| 14 July 2004 | Wednesday | 25 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 |
Drowning: working out safety measures
Trial of Saddam
Squandering history
'PM can campaign for Aziz'
Why Pakistan remains undemocratic
US visa seekers' plaint
Help
President's uniform
Military's training
Functions on roads
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Despite the ruling of the International Court of Justice that the Israeli wall in and around Palestinian settlements is illegal and by all standards its presence/construction is an open transgression against the spirit of international humanitarian law, where it strays from the 1967 Green Line border, Ariel Sharon has decided to continue with its construction.
The matter of the wall was already vetoed by the US in favour of Israel in the UNSC. On December 8, 2003, the United Nations General Assembly, exercising its power under Article 96 of the Charter of the United Nations, passed a resolution requesting the ICJ to issue an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the construction by Israel of the physical blockade inside the occupied territories.
Palestinian and Arab states have objected to what they call the "apartheid wall," saying it represents a "de facto seizure of Palestinian territory" held by Israel since the 1967 war.
Israel contends that the proposed 440-mile 'security wall', which includes fences, trenches and other barriers, is needed to stop infiltration of terrorists from Palestinian territories into Israel.
Both Israel and the United States have the conviction that the court's intervention in the dispute is inappropriate and could undermine the chances of reviving the US-backed peace roadmap. Israel argues the question is political, not legal, and the court has no jurisdiction.
The fence building has also given rise to a dispute between Jordan and Israel. The Jordanians argue that the wall is illegal under international law, because it is being built on the territory that Israel occupied after the 1967 war.
They also think that the wall, by pushing Palestinians into Jordan, constitutes a breach of the 1994 peace treaty with Israel. The building of this wall inside the occupied territories has severe negative consequences for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
It imposes disproportionate and discriminatory restrictions on their movements within the occupied territories and causes other violations of their fundamental rights, including the right to work, to food, to medical care, to education and to an adequate standard of living.
After the ICJ verdict, Israel should be made to accept an international presence on the ground in order to protect the Palestinians from military incursions and encroachments, and Israelis from acts of terror.
Not only would this be far more effective than the wall that Israel is building; it could also help ensure the two-state solution essential for peace which the Israeli-defined security fence and an economically crippling blockade deny.
S.Q.AFZAL RIZVI
Karachi
Drowning: working out safety measures
It was sad to read of the drowning of picnickers in Karachi (Dawn, July 5). The next very day four teenage children drowned in Islamabad in a fish pond (Dawn, July 6). It seems that collectively we have no respect for human life. All this is because we have no faith, no discipline and no unity.
The loss of 12 precious lives could have been avoided if our navy, our civilian administration, our political organizations, our NGOs had plans to avert such catastrophes. But why should we plan? We do not want to use our brains. We will cry and mourn and prefer to hold soyem, chaliswan, barsi instead of planning.
Our electronic media has no time to teach the nation about fire and water safety. Water safety is very important and must be a part of our curriculum. Life-saving measures must be taught at all forums. For example:
- Every child should be taught swimming. For this there should be proper swimming pools in schools.
- For every place of recreation and for every place where there is deep water, there must be appropriate safety measures.
- People who are found negligent about these must be punished.
Let me suggest some measures for our picnic places:
- Navy-trained divers must be posted there round the clock.
- Dangerous places must be surveyed and clearly demarcated
- Unsafe places must be barb-wired
- Safe places for recreation must be created. A cul-de-sac may be created out of the main water body for swimming and playing in water. These places must be shallow and without danger of high tides.
- Life buoys must be present in good numbers.
- Ropes, wooden sticks and other life-saving things should be available.
- Life jackets must be made compulsory for all boats.
- A nominal fee, say Rs5 per person, may be charged to cover expenses.
- First aid and other medical support should be there. The divers must be trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
Fish ponds and other such deep-water tanks, including those which are dug for building construction, must have proper barbed wire fencing, with a locked gate. Such measures would certainly help to save many a life every year.
ANWAR UL HAQUE
Islamabad
Trial of Saddam
Recently the world witnessed important events that included the handover of power to the Iraqi interim government by the US and the 30-minute arraignment at Camp Victory, a former Saddam palace on the outskirts of Baghdad, where a defiant Saddam Hussein rejected accusations of war crimes and genocide in the special court, telling a judge that the real criminal was President Bush.
The interim Iraqi government began its journey by giving top priority to the biggest legal case in Iraqi history, the trial of Saddam and his 11 top regime leaders. The seven broad charges against Saddam are the killing of religious figures in 1974, gassing of Kurds in Halabja, killing the Kurdish Barzani clan in 1983, killing members of political parties in the last 30 years, the 1986-88 'Anfal' campaign of displacing Kurds, the suppression of the 1991 uprisings by Kurds and Shias and the 1990 invasion of Kuwait
The prosecution of these Iraqi leaders presents a major challenge to the interim government as political observers speculate that starting the trial immediately after the 'transfer of power' is to please Mr Bush to boost his credibility before the forthcoming US presidential elections.
