Archive
The Sharpeville Massacre
Posted on October 26, 2012 by Akashma Online News
Martin Meredith works of South Africa’s Apartheid era, as he put it in his book “In the Name of the Apartheid,” published in 1988. His bibliography is comprised of more than 250 references that he used to compile his book. But he gives special mention in the Bibliography section to the Anglo-Boer war, Pakenham, On the Rise of Afrikaner Nationalism, Adam and Giliomee, de Klehompson, van Benson, Biko, Karis, and Carter, Lodge, Mandela, Walshe; on Platzky and Walker, Surplus People Project; on economic change, Lipton. Several personal accounts also stand out. They include Bernstein, Carson, Finnegan, First, Joseph, Lelyweld, Winnie Mandela, Modisane, Mphahlele, and Woords.
I mention his special list because you might want to go on a historical quest and read for yourself the works of the people who were involved in the research and compilation of events of that era outside of the Official Story.
“As the tentacles of apartheid penetrated every level of African society, African protests against the government steadily mounted. In rural areas, opposition to apartheid measures like the Bantu Authorities Act flared into open revolt.”
There was prolonged violence in the Hurutshe Reserve in the western Transvaal, in Sekhukhuneland, and Pondoland. Chiefs and Councillors resisting government authority were deposed and deported. Armored units and aircraft had to be deployed to crush the Pondoland revolt.
When the government decided to compel African women to carry reference books from 1956, there were protest marches in almost every major town.”
In 1948, Afrikaner Nationalists came to power bringing their version of racial rule known as Apartheid, and proceeded to construct the most elaborated racial edifice the world had ever seen.
In the name of apartheid, millions of people were uprooted from their homes; millions more were denied basic rights. In their attempts to resist apartheid, blacks tried public protests, petitions, passive resistance, boycotts, sabotage, guerrilla warfare, and urban insurrection. At every event, they were met with repression, oppression, incarceration, deportation, and death.
To get to the Sharpeville Massacre we need to understand what was the goal of the protests of March 21, 1960.
The pass law of South Africa was an old tactic used by black slave owners to control the movements of their slaves.
The first time Pass documents were used to restrict the movement of non-European South Africans was in the early 1800’s. However, slaves at the Cape had been forced to carry Passes since 1709. Farmers at the Cape ran short of labor during the first British occupation of the southern tip of Africa in 1795, with its subsequent abolition of slavery in 1808. Until that time Dutch farmers employed by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) supplied fresh food to passing ships using slave labor to stock up the refreshment station. They could still sell slaves within the colony but were prohibited from importing new slaves. The settlers and government turned to the indigenous Khoikhoi people to fill the labor gap. Pass Laws in South Africa.
Sharperville was a town built as a black suburb for the steel manufacturing center of Vereeniging, fifty miles south of Johannesburg. In the times of apartheid, towns of this kind were built to house the workers of white businesses. Usually, they will be only workers, no families. But eventually, they outgrew the original plan and they became full towns, when getting too close to the white towns, they were forcefully out-rooted and relocated to faraway lands.
Resistance and Sharpeville
For years, many South Africans peacefully protested against apartheid laws, including the pass system. In March 1960, a group called the Pan African Congress (PAC) decided to organize a protest in the Black township of Sharpeville. The plan was for protestors to march to the local police station without their passes and ask to be arrested, in an act of civil disobedience….
Then without warning the police opened fire.
In the aftermath, 69 peaceful protesters were killed, and 180 were injured mostly in the back.
https://humanrights.ca/story/sharpeville-massacre
Kenya Bans All GMO’s
Posted on December 10, 2012 by Akashma Online News
Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya and East Africa’s most populous city (3.5 million).
The ministry of health has undertaken to commission a study to determine whether or not genetically modified foods are harmful to human beings. The ministry was tasked by the cabinet about two weeks ago to provide scientific proof over the safety of GMOs. Speaking at a press briefing at Afya House , the minister for public health and sanitation Beth Mugo said that the ban on importation of GMOs remains until conclusive studies are complete.
In a surprising act of courage , Public Health Minister Beth Mugo of the Kenyan government has announced on National Television that Kenya has completely banned the importation of all genetically modified (GMO) food into the country, until exhaustive tests on health effects are complete.
