Libya & Syria, two hot spots
Ambassador’s Diary
Dr Samiullah Koreshi
Monday, February 27, 2012 - In the Middle East there are two hot spots these days, Syria and Libya. I had avoided to write on the Syrian rebellion-like situation . It is a too delicate matter as I have been away from the area for long time and I might not be able to write with confidence on the internal situation. I have mixed feelings for Syria which in history had meant Syria plus Palestine plus Lebanon, the heart of Arab culture. The earliest international traders and all the roads once to Europe from the Middle East were those which catered for Syrian traders to Europe up to Poland. Trade is in the blood of Syrians, even in Africa the retail business was dominated by the Syrians, which includes the Lebanese also.
Historic Syria was the land of beauty and culture. In modern Syria, there is a schism between the majority Sunni , and minority Shias., but the Shias the Alavites inhabit the mountains are the toughest soldiers and form or formed the Spear head of the best Arab fighters and provided the best fighters in the Arab-Israel Wars. There is a clear division of Sunni dominated areas and cities, in Sunni areas in two cities of Hams and Hama where once Ikhwan ul Muslimeen has its power base. The Arab Army against Israel got a backbone in Syria under Hafiz el Asad, father of the Present young men Bashara. El Asad. Alavites provide or provided the power base of Bashara El Asad., known to be the toughies . This makes the situation in Syria different from Yemen.
After the NATO, French, British forces supported by US deadly air attacks succeeded in toppling Ghaddafi; the current situation locally remains murky. Rebels who played the Western proxies against Ghaddafi are up against the disunited resistance, with Ghaddafi’s son in the adjoining Sahara desert country Niger, along the vast desert inhabited by the Tauraiq tribes remains out of the clutches of the NATO marauders.
Having set the facts about the two trouble spots I will come to international aspect of the Syrian trouble that is the UN role and the latest news by AFP “UN gets list of Syrian suspects”. It said “ International investigators on Thursday “ i.e. 23 February, “ handed the UN a list of Syrian officials suspected of crimes against humanity, as a defiant regime brushed off an outcry over the killings of two journalists” It went on to say “fifty-two people were killed across the country , according to the Observatory of Human Rights, as activists spoke of “terrifying explosions” in Homs as encircling troops pounded rebel areas for the 20th straight days” … It spoke heroically of “ The Commission has deposited with the High Commissioner ( Human Rights ) Navi Pilay) a comprehensive data base containing all evidence collected “ .
No one can be against trying violators of Human rights. By all means they must be tried but do not be one eyed judge. In this specific case the sanctimonious Human Rights organization is worried about a small number affected by the violation of Human Rights - an iota but the UN closed its eye on violation of Human Rights by US and its allies in Iraq and Afghanistan. You are worried about the sparrow but sparing the man eater Bush and his generals in Iraq and Afghanistan. Because you issued a license for killing the brown Muslims of Iraq and Syria. Bush has killed more human beings for its political victory than Attila the Hun, Changez and Hilagu Khans. He of course was given license to kill for his so-called War on Terrorism. An example of one eyed blindness of UN. Go a step ahead to try all who violated Human Rights but do not be selective. This is where UN is a shameful pliant of neo-colonialists and US allies and NATO . Legal hairsplitting is a time tested device of more powerful. The principls of Nurmberg Trail were meant only for the defeated Nazis and their allies.
Similar is the case of complying with the UN Resolutions passed under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, Art 51. which in this case is that of applying sanctions on Iran. The point need to be examined whether there are certain assumptions and exclusions from the obligation to complying with boycotts and sanctions on any country hit by this clause? . The point is whether the UN resolutions passed under UN Charter Article 51 are ipso facto binding on all Members of the UN whatever it asks its members to obey.
