army commenced its South Waziristan (SWA) operation, its largest logistic base was in Razmak, a small town in NWA. In other words, we exposed our rear to the Wazir tribe and the Haqqani group with assurances of impunity; and we found those assurances to be gilt-edged. On the other hand, our so-called ally in this war, the US, vacated six (perhaps eight) posts on the Durand Line, across South Waziristan (SWA); in February last year, at a conference, an American who was on Gen McChrystal's staff at the time admitted as much, and offered an obviously lame excuse.

Our ally, the US, opened the rear door to SWA, permitting Hakeemullah Mahsud and his followers to escape.

They are now back in the Aurakzai Agency in Pakistan; the Agency captured by Taliban in early 2008, after killing almost all tribal elders in a suicide attack, during a Jirga (Council of elders). The Pakistan army is now trying to get at them in Aurakzai.

A glance at the map will show that Aurakzai is linear in shape southwest to northeast and the only Agency that has no direct land link with Afghanistan. Its northern and eastern flank is well protected by the Khyber Agency peopled by the Afridi tribe under Mengal Bagh, while Kurram protects its south western flank. Army operations, without securing one of the two flanks, are unlikely to succeed since the Taliban will fade away. But, if the army could also attack from Kurram, blocking the linear front, it could force them all the way through Aurakzai and Khyber Agencies and, if the US this time, agrees to play the anvil to the Pakistan Army's hammer, these Taliban could finally be brought to book. And, Hakeemullah knows this!

Unlike all other Agencies, Kurram is not dominated by any one tribe and has always been beset with sectarian strife. Powered by the army and strongly supported by Aurakzais residing in Kurram, who want their Agency released from the Taliban, all tribes, across the sectarian divide, struck a 'Peace Deal' in Kurram early April 2011. This would have enabled the army to employ that flank as well.

To scuttle the deal, Hakeemullah sent in a team which illed a dozen Shias in Kurram and kidnapped thirty in mid-April. The peace deal broke down. Give you one guess, who came to our rescue?

That's right; Jalauddin Haqqani! A week after the murder/kidnaping in Kurram, Haqqani warned Hakeemullah that if he tried to scuttle the peace deal again, Haqqani would come and take him on!

Alliances exist when interests converge. When, more often than not, they diverge, alliances remain shrouded in mutual suspicion and double dealing(s); like the US-Pakistan alliance.

The US is, at best, a dubious and devious ally, only when our interests meet. Surely, the US could say the same about Pakistan, with equal accuracy. Haqqani, on the other hand, is not merely a reliable ally, but a friend of Pakistan.

If, on the US' behest, Pakistan army ever decided to attack him, I would join Haqqani, unarmed, refusing to engage soldiers wearing the uniform I wore with considerable pride for many years, but to make sure everybody knows where I stand.

Mullen's comment

The US chairman Joint Chief's most significant comment, which seems to have gone unnoticed by the mainstream international media, was, "This is not America's War. It is Pakistan's War. It is Afghanistan's War". It appears he had a momentary lapse and told the truth!

My question is: If this isn't America's War, what, Admiral Mullen, are more than 100,000 US troops doing here? Because US forces are, on a daily basis, continuing to kill innocent Afghans and Pakistanis. As recent as May 28, twenty two Pakistanis, including women and children were killed by a drone and, on May 29, fifty two Afghans, including women and children were killed by another drone; and this in Herat! Herat; a non-Pashtun, Darri-speaking province, one that US official and media reports acknowledge as amongst the most peaceful ones in the country!

The US is also losing troops, though perhaps at a ratio of one US/NATO soldier to one thousand Afghan/Pakistanis. What is more, our internal strife is also a direct outcome of our support to the American invasion of Afghanistan.

If this is not a U.S. war, is it merely engaged in prolonged training maneuvers; if so, these are really too expensive for the US economy to afford and can only result in prolonged and ever-increasing insecurity in this region. So, please pack your bags, go home, and continue your maneuvers in the California desert somewhere and; do remember to use blanks, lest you go around killing American citizens as indiscriminately, as you kill us!

Ms Clinton requested us, Pakistanis, to refrain from indulging in conspiracy theories and in blaming the US. We might have believed her sincerity, if you had not added this 'truth'. How can there not be conspiracy theories, blame and increasing anti-Americanism in the entire region, when the US Chairman Joint Chiefs tells us, "this is not America's War". In effect, you are killing us for our own good; or your training; or merely amusement?

Thank you. But please leave us to fight the war(s) you have created for us in both countries. Go home. Please. 

But that isn't going to happen. The US is not pulling out of Afghanistan.

So, what does the future hold for us all?

Before proceeding any further, it is essential to clarify something which is, probably, not as obvious to the western mind, as it is to us. Our religious extremists/terrorists who target us are doing so, since they view us (security forces personnel and the ordinary citizens of the country) as 'collaborators' with US forces. In their view, only those actively resisting the US forces of occupation in Afghanistan and Pakistan are exempt from being considered collaborators!

What is more, in the view of these (Pakistani) terrorists, when they kill us, they think they have actually punished the US.

