Just Commentary July 2012

Vol 12, No.07 July 2012

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.MORSI AND THE EGYPTIAN CONUNDRUM

BY CHANDRA MUZAFFAR ......................................P 5

.THE HOULA MASSACRE AND THE SUBVERSION

OF THE PEACE PLAN

BY CHANDRA MUZAFFAR ......................................P 7

.TILL DEATH DO THEM PART: NATO,IMPERIALISM AND THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA

BY COLIN TODHUNTER .........................................P 9

.CYBERATTACK CLOUDS US- IRAN NUCLEAR

TALKS

BY GEOFF DYER, NAJMEH BOZORGMEHR & JAMES

BLITZ ..................................................................P 10

.THE REFUGEE SITUATION IN MALAYSIA:CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

BY SARAH MADHI & JENNIFER TENNANT..............P 11

ARTICLES

RIO FOR PEOPLE: ASIA PACIFICPEOPLES’ DECLARATION ON

RIO+20The Declaration is the outcome document of the Asia- Pacific Research Network (APRN) Biennial

Conference “Rio for People: Strengthening People’s Capacity for Genuine Sustainable Development” on June4-7, 2012. It was co-organized with IBON International as part of the global Rights for Sustainablity (R4S)

campaign. It was held in Hanoi, Vietnam with the assistance of local members SRD, S- CODE, and MSD.

We, 83 representatives of civilsociety organizations from 18

countries in Asia Pacific gatheredtwenty years after the first EarthSummit in 1992 fully aware that theworld is farther than ever fromreaching the goals of sustainabledevelopment.

Our world today is locked inenvironmental, social, political,economic, and environmental crises.Resource depletion and biodiversityloss continue at very rapid rates. Airand water pollution from agro-chemicaland industrial processes continue tocause serious economic, social, andhealth problems. Greenhouse gasemissions continue to rise, causing

dangerous climate change. Theworld’s richest 10 per cent soak upover half of the world’s income, while2.5 billion people in the South live onless than $2 a day. People in wealthycountries consume as much as tentimes more natural resources than thosein poorer countries, while in the South,

1 billion are hungry, 1.6 billion have noaccess to electricity, and over 1 billionhave no access to clean water.Clearly, worst affected are the poor inthe South who did little in causing them.This is not the world Rio envisioned.

Rio+20 should learn from thefailure of the prevailing system ofdevelopment multiple crises that ourplanet finds itself in. We know thissystem to be one where economic andnatural resources are used toaccumulate wealth for the few whocontrol them rather than serve thecommon good of society; a systembased on the unrestricted exploitationof the poor, women and theenvironment for corporate profits; a

STATEMENTS.MASSACRE OF ROHINGYAS IN MYANMAR BY ABDULLAH AL- AHSAN ..............................P 4

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continued from page 1system where a few powerfulcountries write the rules of global trade,finance, and environmental action inthe interest of their corporations andbanks, harming the environment andpeoples in the South. We know it to bea failed system from which we needto break. We need system change.

We believe, however, that theGreen Economy agenda will not allowus to break from this failed system asit follows primarily the profit-orientedlogic of corporate and financialinterest. It assumes that solutions tounsustainable development are in thehands of corporations – the mainagents of unsustainable development– through their “green” investments,innovations and technologies, systemsand policies, and mechanisms such astrading of carbon, forests andbiodiversity, and water. Numerousexperiences prove that these corporate“solutions” do not solve the problemsthey purport to address but worsenthem. They trample on people’s rightsthrough further privatization,commodification and financialization ofnature and ecosystem functions,which lead to the further concentrationof control over nature, land-grabs, bio-piracy, displacement andmarginalization of communities mostdependent on access to theseresources, and loss of culturalidentities, languages, and traditionalsystems, values, and principles. It alsogives rise to violent oppression ofpeople’s resistance.

The promise of green jobs in thegreen economy and corporate socialresponsibility are being used to deceiveworkers anew into accepting wageexploitation in new “green” industries,

obscuring the truth that many of theseso-called green businesses are neitherecologically sound nor socially justsuch as the production of biofuels,nuclear plants, construction of large-scale dams, etc. The promotion ofgreen cities takes away the emphasisof equitable development between ruraland urban areas and furtherexacerbates urban drift.

We decry attempts by powerfulStates, especially the North, to whittledown human rights obligations andequity principles in the Rio+20outcome document in order to avoidconcrete commitments to meaningfulreforms in social, economic, andenvironmental policies. On the otherhand, they are pushing for corporate-led investments and initiatives to fill thegap left by government inaction. Weassert that States should not backtrack,but instead uphold and build upon theRio principles and internationally agreedhuman rights norms and standards,most importantly, the principle ofcommon but differentiated responsibility,the polluters pay principles, theprecautionary principle, and theprinciple on access to information,public participation and justice.

Agenda 21 should be brought upto a binding form of agreement, withstrengthened institutions forimplementation, monitoring andevaluation that ensure democraticownership of the process at all levels.National reports have to be madeavailable to the public to allow forinformed multi-stakeholder decision-making. There should be a specialclause on ecological-economic crimesto assure economic, social andecological justice.

We assert that sustainabledevelopment must be based on theobservance and fulfillment of humanrights norms and standards, includingthe rights to development, to self-determination, to food, health andwater, to education, the rights ofwomen and children, and the right ofpeople to participate in decision-making. We pledge to struggle forgenuine sustainable developmentbeyond Rio+20.

ANNEXOn poverty eradicationPoverty is the result of the unequaldistribution of power, assets andopportunities within and betweencountries. Thus poverty eradication isabout the empowerment of the poorto claim their rights. They must takeownership and control of their naturalresources and productive assets anduse them to gear their economies tofulfill their needs and developmentaspirations. Decision making forsustainable development should bebottom up, decentralized processowned by people. Active participationof people, communities particularlymarginalized sector including womenand indigenous peoples in decisionmaking and consultative processesshould be promoted at all levels. Equalparticipation of women and men shouldbe ensured through institutionalizing inlaw and implementation mechanisms.Institutions of global governance mustbe radically reformed or replaced sothat poor countries are equitablyrepresented. Unequal agreements ontrade and investment must berenegotiated or abrogated.

