Monday, April 27, 2009

PREDATORs and the Good TALIBAN




The track-record of the Afghan people; 2 crushing defeats of the Sikhs, 3 wins against the 3 British expeditions of the past, and one against the recent occupation by the Soviet Union. Both were Super-Powers of their time. Very deep wounds have been inflicted by the Coalition Forces on Afghan civilians (and also by the Pakistan government and its Armed Forces covertly), and now a substantially higher percentage of Afghans (and Pakistanis of Afghan origin) are ready to take-up arms against the ISAF forces, and against the puppet and corrupt regimes which are supporting them in Afghanistan and also Pakistan. “Pakhtun-wali”, or “The Pakhtun Code of Conduct”. This code dates back to ancient history, well before the advent of Christianity or Islam. It was there when Alexander came; it was also there when Changhiz Khan passed-through. It has very little to do with religion, but it has every thing to do with respect. The subject is extremely wide, and covers all aspects of human conduct in Pakthun society; a society which had no police, no courts and no government as such.But it had the code.
The Pakhtuns are spread from the Oxus River (North of Herat) to across the Tribal belt of Pakistan, all the way East to Indus River, then North to the Frontier Province of Pakistan , and West again to Jalalabad, and on to Kabul-Ghazni. All these people now have a stake in what is happening to Pakhtuns in Afghanistan, and in the Tribal-Belt of Pakistan. These fighters are merely honoring the Code when they enter Afghanistan. How Pakhtoonwali got merged with Islam? Taliban movement primarily based on a Religious cause got entwined with political cause when ISI with encouragement from Saudi arabia/CIA did just that to remove Atheist Russians from Afghanistan. After so many decades of war, it was a miracle that Taliban took control over all Afghanistan under single authority, disarmed the country, cleared all drug production and at least made it safe for Afghans to live. They did not get a breathing space of few years so they could evolve a constitution and laws through diplomacy and help of other countries because they were essentially guided by Pakistan/Saudi arabia foreign office.Due to their own national interest, these countries never allowed outside contact as basement of Saudi embassy in Kabul served as headquarters of Alquaeda.

The strict enforcement of Islam (reg prayers, clothing etc) by authorities like Taliban in Afghanistan are actually akin to Mutawwas(religious police) in Saudi Arabia. The mutawwas may be annoying as they had no respect for ordinary Saudies dignity and self respect. In some cities, they were known to just barge into people’s homes and harass them. in Riyadh, apparently they would just barge into the homes of bachelors and drag them to the masjid at prayer times. Many Sikhs ended up in the masjid praying namaz thanks to these mutawwas. They also harassed women who committed the grave sin of possibly having one single hair uncovered in malls but it was fun to see Amreeki female soldiers just roaming around in fatigues during the first gulf war. No mutawwa dared approach and reprimand any of them. They just looked at them with fear and of course lust. In Afghan and Saudi society this unnatural female segregation has resulted in bringing up another parallel culture since adopted for generations for the purpose of sexual relief of male members called as ‘culture of Lakhtaeys’; where young budding beautiful boys are trained to dress up and act as girls. They are made to dance in girly dresses at parties and in intimate gatherings. They are asked to mingle up while dancing and dinning and do all sorts of acts to make a good night outs for the interested ones. They are hired for nights after night by the male members who can afford to pay to avail a pleasure of sexual relief. This ‘lakhtaey’ business in Swat and in the entire Pakhtun belt is an old common phenomenon and a norm in the Pakthun society.It is not sinful because it is almost part of the pakthun code!The suicide bomber instructors actually sodomise the trainees initially and then a sort of make them into a pair who will give their life for each other.

The destinies of Afghanistan and Pakistan have now become inextricably interwoven. Destiny of Pakistan will now be decided by what happens in Afghanistan, between Afghan Taliban, (with very active support of TTB), and the Americans. If it goes in favour of the Americans, then Pakistan can rest in peace, Kiyani and his army can continue to rule with civilian cover of Zaradari and Gillani and extract retribution from the poor tax-payers of Pakistan. On the other hand, if the Taliban prevail in Afghanistan, then it is an entirely different story. In the last 62 years, Pakistani system has failed to meet the expectations of the poor, the under-privileged, and mostly rural, masses. But they get prompt relief and re-assurance from the Mullahs like Fazulallah and in Madrassahs, in this life, and also a seat in the front rows of heaven in the life hereafter. The Taliban ranks are snowballing wherever they take control. The Pakistani Government has nothing to offer them except false promises and continued exploitation and repression. Pakistani Government and its Army only want to “obliterate” them; with the help of infidel Americans, if they can not do this by themselves or by giving bases like Bhandari,Turbat for the Predators.