The UN Charter was drafted in 1945 when the overwhelming number of the original 52 Members of the UN were one socio-religious group, that is the West. At that time the meaning given to this article could not imagined to be against one’s religious beliefs or basic socio-cultural values I will make the point clear by referring to the present thinking of a certain dominant group against Islam. Supposing the UN Resolution under this Chapter and Art 51 (?) calls for (a) boycott of Muslim religious books or blockade of an area which includes the Holy Ka’aba , or attack the Holy Land, on certain grounds acceptable to a certain anti-Muslim group are we bound to comply with that Resolution? Taliban were a limited case but supposing UN goes against the Wahabis, or Salafis, and asks the UN to delete the word Kafir etc, are we bound to obey the UN . This is a point King Saud made on the Charter of Human Rights. The animus against Muslim and their belief is illustrated by American soldiers burning the Holy Quran, and Terry Jones a Pastor in US. Or they say OIC is a group of terrorism supporters or Arab League is a group of anti-democracy countries and should be disbanded? Or all Political Parties calling themselves Muslim should be disbanded then will we comply? Iran was one of the original founders of human civilization as a distinguished first Indian MP remarked when they started to make joke of a coloured man became an MP for the first time in history of the British Parliament “When you were jumping from one tree to another with the help of your tails, we were still civilised”
How can we boycott Iran with which these areas had contacts and all kinds of relations from the dawn of history because it is going for Nuclear capability , and the objector to it is the so far the only power who has used N-bomb- then called Atom Bomb – to kill thousands in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, Iran must satisfy the Arab fears on its N-program. That is very important which we all feel is necessary.
Coming to Libya, I learnt from several Libyans during my postings abroad that Ghaddafi had given several benefits to his citizens which no Govt on earth had given upto now. Electricity to citizens was free, under Islmic Banking no interest was charged from them, loans were given free for construction of one’s own house, newly wed were given $ 50,000 to start new life, education and medical was free in Libya and abroad, like some other oil rich Arab countries do it also During Ghaddafi the per centage of literacy rose from unknown low figures Those who wanted to do farming were given laid , free livestock, all needed for farming, free purchase of cars. Libya’s rserves rose under him $ 170 billion and 27 tons of gold , the citizens were given a share in the oil revenues, $ 5000 on birth of a child to encourage increase of population. This was the tyrant Ghaddafi If he had a strong hold on the country it was because of the presence of over 100 warring tribes. Now the French and the British have got the oil riches at their disposal and European firms are rushing to Libya to make it their colony.
No welfare state is acceptable to the Super Power nor people’s Jamahiriya is entitled to be called Democratic unless it is approved by the West.? Western approval is above the votes of the locals. Why UN should be meddling in Syria, at best it is for the Arab League to intervene and none else.
Historic Syria was the land of beauty and culture. In modern Syria, there is a schism between the majority Sunni , and minority Shias., but the Shias the Alavites inhabit the mountains are the toughest soldiers and form or formed the Spear head of the best Arab fighters and provided the best fighters in the Arab-Israel Wars. There is a clear division of Sunni dominated areas and cities, in Sunni areas in two cities of Hams and Hama where once Ikhwan ul Muslimeen has its power base. The Arab Army against Israel got a backbone in Syria under Hafiz el Asad, father of the Present young men Bashara. El Asad. Alavites provide or provided the power base of Bashara El Asad., known to be the toughies . This makes the situation in Syria different from Yemen.
After the NATO, French, British forces supported by US deadly air attacks succeeded in toppling Ghaddafi; the current situation locally remains murky. Rebels who played the Western proxies against Ghaddafi are up against the disunited resistance, with Ghaddafi’s son in the adjoining Sahara desert country Niger, along the vast desert inhabited by the Tauraiq tribes remains out of the clutches of the NATO marauders.
Having set the facts about the two trouble spots I will come to international aspect of the Syrian trouble that is the UN role and the latest news by AFP “UN gets list of Syrian suspects”. It said “ International investigators on Thursday “ i.e. 23 February, “ handed the UN a list of Syrian officials suspected of crimes against humanity, as a defiant regime brushed off an outcry over the killings of two journalists” It went on to say “fifty-two people were killed across the country , according to the Observatory of Human Rights, as activists spoke of “terrifying explosions” in Homs as encircling troops pounded rebel areas for the 20th straight days” … It spoke heroically of “ The Commission has deposited with the High Commissioner ( Human Rights ) Navi Pilay) a comprehensive data base containing all evidence collected “ .
