Stop agricultural land grabbing for corporate Greed

Raigad’s victory is Inspiring and a warning to greedy corporate By Vidya Bhushan Rawat With the Maharastra government denotifying the land acquired for Raigad SEZ of Mukesh Ambani led group Reliance Industries come an end to a historic protest movement of Raigad farmers who had deep faith in the democratic structure of the country despite its all weaknesses. They not only defied all the acquisition process which were constitutionally illegal but also organized a massive referendum against it which was not accepted by the government. A majority of farmers had actually rejected government’s offer to do away with their land. The land acquisition procedure for the proposed SEZ project, spread over 35,000 acres in Raigad was started in May 2006. But, the company managed to acquire only 13 per cent of the land within the stipulated period, as it faced strong opposition from farmers. In fact most of the farmers protested against forcible land acquisition and even organized a local referendum against the said acquisition and voted against the entire process. But the Maharastra government was determined to deliver it to Reliance unless the company could not acquire the other land in stipulated period of time in December 2009. It was the people’s movement that were continuously opposing the acquisition process and who went to the Supreme Court against the failure of the company to comply with the law related to SEZ. The question was why it wanted to acquire such a massive land but for the government officials that did not matter as they were overwhelmed by Reliance company. Even when The Raigad victory comes at a time when the country witnessed many things including the unabated violence in Chhatishgarh. While for the government it is easy to say that people must have faith in the government and its courts yet for the victims it’s very difficult to wait for years to get justice. We have witnessed many cases when the victims do not get justice for years and the government, the industries and the powerful have enough patience to wait as they have nothing to lose. India’s SEZ’s are nothing but new colonization process of our farmers, Adivasis and Dalits which are out of their purview and meant for export product. The land being acquired for these SEZs is enormously high quality agricultural land. Also, most of this land has rarely been used as the ration between the land acquired and its usage is very vast. The real face of this land grab is actually the vast housing market in India in the coming days. We all know once these conclaves come into picture; the industries will shift their focus on real estate. The second tenure of UPA have seen rabid rise in the land acquisition process throughout the country with scantiest regard for public norms and sentiments of the farmers. The government virtually became real estate agent and big companies enjoyed the curtsy. The result was growing unrest against the illegal land grabbing all over the country. The political parties failed to pick up the issue and were very opportunistic in their approach. Trinamool Congress opposed the process in West Bengal while kept quite on things happening in other parts. Similarly, CPM and other left parties could not mobilize people against this corporate greed as their own West Bengal experience was the most horrendous one. It is important to ask the question as why the corporate want land in thousands of acre. The same government which refuses to redistribute land to the landless people is readily agreeing it handover to the big corporations. They are coming with new ides to lure farmers. In various meeting when the farmers raised the issue of land prices, the builders, and business houses only complained that the prices rose when they start building a project. The issue is not that the land prices shot up after somebody started building up an SEZ. The insensitivity with which our officials deal the issue is shameful and reflects why it is happening. If in the government offices, we have least representation of Dalits, Backwards, Adivasis, how can we think of justice being done to them. Similar things needed in judiciary. As the upper caste bias is clearly reflected in the activities of the state and judgments of the courts. Of course, there is some oasis of fresh air which comes these days and we must celebrate that. Raigarh’s victory is a great motivator for all of us. Maharastra government has not withdrawn just because Supreme Court gave an order. I know many of the Supreme Court order have never been implemented. The political parties and their establishment address to the issue only when people are united. The government listens to the voices when people are united against their oppression. Raigad’s whole acquisition was illegal though unfortunately Supreme Court could not stop it but it stopped because of the company itself was unable to fulfill the mandate. Thankfully, the Supreme Court did not come under any emotional pressure of the company as they have the best lawyers at their disposal, and stuck to their stand that government must acquire the land. It is clear that the way which our political establishment went over handing over prime time land to corporate is perhaps independent India’s biggest scams. The farmers are a big power in India and no government can come to power by antagonizing them. SEZs clearly violated the policy of the government which says agricultural land will not be given for the non agricultural purposes. The industries grabbed these lands for throw away prices in close connivance with government officials who had the blessing of their political masters. I can say with full conviction that an audit of the land grab in India during past 20 years would prove that land acquisition will be the biggest scams in the history of independent India. Chief Ministers have collected huge money for their party in the name of ‘development’. Such acquisitions must be scrutinized and CAG must audit all the process. When the people are losing hope in our judicial process and our farmers are our deep stress, its time to think over the entire process which is simply called corporate land grabbing. At a time when our agricultural production is under serious threat, when corporate greed is ready to demolish and annihilate our agriculture and our farmers, this judgment is definitely going to help the people. This also proves that the people who are leading the movement must concentrate on their region, make linkages with national and international movements yet must do everything to reach to a logical conclusion. I know it is a difficult task. Temptation of visibility in the media and elsewhere some time actually put the activist somewhere else at the cost of the people. They forget the issue and take people for granted. Some time the activists become bigger than people or developed that notion and develop a larger than life image about them. They become obsessed with their mirror image and take a rigid position. Many of them start thinking that they would rest only when the entire system is changed and hence do not want to negotiate on anything. For the common men who lose their land, the major issue is not ideology but justice. Those who lose their livelihood, their culture and their homes do not wait for particular ideology but want to get justice. But in the din of ideological debates, activists change their track for their own benefits. It has happened on many places where the issues which made some one visible is forgotten and the hidden issues under national international agenda crops up to the great dismay of the people whose rights we claim to fight. Many times, the people leave the battle half way and shift some where else. Some time, people are unable to mobilize larger public opinion on it. The issue particularly caste based differences always occur in such movements and need to be handled with great care. Some time in the broader frame work of anti land acquisition process the landless farmers are completely marginalized. In the case of Raigad, the anti SEZ movement was constantly protesting with various new ideas and used every method of protest. It not only mobilized the farmers but also approached the courts, developed public opinion. Any movement needs multiple strategies to succeed. They need supporters in every sector including media, academics, human rights activists, social movements, political mobilization etc. However, unfortunately, the role of the opposition is not being played by political parties but by the social movements and hence things became a bit difficult as political establishment of the country continue to judge the social protest through a conspiracy angle. The campaign against civil society members, the FIR against activists and the threat to many RTI activists is example how the status-quoists feel threatened from them. There seems to be no opposition against these basic issues concerning our farmers and poor. Therefore, the faith of people is growing in the extra constitutional authorities. While the people of Raigad must be appreciated for their continuous effort to get justice, not every one is that fortunate to get justice. In the Raigad number mattered a lot while in many other cases the selection for land acquisition was very strategic. Hence the votes of the people never mattered as politicians always visited those areas which have substantial votes. Unfortunately, for Maharastra politicians this did not matter unless Supreme Court stuck down Reliance’s appeal for granting an extension. The government had no option to follow the court’s order. More importantly, the political climate in Delhi has changed and government was forced to take action in this matter. Raigad’s victory has gladdened the heart of people. Most importantly it has sent an important message that we will always win if we have faith in ourselves and are determined to take our battle to logical conclusion. For the government it is important not to push people to that extent that they pick up guns and lose faith in democracy. World over, people are protesting democratically and have defeated big despots and mighty armies. In India the despots come through corporate-bureaucrats-politicians’ nexus, in the form of forcible land acquisition. After Nandigram and Singur, this is perhaps the biggest victory of people’s movement. Nandigram and Singur might have been political yet Raigad victory will strengthen people’s faith in democratic process. The government must listen to these voices of people and not treat them their enemy. Political parties must relook into entire acquisition process and there should be a complete moratorium further acquisition unless they come to a conclusion after complete debate on it. Special sessions of Parliament and state assemblies should be convened to have a detailed discussion on our agricultural policy and land acquisition process in the country. In fact, the government must bring out a white paper on the land acquisition process and the losses it incurred after 1990s. At the moment, let us celebrate the victory in hope that the farmers will get their land soonest possible time without any hiccup from the government officials. The government must fine Reliance Industries for agricultural losses during this period and farmers must be compensated for the loss of their crop. After Nandigram and Singur, Raigad has sent clear signals that democracy is the best possible choice for justice despite all its shortcomings. People world over are fighting against tyrannical regimes so that they have a functioning demoracy.In our country people have to struggle against democratic governments for ignoring their problems. It all happens in the absence of a formidable opposition which speaks people’s voice. Fortunately, even when there are not much political opposition, people’s movements have succeeded in putting pressure on governments which have been united in grabbing their land. It is right time for them to read the writing on the wall otherwise they would decimate in next elections.