Food sovereigntyAll people have the right to safe,nutritious, and adequate food.Countries and communities also havethe right to access, control, and protectthe means of food production and itsoutcomes, the right to determine theirfood and agricultural policies at alllevels, and the right to develop andmaintain systems of food productionand distribution that are ecologicallysustainable, socially just and culturallyappropriate. Agrarian reform must becarried out in order to secure peasantsand rural people’s democraticownership and utilization of land, waterresources and seeds, as well as accessto finance and infrastructure, andenvironmentally sound technologicalsupport. Food production and tradepolicies must prioritize domestic foodself-sufficiency and the livelihoods ofsmall farmers, fisherfolk, women,peasants, and indigenous people. Tradepolicies and commercial/businesspractices must be modified anddesigned to further such prioritization.


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continued from page 2Public institutions must also helpdevelop and encourage the adoption ofsustainable methods of agriculturewhich rely on local ecosystems andlocally-based knowledge as well asappropriate technologies. Foodsovereignty will not be successfulwithout land reform.

WaterWater is not a commodity but a vitalneed to human survival. All people havethe right to sufficient, safe, accessible,and affordable water and sanitationservices. Countries and communitiesare also entitled to develop and maintainwater resources, managementsystems, and facilities to satisfy humanand development needs and safeguardtheir sustainability. The management ofwater resources must be in public andcommunity control. Water use mustbe primarily for fulfilling human needsand food production. The right to waterand sanitation further requires anexplicit focus on the mostdisadvantaged and marginalized, aswell as an emphasis on participation,empowerment, accountability andtransparency.

Protection of biodiversityBiodiversity is essential to the properfunctioning of ecosystems and is thuscrucial to the right of people to health,food, and a safe and cleanenvironment. The livelihoods of smallfarmers, fishers, indigenous people,and women also directly depend onbiodiversity and their access to geneticresources. They have developed localresource management systems andconserve most of the world’sbiodiversity. Biodiversity protectionmust be based on protecting people’saccess to land, water and seeds. Theextent of biodiversity’s importance is,however, very poorly understood, andthe adverse impacts of changes arethus not properly mitigated. The rapidloss of biodiversity is due mainly tothe growing control of corporationsover genetic resources as well as overland, water, and forests for industrialagriculture, logging and mining. Thusbiodiversity protection must be basedon protecting people’s access to land,water and seeds. Biodiversity is a vital

part of human nature. It is also anintegral part of the heritage ofindigenous people and thus their rightto self- determination must berecognized, including their right to freeand prior informed consent and rightto develop their own social andeconomic systems and retain controlof their ancestral lands, traditionalknowledge and genetic resources.These rights must be restored equallyto women and men. Natural resourcesand conservation should be taken careof through community knowledge-based decision making and decentralizedeco-system based local systems.

Climate changeClimate change is worseningenvironmental damage and isexacerbating the negative effects ofpoor current practice. It undermines awide range of human rights both ofpresent and future generations, andthreatens to push people deeper intopoverty and underdevelopment. Theworld has to transition away from thefossil-fuel based profit driven economyand abandon unsustainable patterns ofmanufacture, energy, agriculture andtransportation that are behind ever-rising greenhouse gas emissions. Butthere is a need to expose not just theeconomic, social, and environmentalimpacts of oil and gas exploration andextraction, but also that of allegedalternatives such as large-scalehydropower, nuclear, agro-fuels, cleancoal, geo-engineering, and so on. Theprecautionary principle must be appliedand international financing institutions,multilateral and bilateral agencies mustremove subsidies and policy supportfor these projects. In the case ofhydropower, Rio+20 must make astrong stipulation that dams shouldshow full compliance to the standardsset by the World Commission onDams, and that large dams shouldabsolutely be kept out of the CDM.

The Global North has to take thelead in mitigation efforts by makingrapid and drastic emissions cuts, andassist poorer countries pay for thecosts of their own transition throughfinance and technology transfer.

Youth and ChildrenYouth and children are agents ofchange, and not simply vulnerablevictims of social injustices or merelyrecipients of government welfare. Theyare the future caretakers of the Earthand the inheritors of the problems weare creating today. But despite beingpart of the main agenda in the UNCSD20 years ago, youth and childrencontinue to be marginalized by theunsustainable dominant profit-driveneconomic system. Lack of access tobasic needs and services, such as food,health, education, access to water andsanitation still remain rampant.Although successful advocacies andcampaigns on youth and children arealready happening in some parts ofAsia, there is still a need for their voicesto be heard and given greaterimportance especially with regard tothe climate crisis, if we are to realizegenuine sustainable development. Toincrease the influence and impact thatthe world’s young people can make tothe overall goal of changing the currentmodel that the global economy ishinged on, these efforts must beconsolidated and supported throughcontinuous education and mobilization.

Indigenous PeopleIndigenous peoples of the Asia Pacificreject the corporate green economy anddemand the protection and respect ofindigenous peoples rights including theaffirmation and implementation of theUN declaration of the rights ofIndigenous Peoples; the recognition ofcultural pillar as the fourth pillar ofsustainable development; and therecognition of the distinct contributionof traditional knowledge and diverselocal economies to eradicate povertyand promote sustainable development.Sustainable development shouldsupport the indigenous peoples’integrated and holistic framework tosustainable development.

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Labor and Social ProtectionEvery country should commit to fosterthe national and local production andenterprises supporting small-scalebusiness and producers for sustainabledevelopment. Governments shouldcreate equal employment opportunitiesand ensure decent work for all, genderequality, and participation particularlyof marginalized groups. States must beobliged to the international human rightsstandards and principles to protect therights of migrant workers and theirfamilies.

