| May 10, 2003 | Saturday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1424 |
Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)
Keeping Sars out
Return of the double-decker
THERE seems to be no end to America’s unilateralist freewheeling in the context of Iraq. The latest in a series of such steps is the idea of dividing Iraqi prisoners of war and war criminals into different categories to be tried under different justice systems. The US defence and state departments have hinted that those suspected of war crimes against American troops would be tried by American military tribunals; those having committed crimes against the Iraqi people under the Saddam regime would be dealt with by a judicial tribunal made up of Iraqi, Jordanian and Egyptian judges; a separate legal mechanism would be set up to award ‘reparation’ to the Kuwaiti and Iranian victims of Iraq’s invasion of their countries. All of this would be carried out under the exclusive control of the occupation forces, with any role for the United Nations or its affiliate bodies specifically excluded. The controversial approach has even worried Washington’s staunchest coalition partner, Britain, whose occupation forces hold nearly half of the 8,000 prisoners of war rounded up in the aftermath of the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime. Thus, the whole operation against Iraq — from the decision to attack that country to dealing with the aftermath of the war — shows how consistently and cynically Washington has defied international law, morality and world opinion in making an example of Iraq.
Building a case for the prosecution of the Iraqi POWs accused of committing “atrocities” against American soldiers, the US defence secretary has deliberately fudged their status by saying that many of the held men used “terror” tactics, including posing as civilians, while laying ambushes to kill US soldiers. This is intended to affix the questionable label of “unlawful combatants” on the Iraqi POWs, so as to justify transferring many of them to the American base at Guantanamo Bay for trials away from the world’s gaze and scrutiny. The fate of some 650 men captured in Afghanistan, categorized as “unlawful combatants” and held at Guantanamo, hangs in the balance even after 15 months of their detention. The world community’s muted concern about the tragic plight of these prisoners being held incommunicado and without any right to challenge their illegal detention, seems to have emboldened the Pentagon to try a similar strategy in dealing with the Iraqi POWs.
Rights groups have warned that doing such a thing would be in clear violation of the Geneva Conventions on the POWs, to which the US is also a signatory. But the unilateralist arrogance being displayed by Washington in conducting its Iraq policy makes it doubtful whether mere voicing of concerns by rights groups would have any restraining effect. As far as the Geneva Conventions go, one of these was extended in 1977 to include “anyone captured in a war zone, whether in military uniform or civilian clothes, has to be treated as a POW.” This includes even the guerilla combatants, which is exactly the case with all those rounded up in Afghanistan and held at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp. It is time Washington listened to the voice of sanity coming from many of its long-time allies, who find themselves increasingly ignored and sidelined in the face of sheer American arrogance in action since the events of 9/11. The Iraqi POWs must be extended all the protocols of the Geneva Conventions and tried under established legal mechanisms, norms and principles and under UN supervision. This is the least that needs to be done to save the world from becoming an open playing field for victor’s justice.
THE Sindh government’s decision to use the Ojha TB sanatorium in Karachi for quarantining those who might be afflicted with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) virus is a small but welcome step in the fight against this deadly disease. So far, we have been told repeatedly by federal as well as provincial health authorities that the country remains free of Sars. However, several non-governmental health experts have warned against complacency, saying that the issue is not whether we are free of Sars but how alert and equipped we are to keep the virus out in these days of extensive international travel. To strengthen the existing precautionary and surveillance measures at airports and other points of entry, some practical steps need to be taken to prevent the virus from gaining a foothold in Pakistan.
Reports say that X-ray machines have been sent to the border post with China and might also be installed at the country’s airports. This makes no sense because what are needed are thermal scanners or infra-red cameras that can be used to determine an incoming passenger’s body temperature. Such machines are being used by many of the Sars-infected countries in south-east Asia and have been installed even at Dubai airport. Pakistan must immediately get these machines and place them at all major points of entry. Since anyone infected with this deadly virus tends to exhibit the same symptoms as someone with flu or a cold, it is imperative that health officials posted at airports are well conversant with the symptoms of the disease and make no exceptions when they come across someone with higher than normal body temperature. Pakistan could learn from Vietnam’s example. There the whole government machinery was mobilized and stringent measures put in place to counter the spread of the disease after an initial outbreak. The country was recently declared Sars-free after no new cases were reported in three weeks.
THE double-decker bus service being reintroduced in Lahore after 20 years should help to somewhat ease the shortage of public transport in the city. Initially, only one such vehicle will operate, to gauge the practical problems involved in the planned expansion of the service by mid-June. The bus route has not yet been decided, but the choice, in view of demand, would probably be the Mall. Reviving some of the erstwhile charm of the thoroughfare, which once featured double-decker buses, may also be one of the considerations. A whole generation has passed since the double-decker was phased out in the late seventies. Its place was taken by recklessly driven wagons and mini-buses packed beyond capacity. The drivers and operators of these vehicles have scant regard for commuter safety or comfort.
The double-decker, associated with a more relaxed and gentler culture, may be a different experience for the new generation of Lahorites. An important consideration, however, would be the manner in which the bus is operated and the way it is used by the people. If there is the usual pushing and shoving to get in, many commuters, especially the old and infirm, would suffer. Also, in view of the height of the bus, precautions would have to be taken against intruding tree branches and electricity lines.