This study does not include Animal feed which it is Genetically Modified. And does not include the GMO’s produced in Kenya.
Will this mean that Monsanto Kenya is out of business?
According to Monsanto Kenya 2011 report: “In 2011, we made great progress to our goals around sustainability, engaging with many stakeholders and working in partnership with organizations around the world. I’m pleased to present you with Monsanto’s 2011 Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report which outlines recent work in this area” Really nothing in concrete can be seen on the country where poverty and starvation is one of the highest in Africa.
“As the population continues to increase, so does the demand for valuable resources. Monsanto is working for a better tomorrow by putting the right tools in the hands of farmers today. By equipping growers with better seeds, we can help protect our natural resources, fight hunger, improve nutrition and provide economic benefits to everyone involved in an improved system of agriculture.” Monsanto 2110 Report
What we are talking about here is that Monsanto measure Kenya agriculture growth solely on its sales of Modified Seeds, and their biotechnology which acording to the New Law in Kenya will be banned immediately. Well not so fast, this Law is clear on announcing the “All imports of GMO’s are banned”. This is double mirror news, because most of the GMO’s are not imported to Kenya, they are produced in Kenya. Monsanto Kenya is responsible for the production of Millions of Genetically Modified Seeds that will produce tons of GMO’s in the country.
Monsanto goes on to say in their report that part of thier continuous journey is also exemplified through their commitment to the UN Global Compact and The Ten Principles relating to the areas of human rights, labor practices, environmental protection and combating corruption. According to their 2011 report that includes the second installment of their actions supporting the Global Compact and a special update on their human rights activities. But then we the Poverty.org assuring us that Kenya is child labor it is a social problem.
Child labor – Obstacle to education
Child labor was introduced in Kenya during the colonial era. Too many issues currently fuel child labor to solve it overnight: poverty in rural areas and city slums; HIV/AIDS, which orphaned over 1 million children; conflicts; domestic violence; and traditional practices such as sending children to herd cattle or to be married at an early age.
Not to mention the kids who are forced by adults to either break into houses or smuggle illegal goods. Or those who are simply forced into prostitution.
Raising awareness about child poverty in Kenya
It’s only recently that people have become more aware of the importance of sending children to school as a long term investment. This is true for the media, policy makers, parents and … children themselves!
For the past 20 years successive governments have been implementing national policies and economic measures to tackle child labor via reducing poverty in Kenya and especially adult unemployment.
The current government has also created a system of grants and development funds in order to support children from poor families. This will nonetheless depend on how well the country does economically in the years to come if it is to sustain such public expenses. Poverty. org
Monsanto operates in 444 facilities in 66 countries. Not only Kenya has a Monsanto facility, but Kenya headquarters Monsanto Africa.
Monsanto Kenya
Tuskys head office complex
Mombasa Road
P.O. Box 47686, 00100 Nairobi
Tel: +254 20 2060922/44, 020 3574301-4
Fax: +254 20 823086
Cell: +254 722 205294/529, +254 733 600 468/629 414
Monsanto Vegetable Seeds Division
P.O. Box 47686, 00100
Nairobi, Kenya
T. +254 20 2060922/44 3574301-4
So what is it in reality what the Minister of Health banned?
Here is a list of crops Monsanto invests in day after day in Africa and around the world.
- Alfalfa: Genuity® Roundup Ready® Alfalfa provides in-plant tolerance to Roundup® agricultural herbicide. Fewer weeds means it provides high-quality forage and hay.
- Canola: Genuity offers the Roundup Ready® trait in both spring and winter canola. This trait is a tool for farmers to help manage weeds and increase yield potential, creating a win-win on their farm.
- Corn: For farmers today, it’s all about getting the most yield out of every acre of corn, while using as few inputs as possible. Monsanto’s corn traits help farmers do this by providing cutting-edge technology that protects the plant’s yield.
- Cotton: Today, cotton growers are benefiting from second-generation and stacked trait technologies, which provide more levels of protection. Genuity® Bollgard II® with Roundup Ready® Flex represents Monsanto’s newest wave of innovation with two second-generation traits stacked into one seed.
