Protests inside and outside Israel are not good for business. The Zionist state is waging an aggressive publicity campaign to bring tourists to Israel especially during summer holidays. So to 'spice' up the menu of spots to visit, Israel is appealing to Christians: it has unearthed and deactivated mines long buried along the Palestinian West Bank Jordan River border. The 'mine free' site is the traditional site where John the Baptist baptised Jesus. Now 43 years after Israel occupied the West Bank in the wake of the Six Day War, one of the most holy sites in Christendom is once more open to the faithful.
The Zionist state's gesture is an act of expedience to win friends and influence people. Will it work the more especially since Israel has embarked on draconian measures to quiet protests among its own citizens, thereby applying, to a degree, the harsh governance under which Palestinians have lived for more than four decades?
The denial of 40 percent of natural gas to Israel from Egypt is incrementally taking its toll on the Zionist state's economy, it goes without saying. The fall of Mubarak is putting a strain on state expenditures by shifting money away from industry to the military. Israel rapid growth in the past had gotten a boost by its alliance with Mubarak Egypt, which kept the lid tight on the blockaded Gaza Strip, thereby allowing Israel to devote more funds for more rapid economic development.
Mubarak's Egypt did not see any growth, but thanks to US billion dollar loans, Washington kept the authoritarian leader afloat. With his overthrow, the US is scrambling for a new policy that is not quickly coming and Israel, even with billions in American taxpayers money, which the US forgives as loans, will see a break on its economic growth.
So even opening the shores of the Jordan where Jesus is traditionally thought to have received baptism has to be seen as a retreat for Israel as its flounder to regain a pinch of economic balance.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Israel embraces a bunken mentality
On Monday 11 July 2011 the Knesset voted a law to ban protests in Israel of the Zionist state. The right wing Likud government led by 'Bibi' Netenyahu will now use this law to strip Israelis of their civil rights. Israel has come full circle: first it denied Palestinians in the occupied West Bank of their rights; now they are applying the same legal manoeuvres to their own citizens.
Israel claim it is the beacon of freedom, liberty, and democracy in the Middle East. It takes pride of place with its autocratic neighbours.
It was Assad or Hezbollah in Lebanon or Hamas in Gaza or Ahmedijinebad in Iran that forced the Knesset's hands. No, it was their own citizens, the peaceful protesters in the West Bank who are embracing Gandhi like passive resistance, and the peace flotillas who try to break the illegal Israel blockades, condemn the theft of Palestinian lands in the West Bank and Arab east Jerusalem, as well as the illegal settlements on Palestinian lands.
No, it's not rockets or guns or war that is making the Zionist state tremble and reach for repression to maintain power and the old ways of ruling, but ordinary citizens in Israel, Palestine, and around the world. In other words, it is people power that is rocking the pillars of the Zionist temple!
As such Israel is opting for repression. It may laugh at the chant heard round the world, 'the people united can never be defeated', but the people in Israel, the West Bank, in the refugee camps in Syria, in Gaza and elsewhere know that by this ban, the Zionist state is like the emperor naked.
Israel claim it is the beacon of freedom, liberty, and democracy in the Middle East. It takes pride of place with its autocratic neighbours.
It was Assad or Hezbollah in Lebanon or Hamas in Gaza or Ahmedijinebad in Iran that forced the Knesset's hands. No, it was their own citizens, the peaceful protesters in the West Bank who are embracing Gandhi like passive resistance, and the peace flotillas who try to break the illegal Israel blockades, condemn the theft of Palestinian lands in the West Bank and Arab east Jerusalem, as well as the illegal settlements on Palestinian lands.
No, it's not rockets or guns or war that is making the Zionist state tremble and reach for repression to maintain power and the old ways of ruling, but ordinary citizens in Israel, Palestine, and around the world. In other words, it is people power that is rocking the pillars of the Zionist temple!
As such Israel is opting for repression. It may laugh at the chant heard round the world, 'the people united can never be defeated', but the people in Israel, the West Bank, in the refugee camps in Syria, in Gaza and elsewhere know that by this ban, the Zionist state is like the emperor naked.
Monday, July 11, 2011
A half-century of Sino-DPRK treaty of friendship
Hardly worth more than a mention in today's 'Financial Times of London', Chinese vice-premier Zheng Dejiang hand carried a letter of Hu Jintao to Kim Jong il confirming that China's ties of friendship and support of North Korea is an 'unshakable strategic policy', as the two countries mark the 50 anniversary of a friendship treaty.
