[sacw] SACW #2. (13 Oct. 01)

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Wire
13 October 2001
http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex

------------------------------------------

#1. Pakistan: Legitimising Military Rule
#2. Future of a Fatal Symbiosis
#3. Patriotism in times of Hindutva or Fighting America's War on Indian Soi=
l
#4. Online maps of Afghanistan:
#5. On the clash of civilizations and systems - Which way to go post Septem=
ber?
#6. The Mujahid and his Driver
#7. India: Ordinance coming - draconian powers to the government to=20
prohibit organisations from receiving foreign funds
#7. Interesting new book

________________________

#1.

Economic and Politcal Weekly | October 6, 2001

PAKISTAN: LEGITIMISING MILITARY RULE
S Akbar Zaidi

Probably the greatest casualty for Pakistan following the events of=20
recent weeks, is the death knell sounded to a return to democracy in=20
the country for the foreseeable future. While there were some critics=20
and sceptics who were not willing to support a Musharraf-as-president=20
democratic order, arguing that any sense and notion of democracy=20
would be severely controlled, compromised and undermined if we had=20
the military heading Pakistan's government, there were a large number=20
of those who had thrown in their lot with the experimentation with=20
democracy currently under way. They were arguing that because of=20
Pakistan's poor record of democracy in the past, this new=20
dispensation ought to be given a chance. The return to democracy, of=20
any kind, it seems, is now a thing of the past, and the only 'road=20
map' which now exists is the one leading to Afghanistan.

What is most ironic and ought to be emphasised time and time again,=20
is that it is the most powerful democracy in the world, with its own=20
notions of freedom and justice, which is probably going to be=20
responsible for giving any form of real democracy in Pakistan an=20
unceremonious burial. By supporting, strengthening and legitimising a=20
military regime, which ousted a democratically elected leader, the US=20
in order to achieve its own goals in this region has delivered a=20
fatal blow to democracy in Pakistan. Necessity and politics, indeed,=20
make strange bedfellows.

If history repeats itself, the second time as farce, we are to be=20
witness to a theatre of extraordinary proportions. The parallels=20
between 1979 and 2001 seem so similar, that one wonders whether=20
Pakistan has at all moved forward in these two decades.

In 1979, the head of Pakistan's army had been in office two years=20
after ousting a democratically elected government. His government was=20
in trouble and floundering. The democratic west had distanced itself=20
from this regime which was using the name of Islam to legitimise=20
itself by cultivating links with Islamic groups. General Zia ul Haq=20
was saved by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan that year and=20
Pakistan became a front line state against communism and Soviet=20
expansionism in the region. General Zia stayed on in power for nine=20
more years after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and was removed=20
from office involuntarily. His long and ruthless (by Pakistani=20
standards) rule would not have been possible without the very strong=20
political, military and financial backing of the west, and=20
particularly of the US.

Now, two decades later, the backdrop once again seems very similar.=20
Two years after removing a democratically elected leader, a military=20
general has been sent an extraordinary opportunity to extend his rule=20
indefinitely, in the fight for the western world's notion of justice=20
in this 'War against Terror'. His saviour, like his predecessor's, is=20
once again Afghanistan, and Pakistan once again emerges as the front=20
line state, this time against 'terrorism' or perhaps even against=20
fundamentalism.

However, the similarities between the two episodes and events stop=20
here. In 1979 general Zia was on a weaker footing than general=20
Musharraf is in 2001, in terms of political opposition. The incumbent=20
government has less to worry about from local protestors and=20
dissenters. Also, if one can use such a word for a military=20
government, the present government is a far more 'polite' and less=20
ruthless, perhaps even a soft, weaker, version of military rule=20
compared to the one two decades earlier. There are huge differences=20
in the two military leaders primarily because of the political and=20
social conditions within Pakistan, and also because the world is a=20
very different place two decades on.