I have already written at length on the situation in Afghanistan; where you have no friends left; only enemies---most of them implacable ones, some of whom have turned pro-Taliban merely choosing the lesser of the available evils. However, the one important difference is that the Afghan Taliban no longer needs to terrorize the local population, American terrorism is driving locals back to them. What is more, a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan, which includes the Afghan Taliban, is not possible without Pakistani facilitation---the only trump left with us.

As long as the US continues to maintain its, not inconsiderable, presence in Pakistan and its very considerable presence in Afghanistan; both countries will remain mired in war and strife. This does not necessarily imply that the US departure will herald an end to war or strife. However, the departure will certainly signal the possibility, even likelihood of the beginning of the end to conflict; the conclusion of conflict will no longer remain open-ended.

Pakistan

Judging merely by the cold reception offered to Ms Clinton and Admiral Mullen and the lack of a joint statement, it is possible that Pakistan may genuinely be reviewing its options.

Having got rid of most of the CIA (and its associate) operatives, I would like to see a drastic reduction in American boots and shoes (military/civilian) on Pakistani soil. Only genuine diplomats within the agreed-upon numbers according to our joint protocol should be permitted to stay; the rest, politely but very firmly asked to leave ASAP.

Next, I would like to hear of a genuine final warning against drone attacks which are not pre-approved by the Pakistan government and executed to take out 'high value targets' only. To enforce this warning, I would like to see the Pakistan air force again patrolling the skies along the Durand Line (the de facto Pak-Afghan border).

Next, I would like to see a real shift in foreign policy. An immediate initiative to recommence the stalled Iran-Pakistan oil/gas pipeline; an acceptance of last year's offer from Tehran of provision of cheap energy; acceptance of the Chinese offer of cheap energy; an effort towards genuine improvement of ties with India; and more energy put into the (Burhanuddin) Rabbani initiative to find an Afghan solution for the future of Afghanistan.

And finally, I would like to see the emergence of a comprehensive, all-encompassing security policy which addresses the needs of all peoples of Pakistan but focuses more on our deprived regions: the Tribal belt in K-P Province, rural Sindh and last, but most importantly, troubled Balochistan: the province under exploitation by a number of foreign powers, but only because we permitted the dissatisfaction to grow.

A word of warning

It is needless to add that if all of the above take place there will be an US response. Since I consider war an unlikely possibility, the more probable one is that the US will respond through non-state actors and stoke unrest, particularly in Balochistan; an activity it is already involved in.

Our policy will have to consider all possible US reactions and be prepared with suitable responses.

Most critical of all, however, will be the period when the US does finally withdraw from Afghanistan, with or without a negotiated settlement. The US will be in need of a scapegoat, and Pakistan is tailor-made for that assignment. If I could coin a phrase; we have 'scaped' ourselves; all the US needs to do is add the 'goat'!

It is this event that Pakistan's policy should be able to predict; if possible ensure its delay, till Pakistan is domestically united and sufficiently strong with support from its neighbors that it can survive the isolation and whatever else the US decides to punish us with.

Shaukat Qadir is a retired brigadier and a former president of the Islamabad Policy Research Institute. He can be reached at shaukatq@gmail.com

 http://www.counterpunch.com/qadir06012011.html



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[ALOCHONA] Fwd: Meet the Muslim Zionist “Hero” Who Rips Off His Female Jewish Supporters





---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Zoglul Husain <zoglul@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Wed, Jun 1, 2011 at 7:59 PM
Subject: RE: Meet the Muslim Zionist "Hero" Who Rips Off His Female Jewish Supporters
To: Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com>


What a bizarre end of Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury's very profitable love affair with Israel!! According to this report (Brenda West's), he has been 'charged by the New York Police Department with Grand Larceny via Fraud'. It was similarly reported that his love affair with Inqilab TV abruptly ended in 2002 (he was the managing director of Inqilab TV), though he was the first one to establish a private TV in BD named A-21 in 1996. And before that he was a correspondent of TASS of the Soviet Union. Because of these, he has been called a chameleon, which changes colour.
 
It is however not known whether he has sued his former Jewish mentor Dr. Richard Benkin, who has been reported to be a notorious Muslim-hater member of AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), whom Shoaib recently accused of cheating him $60,000 on publication of Benkin's books and whom Shoaib also accused of cheating poor Hindus in the name of working with Hindu fanatics. 
 
These are really and absolutely bizarre!  
 

Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2011 13:44:48 +0600
Subject: Meet the Muslim Zionist "Hero" Who Rips Off His Female Jewish Supporters
From: bdmailer@gmail.com
To:

Must He Lie? Meet the Muslim Zionist "Hero" Who Rips Off His Female Jewish Supporters

Brenda West 5/17/2011

Call me disillusioned.  No, call me furious.  Nearly three years ago, when Salah UddinShoaibChoudhury was supposedly facing execution for his advocacy for Israel, I wrote an article pleading for his life to be spared.  I called it Must He Die?  Meet The Muslim Dissident Who Loves Jews, Christians And Free Speech. You can read it here.

