http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\04\23\story_23-4-2009_pg7_2 Taliban turn children into live bombs * Intelligence estimates suggest more than 5,000 children have been trained by Taliban for deadly missions |
Friends>
How about this Editorial by Pakistan's most respected news daily Dawn today? I have been warning the World about this barbaric medieval savagery called Sharia law---which is based on Quran and Hadiths---for quite a long time. Point is, the Muslims cannot abandon Jihad. Quran clearly orders the Muslis to turn all the countries of the world into a Muslim country. The Quran commands Muslims to fight all infidels until they are killed or converted to Islam. The goal of Islam is the imposition of an Islamic world state, through any means necessary. How do you reconcile that with freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of conscience? Saudi Arabia sure doesn't have freedom of religion or speech. The writer is risking his life to tell the truth. I salute him for his indefatigability, courage, chutzpah and testicular fortitude for standing up for truth. Please stand-up for Truth, otherwise only God knows what is about to happen to us—The Muslims. Now please read this DAWN editorial with an open mind.
"The uproar is understandable but should it really come as a surprise that Maulana Sufi Mohammad and his band of barbarians are opposed to all that we hold dear? Of course not. The position held by people who kill those who don't subscribe to their point of view is diametrically opposed to that of all right-thinking persons. From day one, the stance of these militants who murder in the name of religion has been all too clear. These people are savages, yet we don't put them behind bars. It is now clear that the Taliban will not stop until they have their way. And this is their prescription for Pakistan: a nation, armed with nuclear weapons, jerked back to a mediaeval age. A country where men without beards are flogged and women killed if they choose to express themselves. That is where we are headed. And one is wrong if one thinks this can't happen in Pakistan. It can and it will unless we strike a decisive blow for the silent majority. Sufi Mohammad's Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat Mohammadi, the Pakistani Taliban and Al Qaeda are all committed to overthrowing the State of Pakistan. How many times do we have to say this? Their interest is not limited to enforcing — at gunpoint — Sharia law in Swat and the rest of Malakand. They want to take over all of Pakistan and subject each and every citizen to their brand of justice".
And that is Islamic Justice! We must save Bangladesh now from these brute, medieval, barbaric savages. In view of Historic Necessity--Today, I am proposing that Bangladesh Army be made part of our Government and the Army must become Guarantor of the Secular Character of our Nation. The Pakistan Experience should be an eye-opener to any and all the sensible people of the world. Islam must be reformed now to save the World.
SaifDevdas
"Many Muslims in Bangladesh and elsewhere believe that conversion of a non-Muslim into Islam will give them a sure passage to their desired heaven complete with houries and saraban tahura. They are at all levels of the society. I have met them all my life. The problem lies elsewhere. A few generations later, children of these converts would believe that their ancestors had come from the holy Arabian land. ( The land was deemed to be not so important before oil was discovered. I am sure, once the oil runs out, it will revert to it's previous state.)" Kamal Saheb Once I expressed in one of my mails to Mukto-Mona that Conversion shall be baned even I understand that is not possible any time because it comes under human right. Conversion is creating lots of communal problems in the sub-continent. Conversion can not be banned but it can be controlled regarding minors conversion. The conversion papers should be handled by the legal authority of the Government. The Government can make a law that when a minor wants to be converted he or she needs the parent's consent without which the legal system will not recognize the conversion. Sentu Tikadar --- On Sun, 4/19/09, Kamal@yahoo.com <Kamal@yahoo.com> wrote: From: Kamal@yahoo.com <Kamal@yahoo.com> |
* A warm TV may drive away feelings of
loneliness,
rejection:
For those feeling unloved, illusionary relationships
with TV characters sometimes help fill the gap,
researchers say.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/090422_tv
* "Complex" organic molecules detected in space:
Computer models also suggest larger molecules may be
out there, including amino acids, essential for life
as we know it.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/090421_organic
* Study: personalized drugs may lengthen
cancer survival :
Researchers used a company's "genetic profiles" of
individual patients to create custom treatments.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/090420_personalized
* Straw bale house survives quake tests:
An earthquake simulation with a force reported as 82
tons couldn't take down a straw home designed by
civil engineer Darcey Donovan.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/090405_strawbale.htm
* Keeping slim is good for the planet, say
scientists:
A study finds that maintaining a healthy body weight
is good news for the environment.