USA killed over 3 million Viet Namese, injured many more millions, and laid that country to waste. When their own over-58000 soldiers were dead and a couple of hundreds-of-thousands wounded, they threw in the towel. In Afghanistan, the Soviets killed over 300,000 Afghans and wounded many-many more. When their own dead reached over 12,000, and wounded over 150,000 , they also called it a day. American soldiers dead in Iraq so far about 4264, and wounded (they are really badly wounded) are 45583. American security employees/civilians in Iraq, some 3000 dead (they are also Americans, with wives, children, parents), a higher number wounded.So they have a fig-leaf withdrawal. In Afghanistan the Coalition Forces have lost about 1124 (including 674 American soldiers). In spite of the superior numbers and superior weapons, in spite of the armored personnel carriers, tanks, armoured cars, fighter-planes, helicopter gun-ships and transport aircraft,satellite mapping and in spite of the cruelty, torture and massacres which went alongside as the covert operations of regular-forces , history tells us that Americans will throw in the towel.It is a question of increasing the body count of Americans.

So the real problem for Taliban is the PREDATOR. You cannot increase the body count with the predator.It is here we find good Talibans like Zardari,Imran Khan,Musharaff,haqqani,Marvi memon,Prof Shereen mazari, along with bad Taliban like Baitullah Mehsud,Jallauddin haqqani,Fazulallah,Mullah Nazir,Mangal bagh all asking for stoppage of PREDATOR ATTACKS!!!Americans sitting in air conditioned rooms in front of Tv screens at Tuscon are controlling the Predators with joysticks just like computer games.Ofcourse the surge is welcome for the Taliban.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

GUDIYAS (Baby dolls)of PAKISTAN AND INDIA




Gudiyas of Pakistan and India!!!!
When Gujarat Chief Minister Modi taunted Congress as a Bhudiya (old hags) party, there was this immediate response from Mrs.Priyanka Gandhi Vadhera that does her face look like that of a Bhudiya? Modi immediately responded that her face looks like that of a Gudiya!(Baby doll)
When Nizam-e-Adl was put into voting in Parliament of Pakistan, not a single, i mean SINGLE women parliamentarian MNAs opened
their mouth and opposed it in the august hall.None of them voted against this measure.But all along they were giving verbal hell in media to
Taliban for beating a 17 year old girl.They were haranguing the population of SWAT for silently watching the flogging of the girl. Human rights being trampled and these SWAT population was watching in silence they crowed.!!!These women MNAs also said that they are not afraid of FATWAS or MULLAHS etc.But when it mattered most they just submitted to the Mullahs by supporting Nizam-e-adl.Their reason for supporting the resolution are
1.From 1849 SWAT enforced sharia courts and Qazi's writ was recognized.
2.British accepted Qazi courts of SWAT in 1929.
3. In 1969 SWAT was annexed to Pakistan and Pakistan constitution was enforced.
4. In 1979, Zulfiqar Bhutto brought back Sharia courts(PATA SYSTEM) as demanded by People as Pakistani Criminal Justice system
was not delivering justice and only the rich had access to it as in India.
5.In 1992 the lawyers (as in India for repeal of CRPc)found to their horror their income is reduced.So they contested PATA
and High court upheld their contention thought Sherpao of PPP fought for PATA.
6.In 1994 ordinary people again demand Sharia and get it legalised.
7.In 1999 it is PML which passes Nizam-e-Adl in its present form
But ordinary people of SWAT want this regulation as they are not very happy
with Criminal Justice system of Pakistan which is colonial and similar to India loaded in favour of DELAY,DELAY,DELAY
which in turn means it is for the RICH AND POWERFUL ONLY like the feudal chieftains and Army generals.
Now the Gudiyas of Pakistan wanted (mostly related to Army generals,feudal chieftains) to have their cake of public perception that
they are liberal and oppose the Nizam with help from pliable Media for consumption of west. So when Zardari of PPP and
ANP whose leadership are beholden to ordinary public opinion, accepted the deal with Sufi Mohamed, these Gudiyas of Pakistan
were happy. They were pepperring Zardari for selling out to Mullahs.They thought they can impress their western pay masters that but for strong leadership of Army(Musharaff or similar), the country succumbs to Mullahs.But here Zardari, a clever politician that he is; knew this game of Gudiyas and so put the ball
of Nizam_e-Adl into the court of People's elected parliament.The connection of Gudiyas to Army and Mullahs funded by Saudi Arabia (who actually rule in Islamabad through Jamaat) have to come out in open and so they have to vote for the regulation without even any token protest speach inside the Pakistani national assembly!!!Only Ayaz Zamir spoke against the regulation while MQM abstained. President Zardari
scored a clever victory over pseudo secularists of Pakistan. These Gudiyas stood exposed in front of Pakistani citizens.
We see this happenning in India whenever 33% women's reservation bill is taken up.Whether from Congress,BJP or CPI(M) or others
these Indian Gudiyas gang up together.They all look alike with Big Bindies, matching cotton sarees, have some husbands,fathers etc in these parties and may be even have identical taste for quwali songs of some Pakistani singers.But they will not address the fundamental flaw in this bill which only caters to perpetuation of the class rule of these Indian Gudiyas.That is why Mayawathi is a lady who flaunts her bad taste in big diamonds,gaadi salwar suits and cropped hair gets my vote for honesty to herself and to outside world.

