http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\08\28\story_28-8-2010_pg3_1
Saturday, August 28, 2010
EDITORIAL: Losing faith in humanity
The Taliban have hinted at attacking foreign aid workers who are helping
the flood victims in Pakistan, citing their presence as "unacceptable".
Hundreds of foreigners arrived in the country following the worst ever floods
to hit Pakistan in living memory. In the wake of their arrival, US officials
have warned of attacks by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) after receiving
some intelligence reports. According to US officials, the TTP "plans to conduct
attacks against foreigners participating in the ongoing flood relief operations
in Pakistan" and they "also may be making plans to attack federal and
provincial ministers in Islamabad". It was heartening to know that despite
these warnings, the UN has decided to continue its humanitarian work. "We would
find it inhumane for someone to target us and our work, effectively harming the
millions of people whose lives we strive to save," said UN spokesman Maurizio
Giuliano.
The point to ponder is why the militants are so unhappy about the
presence of foreign relief workers. It is because of the contention for the
relief space between the Pakistan government, the anti-Taliban forces, the
foreign aid regime on the one hand, and our illustrious terrorists on the
other. It is a battle for winning the hearts and minds of the flood affectees.
In any insurgency and counter-insurgency, the political effort is as important
as military might. Thus, winning the people of the areas hit by the insurgency
is central to both sides - the insurgents and those fighting them. Arguably,
such wars are seldom won on the battlefield, which is why the militants are
hankering to help the flood victims in order to win them over to their side.
Where disaster has provided a chance to the terrorists to show off their
so-called 'charitable' side, it has also led to efforts being made to combat
their 'relief efforts'. It is also quite clear that the Taliban are not willing
to give up their space to anyone else, especially foreigners. But it would be
highly unfortunate and downright barbaric if the foreigner aid workers were
attacked by the Taliban because they are here to help millions of Pakistani
flood victims. The government must give full protection to these aid workers.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has assured that "in case there is a concrete
threat, the government has complete capacity to ward it off". By threatening
the aid workers, the Taliban have once again proved how much 'sympathy' they
really have for the hapless flood victims. They only want to use them as cannon
fodder by recruiting them, and have no real desire to help them. We have seen
such campaigns in the past, but this time all their efforts to this effect
should be thwarted.
On another note, reports about systematic discrimination in aid
distribution are utterly disgraceful. There were reports earlier of Ahmedis not
being given shelter during the floods and now reports of discrimination against
Hindus and Christians are also emerging. According to a Vatican missionary
body, Christian refugees are "purposely not identified and registered". This is
in clear violation of all humanitarian norms as well as our constitution. We
saw Hindu families helping out flood victims in Sindh irrespective of religion,
caste or creed, but when our state discriminates against its own citizens on
the basis of religion, it shows how low as a nation we have stooped to.
Humanity is conspicuous by its absence. If we want to progress as a nation, we
need to close the doors on our prejudices. For far too long we have let
religious bigots call the shots; now is the time to stand up to them and say no
to religious exclusivism. *
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
Post message: [email protected]
Subscribe : [email protected]
Unsubscribe : [email protected]
List owner : [email protected]
Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
[email protected]
[email protected]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
