tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-195723822024-02-08T20:16:40.747+07:00The Scribbleson Politics, Society, Current Affairs and OthersMas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-56228400530871044742016-09-17T21:53:00.000+07:002016-09-17T22:13:49.621+07:00Big Catch or a Bait?This is new day for me to write in my long-dormant blog. The last piece that I had written in this blog was in 2009, quite a long time ago.
The urge to write a new post today is like a shockwave had been sent by the KPK this weekend when it caught another parliamentarian. The head of Indonesian senators had been caught red handed in an alleged bribery case. Even though a long legal process will be due to prove the case, but this news has come as a reminder that corruption remains embedded in Indonesian politics.
What is more shocking is the money that has been recovered in this operation, Rp. 100,000,000 (one hundred million Rupiah), a relatively small amount of money as compared to other catches by KPK. Thus, there are already whispers that KPK now is focusing on petty corruption, leaving the grand cases in the closet. The Bank Century case or BLBI case remained unsolved misteries. No body knows when those two cases would ever be solved.
The question that needs to be answered now is whether the catch is big catch or just a bait, a MOUSE, that will lead to the RAT?
As such, KPK must work extra hard to convince the public, including the whisperers and skeptics, that KPK still focuses on catching the big fish. The weekend catch is just a bait that will eventually lead to the source. We have to be patient to see the revelation of the case involving the head of the senators.Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-37976293588551612892009-02-11T11:15:00.000+07:002009-02-11T16:44:42.413+07:00On Deleted Scene of a TV AdCreativity is expensive and creative advertisement is one of marketing means to boost the sales of a product, or even to persuade people to vote for a certain candidate in the case of an election competition. Thus it is no wonder that advertisement needs huge and expensive budget.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />Indonesia's tobacco industry, for example, must have set aside huge amount of budget to advertise its products. Apart from sponsoring various activities, from sport events to music concerts, the industry has also roped in different personalities in their expensive ads, both through electronic and print media. The industry hopes that this aggressive marketing through various types of advertisement would provide greater opportunity of reaping better gains through increase of sales of its products. <br /><br />Of these many ads by tobacco industry, there is this ad on tv which tickles me to write this post. <br /><br />The ad shows a young man who is returning home from a backpack trip just to find out that his flight is canceled and delayed for good period of time. On realizing this situation, the young man keeps his cool and starts to unpack his backpack to erect a tent for him to enjoy the delayed trip while other waiting passengers are curiously looking at him. <br /><br />The interesting part in this ad is when the young man unloads almost everything from his backpack, from shirt, t-shirt, a boxer, a chicken and even a woman's bra. <br /><br />The ad ends with a scene where the young lad is joined by other waiting passengers in a bonfire and a roasted chicken to be shared for dinner. They enjoy the moment.<br /><br />The matter that tickles me to write this post is that when the first time I saw the ad, it was shown that the young man pulls out a woman's bra and a young lady on a phone looks at him disapprovingly. However, the second time I saw the ad, the bra scene was deleted while the scene of a disapprovingly looking young lady stays. This edited ad continues to be shown on tv.<br /><br />My questions about this ad is that why the bra scene in the ad was aired in the first place if it has to be deleted later? Why shouldn't it be scrutinized and edited by the censor board before being aired for the first time? What is the harm of showing a bra in the ad when scantily clad stage performers are allowed to be screened on tv, even on prime time?<br /><br />In my view, the ad is quite creative and hits bulls eye, especially on the poor performance by Indonesian air carriers in delivering their services. This is a direct criticism on Indonesia's low-cost air carriers which regularly delays the flight without due explanation thus causing disappointment and dissatisfaction among the passengers.<br /><br />It should be a wake up call for them to improve their service. <br /><br />Besides, the ad surely reflects the joyous mood in a distressing situation, a message which is compatible with the motto of the product being advertise.<br /><br />As for the bra scene, I have no problem at all with it. No harm has been done.<br /><br />A bra is an essential garment for women and there has been continuous tv advertisement on healthy bra. No objection has been raised on the bra show and thus the ad which contain bra scene should be treated the same. I would prefer the original ad with the bra scene to be aired without any editing.<br /><br />If there should be any objection, other similar ads or show should be treated the same. <br /><br />There should be no discrimination that might hinder creativity and creative minds in expressing their creative thoughts within agreed boundary line.</span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-86887139256924028792008-10-30T17:25:00.000+07:002008-10-30T17:53:54.044+07:00The Rain and Traffic WoeJakarta has long been known for its "macet" and there have been conclusive study that predicts a possibility of total traffic jam in Jakarta in a couple of years from now if the government cannot solve this problem. This situation becomes worse when rainy season sets in. A brief downpour would certainly add to the misery of motorists and other city travelers. I've just born witness to this situation this couple of days.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />I've just returned from Kediri to visit my little angel, Aurora, last Monday to find out that the rain poured in the city and created havoc throughout. Soon the traffic went into a virtual standstill as roads were flooded with water. Everyone was so eager to reach home sooner but the heavy traffic jam and water-logged roads forced them to stay longer on the road. <br /><br />As a regular user of Trans Jakarta Bus Service, I was not spared from this misery. The usually traffic-free corridor 6 from Latuharhary to Ragunan came to a standstill that evening and it took me almost two hours to reach Ragunan. I was exhausted and drained, both physically and emotionally. <br /><br />With the increasing number of vehicles and poor and limited road in the city, this problem will not go easily anytime soon.<br /><br />I wonder when the "Ahlinye Jakarta" will ever solve this problem. I wish that they will really come with the best solution to end this misery sooner rather than later.<br /><br />I WISH! </span><br /><a href=""></a>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-32519042668295815232008-09-19T01:16:00.000+07:002008-09-19T01:50:03.273+07:00One Good Turns... UglyRecent incident on alms distribution in Pasuruan by a local rich Pak Haji has really shocked me. For the sake of the alms to be given by Pak Haji, poor and innocent people have lost their precious lives. <br /><br />I could not believe that the good will, which shall turn into another, had, on the contrary, brought pain and grief to poor families that lost their beloved one in the incident. <br /><br />My deepest condolence to those victims in this incident.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />I think better management of alms' distribution would have saved these precious lives. Distributing the alms directly to the poor in their own homes/place of living would have resulted in better distribution process. It would be much safer and effective.<br /><br />What happened in Pasuruan should become precious lesson for us. Adherence to our religious duties is good but exercising safer, effective and efficient way in performing these duties is much more important. <br /><br />One good should turn into another, and not the other way round. <br /></span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-60868717109905762412008-08-13T16:28:00.000+07:002008-08-13T16:52:05.240+07:00Corruptors: Please Stand Up!For hip-hop lovers, Eminem is no stranger. In one of his hit songs, Slim Shady, he coined an interesting expression: "For the real Slim Shady, please stand up!". In relation to this, the KPK's new move could bring some respite to the ordinary Indonesians and thus "For the real corruptors, please stand up!". <br /><span class="fullpost"><br />In a bid to shame Indonesia's legions of corrupt politicians, officials, bankers and businessmen, Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) recently came up with a novel solution: a special uniform for the bribers and the bribed - preferably pink or orange color, so that the offenders stand out from the crowd in prison or in court. Even though debates are on going about the conformity of this plan with the Indonesian law, but this novel idea should be welcome so as to produce deterrent effect to corruptors.