Canada's Dirty Hands
From
http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/1148
"The US government removed the ultra-reactionary and brutal regime of Taliban, but instead of relying on Afghan people, pushed us from the frying pan into the fire and selected its friends from among the most dirty and infamous criminals of the “Northern Alliance”, which is made up of the sworn enemies of democracy and human rights, and are as dark-minded, evil, and cruel as the Taliban...
"It is a clear and proven fact that no nation can donate liberation to another nation. Liberation is not money to be donated; it should be achieved in a country by the people themselves. The ongoing developments in Afghanistan and Iraq prove this claim. People of other countries only can give us a helping hand and support."
Obviously, this speech speaks more to the US involvement in Afghanistan, but we're there, too, shouldering "the white man's burden".
I know that's loaded language, and that the speech is one-sided, but the parallels are too obvious to ignore. That's MY chief concern with our Afghanistan mission.
- Brett McKenzie's blog
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They kicked her out.
From:
http://rabble.ca/everyones_a_critic.shtml?sh_itm=1...
"Malalai Joya, the most outspoken of the 68 women currently elected in the parliament of Afghanistan, has been suspended from parliament."
Again, a fairly clear bias, but I find it very interesting.
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Taliban and Hindu Labels
Gareth Davies
Nanaimo-Alberni EDA
Parksville, BC
Why was Malalai Joya suspended? I don't know and would like to know the story from both sides. Can anyone enlighten me?
In reading a book recently, "The Two of Us - My Life with John Thaw", by Sheila Hancock, Bloomsbury, 2004, I came across this piece of information (probably well known to Afghanistan watchers):
29 January [2000]
A gentleman called Mohammed Wali, the Taliban religious police minister, has forced Hindus in Afghanistan to wear labels. Oh dear.
A glimpse into the true nature of the Taliban government. You draw your own conclusions.
Taliban
I guess Joya was suspended because she's been rather vocal in her criticism of other representatives.
From ctv.ca:
"Meanwhile, 200 people demonstrated in the province of Farah in support of an outspoken female lawmaker suspended by parliament this week over comments she made comparing parliamentarians to animals.
"Malalai Joya, 29, told The Associated Press on Thursday that she has been suspended until the end of parliament's session in 2010, but that she was waiting for Afghanistan's Supreme Court to make a final decision as to whether her ouster is valid.
"Lawmakers said Joya violated a parliament rule that bars them from criticizing one another.
"'We condemn these criminals in parliament who are working against Malalai,' said Angama Sadat, a lawmaker from Farah. 'Malalai is the elected representative of thousands of Afghans from Farah.'
"Joya has repeatedly referred to members of parliament as criminals, warlords and drug lords. Many former commanders involved in factional fighting in the 1980s and 1990s now hold positions in parliament or government.
Human Rights Watch on Wednesday said the parliament 'should immediately reinstate' Joya, calling her a defender of human rights and a powerful voice for Afghan women.
"'The article banning criticism of parliament is an unreasonable rule that violates the principle of free speech enshrined in international law and valued around the world,' said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch."
Apparently, she broke the rules.
I was certainly not a big fan of the Taliban. Trust me on this.
Malalai Joya defines courage
Gareth Davies
Nanaimo-Alberni EDA
Parksville, BC
Brett, thanks for the update. One thing is obvious, Malalai Joya is one courageous lady and she has my respect for that alone, if nothing else.
It does seem clear that she broke the rules and I wonder if she could operate within the rules whether she would be more valuable to the development of democracy in Afghanistan.
Hey, I have not walked in her moccasins so what do I know? Nothing! My heart bleeds for her.
We too have rules in our Parliamennt against members calling each other names. A member cannot even refer to another member by proper name. Break our rules and a member gets tossed!
What a mess. I guess there is more to this than meets the eye.
I sure hope she gets reinstated. I believe she would do more good in parliament than out of it. Look at Aung San Suu Kyi, the Myanmar (Burma) Opposition Leader who has spent 11 of the last 17 years under [house] arrest. Because we know about her we know about the plight of the Myanmar people under a military junta. Malalai Joya doesn't want that kind of history. Worse still, there is, I would imagine, a very real chance that she could be assassinated. She must know that, of course, which makes her all the more courageous in my view.
She has my prayers for success and safety.