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/090420_slim
* Physicists see the cosmos in a coffee cup :
A professor and a graduate student say they have
found a new "universal principle."
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/090416_coffee
MORE NEWS
* Bright feathers found to get color from foamy
structure :
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/090410_foam
* Aerosols may drive much Arctic warming,
scientists find :
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/090408_aero
* Researchers wanted: humans need not apply?:
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/090407_machine
| The lady who drove the toxic ships away Saad Hammadi meets leading environmental attorney Syeda Rizwana Hasan and recounts her long drawn fight against toxic shipwrecking on Bangladeshi territory that has won her the Goldman Environmental Prize
From taking on the honchos of real estate, to preventing river pollution, protecting the forest and rights of forest dwellers and protesting toxic and hazardous shipwrecking, Syeda Rizwana Hasan has established herself as the green crusader. Currently the chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (BELA), she is one of the few women who are outspoken and fearless when it comes to securing justice for the interest of people. She joined BELA in 1993 when she was 25. Four years later she had to take the helm of the entire association, when BELA founder Dr Mohiuddin Farooque died. 'I took over BELA at a time when I was not prepared for it,' she says. But her family and colleagues' immense support had never let her look back. Sixteen years down the line, the effervescent lady has become the top environmentalist in the country and represents international organisations like Friends of the Earth International, NGO Platform on Shipbreaking and Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) in Bangladesh along with the government committees like the Nagar Unnayan. Her uncompromising attitude paid off when she was awarded the prestigious Goldman Prize in San Francisco last week, one that is awarded to six persons across the globe. Rizwana happens to be the only one from Asia to win it. The Goldman Environmental Prize is the world's largest prize honouring grassroots environmentalists. The jury chose her for her effort in sending back MT [oil tanker] Alpha from Bangladesh territory. It was one of the 50 toxic ships that were built before the 1980's and are listed by the Greenpeace, the international NGO for protection and conservation of environment. These ships happen to be the oldest and therefore pose environmental hazards. (Greenpeace has changed its strategic importance in the last two years and so the shipbreaking concerns are now looked after by the NGO Platform on Shipbreaking.) In Bangladesh the invasion of Greenpeace listed ships began with ocean liner SS Norway attempting to bridge itself in 2006 but it had to move past Bangladesh after BELA gave legal notice to the government opposing its clearance to arrive. After the incident, the director general of the shipping department through an official circular introduced a 'No Objection Certificate' as a prerequisite for importers to import ships. SS Norway had moved past Bangladesh and eventually landed in India citing bad weather conditions. The environmentalists there protested its permission but the court on humanitarian context allowed it to beach (pull up on the shipyard during the tide) but not break it. In this same way the MT Alpha arrived in Bangladesh. Citing bad weather the ship arrived on an innocent passage whereby it could stay for 72 hours and then had to leave the territory. The ulterior motive was to beach itself but it couldn't because it neither had NOC nor a letter of credit. On top of that, BELA filed a case against it in 2006 which eventually compelled it to go back. Three years later, as Rizwana receives the Goldman award for sending back MT Alpha she has actually done more than that to protect the health and safety for the labourers at the ship breaking yard. Her biggest challenge in fact appeared when the shipping department conspired to allow Greenpeace listed ships through a clandestine meeting with the ship breakers' association. 'One of the worst forms of health hazards these old ships have on the labours is asbestosis, a disease that subsequently leads to cancer,' explains Rizwana. Yet, the shipping department granted access to MT Enterprise, the third Greenpeace listed ship that made through in Bangladesh. When she looks back, she laughs at the lame explanation the shipping department had put forth to allow the ship. Because of power failure whether the MT Enterprise was a Greenpeace listed ship could not be ascertained. So it could be issued the NOC. The NOC however was cancelled citing the ship importer gave some wrong information. The importer filed a case with the high court that allowed him to beach but not break. At the same time the importer requested the shipping department to carry out an inspection on the ship for its toxicity. The shipping department without the participation of two pertinent ministries, labour and environment, reported the ship had merely 60 kilogramme of asbestosis, says Rizwana. Acting on the report the government decided that the cancellation of NOC be withdrawn from the ship, which also brings end to the case at the court. Because the government withdrew the cancellation on NOC, the court ended the case ordering the government to notify the withdrawal to the importer. 