<br /><br />President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had been elected in 2004 on promises to tackle rampant corruption in Indonesia that regularly ranks among the world's most corrupt. However, in his fourth year as Indonesia's president, news of some bigwig being caught, sometimes red-handed, or carrying a briefcase with a large sum of cash are not strange occurance. It is pathetic.<br /><br />If letters to newspaper reader forums are any example, the general public is tired of the lack of progress on this front, and the lack of a shame gene among the elite. Some have even written to the local papers suggesting that the death sentence, which is given to murderers and some drug traffickers, should be handed down to the corruptors. <br /><br />Corruptors, especially in Indonesia, are shameless. The only thing that might work in fighting corruption is consistent, non-political prosecutions and long jail term, or even the implementation of death penalty for corruptions, starting at the very top. </span><br /><a href=""></a>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-91606179656294716192008-08-12T17:39:00.000+07:002008-08-12T18:24:54.390+07:00Election FeverWith 2008 is closing in, the political temperature in Jakarta is heating up. 34 political parties which have passed the tight screenig process by the Election Commission and thus eligible for April 2009 general elections are all gearing up and preparing the best strategy possible to win seats in Senayan. By posing their best cadres for the legislative elections, they are hoping to reap the best possible result, and pass the parliamentary threshold at the very least. <br /><span class="fullpost"><br />At the same time, debates over independent candidacy and younger blood for RI-1 continue to fill the headlines of both the electronic and traditional media. Individuals like Fadjroel Rahman, Sutiyoso, Tifatul Sembiring or Rizal Mallarangeng are emerging to challenge the "old timers" like the incumbent president, SBY, ex-presidents Megawati Soekarnoputri and Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, ex-generals Wiranto and Prabowo Subijanto. <br /><br />On the contrary, life is getting harder for commoners, both in the cities and rural areas alike. They seem to be neglected and their problems are put in the backseat by these "outstanding individuals". Their importance as the decision makers in the "pesta demokrasi" (democratic party) seem to be forgotten. These people are the one who will decide who goes to Senayan and who does not; who becomes the RI-1 and who does not. The voters are the king makers.<br /><br />Thus, it should become the concern of these individuals and their respective political parties to understand the situation and start using their skills and resources to serve the people. As the pillar of representative democracy, political parties should play the vanguard position to build and establish democracy in Indonesia. Failure to perform this important task will only lead to further alienation of the public and their apathy towards democracy. </span><br /><a href=""></a>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-57763229227956103712008-05-05T14:27:00.000+07:002008-05-05T15:13:05.440+07:00A Fresh Start: On Indonesian PoliticsIt's been quite a while that I haven't written any new post on this blog, especially this front page of my Scribbles. However, I did write some posts in other sections of my blog (on Indian politics and Current Affairs). <br /><br />Having returned to Indonesia in late December 2006, things started to evolve in a very quick pace for me. I decided to settle down into a family life and hence must start playing a new role as a bread winner for my family. New things, new responsibilities that needed swift adusjment. I am now expecting a new member of my little family this June.<br /><br />Anyway, there have been tremendous changes in Indonesian politics ever since I set my feet back in my beloved country. <span class="fullpost">I suddenly realized that watching Indonesia from abroad is totally different from watching it from a much closer view, from km. 0.0. This position, I believe, will give me more opportunity and ample chance to explore more on the socio-political reality in Indonesia. Let's start with the election fever in the wake of 2009 general elections.<br /><br />Elections is only few months away (April 2009) and politicians have started penning their best strategies to win the elections. Candidates for the presidential race are already emerging. Sutiyoso, Sultan HBX, Akbar Tandjung are names that have started to circulate among the political parties as possible presidential candidates apart from the 2004 alumni like Megawati, Gus Dur and the incumbent SBY. However, it is still early to predict who will come up as a winner in the upcoming presidential elections.<br /><br />As for the political parties, old timers like Golkar Party, PDIP or PPP must now formulate their best strategy to face the challenge from new forces like the PKS. Positive showing by the PKS in several local elections in which it came up as winner beating big parties like Golkar or PDI-P, must become early warning for these political parties. And for now, let's just wait and see what strategies are going to be adopted by political parties in order to gain the most vote from the elctorates in order to win the elections. <br /><br />One thing should noted here however that whoever is going to win the elections next year must remember that Indonesia needs a change, a very positive change. Otherwise Indonesia will never be able to achieve her dreams as has been rightly stated in the Opening of the Indonesian Constitution.</span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1166337013709738752006-12-17T12:37:00.000+07:002006-12-17T13:35:28.076+07:00Scrible This Week: Addicted to the Web?I have written in my previous <a href="http://ahmadqisai.blogspot.com/2006/12/scribble-this-week-on-threat-of-aids.html">post </a>that I am adding a new feature in my blog, a weekly kind of entry called "Scribble This Week", in which I will post a weekly entry each weekend. Unfortunately, I have been engaged with some activities these days that prevented me from continuing this weekly entry. So instead of making it a weekly entry, I will make it a bi-monthly entry, a fourthnigthly entry feature called "Scribble This Week".<br /><br />If in the previous post I scribbled about AIDS and its menace towards humanity, this time I will scribble about the world wide web and its addictive threats.<br /><span class="fullpost"> <br />Ever since its invetion, internet has gradually become an integral part of our life. This technology offers many advantages as well as shortcomings. Thomas Friedman said that internet is one of several aspect that flattened the world. With the internet, everything seems to be in place and we need not to be worry of doing things or searching anything we want while we are sitting in our home. The world becomes smaller and everhting is available with one single click.<br /><br />The online world offers a lot of creative space as well as instant communication and lets us know that we are not alone.<br /><br />However, there are also shortcomings or side effects of this techonology. Apart from giving us means for creativity and connectivity, its presence also changed our mode of interaction with our fellow beings. Social activities like face to face interaction becomes a rarity since we are more comfortable and familiar with the online interactoin. The result: an awkward situation when we are forced to have an offline interaction (the old-fashion way of interaction).<br /><br />This is what is called Internet Addiction - a situation in which the internet becomes an inseparable part of our lives that we feel we can't do anything without it. Are we addicted to the Internet?<br /><br />If you answer three of more of these statements by James Fearing, Ph.D. of the National Counseling Center, Minneapolis, US, wrote in his book Ten Symptoms of Commputer Addiction, then you are suffering from Internet Addiction.