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[1] From: Regi P George <george_regi@yahoo.com> Date: Wed Jun 8, 2005 8:17pm Subject: THE PRISONER'S PLIGHT george_regi THE PRISONER'S PLIGHT The story of Joe Vaz ???Babuji??™ means father. My co-prisoners found Babuji easier to pronounce and so it was. Aged 60, they considered me a father, friend and brother, which made prison life endurable, unlike those khaki clad men with corrupt minds and a biased attitude, often unjustified, so inhuman in their behavior. I entered my first lock-up at the Economic Offences wing (manned by idiots who know very little of economics or economy, much less about market forces and abysmal nothing about natural justice principle) at Crawford market, Mumbai on 13 June 2000. My offense being venture failure -- a civil matter turned into crime by killing laws like MPID act, written by minions enacted by blind legislators in 1999, without reading or understanding. My crime was a dream called "Techcon shelterettes", an unique retirement complex for the retired, aged and senior citizens of the nation, to live under one umbrella in universal brotherhood of peace, love and harmony as its motto and theology. The project was designed to make the nation proud by its vision for producing a national monument of reckoning and an international landmark meant to cater primarily to the then 76 millions retired, a figure rapidly growing to colossal statistics which has now touched almost 85 million. Being a visionary and promoting mankind as my religion, adopting a "let it be, let it go" as vital philosophy, universal brotherhood as my mission, generosity as a way of life, mercy more than sacrifice as a practice, and reaching out to all regardless of creed or colour as my ideology. Upholding such treasured human values anyone would wonder as to how a qualitative character such as this could be languishing in jail for 41/2 years, under the new MPID act. This Draconean act like many earlier ones that were implemented and later found impractical, inappropriate and redundant like the gold control act, the FERA act, the prohibition act, POTA, land ceiling, rationing act etc would make most law enforcing liable due to the colossal loss of revenue to the national exchequer for their lopsidedness and lack of serious consideration ignored before their enactments which truly speaking would now even make the MPID (Maharashtra protection of investors deposits) act one that is questionable, and unfair as a criminal enforcement when it has every civil angle and colour attached to it by nature. Enactment of acts, introductions of new laws, fresh acts and ordinances just so as to justify presence in parliament or in legislative assemblies by taking pride in statistics of increase in such implementations and in reality increasing crime to disproportionate quantum rather than ensure healthy law and order climates speaks volumes of the atrocity of power used by arrogant politicians, high handed police and blackmailing press who truthfully only qualify as the upper rung of criminals in different garbs, not to talk of the corrupt judiciary lethargic in imparting speedy justice to normal citizens rights. I repeatedly say, "I have lost money, not my character" I may perhaps be accused of being guilty by law but certainly I am not guilty by conscience. I uphold my human values, I cherish my dignity and my integrity is unquestionable I affirm. The Reserve Bank of India, another gnawing sleeping giant was awakened after 11/2 years of my application seeking permission to public borrowings that replied with total disregard to project schedules that were specified well in advance but treated by those officials with utter callousness. If earlier colonial governments believed in blue blood, our red tapism is even a greater cancer and destroyer than any nuclear arsenal, which has made Indian populi almost immune. After a period of 120 days the simple investigation of having to confirm a borrowing that was not repaid on time that needed just a maximum period of a fortnight, if at all, has no justification to be stretched indefinitely so as just to magnify the episode and make a fly look like a dinosaur and an attempt to make a financial default look and appear a heinous crime is simply against any sense of righteousness and justice. Frankly speaking, the judicial imperialism and rape of justice is a matter of grave concern especially when one investigates into the quality of several thousands of innocent prisoners languishing at times even for ticketless travel and other petty crimes more as a result of government failure rather than planned criminal acts by the accused. A delegation of private human rights activists and overseas international press reporters that need be sent to prisons all over the country would upheaval the stark nakedness of hidden truths and bring out buried facts into the open. One cannot be denied justice for a period of 41/2 years though a colossal bail of 2 lacs was announced after 120 days in custody when bail should have been announced after the stipulated 90 days, the excuse given that investigation being in progress which seemed to be