There is one crucial difference between the two moments, and this is=20
where the present military government would be most grateful for=20
generous western and US support. Pakistan's economy has been=20
teetering on the brink of collapse for a number of years. In fact,=20
since the end of the 1980s, Pakistan's economy has been growing at a=20
far slower pace than it had earlier. Since 1998, after the nuclear=20
tests and the freeze on the Foreign Currency Accounts (and not on=20
account of the sanctions), the economy has come to a near halt, with=20
growth rates averaging no more than 3 or 4 per cent. Add to that the=20
sanctions and the response of many nations of the world to the=20
military coup in 1999, and Pakistan had been left out in the cold,=20
with aid, assistance, and investment coming to a halt. Domestic=20
uncertainty, too, made things far worse, with financial and human=20
capital taking flight in unprecedented proportions.

The US's 'War against Terror' has changed Pakistan's destiny once=20
again. All the sanctions related to the nuclear tests have been=20
lifted, as have, not surprisingly, those imposed on the military=20
government on account of overthrowing democratic rule. Within a few=20
days of the launching of the war against terrorism, Pakistan's=20
profile in the eyes of the west, and particularly the Americans, has=20
changed completely. We are once again seen as the 'good guys'. Aid is=20
once again pouring in, sanctions have been lifted, and Pakistan's=20
military government is being seen in a very favourable light, as=20
defenders of the faith of the civilised world.

A 'stable' Pakistan is what the Americans want, not necessarily a=20
democratic Pakistan. Besides, our variety of democracy is inherently=20
unstable and weak, as it would be in countries in democratic=20
transition, where periods of democracy have been interrupted by=20
military rule. Clearly, at times like this, it is in the west's=20
interest to support a stable military government which can be relied=20
on, rather than let experiments with democracy continue. If, as the=20
leader of the democratic world says, this is going to be a long war=20
of some years we, in Pakistan, can be sure that democracy, for some=20
years to come, is not going to be on the agenda of either the=20
military government in power or the champions of the democratic west.=20
What Pakistan needs to be is a stable, reliable, front-line state,=20
fighting someone else's war.

_______

#2.

Economic and Political Weekly | October 6, 2001

FUTURE OF A FATAL SYMBIOSIS
Sumanta Banerjee

Talking about her countrymen, the American writer Lillian Hellman=20
once said: "...we are a people who do not remember much". Talking=20
about his countrymen today, an Afghan emigre Tamim Ansary says:=20
"...they would love someone to eliminate the Taliban and clear out=20
the rat's nest of international thugs holed up in their country" (The=20
Indian Express, September 23, 2001). Caught between a forgetful=20
people encouraging their rulers to go berserk in their homicidal=20
revengefulness, and a starving people imprisoned in a cage of=20
religious memories created by fanatical zealots who are bent on an=20
equally vengeful suicidal retaliation, the world in the new=20
millennium seems to be readying itself for another catastrophe.
Meanwhile, the opponents keep on arguing between themselves about who=20
is really guilty of the September 11 attacks in New York and=20
Washington. The US first blamed a Palestinian group, but then=20
developed a fixation about Osama bin Laden - whose hosts in=20
Afghanistan, among many others, are demanding evidence for the=20
allegation. Wild speculations range from suspicions about a Zionist=20
plot (voiced by Iraq, for instance) to the bizarre theory (circulated=20
in private) that the CIA itself organised it to stampede all the=20
states into a global alliance against the enemies of the US, in the=20
name of fighting terrorism! While the PLO and Osama bin Laden have=20
publicly dissociated themselves from the attacks, the only group=20
which has till now owned up to the events of September 11 is a=20
Japan-based long-lost terrorist bunch called the 'Red Army'. If we go=20
back to the television and newspaper reports immediately after the=20
attacks, we shall come across the name of this group claiming=20
responsibility. We do not know whether it was an announcement of=20
sheer bravado or actual operation. But curiously enough, neither the=20
international media nor the US intelligence agencies appeared to have=20
followed it up. This however should not make us believe in the=20
innocence of Osama bin Laden, given the wide network of his fanatical=20
followers in Al Qaeda.