<br /><br />1) I experience 'loss of control' when trying to stop or limit the amount of time I spend on the computer;<br />2) I am dishonest about the extent of time I stay on the computer;<br />3) My computer usage causes negative consequences for myself and / or my family and friends;<br />4) I participate in high rist or normally uncacceptable behaviour when using the computer;<br />5) There is an overdeveloped sense of importance for the computer in my life;<br />6) I have mixed feelings of euphoria and guilt brought on by the inordinate amount of time I spend on the computer or my abnormal behaviour;<br />7) I get depressed or anxious when something or someone shortens my computer time or interrupts my plans to use the computer;<br />8) I am pre-occupied with thoughts of the computer when I am not using it;<br />9) I use the computer when I am uncomfortable, irritated, or sad about something in my life;<br />10) I experience financial concerns or problems in my life as a result of money being spent on the computer.<br /><br />What is your answer?<br /><br />As for me, computer and internet are integral parts of our lives but there should be a balance between the use of this technology and the experience in the real life. Because afterall, there is nothing better than what we experience in the real life.<br /></span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1165347795576259682006-12-06T01:39:00.000+07:002006-12-06T02:43:15.710+07:00Being in A Flawed DemocracyLast month, the <a href="http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/DEMOCRACY_INDEX_2007_v3.pdf">Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)</a> released its finding on democratic practice in 167 countries. Four categories were presented: Full Democracy; Flawed Democracy; Hybrid System; and Authoritarianism. Electoral Process and Pluralism; Functioning of Government; Political Participation; Political Culture and Civil Liberties were used as the units of measurement in this indexing process. <br /><br />Tiny European countries, Sweden, Iceland and Netherland, topped the list. While of the three biggest democray in the world (the US, India, and Indonesia), only the US was placed in the Full Democracy category while India and Indonesia were in the Flawed Democracy category.<br /><br />One thing, however, needs to be reiterated here that the US, a country that has been preaching the world about democracy, was placed at a lowly 17th position in the list of 30 Full Democracy category. So much to talk about the American democracy.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />India and Indonesia was placed at 35th and 65th position respectively in the Flawed Democracy category.<br /><br />For me, I cannot agree more with the inclusion of India and Indonesia in the Flawed Democracy category. There are so much to be done in these two biggest democracy in Asia to be called Full Democracy. Even though India has an age-old experience of democratic life but with the score of 5.56 and 5.63 in the Political Participation and Political Culture in the indexing units, it needs to fix things up in its backyard sooner rather than later before being able to be included in the Full Democracy category.<br /><br />Similarly, Indonesia, sharing the 65th position with Timor Leste, needs to improve a lot more in various areas to be able to consolidate its democratic setup. In this relatively new enviconment called democracy, Indonesia scoring an overall 6.41 in all indexing units. The lowest score Indonesia had was a lowly 5.00 in the Political Participation index. This number shows that in Indonesia, the citizen is not yet really willingly involve with all enthusiasm in public debate, elect representatives and join political parties, a requirement for a healthy democracy to flourish. <br /><br />Without this broad, sustaining participation, democracy begins to wither and become the preserve of small, select groups.<br /><br />Thus, this indexing by the EIU should not become something we need to get defensive about. On the contrary, it should become a strong wake up call for all of us, the citizens of the two largest democracy in Asia, to really work together for the consolidation and the full functioning of democracy. Afterall, democracy is a journey, not a destination. <br /><br />But, can we make this journey more enjoyable?<br /><br /> </span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1165053555213596262006-12-02T15:48:00.000+07:002006-12-02T17:03:37.996+07:00Scribble This Week: On the Threat of AIDSStarting this week, I will add a new feature in my blog called <em><strong>Scribble This Week </strong></em>every weekend. This new feature will contain about my view and comment on various topics, both local and global, that happenned during the week. And to start this new feature, I will talk about AIDS and the threats it poses to humanity.<br /><br />December 1 is known as the World's AIDS Day. It is one day in a year where everyone is remembering the most scariest illness that plagues modern human race. AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome <span class="fullpost">in which a person's immune system who tests positive for HIV (Human Immunodeficiecny Virus - a virus that destroys certain white blood cells called CD4+T cells) will be weakened severely by the virus or when that person starts to develop at least one of about 25 different <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunistic_infection">opportunistic</a><a href="http://www.aegis.com/topics/oi/"> infections</a>. <br /><br />These opportunistic infections might not affect a normal person but they take advantage of damaged immune systems on HIV positive persons thus threatening their physical well-being.<br /><br />But how bad is the threat of this desease to humanity? The answer is BAD, or even WORST. <br /><br />Because as of the end of 2006, 39.5 million people would be living with HIV/ADIS worldwide. An estimated 4.3 million people were infected with HIV in 2006 alone and nearly 3 million people have died of AIDS-ralated causes in 2006. Furthermore, nearly half (48%) of adults estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS worldwide are women. Scary, isn't it?<br /><br />Even worse than this, young people under 24 account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide. It is the women and the YOUTH who are suffering from this deadly desease. And no cure is yet to be found to cure it.<br /><br />But how this HIV is transmitted? HIV can be transmitted when blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluid or breastmilk from an HIV-positve person enters the body of an HIV-negative person. Read <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/transmission.htm">here</a> for more information. <br /><br />And worldwide, the most common way that HIV is transmitted is through sexual transmission thus so much the importance of conducting safe sex and even abstinence from sex for those unmarried persons.<br /><br />In <a href="http://www.avert.org/indiaaids.htm">India</a>, as in any other developing countries in Asia like <a href="http://www.avert.org/aidsthai.htm">Thailand </a>or <a href="http://www.youandaids.org/Asia%20Pacific%20at%20a%20Glance/Indonesia/index.asp">Indonesia </a>and in <a href="http://www.avert.org/aidsinafrica.htm">African continent</a>, HIV/AIDS is a dreadful menace that threatens the future of the youth. In India alone, over 5.7 million people between the age of 15 and 49 live with HIV. The states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Manipun and Nagaland are the place where nearly two-thirds of HIV infections occur. Unprotected heterosexual intercourse is the cause of a bulk of new infections with 38 persent of them are women who got infected from regular partners.<br /> <br />From the short illustration above, we know that HIV/AIDS poses dangerous threats to the future of the youth and humanity as a whole. With majority of infection affects women and the youth, it is a reality that needs urgent attention. The government should ensure that this desease does not spread even further. At the same time, there should be positive global measures taken by the government and the society alike to help those persons infected by HIV/AIDS. <br /><br />As prelimanry measure, education about HIV/ADIS and about safe and responsible sex are necessary to ensure that the desease does not spread further and those infected persons do not feel ostracized in the society. We should embrace them so as to give more awareness about the desease and to create cautious and responsible approach to tackle this desease together. It is going to be a long battle but it should start now so as to prevent it from destructing the future of the youth and the future of humanity.