- Sorghum: Sorghum is an efficient crop in the conversion of solar energy and more drought-tolerant than other crops such as corn and soybeans. Monsanto continues to research and develop new hybrids to fit growers’ needs.
- Soybeans: Whether it’s a higher yielding soybean that provides a broad spectrum of weed control with the Roundup Ready® system or a soybean plant that helps reduce trans-fatty acids, Monsanto has a lot to offer soybean farmers.
- Sugarbeets: Fewer herbicide applications, increased yields and more sugar content all make Genuity Roundup Ready® sugarbeets attractive to many farmers.
- Wheat: Since acquiring the WestBred brand in 2009, Monsanto has initiated an intensive effort to incorporate breakthrough breeding technologies – developed and deployed with notable success in other row crops – in wheat.
There is another side of the story developing in Kenya Feed The Future it is a US Organization under the umbrella of US Government’s Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative that help local farmers to increase their yield.
“Through a five-year project under Feed the Future, the company helps smallholder farmers access improved varieties of crops, increase their use of fertilizer, and learn improved soil and water management techniques” Feed the Future
How will the US government help the farmers to access “improved varieties of crops”?, there is only one way, thru the use of Genetically Modified Seeds obtained under the license of Monsanto. So if the US government has the ability to deliver Seeds to Kenya under the guise of Aids, it means also that the import of GMO’s will enter Kenya regardless of the Ban.
The US government is not an entity but a conglomerate of individuals working for their own agendas. Why will congress will allocate millions of dollars into a foreign programs? Unless these foreign programs are funded by corporations operating in those countries that will be benefit by the infusion of capital.
Take for example World Bank that it is associated with policies that work against the well being of the citizens of the country that will take the loan. Loans usually attached to conditions well beyond the control of the third world country government once the loan is taken.
If a third world country is forced to buy grains as a conditions to get the loan, it is because the Agribusiness in the US are behind the policies that will lead to the Aid to this country. It does not takes a genius to figure out the outcome of this condition. US agribusiness are giants subsidized by the Federal Government producing tons of grains per harvest, versus third world countries yielding small crops.
Another important aspect to take in consideration in Kenya is the level of government corruption. Politicians in Kenya are among the highest paid on earth, despite the fact that many of their constituents are poor, unemployed and undernourished. Corruption is one of the country’s most serious problems, with both taxes and international aid often lining private pockets instead of filling public coffers. If the importers of GMO’s are big Traders with big packets, there is little chance that this Ban will be successful.
We have to see the positive side of the News. This Ban is the culmination of the effort of concerned citizens seeking accountability from Monsanto practices. We could expect that this Ban follow other studies on GMO. Food is just one tiny aspect of Monsanto business. Soil Modification, Water treatment, Fertilizers, Herbicides are just few of Monsanto intrusive technology.
Read More on Monsanto…..
Monsanto have been modifying genes for 30 years, that we know. There is a short list known to the scientific community, and to the governmental agencies in charge of controlling its activities. But really Monsanto have been honest to the world? Does it planned since the beginning the seize of life on Earth. Did it do it with all premeditation and advantage to control and monopoly the seeds production and/or the food supply?
This are not easy questions to answer without being being puzzled by worry and grieve for our future. The farmers that have suffered already the unfair practices of Monsanto and the controversial rulings of the courts around the world, know better. Monsanto more dangerous than war itself
There is more that United Nations Control, the World Bank and the International Monetary fund, two weapons of war that makes the poorer countries pry of the Rich Global Corporations that in agreement with the United Nations get their pawns into the national resources of the countries and manage their internal sociology-economical and political policies, keeping the entire population subject to poverty and addicted to public welfare that it is at the same time another Corporate strategy to control the population.
For over 50 years The Men Behind the curtain or Elite, have been working diligently to establish a One Central Office of Power where they can manage the Affairs of Earth.
For years the use of the New World Order wording was sounding more like conspiracy theory than any other thing, because the propaganda machine that controls whats gets out to the people had the Project Under Wraps. By now the Centralized Office of the United Nations is at full control of Earth and little can be say that is have not being said before regarding their aims for the human race. Centralized Government
Nigeria, US relationship is beyond oil – US Consul General
Posted on December 09, 2012 by Akashma Online News
source Vanguard
Hawkins, who was accompanied by the Public Affairs Officer in the Consulate, Mrs. Dehab Ghebreab and Information Specialist Broadcast Media, Mrs. Joke Omotunde, said there were strong ties between Nigeria and the US especially in areas of security, education, cultural exchanges, military training and collaboration in regional and continental conflict resolution.
