By: Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur
The Western media blitz following the 7/7 London bombings achieved the multifold objectives of branding Muslims and Pakistanis as terrorists and terrorist sympathizers, it also succeeded in obscuring the reasons which have led to such tragic events and in successfully presenting the West as a victim rather than the aggressor it really is. The plight of Iraqis and Palestinians was not considered worth mentioning.
The polarization in the US dominated World Order is very different from the Communism-Capitalism conflicts which was essentially a European phenomenon with enough tolerance prevailing to limit it to a Cold War scenario, of course except where countries like North Korea, Vietnam, Chile and Cuba were concerned; there it became violent and deadly. The present polarization doesn’t have any defined rules of engagement because a certain faith is the enemy. In this war the race and religion seems to matter more than the ideology ever did in the past. The battlefields are fluid; sadly the innocents are most often the victims.
The phenomenon of human bomb must be understood before anything can be done to curb this lethal trend of expressing ones anger and resentment against injustices. It cannot be explained away only as desire for a place in Paradise, the roots are much deeper. These suicides are not the spur of the moment decisions but are meticulously planned and calculated acts of defiance; there is ample time to consider all the consequences. Quite a few must be getting cold feet but yet there are plenty, as can be seen in Iraq, Palestine and now in London, who carry out the plan with devastating consequences.
Apart from immediate causalities, it has a profound effect on the entire political, social, religious and the economic life on the globe as it arrays Western powers against Islam or Islamic extremists or countries which the West conveniently terms as the ’rogue’ states. The human bomb’s aim of sharpening the existing and historical contradictions that have been festering on the globe since centuries is achieved with each such attack. These attacks also have a devastating effect on the public morale.
What thoughts dominate the mind of one who sets out to detonate the primed explosives; we will never know because he doesn’t live to tell the tale? What were the thoughts of those involved in the 7/7 bombings, 9/11 events or the attacks in Israel? Could any of them have been thinking of the ruthless suppression of the Indian War of Independence 1857,the Balfour Declaration, the A-Bombs in Japan, the Israeli atrocities , the Jallianwalla Bagh incident, the massacres of the Kurds by the British, the Srebrenica massacre, the Sabra and Shatila massacres, the annihilation of Red Indians, the pillage of South America after its discovery, the invasion of Iraq or some other outrage or atrocity carried out by the colonial and neo-colonial powers in the name of democracy and civilization, the list is long and extends over centuries and keeps growing. Most injustices are real but even the perceived ones can become an excuse for lethal attacks. The West should realize that these acts are not random and incidental being orchestrated by Bin Ladens or Zarkavis but have a basis in concrete reasons, these attacks cannot be explained away simply as evil acts of demented minds.
Some Western regimes are willfully creating an atmosphere of hysteria against Islam and all coloured people. They first have to oppress their populations with Patriot Acts and other counter-terrorism legislations before they can start oppressing other nations. Although it would be difficult to prove or disprove that the 21/7 events in London were state managed, indications are that they were. The Western intelligence has infiltrators in most terrorist outfits, they are known as ’handlers’ in the terrorist underworld parlance. These ’handlers’ direct and conduct certain terrorist acts which are tailor made to create panic and hysteria but little or no physical harm or damage like the 21/7 events in London or the famous ’shoe bomber’. If it serves their purpose the ’handlers’ may yet again come up with a new version of 21/7 events where again none of the bombs will explode and the persons responsible will be apprehended and paraded.
It is a matter of grave concern for all here as to why Pakistan has become the hub for all sorts of extremisms? The answers can be found in the way our society is organized and how the country has been run. Absence of democracy at family, community and State level has resulted in total disillusionment with the system and life in general for many. The disillusioned are prepared to toss away their lives for perfectly illusionary goals. Unless tolerance and democracy is practiced at all levels, it will be impossible to counter the menace of extremism and terrorism. Our society has become increasingly intolerant and has the tendency to suppress dissent at all levels with the trial being blazed by none other than the rulers. Little tolerance which existed was eroded with taking over of the politics by the bureaucracy and military. The rulers here, without exception, have had one simple goal; that of staying in power. This has spawned intolerance and extremism which has now become the bane for this country.
This problem has to be tackled rationally and with increased vigour by the people themselves. The governments have a role to play, it is albeit a limited one because their motives are always suspect. The people have to strive for understanding and tolerance between people of different faiths, sects, ideologies and systems. Community based initiatives by individuals and organizations can make a substantial difference. Individual initiatives like ’The Project Friday Khutba’ launched by Dr.Mahjabeen Islam Sahiba of Toledo, Ohio in which she has mobilized people to urge their mosque Imams to come out against suicides will prove more effective then many State initiatives. Extremism and intolerance practiced either by the West or by the Muslims have to be opposed vehemently because one breeds the other. Terrorism, State or individual, should be opposed without reservation.
Intra-faith dialogue is the urgent need of hour. The Sunni-Shia conflict has intensified and is becoming increasingly vicious and the cause for the needless sufferings for all. This divide needs to be bridged as it is the most devastating and debilitating for the entire Muslim world. Unfortunately this conflict is funded and supported by different Islamic countries with agendas of their own. The Muslim countries will have to practice real democracy (not Musharraf’s version) to achieve peace within and without.
For a lasting world peace a new World Order is needed where the economic exploitation of poor nations in the name of economic aid by the usurious IMF and the World Bank has to come to an end. The GATT and WTO regimes have to become more developing nation friendly. The fears of the developing nations need to be fully addressed; apologies for past injustices are in order too, August 6, 2005 could have been the day for the apology for the dropping of A-Bombs. The UNO needs to be revamped; today’s world order needs to be more equitable in its dispensation. The Western support for undemocratic regimes which lend it a hand in policing the world has to end immediately.
The aggressive siege mentality as practiced by the USA and its Allies has to be opposed by all because it is the primary cause of the prevailing disorder. Hope for a peaceful world will remain wishful thinking if the prevailing unjust World Order in which they alone call the shots remains unchanged. The existing world order based on military might of USA and its Allies has to make way for a world order based on consensus of all and equal rights for all.
Desperation helps find willing recruits who are not bothered about the niceties that are so dear to the West. As long as bullying continues there will be people who will express their anger in the way they think hurts the aggressors most. |