'We filed a case against the MT Enterprise and the importer saying all of the fuss revolving the ship import were staged. We didn't believe in the inspection report,' says Rizwana, adding that in spite of the court's stay order passed on the issuance of NOC the importer began breaking the ship. 'By the time we won the stay order on the breaking, there was merely 10 per cent left of the ship,' she says. Following a writ petition by BELA, the high court last month directed the government to close down 36 shipwrecking yards within two weeks for not having environmental clearance. It further mentioned that no ships should enter the Bangladesh unless the owners clean the hazardous contents within the ship outside the territory of Bangladesh. Greenpeace listed ships will not enter unless the shipping department confirms the hazardous contents were cleared off the ships. The court order also included that a ship breaking yard may only be allowed to operate once it ensured environment and labour safety and a rule be made to regulate ship breaking which the ministry of environment will take care of. In addition the court ordered the formation of government high power committee including BELA to monitor the implementation of court orders. As Rizwana's crusade against hazardous ship breaking was ongoing, back at home, one midnight, she received a call from the Goldman jury. It came as a break and a sense of achievement at the same time, to her stressful court battles when she was informed about her nomination at the Goldman prize for her legal battle against toxic ship breaking. As deserving as it is for Rizwana, she claims much of her success is owed to her family, for who she hardly ever manages to spare enough time. 'Without their support and encouragement it wouldn't have been possible to face the numerous scandals and threats that I am exposed to for the kind of cases I choose for BELA,' she says. It's good to put up with threats, Rizwana says, as 'those who make threats feel themselves threatened.' She recalls instances when her husband had to hear from friends in the real estate sector, 'your wife causes all the trouble'. And yet, she has never had to compromise with her responsibilities. BELA had advocated for the plot and flat ordinance passed during the caretaker government which troubled the real estate owners by conforming to rules and restrictions in the interest of consumer and environment among many. But she regrets that the ordinance is pending the parliament's approval which is required for it to be effective after the resumption of democratic government. 'What's amazing is,' she says, 'I have not received a genuine bribe offer till date even though there are so many rumours spread about me in this context.' Recalling one of her successful cases, the one against Madhumati for encroaching wetland in 2004, she says, there were instances when vested groups instigated the government against BELA that literally posed threat not just to the people of the organisation but its entire existence. 'Threats increase your power and importance. Nowadays, the vested interest groups rule the corporate houses where profit is their religion. The enemies have increased aplenty that it has become unpredictable as to who would mean trouble next time.' A mother of three children, Rizwana is happy and overwhelmed with her family, work and life. 'I am doing something innovative, always challenging and being challenged. I have had all my ambitions, academic thrust, legal practice and public service incorporated in one profession.' |
| PRIME MINISTER'S SAUDI VISIT Hidden agenda got priority Amanullah Kabir
The hidden agenda was seemingly more important than the officially announced one that usually included manpower export and other bilateral issues. Twice postponed earlier, her first visit abroad since her ascendancy to power three months back, was thought to have become urgent by her government's flamboyant policy-makers who want to be sure that their regime would not fall from the grace of the Custodian of holy Makkah and Madina, the converging points of the Muslim ummah, if the war criminals are prosecuted, as many of them enjoy Saudi blessings and support as politicians and religious leaders. War crime trial deferred When asked a senior cabinet minister preferring anonymity told an English daily only hours before the Prime Minister's departure on Monday night, "We will of course seek their (Saudi government) support in trying the war criminals in our country." Meanwhile, during the office hours on Monday, State Minister for Law Advocate Quamrul Islam told the journalists in a stunning announcement that the Government had deferred the formation of the investigation agency to probe into war crimes and finalisation of the list of prosecutors since the Prime Minister and the law minister would stay away from the country. Enormous exercise The ministers and the state ministers of the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Home Affairs along with the officials concerned made an