He said: “Nigeria is a huge country and you do not fully understand the country until you are inside it. The country has enormous energy which is found in the diversity of its people, who are very humorous.
The country has vast landmass and each area has something unique about it. We recognize Nigeria as the giant of Africa because of the size of the country in population, economy, the media and sustenance of democracy.”
Death, oil and religion: the origins of conflict in Nigeria run deep
The north of the country has been torn apart by terrorist attacks that saw police stations bombed, cars torched and the streets littered with bodies. More than 200 people have died so far in January alone.
How could a nation so rich in resources descend into such turmoil? The answer lies in a history of ethnic, religious and political fault-lines that go back centuries. The Conversation
He said the US recognized Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa, adding that the country was equally a strong player in global affairs.
According to the envoy, foreigners to Nigeria tended to see more of the positive sides than the areas of irritations that Nigerians complained of.
Hawkins said his visit to Vanguard was part of his familiarization tour of the Nigerian media landscape, to understand the working of the media in Nigeria and the challenges of implementing the Freedom of Information Act.
Largely, Nigeria’s poor image does not arise from government’s irresponsible behavior but from those of Nigerians! It is the ordinary Nigerian who litters the streets with trash. It is the ordinary Nigerian taxi or bus driver who gives out twenty naira to policemen instead of getting all his vehicle papers right. It is the ordinary Nigerian who shunts queues at filling stations, banks, or wherever order is required. to the consternation of the rest of us. It is the ordinary Nigerian who vandalizes NEPA property, NNPC pipeline or other public property, thus disrupting the meagre services the rest of us should receive from these sources. Yet it is the ordinary Nigerian who blames government most for all his woes. It is the ordinary Nigerian who creates bad publicity for this country, but it is the government that takes the blame. I am sad at this irony. Nigeria Media-Nigeria’s Image
The US team was received by the Editor, Mr. Mdeno Bayagbon; Deputy Editor, Mr. Eze Anaba; Foreign Affairs Editor, Mr. Hugo Odiogor; Business Editor, Mr. Omoh Gabriel; Political Editor, Emmanuel Aziken; and Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr. Victor Omoregie.
In his welcome remarks, Bayabgon told the envoy that Vanguard as a newspaper had been very supportive of the activities of the US mission in Nigeria. He commended the Consulate for finding positive lights with which to promote social and economic relations between the two countries.
According to the Editor, it is worth commending that the US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terrance McCaulley, was presently on a four-city tour in US to educate Americans on the process of “Doing Business in Nigeria.”
He said that is a measure of the confidence that the US mission has in Nigeria, regardless of the security challenges facing the country now.
Nigeria is currently our 23rd largest goods trading partner with $38.6 billion in total (two way) goods trade during 2011. Goods exports totaled $4.8 billion; Goods imports totaled $33.7 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Nigeria was $28.9 billion in 2011. Office of the US Trade
Nigeria booming illegal Oil Refineries – BBC Special
Oil spill on an illegal Oil Refinery in Nigeria
“Almost 400 people work here and every night we produce around 11,000 litres of diesel,” said 32-year-old Edward, adding that his elder brothers had learnt all about the business in Bakassi, near the Cameroonian border with Nigeria.
“For us we lose somewhere between 40,000 and 60,000 barrels a day to crude theft and this is only what is lost in the metered sections of our pipeline. The large proportion we think ends up in refineries around the world.”
The oil companies’ hands are tied, as they do not have the power to arrest anyone or to intervene.
They have to rely on the military response, which is clearly ineffective.
I think this is the closest the regular citizen can get to take advantage of the wealth of their country. The Foreign Oil companies and the leaders of Nigeria had always been the big winners in this Oil Business. The Theft of the oil from the Official pipe lines are done without regard of the environment.
What of the white Man’s Religion – Christianity?
Posted on August 29, 2012 by Akashma Online News
Excerpt of I Write What I like Steve Biko Writings published first in 1978 by Bowerdean Publishing Company, Ltd. and The University of Chicago Press.
