Friends in need
18-04-2009
A HUGE challenge lies ahead. It is clear that the international community acknowledges the importance of a socially and economically stable Pakistan, a goal that differs markedly from the current reality. The pledges made at the Friends of Pakistan meeting in Tokyo show that the world is cognisant of the dangers facing Pakistan, and realises that our problems are not ours alone. The domino effect of Pakistan falling to the militants was summed up by President Zardari when he said that “If we lose, you lose. If we lose, the world loses.” He is spot on in his assessment, even if it carries with it a touch of Gen Musharraf’s ‘you can’t do without me’ strategy of dealing with the West. Also, should his words be construed as an inadvertent admission that Pakistan is indeed the global hub of terrorism and militancy? Why else would the nation’s welfare be so important to far-flung countries?
Pakistan has been in tight spots before but our predicament today is perhaps unmatched. We are dealing not with an external enemy or separatists but an army of home-grown barbarians that wants to impose a system of ‘governance’ wholly at odds with our core values. We need all the help we can get. But here’s the real challenge: we have to keep our side of the bargain. So far, successive governments have capitulated to the Taliban who need to be taken head-on, not appeased. A drastic rethink is in order. Otherwise the state will end up ceding territory one district after the other and no amount of foreign aid will help reverse the tide.
The money pledged at Tokyo — $5.28bn at last count — covers a range of issues, from energy needs and economic support to healthcare, education and poverty alleviation. In the short term, this show of support could bolster investor confidence and give local markets a much-needed jab in the arm. It is also hoped that creating job opportunities and building more schools and hospitals in the tribal belt will change mindsets and thereby deprive the Taliban of fresh recruits. True, uneducated and unemployed young men with no prospects are lured by the militants’ promises of a monthly wage, immediate empowerment, eternal salvation and, equally importantly, a sense of identity. But here’s the rub. How can infrastructure be developed in areas controlled by the Taliban? How can new schools be built when the few educational institutions that still exist are blown up by militants? Who will invest in a factory in Waziristan knowing that his managers could be kidnapped for ransom and his stocks destroyed or stolen? No progress is possible while the Taliban call the shots. The sooner the government understands this, the better off the country will be as a whole.
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More ‘accountability’?
18-04-2009
LIKE the law and constitution and all noble concepts reduced by our politicians and generals to a farce, accountability, too, has been nothing more than a convenient shibboleth. While rulers Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto relied on ‘screening’ and wholesale dismissals to get rid of officers presumed corrupt or on the wrong side of the regime, it was Ziaul Haq who used accountability unabashedly as an instrument of political persecution. In the post-Zia period, both the PPP and PML-N harassed, arrested and tried their rivals for reasons which were more often than not political and parochial. A large number of these politicians and public servants were justifiably perceived as guilty of malfeasance, but they were incarcerated — sometimes without trial — not for meeting the ends of justice but because they were on the wrong side politically. When political vendetta was the motive, the accountability process had to be selective. During the Musharraf era, some politicians known to be corrupt were spared accountability and given key posts in the federal cabinet because they agreed to collaborate with the military regime. Then a new concept found its way into our accountability jargon — plea bargaining, which, in effect, meant a corrupt politician or public servant could keep part of the loot if he accepted guilt and surrendered the rest.
On Wednesday, the government tabled in the National Assembly a bill designed to scrap the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 and establish an Accountability Commission to mete out justice to corrupt public officeholders in a “just, transparent and non-oppressive manner”. The bill will apply to former presidents, prime ministers and parliamentarians accused of corruption and excludes public servants. It doesn’t matter what the new name of the accountability institution will be; what does is that the process of justice should conform to the aims mentioned. The laws already on the statute books are comprehensive enough for this purpose provided the government of the day follows due process, and the laws are applied to all citizens in a manner that does not smack of dishonesty and excludes pardon or reprieve under foreign pressure — or for reasons of political expediency manifested in the National Reconciliation Ordinance. One is surprised, however, that the proposed law disqualifies a convict from becoming an MP only for five years. This is astonishing. Someone whose guilt has been truly established has no business to sit again among those who make laws for the nation’s good.
like the law and constitu- tion and all noble concepts reduced by our politicians and generals to a farce, ac- countability, too, has been nothing more than a conven- ient shibboleth. while rulers ayub khan, yahya khan and zulfikar ali bhutto relied on ‘screening’ and wholesale dismissals to get rid of offi- cers presumed corrupt or on the wrong side of the regime, it was ziaul haq who used ac- countability unabashedly as an instrument of political persecution. in the post-zia period, both the ppp and pml-n harassed, arrested and tried their rivals for rea- sons which were more often than not political and paro- chial. a large number of these politicians and public servants were justifiably per- ceived as guilty of malfea- sance, but they were incar- cerated — sometimes with- out trial — not for meeting the ends of justice but be- cause they were on the wrong side politically. when politi- cal vendetta was the motive, the accountability process had to be selective. during the musharraf era, some pol- iticians known to be corrupt were spared accountability and given key posts in the federal cabinet because they agreed to collaborate with the military regime. then a new concept found its way in- to our accountability jargon — plea bargaining, which, in effect, meant a corrupt politi- cian or public servant could keep part of the loot if he ac- cepted guilt and surrendered the rest. on wednesday, the govern- ment tabled in the national assembly a bill designed to scrap the national accounta- bility ordinance, 1999 and es- tablish an accountability commission to mete out jus- tice to corrupt public office- holders in a “just, transpar- ent and non-oppressive man- ner”. the bill will apply to former presidents, prime ministers and parliamentari- ans accused of corruption and excludes public servants. it doesn’t matter what the new name of the accountability in- stitution will be; what does is that the process of justice should conform to the aims mentioned. the laws already on the statute books are com- prehensive enough for this purpose provided the govern- ment of the day follows due process, and the laws are applied to all citizens in a manner that does not smack of dishonesty and excludes pardon or reprieve under for- eign pressure — or for rea- sons of political expediency manifested in the national reconciliation ordinance. one is surprised, however, that the proposed law dis- qualifies a convict from be- coming an mp only for five years. this is astonishing. someone whose guilt has been truly established has no business to sit again among those who make laws for the nation’s good.