baseless and untrue by nature, what the government perhaps pays is a Nelson's eye is to the demand of the investigating agency / prosecution to special travel facilities, food and accommodation expenses that are forcibly thrust on the helpless accused as it happened in my own case. Here I would like to highlight the total violation and abuse of human rights when I was taken to Goa for investigation from police custody and made to sleep outside the prison cell handcuffed and tied with a long heavy iron chain and made to sleep the entire night, and visiting police staff kicking me without any reason for 3 nights certainly would evoke an international outcry despite the fact that constable of investigating officers from E O W mumbai were kept to ensure that no human rights violation or abuse of prisoners in prison took place, and yet that it did, would liable the prison minister for questioning and appropriate action taken against him, but who cares? This is India of my birth. It is possible I defaulted but have certainly not defrauded, have failed but not fouled. What I observe is that when election manifestos have not been honored, 5 year plans hardly a success, government schemes failed, nuclear programmes a disaster at colossal loss to exchequer, and even the titanic with all its safety devices got sunk, can a venture failure be classified as crime and liable the victim to indefinite imprisonment? Letters from the prison to the honorable Prime Minister, his excellency the President of India, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi the congress party president, and besides a miscellaneous submission to the MPID honorable session court room no 16 seemed to go on deaf ears simply frustrates my efforts to obtaining justice and I am completely disillusioned with the system that needs a change of policies more than a change of government that might be the next best step. A visit to Indian prisons and a first hand report by prisoners who are muffled by the officers with threats of dire consequences is enough evidence for the prison ministry and home department to taking up these violation on an emergency. A self righteous and holier than thou attitude by those in power and authority seems to be the order of the day, when infact many in poverty without justification have been simply thrown into the cell devoid of human dignity. It is a fact that a low ranking officer indulging in atrocities may be taken to task, but a high-ranking officer of the rank of DCP manages to pull strings and go Scott free. I recollect how DCP Kiran Shelar of my area sent his junior officer at ungodly hours to demand that my pretty wife should appear before him at the police station for investigation. This confirms my lack of faith in those so called guardians of the law and their lustful intentions. A daylight vandalism of my office premises despite my protest to the then Jt. CP Zone X was to no avail, and the DCP seemed hand in glove with the culprits as he snatched away the entire pack of photographs that were clicked to prove the vandalism. Mafia and goons, contract killers and contract money collectors hired by vindictive investors supported by local police is another chapter altogether. Threats of violence to life and warning of extortion and rape to other members of my family to flee for safety and take undercover so as to save human dignity and life that was put at stake only to be classified as absconders when the stark reality was sheer safety unguaranted by the protectors of law. The absconding status meted out to members of my family running in fear from place to place to safeguard their lives for such a long period has mentally and physically exhausted their otherwise contented and respectful lives, pleading for food and shelter despite their complete innocence with no support from any quarter should awaken hypocritic loud crusaders of human rights. The outrageous behavior by jail staff both senior and junior cannot be differentiated. If suicide was easily possible, the statistics of in-jail deaths would touch enormous figures as self respecting citizens accused of accidental crimes and not habitual criminals would find it a nightmare even worse than Nazi concentration camps. The overcrowding in jail is a well-known fact and feature. Prisoners literally sleep on their sides and every inch of space is at premium. The cross ventilation, cleanliness and hygiene are factors least attended to. The quality of oil and other raw food items are questionable since chronic skin diseases are a common ailment in every jail. The medical facilities provided are a disgrace to both medicines and medical profession and an afront to human dignity. To say ???toilets??