Choudhury was arrested in 2003 for attempting to travel to Israel, following several months of writing articles advocating for Jews, and other minorities in his country, Bangladesh.  He also criticized Bangladesh for its policy of denying normal diplomatic relations Israel.  Bangladesh had and still has a policy of not permitting its citizens to travel to Israel or openly communicate with Israelis.  Choudhury went to prison for seventeen months and faced possible hanging on charges of blasphemy, sedition, and insulting Islam, until an American friend intervened and drummed up support to get him released.  He then received pro bono legal help from the Canadian MP, Irwin Cotler.
A cause celebre, certainly.Choudhury was seen as a man of great and noble character, an unexpected friend of the West who loved us enough to face great adversity for Western principles.  He won international awards, including one from the Prince of Monaco.  Holocaust survivor ElieWeisel praised him.  He was an invited (and paid) lecturer at Rutgers and at the Jewish Department at Yale University.  The American Jewish Committee gave him an award for moral courage.  The Internet was flooded with articles admiring him for his courage and caring, especially since he published reports that he was under frequent attack in Bangladesh both from hoodlums and from the Bangladesh government that subjected him to frequent trials, any one of which – he alleged – could result in his being taken back into custody and executed.  "Free Choudhury" campaigns were started, as was a move to boycott Bangladesh unless the government dropped its charges against him.  Representative Mark Kirk initiated  House Resolution 64 in 2007 to put pressure on Bangladesh to drop all charges against Choudhury;  it passed almost unanimously.  Choudhury enjoyed enormous popularity.  Knowing about him, or even better, knowing him, was the in thing to do for many people.
Now I find out that he has defrauded two of his most devoted female Jewish supporters of large sums of money.  Choudhurycoldly calculated how to get their money using plans that involved a complex web of lies that spanned many months.  Just about every word he said to these two women was a lie, captured forever in emails and Skypes.
Choudhury has been charged by the New York Police Department with Grand Larceny via Fraud.  The Bangladeshi ambassador of commerce, after viewing the broken contract, proof of money paid, and bounced checks involved in the financial transactions, described Mr. Choudhury as a "total fraudster, a complete liar and cheat" and added that he was known as that by most people in his native country.
I now regret ever advocating for him and thereby adding to the pile of false good news about him.
Here is an overview of his scams, with just a sample of his deceptions. A full treatment of these would greatly exceed the space limits of a news article.
  • ·        He presented himself to both of these women as an extremely noble, spiritual person who loved Israel even more than they did.   He cultivated a friendship with them, which they found flatteringbecause of all the honors he had received and because of all the hardships and persecution he said he was still facing.  Out of their love for Israel, they wanted to help him.
  • Choudhury said he was dealing with an unprecedented financial squeeze,on account of all the sacrifices he was making to support Israel.  However, in March, 2010, he told one of the women that he had a chance to make a greatdeal of money in a business deal that would also profit her by paying her back with a high interest rate.   He told her that he would be working closely with a trusted business associate, a Mr. Yun, whose English name is David Jones, to import a food product on a wholesale basis.
  • ·        Choudhury wrote many pages of emails and Skypes describing in great detail his long standing business relationship and friendship with the very reliable Mr. Yun.He trusted  Mr. Yun so much that he even had him over to his house as a frequent guest, someone who enjoyed playing chess with his young son.  All he needed was a loan for which he would put up his Crown Music and Video Company as collateral in a contract that would mature in a year.  He even provided – on request – a detailed contract between himself and Yun.
  • ·        When she hesitated, he told that this was the opportunity of a life time for him but that no one in Bangladesh would lend him the money he needed because of his persecuted status.  Still she hesitated until he told her that he would have to sell the printing press on which he published his Bengali language version of his online newspaper, and that giving it up would be like losing a child.  She shebelieved that the right thing to do was to protect what seemed to be the only source of free speech in Bangladesh so she consented to making the loan.
  • ·        In September, 2010, he borrowed another large sum from a second woman and told her he would repay her as soon as he got a wire transfer from David Jones (Mr. Yun).  Months went by with almost daily emails from Choudhury promising to repay and begging Jones to pay him so he could pay her.  Although Choudhurywas married, he told her was he was separated from his wife and had her write to David Jones saying she was his girlfriend, asking Jones to make the promised repayment to him.
  • ·        However, David Jones (variously described to one woman as Korean and to the other as Chinese) turns out not to exist at all.  In spite of all the complicated transactions that appeared to be taking place with him, he turned out to be a total fabrication by Choudhury.  The only trace of this seemingly well established businessman was a sole email address, hassociated@yahoo.com.  And the only place this email showed up on a thorough Google search was on an obscure facebook page in the United Kingdom for the United States Representative, Mark Kirk, who initiated the House Resolution mentioned above.
  • ·        So when the women were writing to Jones to try to understand what was happening with their money, they were really writing to Choudhury under an email account he created for the explicit purpose of deceiving them
  • ·        There was also no business deal, no food import business, no return of the money entrusted to him.
By March, 2011, the women had found each other, become allies, and realized that they had been duped.  The only thing that each of these women had received were checks that bounced, masquerading as repayment.  Brazenly, even though one of the women told Choudhury that she knew David Jones did not exist, he emailed the other one a fake check from the non-existent Jones as proof that he would repay her, once Jones had paid him.