But knowing the way the US intelligence services goof up, we cannot=20
believe their allegations either. And knowing the way the US army=20
misses its targets, we cannot have any faith in their claims to=20
future success. Their two earlier attempts to target Osama and his=20
group ended in ridiculous disaster. The missile attacks in=20
Afghanistan missed Osama's hideout. The bombing in Sudan destroyed a=20
pharmaceutical factory - foolishly identified as an Al Qaeda shelter=20
by the CIA! If anything more was necessary to expose the fragility of=20
US economic and military supremacy, the ruins of the WTC and the=20
Pentagon should have been enough. Even in their aftermath, the US=20
intelligence agencies proved to be as stupid as in the past, by=20
naming two Saudis as the suicide bombers - Hussein Gharamallah=20
al-Ghamdi, a pilot, and an engineer called Abdelaziz al-Omari - both=20
of whom turned out to be very much alive, one working in Tunis, the=20
other in Saudi Arabia. The latter does not even know how to fly a=20
plane.

All these should have opened the eyes of the servile Indian=20
government and the gullible Indian media. But habits die hard. Even=20
today, both are all too ready to bend over backwards to woo the US.=20
New Delhi - even without any request from Washington - offered to=20
open up its air bases and other military facilities to US troops. In=20
a well-deserved rebuff to the Indian government, the US rejected the=20
offer, and turned to its rival Pakistan - Washington's old ally,=20
unreliable, but purchasable - for negotiating with the Taliban to=20
hand over Osama bin Laden. At the time of the writing, one is not yet=20
sure whether the US is willing to go the whole hog in fighting global=20
terrorism, or just be satisfied with the capture of Osama, 'dead or=20
alive'.

As for the Indian media, the editor of one leading national daily=20
discovered the "understated dignity of the Americans" in the face of=20
the September 11 attacks, and went gaga over how there is "no public=20
outcry to go bombing somebody...there is no clamour for instant=20
revenge" (Shekhar Gupta in The Indian Express, September 15, 2001).=20
Yet, Gupta being a journalist should have known that just two days=20
before his clean chit to the Americans, an important US personality,=20
stated to be a former Secretary of State, Lawrence Eagleburger had=20
this to say on the CNN: "There is only one way to begin to deal with=20
people like this, and that is you have to kill some of them even if=20
they are not immediately directly involved in this thing" (September=20
13). As if to mock Shekhar Gupta, within a few days, news came from=20
the US about Americans targeting Arab citizens in the US. As long as=20
the attacks were confined to the Arabs, we Indians did not protest.=20
But soon Indian Sikhs were being assaulted, one of them being killed.=20
The Sikhs in the US, instead of taking up the general issue of racist=20
attacks, preferred to demonstrate and defend their separate identity=20
by coming out in the streets holding placards saying: 'We are not=20
Arabs, not Muslims, we are Sikhs' - as if Arabs and Muslims were=20
untouchables!

It raises several alarming questions about both the state of=20
democracy in the US and the NRIs living there. First, it is a=20
pathetic reflection on the much ballyhooed claim of America's=20
multi-cultural understanding. Although Sikhs have been living among=20
the Americans for decades, few Americans seem to know the difference=20
between Sikhs and Arabs. Secondly, it seems that the average white=20
American can easily be whipped up to a xenophobic frenzy by local=20
tabloid propaganda. At a moment's notice, he can extend his lynching=20
habit, derived from the not very distant Ku Klux Klan tradition, from=20
the blacks against the Arabs, or whoever resembles them at the=20
present moment. So these Americans - in spite of being rich and even=20
educated - are no different from some Indians who gather to destroy a=20
mosque and kill thousands of Muslims, or from other Indians who in=20
retaliation set off bomb blasts in Mumbai to get even. As for the=20
NRIs living there, they appear to prefer to retreat into their=20
respective religious ghettoes (Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Christian, etc)=20
and protect their own communities whenever a crisis threatens them,=20
instead of aligning with other persecuted minority communities in the=20
US (like the blacks, the Hispanics, or the Arabs in the present case)=20
in a general campaign against racism and militarism.

Yet in the xenophobic and belligerent atmosphere in the US today,=20
there are a few brave Americans who are providing space for the=20
voices of sanity, men and women who oppose both terrorism and=20
Washington's plans for a war, who have come out in peace=20
demonstrations in the streets of US towns pleading for a political=20
solution to the problems in west Asia. I would like to know how many=20
among the NRIs have joined these demonstrations.

