by Gloria R. Lalumia
World
Media Watch
by Gloria R. Lalumia
BUZZFLASH NOTE: Once again, these are the views and perspectives of the individual papers, not of BuzzFlash or Gloria. They offer BuzzFlash readers a way of reading what other nations are saying about the crisis, whether we like it or not. We repeat: This is not an endorsement of their viewpoints.
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1//The Independent, UK--MPs ACCUSE GOVERNMENT OF FIXING VOTE ON IRAQ (...Anti-war backbenchers claim that at least 100 MPs would have opposed Britain joining an American-led attack on Iraq had they been allowed a straight-forward vote on the issue... Alan Simpson, MP for Nottingham South, said: "This is government by deceit. We have a motion that has been drawn up in the narrowest possible terms to preclude an anti-war vote.")
2//The Dawn, Pakistan--US, PAKISTAN DISCUSS ATTACKS ON ALLIED FORCES (The sources said the US officials discussed with Pakistan authorities the ways to effectively forestall the increasing attacks on the allied forces in Afghanistan territory bordering the South and North Waziristan Agencies.)
3//The Dawn, Pakistan--KABUL AIRPORT DOCUMENTS STOLEN (A pilot transporting equipment for Italian troops stationed in Kabul was robbed during a stopover in Rome of a computer containing confidential information about the airport in the Afghan capital , Italian police said on Saturday.)
4//Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK--ANGER OF WOMEN PRISONER AMNESTY (The release of 20 female prisoners from a Kabul jail, as part of the traditional Ramadan pardon, was intended as a symbolic liberation of Afghan women, but the move drew criticism in rural, conservative areas of the country... Meher Negar, one of the women released, said she didn't want to leave jail. "I can't go home because my brothers and father will kill me," she said. "I have no future. I don't know what will happen next.")
5//The Toronto Star, Canada--PRIVACY UNDER ATTACK: WATCHDOG (Privacy Commissioner George Radwanski says historians will look back on current violations of privacy in the name of fighting terrorism as a more egregious error than the detention of Japanese Canadians during World War II... Radwanski also charges that bureaucrats across government are manipulating public concern about security to ram through new measures.)
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1//The
Independent 25 November 2002 01:51 GMT
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=355580
MPs
ACCUSE GOVERNMENT OF FIXING VOTE ON IRAQ
By Nigel Morris
Left-wing MPs have accused the Government of trying to fix today's Commons vote on Iraq by tabling a "bland" motion.
Anti-war backbenchers claim that at least 100 MPs would have opposed Britain joining an American-led attack on Iraq had they been allowed a straight-forward vote on the issue.
The Commons will be asked to support a government motion backing the UN resolution requiring Iraq to comply with weapons inspections.
More than 50 Labour MPs opposed the Government in the last vote on Iraq two months ago. Alice Mahon, MP for Halifax, said the number could have been doubled in the latest vote had ministers not tabled such a "bland" motion.
(SNIP)
Alan Simpson, MP for Nottingham South, said: "This is government by deceit. We have a motion that has been drawn up in the narrowest possible terms to preclude an anti-war vote."
Tam Dalyell, the Linlithgow MP, has tabled a motion backing the UN resolution but adding that military action by British forces must be explicitly approved in advance by the Commons. But it is unlikely to go to a vote because the Conservatives are prepared to table a separate amendment.
Geoff Hoon, the Secretary of State for Defence, will spell out details of an American request for Britain, and other nations, to have troops ready for a possible invasion of Iraq.
2//The Dawn 24 November 2002 Sunday 18 Ramazan 1423
http://www.dawn.com/2002/11/24/top14.htm
US,
PAKISTAN DISCUSS ATTACKS ON ALLIED FORCES
By Sailab Mahsud
WANA, Nov 23: The Pakistan authorities and the officials of US forces in Afghanistan held a meeting at a checkpoint astride the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Angoor Adda in the South Waziristan Agency , and discussed the recent attacks by the fugitive Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters on the allied forces in Birmal area in south-eastern Afghanistan, officials said on Saturday.
(SNIP)
The sources said the US officials discussed with Pakistan authorities the ways to effectively forestall the increasing attacks on the allied forces in Afghanistan territory bordering the South and North Waziristan Agencies.
The US authorities also asked the Pakistani forces to keep a close watch over the movement of the suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda and help the allied forces hunt down the fugitives and find their hideouts, the sources added.