Just and lasting peaceEnsuring social justice is a preconditionfor peace. Just and lasting peace andsecurity of women is a precondition forsustainable development. Systemicmilitary-industry complex should bedismantled. We call for moratorium /fade-out of military expenditure andshift the budget to health and education.

SIGNATORIES/PARTICIPANTSA63, Vietnam

All Together in Dignity-AsiaArab NGO Network for Development

Asia Monitor Resource CenterAsia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and

DevelopmentAsia Pacific Mission for Migrants

Asia Pacific Research NetworkBa Archipelago Biosphere Reserve,

VietnamCCRD, Vietnam

Center for Development of CommunityInitiative and Environment, Vietnam

Center for Development Programs in theCordilleras, Philippines

MASSACRE OF ROHINGYAS IN MYANMARThe Rohingyas in the western

Myanmar state of Rakhine, formerlyknown as Arakan, have again beensubjected to a major massacre. TheRohingyas happen to be a Muslimminority living in the Buddhist majoritycountry. They have been victims ofdiscrimination for many decades,particularly under the military junta,which ruled the country on the motto

of nationalism. Interestingly, oneshould point out here, that Muslims ofArakan known as Mujahidin,constituted one of the three majorforces that fought for the country’sindependence in the 1940s.

This is not the first time thatRohingyas have been targeted.According to Medecins Sans

Frontieres, approximately 200,000Rohingyas were expelled toneighboring Bangladesh in 1978, butalmost all of them were forciblyrepatriated back: about 10,000 died inthe process and another 10,000remained in Bangladesh. In 1982Myanmar passed a law declaring mostRohingyas non-citizens. In 1991, again

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STATEMENTS

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Center for Environment andDevelopment, Sri Lanka

Center For Human Rights andDevelopment, Mongolia

Center for Women’s Resources,Philippines

Centre for Community Economics andDevelopment Consultants, India

Centre for Sustainable CommunityDevelopment (S-CODE), Vietnam

Centre for Sustainable Development inMountainous Areas (CSDM), VietnamCentre for Sustainable Development

Policy Studies, VietnamCentre for Sustainable Rural

Development (SRD), Vietnam CERDA,Vietnam

China Association for NGOCooperation Climate Change Resilience

Centre, VietnamCoastal Development Partnership,

BangladeshConsumers International/ CUTS

InternationalConsumers International/ VINASTAS

Deccan Development Society, IndiaDepartment for International

Cooperation, VietnamDepartment of Modeling and Databasein Environment, Vietnam Ecumenical

Institute for Labor Education andResearch, PhilippinesEquityBD, Bangladesh

Farmer Union, VietnamForestry Project, Vietnam

Forum of Women NGOs of KyrgyzstanGreen Innovation and Development

Centre (GreenID), VietnamIBON Foundation, Philippines

IBON InternationalInstitute for Agriculture Environment

(IAE), VietnamInstitute for Motivating Self-

Employment, Mongolia

Institute for Reproductive and FamilyHealth – RaFH, Vietnam

Kilusang Magbubukid ng PilipinasKorean Civil Society Forum for

International DevelopmentLDC Watch, Nepal

Live and Learn, Vietnam Nepal PolicyInstitute NGO Jahon, Tajikistan

Pacific Islands Association of Non-governmental Organizations

PACT, VietnamPanNature - People and Nature

Reconciliation, VietnamPeoples’ Coalition for Food

Sovereignty-Asia Peoples’ Movementon Climate Change Reality of Aid Asia

PacificRoots for Equity, Pakistan

SAHANIVASA, IndiaSustainable Development Foundation,

ThailandTebtebba Foundation, Philippines

The Institute for National andDemocratic Studies (INDIES),

IndonesiaThe Institute for Social Studies (ISS),

Vietnam theIDLgroup (East Asia)Third World Network, Malaysia

UBINIG Policy Advocacy forDevelopment, Bangladesh

Voices for Interactive Choice andEmpowerment, Bangladesh

Water for the People Network

28 June, 2012

* Organizations interested to endorseor become signatory to the Declarationmay contact APRN [email protected]

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about 250,000 were pushed toBangladesh. In September 1992 thegovernment of Bangladesh closeddown registration of new refugees, andimmediately resorted to another roundof repatriation. However, the UnitedNations High Commissioner forRefugees (UNHCR) and a number ofother international humanitarian bodiesstrongly protested against the measure.Since then the UNHCR has negotiatedwith the government of Myanmar torepatriate back the refugees but it hassucceeded only partially. Occasionallymany of the repatriated refugees wouldreturn to Bangladesh. During this periodmany Rohingyas also migrated to anumber of Southeast Asian and WestAsian and North African (WANA)countries. But generally speaking,Rohingyas remain stateless people andaccording to one UN report they are“one of the world’s most persecutedminorities.”

The current influx of Rohingyarefugees to Bangladesh began when arumor was spread that a BuddhistRakhine woman was raped andmurdered by three Rohingyas and anumber of Rakhines attacked a bus

carrying Muslim passengers in earlyJune. Violence spread rapidly andhundreds and thousands of Rohingyasbegan to flee. Rakhine thugs seem toenjoy the tacit support of the lawenforcement agencies. The Myanmargovernment has banned the media inthe area. Neighboring Bangladesh alsotook a stubborn stand by not onlypreventing the refugees from enteringthe country, but also by not allowingthe media to interview the refugees.The upshot of it all is a humanitariandisaster.

According to one analysis theorigin of the current conflict may liemuch deeper in the geo-politics of thearea. China reportedly has investedheavily in the area and enemies ofChina are trying to destabilize thesituation in order to weaken thecountry’s economic role in Myanmar.This is part of a larger agenda tothwart China’s economic ascendancy.(see landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2012/06/new-front-myanmers-role-in-geopolitics.html)

What is shocking in this wholeepisode is the stand taken by thecountry’s Nobel Peace Prize winner

Aung San Suu Kyi. She doesn’t seemto have been moved at all by thisunprecedented humanitarian crisis.Another shocking phenomenon is thestatement by the US Charge d’ Affairsin Myanmar who praised thegovernment’s role in the crisis. Has theinternational community lost itsconscience?