No one can be against trying violators of Human rights. By all means they must be tried but do not be one eyed judge. In this specific case the sanctimonious Human Rights organization is worried about a small number affected by the violation of Human Rights - an iota but the UN closed its eye on violation of Human Rights by US and its allies in Iraq and Afghanistan. You are worried about the sparrow but sparing the man eater Bush and his generals in Iraq and Afghanistan. Because you issued a license for killing the brown Muslims of Iraq and Syria. Bush has killed more human beings for its political victory than Attila the Hun, Changez and Hilagu Khans. He of course was given license to kill for his so-called War on Terrorism. An example of one eyed blindness of UN. Go a step ahead to try all who violated Human Rights but do not be selective. This is where UN is a shameful pliant of neo-colonialists and US allies and NATO . Legal hairsplitting is a time tested device of more powerful. The principls of Nurmberg Trail were meant only for the defeated Nazis and their allies.
Similar is the case of complying with the UN Resolutions passed under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, Art 51. which in this case is that of applying sanctions on Iran. The point need to be examined whether there are certain assumptions and exclusions from the obligation to complying with boycotts and sanctions on any country hit by this clause? . The point is whether the UN resolutions passed under UN Charter Article 51 are ipso facto binding on all Members of the UN whatever it asks its members to obey.
The UN Charter was drafted in 1945 when the overwhelming number of the original 52 Members of the UN were one socio-religious group, that is the West. At that time the meaning given to this article could not imagined to be against one’s religious beliefs or basic socio-cultural values I will make the point clear by referring to the present thinking of a certain dominant group against Islam. Supposing the UN Resolution under this Chapter and Art 51 (?) calls for (a) boycott of Muslim religious books or blockade of an area which includes the Holy Ka’aba , or attack the Holy Land, on certain grounds acceptable to a certain anti-Muslim group are we bound to comply with that Resolution? Taliban were a limited case but supposing UN goes against the Wahabis, or Salafis, and asks the UN to delete the word Kafir etc, are we bound to obey the UN . This is a point King Saud made on the Charter of Human Rights. The animus against Muslim and their belief is illustrated by American soldiers burning the Holy Quran, and Terry Jones a Pastor in US. Or they say OIC is a group of terrorism supporters or Arab League is a group of anti-democracy countries and should be disbanded? Or all Political Parties calling themselves Muslim should be disbanded then will we comply? Iran was one of the original founders of human civilization as a distinguished first Indian MP remarked when they started to make joke of a coloured man became an MP for the first time in history of the British Parliament “When you were jumping from one tree to another with the help of your tails, we were still civilised”
How can we boycott Iran with which these areas had contacts and all kinds of relations from the dawn of history because it is going for Nuclear capability , and the objector to it is the so far the only power who has used N-bomb- then called Atom Bomb – to kill thousands in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, Iran must satisfy the Arab fears on its N-program. That is very important which we all feel is necessary.
Coming to Libya, I learnt from several Libyans during my postings abroad that Ghaddafi had given several benefits to his citizens which no Govt on earth had given upto now. Electricity to citizens was free, under Islmic Banking no interest was charged from them, loans were given free for construction of one’s own house, newly wed were given $ 50,000 to start new life, education and medical was free in Libya and abroad, like some other oil rich Arab countries do it also During Ghaddafi the per centage of literacy rose from unknown low figures Those who wanted to do farming were given laid , free livestock, all needed for farming, free purchase of cars. Libya’s rserves rose under him $ 170 billion and 27 tons of gold , the citizens were given a share in the oil revenues, $ 5000 on birth of a child to encourage increase of population. This was the tyrant Ghaddafi If he had a strong hold on the country it was because of the presence of over 100 warring tribes. Now the French and the British have got the oil riches at their disposal and European firms are rushing to Libya to make it their colony.
No welfare state is acceptable to the Super Power nor people’s Jamahiriya is entitled to be called Democratic unless it is approved by the West.? Western approval is above the votes of the locals. Why UN should be meddling in Syria, at best it is for the Arab League to intervene and none else.
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