Mixed lessons from Nepal

THE Maoists’ decision to quit the interim Nepalese government over their demand for immediate abolishment of the monarchy can mean serious reverses for the fragile democratic process in the country. The Maoists have so far refused to rejoin the coalition set-up. They have threatened to hold street protests and to boycott and disrupt the November polls to a new constituent assembly which will decide the fate of Nepal’s enervated monarchy. The former rebels say that a special parliamentary session must settle the question before the elections, and have called for the resignation of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala who, they allege, has not fulfilled his responsibilities. In fact, the same charges can be applied to the Maoists who, despite their claims to the contrary, are reneging on their commitment to the truce signed with the government last year. Moreover, with anger and frustration boiling over among former Maoist combatants living in squalid conditions in UN camps, there are fears that Nepal could go back to the days of civil war. Violence in the south, particularly following the killing of a Muslim leader, has also contributed to the environment of uncertainty.

There may be some truth to the general observation that the Maoists are apprehensive about the polls as they fear a low vote count. Equally, we can assume that their tactics are intended to pressure the government into ceding to their demands. Whatever the case, the sensible course would be to view democracy in the country in its entirety and refrain from giving it a partisan colour. In this context, Nepal’s massive pro-democracy protests last year held out some lessons for Third World countries striving for a democratic set-up. They showed that democracy does not necessarily come at the cost of violence and bloodshed, and that it is possible for old foes to come together on a common platform for the sake of peace and freedom. After all, very few people were killed during the demonstrations last year. Their collective demand

for an end to authoritarianism was enough to force the king to restore parliament which then proceeded to strip him of all his powers. Wisely then, the Maoists agreed to lay down their arms, while retaining certain demands, and entered into an accord with the mainstream parties that would help integrate them in the political process. For the people, this was a positive sign. With armed animosities out of the way, the government would be able to concentrate on development works and poverty reduction.

However, the Maoists’ adamant posture might cause all such hopes to be dashed. Disruptive strikes and a possible recourse to violence are unlikely to solve Nepal’s problems. Dialogue between the disparate political forces is necessary to overcome obstacles and the Maoists should be open to this if they truly want the common man in Nepal to be liberated from the shackles of poverty, violence and political despotism.

The curse of bonded labour

THE government’s inability to implement laws which forbid bonded labour means it will take much longer to eradicate the scourge. This does not help the estimated 1.5m bonded labourers, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, who will remain trapped in slavery with no hope of getting out. This is especially true of brick kiln workers and peasants working on lands who are the worst victims as they do not receive any of the minimum wages they are legally entitled to. At a seminar on the issue in Lahore on Thursday, a brick kiln workers’ leader said that a part of the reason the workers were not receiving their minimum wages was because 80 per cent of the estimated 15,000 kilns had not been registered. This is also despite the fact that they are required by law to be registered but that too is not implemented. Nor is an earlier Supreme Court ruling which cancelled any debt bonded labourers may have owed to their employers. That was meant to end a vicious cycle where a worker was never able to pay off his debts — usually incurred by his forefathers — because he was paid paltry sums by his employer, thereby keeping him entrapped in slavery ad infinitum. The concept of workers demanding their due rights is an alien one so the cycle of abuse is perpetuated. To break this and other forms of injustice, it is imperative for the law enforcers to do their job and implement laws that have been amended to bring about relief. This requires the police registering workers’ complaints of abuse without any fear of reprisal from influential quarters. It also requires the administration to remain impartial and conduct inspections of places like brick kilns, mines, factories and

agricultural lands to ensure that working conditions there are in accordance to the law. If they are found to be in violation, the proprietors should be prosecuted and duly punished.

What is desperately needed is a long-term strategy which will address all forms of social injustice. Sadly this government has not shown the steely will that is needed to tackle such issues. One can only hope that the next government will work tirelessly to ensure that all laws are strictly implemented, without which the country will remain hostage to many social and brutal evils, of which bonded labour is just one curse.