Stop agricultural land grabbing for corporate Greed

Raigad’s victory is Inspiring and a warning to greedy corporate By Vidya Bhushan Rawat With the Maharastra government denotifying the land acquired for Raigad SEZ of Mukesh Ambani led group Reliance Industries come an end to a historic protest movement of Raigad farmers who had deep faith in the democratic structure of the country despite its all weaknesses. They not only defied all the acquisition process which were constitutionally illegal but also organized a massive referendum against it which was not accepted by the government. A majority of farmers had actually rejected government’s offer to do away with their land. The land acquisition procedure for the proposed SEZ project, spread over 35,000 acres in Raigad was started in May 2006. But, the company managed to acquire only 13 per cent of the land within the stipulated period, as it faced strong opposition from farmers. In fact most of the farmers protested against forcible land acquisition and even organized a local referendum against the said acquisition and voted against the entire process. But the Maharastra government was determined to deliver it to Reliance unless the company could not acquire the other land in stipulated period of time in December 2009. It was the people’s movement that were continuously opposing the acquisition process and who went to the Supreme Court against the failure of the company to comply with the law related to SEZ. The question was why it wanted to acquire such a massive land but for the government officials that did not matter as they were overwhelmed by Reliance company. Even when The Raigad victory comes at a time when the country witnessed many things including the unabated violence in Chhatishgarh. While for the government it is easy to say that people must have faith in the government and its courts yet for the victims it’s very difficult to wait for years to get justice. We have witnessed many cases when the victims do not get justice for years and the government, the industries and the powerful have enough patience to wait as they have nothing to lose. India’s SEZ’s are nothing but new colonization process of our farmers, Adivasis and Dalits which are out of their purview and meant for export product. The land being acquired for these SEZs is enormously high quality agricultural land. Also, most of this land has rarely been used as the ration between the land acquired and its usage is very vast. The real face of this land grab is actually the vast housing market in India in the coming days. We all know once these conclaves come into picture; the industries will shift their focus on real estate. The second tenure of UPA have seen rabid rise in the land acquisition process throughout the country with scantiest regard for public norms and sentiments of the farmers. The government virtually became real estate agent and big companies enjoyed the curtsy. The result was growing unrest against the illegal land grabbing all over the country. The political parties failed to pick up the issue and were very opportunistic in their approach. Trinamool Congress opposed the process in West Bengal while kept quite on things happening in other parts. Similarly, CPM and other left parties could not mobilize people against this corporate greed as their own West Bengal experience was the most horrendous one. It is important to ask the question as why the corporate want land in thousands of acre. The same government which refuses to redistribute land to the landless people is readily agreeing it handover to the big corporations. They are coming with new ides to lure farmers. In various meeting when the farmers raised the issue of land prices, the builders, and business houses only complained that the prices rose when they start building a project. The issue is not that the land prices shot up after somebody started building up an SEZ. The insensitivity with which our officials deal the issue is shameful and reflects why it is happening. If in the government offices, we have least representation of Dalits, Backwards, Adivasis, how can we think of justice being done to them. Similar things needed in judiciary. As the upper caste bias is clearly reflected in the activities of the state and judgments of the courts. Of course, there is some oasis of fresh air which comes these days and we must celebrate that. Raigarh’s victory is a great motivator for all of us. Maharastra government has not withdrawn just because Supreme Court gave an order. I know many of the Supreme Court order have never been implemented. The political parties and their establishment address to the issue only when people are united. The government listens to the voices when people are united against their oppression. Raigad’s whole acquisition was illegal though unfortunately Supreme Court could not stop it but it stopped because of the company itself was unable to fulfill the mandate. Thankfully, the Supreme Court did not come under any emotional pressure of the company as they have the best lawyers at their disposal, and stuck to their stand that government must acquire the land. It is clear that the way which our political establishment went over handing over prime time land to corporate is perhaps independent India’s biggest scams. The farmers are a big power in India and no government can come to power by antagonizing them. SEZs clearly violated the policy of the government which says agricultural land will not be given for the non agricultural purposes. The industries grabbed these lands for throw away prices in close connivance with government officials who had the blessing of their political masters. I can say with full conviction that an audit of the land grab in India during past 20 years would prove that land acquisition will be the biggest scams in the history of independent India. Chief Ministers have collected huge money for their party in the name of ‘development’. Such acquisitions must be scrutinized and CAG must audit all the process. When the people are losing hope in our judicial process and our farmers are our deep stress, its time to think over the entire process which is simply called corporate land grabbing. At a time when our agricultural production is under serious threat, when corporate greed is ready to demolish and annihilate our agriculture and our farmers, this judgment is definitely going to help the people. This also proves that the people who are leading the movement must concentrate on their region, make linkages with national and international movements yet must do everything to reach to a logical conclusion. I know it is a difficult task. Temptation of visibility in the media and elsewhere some time actually put the activist somewhere else at the cost of the people. They forget the issue and take people for granted. Some time the activists become bigger than people or developed that notion and develop a larger than life image about them. They become obsessed with their mirror image and take a rigid position. Many of them start thinking that they would rest only when the entire system is changed and hence do not want to negotiate on anything. For the common men who lose their land, the major issue is not ideology but justice. Those who lose their livelihood, their culture and their homes do not wait for particular ideology but want to get justice. But in the din of ideological debates, activists change their track for their own benefits. It has happened on many places where the issues which made some one visible is forgotten and the hidden issues under national international agenda crops up to the great dismay of the people whose rights we claim to fight. Many times, the people leave the battle half way and shift some where else. Some time, people are unable to mobilize larger public opinion on it. The issue particularly caste based differences always occur in such movements and need to be handled with great care. Some time in the broader frame work of anti land acquisition process the landless farmers are completely marginalized. In the case of Raigad, the anti SEZ movement was constantly protesting with various new ideas and used every method of protest. It not only mobilized the farmers but also approached the courts, developed public opinion. Any movement needs multiple strategies to succeed. They need supporters in every sector including media, academics, human rights activists, social movements, political mobilization etc. However, unfortunately, the role of the opposition is not being played by political parties but by the social movements and hence things became a bit difficult as political establishment of the country continue to judge the social protest through a conspiracy angle. The campaign against civil society members, the FIR against activists and the threat to many RTI activists is example how the status-quoists feel threatened from them. There seems to be no opposition against these basic issues concerning our farmers and poor. Therefore, the faith of people is growing in the extra constitutional authorities. While the people of Raigad must be appreciated for their continuous effort to get justice, not every one is that fortunate to get justice. In the Raigad number mattered a lot while in many other cases the selection for land acquisition was very strategic. Hence the votes of the people never mattered as politicians always visited those areas which have substantial votes. Unfortunately, for Maharastra politicians this did not matter unless Supreme Court stuck down Reliance’s appeal for granting an extension. The government had no option to follow the court’s order. More importantly, the political climate in Delhi has changed and government was forced to take action in this matter. Raigad’s victory has gladdened the heart of people. Most importantly it has sent an important message that we will always win if we have faith in ourselves and are determined to take our battle to logical conclusion. For the government it is important not to push people to that extent that they pick up guns and lose faith in democracy. World over, people are protesting democratically and have defeated big despots and mighty armies. In India the despots come through corporate-bureaucrats-politicians’ nexus, in the form of forcible land acquisition. After Nandigram and Singur, this is perhaps the biggest victory of people’s movement. Nandigram and Singur might have been political yet Raigad victory will strengthen people’s faith in democratic process. The government must listen to these voices of people and not treat them their enemy. Political parties must relook into entire acquisition process and there should be a complete moratorium further acquisition unless they come to a conclusion after complete debate on it. Special sessions of Parliament and state assemblies should be convened to have a detailed discussion on our agricultural policy and land acquisition process in the country. In fact, the government must bring out a white paper on the land acquisition process and the losses it incurred after 1990s. At the moment, let us celebrate the victory in hope that the farmers will get their land soonest possible time without any hiccup from the government officials. The government must fine Reliance Industries for agricultural losses during this period and farmers must be compensated for the loss of their crop. After Nandigram and Singur, Raigad has sent clear signals that democracy is the best possible choice for justice despite all its shortcomings. People world over are fighting against tyrannical regimes so that they have a functioning demoracy.In our country people have to struggle against democratic governments for ignoring their problems. It all happens in the absence of a formidable opposition which speaks people’s voice. Fortunately, even when there are not much political opposition, people’s movements have succeeded in putting pressure on governments which have been united in grabbing their land. It is right time for them to read the writing on the wall otherwise they would decimate in next elections.