enormous exercise throughout the day on Sunday on the two crucial issues holding several meetings among themselves and with the Prime Minister only to announce the Government's final decision the next day. But the weary policy-makers suddenly came to senses that such a sensitive announcement prior to the Prime Minister's visit to Saudi Arabia might backfire creating an adverse impact on the cherished scheduled talks with the Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on April 21, and refrained from making public the decisions on appointment of the investigation agency and formation of the prosecutors cell on the plea that they were yet to be finalised. Barrister Shafiqe Ahmed, now the law minister, had told me privately at a TV channel talk show just a day before his swearing-in that it would be difficult if the Saudi government was reluctant to cooperate. So the process of trial of war criminals is expected to take a different dimension when the Prime Minister returns home understandably with an undercurrent impression from her talks with the Saudi King, who is not supposed to remain uninformed about which persons the Government has listed as identified war criminals. If the issue becomes a thorn in the relations between the two countries, the Government may have to face a diplomatic tangle. In any such a situation the Saudi government will have the leverage to build up pressure on Bangladesh by manipulating the situation since Saudi Arabia is not only a major manpower importer but also a donor country. Socio-political scenario Several ministers of the Government have said more than once that only the identified war criminals will be tried and the Government is determined to complete the trial by next December, probably before the Victory Day. But before the findings of investigation and framing of charges, a clear scenario cannot be expected as to what will be the emerging socio-political situation, because the war criminal suspects are mainly and mostly politicians of Islam-oriented parties and groups as well as religious leaders who have inherently a socio-political clout in the country. However, according to the latest information received from Riyadh, the outcome of the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Saudi King was not as encouraging as was expected. The Saudi government, as Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni in her cautiously worded interview with the electronic media said Thursday night the Saudi government offered a good gesture short of assurance that they would consider the Bangladesh case when and where such manpower would be required, but did not lift the earlier restrictions imposed during the caretaker government regime. Besides, the Prime Minister had exclusive talks with the Saudi foreign minister for more than half an hour. |
| DELHI TARGETS TALPATTI, OFFSHORE OIL India wants Dhaka's nod on maritime issue Moinuddin Naser in New York Though the sudden visit of Indian foreign secretary Shiv Sankar Menon to Bangladesh just at the advent of elections of the Indian Lok Sabha raised a lot of speculations in the media, the diplomatic circles in the United Nations confided to the Holiday that the visit was mainly related to submission of the Indian claim on the South Talpatty to the United Nations. No time to wait India wants to be certain that Bangladesh would not raise any objection against Delhi's claim on the South Talpatti and the water territory in the Bay of Bengal, while the country will have to submit its claim on June 29 this year under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). To fulfil its target India has got no time to wait until the end of election. Of course Mynamar will have to submit this claim under UNCLOS on May 21, this year. Bangladesh will have to submit its claim before July 27, 2011. UN Law of the Sea The sources said that meanwhile pending the resolution to maritime boundary with Bangladesh, India has already started exploration of oil and gas near South Talpatty. If India claims the maritime boundary near South Talpatty, and Bangladesh raises objection against the claim, that will create an international issue, while the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is very sensitive in maintaining peace in delimiting the water boundary of all countries. The law is also specific in this regard. During the First week of November last year, the naval forces of Myanamar and Bangladesh came face to face in the Bay of Bengal, when South Korean Company Daewoo had started exploration work in AD Block and Bangladesh noticed that attempt on November 2, 2008. But Bangladesh Navy remained silencet about the Indian activities near Talpatti. India already started exploration under sixth round of new exploration licensing policy. Two marine blocks for oil and gas close to the Sundarbans of Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal are being explored. The oil and gas hungry Indian Foreign Secretary's visit to Bangladesh, though was very untimely just prior to the election of India, but he could not wait but to come at that time as he has to finish his claim on the water territory to submit that before the United Nations. The diplomatic sources, on condition of anonymity, said the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in