<br /></span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1164651099023391462006-11-27T23:39:00.000+07:002006-11-28T01:17:33.323+07:00Shaken and Stirred: The Martini of Indian CricketThis is another example of a deadly mixed between <a href="http://www.inblogs.net/qisai-politics/2006/07/sport-business-and-israel.html">sports and politics</a>. If the decision by the Indonesian government has contributed to such a huge loss to Indonesian women's <a href="http://www.inblogs.net/ahmadqisai/2006/11/huge-loss-for-indonesian-tennis.html">tennis</a>, the current and the latest <a href="http://www.indiaenews.com/politics/20061127/30246.htm">spat </a>between the Members of the Indian Parliament and the coach of Indian cricket team has only given negative psychological baggage to the team which is currently <a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1066382">struggling </a>on its tour in South Africa.<br /><br />Having lost the second and the third one day games to the host with two games remaining, the Indian cricket team's coach, Greg Chappell, seemed to have lost an answer to the problem that plague the Indian cricket for the past months. <span class="fullpost">He said that he had tried his level best to help the team perform but could not understand as to why the team is having such a dismal record recently. This situation has only made his job as a coach much, much tougher. <br /><br />However, putting on a positive note, he said that even though the current situation does not make his job easier, but he wants to keep doing the best he can in order to help the building of a strong Indian cricket team. After all, he is paid to coach the team and help them win matches.<br /><br />On the contrary, the Members of the Indian Parliament seemed to have different perspective in this matter. On the pretext of conveying the sentiments of the one billion Indians, they want Chappell to be sacked from his position as the coach of the Indian cricket team. They said that Chappell has failed to do his job.<br /><br />On hearing the comment from the Members of the Indian Parliament, Chappell said that the MPs are entitled to make any comment they like. That's, according to Chappell, what they are paid to do in Parliament. This statement has provoked a <a href="http://www.indiaenews.com/politics/20061127/30246.htm">heated </a>debate in the Parliament. MPs accross party line got so disturbed that they seemed to forget the important <a href="http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/12/01/stories/2004120104241100.htm">agenda </a>to be discussed in the current Winter Session. Instead, the MPs got so engrossed with the Chappell issue that they wanted the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_of_Control_for_Cricket_in_India">BCCI </a>to "rein in" Greg Chappell.<br /><br />As a sport lover, I feel pity about the situation. There should be a boundary that separates sport and politics. Sport should be handled by those professionals who understand the nuances of the game and politics is for politicians. Once the two are mixed up, either stirred or shaken like <a href"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond">James Bond's </a>favorite drink, the biggest casuality is the sport and not the politics. Incident like <a href="http://www.inblogs.net/ahmadqisai/2006/11/huge-loss-for-indonesian-tennis.html">this</a> should be a reminder for all of us to respect each other and to draw clear boundaries between different fields so as not to mixed things up that might only result in misery and frustation.<br /></span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1164564577875512072006-11-26T23:39:00.000+07:002006-11-27T01:09:37.993+07:00Shirin Ebadi: No Liberty for WomenToday, I found an interesting <a href="http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/24/stories/2006112402491500.htm">comment </a>by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirin_Ebadi">Shirin Ebadi</a>, the first Iranian and the first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace prize in 2003. She is known for her fierce campaign and pioneering efforts for democracy and human rights, especially for the rights of women and children. She was in India this week for a four-day tour.<br /><br />Speaking to the media, she said, "When men can decide on their atire, why such a liberty is not provided to women?".<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />This statement was her response to the query about the imposition of hijab on women. According to her, she is both against the forced wearing of the hejab as well against forcing women not to wear it. She believes that it is women's rights and according to a famous saying, women's rights are human rights. <br /><br />She further said that all the limitations have always been imposed on women, men are free to wear whatever they want to — whether in Islamic countries or western countries, it always depends on who benefits from such impositions. Thus she believes in the new interpretation of Islam which complies with human rights. <br /><br />I cannot agree more with her statements. I also think that a new interpretation of Islam is necessary so as to really represent the compliance of Islam with the modern concept of human relationship and human rights.<br /><br />However, I have a little reservation on her statement that "men can decide on their attire", while women are restricted to certain form of attire, i.e. hijab, thus do not have any liberty to choose their desired attire.<br /><br />In Islam, there are certain codes of conduct for both men and women. In a matter of attire they both must follow a certain dress code. And if we go by the Holy Book, it is clearly described there that both men and women should wear decent clothes so as not to invite harm of any form to any one of them. <br /><br />For men, the most private parts of their bodies are between their navel and their knees. Thus it is a must for all men to cover this area (from navel to knees) of their bodies. <br /><br />As for the women, their bodies, from head to toe, are their private parts. Thus they are urged to wear "decent" attire so as to be able to keep their privacy intact. According to the Holy Book, the wearing of a hijab is not a must for women but it is "adviseable" or "desirable". <br /><br />The message in the Holy Book is clear: decency of clothing for both men and women.<br /><br />Thus when Shirin Ebadi said that men can choose any attire they want while women do not have the same liberty, it, according to me, is incorrect. In my opinion, both men and women have the same liberty to choose whatever attire they like to wear as long as it is in compliance with the general norms practiced in the society. Decency is the norm, and not rigidity. Hijab is not a must, but decency is. <br /><br />Islam is not a rigid religion. On the contrary, it is quite a flexible one. Unfortunately, Islam has been hijacked by those "Muslim clerics" in such a way that it is now being projected as a very rigid religion. A new interpretation of Islam is hence necessary to project the true colour of Islam.<br /><br />Can anyone share ideas to re-intrepret Islam?<br /></span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1163745122258807202006-11-17T12:43:00.000+07:002006-11-17T13:45:49.016+07:00Huge Loss for Indonesian TennisIn July, I wrote <a href="http://www.inblogs.net/qisai-politics/2006/07/sport-business-and-israel.html">this</a> post on the relation between sports and politics. Since I am a sport lover and a tennis enthusiast, I was concerned with the decision by the Indonesian government's withdrawal from a Fed Cup play-off tie against Israel for a place in the World Group II. <br /><br />The withdrawal from the tie meant a lot of things that negatively affected Indonesian tennis. These are: the forfeiture of the tie to Israel, the demotion of Indonesian Fed Cup Team from the World Group, the financial loss in the form of a <a href="http://thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20061116.V01">fine </a>by the ITF to Indonesia. <span class="fullpost">Apart from these avoidable losses, it is a huge setback for Indonesian tennis, especially when the Fed Cup Team has been so succesful in fighting its way to the World Group play-off. Their success to reach the world group stage was a huge achievement considering the competitions the team must face in the zonal group. The withdrawal is major setback for Indonesian women's tennis and it is, in my opinion, really unnecessary.<br /><br />Now that Indonesia has been demoted from the World Group II, fined US$ 30,0000 by the ITF as a penalty and cannot participate in the 2007 Fed Cup edition, it is a long way ahead for the Indonesian Fed Cup Team. With the increasing quality of tennis played in other Asian countries like India, Uzbekistan and Thailand, the Team must work really hard and wait until 2008 just to be able to participate in the zonal group competition - Asia/Oceania Zone Group II. What a setback.<br /><br />And what Indonesia has achieved from the refusal to play Israel? NONE.