The bank this check is issued on does not exist, according to a Google search.  The town in which it is supposed to be located does not exist, with that spelling.  The bank number, routing number, and checking account number are impossibly sequenced.  They are 123456   999999 12345678.  Has anyone ever seen a legitimate check with numbers spewed out like that?  Lazy counterfeiting art, one might say.
Now look at the signature. It does not say David Jones, as indeed it does not have to, since the printed signature reads "For" David Jones, meaning that someone else could actually sign it.  However, the slope and general 'personality' of the pen strokes are definitely in the manner of  Choudhury's signature on the contract he signed with one of his victims, as seen above.  Confusing?  Complicated?  Yes.  That is a Choudhury trademark when he wants to cover his tracks.
Remember that Choudhury has access to a printing plant.  He told the first woman he owned it outright but just needed emergency funds because he was in danger of having to sell it due to a short fall of income.  Yet he told the second woman that he needed funds to continue to buy the printing press on installments.
Two Bangladeshi contacts of this reporter told her that he did not own a printing press.  Nor does he own a recording studio, according to one of them.  The collateral he promised in his March, 2010 contract is apparently worthless, although more verification of his assets is in order.  At any rate, he has not offered up any cash based on the collateral he promised in his contract.
Choudhury made a claim to one of his victims that he cannot get a bank loan from anyone in Bangladesh because of his sacrifices for Israel.  That too must be questioned in light of his obvious defaulting to these two women, and the comments of the ambassador that he is well known as a fraudster.
He has painfully defrauded two of his trusting, caring supporters, people who considered themselves very special friends of the "Great Man."  And there may be other victims who will emerge.  Beyond the hurt he inflicted on these two individuals, a broader problem arises.  Why should be we trust other things he tells us?  Given Choudhury's chronic dissembling in this case, can anyone trust him about his political activities and the dangers he says he faces?  For example, do we know that he really was beaten up by thugs, suffering broken bones and damaged property, or even called back to court for trials every other month, as he alleges?  With each new claim of persecution, there was an appeal for support, which always meant a request for donations.  However, we have had no objective witness in Bangladesh to attest to his difficulties but have merely trusted Choudhury and taken him at his word.
Choudhury's lying is wall-to-wall, spilling over to many aspects of his life.   Uncomfortable as it may be to read about such rankness of character, I believe it is necessary considering how much of the Western world he has duped.  I will further address his deceptions in Part II of this expose.
——————————————
Brenda West is an occasional commenter on the political scene.  She can be reached at BrendaWestNYC@aol.com
http://www.faithfreedom.org/articles/op-ed/must-he-lie-meet-the-muslim-zionist-%E2%80%9Chero%E2%80%9D-who-rips-off-his-female-jewish-supporters/




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[ALOCHONA] Arvind Gupta at TED: Well worth watching and listening



http://www.ted.com/talks/arvind_gupta_turning_trash_into_toys_for_learning.html

-----Forwarded Message-----
From: Amjad Luna
Sent: Jun 1, 2011 4:38 PM
To: Robin K
Subject: Re: worth watching and listening

 
I had the privilege to meet Gupta, and see his demonstration in a much more informal setting, in the living room of a colleague at LUMS. Obviously, with the personal interaction that one can have in such a setting, it was a lot more fascinating.
 
He is an amazing guy. He was a graduate of IIT Kanpur back in the 70s. Could've easily had a lucrative career otherwise. But he walks around wearing a chappal, and holding his toy-sack on his shoulder.  
 
Thanks for sharing this. I'm a big fan of this guy, and it's heartening to know that his message has now spread to forums like TED.
 
-amjad
 

--- On Wed, 6/1/11, Robin Khundkar wrote:

From: Robin Khundkar <>
Subject: worth watching and listening
To:
Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2011, 12:13 AM

http://www.ted.com/talks/arvind_gupta_turning_trash_into_toys_for_learning.html
-----Forwarded Message-----
From: " Naim"
Sent: May 29, 2011 7:52 PM
To:
Subject: worth watching and listening



My son directed me to this site. There are just too many fascinating talks, so be careful with your time. 


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[ALOCHONA] FW: CPJ IMPUNITY INDEX: In Asia, journalist killings face endemic impunity



             In 2002 when our Tipu Sultan (presently with Protom Alo) was one of the winners of CPJ Annual Award for Journalism for being beaten up critically for covering the thuggary of AL MP Jainal Hazari of Feni, I was asked to be his interpreter in New York.  It was a rewarding experience and I learned a lot about the hazards of truthful journalism.
 
              Farida Majid
 


From: CPJ_Asia@cpj.org
To: CPJ_Asia@cpj.org
Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2011 10:44:29 -0400
Subject: CPJ IMPUNITY INDEX: In Asia, journalist killings face endemic impunity

cpj-logo-horz-3in

 

For Immediate Release

 

In Asia, journalist killings face endemic impunity

New index highlights countries where murders go unpunished

 

New York, June 1, 2011— Asian countries are significantly challenged when it comes to prosecuting the killers of journalists, according to a new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Of the 13 countries on CPJ's 2011 Impunity Index, seven are in the region, accounting for 41 percent of the 251 murders of journalists that have gone unpunished over the past decade. The index identifies countries worldwide where journalists are murdered regularly and governments are unable or unwilling to solve the crimes.