If the US policy clerisy's bet that Beijing would jettison in any fashion its ally in Pyongyang, US North Korea watch have come up on the losing end.
Zheng's presence in the North Korean capitol should send an urgent signal to the Obama administration and to the Lee Myung bak regime in Seoul. At a time the US is criticising China in its forward policy in the South China Sea, Beijing has its own cards to play to make life difficult to US Korea policy.
If the US policy clerisy's bet that Beijing would jettison in any fashion its ally in Pyongyang, US North Korea watch have come up on the losing end.
Zheng's presence in the North Korean capitol should send an urgent signal to the Obama administration and to the Lee Myung bak regime in Seoul. At a time the US is criticising China in its forward policy in the South China Sea, Beijing has its own cards to play to make life difficult to US Korea policy.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Malaysia: 'model democracy' stumbles
Malaysia' UMNO [United Malay National Organisations] led Barisan National [BN] government has not taken kindly to the long carried winds of the Arab spring that have wafted over the country.
In fact, under the leadership of Najib Razak, all stops are being pulled out against any demostrations challenging UMNO's role or even the mildest of reforms, which, willy nilly, would shine the light on the party's warts and corrupt practices.
Yesterday's arrest of more than 1600 protesters from all racial groups and parties out of government in the capitol Kuala Lumpur is indicative of Najib's determination to nip protest in the bud.
If anything it tore the mask off of a benign democracy. It is also the long hand of history taking its revenge against the UNMO inspired race riots of 13 May 1969: it is the sin of the prime minister's father who had a hand in this racialist putsch 42 years ago. In 2007, declassified documents on the Riots became available at the Public Records Office in London. Suaram, a Malaysian human rights group, with the assistance of scholar and activist Kua Kia Soong, published a book challenging government accounts of the events of 13 May 1969.
Malaysia's Internal Security Ministry, acting on the call of numerous politicians, seized and banned the book. [GuamDiary readers can order a copy from Select bookshop in Singapore.] The documents officially record a coup on the part of the elder Rajib & co., thereby establishing full Malay control of the electoral field, the economics, and setting up a hierarchy of privilege based on race through legally chaining Malaysian Chinese and Indians to second and third class citizenship in spite of constitutional protections.
UNMO benefitted from strong leadership of Mahatir Mohammed, copying the leadership style of Singapore's Lee Kwong Yew and the flush of oil revenues, dragged the country from a 'farnient' image to a bustling modern economy, whilst at creating a middle class which especially advantaged Malays and increasing corruption and imposed heavy restrictions on Chinese and Indians in education, work, land ownership, so on and on.
Under Mahatir, a break in UNMO leadership occured: his heir presumptive Anwar Ibrahim broke with him over how to deal with the 1998 Asian financial collapse. Anwar was arrested, tried and sentenced for among other charges sodomy, and banned from political life. The courts ultimately freed him, but his ordeal is being played out still in the courtroom on the same charges. However, in the meantime, his party ended up breaking UNMO's hold in key states. [Ironically, Anwar and his wife began emphasising early on a 'return to Islam' in dress, practice and piety. coincidentally, many young people attracted to his call ended up embracing strict interpresentation of Islam and may have fostered an attraction of Islamic terrorism'.]
Challenges to UNMO rule could no longer be swept under the carpet. UNMO had to descend into the political market place to thwart any further erosion of its power. Najib replaced the aging Mahatir, which earned him the old prime minister's spleen [vide, Mahatir's blog]. Razak is tainted with scandal in a hushed up affair of the murder of a Mongolian model; he was 'washed' of any involvement but the jury of public opinion is out on the matter until more documents are made public.
The rise of an urban youth with broader contact through the internet and social networks and travel and easy travel to neighbouring Singapore began chomping on the bit of a censorship, imposition of Islamic taboos even on non Muslims, and the lack of opportunities.
And now the Arab telegraph message of hope and change came loud and clear, adding more yeast to calls for reform.
It is hardly surprising that the UNMO led government mocked and condemned in no uncertain terms the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. Clearly it is afraid of its own future and potential fall from power.
Protests in Malaysia raise concern in neighbouring Singapore, which has always offered a haven for Malaysians mainly of Chinese origin. Discontent there under the iron grip rule of the People's Action Party for the last half century, is beginning to show if we rely on the last elections. Polls reveal the widespread discontent with the PAP.