India waits for Its Mubarak Moment

Mubarak ho Egypt as India waits for its Mubarak moment By Vidya Bhushan Rawat After the 18th day protest Egyptian despot Husni Mubarak was forced to leave. Ofcourse, he ensured everything for him. Perhaps, he might have seen the writing on the wall but was just arranging like his bank accounts, financial deals and other things. As I write this, report of Swiss Bank freezing his accounts and British Government also willing to follow the same, would not be providing a great future to him. More importantly, the Egyptian people have owned this revolution which is truly being claimed 21st centuries French Revolution. That is why as an armed forces commander, Mubarak might have survived several attempts on his life and was a tough fighter but this fight became his waterloo and he had to leave Cairo. Like any other dictator or power politicians of today, he had enough time to wait for his people’s patience in the hope that they would return their home and he would again lord over them proved false. Hence his efforts to frighten people with tanks or with flying jet over their heads could not break the conviction of the people who were unanimous in one point agenda that if Egypt has to survive as a dignified nation then Mubarak has to go. Clearly, Mubarak was still weighing on his threat of an Islamic take over if he steps down. We all know most of these ruling lords in the Middle East have the blessings of western government and serving their interest. The only thing they have to pretend is wear a secular cap and do anything that violates the fundamental rights of the people. You have to look secular to kill your own people. These despots knew the weakness of the western governments and hence used the very frame work so that they can get huge arms and funds. It was like made for each other syndrome. Today, we all may decry Mubarak and call him a villain but as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair mentioned in an interview yesterday that Mubarak brought stability to Egypt and was the key western ally in bringing stability in the region. One can clearly understand what does he meant by stability, clearly good relations with Israel is called stability by the western world. The army has taken over in Egypt. It has suspended the constitution and dismissed the Ministry as well as the Parliament till the next government take over. Mubarak is still in Sharm-el-Sheikh and is calculating his future plans. There are however, reports that he might escape to Saudi Arabia or elsewhere which are heaven for all the despots. Mubarak also knows well that he can not live in the West as it will target him and his wealth. Though it clear that life would be tough for him and the pressure on Egyptian army would be under tremendous pressure from its people to show result and hand over the country to a democratic government. After Mubarak’s departure, Egyptians thronged the street, celebrated whole night but they also knew it well that the time ahead was more crucial and tougher. It is easier to fight against an enemy but the situation does not remain the same all the time. After Mubarak’s departure they have to take things in their hands and do it otherwise they can not blame on others. Hence, we saw people came in large number to clean the streets and do the menial work like construction and wall cleaning and were joined by the families. It is called ownership of a revolution and one can find very few examples like this when people still wanting to know what next. They do not end up with waiting for a messiah. The biggest danger in such revolution is the control of a few who may not have the same ideas as people and they mould people’s opinion according to their fancies and political ideologies. For people who suffered with tyrants, the most important thing is how to get dignity of work, right to make free political choices and freedom of expression and thought. Of-course, right to work will not work unless the employment situation changes and corruption is fought with. Most of our friends are discussing here in India as can a revolution be possible in India which is suffering more than Egypt does. Many of us think that at least Egypt does not suffer from chronic hunger and poverty that is clearly visible in India. They did not put their people on sale for years. They did not suffer from the brutality of caste system and untouchability as we suffer here for the past three thousand years. Yet, we are called a democracy and hailed as world’s ‘biggest’ democracy. The Americans, British and other give our example to the world as how India survived and is progressing with 9% growth. They give our examples how India had a ‘Muslim’ president, ‘Sikh’ prime minister, ‘Dalit’ women as Lok Sabha speaker and now, a ‘woman’ as President of India, a ‘Dalit’ Chief Justice of India and so on. All, these, according to them, show, how India has graduated from a British colony to a vibrant ‘plural’ and ‘multi cultural’ democracy. So, India does not need a change as what will people need after getting ‘so-much’ of freedom. We all know how British Prime Minister David Cameroon has admitted failure of ‘multiculturalism’ in their own country because rather than strengthening the cause it seems a license to every one to defend their ‘deeds’ in the name. India is worst off as here the ruling elite is much crafty and best suited to use these ‘modern’ terms. Hence ‘secularism’ is suited to help them retain in power in a very similar way as the rhetoric of Hindu Nationalism. The rise of Dalit assertion is growingly becoming victim of same brahmanical syndrome. Rather then providing an alternative module, it wants to ape them and use them to demolish their structure. The fact is it has become a tool in their structure. That is why despite Uttar-Pradesh and Tamilnadu experiences might seem to give community an identity and make ‘Indian’ ‘democracy’ vibrant but does not help people at the village whose daily struggle for dignity and life continues and where an administration is ready to make everything ‘comfortable’ and ‘beautiful’ for the ‘most powerful’ person of the states even at the cost of the poor who might hail from the same castes which these leaders belong to. Yet, no tears are shed for the poor as we are dividing our energy between our leaders and hope that leaders will change India. To understand India, we will have to analyse the minds of India’s ruling caste structure and how it has created such ghettoes which helps it retain its domination. Brahmanism, India is biggest disease does not survive because of Brahmins only. It is a contiguous disease and fast spreading across the spectrum. The forces which were supposed to demolish it are today suffering from it and hence the fight against the brahmanical democracy in India remained unsuccessful so far. The best part of the brahmanical strategy is to divide people in the layers of identities so we think these identities help us but at the end it helps the brahmanical minds. It is these identities which they befool people world over. All these Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Dalit leaders we mention represent the people just because of their birth. One can easily ask a question as how many of the community’s people really feel for them. Brahmanism worked through these symbolic gestures. Now the monster of other identities is threatening the very basic of the identity we created. So, every where, these upper caste thugs now create multiple identities among Dalits-Bahujans-Adivasis. Because of lack of communication among the communities and any further initiative, smaller contradictions of our village lives are becoming the big one. For political purposes, these contradictions are being used by each one of us as in ‘democracy’, it’s the umber game. If Mushhahars, Balmikis, Doms, Kols, Banzaras, Kanjars, Khatiqes, have no number then damn care for them. They don’t exist. Do not approach them. This has resulted in the biggest caste conflict in the region which may not look violent but which threatens to destroy the basic preamble of