™ stink is aking to saying politics stink. Drinking water facility is unfit and non-potable. The judicial facilities, court dates, transport to and fro to courts and the irregularity in returning decently back to prison is an ordeal by itself and which is a test of endurance. The thievery by the jail canteen is daylight robbery with items overpriced more than the supermarkets prices. The penalty I paid for honesty, attempting to give the nation a masterpiece and a new wonder of the world deserves some appreciation. Had malafide intention been dominant, then surely with colossal public funds in hand, all that I had to do was flee overseas with existing valid visas on my passport would have been so simple. With such colossal public funds in hand I could have easily opted for money spinners like the setting up of gambling dens, casinos, beer bars, auto and limousines put on hire etc. but the social concept and cause was the main consideration with service to mankind as priority. No investors that pumped his funds into the enterprise were shown any carrots, nor were they immature and uneducated that a prohibitive interest of 3 % per month offered by way of interest were shown any bait and money lending to them appeared a lucrative proposal. To interfere in his freedom of decision where voluntary participants have accepted to take the risk would only mean that trade interference by authority is violation of commercial freedom and the tight lips of Indian merchants chambers seems shocking to permit such interferences. It is Indian character to accuse the prostitute and to let go the customers, procurers, pimps, and police. Four investigation officers and four judges have changed in my case so far. The case lingers on just as my life of uncertainty continues. The court dates keep being postponed for a long span without a confirmation, discharge or dismissal as either one should conclude. This sword hanging. My arrest to me seemed illegal especially when a ???status quo order??™ was pending in the city civil court Belgaum due to the landlord of the Techcon project site who went contrary to the sale agreement, and leaving me with no option but to file a suit in the city civil court challenging his action, and yet the main culprit is as free as a bird, whereas I paid a penalty of 41/2 years. My only place of residence was sealed and now my advocate asks for a heavy fee to get it de-sealed when the very sealing itself was an abuse of basic rights indeed is an outrage. The highhandedness of jail officials and lower staff, the manner in which the so called ???mulaqats??™ are given is an abuse to simple human dignity, the foul language that is used by prison officials without justification is uncalled for would make a hard core criminal to believe his language as of better quality. The delay in speeding up ordinary permissions and sanctions from various in-house authorities by prisoners need to be looked into as a vital necessity for reducing provocative reactions that cause Havoc. How dare the jail staff use batons and sticks to discipline prisoners when simple kindness, courtesy and politeness could work wonders. Aren??™t those that acquired doctorates due to their so called contribution to improve the basic human rights and quality of life of prisoners be ashamed to accept these doctorates that do not deserve such merits and is the question I pose- and may I ask, to what benefit or advantage to mankind have these doctorates achieved? The above case is just one among the approx 3 crore cases pending and pilling up each day. How do we take pride in our judicial systems and so called national leaders who are busy improving the quality of the lives of their own family with wealth ammassing rapidly and hidden assets growing whilst an honest citizen that was a victim of venture failure suffers in all humility not only bankruptcy but disgrace in society, proves the blindness of mankind that has turned out to be an epidemic and morals that hardly exist in a nation we take pride as being one of holy temples and many gods isn??™t divinity but has touched depths of devilish behavior. For the government to have sealed my bank accounts is understandable, but to seal my only place of residence is outrageous that even after having taken advantage of the bail reduction of 50,000/- I still remain a prisoner in the free world with stringent bail conditions that are applied despite the 41/2years as under trial undergone due to delay in justice doesn??™t seem to disturb anyone. The actual culprits are roaming about Scott free that should have been arrested for several discrepancies and violations, including the Times of India, which fleeced me to the tune of Rs.50 lakhs in advertising. Money power seems to call the shots and the bonafide intentions and project implementations by the accused are treated with total disregard, which shows the wickedness and vindictiveness of lawmakers and complainants alike. Justice is being raped everyday and the nation stands as helpless spectators to many such incidents, which has become a way of life. Numerous victims like myself are stifled and prevented from voicing grievances and injustice of which they have become helpless targets. It is for society to take up in the name of justice the pathetic cases of such victims languishing in jails indefinitely and with no ray of sunshine in the distant future, and hoping against hope that the human rights international awakens to this outcry. Courtesy : Dr. Leo Rebello -------------------------------------------------------- [2] From: "P. Joseph Raju" <aa5756@wayne.edu Date: Thu Jun 9, 2005 Subject: Pakistan's