 

The Philippines ranks third, due to the massacre of 32 journalists in November 2009, which is still making its way through the country's troubled legal system. Sri Lanka ranks fourth, an indication that justice is evading journalists under an administration that is struggling to defend its human rights record. Globally, only war-torn Iraq and Somalia performed worse than the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

 

In South Asia, Afghanistan and Nepal rank sixth and seventh, while democracies like Pakistan (10th), Bangladesh (11th) and the world's largest democracy, India (13th) round out the list.

 

"With genuine political will, Asian countries, particularly those democratic South Asian nations which pride themselves on an established rule of law, have it within their grasp to undo this record of injustice and abuse heaped upon their journalists," said Bob Dietz, CPJ's Asia program coordinator. "The trend toward inaction has been in place for years and it is now time for the region's nations to take responsibility for the problem."

 

Uninvestigated and unprosecuted journalists' deaths have broad implications. "The targeted killing of journalists serves as a silencing message to others, ensuring that sensitive issues are not subjected to public scrutiny," said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. "Many journalists who were murdered had been threatened beforehand but were left unprotected. Governments can either address anti-press violence or see murders continue and self-censorship spread."

 

CPJ's Impunity Index shows improvement in Russia, where deadly anti-press violence has waned and authorities have obtained two high-profile convictions. In Mexico, where journalists face huge risks, the country's impunity rating worsened for the third consecutive year, with 13 cases unsolved.

 

The countries at the top of the index—Iraq, Somalia, and the Philippines—registered either no improvements or deteriorating conditions. Iraq, with an impunity rating three times worse than that of any other nation, is ranked first for the fourth straight year. Although crossfire and other conflict-related deaths have dropped in Iraq in recent years, the targeted killings of journalists spiked in 2010.

 

More than 40 percent of the victims included in the index were threatened prior to being murdered, while nearly 30 percent had covered politics. Local journalists were the victims in the vast majority of unsolved cases worldwide. Only about 6 percent of cases on the index involve international journalists slain abroad.

 

"Law enforcement must respond aggressively when journalists are threatened, and it must solve the crimes once reporters are attacked," said Simon. "Otherwise, authorities perpetuate a vicious cycle in which impunity breeds violence and ensures silence."

 

CPJ delegations have met recently with heads of state in the Philippines, Mexico, and Pakistan, and with senior law enforcement officials in Russia, to seek systemic reforms and convictions in unsolved cases. In each instance, top officials pledged to reverse the record of impunity in their countries, but the task is considerable. CPJ research shows that, time and again, entrenched corruption and dysfunction in law enforcement has thwarted justice in journalist murders. Suspects have been publicly identified in dozens of unsolved cases examined by CPJ for the 2011 index, but authorities have been unable or unwilling to gain convictions.

 

###

CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide

 

Note to Editors: CPJ's annual Impunity Index, first published in 2008, identifies countries where journalists are murdered regularly and governments fail to solve the crimes. The 2011 edition includes journalist murders that occurred between January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2010, and that remain unsolved. Only the 13 nations with five or more unsolved cases are included on the index. Cases are considered unsolved when no convictions have been obtained. The index is compiled as part of CPJ's Global Campaign Against Impunity, which is underwritten by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

 

§         The 2011 Impunity Index and full report are available in Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

§         A video profile of an exiled Sri Lankan journalist whose husband's murder remains unsolved, can be viewed here.

 

Media contacts:

 

Gypsy Guillén Kaiser                                                     Magnus Ag

Advocacy and Communications Director                        Advocacy and Communications Associate

Tel. +1.212.300.9029                                                     Tel. +1.212.300.9007

E-mail: ggkaiser@cpj.org                                               E-mail: mag@cpj.org

 

 

 

 



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[ALOCHONA] Mujibbahinee Reorganized:Catastrophes in B`desh? [1 Attachment]

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Re: [ALOCHONA] Ziaur Rahman: the kind of statesman we need now



 

Dear Mr. Mahboob Hossain,

 

I politely and logically disagree with you.

 

Yes, if the same people would have written or published anything against Bangabandhu or Sheikh Hasina - I would have treated them as 'fact' – if he or she or any one on behalf of them had not protested about authenticity or genuinely those news or items and finally and historically established their objection.

 

I can cite many of such examples of protest, condemnation and even court case against someone!

 

A case was lodge against late Rintu (once I had some association in our college life with him along with many BCL workers-leaders like him) about his notorious book.

 
Later it was established in the Court of Bangladesh during last BNP-Jamat era, when a case was lodged by one of family member of Sheikh Hasina (husband of Sheikh Rehana) and after all stages of judicial process – Rintu was found guilty and punished and penalize (heavily, few crores) for his notorious book - full of bogus and fallacious items

 

Yes, when same or any other notable person write or tell against President Zia (like Maudud, Sayed Ali Ahsan, M R Akhtar Mukul, Muntasir Mamun, Gen Osmani, General Safiullah, Major Rafiq BU, Swadesh Roy and many more) - it becomes true (not like the Bible, as bible had changed many time) - when we see authenticity and genuineness of that news or item are not logically and authentically denied or protested by any of his people or supporters.