It seems the people involved in imparting Christianity to the black people steadfastly refuse to get rid of the rotten foundation which many of the missionaries created when they came. To this date black people find no message for them in the bible simply because our ministers are still too busy with moral trivialities. they blow these up as the most important things that Jesus had to say to people. They constantly urge the people to find fault in themselves and by so doing detract from the essence of the struggle in which the people are involved. Deprived of spiritual content, the black people read the bible with a gullibility that is shocking. While they sing in a chorus of “mea culpa” they are joined by white groups who sing a different version – “tua culpa”.
the anachronism of a well-meaning God who allows people to suffer continually under an obviously immoral system is not lost to young blacks who continue to drop out of Church by the hundreds. Too many people are involved in religion for blacks to ignore. Obviously the only path open for us now is to redefine the message in the bible and to make it relevant to the struggling masses. The bible must rather preach that it is a sin to allow oneself to be oppressed. The black man to keep him going in his long journey towards realization of the self. This is the message implicit in “black theology”. Black theology seeks to do away with spiritual poverty of the black people.”It seeks to demonstrate the absurdity of the assumption by whites that “ancestor worship” was necessarily a superstition and that Christianity is a scientific religion. While basing itself on the Christian message, black theology seeks to show that Christianity is an adaptable religion that fits in with the cultural situation of the people to whom it is imparted. Black theology seeks to depict Jesus as a fighting God who saw the exchange of Roman money – the oppressor’s coinage – in His Father’s temple as so sacrilegious that it merited a violent reaction from Him – Son of Man.
Thus in all fields “Black consciousness” seek to talk to the black man in a language that is his own. It is only by recognizing the basic set-up in the black world that one will come to realize the urgent need to a re-awakening of the sleeping masses. Black consciousness seeks to do this. Needless to say it shall have to be the black people themselves who shall take care of this programme for indeed Sekou Toure was right when he said:
“To take part in the African Revolution, it is not enough to write a revolutionary song; you must fashion the revolution with the people. And if you fashion it with the people, the song will come by themselves and of themselves. In order to achieve real action you must yourself be a living part of Africa and of her thought; you must be an element of that popular energy which is entirely called forth for the freeing, the progress and the happiness of Africa. There is no place outside that fight for the artist or for the intellectual who is not himself concerned with, and completely at one with the people in the great battle of Africa and of Suffering humanity.” by Frank Talk/Steve Biko
Ps: Founded in 1984 in South Africa, Frank Talk is a political journal whose genealogy is rooted in the student-led anti-apartheid movement of the 1970s and 80s. Originally the pseudonym under which Steve Biko wrote several articles as the Publications Director of the South African Students’ Organization (SASO), Frank Talk became the title of the journal published by The Azanian People’s Organization (AZAPO), a nationalist group committed to Biko’s ideas of Black Consciousness.
Biko’s prolific SASO writings were published in early volumes of Frank Talk, and throughout its history the journal remained committed to the Black Consciousness ideology responsible for mobilizing student-led anti-apartheid resistance. Exploring the theory of Black Consciousness and related issues of race and racism, theology, culture and revolution, Frank Talk became a platform for rigorous political analysis of the frustrations and problems of black students and black people generally. Available in both Afrikaans and English, several issues of the journal were banned for distribution by South Africa’s apartheid government. The last issue of Frank Talk was published in 1990.
Flotilla Turned Covoy
Posted on June 22, 2011 by Marivel Guzman
On Jun 19, 2011 the Convoy arrived in Gaza Strip through the land crossing of Rafah Border. The Boat was docket on Al-Arich Port of Egypt and some of the cargo allowed into Gaza.
On June 6, Dr. Issam Mustafa Cordinator of the Mission spoke to- Humanitarian voice
The humanitarian convoy “Miles of Smiles 3” Schedule to arrive Gaza after a week
The humanitarian convoy “ Miles of Smiles 3” left Italy today in its way to the Egyptian seaport of Alexandria, and is expected to reach it by next Sunday 12/6/2011.
Dr.Issam Mustafa, the coordinator general of the campaign, in a statement to “humanitarian voice” ,has reaffirmed that the convoy, laden with medical equipment ,and 4000 packet of milk for children missing in Gaza.