<br /><br />So far, I don't see any worth-mentioning achievement from Indonesian withdrawal from the tie. Israel still occupies Palestine and the Palestinians in Gaza are still bombarded and killed mercilessly by the Israeli forces. The misery and suffering of the Palestinian people is all the same, no reprieve at all. The withdrawal did not give any positive impact to the Palestine - Israel conflit. Instead it gave a very huge negative impact to the development of Indonesian tennis.<br /><br />I hope that the Indonesian government will act more wisely in the future and not mix sports and politics. The time is ripe for Indonesia to re-think its strategy to help the Palestinian cause without sacrificing its national interests.<br /><br />If India and Pakistan, two political rivals in South Asia, can separate politics and sports, why Indonesia can't do the same? The decision to withdraw from the tie was a mistake that should not be repeated in future. Let's separate between sport and politics and play a fairplay.<br /> </span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1163185174750318172006-11-11T01:30:00.000+07:002006-11-12T01:59:49.706+07:00Tony Blair Deepened the DistrustThe latest remark on terrorism by <a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/10/news/terror.php">British PM Tony Blair</a> is interesting to discuss in view of the result of the US Congressional midterm elections early this week. Even though this remark was a candid response to the report given by the MI5 that "about 1,600 suspects [of Islamic militant] in 200 terrorist conspiracies were under surveillance," but looking at who has given the remark, it is not something that should make us surprised. He said that the threat from British home-grown Islamic terrorism would last "a generation" and that Britian faced a long and deep struggle to combat the danger posed by terrorism.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />It is true that in the post-Cold War world, terrorism is the most popular vocabulary in both domestic and international politics. It even got more popularity in the post-9/11 incident in the US. And ever since the the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, the world has been under the threat of terrorism. Therefore, I agree that terrorism is a crime against humanity and maximum efforts should be done to eradicate this deadly menace. <br /><br />However, there is something that bothers me quite alots ever since this vocabulary came into popularity. Because whenever there is a talk about terrorism, Islam is always being associated with it as if it is Islam that becomes the source of terrorism or that Islam is a religion that teaches terrorism. <br /><br />I don't deny the fact that many acts of terror have been conducted by those persons who claim to be Muslims. They claimed that they acted on behalf of Muslims and Islam. For them, their act of terror is justifiable since Muslims have been suffering alots from injustices. Therefore, to fight these injusttices, they resort to terrorism.<br /><br />For me, terrorism has no religion. It is neither Islam, Christianity, Jewish, Hinduism nor any other religion. Terrorism is an act by those mindless individuals who care nothing else than their personal gratification. Terrorism is a crime against humanity. There is no place for terrorism in this world. Thus, the current trend of associating terrorism and Islam is distasteful. Such remark by Tony Blair is unfortunate.<br /><br />If we want to talk about terrorism, it should be general. There should not be any distinction between those acts of terror by individuals and those acts of terror by state/government. Both kinds of terror acts are condemnable and should be confronted with all cost. Terrorism has no religion. Singling out Islam as the only source of terrorism is just like putting Communism as the most frightenning threat to the world order during the Cold War era. It is a clear prejudice against a community.<br /><br /></span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1162183061346726952006-10-30T10:58:00.000+07:002006-10-30T11:41:43.756+07:00World's Biggest Threat?Recently, I wrote <a href="http://www.inblogs.net/qisai-politics/2006/10/north-koreas-nuclear-threat-and-bush.html">this </a>post amidst the controversy over North Korea's nuclear test. I argued that "...without writing off the possibility of a nuclear threat form North Korea, we have to be ready for any eventuality of such WMD to fall into the wrong hands. The nuclear threat is apparent but it is relatively lesser than the threat posed by a possible pre-emptive strike by the mighty US forces."<br /><br />For me, as I have clearly written above, a nuclear threat from North Korea is an eventuality that everyone must aware of. Any deviation of nuclear technology from peaceful purposes into such WMD technology should be opposed at all cost. Moreover, putting harsh sanctions to North Korea for its nuclear ambition as has immediately been proposed relentlessly by the US after the nuclear test will, in my opinion, only make North Korea more determine to pursue the technology for security reasons.<br /><br />Now try to digest <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/220950.cms">this</a>:<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />According to a poll conducted on some 1,000 people in Sweden recently, the United States is a greater threat to world peace than North Korea, according to Swedes surveyed in a poll aired on Sunday. Some 29 per cent of those surveyed said the US posed the biggest danger to peace, compared to 28 per cent who considered North Korea the top menace, according to the Temo poll broadcast on Sunday by Swedish television station Axess. <br /><br />Iran placed third with 18 per cent, followed by Israel (six per cent), China (four per cent) and Russia (three per cent). <br /><br />The result of this poll seemed to validate my perception that it is the US, with its concept of pre-emptive strike, that poses the worst threat to the world's peace than the North Korea's nuclear test or the Iranian ambition to pursue peaceful nuclear technology.<br /></span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1161547233013577632006-10-23T02:13:00.000+07:002006-10-23T16:44:35.646+07:00Eid Mubarak Ho!Diwali is over. The thundering sounds of crackers and the colorful fireworks that filled up the dark sky throughout the night of Diwali have gone silent. All is quiet now. The most celebrated celebration in India has just gone by but another festival is soon coming up.<br /><br />If the just concluded Diwali has been celebrated with full zest by the Hindus, it is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_Al_Fitr">Eid-ul-Fitr </a>for the Muslims that is around the corner. It is the biggest celebration for Muslims the world over as a means of thanking God for the help and strength that they believe He gave them throughout the previous month of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan">Ramadan </a>to help them practice self-control. Eid ul-Fitr is a joyful celebration of the achievement of enhanced piety. It is a day of forgiveness, moral victory and peace, of congregation, fellowship, brotherhood and unity.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Being a Muslim myself, I am very happy to welcome this Eid. Having gone through a month long fasting ritual from day break till dawn, it is a welcome relief for me as well as for all other Muslims. If the month long Ramadan is the time for reflection and contemplation, the day of Eid-ul-Fitr is the best time for celebration and the extension of brotherhood. <br /><br />Thus I shall wish all Muslims a very happy Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid Mubarak Ho, Selamat Hari Idul Fitri, 1 Shawwal 1427 H.<br /><br />Note: <br />Since this year's Ramadan in India was started later (Monday, 25 September 2006) than in any part of the world, the most likely celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr is on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 (if Ramadan is 29 days). Otherwise it is on Wednesday, 25 October, 2006 (if Ramadan is to be completed in 30 days). But regardless of when the Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated in India, I shall once again extend my warmest wish of Eid-ul-Fitr to all Muslims in the world. Happy Eid!</span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1161458253854005262006-10-22T01:24:00.000+07:002006-10-22T02:17:33.946+07:00Diwali or DeepavaliBeing in India for quite sometimes, I've become familiar with the various festivals celebrated throughout India. From January to December, various festivals are celebrated: Lohri, Makar Sankrati, Republic Day, Basant Panchmi, 10th Moharram, Shiv Ratri, Holi, Ram Navami, Id-ul Milad, Baisakhi, Raksha Bandhan and more. The list is endless and the celebration is endless.