Issue 63 Vol III, May 15, 2008

F O C U S

Towards social democracy
Ishtiaq Ahmed

NOW that a transition to democracy has taken place, we need to start preparing for the next step forward: a progressive, enlightened and humane society. It is possible for societies afflicted by widespread poverty and squalor to surmount their dreary and dismal conditions without going to war and looting other countries. Through hard work, dedicated leadership and intelligent policies and planning spectacular success can be achieved.

I am particularly thinking of Sweden, where I lived for nearly 35 years, and Singapore, where I am currently based, as examples of successful transformation from sprawling poverty to enviable standards of living.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Sweden was one of the poorest nations, in the farthest corner of northern Europe. So poor was it that nearly half its population migrated to the United States. Today this nation of some nine million is a global leader in high-tech industries and the service sector, and its Volvo and Saab vehicles are world-renowned. It is also the fairest society on earth when it comes to the basic needs for a secure and dignified life. When Singapore became independent in 1965, it was infested with Chinese secret societies that ran gambling dens, brothels and the drugs trade. Today this nation of barely 4.5 million is the 17th richest in the world. It provides excellent services and facilities for trade and commerce, having initially made its mark in high-tech manufacturing and industrial production.

In both these countries a strong political party -- the Sveriges Socialdemokratiska Arbetareparti (Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party) and the People's Action Party, respectively -- led the nation forward and used state power to create conditions for economic growth and rising standards of living.

Swedish social democracy has historically been more attuned to egalitarian reforms, while in Singapore the change from erstwhile Fabian socialism to free-market principles has not meant that the state has abdicated its duty to provide cheap and good housing to citizens, excellent education and vocational training and an extremely safe and secure social milieu free from violent crime and drugs. As its economy grows, Singapore is expanding subsidised healthcare facilities for those who really need help.

Historically, social democracy was a democratic tendency within the broad socialist movement that emerged in 19th-century western Europe that, in contrast to orthodox Marxism-Leninism's theory of armed revolution and one-party rule, believed in free elections and an open society. Equally, in contrast to liberal democracy's celebration of unbridled laissez-faire capitalism and human egotism, social democracy always believed in a strong and active state with a strong social policy as a complement to the human need for solidarity and sympathy.

The question now is: how should Pakistan be transformed into a social democratic polity? There is no denying that we need a party that can organise mass support behind a social democratic programme for change and transformation.

The PPP would probably come closest to the description of a social democratic party. The late Ms Bhutto had revived the original PPP commitment to roti, kapra aur makan (food, clothing and shelter). However, it is not clear to what extent this goal is still dear to her successors. Another problem is that a social democratic party must rely primarily on the working people and intellectuals, while the PPP is dominated by landlords and other conservative sections of society, especially in Sindh.

On the other hand, the PML-N corresponds more to a liberal democratic type of party but only in economic terms of a free market. After all, liberal democracy is not only about free capitalism: it is also committed strongly to the freedom of religion and conscience, thought and opinion. Historically Nawaz Sharif has a bad record on these emancipatory aspects of liberal democracy.

Under the circumstances, one can either work towards a new party of the working people and concerned intellectuals, which holds regular elections not only at the level of state and government but also within the party or, more preferably, begin a concerted and focused campaign to propagate social democratic ideals and principles. In the longer run, if the need for establishing a new party gains wide support then one can move towards that goal. In this regard, it is important that we initially imitate the Singapore model instead of the Swedish one, because without economic growth and wealth egalitarian reforms become hollow and are reduced merely to slogans.

Ownership of private property should be given proper legal coverage, let trade and commerce flourish and people encouraged to set up businesses. But the taxation system should be structured in a way that those who use the facilities of the state -- its laws, rules and regulations, bureaucratic machinery, international contacts and facilities and other such services -- pay more tax than those who do not. In such a tax regime notorious political-industrial families and other scoundrels would have no chance of tax evasion and there will be no room for contrived defaulters of bank loans. Also, the vast economic holdings and interests of the military should be brought under the jurisdiction of our tax system. On the other hand, spending on better education and vocational training would be considered an investment rather than a favour to the poor.

We need to encourage the growth of a culture of meritocracy, but with provisions for the poor and historically-disadvantaged to get out of the rut of crushing poverty and move forward. A two-pronged developmental strategy is needed that puts a high premium on hard work and talent while simultaneously developing a level playing field by undermining structures which sustain parasitical landlords and tribal chiefs.