How protest will play out in Malaysia is a work in progress. UNMO cannot give more lest unless it is willing to deconstruct the work of the 1969 coup d'etat.
In fact, under the leadership of Najib Razak, all stops are being pulled out against any demostrations challenging UMNO's role or even the mildest of reforms, which, willy nilly, would shine the light on the party's warts and corrupt practices.
Yesterday's arrest of more than 1600 protesters from all racial groups and parties out of government in the capitol Kuala Lumpur is indicative of Najib's determination to nip protest in the bud.
If anything it tore the mask off of a benign democracy. It is also the long hand of history taking its revenge against the UNMO inspired race riots of 13 May 1969: it is the sin of the prime minister's father who had a hand in this racialist putsch 42 years ago. In 2007, declassified documents on the Riots became available at the Public Records Office in London. Suaram, a Malaysian human rights group, with the assistance of scholar and activist Kua Kia Soong, published a book challenging government accounts of the events of 13 May 1969.
Malaysia's Internal Security Ministry, acting on the call of numerous politicians, seized and banned the book. [GuamDiary readers can order a copy from Select bookshop in Singapore.] The documents officially record a coup on the part of the elder Rajib & co., thereby establishing full Malay control of the electoral field, the economics, and setting up a hierarchy of privilege based on race through legally chaining Malaysian Chinese and Indians to second and third class citizenship in spite of constitutional protections.
UNMO benefitted from strong leadership of Mahatir Mohammed, copying the leadership style of Singapore's Lee Kwong Yew and the flush of oil revenues, dragged the country from a 'farnient' image to a bustling modern economy, whilst at creating a middle class which especially advantaged Malays and increasing corruption and imposed heavy restrictions on Chinese and Indians in education, work, land ownership, so on and on.
Under Mahatir, a break in UNMO leadership occured: his heir presumptive Anwar Ibrahim broke with him over how to deal with the 1998 Asian financial collapse. Anwar was arrested, tried and sentenced for among other charges sodomy, and banned from political life. The courts ultimately freed him, but his ordeal is being played out still in the courtroom on the same charges. However, in the meantime, his party ended up breaking UNMO's hold in key states. [Ironically, Anwar and his wife began emphasising early on a 'return to Islam' in dress, practice and piety. coincidentally, many young people attracted to his call ended up embracing strict interpresentation of Islam and may have fostered an attraction of Islamic terrorism'.]
Challenges to UNMO rule could no longer be swept under the carpet. UNMO had to descend into the political market place to thwart any further erosion of its power. Najib replaced the aging Mahatir, which earned him the old prime minister's spleen [vide, Mahatir's blog]. Razak is tainted with scandal in a hushed up affair of the murder of a Mongolian model; he was 'washed' of any involvement but the jury of public opinion is out on the matter until more documents are made public.
The rise of an urban youth with broader contact through the internet and social networks and travel and easy travel to neighbouring Singapore began chomping on the bit of a censorship, imposition of Islamic taboos even on non Muslims, and the lack of opportunities.
And now the Arab telegraph message of hope and change came loud and clear, adding more yeast to calls for reform.
It is hardly surprising that the UNMO led government mocked and condemned in no uncertain terms the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia. Clearly it is afraid of its own future and potential fall from power.
Protests in Malaysia raise concern in neighbouring Singapore, which has always offered a haven for Malaysians mainly of Chinese origin. Discontent there under the iron grip rule of the People's Action Party for the last half century, is beginning to show if we rely on the last elections. Polls reveal the widespread discontent with the PAP.
How protest will play out in Malaysia is a work in progress. UNMO cannot give more lest unless it is willing to deconstruct the work of the 1969 coup d'etat.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Irael flummoxed
Try as the right wing Likud led government tries to checkmate peace activists challenging Israel's blockade of Gaza or illegally taking over Arab east Jerusalem or theft of Palestinian land on the occupied Palestian West Bank or the Zionist state's implanting Jewish settlers on the stolen land, 'Bibi' Netenyahu & co's grip is slipping on the establishing a 'Greater Israel' from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River. As for the Palestinians well the Zionist state has not forsaken them: they are being consigned to cantoonments a la Apartheid South African 'bantustans', thank you very much.
Try as Israel, it is being overwhelmed by vagues of activists, Jew and non Jew, who challenge Israel's occupation and denial Palestinians of their basic rights including the right to a state, in order to determine their destiny as they see fit.