Dalit movement in India. Just keeping away from these issues and not speaking on them will not help that at the ground level. It is true about other communities in each states whether Andhra or Kerala, Tamilnadu or Maharastra. Any voices of dissent or assertion from these communities are fiercely blamed to be fed by the ‘opposition’ camp or agent of the ‘upper castes’, despite known fact that all the political parties of Dalit-Bahujan communities have compromised on the basic principles of Baba Saheb Ambedkar and EVR Periyar. The Egyptian tyrant’s brutalities forced his own country men and his own co-religionists to throw him away from their land but can it happen here in India. Can we speak against our own tyrants who do not have time to see the problems of people? Can we speak against our brahmanical democratic tyrants who are using democratic way to grab power yet have no time for people? Democracy has boosted the morale of the powerful anti democrats in the country. There can be nothing better than making the powerful more powerful and the poor more marginalized. The violence by the powerful unleashed against their own people is not debated. Instead, we are divided in groups of political identities. Hence, when the question of our rights violation comes, it is deafening silence and according to our suitability. How will there be a revolution when we are critiquing according to our convenience. Our political parties are divided between individuals and their families. We like to abuse others while are highly intolerant about our own selves. We do not want to hear anything about our political leaders. I do not call the differences between different groups ‘ideological’ as it has no face value in India. Your ideology is your caste in this country and those who were supposed to demolish it also use it for their own tiny purpose and hence getting defeated every moment. They may say that they are demolishing Brahmanism but fact is they are becoming the extension of Brahmanism and nothing more. Often a slogan is raised as how our 85% population is victimized by the brahmanical oppression and how we want these 85% should be united. Is it possible? If yes, then what attempts have been made? Is the discrimination of these the same? Is it true? Leave alone the 85%, 17% Scheduled Castes are not the same and every where new questions and identities are emerging. Can we be happy with such a situation when the oppressed people have been put to fight against each others? The issue of quota with in quota will finish whatever coming together of the Dalits. We all know how these brahmanical thugs have cheated and betrayed the Dalit-Bahujan-Adivasis of India. But the issue is now much bigger than mere quota. The cultural changes have not taken place and majority of us despite claiming Ambedkarite still follow the same brahmanical values. Just by saying that you do not like Hindu Gods does not mean you have become Ambedkarite as it is one of the toughest things to be. One has to be courageous and deeply committed to the cause and believing in sacrificing for the sake of the community. One who believe there is no ‘third party’ intervention in our life and we are the makers of our world. An Ambedkarite is the one who can not live in the past and victim hood all the time but has to provide alternative of this disgusting module. Yes, for that caste identities will not work, its annihilation is the precondition. Caste is a brahmanical game and will never strengthen the coming together of Dalit-Bahujan. It is destroying their coming togetherness and ultimately strengthening the neo Brahmins and their brahmanical backers. The divisions are happening because we are just obsessed with identity politics and ideology has some where taken a back stage. If you are an Ambedkarite, you can not really compromise with brahmanical, casteist, communalist and corporatised anti women thugs of our society where individual is supreme and has right to dissent. A 21st century India can only grow and develop on these wider principles of Equality, Liberty and Fraternity. It needs a cultural renaissance which Ambedkar could have done had he lived several years more. The later generations have not only compromised with his basic principles but completely drifted away from the communities he aspired to work. With out a cultural revolution, Indian democracy will be just identity politics which is most suitable to the brahmanical agenda in India. Unless, we go in the communities and raise the issue of their common concern, the threat to their livelihood, the looting of their land and resources, more political participation and representation in power, in assemblies and parliament, nothing is going to change. In Egypt, people rose up against the despot for a common cause. They wanted a good life for themselves and can not be happy with the palace of Mubarak. Can we really fight a common cause in India ? Well, Indian democracy is the biggest threat to its poor. It betrayed them from the very beginning. It created dumb leaders. It legitimized killing of people in Delhi in 1984 and Gujarat in 2002. It legitimized commercial land grabbing by the corporate. It does not allow a revolution. It is creating rebels. People want justice. Justice can only come when the political parties take up the cause. At the moment they are unanimous in two things. One to destroy and demolish any dissent to their activities and secondly in acquiring wealth and living a high life. Well, we will only fight that our leader is better corrupt then yours but that will not solve the problem. Our political class continues to make mistake. Political leaders have gained through exploiting all shorts of issues but hopefully the silent revolution started by Ambedkar will ultimately wake us all against notoriety of the political class. The Adivasi revolt or the Dalit assertions are part of revolt against Indian structure. Hopefully, the backward communities, the farmers, the agrarian workers, all will wake up and join hand to demolish this brahmanical supremacy. Remember, annihilation of caste is annihilation of Brahmanism and Hindutva. Are we ready for it? There was one Mubarak against whom all Egyptian had one opinion that they must get rid of him, it worked and brought them together. Here in ‘democratic’ India we have worst than Mubarak and they exist in each caste and political sphere that a common man is confused. If I participate in somebody else’s movement, what will happen to ‘my’ leader? And hence there seems to be no common ground between those who are oppressed or who aspire to fight. In the politics of Jugad, they just feel ‘enemy’s enemy is a friend ignoring the grave new reality that caste forces are more than powerful as ever and most of the leaders we idolize are accessed by our enemies more than us. My friends are writing everything accept the important one as how to bring together these victims of brahmanical deception. Is there any magical wand to resolve this crisis? There is everything for a revolution here but there are so many Mubaraks in our society that it looks difficult that India will have its ‘Mubarak’ day soon as it would the elimination of varnashram dharma and none seems to be interested in its annihilation as those we believe fighting against it have got their own world in it and therefore denying us the Mubarak day.

Judiciary in India : Need for reform

Judiciary and its brahmanical prejudices in India

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat


Two Judges of Supreme court recently, for the first time in our judicial history, had the courage to challenge the religious text of the Brahmanical order. In an order favoring tribal women’s land right violating which the powerful in the village termed her as witch
and paraded her in the village. The Judges were very forthright in their statement saying that violation of the tribal right start from ancient period when Guru Dronacharya asked from his tribal disciple Eklavya to donate his thumb to him, in order to protect the interest of Arjuna, the kshatriya warrior to be the best archer of the world.

