With Hypocrisy all around, India's interests are the Supreme
by
Dr. A. K. Srivastava, Sep 25, 2017
Last week Indian External Affairs Minister : Ms. Sushma Swaraj landed in New York , ahead of the annual UN General Assembly (UNGA) session, which was to kicks off on Tuesday : September 19, 2017. Besides her holding about 20 bilateral and trilateral meetings with world-leaders attending the session, she addressed the 193-member United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, thereafter she returned back to India.
This UN meeting comes against the backdrop of a humanitarian crisis in Myanmar that has forced hundreds of thousands of Rohangya Muslims to flee their country into neighboring Bangladesh. The whole world is looking anxiously towards India as the crisis has touched India too. As per government's estimates, around 40,000 Rohingya Muslims are illegally staying in the country. India declined to accept any more, in spite of public demonstration by some human right activists, minority groups, opposition parties, PIL in courts etc. In view of India's previous experience of involvement of Rohangya Muslim groups in bombing of famous Buddhist temple at Bodh Gaya and perceived grave security threats, India took a position that it would finely deport all Rohangya Muslims from the country. A top UN human rights official previously 'deplored ' New Delhi's position. India had sharply reacted to UN statement.
Subsequently, Indian government, in an affidavit to the Supreme Court of India has confirmed the said position and Home Minister : Mr. Raj Nath Singh had given a statement that Rohangya refugees shall be treated as per UN convention on refugee status and these 40000 Rohangyas shall have to go through security-checks and to go back once situation improves in their parent country. Meanwhile, Indian government has sent adequate relief materials to mitigate the humanitarian sufferings through Bangladesh.
Dr. Ali Riaz, a Professor of Politics & Government at Illinois State University , also a leading expert on transnational terrorist groups and has extensively studied Islamic militancy in Bangladesh and surrounding areas., said “The presence of legitimate discontent, despair and desperation among hundreds and thousands of people, growing radicalization of a movement, asymmetry of forces engaged in the conflict and a religious dimension to the crisis all provide a conducive environment.....”.He further noted how in the southern Philippines, the Islamic State had grafted itself onto a local separatist insurgency, dispatching foreign fighters and threatening regional stability . In view of involvement of Pakistani Army , their supported Jihadi groups ,Military Intelligence wing ISI's direct involvement and Pakistan's national policy of sheltering and abating terrorism in the region, he cautioned.... “Neither the Myanmar government nor the regional powers should let this situation happen with the Rohangya ”.
Because of the Mayanmar military has intensified its retribution in Rakhine and also the increased International outrage mounted , Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi , of late, finally cancelled her UN trip, and blamed the Rohangya and their supporters for creating an “an iceberg of misinformation.” Myanmar’s military has accused Rohangya of burning down their own homes to garner international sympathy. She also pleaded to accept back their citizens, after proper scrutiny & verification.
ARSA, a terrorist organization active in Myanmar, which is credited to its long history of attacks, rapes, religious-conversions, killings of Buddhists majority villagers, was founded by a Rohangya named Ataullah, who was a born Pakistani and raised in Saudi Arabia. It was also involved in August, 25,2017 strike, in which its fighters were responsible for killing of Mayanmars' many security officers, along with some Buddhists, Muslims, Chinese origin residents . According to a military document , the insurgents group Arakan Rohanya Army fighting for ethnic Rakhine rights, killed at least 360 soldiers in the first half of 2016. In addition to them, other ethnic rebel forces, which have battled the state for decades, have clashed far more violently with the Myanmar’s army known as Tatmadaw. It is very surprising that Buddhist' majority are being blamed for the atrocities in Mayanmar. Buddhists are generally considered as peace loving and non-violent people. They have suffered extensively in recent past in Tibet (now part of China), Sri Lanka, Mayanmar, Vietnam and many other places, but seldom known for extremist and violent terror-activities. At the most they would poured petrol on their own self and put it on fire , instead of engaging in aggression and secession activities.
At the same time, Russia and China, both veto-wielding permanent UN Security Members, are supportive of Myanmar's government. It is not without a reason.
The Chinese Ambassador in Myanmar Hong Liang, in a statement said : “The stance of China regarding the terrorist attacks in Rakhine is clear, it is just an internal affair. The counter attacks of Myanmar security forces against extremist terrorists and the government’s undertakings to provide assistance to the people are strongly welcomed.”