<br /><br />It's October and the monsoon is gone. Autumn is setting in, another festival is celebrated in India. The Festival of Light or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali">Diwali</a> is celebrated with full zest. It is a total contrast from last year's <a href="http://inblogs.net/ahmadqisai/2005/10/indias-black-diwali.html">Diwali</a>. This year, no more Black Diwali.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Last year's Diwali was the blackest Diwali I've ever experienced during my nine years in India. Even though the sound of crackers is familiar and would always fill the night of every Diwali, but the sound of tripple bomb blasts in the Indian capital on the eve of last year's Diwali gave a very different feeling to the Diwali celebration. The bomb blasts that killed scores of innocent people shook the mood of the celebration. The usual upswing mood was absent and the last year's Diwali was kind of gloomy than this year's or any other Diwali.<br /><br />Anyway, life cannot stand still, it must revolve and move on. So, even though the scars of terror can't be erased easily, but we have to move on. Let's enjoy the sound of crackers and the beauty of fireworks in this year's Diwali.<br /> </span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1160551772396682462006-10-11T13:05:00.000+07:002006-10-11T14:29:32.493+07:00Kiran Desai: Youngest Woman to Win Man Booker PrizeIndia has once again produce literary brilliant in the name of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiran_Desai">Kiran Desai</a>. Born on 3 December 1971 to <a href="http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/desai.htm">Anita Desai</a>, Kiran Desai inherits the literary talent from her mother. Her <a href="http://www.themanbookerprize.com/2006prize/winner">win </a>in this year's competition has made her the youngest ever woman to win the pretigious Man Booker Prize. Notable literary figures like Briton P H Newby, South African Nobel laureate J M Coetzee, Australian Peter Carey as well as Iris Murdoch, V S Naipaul and Salman Rushdie have won this literary award once or twice. <br /><br />Kiran Desai's winning novel, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Inheritance_of_Loss">The Inheritance of Loss</a>, has been described as "a radiant, funny, moving familiy saga with maginificent humane breadth and wisdom, comic tenderness and powerful political acuteness." It is also described as "as the best, sweetest, most delightful novel". <br /><span class="fullpost"><br />No wonder that the novel won this year's Man Booker Prize.<br /><br />I wonder, when will an Indonesian writer ever win in this competition, the <a href="http://www.manbookerinternational.com/">Man Booker International</a>? Can Indonesia produce literary briliants India have done over the years? Would there be any other <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pramoedya_Ananta_Toer">Pramoedya Ananta Toer</a> in Indonesia?<br /><br />Just a reminder, there were Salman Rushie, Arundhati Roy and now there is Kiran Desai, all from India, who have this prestigious literary competition.<br /><br />More news and stories about this year's Man Booker Prize click <a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1057842">here</a>, <a href="http://www.themanbookerprize.com/pressoffice/release?r=28#titletop">here</a>, <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2145792.cms">here</a> and <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2144385.cms"> here</a>.<br /></span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1159262088105923592006-09-26T15:30:00.001+07:002006-09-26T16:27:40.853+07:00English Anyone?Try to digest <a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/188/report_display.asp">this</a>: <br /><br />"By 2020, English will be a universal language of global communication but other languages, like Mandarin, could grow in prominence"<br /><br />That is the result of a recent survey on internet leaders, activists, and analysts conducted by <a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/">Pew Internet and American Life Project</a>. Asked about predictions in 2020, the majority of these people surveyed agreed that by 2020 English will be a universal language, no doubt about that.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Other predictions that recieved full backing of the respondents in this survey are:<br /><br />- A low-cost global network will be thriving and creating new opportunities in a “flattening” world. <br /><br />- Humans will remain in charge of technology, even as more activity is automated and “smart agents” proliferate. However, a significant 42% of survey respondents were pessimistic about humans’ ability to control the technology in the future. This significant majority agreed that dangers and dependencies will grow beyond our ability to stay in charge of technology. This was one of the major surprises in the survey. <br /><br />- Virtual reality will be compelling enough to enhance worker productivity and also spawn new addiction problems. <br /><br />- Tech <a href="http://www.answers.com/refusenik">“refuseniks”</a> will emerge as a cultural group characterized by their choice to live off the network. Some will do this as a benign way to limit information overload, while others will commit acts of violence and terror against technology-inspired change. <br /><br />- People will wittingly and unwittingly disclose more about themselves, gaining some benefits in the process even as they lose some privacy.<br /><br />The result of this survey seems to support the <a href="http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/worldisflatexpanded.htm">"Flat World"</a> theory of <a href="http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/">Tom Friedman</a>. Besides, what <a href="http://afsyuhud.blogspot.com">Fathi</a> has been encouraging us so far to communicate in English through our blogs seems to be valid. Thus, whatever reasons we might dig out to categorically reject English language and the superiority of English language as a universal medium, English language is not going to go anywhere. It is meant to be here to stay and we have to deal with it or we will lose the battle. So, <a href="http://www.inblogs.net/ahmadqisai/2006/08/advantage-english-so-far.html">English </a>anyone?<br /><br />For the complete result of the survey, click <a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/188/report_display.asp">here</a>. <br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><a href=""></a>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1158821040929091632006-09-21T12:27:00.000+07:002006-09-21T13:47:21.013+07:00Confronting The Devil<em>"The devil came here yesterday and this place still smells of sulphur".</em><br />(President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela to Bush's speech at the UN General Assembly)<br /><br />President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has long been known for his outspoken and firm stance against the US administration. He is a fierce critic of the US and has been fighting teeth and nails against the "hegemony of the US" in this free world. The US "imperialism", according to Chavez, is "a threat to the survival of the human race." Thus he is vehemently against any injustice in the international policies of the US, especially towards the Third World. <br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Speaking in front of the heads of states and other dignitaries at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York recently, Chavez has created a new wave of controversy in the President Bush vs Rest of the World relationship. Quoting at different times left-wing US intellectual Noam Chomsky, Greek philosopher Aristotle and film director Alfred Hitchcock, Chavez called Bush “the devil”, "a liar" and "a tyrant". He further said that President Bush was talking at the meeting "as if he were the owner of the world." Thus he called for the drastic reform of the UN to reduce the US influence in the functioning of this international body.<br /><br />This remark is by far the latest and the most controversial remark ever made by any head of states in a speech at a UN General Assembly against the US. Iranian President’s take on the US in his <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/09/19/iran.un/index.html">speech </a>at the same forum the previous day was the first. This should not make us difficult to make up that both Chavez and Ahmadinejad are the most outspoken critics of the foreign policies of the US administration.<br /><br />With the obvious facts in the Middle East and other parts of the world as well as President Bush attitude towards the rest of the world, especially towards <a href="http://www.inblogs.net/qisai-politics/2006/09/cowboy-vs-tyrant-iran-or-us.html">Islam and Muslims</a>, it is not surprising that verbal attacks on President Bush by Ahmadinejad and Chavez were recieved with warm applause. They know about these facts but they do not have enough courage to voice their own dissent and disapproval againts the US administration.