The state must ensure the following minimum to all people: clean drinking water, a functioning sanitation system including proper toilets, reasonable housing and a basic health system and transparent government. Indeed, philanthropy and charity will have a major role to play to make Pakistan a fair and caring society, but overall societal management must rest with the state and the elected representatives of the people.

[The writer is a professor of political science and a visiting senior research fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore. Email: isasia@nus.edu.sg courtesy News Pakistan]

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Punjabi: keeping faith in mother tongue
Gobind Thukral

THERE is worrisome news about the demise of the languages in this era of globalisation. One language seems to be dominating, obliterating languages, dialects and cultures in the process. Mortality rate of languages and more particularly of dialects worldwide is very high. In April 2002 a UNESCO report had said, “Out of Kenya's 42 indigenous languages, 16 of them have either become extinct or are seriously endangered.

At the end of 20th century the globe retained a rich linguistic heritage of an estimated 6,000 languages. Some placed the figure as low as 3,000 or as high as 10,000. The current wealth of languages world-wide is under serious threat for a variety of reasons. Experts tell us that vitality of a language depends not only on the number of speakers but on a range of factors that impact on language choice. There are more native speakers of Chinese across the globe, but English is the global language. Initially it was military barracks that forced an imperialist language on the people. English, French and Persian are some examples. Now the emergence of English as the global language has been for other critical factors; commerce, industry, technology, media, communication, the Internet, the arts, cinema and popular music. Add to this the unbridled desire to associate with whatever is American and to espouse English. Finally we may end up as some scholars warn about language imperialism with 96 percent of the world's populations speaking 4 percent of the world's languages or 4 percent speaking 96 percent of the world's languages.

Acts of imperialists had a detrimental effect on languages historically world over. The ruler decided as Punjabis know well the linguistic preference. This has often been underwritten by policy designed to marginalise or eradicate the languages. In some cases, genocide has been the order of the day, yet government policy to ban usage of minority languages has also been very effective. The resultant abolition of hundreds of languages - came about through acts of colonialism. But the current threat to linguistic diversity arises from other potent factors. The net result, linguistically: around 50% of the globe's 6,000 languages could disappear during this century.

Further, the stark reality is that some of these languages remain 'alive' only as long as the last sole speaker of the language is alive.  So in some cases the death of an individual could mean the death of yet another language. This was the situation for 51 of the world's languages, with 28 being in Australia. It is stated one language is disappearing on average every two weeks. This is indeed calamitous as we believe that the loss of even one language is dreadful.

This would make any Punjabi sit up and worry, particularly when we see around that it is English and at the second place Hindi that is becoming the lingua franca of our young generations. These are the Sufi singers and pop music along with rap and bhangra dancers that keep Punjabi alive. Ironically in a gurudwara in Chandigarh, when ragis sing hymns from  the Gurbani, its translation in English along with Roman  and Gurmukhi scripts appear on the screen to make the young generation appreciate Gurbani.

Recently Punjab Assembly  passed a unanimous resolution initiated  by a Congress legislator Ajit  Singh Mofar through a call attention motion that Punjab government  should take appropriate measures to see that Punjabi is used as an official language in letter and spirit and make its teaching compulsory till 10th class. Clearly all is not well with this language of the people. There may not be another example of a state legislature passing a resolution to see an official language for which there was prolonged agitation, at times violent is to be implemented. Is it not a fact that Punjabi is a language, well recognised by the Indian constitution with its more than 30 different dialects spread across a vast geographical area. So why this resolution and the later promised ordinance that would make those who persist neglecting it suffer cuts in salary or other harsh punishments. Where have we come to see that a well recognised rich language is dishonoured and killed in this manner?

Punjabi  is among the top 20 languages of the world, spoken by 104 million people spread in Hindustani and Pakistani Punjab, in Jammu, Kangra, Kullu and large parts of Himachal, more than half of Haryana, three major districts of Rajasthan, Delhi and many other states including western Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand. It is the fourth spoken language in Canada; it has sizeable presence in America, England and Australia besides Dubai. Travel to the western hemisphere, the number of flourishing Punjabi newspapers, magazines, radio stations and television networks are surprising. Many of these may not be of high standard, yet they are there. New information technology and Internet has shortened the distances and cut down geographic barriers. How could such visible, powerful language with its rich literature and lore die.