China has many big budget investments in Mayanmar, which it cannot risk by antagonizing the still powerful Manamar's Military ( virtual ) rulers, in an only 18 months old democracy. The civilian government cannot do much without help of army, as many crucial ministries in the present government are being held by top ex-army generals. While the military’s campaign is being carried out in the north of Rakhine, China would be concerned if the violence expanded in the south and may imperiled recently opened Chinese-operated oil terminal at Kyaukpyu port, Naypyidaw , the remote city in southern Rakhine.
Last week China also opened an interim liaison office in Naypyidaw, the remote city that was inaugurated as Myanmar’s capital in 2005. Most foreign missions have stayed in Yangon, the country’s former capital.
With regional powers like both India and China vying to gain influence in Myanmar, it has now become a big political play ground. India's Foreign Affairs Minister : Ms Sushma Swaraj visited Myanmar, twice in last two year ( leave aside a dozen visits of top ministry's senior officials), along with big business and trade delegations; PM : Narendra Modi made a 3 days official-visit only a few weeks' back. India has started many big ticket projects in Myanmar, besides developing vigorously Religious, Cultural and Tourism relations. Culturally India is more nearer to Buddhist Myanmar. Like India, China’s government sees potential benefit in backing Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy, while she faces international criticism. This is basically an opportunity for China and India and a vulnerability of Aung San Suu Kyi.
In a recently published co-editorial in the New York times last week, written by highly acclaimed double Pulitzer Prize decorated writer-scholar Mr. Nicholas Kristof it exposed the world-wide spread of hypocrisy in international relations . Most of the countries are engaged in helping to create the very disaster that they are boasting about alleviating. Some times these world leaders usually ignore places that don’t fit their narratives and the situation.
In the last week's United Nation General Assembly , a forum vying for Peace and Prosperity among the member nations was misused by US President Donald J Trump to threaten and warn a nation of 25 Million people to annihilate North Korea.... “We will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.” He praised American humanitarian aid to Yemen. Patting oneself on the back is often oafish, but in this case it was also offensive. Who does not know that Yemen needs aid because the U.S. is helping Saudi Arabia who starve and bomb Yemeni civilians, creating what the U.N. says is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis?. More than 7,600 people have been killed and 42,000 injured in Yemen, since March 2015, the majority in air strikes by a Saudi-led multinational coalition that backs the US President. The conflict and a blockade imposed by the coalition left 70% of the Yemeni population in need of humanitarian-aid. The nation's infrastructure of schools, hospitals, roads, bridges... all have been destroyed. Millions of infants in recent past have died due to malnutrition, Diarrhoea , small pox, in absence of safe drinking water and better hygiene. Who would take responsibility for such large scale human suffering?
Saudi Arabia has distinctive reputation of being home of all, but two terrorists responsible for 9/11 attack on twin World trade towers in New York in 2001. Who does not know the international terrorist Osama Bin Laden, a Saudi billionaire and ex-head of Al-Qaeda?. The conflict and tension in most of Middle-East and everywhere between Shea and Sunni sects of Muslims derive its life from Sunni Saudi Arabia. The common perception world-wide about Saudi Arabia is of a main financier of extremists and terrorists activities, through its many charities and foundations, whereas Pakistan provides manpower, motivation & training , shelter in safe sanctuaries, arms and ammunition, execution plans and real executers, including suicide-bombers : fiyadeen -warriors.
Many Muslim leaders in attendance in UNGA , like Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turky, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi were critical of Human Rights in Mayanmar . Mr. Erdogan did highlight the plight of the Rohingya suffering as ethnic cleansing in Myanmar. He is the gentleman, on a state-visit to India in may 2017 offered to mediate between Pakistan and India on Kashmir issue, which government of India did not take a minute to dismiss on his face. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan tried to project himself as a champion of Human Rights. On 15th July 2017, the first anniversary of a failed-coup , in the opposition's show of strength 246 Turkish “martyrs” died.....“defending democracy.” A broad spectrum of Turks took to the streets for the opposition march and rally which was the largest in recent memory, Government made arrests of 50,000 people, a purge of 140,000 teachers, soldiers, police, judges, and others from the government jobs. New initiatives involved taking the country back by centuries and decades. Darwin's Theory of Evolution - Natural Selection and other scientific facts are withdrawn from the school text books and medieval books are being prescribed in new curriculum. Third degree treatment with opposition in jails are very common.
Pakistan was one step ahead. It has again raked the Kashmir issue , perhaps the 6th time in recent past. Exercising its right of reply to Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s remarks on Terrorism- Kashmir, Ms. Eenam Gambhir, first secretary with India's permanent mission to the UN, told that Pakistan had become a land of "pure terror" synonymous with "Terroristan “.