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Christian Demands 2009 and responses of INDIANS .




"And thou shalt 'love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,with all thy soul, and with all thy mind and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
And the second is like, namely this, Though shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.There is none other commandment greater than these."
(St.Mark 12:30-31)
We used to have 1993 Babri Masjid demolition which used to be resurrected whenever it was convenient for the Secular to raise the issue and win elections. Now this has given way to Gujarat riots wherever Muslim votes are to be acquired.
We have this 1984 Anti/sikh riots being resurrected whenever it is convenient for any party to get the Sikh votes.
Now we have a new name Kandhamal wherever Christian votes are required.
Gujarat riots happened because 55 Hindu Pilgrims were burnt alive by Muslim tea vendors .Same is the case with 1984 Sikh riots triggerred by Indira Gandhi assassination and celebration of this by some Sikhs by lighting diyas. Kandhmal happenned because a 83 year old Hindu swami and 3 of his associated were killed in front of 100 of his orphaned tribal girl students.Naxalites may own up but the Hindu Kandhs population of that area believed it was carried out by Christian Panno tribals who were more educated trying to usurp their tribal rights and concessions.
The following 10 demands made by Catholic Bishops conference on March 2009 to political parties is basically against communalism of Hindus as it perceives; without bothering about Minority communalism .It admits Indian Christians never faced any problem till 1999. Then why the attacks against Christians started is coincidental with establishment of All India Christian council in 1998!!!!
Christian approach is against Casteism but in the same breath asks reservation for Dalit Christians!!!
It very cleverly asks for a commission on similar lines like Justice Rajinder Sachar commission but not for INDIAN CHRISTIANS but for DALIT CHRISTIANS AND TRIBAL CHRISTIANS alone!!!!
Instead of asking for uniform civil code as enshrined in Indian constitution , it is asking for special christian personal laws.
It is even against scientific research unless it confirms to Christian Moral values.When USA opposed stem cell research, it will follow
and again when Obama administration allowed it India must follow them.This demand will perpetually keep Indian research under the thumb
of western nations.
St.John's Medical Hospital in Bangalore and The Baptist Hospital give one of the best treatment at very subsidized rates and is welcomed by one and all.It is the land given at concessional rates by enlightened Government which fascilates this.
Land for cemetery should be discussed and a rational solution found like small lockers as is being done in some christian nations.We cannot just afford to waste land for ever increasing demand for graves.
After 1957, when Indira Gandhi used the Christian clergy in Kerala, Catholic Bishop council of India and some other churches have come together again to kill the soul of Dr.Paul who argued against "RESERVATION FOR Indian Christians" at the 1930 round table and enforced it unlike Anglo Indians. It is due to his vision that today Mr.Antony, Mr. Rajashekar Reddy, Mr.George fernandes, Mr.Sangma are considered leaders of Congress,NDA,NCP etc and not Christian leaders.
I think this CBCI demand may be inadvertent or due to clever machinations by interested groups who want India to sign CEDAW and CRC.It may be even linked to the coming review of NPT and CBDT and all patriotic Indians must be alert to these machinations.




The catholic Bishops conference of India has published the following charter of demands .
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National Consultations On Christian Approach To General Elections 2009

NEW DELHI, MAR. 20, 2009, 16.16 Hrs:

Security of Minorities tops Christian demands from Political parties in General Elections 2009-03-02

Community seeks Economic uplift, rehabilitation of the victims of Orissa violence, judicial commission assess deprivation, restoration of Dalit Christian Rights

The Church in India has called upon all people, and specially Christians, to fully take part in the political democratic process, including exercising their voting rights in the coming General Elections.

The Community leadership which met in National Consultations in New Delhi last week reaffirmed its faith in democracy. It wants India to be strong and condemns terrorism, communalism, and casteism. It is deeply concerned at the rural crisis, urban poverty, and rise in unemployment, displacement in the SEZs and the plight of women and the girl child.

The Church and the Christian Community also feels that democracy is strengthened if political parties speak out against corruption and communalism, human exploitation and assault on the dignity of women, Dalits, labour, children and minorities.

The Christian community puts its own interests subservient to the interests of the Nation. But it feels that there are certain issues which are paramount – security of Religious Minorities, ending persecution of Christians in Orissa and other places, and punishment of those found guilty, rehabilitation of the displaced, compensation to the victims at par with that given in other states, proportionate share to Christians in funds and projects earmarked for all minorities, as also in government jobs, civil services, police and other services.

