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[1] PASTOR KILLED BY SRI LANKAN SECURITY FORCES, TENSIONS RISE An evangelical pastor was shot dead by Sri Lankan security forces on Saturday, Jan. 13, in the northern city of Jaffna, triggering fears of ongoing ethnic and religious clashes in the beleaguered region. Rev. Nallathamby Gnanaseelen, 38-year-old pastor of the Tamil Mission Church in Jaffna, was reportedly not engaged in any political activity when the shooting occurred. A report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide states, “Rev. Gnanaseelen was killed on Chapel Street after he had taken his wife and daughter to the hospital. According to reports, he was shot in the stomach and then in the head. His Bible, bag, identity card and motorcycle were taken away, and he was left in the road. Sri Lankan security forces initially claimed he had been carrying explosives, and then said he was shot because he failed to stop when challenged.” Recent months have brought increased violence in the ongoing conflict between Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tiger rebel front. Meanwhile, religious minorities such as Christians are also being persecuted, and the Sri Lankan Parliament is considering an anti-conversion law similar to those in India. (Assist News Service/BosNewsLife) ----------------- [2] From: Sukla Sen <suklasen@yahoo.com> Date: Thu Jan 18, 2007 Subject: Singur and Alternate Model of 'Development': Some Stray Thoughts Let us first clearly acknowledge that Singur stands for open championing and promotion of the dreams and aspirations of the privileged, in the name of 'Development', at the cost of the underprivileged and totally unmindful of social/ecological costs. Quite significantly even the 'product' in this case, touted as 'people's car', happens to be a prime polluter and most energy-inefficient means of (privileged) transport. Hence the debate over Singer is definitely not, repeat not, over the quantum of compensation. It's a battle to decide who constitute the "people"? What is "development"? And for "whom"? Who're made to bear the 'cost'? Who get to reap the 'benefit'? Singur is also a significant turning point, not an abrupt one though - a bolt from the blue, without any prehistory - but a "turning point" nevertheless signifying the role reversal of the Left, and the CPIM in particular, and a critical one at that. Hence there is some scope, and consequently the dire need, for reversing it. The "battle" is all about this attempted "reversal", and hence so very crucial. (For the Maoists, though, Singur is important, in many ways, particularly as a gross manifestation of the reverse journey. But it's by no means a "turning point". The "turning point" goes as far back as the "spring" of 1967.) So when one talks of "alternatives", in the context of Singur, there are three very different conceptions. One, there is no alternative. (This would also logically mean that there is no alternative to Manmohan Singh and Montek Singh.) The other conception is that the alternative lies in following the Peruvian/Chhattishgarhian/Jharkhandian/Telenganan path. (Nepal has presumably dropped out of the orbit.) Though no one has come out as clearly and as explicitly. It's the third strand, which has really got to be seriously engaged with the question of alternative(s). Right now, we are not too concerned with an outright alternative, the way Bolshevik Russia was - outside of and against the 'system'. Not even the way Chavez is - within the broader framework of the 'system' but with a considerable degree of autonomy of actions - for a variety of reasons including the fact that he heads a 'sovereign' State and enjoys the advantage of 'oil'. (But just 'sovereignty' plus 'oil' does not make a Chavez. Look at Saudi Arabia.). He has also been able to forge a solidarity network of a couple of nation-States in the region and is seeking active cooperation with players even beyond. So one will have to work out an 'alternative', in the specific context of Singur, keeping in mind that one is deeply embedded and enmeshed in the 'system'. And yet one has to offer something, which is recognisably different in terms of being in favour of the most deprived and also ecology. One, which challenges the dominant paradigm of exclusion. One cannot really "work out" alternatives without having the opportunity to "work on" these. Nevertheless, the onus lies with the proponents of the third stream. On the face of it, the central element is perhaps democratisation - popular, just not in an abstract sense, participation in planning and execution. One'd imagine that this would also demand significant decentralisation. That's again another problematic. Apart from the fact that 'modern' production demands 'centralisation', Marxists