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Is Israel to be believed?
18-04-2009
TO attack or not to attack? That is the question Israeli policymakers are toying with when it comes to their stance vis-à-vis Iranian nuclear facilities. The latest statement has come from President Shimon Peres’ office rejecting speculation that his country might attack Iran to preempt its manufacture of atomic weapons. The Israeli president’s words would have been seen in a positive light in a region where conflict always seems just round the corner. But in the Middle East brinkmanship is the name of the game. Hence to be believed Mr Peres and his hawkish prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, will be expected to do more to assure Tehran that Israel is renouncing the military option. After all, less than a week ago President Peres had warned on Israeli radio that his government would “respond with force” if the American offer to Iran for a dialogue on uranium enrichment failed. Hence it would not be surprising if Thursday’s statement is perceived as being directed towards assuring the Obama administration of Israel’s moderation.
Interestingly Israel’s attempts at repositioning its stance come at a time when Iran and the US are moving closer to a dialogue in preparation for which the political climate between them has become more conciliatory. On Wednesday Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad indicated his willingness to build new ties with the US. He said that he was working on new proposals to break the nuclear impasse with the West. With so much hope in the air it would be a pity if Israel were to jeopardise peace prospects. Israel’s past record does not inspire much confidence in its peace credentials. It launched strikes on Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981 and has traditionally used excessive military force against the Palestinians even when the two sides were not engaged in conflict and aggression was not warranted. If Barack Obama wants his new strategy in the Middle East and Afghanistan to work he will have to take Iran on board. He has shown sagacity in seeking a broad-based inclusive approach to the region. But he must do more to keep Israeli bellicosity and ambitions in check if he doesn’t want Mr Netanyahu’s government to be throwing a spanner in the works.
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OTHER VOICES : Srilankan Press : A historic visit
PRESIDENT Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday paid a land- mark visit to Kilinochchi — the first Southern leader to under- take such a visit since the visit of Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake nearly 60 years ago. The visit by President Rajapaksa to Kilinochchi, until recently the de facto political capital of the LTTE’s so-called Eelam, also marks a watershed in the three- and-half-decade-long ethnic con- flict. It is a symbolic occasion heralding the dismantling of hitherto entrenched structures built by the LTTE and also sends a clear massage that the writ of the government is about to take firm root where once the Tiger terrorists held sway….
This will no doubt herald the development of the north as a whole to bring it on par with the rest of the country. The road may be long and the journey arduous. But a beginning has been made….
Hopefully the president with his constant emphasis on supporting the local producer will be able to revisit that not so distant past when the economies of the north and the south were interlinked to the greater benefit of the national economy.
But first the healing of the scars of the three-decade-long war should take precedence and this we are certain will be uppermost in the mind of the president who has already put in motion several projects and programmes towards achieving this objective. The president’s visit to Kilinochchi thus sends a significant message to the nation in the just-dawned Sinhala and Hindu new year.
We must all be grateful to our heroic security forces for liberating Kilinochchi and the rest of the north, shattering the myth of [the] Tigers’ ‘invincibility’. By going all the way to Kilinochchi to meet the troops and express ing [his] gratitude, he has re minded us all that we are breath ing free due to the valiant efforts of the forces.
The presidential visit also serves to highlight the govern ment’s commitment to develop the newly liberated areas….
Kilinochchi, Jaffna, Elephant Pass and Mullaitivu have been re gained…. With the LTTE facing oblivion, the nation has a golden opportunity for peace and recon ciliation without a ruthless divi sive factor. — (April 17) ¦
president mahinda rajapaksa yesterday paid a land- mark visit to kilinochchi — the first southern leader to under- take such a visit since the visit of prime minister d.s. senanayake nearly 60 years ago. the visit by president rajapaksa to kilinochchi, until recently the de facto political capital of the ltte’s so-called eelam, also marks a watershed in the three- and-half-decade-long ethnic con- flict. it is a symbolic occasion heralding the dismantling of hitherto entrenched structures built by the ltte and also sends a clear massage that the writ of the government is about to take firm root where once the tiger terrorists held sway…. this will no doubt herald the development of the north as a whole to bring it on par with the rest of the country. the road may be long and the journey arduous. but a beginning has been made…. hopefully the president with his constant emphasis on sup- porting the local producer will be able to revisit that not so distant past when the economies of the north and the south were inter- linked to the greater benefit of the national economy. but first the healing of the scars of the three-decade-long war should take precedence and this we are certain will be upper- most in the mind of the president who has already put in motion several projects and pro- grammes towards achieving this objective. the president’s visit to kilinochchi thus sends a signifi- cant message to the nation in the just-dawned sinhala and hindu new year. we must all be grateful to our heroic security forces for liberating kilinochchi and the rest of the north, shat- tering the myth of [the] tigers’ ‘invincibility’. by going all the way to kilinochchi to meet the troops and express- ing [his] gratitude, he has re- minded us all that we are breath- ing free due to the valiant efforts of the forces. the presidential visit also serves to highlight the govern- ment’s commitment to develop the newly liberated areas…. kilinochchi, jaffna, elephant pass and mullaitivu have been re- gained…. with the ltte facing oblivion, the nation has a golden opportunity for peace and recon- ciliation without a ruthless divi- sive factor. — (april 17) ¦