Meanwhile, memories of US bombs wreaking devastation on the Iraqi=20
people, or US-backed Israeli troops killing innocent Palestinians are=20
still alive in public mind. It is not surprising therefore that many=20
people from war-ravaged west Asia, as well as those in other parts of=20
the world also smarting under Washington's arrogant behaviour, may=20
have looked at the September 11 events as retributive justice that=20
had punctured all US claims to unipolar supremacy. The only thing=20
that muffles their spontaneous reactions is the death of thousands of=20
innocent people - both Americans and Arabs, Christians and Muslims,=20
Jews and Hindus - buried under the debris of WTC. Had the attackers=20
chosen a Sunday to destroy the WTC and Pentagon, they could have sent=20
the same message that they probably intended for the world - that the=20
US is a 'paper tiger'. However, because of the human tragedy brought=20
about by the attackers, the US has been able to turn itself from a=20
butt of ridicule to an international martyr.

But those who carried out the operations, and the brains behind them,=20
share the same inhuman impulses to pursue their fanatical belief in a=20
self-righteous cause - accompanied by the same foolish recklessness -=20
as their opponents in White House, Pentagon and CIA. It is these=20
visceral inclinations that bind the various terrorist groups (whether=20
Osama bin Laden's organisation supposedly spread all over the world,=20
or the different factions operating in west Asia, or LTTE in=20
south Asia, or the extremist sections of the IRA in Ireland) in a=20
distant, but intimate, fraternity. They not only enjo patronage from=20
certain powerful states which use them for their own interests=20
(like the Pakistan-backed international mercenaries operating in=20
Kashmir who seem to have taken over from the original Kashmiri=20
freedom-fighters), but also have ready access to the most=20
sophisticated weaponry in the world arsenal.

Let us remember that the US is the largest manufacturer and supplier=20
of conventional weapons in the world - either through direct official=20
aid, or indirect channels like private arms dealers and smugglers.=20
This military-industrial complex in the US survives by reaching such=20
weapons (getting more and more sophisticated and deadly every year)=20
to both repressive state governments in the third world (including=20
India) as well as terrorist groups there who can afford to buy them.=20
Take for instance Osama bin Laden, the latest bete noire of the US.=20
Flushed with money from his inheritance and business interests, he is=20
a major purchaser of international military equipment. Yet, he was=20
once picked up and trained by the CIA in the 1980s to fight the=20
Soviet troops. He turned against the US because of the presence of=20
American troops in his homeland Saudi Arabia - which he felt was a=20
desecration of the holy soil of Mecca. Such betrayals by proteges are=20
very common in the history of state-sponsored terrorism. Indira=20
Gandhi was hoisted by her own petard Bhindranwale, whom she created=20
to fight her Akali rivals. Her son Rajiv Gandhi shared the same fate=20
at the hands of Prabhakaran's LTTE which was trained by India's RAW.=20
Does a similar fate await both the US administration and the=20
terrorist Frankenstein that it had created? It would be welcomed as a=20
good riddance by the common people of the world. But then such a=20
prospect is too good to be true.

Both the present US ruling establishment and the Taliban (their=20
outward differences and the 'clash of civilisations' theory=20
notwithstanding) are after all aberrations born from the same source=20
- the marriage of convenience between a military-capitalist economy=20
and an obscurantist feudal religious ideology arranged in the=20
mountainous terrains of Afghanistan in the 1980s, to oust the=20
Soviet-backed regime there. Like Cain and Abel, the two might fight=20
with each other, but unlike them, would not go to the extent of=20
fratricide. Their descendants are likely to coexist, collaborate and=20
bedevil the world for a long time to come. The political and economic=20
umbilical chord is too strong for both Washington and the terrorists=20
that it had bred to snap it at a moment's notice.

______

#3.

Date: 12 Oct 2001 11:02:37 -0000
Recieved from : "anjali sinha" <>

PATRIOTISM IN TIMES OF HINDUTVA OR FIGHTING AMERICA'S WAR ON INDIAN SOIL

Subhash Gatade

If you are asked a simple question about defining or say deciding the=20
'patriotism' or 'sedition' inherent in any act what would be your=20
reaction?
To put the facts straight whether an act of offering airbases to the=20
world's only superpower for its attack against a poor third world=20
cousin can be construed in any manner as a 'patriotic act'?
Or whether opposing that very act of an unjust war can come under the=20
definition of patriotism ?
Any sane person or peace loving person would say that the act wherein=20
the mighty Goliath is asked to stop its attack against the little=20
people should naturally come under an act very much in tune with the=20
meaning and ramification of patriotism.But alas! In realpolitik=20
things move not on their legs rather on their heads.And instead of=20
the people engendering the soverignity of the nation getting=20
castigated by the justice loving people we have a very different=20
scenario before our eyes wherein antiwar protestors are bundled in by=20
the police under the orders of the same people who unashamedly offer=20
their services to the only superpower and are put behind bars under=20
charges of 'sedition' and 'conspiracy'