Dr. Mustafa added that the convoy’s organizers will purchase the needed medicines for Gaza from the Egyptian markets, noting that $ 500,000 were allocated for this humanitarian purpose.
He explained that the organizers of the campaign are slated to arrive in Cairo on Wednesday 15/6/2011 and will leave on Friday 17/6/2011, in their way to the coastal enclave.
He went on saying that the participants in the campaign will enter Gaza on Sunday 19/6/2011 and leave on Saturday 25/6/2011,according to the decided program, noting that 72 solidarity activists, from many Arab, Muslim, and foreign countries ,are participating in this convoy.
From his part, Muhammad Sawalha, the chairman deputy of the International Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza and of Advocacy with Palestine , has hailed the organizational efforts of “Miles of Smiles 3” convoy , especially their integrated working and team spirit.
He emphasized that those concerted efforts are progressing in parallel with efforts to launch the big event “Freedom Flotilla 2” slated to set sail by the end of this month.
It’s worth to mention that the participants in “ Miles of Smiles 3” are representing a number of charities from many countries : Britain, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, South Africa , and others…..
Small convoys are easier to manage and if they arrive every month easing the blockade, Gazans will benefit a great deal, specially if the convoys bring medicine and medical supplies that are a scarce products in the strip. And off course will be better that all the cargo will be entering directly to Gaza, so all the product could be bought in the countries of origin of the peace activists.
And still will be better if Gaza Illegal Blockade from part of Israel will be lifted once and for all and allow Gazans to import and export their own product.
Gaza Strip is a beautiful enclave in the Mediterranean Sea and should be a touristic attraction and capture revenues from that industry.
Gaza being one of the oldest regions in the world is worth it to visit, and will be better as a tourist and for pleasure trip. Not that the activists don’t enjoy their stay but the experience will be more rewarding for them and for Gaza.
Their 3 miles nautical fishing enclave is a joke, there is no fish enough to serve this growing population of close of 2 millions. We make a call to all the leaders of the world to pressure Israel to stop this inhumane political punishment.
Palestinians had already mend their differences now is time for Israel to mend hers..There is no need for blockade, the excuse is childish and non sense, because the tunnels are open borders for arms if they wanted to import them, but they are more in need to import basic items.
Do your share and help to raise awareness of this inhumane siege.
I Love Palestine and not forget my Nakbaa 1948
Posted By :Omar Karem
Every day we mourn Nakba since 1948 ……….????????????????
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۞*•.¸.•*۞ *•.¸.•*۞ •.¸.•* ۞
۞ لا اله الا الله محمد رسول الله ۞
۞*•.¸.•*۞ *•.¸.•*۞ •.¸.•* ۞
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Can Floods Lead to Taliban Resurgence
Can Floods Lead to Taliban Resurgence
By Sajjad Shaukat
On the onset, let me correct it that there are no Taliban in Pakistan, all that we are facing are criminals and terrorists pushed in here by Indo-Israeli network operating in Afghanistan. The western media who are under Zionist control have labeled them as Taliban only to defame this name that we use for students. It is highly objectionable to brand the criminals as Taliban. If this be the case then every student would be taken to be a terrorist then where would we educate our children and what would we call them? But for the sake of this paper I will refer them to as Taliban though they are not.
Pakistan has made numerous protests to the US and NATO command in Afghanistan to reign them in but to no avail.
The recent floods in Pakistan have provided a new level of devastation, especially in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where more than 4 million people have been affected by this natural disaster. The emerging landscape in areas where the water has receded is one in which bridges, roads, schools, health clinics, power facilities and sewage systems have been ruined or seriously damaged.
While Pakistan’s high officials and foreign media said that overall impact of the floods now exceeds that of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, but at the same time some foreign media has started a propaganda campaign that by availing the opportunity, the Taliban can again return and organise themselves. They are likely to get the sympathies of the flood-affected people.
In this connection, under the caption, ‘Flooding’s devastation in Pakistan is seen as opportunity for Taliban’, The Washington Post reported on August 9, 2010: “The slow-motion disaster underway in Pakistan as floodwaters seep into virtually every corner of the nation has devastated basic infrastructure and could open the door to a Taliban resurgence.”