The community has also demanded a National Commission on the lines of the Justice Rajender Sachhar for Muslims set up by the Union government to assess the economic deprivation of Dalit Christians, landless labour and tribals Christians, in particular.

The consultations were presided over by Archbishop Vincent Concessao. Participants included representatives from the Catholic Church, the National Council of Churches in India, the All India Christian Council, the All India Catholic Union, the Believers Church, Truthseekers International, Evangelical Fellowship of India, United Christian Action, and Independent and Pentecost Churches. Prominent signatories included Bishop Mar Barnabas of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church, Bishop Simon John of the Believers Church and Dr. John Dayal, Member, National Integration Council, Government of India, and Secretary General, All India Christian Council, Council national secretary Sam Paul, Rev Sunil Sardar, Mr Vijayesh Lal and Advocate Lalsinglau.

The full text of the memorandum which will be presented to all political parties is attached.

Christian community’s expectations from Political Parties in the General Elections 2009: Memorandum to Political parties and candidates

Preamble:

The Church reaffirms its strong commitment to Secularism and Democracy in India. The Christian Community thanks God for the renewal of the Republic through regular General Elections since the Constitution was adopted on 26 January 1950, bringing to fruition the full promise of the political Independence won on 15 August 1947 after a determined Freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Our sturdy Republic has survived four wars and numerous internal crises, natural disasters and the ups and downs of the passing years. It has been buffeted by communal fires, and shaken by the impact of globalisation and the economic meltdown. The frightening rise in unemployment and the gloom in the economic sector impact on all citizens, irrespective of their religion, caste or gender, though as always, it is the weaker and the marginalised who bear the maximum brunt of the ravages of an economic downtrend. The crisis in Rural India is monumental and demands urgent action. So does urban poverty. We pray our country will recover quickly from the current travails and the people will be able to once again look to a brighter future.

Unfortunately, the economic crisis has been aggravated by a social crisis no less grave. Religious, caste and gender intolerance are manifestations of this. The sharp rise of Communal forces and the macabre nature of the violence unleashed by them are cause for deep concern.

The General Elections, 2009, is an opportunity to halt the trend, and to reverse the negativity.

It is in this context that Christian leaders, intellectuals and thinkers met in New Delhi on 23rd February 2009 to consider the issues affecting the people and the nation. While we remain concerned for all our countrymen, there are a few issues that impact specifically on the Christian community. We are small in numbers, but we make an impact on the nation through services in Education, social work and Health, and as the voice of the marginalised and oppressed. We have hope in the democratic process, and in the goodwill of the political parties, their leaders, and their prospective candidates.

Call to Political parties and Candidates:

We call upon the Christian community to play its full part in the Election process. We must come out and cast our vote to strengthen democracy and secularism in the country. Christian activists and NGOs must ensure that our names are listed in the electoral rolls, and if not, make the necessary effort to enrol all eligible Christians as voters. We also urge all Political Parties to give adequate representation to our community in their selection of Candidates.

Political parties must also include the following issues, and address our concerns, in their Election Manifestos and campaigns, and to also keep these in mind in the selection of their nominees for the various constituencies.

1. Security of Religious Minorities: The Christian community had felt itself very safe in India since Independence, and the formative years of the democracy under Jawaharlal Nehru, and then under the premiership of Lal Bahadur Shashtri, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. But after a spurt of violence in 1998-1999, hate crimes against the Church and the Christian community have been increasing alarmingly since 1997, averaging about 250 incidents a year. But 2007 and 2008 have seen such violence reach an unprecedented level. The violence has not been confined to Orissa. Fourteen other States have been affected, seven seriously. Karnataka is now second only to Orissa in crimes against Christians. Orissa in 2008 saw 120 deaths, 4,600 houses burnt, over 300 villages purged of Christians, and women, including religious women, raped. Six thousand men, women and children are still in government refugee camps, from the peak of 26,000. Battalions of Central forces are needed to maintain peace, and yet a sense of deep insecurity permeates the community in Orissa. All political parties must put the security of all Religious Minorities, and especially of the Christian community, at the top of their electoral agenda. Parties must assure they will bring the culprits of crimes in Orissa and Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh, to book, and ensure that the unceasing hate and disinformation campaign, through media and political activities, is brought to an end.