sectarian monster http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GF08Df01.html Asia Times 08.06.05 Jun 8, 2005 COMMENTARY Pakistan's sectarian monster By Amir Mir The sectarian war between Pakistan's Shi'ites and Sunnis is bloody and deadly. Available figures indicate that between January 1989 and May 31 this year, a total of 1,784 Pakistanis were killed, and another 4,279 injured in 1,866 incidents of sectarian violence and terror across the country. This averages out to more than 100 persons per year over the past 17 years, with no end in sight. And there are some indications that the trends may worsen. Thus, 187 persons were killed and another 619 were injured in 19 incidents of sectarian violence in 2004. Within the first five months of 2005, 120 Pakistanis have already lost their lives, and 286 have been injured in 30 incidents of sectarian violence. The worst of the incidents in the current year include: May 30: Six people, including two of the three assailants, among them a suicide bomber, are killed and 19 people sustain injuries during an explosion in the courtyard of a Shi'ite mosque at Gulshan-e-Iqbal in Karachi. May 27: At least 25 people, including a suspected suicide bomber, are killed and approximately 100 others sustain injuries during a powerful explosion at the Bari Imam shrine of the Shi'ite sect located in vicinity of the diplomatic enclave in the capital, Islamabad. March 19: At least 50 people are killed and more than 100 others sustain injuries during a suicide bombing at a crowded gathering near the shrine of a Shi'ite saint at Fatehpur village in the Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan province. In view of the current wave of sectarian violence, it seems that the government has simply failed to curb the activities of the banned jihadi and sectarian groups, despite repeated claims by President General Pervez Musharraf of having adopted strict administrative measures against them. The unfortunate fact remains that most of these groups continue to enjoy a free hand under the very nose of the administration, which is more interested in taking cosmetic steps instead of doing something practical to scotch the evil. It was the support extended by the country's third military ruler, president General Zia ul-Haq, to the jihadi and sectarian groups during the Afghan war of the 1980s that created these unmanageable monsters who now rise to consume their own creators. The sectarian and ethnic essentialism that came into its own in an organized, militant form during the Zia period now poses an ever more serious challenge to the state. The genie of sectarian violence refuses to be bottled, and even as Musharraf exhorts the people of Pakistan to adopt "enlightened moderation", the country's tentative quest for a non-discriminatory liberal democracy continues to unravel. Indeed, the ideology of fundamentalist Islam appears to remain at the heart of the Musharraf establishment's strategy of national political mobilization and consolidation, despite talk of enlightened moderation. Pakistan continues to be caught in the trap of extremist Islamic militancy and terror that its mighty military establishment constructed as part of its Afghan and Kashmir policies. Official support - both explicit and implicit - to Islamist terrorist groups continues, even while the state struggles to cope with the internal fallout of the burgeoning terrorist community. Since the overall direction of Pakistan's military establishment remains committed to an Islamic ideological state, some of the militant groups that are supported by the regime are often found involved in bloody acts of sectarian violence. The Musharraf administration's support for the jihadis fighting in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Afghanistan - and the growing nexus between the jihadi and sectarian outfits - has indirectly promoted sectarian violence in Pakistan. The linkages between militants active in J&K and Afghanistan, on the one hand, and those within Pakistan, on the other, are not surprising, since these jihadis share the same madrassas (seminaries), training camps and, often, operatives. Thus, though the Pakistani military establishment's support for these groups has kept the Indian army tied down in J&K, it has created a serious "principal-agent" problem on the domestic front. By facilitating the actions of irregulars in J&K, Pakistan actually promotes sectarian jihad and terrorism back home. Facing international criticism over its status as a host to numerous Islamist elements, the Musharraf administration has, from time to time, sought to take steps to deflect growing internal and international criticism of the activities of fundamentalist elements within Pakistan. Inner contradictions within the ruling establishment are, however, bound to hamper these efforts. It is significant that, for decades, the country's Shi'ite and Sunni sects lived side by side without any major problems. The roots of sectarian killing lie not in religious differences, but in political and social developments within Pakistan and the region. They are intimately tied up with the country's wider problem of