Not long back the same Supreme Court gave a judgment saying Hindutva is a way of life. It has been criticized. The highest court today is more sensitive than ever. Just a few days back the court amended their old order in which they upheld the life sentence to Dara Singh, the mastermind of burning Grahm Stains with his two sons in Orissa. While court upheld the high court’s judgment, it unnecessary stretched its brief to conversion and then said that Dara Singh was protecting people from converting to Christianity. The court later realize their mistake and amended the order.

The brahmanical prejudices in our system are well known and judiciary is no exception to it. There are number of judgments against dalits on the issues of reservations are well known and can be elaborated here. Even after the Mandal judgment the issues related to OBC reservation has been diluted in many ways and the issue of merit always cropped up as if there is no merit in those who come through reservation. This stand is quite dangerous. In fact, Indian courts have continuously opposed reservation in judicial services terming that it will affect merit in the courts as if all the other sectors where reservation is effective are non meritorious. The fact is judicial appointments are political nature and there is control of several families in top echelon of Indian judiciary. Like every other sector, here also we have judges who have history of their parents in the judiciary. Earlier, the people retiring from the Supreme Courts used to keep themselves off from the politics but today they are openly part of political parties and ideologies. Many of them like Justice V.M.Tarkunde, Justice Krishna Iyer, Justice Rajender Sachar gave monumental contribution in the field of human rights and promoting rule of law in the country and never ever took any official position. Some of them actually gave dangerous judgment and reports. Justice Rangnath Mishra was appointed by Rajiv Gandhi to look into the anti Sikh riots in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s death in 1984 and not a single political leader from the ruling party was charged. Justice Mishra got his reward to Rajya Sabha from the Congress Party.

The lower judiciary is more prone to brahmanical biases. In Allahabad, a district judge washed his court room with Ganga Jal when he assumed charge as his predecessor was a Dalit. Just a few days back we heard that a judge in Madhya Pradesh asked the government to get each children’s horoscope checked by the Brahmins and then admit them to school so that they can understand whether the boy or girl is going to be healthy child or not. This story has appeared in the Times of India yesterday though it was abuzz in the internet for long. The Child Rights commission in India has asked for a report on it.

Indian judiciary is like any other sector in India suffers from the inadequacy of understanding the issues and problems of the marginalized. If there are some judgments favoring them they are purely on charitable and good will basis. When ever the issue of the rights of the Dalits and marginalized have come judiciary by and large was seen with powerful. Several years back, the a retired Supreme Court judge was asked by the Supreme Court to report on the inadequacies Public Distribution System in several states. He called up meeting of many people working on the same. I was one of them. In the meeting the former Judge was asking people what would be good for them and then came out with an idea that to improve the efficiency of the PDS they must have computers at their shop. Every body was happy but when they realize that this was nothing but another sale ploy people opposed it. Suddenly, some of the people suggested the issue of quota for the Dalits, Muslims and others in the distribution of these shops. The judge became furious and he asked the others as why don’t they openly oppose it. How one any one who is not known marketing be given charge of shops. And he just stuck down the entire formulations that we can not talk of quota here.

In the past twenty years judiciary paved way for land acquisition process which was responsible for displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Political craftiness and crookedness forced political leaders to take shelter in the judicial activism which was nothing but turning the issue of executive which is more accountable to the people, in their hands. Land has always been acquired in the name of ‘public interest’ but none could find what the public interest if lakhs of people have been uprooted from their land. There are definitely very good judgments and we always are grateful to them. We still look for some good judgments as people are quite fed up with political maneuvering.
Hence, land acquisition never ever got discussed in Parliament but it has been justified by the judiciary on many occasions.

Thousands of cases related to land ceiling act are lying with courts. Powerful people have time and money to delay judicial process. It’s the poor who bear the brunt of it. It’s difficult to bring all the cases to the court. Justice Y.B.Sabbarwal’s over enthusiasm on implementing Sealing process in Delhi and making our cities ‘world class’ is well known. It uprooted lakhs of people. DDA and other authorities got right to demolish any location and slums without rehabilitating them. It was painful to see how the doors of court remain close for the poor as they feel helpless.

Three years back a 4 year old Dalit girl was thrown into burning fire allegedly by an upper caste boy in district Mathura. The UP government appointed a fast track court to implicate him. The boy was booked under SC-ST prevention of Atrocities Act. The judge after hearing every one exonerated the boy that there is no witness. He rejected the contention that girls mother is a witness saying that she was in veil when the girl ‘fell; into the fire. There was no other witness and hence the judge came to the conclusion that the girl fell the fire out of her own even when it was clear that she was going to defecate with her mother and was pushed to fire by the local landlord who was unhappy with their using his fields to defecate.

It is important that India reform its judicial system and form an all Indian Judicial commission which be made responsible for recruitment of the judges and they be monitored and seen. Let a committee of retired judges observe and read the judgments of these judges and then promote them. Right now most of them are picked up from the practicing lawyers of High Courts, so political favor, relationships and other things matter and unfortunately that reflect in judgments on many occasions. Binayak Sen’s conviction is one such incident of how judges in the lower courts have already made up their mind and do not normally question the government version. The situation is grim as people do not have money and patience to fight for their cases in the High Court and Supreme Court.

I have been fighting for the case of 150 Dalit families in Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar for the past 15 years. The were fighting for implementation of land ceiling act and be given land declared surplus under Ceiling Act. This case went to Allahabad High Court where the judge upheld ceiling. Then the powerful people of a company challenged in the Supreme Court and lost there also. The judgment came in 2004 and we waited with breathe that now the people would get their land. When nothing happened and the judgment was dubiously used to defeat the purpose of it, we went to the Lokayukta of the Uttarakhand state who took about 2 years to come to a conclusion that the violation of Supreme Court Judgment has happened that official need to be punished. Nothing happened. We went to the Supreme Court again. Justice K.G.Balakrishanan accepted the petition but for next three years, he did not give us time to hear it. As soon as it he retired, the petition came to current Chief justice who directed us to go the Uttarakhand High Court, Nainital. Now, it is painful for people to wait for three year and then be asked to go back to High Court. We went to Nainital High Court where the chief justice was not willing to listen to us even when we mentioned that it is under the direction of the Supreme Court. Finally, he fixed up a date to clear the case. We brought to his notice violation of Supreme Court judgment and Lokayukta report but that was clearly rejected. Lokayukta can not be bigger than this court said Chief Justice. Now the question was no body was questioning the powers of judiciary, we just used his report because it took two years for him to come to some conclusion and he himself was a judge in Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court.

The Ayodhya verdict has been shocking. How are the judges going to decide where Lord Rama Was born. Is it the job of the judiciary to decide about it. The matter before them was whether some body installed the statues of Ram in the Babari mosque or not and secondly about the ownership of the land which could have been judged on the basis of their papers yet the judges went on and on to declared it. If such cases become a legality than it would be difficult to find any land in India for human being as under each building the religious thugs are ready to say there resided a ‘god’ and we have over 33 crore of them.

The latest judgment in this series is of Bombay High Court which declared that Astrology is science. Should the judiciary accept such cases? How can they come to such a conclusion? If they want a meaningful judgment why can’t they seek opinion from medical and other department like that of Science and Technology? Isn’t it a fact that our judiciary is taking their role much beyond their defined role and is opening a Pandora’s Box. Such judgment helps the religious manipulators to spread their false massage in the name of judicial approval. It does not bode well to the health of the country. There is a need to control astrologers as there is no mechanism where they be held accountable. There is no mechanism where an Ayurvedik doctor and his activities be monitored under MRTPC act. If they are being declared as science and modern then all the modern day rules and regulation should also be implemented on them. Like any medicine they should also put expiry dates and other things on their products and all their activities should be scrutinized.