What should be done toovercome the crisis? Violence shouldstop immediately. The stategovernment in Rakhine and the centralgovernment under Thein Sein have abig role to play in this. The law shouldbe applied without bias and wrongdoersshould be punished, regardless of theirethnicity or religion. At the same time,Thein Sein should initiate measures togrant citizenship to the Rohingyas.

Myanmar’s fellow ASEANstates should quietly encourage TheinSein to move in this direction.

Dr. Abdullah Al- Ahsan,Vice-President,

International Movement forJust World (JUST).

26 June, 2012.


ARTICLESMORSI AND THE EGYPTIAN CONUNDRUM

By Chandra MuzaffarThe newly elected President of

the Republic of Egypt, Dr. MohamedMorsi, has pledged to establish ademocratic, constitutional state basedupon the rule of law and the will of thepeople. The greatest challenge that hefaces in realising this goal is theleadership of the nation’s ArmedForces.

Even before Morsi’s wafer-thinvictory — 52 per cent of the vote asagainst 48 per cent for his opponent,Ahmed Shafiq— the Supreme Councilof the Armed Forces (SCAF) hadconducted what analysts havedescribed as a “power grab.” On 14June 2012, Egypt’s High ConstitutionalCourt (HCC), which like the elite inthe Armed Forces, comprises Mubarakloyalists, dissolved the democratically

elected Parliament and curbed thepowers of the President especially inrelation to security, defence and foreignpolicy. 75 per cent of the parliamentaryseats are in the hands of Islamicparties, led by the Ikhwanul Muslimin(the Muslim Brotherhood). Themilitary elite also has the right to objectto any article in the yet to be draftednational constitution and exercisesauthority over the national budget.

Why the military is keen to retaincontrol over the nation’s finances, it isnot difficult to fathom. The military“controls a multi-billion dollar businessempire that trades in products notnormally associated with men inuniform: olive oil, fertilizer, televisions,laptops, cigarettes, mineral water,poultry, bread and underwear...Estimates suggest that military-connected enterprises account for 10%to 40% of the Egyptian economy. It isan opaque realm of foreign investments,inside deals and privilege that hasgrown quietly for decades, employingthousands of workers and operatingparallel to the army’s defence industries.”

To dismantle such a complexstructure of economic power fused

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with political power and military mightis not an easy task. Morsi will do wellto remember that there is hardly asingle instance of a military deeplyentrenched in power transferring itsauthority in a smooth and easy mannerto civilian rulers. In Algeria in January1992, we witnessed the ugly spectacleof a military junta usurping power afterthe Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) hadwon the first round of electionsresulting in a long and bloody civil warwhich claimed tens of thousands oflives. The military in Myanmarcontinues to hold the trump card,elections notwithstanding. Pakistan’scivilian rulers are very much aware ofthe powerful presence of the militarypartly because of the series of coupsit had staged in the course of the last50 years. This is also true to a greatextent of Thailand. In Indonesia andTurkey, the military appears to havewithdrawn to the barracks but itremains a strong undercurrent in thepolitics of the two states.

For Morsi to establish afunctioning democratic system, hemust not only persevere and beprincipled but also possess superbnegotiating skills and clever strategies.His greatest ally in this tussle withmilitary power will be the citizenry ofEgypt. Since almost half of the votingpopulation did not endorse hispresidency, Morsi will have toredouble his efforts to reach out to allsegments of society. Apart fromwomen and Christians which the mediahas highlighted, he should also seek thesupport of other Islamic groups,secular and liberal Egyptians, andsocialists. In a nutshell, his approachto politics and policies should beinclusive and all-embracing. Byresigning from the Ikhwan, andprojecting himself as the President ofall Egyptians, Morsi has taken the firststep in that direction.

A truly inclusive President willaccord priority to the long neglected,huge underclass in Egyptian society.These are the millions — 40% of thepopulation live in poverty— strugglingto eke out a living. 25% of Egypt’syouth, according to some estimates,

are unemployed. The paucity of decenthousing is a chronic problem that hasplagued Cairo for decades. It has forcedsome 1.5 million poor Egyptians toscour for shelter in the cemeteries ofthe rich outside the capital. The lack ofclean water and frequent power outagesare some of the other colossal burdensthat this congested city of 19 millionbears.

How will Morsi and his policy-makers and planners address thesechallenges? If they are going to pursuemore liberalisation, deregulation andprivatisation — as the Ikhwan’seconomic programme Al-Nahda seemsto suggest — then they are adoptingthe wrong approach. Such an approachwill not help to transform the lives ofthe disenfranchised and thedowntrodden. Neither does the solutionlie with the IMF— from whom theIkhwan hopes to secure a loan soon—with its austerity programme andsubsidy cutbacks.

A reformed, de-bureaucratised,corruption free public sector will haveto take the lead. It will have to raiseincomes of the lower echelons ofsociety; emphasise public housing forthe homeless; invest in small andmedium sized enterprises; focus uponhuman resource development. People’scooperatives will have to be establishedwhich will help to break existingmonopolies in the production anddistribution of goods and services.Public entities will have to be re-organised to manage water and energysupply and distribution. Infrastructuredevelopment which benefits the poordirectly will be given priority. In thisand other areas, a socially responsibleprivate sector channelling domestic andforeign capital in accordance with thenation’s goals, will have a key role toplay.

Analysts have asked if vestedinterests within and without Egypt willallow such an egalitarian, justice driveneconomic policy to take root. It isrevealing that both Morsi and Shafiqput forward economic ideas which inessence sought to assure the wealthyin Egypt and international capital thattheir interests would be safeguarded.

It was only the candidate whoemerged a close third in the first roundof the Presidential Election, HamdeenSabahy, who offered a genuinealternative that privileged theeconomically marginalised. It wasobvious why the mainstream Westernmedia downplayed his economicagenda.