As things stand today Sunil Mandiwal a topper in Delhi University and=20
five of his friends are behind bars for the 'crime' to protest=20
America's attack on Afghanistan Whereas those very people the=20
Advani's and vajpayee's have joined the chorus to become the=20
cheerleaders in America's brutal attack against Afghan people with=20
the only caveat that the 'big boss' also takes into consideration=20
their own problems in kashmir.

The arrest of six students belonging to Democratic Students Union=20
from an area coming under north east delhi on 8 october when they=20
were distributing antiwar pamphlets should be seen in this light.As=20
is known these students were part of a nascent antiwar movement which=20
has taken shape in the capital in the immediate aftermath of la=20
affaire WTC. It has already been reported that under the aegis of the=20
'AntiWar Campaign' a 500 strong demonstration was organised on 25 th=20
September wherein a big rally was taken out from Red fort to ITO.=20
These students were also carrying out antiwar propaganda along with=20
All India People's Resistance Forum. They were apprehended on 8th=20
October and have been charged with 'sedition' and 'conspiracy'=20
(153A,153B, 124A of the Indian Penal Code) and have been sent to=20
judicial custody till 19th october 2001.
It is being rightly said that in their attempt to prove 'more loyal=20
than the king' the servile Vajpayee government has declared it a=20
crime even to oppose America's War on Afghan people. In a protest=20
demonstration held on 11th October before the police commissioner's=20
office leading Human Rights Activist Gautam Navlakha castigated the=20
government for its brazen atttempt to strangulate the right to speech=20
and expression. In a memorandum submitted to the commissioner=20
attention was drawn to fact that the police has been adopting double=20
standards in the whole episode. It was told that on the one hand on=20
the very same day goons belonging to the Hindutva Brigade were=20
allowed to take out a pro war procession from Red Fort where=20
inflammatory slogans were raised and on the other hand antiwar=20
student protestors were arrested.
While one can understand (not justify) the patriotic fever which has=20
made a comeback in the US in the aftermath of l'affaire WTC or the=20
"hand on your heart patriotism" (quoted in an article by kavree=20
Bamzai,times of India, 12th october 2001) which is being flashed day=20
in and day out by the ordinary citizens reminding one of the=20
"Mcarthyism on a Gigantic Scale (ref: do)" the behaviour of the=20
saffrons vis-a-vis war is not only incomprehensible but also laced=20
with many incongruities.While it is true that the US bosses and the=20
citizenry have gotten up from the deep slumber and are asking=20
themselves "can we laugh Now" the saffrons overenthusiasm is=20
baffling.It appears that they do not want to lose any opportunity to=20
show the "masters" in US that they are also in resonance with them.
The eagerness of the saffrons to be in the good books of the Uncle=20
Sams is clearly visible. It is ironic that their search for foreign=20
policy which 'ends at Wagah Border (in the words of commentator) has=20
made a mockery of their grandiose plans and are drawing solace from=20
the fact that their 'archrival' Musharaf is in trouble.
Definitely the conflation of national and the communal in the=20
Hindutva weltanshauung has reached a stage where the saffrons are=20
seem to abandoning even the basic modicum of diplomacy and are busy=20
embracing even the Israelis with open arms.
The arrest of the six antiwar protestors is an act very much in tune=20
with their warped thinking.
It will be good once again to paraphrase Dummsfield the secretary of=20
state of US wherein he recounted how truth itself becomes a casuality=20
in war He said that in times of war truth becomes so precious that it=20
has to be guarded by bodyguard of lies.As far as US or its war is=20
concerned they can be allowed to go on manufacturing suitable truths=20
but the Indian rulers need not follow their "masters" in this=20
"patriot games" also. Otherwise facts which at times stranger than=20
fiction will keep flying in their face and would further accelerate=20
their slide down the blind alley.

subhash gatade B2/51, Rohini Sector 16, Delhi 110085, <011-7296030>

______

#4.