It is really needed that judicial system be reformed so that people get justice. This is a great season at the Supreme Court when some of the judges have delivered great judgment favoring tribal and Dalits, on human rights and against corruption. One sincerely hopes that this tribe of honest judges will increase whose judgment will help the marginalized gain their rights and confidence. It is time for reservation in judiciary for the Dalits, Muslims, Adivasis and women so that their confidence level also grows and people feel safe that the judges will understand their feeling and issues. Some of my friends suggest that this is the best moment in the Supreme Court in recent history when we are witnessing some fairly balanced judgment. People are still looking to higher courts for resolution of their problems. On Gujarat they have consistently taken a stand against the communal politics of Narendra Modi. Similarly, on many other things including the tribal rights, common land of the village, on women’s right, the judges have taken bold stand in the Supreme Court. One sincerely hopes that the highest court of the land will do its best to change the set up of judicial appointments as well as speedy process of law so that they are delivered on time. It is also important that Supreme Court take not of what the High courts are delivering and wheverever the judges have gone or commented beyond their jurisdiction should not only be scrutinized but those portion should be withdrawn. In the Graham Stains case the Supreme Court has withdrawn controversial portion of its order which is a welcome sign. One hope that the Supreme Court will support initiative in the direction so that in our judicial officers are more sensitized on the issue of caste, gender and communalism and it is not possible without fair representation of people from affected communities in the services.

Copy of Supreme Court's Historic Order

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

 

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

 

<span>CRIMINAL APPEAL NO(s). 889 OF 2007</span>

 

 

ARUP BHUYAN                                 Appellant (s)

 

                        VERSUS

 

STATE OF ASSAM                              Respondent(s)

 

<span>O  R  D  E  R</span>

 

     Heard learned counsel for the parties.

     This Appeal has been filed against the impugned judgment of the Designated Court, Assam at Guwahati dated 28.03.2007 passed in TADA Sessions Case No. 13 of 1991.

     The facts have already been set out in the impugned judgment and hence we are not repeating the same here except wherever necessary.

     The appellant is alleged to be a member of ULFA and the only material produced by the prosecution against the appellant is his alleged confessional statement made before the Superintendent of Police in which he is said to have identified the house of the deceased.

     Confession to a police officer is inadmissible vide Section 25 of the Evidence Act, but it is admissible in TADA cases vide Section 15 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987.

                        :1:

 

     Confession is a very weak kind of evidence.  As is well known, the wide spread and rampant practice in the police in India is to use third degree methods for extracting confessions from the alleged accused.  Hence, the courts have to be cautious in accepting confessions made to the police by the alleged accused. 

     Unfortunately, the police in our country are not trained in scientific investigation (as is the police in Western countries) nor are they provided the technical equipments for scientific investigation, hence to obtain a conviction they often rely on the easy short cut of procuring a confession under torture.

 

     Torture is such a terrible thing that when a person is under torture he will confess to almost any crime. Even Joan of Arc confessed to be a witch under torture.  Hence, where the prosecution case mainly rests on the confessional statement made to the police by the alleged accused, in the absence of corroborative  material, the courts must be hesitant before they accept such extra-judicial confessional statements.

     In the instant case, the prosecution case mainly relies on the alleged confessional statement of the appellant made before   the Superintendent   of   Police,   which is  an

                        :2:

 

 

extra-judicial confession and there is absence of corroborative material. Therefore, we are of the opinion that it will not be safe to convict the accused on the basis of alleged confessional statement.

     For the reasons stated above, we are in agreement with the impugned judgment so far as it has taken the view that the confessional statement in question cannot be acted upon as the sole basis for conviction of the appellant.    

     However, the TADA Court has convicted the appellant under Section 3(5) of the TADA which makes mere membership of a banned organisation criminal. Although the appellant has denied that he was a member of ULFA, which is a banned organisation. Even assuming he was a member of ULFA it has not been proved that he was an active member and not a mere passive member.

     In <span>State of Kerala</span>  Vs. <span>Raneef</span>, 2011 (1) SCALE 8, we have respectfully agreed with the U.S. Supreme Court decision in <span>Elfbrandt</span> Vs.  <span>Russell</span>,  384 U.S. 17 (1966) which has rejected the doctrine of <span>'guilt by association'</span>.  Mere membership of a banned organisation will not incriminate a person unless he resorts to violence or incites people to violence or does an act intended to create disorder or  disturbance  of public  peace  by  resort  to

                        :3:

 

violence (See : also the Constitution Bench judgment of this Court in <span>Kedar Nath</span>  Vs.  <span>State of Bihar</span>, AIR 1962 SCC 955 para 26).

     In <span>Clarence Brandenburg</span>  Vs. <span>State of Ohio</span>,  395 U.S. 444 (1969) the U.S. Supreme Court went further and held that mere "advocacy or teaching the duty, necessity, or propriety" of violence as a means of accomplishing political  or industrial reform, or publishing or circulating or displaying any book or paper containing such advocacy, or justifying the commission of violent acts with intent to exemplify, spread or advocate the propriety of the doctrines of criminal syndicalism, or to voluntarily assemble with a group formed "to teach or advocate the doctrines of criminal syndicalism" is not per seillegal. It will become illegal only if it incites to imminent lawless action. The statute under challenge was hence held to be unconstitutional being violative of the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

     In <span>United States</span>  Vs.  <span>Eugene Frank Robel</span>, 389 U.S. 258, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a member of a communist organisation could not be regarded as doing an unlawful act by merely obtaining employment in a defence facility.                       

 4.    We respectfully agree with the above decisions, and are

of the opinion that they apply to India too, as our fundamental rights are similar to the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution.

     In our opinion, Section 3(5) cannot be read literally otherwise it will violate Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.  It has to be read in the light of our observations made above.  Hence, mere membership of a banned organisation will not make a person a criminal unless he resorts to violence or incites people to violence or creates public disorder by violence or incitement to violence.

     Hence, the conviction of the appellant under Section 3(5) of the TADA is also not sustainable.

     The impugned judgment of the Designated Court, Assam at Guwahati dated 28.03.2007 passed in TADA Sessions Case No. 13 of 1991 is set aside and the Appeal stands allowed.

     By Order dated 29.10.2007 this Court had directed that the appellant be released on bail on his furnishing adequate security to the satisfaction of the trial court.  Security furnished by the appellant in pursuance of Order                dated 29.10.2007 shall stand discharged.

 

 

                             ..........................J.

                             (MARKANDEY KATJU)

 

 

 

                             ..........................J.