<br /><br />I think it is necessary for the rest of the world to realize all these facts and join hands to fight against any hegemonic tendencies of bigger bully to preserve "freedom and democracry" in this free world. Chavez and Ahmadinejad have given us example on how to take position in this matter. If President Bush really wants to spread "democracy and freedom" in the world, he should remember that in democracy, dialogue is the key to solve problems and differences, and not the use of force or threats of sanctions. <br /><br />Besides, in democracy, everyone is equal. How will he spread democracy when Bush and his supporters think that they are the first among equals?<br /><br /></span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1158564383370620242006-09-18T14:24:00.000+07:002006-09-18T14:26:23.386+07:00Fatwas for SaleAmidst protests and condemnations on the Pope's insensitive remarks on Islam by quoting a view of an "erudite Christian emperor" of 14th century around the world, in India, even though Muslims also joined the chorus in condemning the Pope a shameful incident has occured in the community. Muslim clerics in New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh issued <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2000279.cms">fatwas for a payment</a>. This shameful incident has triggered condemnation of them by community leaders and protests in Meerut. <br /><br />In this incident, the clerics issued fatwas on a variety of subjects, including the use of credit cards and camera phones by Muslims, acting in films, watching television and fatwas against the wearing of jeans by girls in Muslim-run institutes and the teaching of English in madarsas for the payment of Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 per fatwa. <br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Reacting to this incident, Muslim leaders have convened a meeting of clerics to decide whether action should be taken against those named in the incident. In a statement, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rehmani the general secretary of Islamic Fiqh Academy, an academy involved in this incident, expressed regret at the incident. He said the body had launched a probe and would take action against anyone found guilty. <br /><br />As a Muslim, I feel ashamed by this incident. It reflected the shortsightedness of those who declared themselves as clerics. It is just like the way the Pope gave the title of “erudite” to Emperor Manuel II of Constantinople for his “understanding” of Islam.<br /><br />If the Pope himself has finally <a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1053530">apologized </a>for his mistakes saying that he is deeply sorry for the incident, will then these clerics ever do the same for their indecent acts? Because if they do not apologize to the community and regret the mistake they have made, it will only be very shameful for the community as whole to have an association with such personalities. It is hypocrisy and stupidity at its worst.<br /><br />This kind of incident should be a wake up call for the leaders in the Muslim community. Matters like the issuance of fatwas should be left to those who really understood the meaning of Islam and not to those who easily fall in to the trap of money and greed. <br /><br /></span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1158349246426082862006-09-16T01:21:00.000+07:002006-09-16T02:40:46.546+07:00Blunder of the Pope<em>"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".</em> (14th century Byzantine Christian Emperor Manuel II Paleologus)<br /><br />In an unprecedented act recently, Pope Benedict XVI incorporated the above quotation in his lecture at Regensburg University in Germany. In a speech that was meant for discussing "faith and reason", the Pope has made a thinly-veiled attack on extremist Islam's justification for terrorism. His straightforward quotation of the above words has angered Muslims throughout the world. Muslim leaders strongly <a href="http://iht.com/articles/2006/09/14/news/pope.php">criticized </a>him of using unflattering language about Islam and violence. <br /><span class="fullpost"><br />It is true that "violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul." And it is also true that "spreading the faith through violence is something unreasonable." But in the world which is continuously being divided between "them" and "us", Pope's <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university-regensburg_en.html">speech</a> has only come to worsen the situation. <br /><br />Furthermore, his "sympathy" towards Israel (... an Israel now deprived of its land and worship - paragraph 5) seemed to only fueled more distrust and anger among the Muslims towards the Pope. It seemed that the Pope was not sensitive enough to the plight and misery of the Palestinian people who have been suffering and humiliated under the occupation of Israel.<br /><br />Surely, Pope Benedict XVI is no Pope John Paul II. Benedict XVI has taken a more skeptical, hard-nosed approach to Islam than did his predecessor. The 25-year long and meticulous works of Pope John Paul II to have dialogues with other religious communities, especially Islam, in order to build bridges and links with the Muslim community and to show the world that the general perception of Islam was false and that Muslims are peace-loving people, has been damaged by this incromprehensible act of Pope Benedict XVI. The Pope's remarks was a statement full of enmity and grudge.<br /><br />The Danish cartoon controversy has just died down, Israel's attacks on Lebanon has just been concluded, peace and harmony seem to have just arrived. Then came the "Islamic fascists" remark from President Bush and now, the Pope's blunder on his inability to differentiate between Islam and Islamism. The damage has already been done. The trust is broken, the harmony is threatened. It is going to be an uphill task to re-build the broken trust. I think, only maturity and sincerity of selfless beings that would help to re-build this broken trust. But, would there be any selfless being? Heaven Knows.<br /><br /> </span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1158173363536799532006-09-14T00:30:00.000+07:002006-09-14T01:58:15.433+07:00Everyone Lives in Fear: J & K AbusesEver since the militancy in Kashmir gained ground in 1989, more than 50,000 lives have been lost so far. No one knows how many more lives will be lost if the situation persists. Everyone in the Valley lives in fear due to this never ending militancy. Reports of human rights abuses in the region are abundant but a balance report on these abuses is few.<br /><br />It is in its effort to present a balance report of abuses in the Valley that the US-based Human Rights Watch released a comprehensive <a href="http://hrw.org/reports/2006/india0906/">report </a>on the basis of two years research in the Valley from 2004 to 2006. Entitled with <strong>Everyone Lives in Fear: Patterns of Impunity in Jammu and Kashmir</strong>, the report was released by HRW's Asia Director Brad Adams.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />In this report, HRW wrote that there have been considerable evidence of abuses in the Valley by Pakistan, by the militants it has sponsored and by the Indian security forces deployed in the region. It says that "the Indian government's failure to end widespread impunity for human rights abuses committed both by its security forces and militants is fueling the cycle of violence in Jammu and Kashmir." At the same time, the report has also highlighted for the first time the role of Pakistan for the situation.<br /><br />It says that "there is considerable evidence that over many years Pakistan has provided the Kashmiri militants with training, weapons, funding and sanctuary, though officially, Pakistan denies ever arming and training militants." Thus, it indicts Pakistan in this matter saying the "country remains accountable for abuses committed by militants that it has armed and trained." Pakistan and the militants in Kashmir are responsible for abuses in the Valley.<br /><br />Similarly, the Indian security forces did not escape from the accusation. The report says that said extrajudicial executions by Indian security forces were common. Brad Adams said that "police and army officials have told Human Rights Watch that security forces often execute alleged militants instead of bringing them to trial in the belief that keeping hardcore militants in detention is a security risk." He added that "most of those summarily executed are falsely reported to have died during armed clashes between the army and the militants in encounter killings." The immunity given to security force personnel deployed in Kashmir encourages them to commit human rights violations.