Issue 39 Vol II, May 15, 2007

E D I T O R I A L

Back to the future?

WHAT sense one can make of South Asia, the region in turmoil? Pakistan always fond of exporting jihadi militancy across to India and other countries is having a bitter taste on the streets of Karachi, borders with Afghanistan and in its entire North West Frontier Province and Blochistan.

On May 12 with more than 30 people dead, over 150 injured and dozens of cars, buses and other property set ablaze in a matter of few hours; the mayhem in Karachi continues to send shock-waves and spontaneous nationwide protests across the country. The people’s symbol of protest against President Pervez Musharraf, a military dictator who has run rough shod is, the Chief Justice of Supreme Court Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. The situation indeed is close to the turbulent period from the mid-80s to the mid-90s.

The difference is that international situation is against terrorism and also against dictators. And, the media particularly the television as is clear from the views people have about Karachi violence is making it singular. A polarized ethnic politics and poverty make Pakistan a perilous place. Also, it would impact the India Pakistan peace moves.

Were the violent events an aberration, or were the events spontaneous or engineered and well choreographed? Thousands of paramilitary Rangers and riot police stationed in the richest trade city made no effort to restore order. It  tells its own tale. Musharraf has obviously not expressed unhappiness.

Elections this year and the next hold some chance for democratic forces to assert as all is not lost in Pakistan.

And, Bangladesh sails in the same boat. Two heads of main political parties are interned in their homes and a military dictator is in full command. It offers little solace to those who wish to have some kind of representative democracy over there. Also, environment degradation worldwide threatens this poor hapless country as sea rises to swallow up its coastal lands.

India continues on its democratic journey amidst chaos, poverty, corruption and violence. We have Ms. Mayawati the new Queen of the Disposed as chief minister of India’s most populated state of Uttar Pradesh. After 13 years or so, she has won a clear majority of 206 in a house of 402 and thus has a chance to provide some governance and social justice. There had been a Jungle Raj all through for  two decades. Caste and  communal policies have taken a back seat and the new social engineering that takes care of  all castes and creeds is in. some lessons for the two national parties, the Congress and the BJP indeed.

Nepal is passing through the pangs of new democratic regime. The old king and his kingdom are gone. In fact, the erstwhile King Gyanendra is now being forced to pay taxes, charges for electricity and other expenses once borne by the state. Those freebies are gone for ever as are the old royal guards and his ruthless army. What kind of democratic constitution emerges in the former Hindu kingdom and how the multiparty democracy comes into existence are still questions. Democratic parties as well the Maoists who shed their violent path are currently grappling with these.

Both Afghanistan and Sri Lanka   are war zones.  There is no solution in sight for the poor mountainous country divided by ethnic tribes and lead by a puppet regime under the command of the NATO and America. There could be no solution to the daily run of violence like in Iraq till the occupying forces leave and some UN agency takes charge and try for a local style democracy, different the western model.  The ethnic divide in Sri Lanka needs more humanitarian solution than the one offered by the Sinhalese majority to Tamils.

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