But the trial could have the opposite effect, possibly widening the chasm between Iraq's different communities - Kurds, Shias and Sunnis. Critics are justified in saying that till the transfer of full sovereignty, formation of a genuinely elected government and complete withdrawal of occupation forces, a free, impartial and fair trial is impossible.
However If the process develops into a fair and impartial trial with proper evidence of Saddam's guilt, many Iraqis who had allegedly suffered grievously will be better able to come to terms with the past.
It remains unclear who has framed the charges against Saddam and his co-defendants and under what laws the proceedings will be pursued. At least one law is about to be re-written - to restore the death penalty, presumably so that it can be implemented.
In any case substantive proceedings are unlikely to begin until next year and this can happen only when the Iraqis have an elected government and not a US-appointed regime.
MUHAMMAD SAEED AKHTAR
Islamabad
Squandering history
In an advertisement supplement of Dawn of June 2, Dr Asma Ibrahim recounts the archeological task accomplished with the collaboration of an Italian archeological mission. One can also see it as a tragic tale of the loss of a sizable portion of icons from our historical past.
Foreign archaeological missions have shipped loads of archeological finds, without an accurate record. Some of them adorn the galleries of the ISMEO (now ISIAO) museum in Rome.
The greater portion is stocked in warehouses. What has happened is reminiscent of colonial times. Glaring examples are the Elgin marbles (Parthenon) and Egyptian antiquities pilfered since the Roman times.
Colonial India also misappropriated archeological material which is now displayed in the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. This, however, was done with discretion and an accurate record was kept under the vigilant eyes of Sir Alexander Cunningham and Sir John Marshal.
Permission for Italian missions was arranged in the '50s by the late Prof Giuseppe Tucci. It is unlikely that the establishment asked for endorsement from the public or parliament. The writer personally knew Prof Tucci. He was a good and enterprising scholar.
Because of his love for Tibetan antiquities, a lama assisting Prof Tucci once told me, Rabindranath Tagore discouraged his entry into Shanti Niketan, which has a rich collection of Tibetan manuscripts.
While at it, we must also talk of another tragic tale. Someone handed over, while dividing assets, the Mohenjodaro dancing girl (2300-1700 BC) to India. This is, perhaps, the most important object in the National Museum of India. One who did it had no idea that its value is more than many physical areas disputed at great cost between the two countries.
DR ZIAUS SAMAD
Rome, Italy
'PM can campaign for Aziz'
Acting CEC Justice A.H. Dogar has said: "As long as Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is president of the Pakistan Muslim League, he can participate in the electioneering of Shaukat Aziz as head of the party" ("PM can campaign for Aziz", Dawn, July 11).
Justifying inaction against Mr Shaukat Aziz for his disqualification under a 2002 ban imposed on incumbent ministers to contest elections, Justice Dogar also said that the law no longer held the field, as it was not made a permanent piece of legislation after the 2002 elections.
The 2002 law banning a sitting minister from contesting election may or may not hold the field. But there is a law called the Political Parties Order 2002, which holds the field even today.
Under Section 9 of this law, the holder of an elected public office shall not hold a party office, and if at the time of his assumption of such office he holds a party office, he shall relinquish the party office before entering upon a public office.
Justice Dogar chose to refer to a law which he thought was non-existent but chose to ignore the other one under which Chaudhry Shujaat would either have to relinquish the office of PM or that of the party president.
Perhaps he should have explained this law as well to help a people groping in the dark in search of clarity. Choosing to ignore this law invites criticism of selectivity.
SENATOR FARHATULLAH BABAR
Islamabad
Why Pakistan remains undemocratic
Some enlightened young Pakistanis are earnestly asking their elders as to why Pakistan, created through democracy, is not democratic. Democracy is one where, firstly, the people are sovereign; have confidence in their sovereignty; have the ability to exercise their sovereignty by electing candidates in elections.
They should also have the capability to replace legislators in the next elections if the latter's performance is found unsatisfactory during their tenure. This comes through political education.
Secondly, democracy is dependent upon political parties with workable programmes for improving the life of the people and ensuring social justice. Political parties and politicians are the main educators of the people.
The majority of Pakistanis live in rural areas, overwhelming majority being illiterate peasants. Virtually all are slaves as the feudals' authority is more than that of the government. What the peasant grows, belongs to the feudal, out of which he is given a small tithe. Such miserable Pakistani cannot be sovereign.
In urban areas too illiteracy is the first impediment in exercise of sovereignty. Most of those living in kutchi abadis - the poor and the lower middle class - have to concentrate more on working hard to make a living.
How can they have political awareness? But worse, most are under the threat of many types of mafias, some thriving on selling, on a mass scale, the votes of these helpless people to the highest bidder.
In the last over two decades a political mafia has also come into being of disgruntled young men. It started on the basis of genuine grievances but since there is no political education in the country, they follow wayward policies.