It is not just on the economythat Morsi appears to have adopted acertain stance. On an important foreignpolicy issue, namely, US military basesin the region and the upgrading offacilities for the US’ 5th Fleet in Bahrain,Morsi and the Ikhwan have been ratherquiet. And what is even more critical,the centres of power in the West willwatch him closely on his position onSyria and on Egypt’s relations withIran.

But more than anything else, itis on the question of Israel thatWashington, its European allies, andIsrael itself, will judge Morsi. Morsihas promised all of them that he will

respect all international treaties thatEgypt has entered into— which wouldof course include the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty. However, they arenot sure if Morsi will at some point inthe future, succumb to pressure fromthe masses to review and rescind theTreaty, especially since Egyptian publicopinion has never been in favour ofthe Treaty. Because Morsi presidesover a democracy, he cannot — unlikeMubarak the dictator— afford toignore popular sentiments. Besides, hehimself had campaigned in the electionas a staunch defender of thePalestinian cause.

How will Morsi’s commitmentto Palestine manifest itself now thathe is President? Will the new Egyptian


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President lead the campaign for a justpeace for the Palestinians— a peacethat will ensure the return of Palestinianrefugees to their land, as provided forin international law, a peace thatrecognises East Jerusalem as thecapital of a new, viable Palestinianstate with its own army, navy and airforce? Since a just peace of this sortis anathema to Israeli leaders and mostZionists and Christian Zionists in theUS, what will Morsi do? Will heabandon these fundamental demandsof the Palestinian struggle? What willbe the consequences if he does? Or


THE HOULA MASSACRE AND THE SUBVERSION OF THE PEACE PLANBy Chandra Muzaffar

Anyone with even an iota ofconscience would condemn the Houlamassacre of 25-26 May 2012. That 49of the 108 killed were children is whatmakes that massacre unbearably brutaland barbaric.

The government of Syria hasaccused armed terrorists of committingthe massacre. It has provided a detailedaccount of what had happened. Eyewitness testimonies have beenpresented over state media.

The armed opposition and itssupporters within West Asia and incertain Western capitals have put theblame upon the Syrian government.They allege that a clandestine militialinked to the government - the shabbiha- had done most of the butchering.

There is no credible,independent entity that can help revealthe entire truth about the Houlamassacre. The United Nations HumanRights Council which has passed aresolution condemning the massacrehastily targeted the Syrian governmentas the culprit without waiting forreports from the UN-Arab LeagueObserver Mission in Syria. This is oneof the reasons why China, Cuba andRussia voted against the resolution.The Council has since the outbreak ofthe conflict in Syria 14 months agoadopted an antagonistic attitudetowards the government. In all itssubmissions to the UN Security Council

and the UN General Assembly, it hasignored or downplayed the views ofthe Syrian government.

While we hope the truth aboutHoula would be known soon, our mosturgent challenge is to ensure thatviolence in Syria is brought to an endimmediately. This is also the main aimof the Kofi Annan Peace Plan. All theprincipal perpetrators of violence —the government, the armed opposition,and what has been described as the“third force” comprising groups suchas Al-Qaeda and the Salafists— mustplay their part.

The Bashar Assad governmentand its armed forces should exercisemaximum restraint however severe theprovocation from its armed opponents.There have been a number ofoccasions when the State had usedexcessive force. Syria’s close ally, Iran,Russia and China should also be firmin warning Bashar of the danger ofgoing beyond the limit in trying to

maintain law and order. If it is true Iranis channelling military assistance to theBashar government, it should cease todo so. By the same logic, Russia shouldsuspend its arms sales to Damascus.

At the same time, the armedopposition should lay down its arms.A genuine movement for freedom anddemocracy will not resort to violencein order to achieve its goal— especiallywhen the government has undertakensome serious reforms including theinauguration of a new Constitutionwhich upholds accountability,legitimises dissent and allows forpolitical pluralism and multi-partycompetition. The Constitutionapproved by the majority of the peoplethrough a referendum held in February2012 also sets a two term limit on thepresidency, establishes an independentjudiciary, an autonomous commissionto combat corruption and recognisesmedia freedom. A parliamentaryelection was conducted in early Mayunder the new Constitution. Westerngovernments such as France, Britainand the United States who often paradethe world stage as icons of democracyshould encourage both the armed andunarmed opposition with whom theyhave intimate links to enter into adialogue with the Bashar governmenton the implementation of theConstitution. This is fundamental forthe success of the political process thatthe Annan Peace Plan envisages.

will he stand up to the Israeli elite andtheir patrons and protectors in theWest? Again, what will be theramifications?

It is because Israel and Westernpowers are worried about how ademocratically elected President in theArab world’s most important statemay move the pieces on the Israel-Palestine/Arab chessboard that theywould like the military, with its closeties to Israel and the West, to maintaina grip upon Egyptian politics. That iswhy these so-called champions ofdemocracy have been somewhat

reticent about the military’sundemocratic dissolution ofParliament and its shackling of thePresidency. This shouldnot surprise us. After all, haven’t theyalways placed their own hegemonicinterests above democratic principles?

2 July, 2012

Dr. Chandra Muzaffar is President of theInternational Movement for a Just World(JUST).

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Instead of respondingpositively to some of the democraticchanges introduced by thegovernment, the US has beencoordinating the supply of weapons tothe opposition paid for by states suchas Qatar and Saudi Arabia. An articlein the Washington Post (16 May 2012)reveals this, and admits that as a resultof large shipments of arms, theopposition “overran a governmentbase” and “killed 23 Syrian soldiers”on 14 May. It is significant that thisintensification of weapons supply to theopposition had occurred after theceasefire under the Peace Plan hadcome into effect on 12 April. In fact,there has been a series of horrifyingacts of violence since the ceasefire —devastating bomb attacks in Aleppo andDamascus some associated with Al-Qaeda and Salafist elements— aimedat creating chaos and anarchy. Theyoffer incontrovertible proof that certaingovernments in the West and in WestAsia do not want the Peace Plan tosucceed.