2. Enforcing rule of law, ending Impunity of state, Police and criminal justice dispensation system in assuring Freedom of Faith: In State after State, the community has watched in utter helplessness uniformed Policemen accompany assailants attacking institutions, churches and house churches. In States such as Manipur, even villages have dared pass laws against Christians, banning conversions and excommunicating people. Pastors and Priests have been arrested on false charges, denied bail, and harassed. Often, the police have stood by while Priests, pastors and Lay persons were beaten up, often in the glare of Television Cameras. The Subordinate magistracy and judiciary have often been partisan in their conduct. This impunity must end. The proposed Prevention of Communal Violence Bill must take cognisance of Christian concerns and apprehensions. Government must take responsibility, punish the guilty, reconstruct damaged and destroyed homes, institutions and churches, and provide adequate and commensurate compensation to the victims. These would be deterrent, in fact, to violence against the community.

3. Redress Economic deprivation and reversal of Unemployment and under-employment amongst Christian youth—Need for a National Commission on the lines of the Justice Rajender Sachhar Commission set up for Muslims: There is over 8 [Eight] per cent joblessness amongst Christian youth, the highest among minorities. Tribal Christian girls are amongst the most deprived in terms of education and nourishment. Rural employment generation schemes and central special components for marginalised groups do not reach their Christian counterparts in Tribal and Rural India There is no real assessment as to what extent institutions such as the National Minorities Financial Development Corporation, or sundry scholarship schemes have benefitted the Christian community even if they may have benefited some other Minorities. Political parties must assure that Government will urgently set up a Commission to survey and assess the quantum of deprivation, marginalisation and lack of devolution of developmental initiatives, to the Christian community. Government must ensure fair spending on a pro rata basis on the Christian community from schemed meant to benefit the minority communities. They must assure the setting up of a National Commission under a retired Judge to evaluate the economic and development issues of the Christian religious minority, especially amongst sections amongst Dalits, Tribals, Landless labour and marginal farmers, coastal and fishery workers and urban youth.


4. Dalit Christian rights: Successive governments have betrayed Christians of Dalit origin. The Constitution of 1950 provided for affirmative action for Scheduled Castes without reference to religion. The Presidential Order of 1950, subsequently made into law, communalised the affirmative action by penalising those who converted to other faiths. Subsequently, government extended the privileges once again to Sikhs and Buddhists of Dalit origin. Christians remain deprived of these rights, though several Study Groups and National Commissions have strongly recommended that these rights be given to Dalit Christians. This in effect communalises the secular Indian Constitution. Political parties must reassure Dalit Christians that Government will immediately restore the Constitution to its 26 January 1950 position on this issue so that Dalit Christians get all privileges and safeguards that are given to their brothers and sisters professing other faiths. The recommendations of the Justice Rang Nath Misra Commission should be implemented.


5. Assault on right of Tribal Christians: Strident and frightening statements have been made in political quarters in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, among others, threatening to deny Christian Tribals their statutory rights in Education, land and employment, and to restrict Tribal rights to only those who convert to Hinduism. This violates Constitutional guarantees, and divided the Tribal people. Political parties must guarantee that they will not dilute any Tribal right, but in fact will work to ensure steps that strengthen the rights of the Tribal communities across the country.


6. Irrational and Bigoted implementation of Forest Act and its implications for Dalit Christians: Recent experience in Orissa’s Kandhamal and other districts have shown how Supreme Court guidelines are being ignored in the implementation of the Forest Act, and traditional forest dwellers, many of them Dalits, are being deprived of their land, livelihood and even liberty as false cases are being brought against them. This, of course, must cease forthwith. Political parties must assure that the right of all indigenous dwellers will be protected according to the guidelines of the Supreme Court and witch-hunt and harassment will end.


7. Erosion of Minority rights under Article 30: Various State governments and political parties have tried to infringe upon Article 30, and have made persistent efforts to erode the rights of Minorities to run and administer educational institutions. Christian educational institutions have frequently had to approach the Supreme Court of India to try to protect these fundamental rights. The ironically titled Freedom of Religion Bills actually erodes the Constitutional right to Freedom to profess, practice and propagate faith. They have become instruments of persecution, and in fact, provide an excuse for criminal and communal elements to target the Church and Christian workers in particular when they exercise their right to propagate their faith. Political parties must assure there will be no effort in the future to infringe upon, erode, or nibble at Minority educational and other Constitutional rights under any pretext.


8. Shrinking Secular-Spiritual Space: State and city administrations are auctioning land for schools and hospitals in the Open Market. The result is that the Church and Voluntary sector can no longer get legal possession of low cost land for providing Educational and health facilities to the marginalised groups are affordable prices. In addition, new townships and urban spaces, most of them now in the private sector, do not provide for simple and basic Secular spaces, including plots of land for Churches and cemeteries. In many new urban conglomerates in the emerging landscape, there is, in fact, no provision for cemeteries at all. Political parties must assure their Governments will ensure adequate and commensurate Secular and Spiritual Space – Education land, cemeteries etc.