 

It is BNP and their leaders and supporters utmost duty to prove that - what Maudud had written in his books about VIP CHADABAZI of Zia and many other bad thing about Zia are "not" true and they should also take necessary ' strong ', ' exceptional ' and ' remarkable ' action against (thus proven liar and fraud like) Moudud.

 

As none of these had happened yet in last 25 years against Moudud (from when he started blaming Zia for many corruption and immoral activities).

 

So, we treat them as fact.

 

Rather, what we are observing that Moudud and other like him has become very close and valued to wife of Zia (in spite of his repeated DIGBAZI and serious allegation against Zia) Also like, SAKA, who phrased Khaleda Zia like a DOG!

 

So, we treat them as fact.

 

I am not telling Bangabandhu or Sheikh Hasina is a "FERESTA" (means he had committed no mistakes or crimes at all!).

 

But extent and number of their mistakes are very small than mistakes of any other leader of Bangladesh. We can compare it like the mistakes done by a 1st boy of the class to the mistakes done by a 3rd division holder of the same class.

 

Any 1st boy also generally does not get 100% marks (i.e. no mistakes).

He may get mere 60% (or less, when none get 1st class) or as high as 99 % (very rare)  of the total marks (depends on the level and standard of education). So, 1st boy also do make mistakes in exams!

 

Similarly a 3rd division holder may get 44.9% marks (maximum) and he has also done mistakes in same exam.

 

But, that 1st boy is not treated or evaluated or marked as that 3rd division holder !

 

Practically the 3rd division holder or common people never highlight the mistakes of the 1st boy

 

Or

 

Never say that they (the 1st boy and the 3rd division holder) are equal or "equivalent"  

 

Politically - contribution, sacrifice, suffering, foresightedness and hence position and status of Bangabandhu in the history of Bangladesh is much much elevated than any other (corresponding) politicians-leaders of Bangladesh (or the than East Pakistan).

 

We should not utter any other name along with Bangabandhu, they (like Suhrawardy, Sher-e-Bangla, Bhasani, Tajuddin, Sayed Najrul, Comrade Moni Singh's name may come). They (with due respect) may be placed in lower tier than him (but they are at much higher than we common people).

 

Capt. Mansur Ali, Kamruzzaman, Khondakar Mustaq, Dr. Kamal, Prof. Muzaffar, Gen Osmani's name should come at later tire.

 

Then the name of Sirajul Alam khan, Sheikh  Moni, Razzak, Tofael, Comrade Farhad, A K Khandakar, Gen Rob. General Safiullah, General Zia, General Khaled Misharraf, Col Taher's name may come)

 

We see the same thing in all sports ground. There is some level difference between 1st, 2nd and 3rd position in all "victory stand" at all sports field, to distinguish 1st, 2nd and 3rd position.

 

So, tell white as white and black as black.

 

Also think before you ink!

 

 

 --

"Sustha thakon, nirapade thakon ebong valo thakon"

Shuvechhante,

Shafiqur  Rahman Anu

N.B.: If any one is offended by content of this e-mail, please ignore & delete this e-mail. I also request you to inform me by an e- mail - to delete your name from my contact list.




On Wed, Jun 1, 2011 at 1:46 PM, mahboob hossain <mahboob987@yahoo.com> wrote:
 

Mr. Shafiq Bhuiyan,

If the same people would have written anything against Bangabadhu or Hasina you would have told that is dam lie. When same person told against President Zia it becomes ture like the Bible and you ensured that what Modud written is true. I requested everybody not to tell anything against Zia and Bangabandhu. They made some mistake but against their will I believe.
I did not expect such comment after my request for unity.
MH
 


From: Engr. Shafiq Bhuiyan <srbanunz@gmail.com>
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com; mahboob987@yahoo.com; Khabor <news@khabor.com>; chottala@yahoogroups.com
Cc: KHABOR INFO <info@khabor.com>; Nuruzzaman Manik <manik061624@yahoo.com>; Khobor <khabor@yahoogroups.com>; mina farahh <farahmina@gmail.com>; mahmudurart@yahoo.com; Salim Hazari <salimhazari@yahoo.com>; Khondkar Saleque <khondkar.saleque@gmail.com>; Kaium <kaium91@yahoo.com>; Arif Ahamed <ahamed.ahmed@gmail.com>
Sent: Wed, June 1, 2011 10:21:31 AM
Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] Ziaur Rahman: the kind of statesman we need now

 

Dear Mr.mahboob Hossain 
 
Are  these false allegation against Zia?
 By his collegue and also by his wife's most depedent collegue Moudud and also by BNP minded medeia?

 
 
 
About Zia's corruption, please read the following mail posted by me.
 
General Zia started VIPCHADABAZI 1st time in Bangladesh.
He asked his 10 cabinet ministers to give him 3 lakh per month for "party".
 
You may think, this statement is not true or statement by some anti Zia politician /people
 
But  no,  bro,  no
 
It is written by that General Zia's higher-ranking cabinet member and later Khaleda-Ershad's most important ministerial colleague and now one of the closest and influential leaders (of Noakhali lobby) of Khaleda & BNP, most culprit and corrupt Moudud in one of his book.
 
This was disclosed and written by one of the meritorious journalist of Bangladesh and ex brilliant student Mr, Anisuzzaman Manik and it was published on the 22nd December 2009 in a sub-editorial column.