A genuine political party is one which has come up through democratic political process - fee paying primary members who elect, from among themselves, leadership for all levels - local to national - in regularly-held party elections.
Such leaders being from among the people know the people's problems, and with experience acquire the capability of working out political solutions. In Pakistan, no political party has fee-paying primary members - if any has, let a list be published.
A religious party is an exception, but its leadership select primary members from the party's sympathisers who measure up to the party's already laid-down principles.
The natural question is: Why so? To find an answer we have to peep into the time before independence. Pakistan's founding party, the All India Muslim League, was formed in 1906 by big Muslim zamindars and nawabs to protect their interests.
Being an elitists club it required no 'common man' to be its primary member. They elected leaders from among themselves. It remained an elitist club, till 1937. They begged a non-feudal, a rich barrister with a lot of political experience as one of the top Congress leaders, to lead the party.
He immediately started a campaign, all over India, to convince Muslims to become the League's primary members. This campaign had a very positive response. After the 1940 Pakistan Resolution, most Muslims rushed to become primary members. Elections also came to be regularly held. But many League leaders, also, sought to rig them.
This tradition continued to be followed till 1947. Proof? Those elected as the League's president, general secretary, treasurer and members of the working committee and council in 1937 continued to be re-elected till 1947.
With such foundations, the party went into decline shortly after Pakistan's creation. The composition of the classes that we see today is a legacy of the League. The lack of trust in and respect for democracy shown by our founding leaders is the reason for the lack of democracy today. We are merely following a tradition set by our leaders.
GHULAM KIBRIA
Karachi
US visa seekers' plaint
I have given the USMLE (Steps 1 & 2) exam. I was to sit for another exam (the CSA) on August 14, 2004, and twice applied to the US embassy in Islamabad for a visa. My wife, who is also appearing in the same examination, also applied for a visa with me.
Both times I was rejected and the reason given was that the after taking exam I would apply for a change of visa status, get married and not come back to Pakistan. The visa officer who interviewed me told me that the particular exam that I has applied for (CSA) was a kind of scam and that I should tell "all my other friends" that the embassy would not be issuing visas for those who sit for the exam.
I don't quite understand the logic of this. If someone is planning to take the CSA, that means he or she will be working in the US if a matching residency programme is found.
And for that one's visa status will have to be changed. In any case, it is the INS's (Immigration and Naturalization Service) job to deal with change of visa status applications, so I am quite puzzled by the way the embassy dealt with my initial application.
DR MURTAZA ZAMIN RIZVI
Karachi
Help
A well-printed card was hand delivered to me last week emanating from Syed Bashir Ahmed Shah of Mehrabpur, Taluka Sakrand, District Nawabshah. It was an invitation which reads as follows:
"On the tragic occasion of the chopping down a glorious mango orchard of 125 acres in Mehrabpur, due to absence of canal water, you are requested to be a witness to the mournful ceremony."
Knowing him to be a serious, dour and stoic man, I listened to his tale of woe. His acreage holds some 5,000 fully grown, mature, fruit-bearing mango trees. For the last couple of years his orchard has received a highly inadequate supply of canal water. He has dug tubewells which spout saline water, not at all conducive to fruit-growing, and consequently his trees are barren, they bear no fruit.
So, he has sold his orchard to a hewer of wood and at 1000 hours on his 56th birthday, Saturday, July 17, the massacre of his trees is scheduled to begin. He wishes his friends to be present to share his sorrow.
He says that his chief minister, his irrigation minister, his agriculture minister are all unable or unwilling to help. They merely laugh and tell him to tackle the men in Punjab who control taps. Is there any man or woman amongst us who read this paper and who can save 5,000 precious well-loved trees?
ARDESHIR COWASJEE
Karachi
President's uniform
As reported in Dawn (July 12), Pakistan Muslim League Secretary-General Mushahid Hussain Sayed said: "The president's army uniform would remain a non-issue before December 31."
Should not the uniform (by being shed) become a non-issue after December 31? Hints dropped by President Musharraf's stalwarts hint at a future of broken promises and wilfulness on the part of the rulers.
MUBASHIR KHAN
Indianapolis, IN., USA
Military's training
In response to Mr Mubashir Khan's letter (July 10), I would go a step further. There should be training for the military not only in politics but also in several other professions and disciplines.
Since the military is everywhere, it only makes sense that they be trained properly to do these other jobs. The military is in road construction, transport, sport, management, banking, insurance, power distribution, revenue collection, cereals and even the mineral water business now.
DR OBAIDULLAH
Darlington, UK
Functions on roads
In Karachi's Nazimabad, it has become a practice to block inside lanes for private functions. People take the liberty of pitching tents on the main roads. The main roads leading from all directions to the Gole Market in Nazimabad 3 are frequently blocked.
Even the road running through Block 3 which is also a bus and a mini-bus route is not spared. The day is not far off when one may find tents on the flyover in the area. It is hoped that the city nazim and the area nazims will take note of this public grievance and respond positively.
DR ABUZAR ARSHI SIDDIQUI
Karachi
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