Online maps of Afghanistan:

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/afghanistan.html

______

#5.

Date: 12 Oct. 2001
Posted on India Resists Mailing List [ being cross posted here]

On the clash of civilizations and systems:
Which way to go post September?

Dear IndiaResists

Greetings from Pakistan.

These are sad days. Technology dictates that we all now live post September=
.

We empathize with those who lost dear ones. We are losing ours. For=20
the Taliban are from amongst us. The political boundaries between=20
Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained porous through the ages. The=20
bond of Islam is real. Cultural affinities are obvious despite=20
distinct identities over the millennia.

Global media report Pakistan in danger of regressing to Afghanistan=20
like anarchy. Our Generals and those outside Pakistan "waging peace"=20
certainly believe so. The Army here has just gone through a public=20
laundry wash for a bright liberal image.

However, people around here go about their life without feeling much=20
amiss. It may be a new war for the rest of the world but for us=20
Pakistanis it has been in the neighborhood for the last 22 years!

Still in the streets you hear reminders that Pakistanis are also now=20
living post September. "Christendom is fighting the last crusade to=20
finally subdue the Muslimdom to realize the Kingdom." "The clash of=20
civilizations has begun".

It is indeed sad. It seems that those who have been controlling=20
construction of realities continue to do so. These realities are=20
constructed for us to subscribe. And live. Irrespective of the=20
consequences in fear of those supplied to color these constructed=20
realities.

Civilizations do not clash. They live together. When they do come=20
into conflict they only interact to iron out differences for smoother=20
living overtime. They never die. Do not, cannot annihilate each other=20
in a violent clash. This is a lesson that all can relearn or refuse=20
at their own peril. Civilizations will continue in their respective=20
journeys leading hopefully to a common destination. Only time will=20
tell which way of living may continue after how much adoption.

It is not Islam that is under attack. These are not Christians=20
attacking Muslims. These are agents, midgets, mindless politicians,=20
faceless bankers and shameless charlatans working in the service of a=20
system to which all of them are slaves. This is the global political=20
system working through the global economic and financial systems=20
served by the most terrorizing armed forces in the world today.

Let's all fight terrorism. Let's challenge the established systems.=20
Let's refuse subscription to constructed realities that only ensure=20
continuation of exploitation, oppression and its intensification.=20
Let's work to make the process of globalisation a dialogue between=20
cultures, between civilizations. Let's work for fair trade, just law=20
and ecological economics. Let's do it together. Simultaneously.

Globalization can also realize a new future, full of hope, for all of us.

Solidarity.

Zubaida Hussain & Khalid Hussain,
Development VISIONS
48-A, Shalimar Colony
Bosan Road,
Multan-Pakistan.
Phone: 92-61-222609
www.brain.net.pk/~daima

______

#6.

Thursday, October 11, 2001

The Mujahid and his Driver
by Isa Daudpota

A small car stops to pick up a young lad in white shalwar kameez and=20
white cap who is hitching a ride. The driver, a middle-aged=20
professional, drives daily from the western edge of town to his=20
institute near the Presidency in the centre of Islamabad. "Where do=20
you work?" asks the driver, after it is established that the lad is=20
going to be a passenger for the whole journey.

'Oh, I only study," said the lad. That makes the academic more inquisitiv=
e.

Academic : "Where is your school?"

Laddie: "I am in a Madrassa in Golra, but am now going to get a loan=20
from someone so I can pay for my food and lodging at the Madrassa."

A: "How long does it take for you to study and get a job?"

L: "I will study for 10 years and thereafter spend 3 years learning=20
the Quran by heart. Students who put their heart into the Holy book=20
can do it in 6 months. After I get this done I can get a job in a=20
mosque or a seminary."

A; "In addition to just studying religion, don't you feel like=20
studying a skill that could get you into a profession. Let's say=20
become an electrician or a plumber."

L: "No, that's for people who want to live *here*! I wish to die in=20
the Jehad, and now it is so nearby, so once I pay off my loan, and=20
it won't take more that 2 months, I will be off with the Lashkar (the=20
fighter group) to Aghanistan."