The Americans also asked the Pakistan border forces to keep a close watch on the mountainous routes leading to the Birmal area in the southeastern Afghanistan from the Pakistani tribal agency, the sources said.
Southeastern Afghanistan is regarded as the most dangerous part of the war-torn country for guerilla warfare.
(SNIP)
According to sources, the joint patrol party of the allied forces and Afghan troops was attacked with Kalashnikovs in Birmal some days back and after an intense exchange of gunfire, the US forces recovered modern weapons from the scene.
3//The Dawn 24 November 2002 Sunday 18 Ramazan 1423
http://www.dawn.com/2002/11/24/top16.htm
KABUL AIRPORT DOCUMENTS STOLEN
ROME, Nov 23: - AFP - A pilot transporting equipment for Italian troops stationed in Kabul was robbed during a stopover in Rome of a computer containing confidential information about the airport in the Afghan capital , Italian police said on Saturday.
The computer contained details of flight paths into Kabul airport and landing procedures there, they said.
(MORE)
4//Institute for War and Peace Reporting 22-NOV-02
http://www.iwpr.net/index.pl?archive/arr/arr_200211_37_2_eng.txt
Afghan
Recovery Report
ANGER OF WOMEN PRISONER AMNESTY
Conservatives condemn reprieve for women imprisoned for adultery and elopement.
By
Rohullah Babakarkhel and Shoib Safi in Kabul(ARR No. 37, 22-NOV-02)
Rohullah Babakarkhel and Shoib Safi are independent journalists in Kabul.
The release of 20 female prisoners from a Kabul jail, as part of the traditional Ramadan pardon, was intended as a symbolic liberation of Afghan women, but the move drew criticism in rural, conservative areas of the country.
The majority of the women had been imprisoned for "social" crimes such as adultery or running away with men who had not been chosen by their families. There are dozens of men in jail charged with the same sort of offences, though none of them were granted an amnesty.
Interior officials warn that women and men will continue to be arrested for such misdemeanors.
These crimes, particularly amongst the former, have increased since the beginning of the interim administration. Many women lost husbands, fathers and brothers during the civil wars and because of that "there is no one to control them", according to Ghulam Sakhi Fekri, a senior official at police headquarters.
"When the interim administration granted women more rights, they were happy but most of them used their new found freedom in a negative way."
(SNIP)
Karzai's symbolic action, though addressing complaints of human rights groups, was not necessarily popular with Afghans.
A teacher in Kabul, Gul Sanga, explained, "In the rural life of our district, women are brought up with very high, brave and honorable principles. If a girl runs away with someone or commits adultery, she knows she risks being executed.
"Instead of forgiving them, Karzai should have punished these women so that others would not commit such crimes."
Crimes involving sexual contact between unmarried couples are considered such a disgrace that, to redeem their honor, members of the families involved sometimes mete out their own punishment.
Meher Negar, one of the women released, said she didn't want to leave jail. "I can't go home because my brothers and father will kill me," she said. "I have no future. I don't know what will happen next."
5//The Toronto Star Nov. 24, 2002. 01:00 AM
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=
thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1035774754937&ca
ll_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154
PRIVACY
UNDER ATTACK: WATCHDOG
Government has lost 'moral compass'
Curbs made in name of war on terror
ALLAN
THOMPSON
OTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWA-Privacy Commissioner George Radwanski says historians will look back on current violations of privacy in the name of fighting terrorism as a more egregious error than the detention of Japanese Canadians during World War II.
Using his harshest language yet to attack a series of government initiatives, the federal privacy watchdog said Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal government has lost its "moral compass" on the question of privacy and is only months away from doing irreversible damage to Canadian society.
But Radwanski noted that despite repeated requests for a meeting, he has not been able to talk to Chrétien about his concerns.
"The fact is that this government has lost its moral compass with regard to the fundamental human right of privacy," Radwanski said in a 45-minute interview.
"We're not to where it can't be stopped. But six months or a year from now, we might be. Some of the biggest assaults ever are in the works right now," he said.
"I know it sounds apocalyptic, but that's where we are."
(SNIP)
Radwanski also charges that bureaucrats across government are manipulating public concern about security to ram through new measures.
"Just about every department and agency of the government ... has twigged to the fact that Sept. 11 can be used as almost a magic incantation to justify getting new powers to intrude on privacy for purposes that have nothing to do with Sept. 11."
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©
2002, Gloria R. Lalumia
insight@zianet.com
Updated listings of Radio for Progressives on the internet at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
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