Yet there are compelling reasons for those who wish it to flourish and become richer by the day to worry. Unfortunately the language issue has been communalised. Its own children have been discarding it. How do languages grow and become rich. There are many reasons. The most notable is the intellectual level of its users; those who write and those who consume that writing as readers. Second is the state patronage; official status. It is English first and later Hindi or was as Urdu earlier, Punjabi was considered the language of the uncouth and the illiterate. Do we have writers who live by their pen? How do the writers survive and find time to write is a miracle. Many of them pay from their own pockets for the books they get published. Some of the writing is also of very poor quality. Sometimes it is Hindi written in Gurmukhi script. Punjabi was never except the last some years the language of government communication, not even during the Khalsa Raj of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Its poets and singers and its kathakars helped it survive as the language of the people.

If we view the present effort by the entire political class of Punjab, it is a sign of good times for this much neglected language. But this alone would not produce world class literature. It would be some babu Punjabi, most of Hindi in Gurmukhi scrip. Can we think of a time when scientists could research using Punjabi as medium? Or doctors could learn and teach in this language. Or could we have serious discourses in philosophy and social sciences. It is English and not even Hindi that dominates. The reasons are not difficult to fathom. Commerce, industry, technology, media, communication, the Internet, the arts, cinema and popular music is English oriented. Out of the total circulation of newspapers in Punjab and Chandigarh, Hindi newspapers are number one, followed by English and Punjabi papers are number three.

And worst, Punjabi is poorly taught in our schools these days. I remember recruiting some young men and women for a Punjabi daily last year and those who were M.A in Punjabi with good marks made horrible mistakes of spellings, grammar and syntax and their lack of knowledge of public affairs was appalling.

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Afghanistan: Imperialists are not winning

LANDLOCKED and mountainous, Afghanistan contuse to suffer from such chronic instability and conflict during its modern history that its economy and infrastructure are in ruins, and many of its people are refugees. A country with over 27 million people spread over a vast area of 6, 52,225 kms, it can not boast of any sing modern life. People are poor, they are not educated and lack of good food, shelter and health care and this in turn leads to lower life expectancy that stands at 44 years.

Recently at a press conference, American President George W Bush boasted, “I think we're making progress in Afghanistan". A few days later President Hamid Karzai was the subject of an attempted assassination plot. The Interior Ministry said the Taliban, nearly vanquished from the country in 2001, admitted to launching the attack. These rounds of violence are the latest in what has been an eroding situation over recent years.

A beleaguered United States is claiming big efforts. But it goes unnoticed even by the allies. There is a strong pressure within NATIO countries to pull out of Afghanistan as the twin strategy of occupation and development is not bearing any fruit. Reports clearly indicate that it is more of occupation and little development. This despite that the United States has deployed a new 2,300-strong reserve force of Marines to Afghanistan yet the war is being lost each passing day.

Karzai's escape "should serve as a wakeup call to shift the focus to a new front," says Center for American Progress. It has recommended a multi-pronged approach to Afghanistan, including building the government, increasing security, jumpstarting reconstruction, reducing opium production, and removing terrorist sanctuaries through redeployment of troops. It is easy said than done. And this Washington based think tank should know. Where has America in the past 5o years or ever since World War II succeeded.

As everyone knows and it rankles the Bush administration 2007 was the bloodiest year in Afghanistan since 2001, with 6,000 killed in the country.  And, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey  Schloesser, who commands U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said violence in 2008 "may well reach a higher level than it did in 2007," as insurgents pour in from Pakistan. Christian Science Monitor reported that aborted attempt on the assassination of Karzai "came as the latest sign of a trend" that the insurgency in Afghanistan "is spreading from the Taliban stronghold of the south to the central and northern regions of the country." according to member of parliament Ramazan Bashardost, "there is no security force in Afghanistan that people trust,". He added that, after a recent attack, "The security forces fled the area before the ordinary people did." Afghanistan also has rates of illiteracy "among the highest in the world," a "weak and corruption-ridden government," and still retains the world's largest opium poppy crop.

Nevertheless, Bush remains blindly hopeful. But his leadership in Afghanistan has been anything but successful. The White House even "acknowledged that its strategic goals are unmet in Afghanistan in its own assessment late last year, but it has not yet implemented any major policy shifts on the Afghanistan front. According the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief, "Western countries have failed to deliver $10 billion of nonmilitary assistance pledged to Afghanistan over the last six years and the United States, by far the biggest donor, is responsible for half of the shortfall."

After the fall of the Taliban administration in 2001, adherents of the hard-line Islamic movement have re-grouped and are now a resurgent force, particularly in the south and east. A fledgling democratic government faces the challenges of extending its authority beyond the capital and of forging national unity.  Since its strategic position sandwiched between the Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent along the ancient "Silk Route" means that Afghanistan has long been fought over - despite its rugged and forbidding terrain.