Need for restraint

ONE redeeming feature of the current political tug of war is that it is being fought in the legal and constitutional arena. Two precedent-setting judicial verdicts have rocked the military-led government, served to advance the cause of law and constitution and made a dent in authoritarianism. On July 20, the Supreme Court restored Mr Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to his position as Chief Justice, and on Aug 23 it ruled, on the Sharifs’ petition, that every Pakistani had an inalienable right to return to his country. At present, the court is seized of a crucial issue — namely, whether Gen Pervez Musharraf has the right to contest a presidential election while he is still the army chief. The judgments already delivered, and the one expected on the uniform issue shortly, will have a profound impact on our politics and hopefully put Pakistan on the road to a stable representative system which upholds the citizens’ right to vote and determine their ultimate destiny.

Against this background the decision by the legal community’s representatives to ‘besiege’ the offices of the Election Commission on Sept 29 appears rather odd. By their countrywide movement this summer, the lawyers had won the nation’s gratitude. They resisted despotism and fought for the cause of an independent judiciary. Their struggle was not an easy one for they put themselves at great personal risk and braved physical hardship. At this stage they should not be seen as abandoning the decorum their profession demands. But the kind of statement made by some lawyers at their press conference in Islamabad on Thursday is hardly in keeping with the kind of restraint expected of them at a crucial moment in Pakistan’s history. Some politicians in the NWFP have also threatened to besiege the provincial assembly to prevent the MPAs from casting their vote on Oct 6. Are actions such as these — the siege of the EC offices and the quarantine of the PA building — really going to decide the issue of the day? One doubts it. Let the judicial and electoral processes take their course. Any other tactics could prove counterproductive and hinder rather than advance the cause of democracy and constitutionalism.

Bridging the digital divide

INFORMATION and communication technology is one of the key drivers that have shaped the modern world. It is a major catalyst of globalisation that has brought the world closer together, enabling people around the world to benefit from the opportunities of increasing economic integration.

Information and communication technology is an engine of social and economic development with a cross-cutting impact on all sectors of the economy and society at large. It is a keystone of the knowledge economy and a critical input for gaining competitive advantage in the current global environment. For countries like Pakistan, it opens a window of opportunity to move into the value-added information and knowledge-based economy.

Information and communication technology has indeed revolutionised modern life in many ways. Yet for millions of people around the globe, mostly in poor countries, there remains a digital divide excluding them from the benefits of information and communication technology. It is thus far a tale of two worlds.

Bridging the digital divide should, therefore, be a key element of the global development agenda. Undoubtedly, a lot of progress has been made in developing information technology infrastructure and global connectivity, creating an enabling environment, and instilling confidence by promoting cyber-security. However, a lot more needs to be done to increase the access of millions of people around the globe to information technology, particularly for low-income groups in developing countries.

Both the developed and developing countries must have a shared vision of how the world can eliminate the digital cleavage in content and physical infrastructure, thus leading the way to a truly open, inclusive and prosperous telecommunications age.

All stakeholders — governments, private sector, civil society, international agencies — should find effective vehicles of how developing nations can take advantage of new opportunities through pioneering technological and financing solutions. This requires a strong commitment among all stakeholders to be able to keep pace with a moving target.

In an increasingly networked world, young people are not only the beneficiaries but often the driving force behind the latest innovations and practices. Being the future workforce, it is extremely important to bring all children and youth within the fold of the ongoing digital revolution. In order to achieve this critical objective, national e-strategies must address the special requirements of children, specially the disadvantaged and marginalised, and ensure their full inclusion in the information society.

On the one hand, steps should be taken to enhance capacity-building among the young through improved e-learning and education, while on the other, an enabling environment should be created to utilise their capabilities towards the advancement of a better, more peaceful and productive world. The key to achieving the development aspirations of humanity lies in investing in the future generation.

Improving the access of information technology to young people has a special relevance to Pakistan — a country of 160 million people, of whom 100 million are below the age of 25 years. In contrast to many countries with aging populations, Pakistan has a large pool of young and enterprising people who are entering the workforce. Our country is, therefore, well positioned to reap the demographic dividend. Realising this dividend presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The best way to leverage this potential is to focus on human development and in particular on education and skills reflecting national and international job market requirements.

Pakistan in recent years has made remarkable progress by way of reform and the resultant growth of the information and communication technology sector. We are moving forward with great speed to bridge the digital divide in the country by improving access to information and communication technology for low-income groups.

Like other sectors of the economy, reforms in the information technology and telecom sector have been underpinned by the principles of liberalisation, privatisation, deregulation, separation of policy, regulation and operations and transparent business processes.