Why are they hell-bent onwrecking the Peace Plan? They fearthat if the Plan works, it wouldundermine their agenda which is regimechange in Damascus. It is becausethese and certain other governmentsare set on regime change that the earlierArab League Observer Mission to Syriawhich exposed the lies fabricated bythe opposition about so-calledgovernment initiated violence was alsosabotaged. For the proponents ofregime change, the government has tobe tarred and tarnished with whateverviolence that occurs as a way ofdestroying its legitimacy andconvincing both domestic andinternational public opinion that it shouldbe ousted.

If there is so much obsessionwith regime change it is because itserves the interests of different actorsin different ways. For Paris, Londonand Washington, the Bashargovernment is that critical conduit thatconnects Iran to the Hezbollah in theircommon opposition to Westerndominance of the world’s mostimportant geo-economic and geo-strategic region. This triumvirate ofresistance to Western hegemony hasto be broken for yet reason: to enhancethe so-called security of its surrogatein West Asia, namely, Israel. Israel inturn is implacably hostile to BasharAssad mainly because he continues tooppose Israel’s 45 year-old occupationof Syria’s Golan Heights whichincidentally supplies one-third ofIsrael’s water needs. Israel has alsobeen trying to exploit Golan’s oil andgas reserves. The Saudi and Qatari elite,both Sunni, view Bashar as a Shia (Allawites being a branch of the Shiasect) leader allied to Shia Iran andsince the Saudi elite in particular abhorsShia identity and Iran’s growing power,there is no love lost between them.Besides, both Saudi Arabia and Qatarare intimately linked to the US and itsother allies. Turkey is yet anotherWashington ally and NATO member,attempting to spread its influence in theregion which now realises that an anti-hegemony neighbour like Bashar’sSyria linked to a formidable regionalplayer like Iran can be a major obstacleto its ambition.

What these regime changeproponents who are all part of theWestern hegemonic agenda are notprepared to acknowledge is that anyattempt to oust Bashar Assad throughexternal interference and militaryintervention will have horrendousconsequences for almost every statein West Asia and beyond. Syria itselfwill plunge into a long and bloody civilwar for Bashar retains the support ofthe majority of his people especially inthe populous cities of Damascus andAleppo. It is significant that unlike thecoterie around Gaddafi not a singlemajor figure in government or theruling party or the military or thediplomatic corps has deserted him inspite of a concerted 14 month push to

dislodge him from power. Lebanon, acountry with a deep umbilical cord toSyria— always a tinderbox of inter-sectarian strife— is already witnessingdeadly clashes between pro and anti-Bashar supporters. If Lebanon is inturmoil, it will almost certainly haverepercussions for Israel especiallysince the latter is perceived as one ofthe root causes of the conflict in Syria.Jordan is another neighbour withextensive people-to-people relationswith Syria that will not be able toinsulate itself from a chaotic Syria.

Then there are a number ofstates in the Arab world in which theShia are either the majority or theminority and a conflict which assumesa sectarian character is bound to impactupon them. In the former category arecountries such as Iraq and Bahrainwhile in the latter category would beSaudi Arabia and Kuwait among others.Iran and Turkey as regional actors whoare already involved directly orindirectly in the Syrian crisis will alsofeel the effects of a worseningsituation. So would Russia and Chinaand Western powers such as France,Britain and the US.

This is why Kofi Annan has amonumental challenge before him. Itis not enough to ask Bashar Assad todo more to curb violence. Appealingto armed groups to abide by theceasefire of April 12 is only part of thesolution. Annan should have thecourage to demand that the Westernpowers and various regional playerscease to aid and abet groups that resortto violence in Syria. He should tell themin no uncertain terms that externalpolitical actors have no right to seek aregime change in Damascus. That isthe prerogative of the people of Syria—a prerogative that they should exercisethrough peaceful means.

4 June, 2012Chandra Muzaffar

A R T I C L E SI N T E R N A T I O N A L M O V E M E N T F O R A J U S T W O R L D

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TILL DEATH DO THEM PART: NATO, IMPERIALISM AND THE

MAINSTREAM MEDIABy Colin Todhunter

There are lies, more lies andthen there is the media. Take the BBC,for instance. As Britain’s national statebroadcaster, it is duty bound to provideimpartial news coverage - after all, itis the ordinary person who funds it.However, the question to be asked iswhy folk should pay for a ‘service’ thatconsistently misleads or lies in orderto secure compliance for state-corporate policies?

As the West acts to destabiliseand intervene to topple Iran’s ally Syria,it is worth looking back to the reportingon events in Libya last year becausewe can expect more of the same thistime around. The BBC and othermainstream media’s reporting on theLibyan conflict was disgracefully one-sided. This comes as no surprise,though, given the pious narrative themedia and the BBC in particular putsforward at the best of times, whichimplies the British government andNATO are essentially civilising forcesin a barbaric world.

During times of war, thisnarrative becomes even more strident.Picture a different world for a moment,one in which the African Union (AU)had intervened in British affairs on theback of the street riots last year in theUK, in order to ‘protect’ rioters andthen ‘liberate’ them from an oppressiveregime. With a bit of arm twisting, itmanaged to get a UN resolution toimplement a no fly zone over Britain.

The AU media then embedthemselves with the British ‘rebels’,

who had been illegally armed withweapons from AU countries, or itsallies elsewhere, in order to overthrowthe corrupt Cameron regime. Themedia report the conflict from therioters-cum-rebels’ point of view, failto seriously question the legitimacy ofthe conflict – indeed, tacitly support it- and jump on every utterance fromBritish PM David Cameron withsneering contempt to portray him asan irrational maniac.

As Cameron and his croniesflee for their lives, AU countries’ TVchannels show images from inside hishome and those of his millionairegovernment associates to highlight theopulent lifestyles they indulged in. Themessage is implied that all such richeswere robbed from the ordinary peopleof Britain by Cameron and his ilkthrough the system they presided over.Finally, as a no-fly zone policy morphsinto a killing campaign from the air, thedeaths caused are largely underreportedor downplayed.