have been reared on the axiomatic virtues of 'centralisation'. So there's also a considerable (pre-given) mental block amongst a considerable section apart from real difficulties. But it's perhaps worth trying to think outside-of-the-box, so to say. The other relevant aspects would include promotion of industries, which are employment generating and thereby labour-intensive, but having significantly higher labour-productivity so as to ensure better living standards and quality leisure time, and also symbiotically, and not adversarially, linked to agriculture and, last but not the least, ecologically benign. The productivity of agriculture itself needs be raised with special focus on dry land and rainfed agriculture. But in the name of raising productivity there must not be large-scale shift in favour of floriculture and/or biofuel and such other activities at the cost of food production. Then there is the question of energy. At one level, massive investments have to be made in favour of renewable and environmentally benign energy. Massive efforts need be redirected to raise the efficiency of energy production and reduce transmission loss. But one must also find means and ways to regulate energy consumption. The emission of greenhouse gases and global warming has started threatening the very existence of life on this planet. One can in no way afford to underestimate the seriousness of the threat. And evidently there has to be a global effort in this direction. Global opinion need be mobilised. There must be an optimum mix of central planning with local community based planning, execution and monitoring. We have to apply our mind to develop inclusive models of 'development'- both in terms of formulation process and benefit distribution, with both short term and long term requirements in mind, geared to improve the quality of life for all - but not at the cost of 'tomorrow', within these broad parameters. That's evidently a challenging task. A challenge worth taking up. Sukla ---------------- [ 3] From: Parvez Jamasji <parvez1942@yahoo.com> Date: Thu Jan 18, 2007 Subject: Re: [indiathinkersnet] Banning letter 'X' ! Paranoia at its worst & IQ at its lowest !!! These are the ones who teach & advise the common man. Just imagine in couple of decades the camels will have more IQ than the arab. Then we there will be developed, developing & retarded nations in the World. P indiathinkersnet@yahoogroups.com wrote: ISLAMIC CLERGY IN SAUDI ARABIA CONDEMN THE LETTER `X' ------- [4] Discrimination Continues By Aftab Mughal http://countercurrents.org/pak-mughal180107.htm During the year 2006, religious minorities faced discrimination and have little hope for change in the situation despite government’s promise for equal rights for everybody -------------- [5] From: Pradip Kumar Datta <pradip200@yahoo.com> Date: Thu Jan 18, 2007 Subject: Arunachal festival promises a journey to the unknown A trip to hidden paradise Arunachal festival promises a journey to the unknown OUR BUREAU Dibrugarh/Guwahati, Jan. 17: Did you know that India has its very own Bermuda Triangle? Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas on the Indo-Myanmar border, the “Lake of No Return” had intrigued the Allied forces during World War II when many of its aircraft and crew disappeared into the lake’s icy depths during emergency “soft landings”. Come Saturday, the Lake of No Return and many other little-known places will play host to tourists when the first Pangsau Pass Winter Festival begins at Nampong, the border township in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The festival will not only showcase the unique culture and cuisine of the Tangsas — the dominant tribe of the district — but also give tourists a chance to visit the Lake of No Return — a 15-km drive from Nampong down the historic Stilwell Road. “The festival will be attended by Union minister Jairam Ramesh,” said Arif Siddique, a member of the organising committee. The event will serve as the gateway to the shrouded paradise in Arunachal Pradesh, one of the last Shangri Las in the country, hope the organisers. On the inaugural day, tourists will be taken on a trip to the evergreen tropical rain forests of Nampong. “The journey through the serpentine roads might be tough for some but it is worth it when you reach the destination,” said Siddique. “And we will serve the exhausted souls with U (rice beer) and delicious local cuisine, including traditional pork bamboo shoot and steamed rice at the food fiesta,” Siddique said. The second day will be devoted to sports and music. Siddique said visitors and local residents will participate in a “Run for Peace” on that day. The highlight of Day II, however, will be a performance by a Myanmarese cultural troupe and a traditional sports competition. “Music