militant and extremist Islam. With the passage of time, the largely theological differences between Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims of Pakistan have been transformed into a full-fledged political conflict, with broad ramifications for law and order, social cohesion and governmental authority. It was during the Afghan jihad against the Soviet occupation, with dollars coming from the American Central Intelligence Agency, that the Inter-Services Intelligence promoted the proliferation of a huge number of militant groups and seminaries inside Pakistan. At that time, Washington needed Islamists to wage jihad against the Soviet troops in Afghanistan, while Islamabad needed them to bring in billions of American dollars. Consequently, both turned a blind eye to the Islamists' radical ideology and methods. The shortsightedness of the American administration and its Pakistani proxies became apparent soon after the withdrawal of the Soviet troops from Afghanistan. While radical Islamists in Afghanistan formed the Taliban, their brethren in Pakistan turned their attention toward J&K or to sectarian opponents inside the country. Each act of sectarian killing provoked a cycle of revenge killings, with the civilian governments failing to curb the menace, either because they also wanted the militants to fight in Pakistan's corner in J&K or because they lacked the will and the strength to do so. External factors other than Kashmir also promoted sectarianism - the foremost being funding of certain Pakistan-based Shi'ite and Sunni sectarian groups by Iran and Saudi Arabia, respectively. As successive governments in Pakistan have allowed Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite-dominated Iran to fight a proxy war on Pakistani soil, the country and the people have had to suffer the devastating consequences. When Musharraf seized power in October 1999, he faced a formidable foe: well-armed, well-trained and well-financed Islamist-sectarian organizations, with a huge resource pool of recruits in thousands of madrassas in the country. Dealing with such a foe was never going to be easy for an isolated military dictator. Yet his task was made somewhat easier by September 11, 2001, and the worldwide backlash against extremist Islam that it unleashed. Islamabad's decision to cut down support to Kashmiri militants also boosted its drive against sectarianism. Once Islamabad decided to put the Kashmir issue on the back burner for the sake of better ties with New Delhi, it no longer had to put up with the jihadi groups operating in J&K, or the sectarian outfits within Pakistan. The first clear sign of a shift in the Pakistan government's attitude came in a televised speech by Musharraf to the nation on January 12, 2002. While announcing a massive campaign to eradicate the sectarian menace, the general banned three sectarian groups - Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, Tehreek-e-Jafria Pakistan and the Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammadi - and put the Sunni Tehrik on notice. Another two sectarian groups, Sipah-e-Mohammad Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, had been banned earlier, on August 14, 2001. Despite the government ban, however, almost all these sectarian groups continue to operate freely under changed names and without much difficulty. Contrary to Musharraf's much-trumpeted claims of having dismantled the sectarian mafia in Pakistan, the hard fact remains that his administration has hardly taken any concrete measures to implement the ban in letter and spirit, except in arresting and later releasing some of the cadres of these groups. Enforcement agencies arrest some of these cadres every time there is an escalation in sectarian conflict, but they are released shortly after the wave of violence subsides. The organizational infrastructures of the banned sectarian groups has essentially remained intact, with most of the groups retaining the same office bearers who refused to go underground even after the January 2002 ban. Most of the banned groups continue to operate out of their old office premises, though some have shifted to new ones. They are still bringing out their periodical publications, in most cases under the old names, besides raising funds and holding congregations without any check or fear. And the sectarian tensions refuse to die down, given the fact that the contending groups are well organized and well armed. Their ability to maintain effectiveness and to elude enforcement agencies also has to do with an extensive support network that includes madrassas, political parties, bases across the border in Afghanistan, and financial support from foreign countries, if not foreign governments. The International Crisis Group notes in its April report, "The State of Sectarianism in Pakistan": Sectarian terrorists in Pakistan are thriving in an atmosphere of religious intolerance for which its military government is largely to blame. General Musharraf has repeatedly pledged that he would eradicate religious extremism and sectarianism and transform Pakistan into a moderate Muslim state. In the interests of retaining power, he