Protesters in and outside the occupied West Bank and Israel are more and more adopting passive resistance. It is looking as though it is working even if their stated goal is momentarily thwarted.
The Peace Flotilla is but one example. Now, they are the people bringing Israel 'fly-tilla'. Netenyahu has applied heavy pressure on the Hungarian airline Malev, Italy's Alitalia, Germany's Lufthansa from embarking protesters belonging to 'Bienvenue Palestine' from flying to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.
Already they had to call out a phalanx of police to stop Israeli supporters with signs signs in English, Hebrew, and Arabic welcoming protesters to Palestine!
As a precautionary measure, Israel has drawn up a blacklist to deny visitors whom the Zionist state consider 'undesirable'.
The blacklist in a way 'gums up' a multi million dollar media campaign to draw tourists to Israel. Tourism has suffered since Israel's wars against Lebanon and Gaza. As such, in a sea of bad and unfavorable press, Israel is beefing up its propaganda machine to once again bring in hard currency. Peace protests are not helping this effort.
The kind, smiling face Israel is trying to present to the world turns ugly when the army and the police manhandle, injure, main, and kill civilians.
In a way, the delayed winds of the Arab spring is bathing Israel with a movement of the time which rock the pillars of the Zionist state. We may be overstating the case, yet in a strange way, passive resistance to the repressive Israeli military, police, and political authories is gathering the power to topple the walls of the Zionist political citadel in a metaphor
Try as Israel, it is being overwhelmed by vagues of activists, Jew and non Jew, who challenge Israel's occupation and denial Palestinians of their basic rights including the right to a state, in order to determine their destiny as they see fit.
Protesters in and outside the occupied West Bank and Israel are more and more adopting passive resistance. It is looking as though it is working even if their stated goal is momentarily thwarted.
The Peace Flotilla is but one example. Now, they are the people bringing Israel 'fly-tilla'. Netenyahu has applied heavy pressure on the Hungarian airline Malev, Italy's Alitalia, Germany's Lufthansa from embarking protesters belonging to 'Bienvenue Palestine' from flying to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.
Already they had to call out a phalanx of police to stop Israeli supporters with signs signs in English, Hebrew, and Arabic welcoming protesters to Palestine!
As a precautionary measure, Israel has drawn up a blacklist to deny visitors whom the Zionist state consider 'undesirable'.
The blacklist in a way 'gums up' a multi million dollar media campaign to draw tourists to Israel. Tourism has suffered since Israel's wars against Lebanon and Gaza. As such, in a sea of bad and unfavorable press, Israel is beefing up its propaganda machine to once again bring in hard currency. Peace protests are not helping this effort.
The kind, smiling face Israel is trying to present to the world turns ugly when the army and the police manhandle, injure, main, and kill civilians.
In a way, the delayed winds of the Arab spring is bathing Israel with a movement of the time which rock the pillars of the Zionist state. We may be overstating the case, yet in a strange way, passive resistance to the repressive Israeli military, police, and political authories is gathering the power to topple the walls of the Zionist political citadel in a metaphor
Friday, July 8, 2011
Israel goes from one Pyrrhic victory to another
Through sabotage and cynical propaganda and the heavy hand of the US, Israel has for the moment stalled the sailing of the Peace Flotilla to Gaza in defiance of its illegally imposed blockade by sea of the Gaza Strip after the democratically elected Hamas was elected to govern in 2008.
Israel, too, is hastily mending fences with Turkey, in order to heal the breach with Ankara after its commandos boarded the 'Mavi Mamara' in June 2010, killing eight Turks and one American of Turkish origin. The Zionist state is in a fast forward mode, to deflate the impact of a soon to be released UN report on the Israel attack on last year's Peace Flotilla, in violation of the laws of piracy and the laws of the seas. Israeli commandos killed and wounded unarmed civilians on the high seas a good many kilometres from its own territorial boundaries. In other words, Israel committed terrorism!
Another UN report has gone to the UN Security Council on the use of live fire on unarmed Palestinians refugees in Syria who peacefully jumped Israeli barbed and razor wire to 'reclaim' land that is theirs that Israel has occupied and incorporated since the Six Day War in 1967. The 'tsahal' or IDF [Israel Defense Force] use of live ammo to stop the peaceful protest resulted in killings and many wounded. Israel may claim 'self defence' but that position is hard to sustain owing to the immediate shooting of protesters with the intention to kill, main, and wound. [Will the US veto the report and once again let Israel continue its terrorism?]