The Post further elaborated, “Over the past year, Pakistan’s army has succeeded in driving Taliban fighters
out of key
sanctuaries in South Waziristan and the Swat Valley. But the damage from the floods could jeopardize those gains, unless infrastructure is quickly rebuilt—an undertaking that will cost billions of dollars and will probably take years.”
However, it is misperception of The Washington Post including other western media as the fact of the matter is that the flood in Pakistan cannot lead to the Taliban resurgence. In this context, army officials are of the opinion that they are aware that the Taliban could try to seize the opportunity but they will not let that happen. Brig. Gen. Tippu Karim, who is overseeing relief efforts for Swat and other northwestern areas made it clear saying: “We have not let down our guard. The safeguards are still in place… reconstruction will be the top priority as soon as Pakistan can get past the immediate challenge of rescuing stranded residents and providing them with food and shelter.”
These floods have diminished the propaganda of the west and the militants against Pakistan, because Pakistan’s armed forces which are helping the flood victims round the clock and have visited various camps—focusing on evacuating people from flood affected areas, distributing food, water, medicine and conveying dead bodies. The relief efforts particularly addressed the Northern Areas, evacuating hundreds of stranded people every day. In this respect, Pak Army has been performing excellent services in the flood-affected areas, which include more water bottles, ready-to-eat meals and cartons of dry rations and boats. Apart from army, Pakistan Air Force helicopters besides evacuation and distribution also delivered medical staff and medicine. PAF has continued the relief operations in the flood affected areas of the country. The entire C-130 fleet along with helicopters is engaged in flood relief operations.
Pakistani navy boats spread across miles of flood waters as the military took a lead role in rescuing survivors from a devastating disaster
It is mentionable that the Pakistan military which had played a dominant role during natural disasters such as in the earthquake of 2005 has come to the fore during the present floods.
It is notable that our army which has already broken the backbone of the Taliban in Buner, Swat, Dir, South Waziristan and other tribal agencies through successful military operations is now busy in fighting Taliban insurgents in some areas. Despite its engagement in a different war, Pak Army has been performing a remarkable job in the regions which have been affected by the floods.
The women and men from troubled areas have highly appreciated all Pakistan’s armed forces, saying that they are saving them. Besides, various leaders of the civil society, political parties and media of our country including the general masses have also immensely praised the positive role of Pak Army in connection with the areas affected by the floods.
Islamic charities including ones that are known fronts for banned militant groups have also begun distributing assistance in some areas, as have western nongovernmental organizations. But for the most part, residents said they are receiving no aid at all from these entities.
It is of particular attention that more than 10 million people have been affected by the present floods. And billions of dollars are needed to rehabilitate the homeless people, reconstruction of roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure, while being a developing country, Pakistan government lacks resources in this regard. This fact has also been realized by the United Nations Organisation which recently revealed that destruction caused by the floods in Pakistan is more than that of the tsunami.
There is no doubt that although some countries, particularly the United States have provided aid to Pakistan in relation to the flood-affected areas, yet it is not enough and they have only fulfilled formality in this respect. For example, the US military has sent six helicopters, 91 troops and hundreds of thousands of meals from neighboring Afghanistan to help with relief efforts in Swat. In fact, each district which was cut off from the others, where the communications networks were jammed and where local roads were destroyed needs much help. Thousands of displaced villagers are still waiting for aid.
As regards the resurgence of the Taliban, the current army leadership is very clear that there is a war that needs to be waged. If Pakistan’s armed forces leave the flood victims to their fate and if the only saviors for them are charity funds of terrorist organisations then there could be chances of Talibans’ return. And sooner than later, these organisations can start recruiting some of them into their ranks. But quick action by our defence forces has diminished the prospects of Talibans’ resurgence. Besides, people of the affected areas know very well that criminal activities of the Taliban militants such as kidnappings, beheadings, car-snatchings etc. had made life miserable. They wanted to impose their own self-style system of Shariah which was quite opposite to the real Islamic values. Hence, people have no sympathy for the Taliban and they do not favour return of these militants.
Now the right hour has come that setting asides politics and without waiting for foreign aid—by recognising the scale of disaster and suffering which is so huge, we must donate and help the flood victims.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations
Akashma Online News 