The telecom sector has gone through rapid growth, showing the greatest impact of policy reforms. In a few years, this sector has reached new heights. Teledensity has increased from three per cent in 2000 to 40 per cent in 2007, which is the highest in South Asia.

As a result, the total number of fixed and mobile subscribers has reached 67 million, with a major contribution coming from the mobile sector. About 22 million youngsters are already connected on mobile networks. Pakistan has already crossed the Asian connectivity average, surpassing India and Sri Lanka and getting close to China.

Pakistan continues to be one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world.

Investments in the telecom infrastructure and consequent improvement in services are having positive spill-over effects on the economy. In the fully liberalised and deregulated environment of Pakistan, telecom and information technology companies are expanding their networks, business and customer base. The telecom sector attracted foreign investment on licence and infrastructure of over nine billion dollars during the last five years, and another four billion dollars are expected on roll-out by 2010.

The expansion of the telecom sector has created employment opportunities in the country through linkages in the value chain such as franchise, sale, promotion, infrastructure and equipment. The benefits of reform and growth have also trickled down to the general public and consumers through substantial reduction in prices for both fixed and mobile services.

Although there have been considerable achievements in the information and communication technology sector, many challenges remain. A major challenge to future growth is the availability of a highly skilled and semi-skilled workforce in this sector. There is a shortage of high-quality graduates in view of the increasing industry demand. Apart from this, appropriate infrastructure is also required to support the expansion of the telecom services.

In view of the importance of broadband for convergence of computing, communication and broadcasting, the coverage of broadband connections needs to be expanded. Be it initiatives for establishing e-governance or providing e-services to citizens, availability and affordability of broadband are essential.

There is also a need to build capacity in academic institutions to engage in cutting-edge research and development required for supporting a globally competitive high-tech industry. The linkages between industry and research institutions need to be strengthened to provide commercial underpinnings to research and development activities. The inclusion of youth in the development process through skill development should remain the major focus of the development strategy.

Young people are among the most prolific and knowledgeable users of information and communication technology. But the digital chasm leaves many out of this picture and unable to benefit fully from the opportunities of globalisation. It may be emphasised that young people everywhere must have equal opportunities to rise out of poverty and illiteracy and to realise their full potential.

Policymakers and industry leaders should put their minds together to produce suitable technologies, applications and services to facilitate access to children and youth. Visionary public policies, innovative business models and creative technological solutions should be promoted to empower young people and place them on the vanguard of the journey for development. The world needs to build a society which is open and pluralistic and where all people have access to information and knowledge.

The writer is a civil servant. The views expressed by him are his own.

samisaeed7@hotmail.com

Gastright visit & concern over human rights

Amar Desh

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John Gastright underscored the need to ensure human rights of the people — mostly politicians — now behind bars in Bangladesh and expected progress in the caretaker government’s effort to restore democracy.

Gastright said he spoke “frankly” with the caretaker government about reform efforts and the election roadmap.

But he apparently ducked the issue of whether any reform initiative would be successful when the two former prime ministers are in prison.

It seems that the US is still a strong backer of the so-called Minus-2 Formula. Gastright’s concern over democracy, human rights and the rule of law also runs deep among Bangladeshis. But many believe that the US played a role in creating the situation we are now passing through.

Does it mean that an unelected government is necessary to live up to US expectations? Questions linger and we are concerned. — (Sept 21)

Left in the lurch

Ittefaq

BANGLADESHI workers in Malaysia have been left alone to fight their own battles. Unscrupulous recruiting agents and greed and neglect of duty by the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur have added to the sufferings of the workers.

As many as 110 workers went on hunger strike in front of the high commission in KL, demanding six-month dues for work and repatriation to Bangladesh.

It is saddening that the henchmen of the recruiting agent launched physical assaults on the striking workers.

Bangladesh has lodged a serious complaint with the Malaysian government against PTC Asia Pacific, a Malaysian company at the heart of the controversy. Bangladesh foreign affairs adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury threatened that any Bangladeshi involved with the Malaysian company would be punished.

Missions of other countries around the world pay equal attention to economic and political interests. It defies all explanation why Bangladesh missions cannot act a little more responsibly. — (Sept 21)

— Selected and translated by Arun Devnath