In control of about 90% of Afghanistan until late 2001, the Taliban were recognised as the legitimate government by only three countries.

The authorities in Kabul have little control beyond kabul and militant violence has continued. Afghanistan's drugs industry makes up around 60% of the economy. The trade has boomed since the fall of the Taliban and the country supplies 93% of the world's opium, the raw ingredient of heroin or metamorphoin. One view is to make legal and thereby enrich those make it instead of the militants. But this has been rejected by the Americans who need this drug more than any other country on the plea that it would wean even those who grow other products

International bodies allege that the drugs trade is helping to fuel the Taliban insurgency, which is estimated to receive up to US$100m a year from the trade.

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Cyclone Exposes Junta's Anti-People Attitude
K.Verma

THE recent disaster caused by the cyclone Nargis in Myanmar has struck hard at the people already hard pressed under an oppressive military junta. Till now the cyclone has claimed around 40,000 lives and this figure may increase in the absence of aid. Many refugees are waiting for the aid but the government has failed to provide the sufficient help to them.

The junta accepted the aid unwillingly, but is not allowing any aid workers, leading to threats from the British and American leaders. With rains set-in, the country needs not only massive international help, but large number of doctors, nurses and aid workers.

The disaster could have been averted up to some extent, if the government had reacted timely after receiving the warning signals by the Indian authorities about the cyclone from April 28 to May 3. Thousands of shell-shocked survivors of the cyclone are desperately waiting for food and water. The worst affected areas are Rangoon and the Irrawaddy delta.

According to an AFP reporter who reached the remote southern delta which was most affected by the cyclone has left more than 60,000 people dead or missing. There is no food or fresh water in this ruined town. The country’s adamant military rulers delayed the process of supplying aid to the victims. They allowed the foreign aid to help the survivors after five days of the tragedy.

Richard Horsey, of the UN disaster office in neighbouring Thailand said that the number of people affected can be more than expected. Many of them are in the need of shelter and clean drinking water. At a meeting of foreign diplomats, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister, Nyan Win said that Myanmar is ready to accept the international humanitarian aid. India has shipped aid and more is being rushed and the European Union has set aside emergency funds.

There were complaints from many observers that the regime is not working for the benefit of the people. The military was busy clearing streets where the ruling elite lived and leaving other residents to fend for themselves. "The regime failed to warn people and are failing to help them now," said Mark Farmaner, of the Burma Campaign UK. "One of the few things that may motivate them to allow aid in is the fear of another uprising.

In Rangoon, a city of more than six million people and formerly the capital, the cost of basic commodities have jumped and are out of the reach of common man. "Without my daily earning, just survival has become a big problem for us," Tin Hla, who normally repairs umbrellas at a roadside stand, told the Associated Press.

The cyclone Nargis has reinforced the image of the military rulers and their claims that they are working for the protection of the people stands exposed. This has come into light that military regime is seem to be concerned only with carrying through a referendum that will enhance its hold over the country. The only concession to a people reeling from the devastation caused by the cyclone is that the polling day has been changed to May 25 instead of May 10 in some of the most worst affected areas like Rangoon and the Irrawaddy Delta.

In Rangoon, the people have started showing their anger towards the authorities on indifferent response to the disaster. They say that the regime’s claim for helping people is false. "I saw some soldiers getting onto a truck yesterday," said a 50-year-old resident. "They had no sweat on their shirts, despite what was shown on TV!” "My wife saw three truckloads of soldiers parked in front of a fallen tree, none of them got down to remove it," he added.

Besides having evidence of emerging a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, the military authorities chose to ignore and even suppressed it. A warning regarding the cyclone was posted on its official website on Apr. 27 by the state’s meteorology department. But no effort was made to the people to be aware of the cyclone.

International aid agencies and the United Nations are still on standby, waiting for the junta to give the green signal to mount relief and rehabilitation efforts. Planeloads of relief supplies and equipment were reported arriving in Rangoon. India, Thailand, Japan and some U.N. aid agencies have also managed to land supplies like plastic sheeting for make-shift accommodation, tents, mosquito nets, medical supplies and water purification tablets.

"The military has shown its true colours that it has no concern for the plight of the people," said Win Min, an independent Burmese academic based in Chiang Mai town, Thailand. "This could easily be the final nail in the military’s coffin; it is now no longer ‘if’ but ‘when’,’’ he added.

After disaster it has been confirmed that the regime has no concern for the people’s protection. Their only purpose is to remain in power. That’s why they did not extend the date for the polling, despite all that disaster. This clearly shows the anti people attitude of the junta.

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