connoisseurs will be enthralled by the performance by myriad sub-tribes of Tangsas,” said Siddique. The festival will conclude with a food fiesta and fashion show of traditional attire. “Even in this day and age, we are cut off from the rest of the world. Here, time stands still and life moves at a snail’s pace. Tourists hardly come here because of lack of publicity. The festival is expected to open the doors for them. In the process, the local economy is also expected to get a boost. We are all ready to welcome them with traditional grandeur,” said Chow Pingiya, a volunteer at the festival. Pingiya, who is also a local, said the “festival is dedicated to showcase the distinctive culture, customs, traditional dresses, folk dances, melodies and the cuisine of the Tangsas”. Who knows, the ‘Indian’ Bermuda Triangle might just turn out to be the next tourist-puller of the region. -------------- [6] From: Pradip Kumar Datta <pradip200@yahoo.com> Date: Thu Jan 18, 2007 Subject: Appeal to brick kiln owners not to recruit illegal migrants AASU call for ‘local’ workers OUR CORRESPONDENT Jorhat, Jan. 17: The All Assam Students Union (AASU) has appealed to brick kiln owners not to recruit illegal migrants to fill vacancies created by the exodus of Hindi-speaking labourers. The organisation has requested the owners to employ local labourers instead. Several brick kiln owners were forced to close down temporarily after a large number of Hindi-speaking labourers fled the state after the Ulfa carnage in Upper Assam. With most owners having paid the labourers in advance, a funds crunch, coupled with huge bank loans, is posing to be as grave a problem as manpower shortage. Over 60 brick kilns were closed down in Sivasagar district alone in the aftermath of the killings. What the kiln owners now need is cheap labour. This is where, AASU fears, the illegal migrants will step in. Kushal Dutta, president of the Sivasagar unit of AASU, said this was a golden opportunity for the illegal migrants to get jobs. “The illegal migrant population will never move back if they are allowed to work in these kilns and soon more illegal migrants will cross the border,” Dutta said. He said the AASU empathised with the losses incurred by the brick kiln owners. “But this does not mean that recruiting illegal migrants will solve the problem — this will only create more problems for Assam,” he said. The AASU has requested the kiln owners to recruit local people instead. “If the kiln owners recruit local labourers, the problem can be solved permanently,” he said. He suggested that out-of-work tea garden labourers mi-ght be able work at the kilns. Dutta has also appealed to the district administration to take necessary steps so that the Hindi-speaking labourers who are staying in relief camps can return to work as soon as possible. There are allegations that police personnel have asked several Hindi-speaking labou-rers staying in relief camps to return to their native states, saying it was no longer safe for them to stay in Assam. Dutta said it might be true, as it was a Herculean task for security forces to guard the brick kilns in remote areas. -------------- [7] From: kashif <kaaashif@gmail.com> Date: Thu Jan 18, 2007 Subject: Where to find Muslim leaders? Where to find Muslim leaders?<http://indianmuslims.info/news/2007/january/18/articles/where_to_find_muslim_leaders.html>; By Kashif Hoda Badruddin Tyabji, Rahimtulla M. Sayani, Nawab Syed Muhammad Bahadur, Syed Hasan Imam. Hakim Ajmal Khan, Maulana Mohammad Ali, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Dr. M. A. Ansari. All these great leaders of India's freedom movement made their mark as Congress' past presidents. Why has the face of Muslim leadership changed so in the years that followed? From the first session of Congress in 1885 to India's independence in1946, there were as many as eight Muslims who served as President of Indian National Congress. From 1946 till this day a Muslim has never been president of the Congress. Is it possible that a party that could find so many good Muslim leaders that they trusted with India's independence movement, cannot find any Muslims trustworthy enough to lead a national political party? ------------ [8] From: rkurian@bgl.vsnl.net.in Date: Thu Jan 18, 2007 Subject: Iran Does Not Pose a Threat to the US.. Iran Does Not Pose A Threat To The U.S. Audio 10 Minutes Radio National host Paul Barry interviews Scott Ritter. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17203.htm ---------------- |
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| << January18, 2007 - [India Thinkers Net]Sachar report ,Bangladesh spies ,Naqwi's article |
January21, 2007 - [India Thinkers Net]BBC article ,re-Buddha V.Basu etc >> |
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