                             (GYAN SUDHA MISRA)

NEW DELHI;

FEBRUARY 03, 2011.      :5:

--
Vidya Bhushan Rawat
Visit my blog at
www.manukhsi.blogspot.com

For information on the issues, movements and priorities of Scavenger community in India please log on to
www.swachchakar.blogspot.com
For information on civil society initiatives on Muslims in UP please log on to
www.rehnumaa.blogspot.com

Follow me on twitter at freetohumanity

Skype at vbrawat

For Social action, land rights, right to food and hunger issues support Social Development Foundation at  www.thesdf.org

Supreme Court's Historic Judgement

We should try to get a full text of this judgement and must be send across the country. Dalits, tribals, Minorities and human rights defenders are being targeted by the police and intelligence for being part of some ideology just because they are raising issues of their rights. Reading books and raising uncomfortable questions have become crime in India. Hundreds of activists have been arrested. It is time these matters should reach to each one of our friends who have been humiliated, and targeted by the state. 

regards,

Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Just being member of banned outfit not a crime: Supreme Court

Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNN, Feb 5, 2011, 01.07am IST

Article

Comments (3)

Tags:ULFA|Terrorist And Disruptive Activities Act|Supreme Court|Arup Bhuyan

NEW DELHI: Members of banned organizations cannot be treated as criminals by police till they indulge in or incite violence, the Supreme Court ruled on Friday. 

The apex court's Friday ruling is part of a judgment acquitting Arup Bhuyan, convicted by a Guwahati court under the now lapsed anti-terror law Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act. Bhuyan was a suspected member of the outlawed secessionist outfit United Liberation Front of Assam ( Ulfa) which figures at the top of the home ministry`s list of banned organizations. 

"Mere membership of a banned organization will not make a person a criminal unless he resorts to violence or incites people to violence or creates public disorder by violence or incitement to violence," a Bench comprising Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra said. 

The order can have a bearing on the plans of outlawed outfits which include terror and insurgent groups. The list of 32 banned organizations on the website of ministry of home affairs includes al-Qaida, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Students` Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), CPI(M-L) and allied formations, militant groups active in north-eastern states, Khalistan Commando Force, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, International Sikh Youth Federation, Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen and Al Badr. 

Exactly a month ago, the same Bench had upheld bail to a doctor arrested for treating a man accused of chopping off the hand of a Kerala professor for setting a controversial question paper. 

The January 3 judgment had said, "Mere membership of a banned organization will not incriminate a person unless he resorts to violence or incites people to violence or does an act intended to create disorder or disturbance of public peace by resort to violence." 

The trial court had convicted Bhuyan based on his confession to police, admissible as evidence under TADA. Bhuyan had appealed in Supreme Court. 

Allowing his petition, the court said his conviction was based on "a very weak kind of evidence" and could not be sustained in the absence of corroborative material. 

On the confessions, Justices Katju and Misra expressed strong views. "As is well known, the widespread and rampant practice in the police in India is to use third-degree methods for extracting confessions from the alleged accused. Hence, the courts have to be cautious in accepting confessions made to the police by the alleged accused," the Bench said. 

Police often extracted confession from an accused because they were neither trained nor equipped with gadgets to conduct scientific investigation like their western counterparts, the Bench said, adding, "Hence, to obtain a conviction, they often rely on the easy short-cut of procuring a confession under torture." The court added, "Torture is such a terrible thing that when a person is under torture, he will confess to almost any crime. Even Joan of Arc confessed to be a witch under torture."

Read more: Just being member of banned outfit not a crime: Supreme Court - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Just-being-member-of-banned-outfit-not-a-crime-Supreme-Court/articleshow/7428601.cms#ixzz1D2vCXIK9
--
Vidya Bhushan Rawat
Visit my blog at
www.manukhsi.blogspot.com

For information on the issues, movements and priorities of Scavenger community in India please log on to
www.swachchakar.blogspot.com
For information on civil society initiatives on Muslims in UP please log on to
www.rehnumaa.blogspot.com

Follow me on twitter at freetohumanity

Skype at vbrawat

For Social action, land rights, right to food and hunger issues support Social Development Foundation at  www.thesdf.org

Pro Democracy Struggle of Egypt

 

 

 

A Historic moment in Egypt

 

Popular revolt is against symbolic democracy and fake secularism

 

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

 

 

It is difficult for dictators and despots to leave their power and possessions as things are painful afterwards and you do not have everything at your disposal. Surrounded by hundreds of Chums, these self glorified leaders have virtually lost touch with modern day realities, the pains and agonies of their masses. Every political leader became victim of their own images and egos and developed a larger than life image of their own selves. At the end, when they face the popular music from people, they failed to realize that their time has run out and it was time to say bye. The last big revolt of the masses was seen in the Philippines when military dictator Ferdinand Marcos was overthrown by the masses but not before things were made difficult for him. The exiled opposition leader Benigno Aquino whose wife Corazon  Aquino became president of that country later in 1986, was assassinated in August 1983 as soon as he landed at the Manila airport from the United States. Anyone who has seen the life style of the then president could vouch why he became a hate figure in his own country. Popular uprising forced Tunisian President Ben Ali to run away from his country and take asylum in Saudi Arabia. Egypt secular dictator Hosni Mubarak feel that he was still fit to rule the country and that he has more people on his side. To complicate further, he warned the west that if he is forced to quit, Egypt would be under the Islamic Fundamentalist forces. While he could not organize a march of even two thousands people, paid goons of the government and those who felt that they might lose their perks and contacts in the new set up, lost no time in attacking the protestors as the army stood mute and watched the events helplessly. It was a well managed act yet got exposed on Televisions sets world wide. President Mubarak who is not so young today, is still sticking to chair with all dirty tricks wanted to show his masters in the United States that he is still in command and a 'people's representative'. Americans are actually 'experts' in exporting such democracies to the world which create Mubarak or Shah which produce an Ayatollah or Taliban in counter revolution.

 

When two million people marched at the liberation square in Cairo, Mubarak and his cronies might not have imagined that people would stay whole night and ready to take on the government. Perhaps the most important factor in the power politics is the 'patience' of the governing class and the 'impatience' of the oppressed. They know well that the longer this protest grow, it will get frustrated as people have to ultimately look for their survival as none of them are fortunate enough to survive without working like our powerful people could do with out caring for. Unfortunately, when the protest reached the 9^th day, the state apparatus swung into action and started infiltrating in the movement for democracy. Mubarak's thugs came in Cars, Camels and horses and attacked brutally to every one. We saw live coverage how journalists are being targeted and foreigners are being shown the door. In the presence of international media, he knew that US and Europeans were determined to his ouster yet the facts are clear that they all know that once Mubarak is ousted then the new equations might be more dangerous. That this revolution does not go in the hands of allegedly Islamic groups was more problematic for the western diplomats and hence they have been working over time to stop it. The delayed tactics are being used and army is being taught to be a serious player so that a 'secular 'government' stays in power. This 'secular government' clearly means the one which can keep the interest of these powers safe and continue to be 'friendly' with Israel which feel continuously threatened with the growing unease in the entire Arab world against the dictators pampered by the United States. It's the 12^th today as thousands of people continue to defy the guns, tanks and power of Hosni Mubarak whose dictatorial powers for past thirty years compelled people to come to the street and fight for their right. The fear of people has disappeared now despite army's dwindling responses. Initially the armed forces said that they would not fire on their own people but they did not do much to protect the protesters from the assault of the paid goons of the president. Though they know it well that they can not fire on its people.

 

Why has Egypt erupted against the president who looked secular to all of us who were not living in that country? Years ago, when people like Mubarak, Shah of Iran, Nazib, Saddam Hussein, King of Jordan, Hafiz Al Asad of Syria, Ben Ali of Tunisia were leading their nations, the general feeling outside their countries was of secular leadership.