 
More than 17 montsh have passed, this report was published,
 
I thought either BNP will make some (LOK DHEKHANO) protest or will expel this culprit or corrupt Moudud from BNP and (will receive him again, later on, as Khaleda done to SAKA. SAKA was expelled from BNP when he compared Khaleda as a "dog" and later she welcomes him again in BNP and made him a BIG leader and minister.
 
But, alas, nothing happened to that culprit and corrupt Moudud nor any protest by BNP leaders or by BNP minded GIAN PAPEE (though  now Jamat-BNP has many media and few paid GIAN PAPEE too),
 
So, it is now again established that General Zia was not only cool brain killer but was also a corrupt and father of VIPCHADABAZI in our country, Bangladesh.
 
 
Please tell him to read the following news also
 
I mentioning below some of the many black records - facts about ex President late General Zia (based on some authentic documents). I have collected these from different newspapers only.
 
 
Zia and then his wife Khaleda Zia have only established Jamat -Shibir politically - economically - Said senior Journalist (anti Awami Legume minded) Mr. Foez Ahmed. For detail please read the news published in anti Awami League newspaper the Amadershomoy on 24.11.07
http://www.amadershomoy.com/news.php?id=214214&sys=3
 
 
Up to now in Bangladesh, inflation percentage was highest (18.46 %) during Zia era only .For detail please read the news published in anti Awami League newspaper the Naoyadigonta on 24.11.07
http://dailynayadiganta.com/2007/11/22/fullnews.asp?News_ID=53327&sec=1
 
 
 
Maximum numbers of people were hanged in Gen Zia era only (morethan70 %) 281 out of 400. For detail please read the news published in anti Awami League newspaper the Amadershomoy on 20.10.07
http://amadershomoy.com/news.php?id=206336&sys=3
 
 
Thanks Nuruzzaman Vai for your nice input on culprit and corrupt Zia.
 
http://mukto-mona.com/banga_blog/?p=4650#comment-12458
 
But, most unfortunately, one of the blogger, named Adil Mahmood had said that, none can raise any allegation of corruption and napitism about late Zia and he was least corrupt among all the Presidents (of substantial period) of Bangladesh. Indirectly he was tyrying to say that criminal General Zia was an honest (99.99 % false) both personally and politically.
 
But these are all utter lies.
 
I had challenged him based on the following statements, facts and documents - but no reply.
 
I have seen his younger brother (most probalble his name was Mizanur Rahman and had many years ago) used to work in in BCCI bank in Muscat Oman. Where he got the job mainly as a brother of President Zia. We all know that BCCI bank used to patronise all corrupt statesmen of the thirld and Muslim world, which was bankrupted in 1991-1992 for the huge corruption and miss-management.
 
Zia's another corrupt cousin was made acting MD of BIMAN (during the ending period of last Jamat –BNP era and he (Zia's corrupt cousin) and his BEAI Flight Engr Iskandar had "landed" (ruined) BIMAN !
Please also read the famous book of Dr. Minah Farah about criminal Zia.
She has openly challenged all Zia supporters (NaPaki, Jamat-BNP) about the reliability, accuracy, authenticity and honesty of the contents ofd her book!
Only few honest and sincere writers, like her, can claim such genuineness in boldly and openly!
 
Finally, see the personal (both characterwise and monitory) corruption of General Zia's wife (Falu and monitory corruption) and his two son's (billion dollar monitory corruption and multiple terrible bad character)

 
Any logical comments, arguments will be cordially welcome.
 
 
On Tue, May 31, 2011 at 8:54 PM, mahboob hossain <mahboob987@yahoo.com> wrote:
 

Nice article indeed ! I cannot imagine why Tarq and Khaleda did not
follow late president Zia. We may not support BNP or we may not
support AL but we should respect Bangabandhu and Zia for their
enormous contribution for this nation. I have never heard any word
against Sheik Mujib by Zia but how narrow minded AL people bring
lot of false allegation against Zia. Both leaders has some limitations we should forgive them because they were human. If we love Bangladesh we need to remain united and for this we must stop talking against them. If we insult Bangabandhu Zia will be insulted and if we insult Zia Bangabandhu will be insulted. If we are brave and honest we have to accept this truth.
Many truth has come out from this article.
 
Once again I thank Mr. Rumi Ahmed for his nice write up.
and also Isha Khan for circulating it
MH

Ziaur Rahman: the kind of statesman we need now


by Rumi Ahmed

Today is the 30th death anniversary of President Ziaur Rahman. This anniversary comes at a time when Zia, his image, contribution and his philosophy are under fiercest attack ever.

After decades of relentless attack on Zia, the war hero and Zia the statesman, after abysmal failure of Zia's party to portray him appropriately and effectively, it is no surprise if much of new generation Bangladeshis carry a faulty perception of Ziaur Rahman.

These days we talk a lot about bringing forward-looking youthfulness in our politics. And we also talk a lot about coming out of the slippery slope of hatred and vengeance and create a politics of reconciliation. We keep on hoping, hopelessly, for political leaders with courage and honesty.

Indeed, 35 years ago, it was Ziaur Rahman who brought all these traits together into the politics of Bangladesh and helped people of Bangladesh dream big.