<br /><br />This comprehensive report of human rights abuses in Kashmir certainly gives a balance perspective in this matter. It will also become a wake up call for India as the largest democracy in the world to tackle the problems in the Valley with full respect of human rights. To use the words of Brad Adams, it is certainly absurd that the world’s largest democracy, with a well-developed legal system and internationally recognized judiciary, has laws on its books that prevent members of its security forces from being prosecuted for human rights abuses. Thus, "it's time for the Indian government to repeal these laws and recommit itself to justice for victims of all abuses, whoever the perpetrator may be."<br /><br />As for Pakistan and the militants in Kashmir, they "must end the bombings and the targeting of civilians". Because "continued abuses ensure that the cycle of violence will continue. And these abuses only add to the suffering of the people in whose name the militants are ostensibly fighting."<br /><br />I hope that peace and tranquility in the Valley would be fully restored one day, sooner rather than later. As the world largest democracy with an age-old tradition of dialogue and argumentation, India should be able to resolve the problem in the Valley peacefully so that the people in the "Heaven on Earth" could live happily and peacefully. And Everyone Lives in Fear No More.<br /><br />More discussions on this HRW report can be read <a href="http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/09/08/india14159.htm">here,</a> <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5338158.stm">here</a> and <a href="http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-09-12T190311Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-267183-1.xml">here.</a><br /><br /></span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1157713465507575202006-09-08T16:02:00.000+07:002006-09-08T18:08:36.133+07:00Malegaon Bomb Blast: Who did it?It was <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?template=Terrorstrikes&slug=Blasts+rock+Malegaon%2C+25+killed&id=20221&callid=0&category=National">reported </a> this afternoon that several bomb blasts occured in Malegaon, one of the big cities in northwest Maharashtra, in Nashik district of Maharashtra. So far, no exact number of casualities have been reported. But according to NDTV, at least 25 people have been confirmed dead and over 100 people are said to be injured. No official report is yet to be released by the authorities on the victims in these blasts. A statewide alert has been sounded by the Maharashtra police and mobile networks have been jammed in Malegaon for security reasons.<br /><br />The bomb blast is a grim reminder of the <a href="http://www.inblogs.net/ahmadqisai/2006/07/day-of-terror-in-india-mumbai-and.html">July </a>tragedy in Mumbai that killed more than 200 people and injuring hundreds others. The Mumbai blasts were allegedly conducted by local terror outfit with the help of foreign hand. However, the investigation process by the Indian authority has not yet reached any conclusive end. So far, Lashkar-e-Tayyeba is the terrorist outfit that has been accussed to be responsible in the July Mumbai blasts.<br /><span class="fullpost"> <br />Similarly, there has not been any terror outfit that claims responsibility in today's bomb blasts in Malegaon. The inconclusive investigation of the July Mumbai blasts followed by today's blasts in Malegaon would only add more headache to the authority to determine the mastermind behind these inhuman terror acts.<br /><br />Moreover, today's blasts occured in a very sensitive period. Consider these facts: <br /><br />The blast occured near a mosque after the conclusion of Friday prayer in the city with 75 percent of its population is Muslim; occured a day after the politization of the centenary celebration of the national song Vande Mataram in which some sections in the society, Muslims and Sikhs, opposed the mandatory singing of the song; occured a day after the celebration of Ganesh chaturthi; occured a week before the planned announcement of the judgement over the 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case; occured brarely four month after the recovery of more than 13 kilogram of RDX in Malegaon in May; occured barely three months after the very sad tragedy of July 11 Mumbai bomb blasts.<br /><br />Considering the above facts, today's blasts must have been used by certain group in the society to instigate disharmonious feeling between them. And it will very difficult for the authority to determine the culprits in this terror attack unless there is thorough investigations in this matter.<br /><br />I personally condemned this inhuman act and do hope that the authority will be able to nab the culprits and bring them to justice as soon as possible. At the same time, I do hope that the communal harmony in the country will not be affected. No untoward incident should happen due to this tragedy. All members of the society should keep and preserve peace and tranquility in the country.<br /><br />More news and report on the tragedy can be read <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/breakingnews/default.asp?refno=98200641321PM">here</a> and <a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1051807"> here</a>.<br /></span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19572382.post-1156965761791901732006-08-31T00:59:00.000+07:002006-08-31T02:22:44.366+07:00Breaking Microsoft MonopolyAfter making headlines in the local and international news two weeks ago for the ban on Pepsi and Coca Cola companies for their alleged unhealthy products, the Communist government in Kerala, one of India's southern states, made another headline this week for its decision to dump Microsoft products. Kerala government has launched a campaign to make the state a <a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/08/29/news/india.php">Microsoft-free zone</a>.<br /><br />To achieve this goal, V.S. Achuthanandan's government has unveiled an ambitious three-year project to promote Linux, a free software available around the world free of charge, in all state-funded schools and colleges. As an initial step, the government plans to dump Microsoft products in 12,500 high school in the state. The next target will be colleges and Akhsaya centers. Akhsaya is a campaign to bridge the digital divide and make the state e-literate.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />But what is behind all this idea of dumping Microsoft products? <br /><br />Answering to this query, Kerala's education Minister, M.A. Baby said that Kerala is not against Microsoft but it is against the monopolistic tendencies of Microsoft in the field of information and technology. Furthermore, he said that being a democratic and progressive government, it wants to encourage the spread of free software and fight against monopoly.<br /><br />It is the drive against monopoly, and not against the technology, that spurred this idea. Microsoft is not being ban in Kerala but it is the free software that is being encouraged. And since the announcement was not part of an ideological campaign of a Communist government against Western-made products, the Kerala government hoped that the move would not further unsettle foreign investors in this state.<br /><br />"We have great respect for the contribution made by the United States and its European allies in the fields of art and literature and culture. At the same time we are not happy with the monopolistic and imperialistic moves, both in political and economic spheres, made by these nations," M.A. Baby said.<br /><br />For the record, the three months old government in Kerala has been struggling to deal with the evils faced by the previous government. Led by the champion of the middle class, the Communist government is now feeling the pinch of power. It is no wonder that a survey conducted by a local tv channel showed the fast plummeting popularity rate of the Chief Minister.<br /><br />It remains to be seen, however, how successful this ambitious project will go. Monopoly kills healthy competition. The monopolistic tendencies of Microsoft in the field of information and technology worldwide have created jealousy and absence of competition. Thus even though the decision by the Kerala government to fight against monopoly would raise some eyebrows and doubt on the future prospect of foreign investment in the state, but the move should be encouraged to create healthier environment for business and competition. After all, there should be no monopoly in democracy.<br /></span>Mas Qisa'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08691131105075383694noreply@blogger.com0