And then there is the move to have the UN General Assembly recognise 'de facto' and 'de jure' an independent Palestine, even though it is under 43 years of Israeli occupation. The Zionist state has not only stolen Palestinian land on the West Bank but it has implanted its own settlers in violation of international law, arguing in a bait and switch tone that God gave the land to the Hebrews then known as 'Judea and Sumaria'.
So one way or the other, Israel is being thrown on the ropes, in spite of its protector and pro-consul the US.
Israel, too, is hastily mending fences with Turkey, in order to heal the breach with Ankara after its commandos boarded the 'Mavi Mamara' in June 2010, killing eight Turks and one American of Turkish origin. The Zionist state is in a fast forward mode, to deflate the impact of a soon to be released UN report on the Israel attack on last year's Peace Flotilla, in violation of the laws of piracy and the laws of the seas. Israeli commandos killed and wounded unarmed civilians on the high seas a good many kilometres from its own territorial boundaries. In other words, Israel committed terrorism!
Another UN report has gone to the UN Security Council on the use of live fire on unarmed Palestinians refugees in Syria who peacefully jumped Israeli barbed and razor wire to 'reclaim' land that is theirs that Israel has occupied and incorporated since the Six Day War in 1967. The 'tsahal' or IDF [Israel Defense Force] use of live ammo to stop the peaceful protest resulted in killings and many wounded. Israel may claim 'self defence' but that position is hard to sustain owing to the immediate shooting of protesters with the intention to kill, main, and wound. [Will the US veto the report and once again let Israel continue its terrorism?]
And then there is the move to have the UN General Assembly recognise 'de facto' and 'de jure' an independent Palestine, even though it is under 43 years of Israeli occupation. The Zionist state has not only stolen Palestinian land on the West Bank but it has implanted its own settlers in violation of international law, arguing in a bait and switch tone that God gave the land to the Hebrews then known as 'Judea and Sumaria'.
So one way or the other, Israel is being thrown on the ropes, in spite of its protector and pro-consul the US.
At long last, promise of food for North Korea
The European Union has voted 100 euros in food aid for North Korea, under certain conditions of control of its distribution to the needy starving North Koreans, in other words, a good bookkeeping exercise from port to point of distribution by the EU itself.
It boggles the mind as to the delay in aiding the starving in North Korea. High mindedness and tsk, tsk, tsking surely played a part in denying until humanitarian aid. And of course politics, especially the 800 pound bully known as the US, who keep unearthing the red herring that any food goes to the pampered, well fed military that props up Kim Jong il & co.
As GuamDiary has observed, North Korea has had a similar arrangement with NGOs for years now. Consider the US Mercy Corp. which has done yeoman's work in distributing food from port to household pot until the US cut off the food aid it gave Mercy in 2008. At that time, the right wing Lee Myung bak became president of South Korea, and he did the same. To force North Korea to bend to these two countries' will, they coordinated draconian demands and policies which only worsened the food shortages in the North. Not only that, they blamed Kim for natural disasters which ruined crops, in cynical pursuit of a propaganda war.
Now the EU has had a change of heart it seems after slavishly following the Obama administration's tune. How fast it will act is open to question. We should forget that the road to hell is often paved with the elevated 'ideals' of the supposed virtuous US and ROK and the UK.
It's time to feed the starving North Koreans!
It boggles the mind as to the delay in aiding the starving in North Korea. High mindedness and tsk, tsk, tsking surely played a part in denying until humanitarian aid. And of course politics, especially the 800 pound bully known as the US, who keep unearthing the red herring that any food goes to the pampered, well fed military that props up Kim Jong il & co.
As GuamDiary has observed, North Korea has had a similar arrangement with NGOs for years now. Consider the US Mercy Corp. which has done yeoman's work in distributing food from port to household pot until the US cut off the food aid it gave Mercy in 2008. At that time, the right wing Lee Myung bak became president of South Korea, and he did the same. To force North Korea to bend to these two countries' will, they coordinated draconian demands and policies which only worsened the food shortages in the North. Not only that, they blamed Kim for natural disasters which ruined crops, in cynical pursuit of a propaganda war.
Now the EU has had a change of heart it seems after slavishly following the Obama administration's tune. How fast it will act is open to question. We should forget that the road to hell is often paved with the elevated 'ideals' of the supposed virtuous US and ROK and the UK.
It's time to feed the starving North Koreans!
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