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July 2012
Kashmir: The jewel of the Sub-continent
By Mertze Dahlin: The Princely State of Kashmir was a desired destination for many travelers and was the choice location for a peaceful and tranquil life. This was the picture in the minds of many a wayfarer in times now gone by. It was also the unwritten calling card known for many centuries and only dreamed of from faraway places. Read More
Kashmiri American Council leader begins two-year imprisonment
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali: Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, the Executive Director of Kashmiri American Council, began a two-year prison term on July 10 for violating tax laws related to non-profit organizations. On March 30th he was sentenced to two-year imprisonment for conspiracy and violations of certain tax laws. He was initially charged with conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) but the prosecution dropped these charges. Read More
Governments exist to further the interests of "favored groups"
By Prof. John Kozy:Governments have never existed to solve problems domestic or international. Governments and their institutions exist merely to further and secure the interests of favored groups. For instance, each nation's foreign policy always consists of "protecting our interests" somewhere or other. Whose interests are "our interests"? Why the favored group's, of course. And who are the favored groups? Well, it all depends. Read More
Manufacturing a facade of democracy in Egypt: Mursi is sworn-in as a defanged President
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali: U.S. president Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as: 'Government of the people, by the people, for the people.' However, this definition does not apply to Egypt where the pro-US army receives $1.3 billion in U.S. military aid yearly for maintaining ties with Israel. On June 30, 2012, Mohammed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood was sworn-in as a defanged President of Egypt while more than 30-year old emergency law remained enforced. Also, before his swearing-in, the military junta dissolved the democratically elected parliament in which Mursi's party was in a majority. In the absence of parliament, Mursi took oath before the Supreme Constitutional Court as Egypt's fifth head of state since the overthrow of the monarchy some 60 years ago. Read More
To prevent reopening of graft cases: Zardari clips powers of the Supreme Court
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali: President Asif Ali Zardari Thursday (July 12) singed the Contempt of Court Ac 2012 aimed at shielding top leaders from contempt charges and curbing the Supreme Court’s efforts to push Premier Raja Pervez Ashraf into reopening graft cases against President Zardari. The Contempt of Court Act, was approved by the Senate on July 11 within five minutes. It was introduced in a special session of the parliament on July 9, before the apex court takes up the issue of reviving graft cases against Zardari on July 12. The Contempt of Court Bill provides blanket immunity to top government functionaries for executive actions. It can also be used to launch disciplinary proceedings against a judge without such a move coming under the ambit of contempt. Read More
Sudan's protests become civil insurrection
By Stephen Zunes: Sudan has a history of non-violent pro-democracy civil insurrection which far pre-dates the Arab Spring. But can such an uprising succeed today? A growing anti-government movement consisting of nonviolent demonstrations as well as scattered rioting is beginning to threaten the Sudanese dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir, an indicted war criminal, who has ruled this large North African nation for twenty-three years. Beginning as protests against strict austerity measures imposed three weeks ago, the chants of the protesters have escalated to "the people want to overthrow the regime," the line heard in recent uprisings in other Arab countries, including Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Bahrain and Syria. Could Sudan be the next Arab country in which an autocratic government is brought down in a largely nonviolent civil insurrection? Read More
Syria: Descent into hell
By Arthur Kane Scott: The Syrian revolution has reached the boiling point of civil war with sectarian violence escalating throughout the country. At least 10 000 Syrians have lost their lives. The city of Hama has become the metaphor for the horrendous violence erupting throughout the country. There are uncanny parallels between what is unfolding in Syria to what occurred in the Balkans in the 1990’s with the collapse of Yugoslavia, and to what occurred in Iraq after the American invasion in 2003. In each case ethnic/religious violence exploded. Read More
Burma’s massacres and the world’s conscience
Abdulateef Al-Mulhim: is located in Southeast Asia covering an area of more 250,000 square miles and with a population of more than 60 million people. In recent history it was under British rule from 1886 until 1948, and Burma is a country that never been part of the Commonwealth after the departure of the British. During the British rule, many people from nearby countries, especially from India, came to Burma. But many Muslims have been in the country for centuries. Burma’s main religion is Buddhism with about 4 percent Muslims and other minorities. The foreigners who came to Burma started to dominate running the services in the country. Read More
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