the UN was not briefed as to how they would react to that issue in the United Nations, when the report will be submitted. But by now the Bangladesh mission must have taken preparation to deal with India and Myanmar both efficiently and effectively. Goals, "dos and don'ts" The sources further disclosed that there were three definite goals of Shiv Sankar Menon in Bangladesh. First, delimitation of maritime boundary; second, to convince Bangladesh not to raise any objection against exploration of oil and gas in two blocks within Bangladesh maritime boundary; and third, the"dos and don'ts" on the part of Bangladesh regarding the BDR massacre. In addition to these three issues Menon also made it clear to the Bangladesh Government that Moyeen U Ahmed is their man of trust and Bangladesh should not be persistent to give objection against the Tipaimukh dam on Barak river. Earlier Bangladesh raised the issue to the United Nation Environment Programme and said that the dam would wreak havoc on the environment at the north eastern part of Bangladesh and India. Menon also gave standing offer to Foreign Minister Dipu Moni to visit the area to see for herself that the dam will not be that much environmentally disastrous. 200 nautical miles It may be mentioned that the international law allows every country to have and use 200 nautical miles from its coast to the sea. But the Indian side did not want to go by that law. Since 1980, India used forces to occupy the South Talpatty, by violating all norms. On many occasions in the past when Bangladesh Navy wanted to move around the Bangladesh's normal economic zone, they came under attack by the Indian Navy. Still India is hoisting its flag there. India side using its forced claimed that the law gave rise to tricky situation as the coasts of India, Bangladesh and Myanmar follow a curve, which implies overlapping of territory. That has led to the disagreement on their maritime border. Committee of 2004 In the year 2004, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry in order to find out a way to mark the deep-sea territory fulfilling requirements of the UN and as per the law of the sea formed a committee with members from Petrobangla, Geological Survey of Bangladesh, the Navy, SPAARSO, Inland Water Transport Authority and Surveyor of Bangladesh. But the committee is yet to produce any report, which could be a tool for the Bangladesh Mission to deal with India in the UN. India and the international oil exploring companies believe that the Bay of Bengal is full of oil. 28 blocks were demarcated by Bangladesh, and some of them were leased out to foreign companies, specially to the US companies during 1990s. But the decision of Bangladesh was objected by both India and Myanmar. Now India is exploring inside Bangladesh territory without caring for international norms, while Myanmar remained silent after the tension between the two countries during last November. India's Bangladesh policy It is learnt that now India could effectively convince the US administration not to interfere in the oil and gas exploration by India at the Bay of Bengal, while India has clearly supported the Obama's policy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan. Diplomatic sources said that so long America will get support of India regarding its Afghan policy it will not disturb India regarding its policy towards Bangladesh and other small states in the eastern sides. It may be mentioned that just prior to 10 days of the death of Ziaur Rahman in the year 1981, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry published the white paper on South Talpatti. After that no substantive work has been done to establish the claim of Bangladesh on that great island. India wants to settle the score on Maritime territorial boundary of Bangladesh to its advantage, while Bangladesh government is warned about the rise of 'fundamentalism.' at home front. |
My column "Doorer Janala" on Naya Diganta on 24 April 2009. Link is given below: Quazi Johirul Islam UN Operations in Ivory Coast Ph: 12129634432 Ext. 1723368 email: islamq@un.org |
to mr musasarkar you could not understand the difference between khaleda's house and hasina's house. at 1981 the bangladesh government give the house to khaleda. even she not submitted any applicaltion for this. but, at 2001 hasina and rehana taken the Ganabhaban by own. - on the other hand could not matia speak in good language and attitude. why she is quarelling in a public gathering? simply, her acting like a ferocous beast. like a gray hound of any dog squad. isn't it? thanks to all. --- On Tue, 4/14/09, musasarkar <m_musa92870@yahoo.com> wrote:
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In case you havent heard her before! Check these links out out
dasht - e - tanhaa'ii mei.n ae jaane jahaa.n - iqbal bano
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvTxMSx8G-M
Hum Dekhenge - Iqbal Bano
Subcontinent's great singer Iqbal Bano passes away
From Associated Press of
In
In case you havent heard her before! Check these links out out
dasht - e - tanhaa'ii mei.n ae jaane jahaa.n - iqbal bano
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvTxMSx8G-M
Hum Dekhenge - Iqbal Bano
Subcontinent's great singer Iqbal Bano passes away
From Associated Press of
In