The following five things India said during the debate in the United Nations General Assembly:
1) It is extraordinary that the state which protected Osama Bin Laden and sheltered Mullah Omar should have the gumption to play the victim. In its short history, Pakistan has become a geography synonymous with terror. The quest for a 'land of pure' has actually produced “the land of pure terror”. Pakistan is now ‘Terroristan’, with a flourishing industry producing and exporting global terrorism.
2) Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, a leader of the UN designated terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, is now sought to be legitimized as a leader of a political party. This is a country whose counter terrorism policy is to mainstream and upstream terrorists by either providing safe havens to global terror leaders in its military town, or protecting them with political careers.
3) In so far as India is concerned, Pakistan must understand that the State of Jammu and Kashmir is and will always remain an integral part of India. None of this can justify Pakistan’s avaricious efforts to covet the territories of its neighbors.
4) We also heard Pakistan complain about the consequences of its supposed counter terrorism efforts. Having diverted billions of dollars in international military and development aid towards creating a dangerous infrastructure of terror on its own territory, Pakistan is now speaking of the high cost of its terror industry. The polluter, in this case, is paying the price.
5) Even in Pakistan as terrorists hold rallies with states 'support', do fund-raising, roam its streets with impunity ,the world does not need lessons on democracy and human rights from a rogue state , whose own situation is charitably described as a failed state.
Pakistan has very easily and swiftly forgotten the human right violations it has been perpetuating on its soil with its own citizens, since decades, in states of Sindh, Punjab, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Baluchistan and other NW border-states and others like Rohangyas, Muhajirs (also spelled Mahajir and Mohajir) and treating them like aliens.
Myanmar leader Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi , who fought for promotion of democracy in her country and a face of human right for decades in her country, was under house arrest for 15 years in a period of 21 years by military generals . Her efforts were internationally recognized and she was awarded with Noble Peace Prize in 1991. The same person in September 2017 skipped the U.N. G. A. meeting, after being feted last year, because it’s awkward to be a Nobel Peace Prize winner who defends a brutal campaign of murder, rape and pillage. She has her own narration to tell the world, which many are not prepared to listen..
In 2014, Russia made several military incursions into Ukrainian and took control of strategic positions and infrastructure within the Ukrainian territory of Crimea. Russia then annexed Crimea after an unconstitutional referendum and voting to join the Russian Federation. Russia also put her hands to de-stabilize the US Presidential elections in 2016, which is under investigation by FBI and others. Face Book and other agencies are propping up new evidences daily. Russia has directly and many times indirectly supported violence and spillage in many Middle Eastern countries....
China is another hypocrite in the list. It offers to champion for human rights but sponsors, supports and abates terrorism in Indian North -East. It is responsible for the blood-bath, since many decades, in Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Assam etc. Since last 18 months, despite India's best efforts, the dreaded terrorist Hafiz Mohammed Saeed is being protected by China to declare him a UN approved International Terrorist. Hafiz Saeed is one of the most-wanted militant leaders in South Asia who carries a $10 million American bounty on his head and leader of the UN designated terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba. China is also credited to civil war and supports corrupt autocrats governments in Africa and elsewhere from Zimbabwe to Myanmar.
US President Trump, keeping in view security situation, has announced on Sunday : 24th September 2017 night complete banned , starting next month, most citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea will be banned from entering the United States. Citizens of Iraq and some groups of people in Venezuela who seek to visit the United States will face restrictions or heightened scrutiny. In the new order — Chad, North Korea and Venezuela are new to the list of affected countries and Sudan has been dropped. The order will take effect Oct. 18, 2017.
The list and narrative is long. Burundi, Congo, South Sudan, Zimbabwe and many more are suffering due to international hypocrisy. In politics no country is permanent friend or foe. Depending upon the situation and keeping in view the overall situation and interest of the home-country, it takes a view and decides the course of actions. India is no exception. Human rights, minority, migration, religious groups etc. other considerations come later. As a citizen we should support and admire Indian nations' policies, nothing more...nothing less....
With the new developments in India, now we have the tools to achieve enormous progress against common enemies of humanity – poverty, disease, slavery. But it’s not clear if we have the will. We can do for us and for others also. What’s striking about this moment is that we have perhaps the worst refugee crisis in 70 years, overlapping with the worst food crisis in 70 years, overlapping with risks of genocide in several countries and a big vacuum of a world class leader who can navigate safely the world politics for the better. UN is also miserly failing.
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