When Zia went on live radio and declared "I hereby proclaim the independence of Bangladesh on behalf of our great national leader Bangabandhu…" he was only 34 years old. Then when he took over the helms of Bangladesh he was 39, and by the time he died leading Bangladesh through its most formative years, Zia was only 45.

Missing in all discussions on Zia is his outright bravery that shaped his and his family's life as well as shaped the fate of Bangladesh. At the age of 29, he won a military award of gallantry for his bravery during 1965 Indo-Pak war. On 25th March night, leaving his family at the mercy of murderous Pakistani forces, when he revolted and held his pistol at the head of his commanding officer Colonel Janjua – Zia knew very well that he only had one way out of this: fight and win the war.

A political settlement might have pardoned politicians, but for him and his men, a court martial and death penalty was inevitable. In this regard, he or other revolting military officers were not at the same ground with politicians involved with the war.

Five years later, on 3rd November 1975, when Zia was put under house arrest by Col. Shafaet Jamil's forces, death may have lurked much closer. Four days later, when Col Taher's Marxist indoctrinated murderous forces were chanting slogan, "Sepoy Sepoy bhai bhai, Officer er rokto chai (Sepoys are brethren – want blood of the officers), killing officers and their families indiscriminately, the whole military chain of command was at tatters, Zia — rather than confining himself to the safety of Army Chief's office protected by trusted soldiers — went to work. Again risking his life, all day he visited unit to unit to pacify the blood-thirsty rebels and with firm command disarmed the jawans, bringing them back under officers' control.

Rest of his life and leadership also contain examples of courage. Numerous coup attempts neither could isolate him from the people nor could slow him down.

Living at a time when politics in Bangladesh has become suffused with vengeance and communalism, and while we constantly lament lack of fresh intelligent faces in our politics, Zia's reconciliatory statesmanship seems like a remote phenomenon. With 15th August massacre and the bloody November at the backdrop, Zia created the biggest ever coalition to rebuild Bangladesh. Not only he included leftist, rightist, centrist political elements in his platform, he also relied heavily on fresh faces — young and bright professionals — in his nation building politics.

Unlike present day, Zia's political platform was not only for the career politicians, rich businessmen or retired generals or bureaucrats. Leading members of his party and government were the smartest physician, the smartest professor, the smartest accountant, the smartest barrister, the smartest editor and the wisest judge of that time.

He did not only focus on his own government and party; he understood fully the need and role of a strong opposition in a democracy. While he inherited a martial law imposed by the leaders of 15th August coup and constitutional one-party rule imposed by pre 15th August Awami League government of Bangabandhu — Zia made it his first priority to bring back multiparty democracy in Bangladesh. Rather than trying to permanently erase Awami League from Bangladesh, he took all the steps necessary to revamp Awami League from the ruins of BAKSAL.

Recently, Bangladesh went through an experimental under-disguise military rule to impose 'reform' within the main political parties of Bangladesh. Our political parties have always been managed in a dictatorial way by the leader. Despite all the false propaganda against him as a brutal dictator, Zia apparently was the first, if not the only leader to allow exercise of democracy within the party. Election of Shah Azizur Rahman as the leader of parliament and prime minister is a perfect example. Ziaur Rahman did not want Shah Aziz for the role owing to the latter's role in 1971. He wanted ex-NAP leader Moshiur Rahman Jadu Mia to become the leader of parliament and the prime minister.

When Jadu Mia passed away, he preferred a fresh face such as Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury or Saifur Rahman for the job. However, he also wanted the party's parliamentarians to choose their leader through a secret ballot, which the shrewd Shah Aziz managed to win. Zia could have ignored the wish of his MPs, but chose not to.

While we now see how petty partisanship trump over all other qualifications in government's day-to-day business, Zia always welcomed people who were not his direct supporters, including his political opponents. Zia's foreign minister was Professor Shamsul Haq, who served Zia till his death but never joined his party. Mr. M R Siddiqui — a prominent Awami League leader from Chittagong —refused to disown Awami League and remained president of Chittagong unit. Yet Zia, with a bipartisan spirit, appointed Mr. Siddiqui as his most vital ambassador, to the United States.

Zia's message is as relevant today as it was during his time. Read up any of his speeches, they will appear timely and pertinent. His speech defining Bangladeshi Nationalism remains the most inclusive and the most successful vision of our nationhood that was ever articulated by a Bangladeshi leader. His speeches about family planning, nuclear proliferation or climate change were decades ahead of their time in describing the challenges that would one day face us. In the field of diplomacy, he pioneered the friendly relations with countries of the Middle East that have become our most important labour markets and one of the mainstays of our economy.

TIME Magazine, in its June 8, 1981 issue, published a full-page report on the death of President Ziaur Rahman. The report ended with these sentences:

The slain Zia had been one of South Asia's most promising leaders, a man who lived modestly while others chose corruption, who searched tirelessly for solutions to his country's awesome poverty. He was also a fatalist. Once, reflecting on his service for Pakistan in the 1965 war with India over Kashmir, he observed: "There is no scientific explanation for a man to die or live. In front of me many people died, but I got a bonus of life." He used that bonus well, but last week it ran out.











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