The academic rather shaken by the reply, takes a breather to make=20
sure he is still headed in the right direction!

But again:

A: "What does your dad do?"

L: "May his soul rest in peace, he died in the Jihad last year, as=20
did my eldest brother. My mum now lives with my uncle in Swat? I=20
only have a brother who works in Karachi and he supports me. Since he=20
has not sent me money I have had to take a loan these last two=20
months."

A: "How will you be able to fight, given that you have been studying=20
at the Madrassa?"

L: "We have all be trained by 'Hizbullah' in Kotli, a town in=20
northern Pakistan, for three months. We were shown how to use=20
firearms and other master some military maneuvers. There are Lashkars=20
leaving all the time - 20,000 jehadis are going from my area and we=20
expect 50,000 to join from Punjab - and I can join any of these=20
parties or smaller groups. We can cross over into Afghanistan easily=20
as the border is 2000 miles long and cannot be guarded by the=20
Pakistan military." He continues after a pause, "The real tragedy is=20
that our leadership is afraid of the American, but this military man=20
(Musharraf) will die disgraced, more so that Nawaz Sharif.=20
Zia-ul-Haq [the general whose rule led to the rise of militancy in=20
the Madrassas during the anti-Soviet struggle of the 1980s ] was=20
martyred as he was killed by the Americans. We will win as we are on=20
the right and no enemy of Islam can defeat us."

A: "What is your age?" trying to change the subject.

L: "I am 19, and ready to go to the next world."

The car has reached the parking lot where the academic works. After=20
the "thank you, and God bless you," the lad leaves.

Slightly shaken, the academic enters the Institute, the entrance=20
area filled with smartly dressed boys in jeans and girls in colorful=20
dresses. The notices inside are all in English and there's a new one=20
today from Western Michigan University. It informs the Institute's=20
students that the American Embassy will still be open to offer them a=20
visa to go for future studies in Kalamazoo.

I am the academic and this happened today - October 9, 2001

Isa Daudpota teaches in Islamabad, Pakistan

______

#7.

Times of India, New Delhi, India
12th October 2001

Ordinance coming to choke foreign funds

BY AKSHAYA MUKUL

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

NEW DELHI: The government is planning to promulgate an ordinance in=20
order to keep a strong check and in certain cases prohibit flow of=20
foreign funds to individuals and organisations - NGOs and academic=20
bodies.

To be known as Foreign Contribution (Management and Control)=20
Ordinance, it will replace Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.

Though the Centre had planned to bring a Bill to amend the FCRA, the=20
ordinance, say sources, is being planned in the light of new=20
revelations about foreign funds being received by terrorist outfits=20
in J&K.

According to sources, the ordinance being fine tuned by the law=20
ministry will give draconian powers to the government to prohibit=20
organisations from receiving foreign funds in case they are found to=20
be indulging in subversion, terrorism and similar activities ''in the=20
nature of waging a war against the state''.

Unlike the FCRA, which only regulates foreign funding, the ordinance=20
will have ''full-fledged mechanism to prohibit such funds''. Law=20
ministry officials say, ''The main target of this ordinance are=20
militant organisations in J&K, North-East and southern states like=20
Tamil Nadu.

Even the Maoist Coordination Committee (MCC) fighting landlords in=20
Bihar, eastern UP, Jharkhand and other areas is being examined.''=20
Funding of various religious and cultural bodies will also be=20
scrutinised. ''Mushrooming of madarsas in border areas is directly=20
related to foreign funding and needs to be checked,'' says an=20
official.

Another difference is that state governments will be made a joint=20
partner in the administration of the law which will provide for the=20
most stringent scrutiny of foreign funding of various organisations.

______

#8.

KASHMIR AND SINDH: NATION-BUILDING, ETHNICITY AND REGIONAL POLICIES=20
IN SOUTH ASIA
By Suranjan Das,
K.P. Bagchi, Rs 380

Available from:
K. P. Bagchi & Company
286 B. B. Ganguli Street
Calcutta - 700 012, India

Tel: 269496, 267474
Fax: 91-033-2482973
Email:kpbagchi@h...

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--=20