Unrest in Pakistan & Arab world

Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - In this column I wish to take matters of home and abroad. At home is an epidemic of unrest in Pakistan these days, like abroad two events are catching attention of the world. NATO’s aggression on Libya and the Earth quake in Japan and the visit of British PM Cameron. However, as for the doctors’ strike while it was taking place, our commentators failed to high light that on one side was the demand for increase in the young doctors’ pay, but on the other was their responsibility to the suffering humanity, particularly in emergency cases. No ‘human heart” should have refused treatment to a patient bleeding, with broken limb, to a heart patient, a woman in labour pains, etc.

Doctors are a wealth of the nation, and they earn swab if they serve humanity. They are bound by their oath also not to refuse treatment to any sick person irrespective of his caste creed religion, belief etc. They are benefactors of humanity. A better way of pressing for demands could have been to wear black bands on their arms, , put banners in the hospitals about their demands etc and resort to a token strike of one hour daily except in emergency wards,. No amount is enough to pay a doctor in some sever cases. Shah Jehan gave the English the Trading Rights through Surat port as a reward for healing of his daughter by an English doctor. I am sure that those who are in seats of authority in the Government know better. It would be highly unwise to simplify this situation as mischief, conspiracy against the Government or with such accusations as if it is all in their mind and not reality. They must be watching the unrest in the Arab world.

The doctors should remember that we are a poor nation and in our country “bana hai edh Tajammul Husain Khan kay liey” which we the working people are not! In this context one may recall a statement of the Honourable ex Home Minister of Sindh Zulfikar Mirza. He said that he is going abroad for travel and meeting his children. This is illustrative of how the mighty Tajammul Hussain live in Pakistan: they have their children abroad, they study abroad, their wealth abroad, their ghonsla abroad and politics in Pakistan is only their hobby. .

The damage the havoc the earthquake and Tsunami have done to Japan is very well known. Three points in this connection need be commented upon. First the unique courage and self control with which the Japanese have reacted to this calamity . It is unprecedented and shows the iron will in the Japanese nation. As I wrote on another occasion the great miraculous economic development the Japanese have achieved is not only due to their technology but first and foremost their national character. Our Government despite our poverty has done what little it could do, but may I say that if possible we may send through a ship food items like rice, wheat and fruits, in large quantity as possible. Wheat is used in Japan for making noodles. The quantity might be small compared to the needs but whatever can be done by us must be done. This will still be of some use as we are free of nuclear fall out and food is an important item. I know that we have sent water also and a medical team, but due linguistic problem unless some local Pakistanis join the voluntary work it would not be so much useful as food, fruits and water. The Great Japanese people need our little helping hand.

The other item of considerable concern to us, and of an example to the Arab world and the region is NATO’s aggression on Libya. What has been done to Libya can be done in any volatile Arab country The “right to change regimes” and that on the basis that the leader there is persona non grata to the Imperialists is rejected by any principled liberal person. The daily Observer and I was among the first to denounce NATO Imperialist aggression on Libya. At that time the reaction in this region was cloudy and wishfully some western agencies has even reported that Ghaddafi had run away from Libya. I had opposed NATO aggression on principle. Some Libyan rebel group took up arms against Ghaddafi’s rule and no sooner then that happened than NATO was bombing Libya. Under the influence of western analysis the press was depicting the rebels on the wave of victory and Ghaddafi regime on the run. Now that this euphoria in anti-Ghaddafi camp has subsided it is becoming clear that there was a highly wishful assessment about the rebels ability to throw Ghaddafi has failed It is noteworthy that several writers, in India and some demonstrators in Europe have also criticized NATO aggression.

Now, let us come to two recent indications that the rebels are a feeble and militarily ineffective group. Under dateline April 7 AFP has carried a story “ Libya rebels success unlikely – US General” and another article “Training Libyan rebels” by Patrick Wintour. The first item is the testimony of US General Carter Ham, who led the first stage of coalition air force attack on Libya, before the US Senate Committee, in which he said , I am selectively quoting him :” It was unlikely that Libya’s rebel forces could launch an attack on Tripoli and oust the regime’s leader Moamer Ghaddafi” — Pressed to reply to answer the same question , the General said” “ Sir, I would assess that as a low possibility”.

The article by Patrick Wintour states, and I am enumerating his suggestions: ” (1) Britain is to urge Arab countries to train the disorganized Libyan rebels, and so strengthen their position on the battlefield before negotiating on a ceasefire” “(2) The private soldiers could be paid by Arab countries to train the unstructured rebel army”; “(3) It is now being acknowledged that the disorganized Libyan rebels are not going to make headway on their own” “NATO countries are looking at requesting Arab countries. Qatar and UAE to train the rebels” Blackwaters are being mentioned as the possible trainer. It shows also that “ the rebels” advance 30 kilometer up the road then retreat as soon as they face the Libyan government firepower” It also says that US and Uk believe that under the UN Resolution it is legal to train the rebels and pay for them.

This suggestion can be summed up by Urdu proverb “Hamara sar our hamara jota” I might add a little foot note on France’s participation in this imperialist campaign. In modern age this is the first time that France has joined any imperialist adventure which those who know France’s pro-third world record fail to understand why it is being made the spearhead of anti-Libyan imperialist adventure. France record had been praise worthy as a friend of the third world.. When France claims that it depends only 8 per cent on Libya oil, and it has no strategic interest in this adventure why is France taking part in it . Stoking fire through a proxy war is not a praiseworthy act. Is it because Sarkozy is a jew , and Jews have been dedicatedly anti-Ghaddafi. Well, I hope the British Prime Minister flying visit to Pakistan was not to seek Pakistan’s support to Libyan adventure. Pakistan has already declared that it has “reservations” on (NATO action on) Libya. Which diplomatically means it does not support it.

The Arab countries should try to reach a peaceful solution of Libya. This can be possible only if the rebels are not encouraged to destroy their country. Now that the rebels feebleness has been demonstrated on the field, no interest will be served by stocking fire in Libya. Sane policy would be to avoid being merchants of death. But work for peace and reconciliation. Diplomacy should come in action instead of destroying Libya by an internecine civil war which NATO has planned , and being merchant of death and destruction Of course Ban Ki Moon is no Boutros Boutros Ghali or Salim Ahmed Salim ( of Tanzania) but he should make an attempt to become an ally of peace than of merchants of death He should work now or a cease fire resolution now when it is manifest that the rebel group is a weak group.

It is a pity that the Arabs are so immersed in their personal animosities with Ghaddafi that they cannot play a part in positive diplomacy in Libya. In this circumstances African Union or former OAU can play a positive part having tested a Biafra. Could one hope that instead of being NATO’s knife France return to its traditional role of a friend of the Third world, and drop war by proxy in Libya Arabs should know that in their present fragile condition proxy wars can be played in any non grata country. They should have the greater picture before them than myopic vision of hatred for this leader or that. They should support a cease-fire in Libya in conjunction with African Union.