Substitute NATO for the AU,Gadhafi for Cameron and Libya forBritain, and you get the pictureconcerning the hypocrisy themainstream media in Britain hasindulged in. It is a media that portrayedthose involved in the street riots in awholly negative light, and a mediawhich glorifies the unjust opulence andthe corporate tyranny that has wreckedthe economy. Yet, when it comes toevents abroad, when it suits, membersof the mainstream media all too readilytrip over themselves to praise violentuprisings and rant against perceivedinjustice, tyranny and leaders who livein opulence.

Peel back the veneer of‘objectivity’, and the media’s recordon the Libyan conflict is laid bare.

How many times didbroadcasters fail to focus on the roleof Western special forces and

intelligence agencies before and duringthe conflict or where Libyan rebelswere getting their arms from in theface of a UN sanctioned arms embargoon Libya?

How many times didbroadcasters question NATO’s legaland moral right to attack Libya?

And how many times didbroadcasters question mission drift,whereby a path for Libyan rebels intothe heart of Tripoli was blasted fromthe air, courtesy of a massive NATObombing campaign?

A compliant, toothless mediatoo often rolled over, peddled thenotion of a widespread popularuprising and tended to focus merelyon the processes of intervention, ratherthan the legality or morality of thewhole affair. The same is happeningnow with Syria.

The mainstream media couldhave done a lot better by focusing ona news item that was largely (if notcompletely) ignored, that of the 200prominent African figures whoaccused western nations and theInternational Criminal Court of“subverting international law” in Libya.The UN has been misused to militarisepolicy, legalise military action andeffect regime change, according toUniversity of Johannesburg professorChris Landsberg. He says it isunprecedented for the UN to haveoutsourced military action to Nato in thisway and challenges the InternationalCriminal Court to investigate Nato for“violating international law.”

Many ordinary people rely onmainstream sources for their ‘news’,which, apart from a brief allusion tooil now and then, forwarded the notionthat NATO’s involvement in Libya wasperfectly legitimate because it wasabout removing a crazy man from


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continued from page 9power who was oppressing his ownpeople. Like the West cares about theplight of ordinary people! The rich andpowerful corporations that run theWest have complete contempt for theirown populations, never mind those infar away places.

The portrayal of the Libyanconflict and now the Syrian one alongwith the absence of reporting on

western intelligence and special forcesinvolvement on the ground is a damningindictment of a self congratulatorymedia that continually back slaps itselffor being ‘impartial’ and ‘free’. It’s beendamning indictment of Western‘democracy’ too, which continuallysets out to fool its people of the needto topple regimes under the outright lieof ‘humanitarian interventionism’ inorder to disguise imperialist intentions.

12 June, 2012

CYBERATTACK CLOUDS US- IRAN NUCLEAR TALKSBy Geoff Dyer, Najmeh Bozorgmehr & James Blitz

Fresh revelations about USinvolvement in the “Stuxnet” computervirus which damaged an Iraniannuclear facility are likely to complicatethe already tense negotiations overIran’s nuclear programme.

According to a report in theNew York Times based on aforthcoming book, President BarackObama personally ordered the cyber-attack on the Iranian nuclearenrichment facility in Natanz in a jointoperation with Israel.

Although it has long beenwidely believed that the US and Israelwere behind the 2010 Stuxnet virus,the new details about the Obamaadministration’s role are likely to add toIranian mistrust of the US ahead of thenext round of negotiations with leadingnations over its nuclear programme inthree weeks’ time in Moscow.

“The major barrier to anybreakthrough in the talks has been theprofound lack of trust between the USand Iran,” said Cliff Kupchan, an analystat Eurasia Group in Washington. “Thisdescription is not a game-changer, but itadds to the existing serious obstacles.”

According to Friday’s article, MrObama stepped up a project called“Olympic Games” which was startedin 2006 under the Bush administration.A spring 2010 virus targeted the Natanzfacility and appeared to damage one-fifthof the centrifuges operating there, butafter a few months it leaked out into theinternet where it became known asStuxnet.

The report underlines thecomplicated politics and ethics for theObama administration of launchingsuch an attack at a time when the US

is increasingly worrying about theabilities of other countries to use thetechniques of cyberwar against it.

“This is the first attack of amajor nature in which a cyberattackwas used to effect physicaldestruction,” Michael Hayden, theformer Central Intelligence Agencyhead, is quoted as saying. “Somebodycrossed the Rubicon.”

The revelations come in thesame week that security experts havediscovered a new virus which hasinfected computers in Iran and otherparts of the Middle East. Known as“Flame”, it is designed to collectinformation rather than destroyequipment.

Tehran did not react to theNew York Times story on Friday.However, the report of US and Israeliinvolvement in the cyberattack couldgive more credibility to Iranian claimsthat the two countries were also behindthe assassination of at least four nuclearscientists.

It could also strengthen theIslamic regime’s suspicions that theUS and Israel are in much closeragreement than is often thought aboutthe possibility of an Israeli strike onIran. “It is a lie that the US is againstan attack on Iran and Israel may do iton its own,” said one former Iranianofficial this week. “If Israel attacks thenuclear sites, Iran’s retaliation wouldbe first against the US because Israelis in no place to act without the USpermission.”

While former president AkbarHashemi-Rafsanjani said last week forthe second time in recent months thatTehran could not be hostile to the US

for ever, Iranian analysts believe AliKhamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, stillbelieves Washington is using thenuclear issue to push the broader goalof regime change. He has urgedpoliticians not to be fooled by “smiles”– a clear reference to Mr Obama.However, Iranian anger over the attackhas been tempered by the fact thatStuxnet largely failed in its efforts andthe Iranian nuclear programme hasquickly made up lost ground.

