Palestine – Features

By Dr Firoz Osman

(source: Star, 12/08/2010, PG18)

The disfigured face of Aisha, ostensibly perpetrated by the Taliban, on the cover of Time Magazine (below:‘what happens if We leave Afghanistan’) is a deceitful attempt to demonise Muslims and vilify Islam.

The failure of the 28- nation member NATO invasion and occupation of Afghanistan in order to flush out Osama bin Laden (dead or alive), and crush Al Qaeda, necessitated another fabricated subterfuge to vindicate the Western world’s presence in Kabul.

Throughout history the hegemonic powers cloaked their rapacious, greedy ambitions in the guise of doing something moral and praiseworthy. The underlying purpose was always to obtain a strategic military or economic benefit.

Read More »Time cover vilifies muslims

By Navi Pillay

(source: Star Newspaper, 15-02-2011, pg11)

It is a great pleasure to be here, on my first visit to the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel since I took up office as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

I was received with courtesy by the Government of Israel and the Palestinian National Authority, meeting with both President Shimon Peres and President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, and a number of Ministers, state officials and other interlocutors in Israel and in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). I would like to express my deep appreciation for the good cooperation which has characterized this visit.

I met Palestinian victims of human rights violations in a variety of locations in the oPt, including East Jerusalem and several towns and villages in the West Bank and Gaza.  I and my team also met with victims in Sderot, West Jerusalem and the Negev desert. They explained their extreme hardships to us with great patience and dignity, and left me with a profound impression of the difficult human rights situation of so many civilians, because of the conflict, occupation and discriminatory laws and practices. I also had very informative meetings with four different groups of exceptionally dedicated human rights defenders in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Gaza City.

Collectively, my many interlocutors raised a wide range of complex multi-layered human rights issues and situations, intertwined with the ever-present, and ever complicating, security concerns and political considerations.

Read More »Back to the wall on human rights

By Patrick Bond

(source: Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in Palestine – www.palestine.rosalux.org)

In their latest documents and meetings, the G8, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund reacted to the democratic movements in the Arab world: The recipe calls – as it did before the popular ousting of the Tunisian and Egyptian presidents – for privatization, austerity measures and “market liberation”.

An incident two and a half years ago in Carthage spoke volumes about power politics and economic ideology. As he was given the country’s main honour, the Order of the Tunisian Republic, on account of his “contribution to the reinforcement of economic development at the global level,” International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn returned the favour, offering the dictatorship of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali a warm embrace, which turned out to be the kiss of death.“

Economic policy adopted here is a sound policy and is the best model for many emerging countries,” said Strauss-Kahn. “Our discussions confirmed that we share many of the same views on Tunisia’s achievements and main challenges. Tunisia is making impressive progress in its reform agenda and its prospects are favorable.”

In late May 2011, just days after Strauss-Kahn resigned in disgrace after New York police charged him with sexual predation against an African hotel cleaning worker, the IMF outlined a new set of opportunities in Tunisia and neighboring countries: “The spark ignited by the death of Mohammed Bouazizi has irretrievably changed the future course of the countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). But each country will change in its own way and at its own speed. Nor will they necessarily have a common political or economic model when they reach their destination.”

In reality, ‘the model’ for each is indeed ‘common’ in Washington’s eyes: neoliberalism.

Read More »Economic attacks against arab democracy

15 August 2008

Press Release

Celebrating the life of Mahatma M.K. Gandhi:  16th August 2008

There is no doubt that Mahatma Gandhi was a champion of freedom and democracy. History will always remember him as an Icon who was in the forefront of the fight against oppression, colonialism and imperialism. Together with Jawaharlal Nehru, Mohammed Ali Jinnah and others, they fought the might of Western Imperialism in the form of Great Britain, to secure the independence of India. They successfully shrugged off the yolk of British domination and declared what was to become the greatest democracy of modern times. We salute and congratulate this historical achievement.

Those of us who are celebrating this occasion will do well to remember that this independence can never be fully appreciated, commemorated and enjoyed while the disputed territory of Kashmir is on fire. It is an insult to the man in whose honour the festivities are being held. If you are really sincere about these celebrations, then you should ensure that the promise which Gandhi made to the world on the 26th October1947 when he said: “If the people of Kashmir are in favour of opting for Pakistan, no power on Earth can stop them from doing so. They should be left free to decide for themselves.” The operative phrase is “free to decide for themselves.” Successive Governments of India have reneged on this undertaking, thereby tarnishing and tainting the august name of this giant of a freedom fighter.

The Media Review Network calls upon the organisers of the Celebration to use the opportunity to conscientise the public of the plight of the Kashmiris. You have an ideal opportunity, to remind the Indian High Commissioner, Mr. R.K.Bhathia, as well as the Minister of Tourism and Culture from the Government of India,  of their moral obligation not only to the people of Kashmir, but in honour of the personality  they wish to remember. If and until this obligation remains unfulfilled, all you celebrations will be empty, soulless and meaningless. In the meantime the representative of the South African Government is faced with a challenge to raise this issue with the Government of India as soon as possible. He is ideally suited to the task considering his political background.

Issued by:
Ibrahim Vawda
Senior Researcher
012 374 6987

Media Review Network is an advocacy group based in Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa

Read More »Pr celebrating the life of mahatma mk gandhi