9. Ending gender-bias and upholding the rights of women in reforms in Christian Personal Laws: Christian Women more than a decade ago led a campaign for reforms in Christian personal laws which dated from the Nineteenth Century. Though some progress has been made, Governments have been tardy in passing reform amendments to the centuries' old Christian personal laws despite the united endorsement and support by the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, the National Council of Churches, the Joint Women’s Programme and others. Political parties must assure the community that laws will reformed in full as devised in the documents prepared by the united Christian campaign to bring them in line with contemporary demands of gender rights.


10. The Church and the Community uphold the sanctity of life and any attempt to destroy it at any stage is unacceptable. Advances and research in science, such as stem cell research, cloning, transplants, must be in consonance with ethical and moral values. Legislation must not be passed which compromises human life in any form and which justifies meddling with the established processes in nature in the guise of scientific research.


11. Special Memorandum on Orissa and Persecution in other States:

Recommendations on Orissa 2009

It is recommended that the State government of Orissa should:

1. Ensure that (with reference to the ruling of the Supreme Court in Writ Petitions) police unfailingly assist victims of violence to submit FIRs;

2. Investigate reports of police officers failing to register cases or showing complicity in attacks, and bring prosecutions against offending officers;

3. Supply a substantial number of investigating officers and public prosecutors, and implement fast-track courts in at least four locations in Kandhamal district, giving serious consideration to the need for a suitable atmosphere for victims and witnesses to testify, in order to expedite prosecutions and convictions;

4. Investigate the forcible conversion of Christians to Hinduism, and prosecute perpetrators under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code;

5. Request that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carry out an investigation into the assassination of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Lakhmanananda Saraswati and the subsequent anti-Christian violence from 24th August 2008, paying specific attention to the root causes of this violence, including the propagation of anti-Christian hatred;

6. Undertake the following actions with regard to relief camps, taking into consideration the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement:
a. Provide an adequate standard of living to the inhabitants of relief camps, in accordance with the definition given in Principle 18;
b. Provide education to displaced children in relief camps, in accordance with Principle 23;
c. Ensure that relief camps continue until the establishment of suitable conditions and the means for the displaced persons to return voluntarily, in safety and with dignity, to their homes, or to resettle voluntarily, in accordance with Principle 28;
d. Grant permission and security to lawyers, priests and medical teams to visit relief camps in Kandhamal;

7. Provide further compensation for those who have been affected by the violence, including covering the loss of crops, livestock and employment, and assess required levels of compensation on a case-by-case basis through certified independent evaluators;

8. The Government should take measures to carry out an extensive research with the view to rehabilitating the victims of violence, make the recommendations public, and implement them without loss of time.

9. Undertake to follow the recommendations of the National Commission for Minorities in September 2008 on the establishment of Peace Committees, and further to take measures to ensure that all communities are adequately represented within such Peace Committees, to enable these to promote reconciliation and inter-communal understanding with integrity;

10. Establish a State Commission for Minorities (in the model of its national counterpart) and ensure that members of the commission are appointed by transparent and non-partisan procedures;

11. Repeal the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967.

It is recommended that the Union Government should:

1. Pressurise the state government of Orissa to implement the above recommendations in full;

2. Undertake to follow the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, particularly in the provision of protection and humanitarian assistance (Principle 3),

3. Take measures to ensure that the Guidelines on Communal Harmony, as issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, are properly implemented;

4. Carry out a full investigation into the nationwide activities of extremist groups accused of the incitement and perpetration of violence against minority groups, including Hindutva, Islamist and Naxalites organisations, ban those groups which are guilty of this charge and rigorously enforce this ban;


5. Provide further compensation for those who have been affected by the violence, including covering the loss of crops, livestock and employment, and assess required levels of compensation on a case-by-case basis through certified independent evaluators;

6. Take measures towards the repeal of all state-level Freedom of Religion Acts in India;


7. Adopt and implement the recommendations of the Justice Ranga Nath Misra National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities, specifically that the eligibility for membership of the Scheduled Castes should not be linked to religious status.

Signed by those present:
Archbishop Vincent Concessao, Archbishop of Delhi
Bishop Jacob Mar Barabbas, Bishop, Malankara Catholic Church
Bishop Simon John, Believers Church Delhi Diocese
Dr. John Dayal, Member, National Integration Council, Government of India
Secretary General, All India Christian Council
President, United Christian Action
Dr. Sam Paul, National Secretary, All India Christian Council, Hyderabad
Ms. Anjina Masih, National Council of Churches in India
Mr S. Raju, Church of North India
Vijayesh Lal, Secretary, Evangelical Fellowship of India, New Delhi
Advocate Jenis Francis, President, Federation of Catholic Associations, Archdiocese of Delhi
[Affiliated to the All India Catholic Union]
Eugene Gonsalves, President, Catholic Association of Bengal, Kolkata
Rev Sunil Sardar, President, Truthseekers International, New Delhi
Advocate Ms. Lanshinglu Rongmei, Christian legal Association, New Delhi
Advocate Edward Arokio Doss, President, National Dalit Rights Movement, Madurai
Joseph Dias, Secretary General, Catholic Secular Forum, Mumbai,
Pr. Abraham Sahu, New Delhi, New Delhi
Rev Madhu Chandra, aicc, New Delhi
Pr H T. Mawizuala, New Delhi
Ps. Laji Paul, New Delhi
Pr. G. Johnson, New Delhi
Fr. John Vargis, New Delhi
Pr. GL George, New Delhi
Pr. Victor Das, Faridabad, Haryana
Rev. David Burder, New Delhi
Rev. M. K. Babu, Editor, Praise the Almighty, New Delhi
Pr Paul Prasad, New Delhi
Rev. Sanjeh Kumar, DBI