Although the new revelationscome at a delicate time for the nucleartalks with Iran, which the Obamaadministration is keen to continue andwould not want to see collapse in themiddle of an election campaign, theycould offer some domestic politicalupside. The fact that Mr Obama steppedup the Bush-era cyberwar programmewill help counter Republican attacks thathis administration has been too soft onIran.

However, they complicate USefforts to criticise the cyber activitiesof other governments. In an unusuallyblunt report issued last year by USintelligence agencies, the Obamaadministration said that massivecyberespionage operations by Chinaand Russia posed a “significant andgrowing threat” to US national security,yet other countries often view UScomplaints as hypocritical given itsown cyber activities.

1 June, 2012

Geoff Dyer in Washington, NajmehBozorgmehr in Tehran and JamesBlitz in London.

Source: The Financial Times

Colin Todhunter : Originally from thenorthwest of England, Colin Todhunter hasspent many years in India. He has writtenextensively for the Deccan Herald (theBangalore-based broadsheet), New IndianExpress and Morning Star (Britain). Hisarticles have on occasion also appeared in theKathmandu Post, Rising Nepal, Gulf News,North East Times (India), State Times (India),Meghalaya Guardian, Indian Express andSouthern Times (Africa).Source: Countercurrents.org


THE REFUGEES SITUATION IN MALAYSIA:CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIESBy Sarah Ahmed Madhi & Jennifer Kate Tennant

The refugee situation has been anongoing challenge for several countriesall around the world. Individuals fromcountries that are not as providing, or assafe as other countries, flee from theirnations for several reasons, particularlysurvival. Majority of the refugees do notflee from their countries unless they seetheir lives under threat. As of today, theglobal population of refugees is estimatedto be approximately 250 million.

Alan Vernon, from the office of theUnited Nations Commissioner forRefugees (UNHCR) delivered an addresson the situation of the refugees in Malaysia,the challenges the refugees face as well asthe opportunities that can be provided tothem.

Prior to getting into detail with thesituation of refugees in Malaysia, AlanVernon addressed some points thatneeded to be clarified.

Refugees are individuals that havea well-founded fear of persecution forreasons of race, religion, nationality,membership of a particular social group,political opinions and so on. However,despite the clarity of the refugee situation,people still harbor misconceptions aboutrefugees and migrants. Refugees fleefrom their countries because they feelthreatened; migrants for instance, leavetheir countries for better opportunities.

The Refugee Situation in MalaysiaMalaysia has had a large population ofrefugees that have fled from theirrespective countries to find a better lifehere since 1976. The estimate of thenumber of refugees in Malaysia isapproximately 100,000. Refugees comefrom various countries like Somalia,Vietnam and Cambodia among others.However, the largest population ofrefugees in Malaysia come fromMyanmar.

Several issues were addressedabout the situation of the refugees inMalaysia. The main concern is that themajority of the asylum seekers inMalaysia are not recognized as refugees.These asylum seekers do not receive thenecessary documents to keep them safe,and due to that they get arrested and putin jail. The issue in this situation is that if

the refugees are not provided with thenecessary documents that prove thatthey are refugees, they face two possibleconsequences: 1) Be put in jail and, 2)the possibility of being sent back home.If these refugees are sent back home, theyare put in danger since their initial reasonfor leaving their homes was that theirlives were threatened. The other issuewith regard to the refugees is that theserefugees are treated as illegal migrantssimply due to the fact that they have notbeen provided with documents to provetheir stay.

Another issue that was addressedin the talk was the education system. Therefugees in Malaysia have no access togovernment schools, and so do notreceive the necessary education requiredfor getting a job. The only availableeducation for the refugee children isextremely basic, lacking materials and theteachers are unqualified. These refugeesreceive their education from NGOs thathave put in that effort to send volunteers,and from retired teachers who are notskilled.

The UNHCR Key MessagesThe UNHCR provided several keymessages that they consider to being adoorway to providing help to the refugeeswhile at the same time reducing theseverity of the situation in Malaysia.

1) The Malaysian governmentshould take greater responsibility in theissue of the refugees.2) The UNHCR and several NGOsare already supporting and will do moreto support the government.3) Opinion leaders can help sensitizethe government and the public.4) Allow the refugees to work legally.5) Improve education opportunityfor refugee children.

The UNHCR should also provide therefugees with the necessary documentsthat will help them gain refugee status inMalaysia.

Solutions for the Refugees in MalaysiaThe UNHCR has taken several measuresto ensure that the refugees are treated

with the utmost respect, and can receivehealthcare at a low cost.

1) UNHCR provides the asylumseekers with the necessary documentsand registers them in its system.2) Prior to providing them with thedocuments, the UNHCR assesses theircases.3) UNHCR provides assistance forthe vulnerable.4) Since the refugees fromMyanmar are particularly in danger ifthey get back to their countries, theyare more likely to get refugee status.5) UNHCR provides the refugeeswith health support. If the UNHCRdocuments are presented in hospitals,refugees only pay 50% of the medicalexpenses charged to a foreigner.6) UNHCR provides the refugeeswith the option of returning to theircountries if they choose to return.7) UNHCR is attempting to facilitatethe local integration of the refugees.8) UNHCR provides the refugees theopportunity for resettlement (moving themto other countries e.g. USA, UK, etc.)

What Needs to Happen NowAs of today, the UNHCR is attempting totalk with the government about therefugee situation. Particularly, they aretrying to make the government allow therefugees to work in Malaysia legally.Without that, the refugees will continueto face the danger of getting arrested oreven worse, being sent back to theircountries.

The UNHCR is also trying toestablish pilot programmes for childrenin the lower primary school category toattend government schools. Apart fromthe pilot programmes, it is also trying tolegalize the refugee community schoolsunder the framework of UNHCR. Finally,the UNHCR is always encouragingNGOs to open more refugee schools sothat every child who is a refugee receivesthe necessary education essential for hisor her development.

25 May, 2012Sarah Ahmed Madhi & Jennifer KateTennant were interns at JUST from 26thMarch 2012 to 6th July 2012.

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