Since no information would come out, a foreign visit of these dictators was always a public relation exercise for all. For US, UK and India, these despots were their secular Islamic face and for them and their public their popularity internationally. It also meant that the policies have got approval by the international community. The fact is that they were indeed secular in their personal lives who had the best materialistic things at their disposal and who denied their people right to freedom of expression and right to make independent political choices. Thousands of political opponents were jailed and constitution became 'keep' of the rulers.

 

Today, when people all over the world are describing the events in Egypt as Tsunami or major earth quack which has swept across the Arab world, the tremors are being felt everywhere. Nobody ever thought that a slap by a police woman to a vegetable vendor in Tunisia would force the 'secular' dictator to run away and take shelter at Saudi Arabia, the biggest lanky of the United States. It has to be understood why the entire Arab world is in the crisis and why a secular alternative is often out of sight in those countries. Why Arab world has turned so rigid. And the answers lies in Iranian revolution in 1975 when the revolutionary Iranian overthrew corrupted Shah Regime and Ayatollah Khomeini became the new voice of the Islamic world. That is why it is important to understand why Arab world is so different and react negatively to American imposed western democracy and secularism. It is not that the people there do not want democratic secular values. But if secularism is keeping the opponents in prison and allowing a dictator to rule the country unquestionably then we are going to see more problem. Without resolving the Israel Palestinian issue, no Arab government can live peacefully. The present peace that the Western world feels about the Arab world is imposed and purchased by supplying huge arms and keeping the armed forces happy. That is why, each of these despots had unquestioned support from their army as they too know it well that once real democracy comes in these societies the perks and loot in the name of national security will have to be replaced by a more transparent pro people policy of the governments.

 

In 1981 President Anwar Sadaat was assassinated by the extremists who were unhappy with his signing treaty with Israel. Mubarak was his deputy and took over. Since then Egyptians have to contain with Mubarak and his military commanders. It is equally interesting that none in the western world ever thought of writing about the gross human rights violations in these states. The violence against children and women is rampant and honored killings have official sanction. Blasphemy laws are used to curtail opposition and freedom of expression and right to chose political party and political protest is unknown phenomena in many of these states. Yet, in the name of modernity, Americanisation process started. Big companies had huge land and market in the region. Efforts were made to convert the distinct Islamic values into forced 'secularism'. There was no effort to strengthen democratic voices and dissent. Americans were only interested in their interest and were pumping money to two of its giant like Saudi Arabia and Egypt. It was American money only that was taking care of Israel too so you have both warring groups in your hand. Mubarak despite wide protest in the Islamic world continued to be in the good book of the Western governments and the people in large were unable to protest against him because they were afraid of power.

 

It has to be understood that just aping the western power will not bring secularism in these states. The fact is that Americans and western interventions had nothing to help secular voices. After all how did Taliban come into force in Afghanistan or now the radicals in Iraq? The things are clear that nobody would accept imposed secularism at the cost of their cultural identities and subjugation of their masses. In the glitter of free market we forgot that the life was becoming hell in all these nations. The free market economy failed Indonesia and Malaysia and then followed by Turkey. The colonial democracy imposed by the western elites in these countries actually was nothing but fancy of a few feudal lords who cared nothing about their people. Human rights violation was a regular affair and the powerful manipulated democracy for their own purposes. Most of them hailed from Army which played an important role in strengthening 'democracy' in their respective countries.

 

Can a 'secular dictatorship' be allowed to ruin these countries which do not allow freedom of press and freedom of choices? How are they called secular when they violate the basic principles of democracy? How is it that the colonial powers had different sets of rule for democracy in their own country and their colonies? How is that none in US and UK could rule for more than 10 years yet in all the states which are being pampered by them their chums are ruling for over 30-40 years. There is no civil society and political freedom. Keeping army powerful in these countries is the western way of controlling their leadership and that is why what we are witnessing in Egypt and other parts of Arab world is a rejection of these power politics.

 

The popular unrest in Egypt has been successful though it has not reached to a logical conclusion. Mubarak has threatened an Islamic revolution if he leaves and he does not want his country to convert into an Iraq or Afghanistan. But the fact is that Mubarak will do so till his last breathe as he has now realized that his days are numbered and yet he is there because of the hypocrisy of the Western governments who are unable to find another puppet to serve their interest. The people know it well and that is why most of the protesters as well as the pro government people, shouted slogans and posters against the Western governments. Interestingly the person who is made his deputy hails from the army and intelligence. He is bargaining with west and probably to ensure that the government after him does not go on which hunt against him. US know well that any new entrants may not be instrumental in their plan to control Suez for commercial purposes. One of Mubarak's close-aid in an interview to BBC said that he was an army man first and any army one would like to be killed or shot at rather than run away from the battle ground. According to him, Mubarak will fight this battle with honor as he would not like to quit as Ben Ali did as there is a difference between Egypt and Tunisia.

 

Whatever happened but the fact is that the Egyptian coup has send tremors not only in the Arab world but also elsewhere. We wait when will such revolutions happen in our part of the world where democratic dictators have made our lives hell. Egyptian people have shown great courage in their fight against one of their mightiest opponent. And this courage needs to be saluted. More importantly, this is not just secularism and democracy debate. Behind every glitter of the free market world is an ugly reality of life. Behind every power of stock market is a dark side where people have no space to live and get two time meals. The western world might change the debate and put it according to their convenience but the fact is lack of employment, increasing inflation and absolutely difficult life style will create more unrest. IMF report has already indicated that the world will face such crisis including food riots in future as situation is absolutely grim. It is therefore important for the Western World to keep away from intervening in the Arab world and allow a democratic transition in those countries. Let their people decide what suits to them as an American solution for an Egyptian problem would be counter productive and will fail. Whatever form of government we have, at the end of the day, if it does not lift the masses and improve their lives, they will always face challenges. Let us not forget these factors that people want a better life style, peace and prosperity in all the regions and the political paratroopers have completely failed to satisfy their basic minimum needs as looking secular was more important for them then creating more work, better jobs for their own people with peace and stability in the region. Egypt's crisis is warning to all those who created these symbolic democracies to fulfill their own market agendas. The war has just begun that market has failed, it will create more chaos in the region and that by and large people want secularism and democracy but definitely not at the cost of their society and country. The protesters who are shouting in the streets want better lives for them, cheap food and more jobs and definitely does not have any hatred towards any one except the ruling elite whether it is Muslim or any one else. Democracy and secularism will never get strengthened with undemocratic despots who are destroying their countries to keep their Western world happy. Their time has come now as this mass uprising will not go in vein. It has already jolted Mubarak and other such governments in the region. May they succeed and a democratic transition takes place in the region soon.

--
Vidya Bhushan Rawat
Visit my blog at
www.manukhsi.blogspot.com

For information on the issues, movements and priorities of Scavenger community in India please log on to
www.swachchakar.blogspot.com
For information on civil society initiatives on Muslims in UP please log on to
www.rehnumaa.blogspot.com

Follow me on twitter at freetohumanity

Skype at vbrawat

For Social action, land rights, right to food and hunger issues support Social Development Foundation at  www.thesdf.org

--
Vidya Bhushan Rawat
Visit my blog at
www.manukhsi.blogspot.com

For information on the issues, movements and priorities of Scavenger community in India please log on to
www.swachchakar.blogspot.com
For information on civil society initiatives on Muslims in UP please log on to
www.rehnumaa.blogspot.com

Follow me on twitter at freetohumanity

Skype at vbrawat

For Social action, land rights, right to food and hunger issues support Social Development Foundation at  www.thesdf.org