has done the opposite. The report notes further, that as Musharraf is praised by the international community for his role in the "war against terrorism", the frequency and viciousness of sectarian terrorism continues to increase in his country. Regulating madrassas, reforming the public education sector, invoking constitutional restrictions against private armies and hate speech, and removing all laws and state policies of religious discrimination are essential and overdue steps to stem the tide of religious extremism. The choice that Pakistan faces is not between the military and the mullahs, as is generally believed in the West; it is between genuine democracy and a military-mullah alliance that is responsible for producing and sustaining religious extremism of different hues. The report recommends to the Pakistan government that it recognize the diversity of Islam in Pakistan, reaffirm the constitutional principle of equality for all citizens regardless of religion or sect, and give meaning to this by repealing all laws, penal codes and official procedures that reinforce sectarian identities and cause discrimination on the basis of faith. If these changes do not occur, the situation can be expected to worsen. Arif Jamal, a Pakistani writer on jihad, notes a troubling trend in the patterns of sectarian violence in the country: ... the Pakistani groups used to carry out sectarian violence on the pattern of non-sectarian violence in the country before the 9-11 attacks in the United States. The sectarian violence became intense and brutal after the jihadis had to leave Afghanistan in the aftermath of the US attack. The sectarian terrorists started using suicide attacks to perpetuate sectarian violence in Pakistan in the aftermath of the 9-11 attacks in New York and Washington. Suicide attacks were unknown in Pakistan in the pre-9-11 period and were largely associated with the al-Qaeda network, although the al-Qaeda-affiliated groups never used them in Pakistan. However, a new mode of violence has been introduced during the current wave of sectarian conflict: a car bomb. It is for the first time that the terrorists have used a car bomb in Pakistan. And if the past is any guide, they are likely to use this mode of violence more frequently in the future. Sectarian conflict and violence are an unpleasant reality in Pakistan today, and are becoming more and more intense. Administrative measures taken by the Musharraf-led government have failed to produce results so far. Analysts believe that the sectarian problem cannot be overcome by such administrative measures alone, while the state itself remains in alliance with extremist elements. The problem for Musharraf is that it is difficult to promote the so-called jihad in J&K without inadvertently promoting many of the Pakistani sectarian outfits. In the process, state authority stands eroded in one way or the other. The increasing militarization and brutalization of the conflict shows that there are virtually no sanctuaries left - neither home, nor mosque nor hospital. Not even a jail is safe. And being innocent is not the issue. Just "being" is enough - being Shi'ite or Sunni, Barelvi or Deobandi. In a situation where different sectarian groups are vying to prove themselves the standard-bearers of Islam, one strategy to secure prominence as a representative of "true Islam" is obviously by displaying extreme hostility and intolerance to those designated as being "un-Islamic" by virtue of belonging to religious minorities and minority sects. Amir Mir, senior assistant editor, Monthly Herald, Dawn Group of Newspapers, Karachi. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] List owner : Alan Fogelquist, Ph. D., Director, Eurasia Research Center Editorial Advisors - Moderators: Alan Fogelquist, Ph. D., Ralph Davis,(Editor, RMSMC and post-Soviet security analyst), Professor Emeritus Roger Hamburg (Political Science, U. of South Bend), Professor H. B. Paksoy (History and Middle East Studies), Professor Emeritus George G. S. Murphy (Economics, UCLA), Dr. Alessandro Politi (Strategic and OSINT Analysis, Italy), Marius Labentowicz, M. Sc. (Former Solidarity activist and political prisoner, Poland, now a resident of Canada) Visit ERC's Geopolitical Web Sites at: http://www.globalgeopolitics.com http://globalgeopolitics.net/ Materials distributed on this list are from open sources for individual non-commercial non-profit educational purposes according to academic standards of fair use by those who have subscribed to the list. Opinions expressed in messages posted on the group do not necessarily reflect those of the moderators. All items posted on the list are for individual educational non-commercial use only in accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107. Anyone seeking to reproduce any of these materials commercially should seek permission from the original copyright holder. |
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| << June08, 2005 - [India Thinkers Net]New group,,Religious zeal in the US |
June09, 2005 - [India Thinkers Net]AMU,MULLAHS (Y Sikand) and E Samskriti posts >> |
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