I am cutting and pasting a letter written by a Hindu neighbour who is part of Interfaith dialogue . I hope all friends who read this and the above political demand must indulge in dialogue with their Hindu neighbours.


"""It is strange paradox, where Hinduism was and largely is the native religion of the land - India or Bharat. Both Islam and Christianity came into India, uninvited - It is not like Hindus went out and said, Please come to our land - we need to be saved from our own bigotry.

They came as looters and conquerers, and now they are claiming that the Hindus are the communal ones - for they are trying to defend their right to remain hindus... thereby interfering with the right of the Muslims and Christians to convert the Hindus freely, without any resistance.

It has taken 1000 years of plundering - first by the Islamic invaders and looters, followed by 250 years of creative economic mis-management by the British, to drive India into levels of abysmal poverty, never known to her, for the whole of her history prior to the advance of the invaders.

What indeed is the manner in which the Hindus should protect themselves - without eliciting the label - 'Communal' or 'Fanatic' of 'Fundamentalist' ?

In the wake of Islam and Christianity, every pluralistic tradition or civilization in the world, Greece, Rome, Egypt, Maya, Inca, Aztec, Native American, Pagan etc. etc. have been systematically annihiated.

Pluralistic traditions, inherently had an ability to accommodate an additional God or two - thereby incorporating an additional tribe of sect, without conflict... (at least religiously invoked conflict). The monotheistic religions (Christianity and Islam) are the ones, which have denied pluralism at its very core, and created this conflict - our religion is the only true religion, and everything else is false.

Hinduism did not think in terms of win-lose - either-or but rather win-win - co-existence; a kind of live and let live - But Christianity and Islam have come in with a fundamental philosphy of "live and let die... "

Most Christians and Muslims of India used to be Hindus many generations ago - but the more they get ingrained in their respective exclusive ideologies - the more dangerously removed from the essential Indian ethos - of live and let live they become... the more frenzied becomes their zeal to convert Hindus...

Surely this is the path towards the destruction of India and what is left of her native genius.""""

Kalyan

""" The following article would give you an idea about the extreme disadvantage that
the colonial rule placed India in, by the time we got our independence.
(I am sure British and other colonialists behaved in the same abonimable
way in other places. A comparative study of the various countries would
be quite useful. However, I would like to restrict my brief comments
only to my country, that is India.)

Despite all this, our ancestors did not give up, and made serious (and I
think successful) efforts to ensure that our civilisation did not
whither away. In the post-independent period, the people of India have
proved that they are quite capable of looking after themselves, given a
chance. And this is the most important message that I would like to
leave you with, a message that will be reinforced when you read the
article."""The link is below
Chowgule

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/190810/nationalist-india

All are requested to read and post their comments and publish it widely about the "Christian charter of demands" amongst their Christian friends. Thanks

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

GLOBAL MELTDOWN is good for me



Global meltdown,Pink slips,Stocks stumbling,Real estate prices crashing,Offshore tax evasion, Fae west, Fanny Mae ,AIG ,G20 summit, bailout etc etc , I can go on and on about various other financial terms which has affected the Rich and powerful especially the USA.I have read somewhere that a good economist is the one who foresees the good and bad of visible economy.This comes through experience and foresight.
It is said Napoleon believed in "PUBLIC WORKS" and employing labour. So he made them dig ditches and then asked them to fill them and paid them.We see this happening in most of our Indian cities where modern infrastructure is created in a continuous manner by making and breaking and making again!!!
Being a a low middle class Indian with Monthly pension of Rupees 21,800/-($500/- per month) to be exact after the recent pay commission hike all this high finance is mambo jumbo. I have my own flat, a car and some additional income from some fixed income securities in Government banks.So when this meltdown has brought down the cost of a flat panel full HDTV to rupees 38000/- with dynamic contrast ratio of 50,000:1 which used to cost almost 1 lakh i was thrilled.Even Sony Bravia full HD is available for Rs.50,000/-A camcorder which used to cost Rs.25,000 or more is now available for even Rs.14,000/-After reading David Progues column in NY times i know the quality of pictures is related to sensor and i know now CCD sensor is junk in Japan and CMOS is the in thing.Laptops which used to cost nearly 1 lakh are now costing only Rs.40,000/- Some are available for even Rs.20,000/- .Camera Mega pixels have grown to 14 with corresponding decrease in prices while 8.1 mega pixels are available in mobiles!!!Imported Malaysian sofa sets are now available for even 18,000/- which used to cost 40,000 and more. Full colour scan,copy,fax all in one printers cost only rupees 3000/-.Even shirts(branded) are now costing only Rs.250/- and good pants are available for Rs.500/-
Cooking oil costs only Rs.40/- per litre which used to cost Rs.80/- so are the other items of daily consumption.Plastic items are
making women rush to every sale announced by the malls.We were thinking of disposing off our old fridge and get a new one and
we were getting exchange offer of Rs.2000/- for our old fridge.But my wife has become so generous with the prices of new fridge dropping to 19,000/- from nearly 30,000/- she decided to gift the old one to the maid!!Even giant side opening fridges are available for Rs.50,000/-
Prices of airfares to Delhi from Bangalore has dropped to nearly Rs.2500/- from 8000/-Even European holidays which used to cost all inclusive nearly Rs.2,000,00/- is now available for Rs.90,000/-! for those who can afford that. People who were thinking of buying houses are now getting into the act especially those like me who wanted to settle in Bangalore.
So on the whole this global meltdown has been great for me and others who are middle class and lower. Then who is it affecting? May be Ambanies and Mallayas and those of FICCI and CII. So who bothers?
As USA is printing nearly 2 Trillion dollars and giving it to its banks and Big cats of Industry as bail out, the Chinese are jittery as finally they will be getting this paper for exporting their goods and labor.Their foreign exchange holding may rise but the underlying problem of inability of US to export anything worthwhile to China, except their planes is going to exasperate this problem.Unfortunately China does not buy US arms. So US has to create conditions for export of its arms.Pakistani Army trained Taliban are doing just that for India while North Koreans are doing it for Japan and south Korea. SDR like new currency was raised at
G20 but died down.
I know Manmohan/Chidambaram could not have asked for more during the coming election with inflation almost dropping to zero without much of their efforts. Even opposition BJP is forced to go to Hindutva instead of price rise which used to be a common whipping boy all these years. Personally i would love this Global meltdown to continue as far as possible. Even Bangladesh's cotton and exports are booming as also our car exports.I think NANO is coming at the right time. REVA also should make its mark with aggressive research and cost cutting.It is the future.Our poor know how to survive and i hope our rich also learn from this to innovate, go to new nations,capture new markets and make India a leaner tougher nation.
My only regret is that i blew off Rs.60,000/- on my desktop(only 2 years back) which looks like a ugly junk now when i see that sleek Appledesktop they show off at Forum mall in Bangalore.Now i know Quad processor is the in thing while dual core,core duo are all junk.
By the way i purposely dropped that old yera glass set and accepted scolding from my wife.I really liked that luminarc glass set of six for only Rs.100/- which they were selling at the mall.Men have a natural inclination to go for bargains whether made by foreigners or by better machines.Already Chinese touch screen mobiles are being prohibited in the guise that they do not conform to 16digit IMEI Number.How much long this good times is going to last i do not know but i am going to enjoy as long it lasts even though my wife scolds me for bringing the trash.

"""There are two consequences in history: one immediate and instantaneously recognized; the other distant and unperceived at first. These consequences often contradict each other; the former come from our short-run wisdom, the latter from long-run wisdom. The providential event appears after the human event. Behind men rises God. Deny as much as you wish the Supreme Wisdom, do not believe in its action, dispute over words, call what the common man calls Providence "the force of circumstances" or "reason"; but look at the end of an accomplished fact, and you will see that it has always produced the opposite of what was expected when it has not been founded from the first on morality and justice."""
(Chateaubriand, Memoirs from beyond the Tomb
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told Congress that the U.S. would "launch a new, initiative to address prudential supervision, tax havens, and money laundering issues in weakly regulated jurisdictions." He said, "President Obama will underscore in London on Apr. 2 at the Leaders’ Summit the imperative of raising standards across the globe and encouraging a race to the top rather than a race to the bottom"
But top bankers of America met President Obama and gave him the red line.Former chairman of SEC Arthur Levitt and now with Carlyle group said" It is terribly important that an environment of consensus replace polarization of recent times". They went out of their way to emphasize their hostility to any regulation that even smells of GLASS-STEAGALL like separating investment banking from commercial banking.
We know the bailout is "not founded on morality and justice" and bound to fail.
Meanwhile we middle class Indians should learn to enjoy the bargains.