Friday 4 July 2014
Domestic violence: Man cuts off wife’s nose, keeps her locked up for 19 days
May 16 could have been another day of ‘routine’ beating but it changed tenor quickly as her husband Sahibzada tied her up to a chair and started pummelling her. “He then cut at my nose, chopped it off. It didn’t stop there; his mother joined him and kept beating me for two days,” Shahida told The Express Tribune inside the office of Khwando Jirga, Saidu Sharif. She was then kept a prisoner in her own home for weeks, beaten up as she had been for 11 years, shared Shahida.
11 years, 19 days
After cutting off her nose, Sahibzada handed her a gun, claimed the disfigured teenager. “He told me to kill my father and then pin the blame of my facial disfigurement on him,” said Shahida.
However, on her 19th day in captivity, Shahida managed to escape, but without her one-and-a-half-year-old son. She snuck out around midnight and ran to her parents’ house, which she reached early morning. After hearing her ordeal, her parents rushed her to Saidu Sharif Hospital from where she was referred to Hayatabad Medical Complex.
Shahida has undergone two surgeries at HMC in the short span of one and a half month. Her third surgery has been scheduled to take place after Ramazan.
No end in sight
“I had to borrow Rs150,000 – which I will be paying back to different people with interest – to pay for her treatment,” said Shahida’s father, Zaid. The amount has already been spent and Zaid has no money left for further medical expenses.
Shahida and her parents allege when they filed an FIR against the accused, the police started taking Sahibzada’s side instead of punishing him.
According to Shahida’s mother Bakth-e-Raja, the family has asked the chief justice of Pakistan and both federal and provincial governments for justice, for the accused to be punished for his brutal crime. They have also appealed to the government to give Shahida custody of her son as he is still at his father’s house.
When contacted, Kabal DSP Bakht Raaj said they have arrested the culprit and he will soon be presented in court for the crime he has committed.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2014.
Negri Sembilan Islamic department crashes wedding for transgender hunt
The women were subsequently charged and sentenced yesterday under Section 66 of the state’s Shariah Criminal Enactment 1992 although the law is currently under constitutional review in the Court of Appeal.
“The authorities arrested them and got them to the court yesterday morning. All of them were very naïve about the law, so they pleaded guilty under Section 66,” transgender activist Nisha Ayub told The Malay Mail Online today.
“We are now trying to get lawyers in order to reduce their sentences,” Nisha added.
Sixteen of the women, all first-time offenders, were fined RM950 and jailed seven days each. Failure to pay the fine in seven days will increase their jail time to six months.
One of them, a minor, was sentenced to attend counselling by the Negri Sembilan Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS) for the next one year.
Transgender rights group Justice for Sisters (JFS) has since started a donation drive to cover the RM1,500 bail for each woman to help them avoid their jail sentence.
“They will be sentenced to a male prison, head shaved. Psychological impact is high,” said the plea by JFS on Twitter.
Nisha said all 17 women were guests at a “joget lambak” session ― a traditional Malay dance party ― after the wedding where most of them had served as mak andam, or bridal makeup artists.
“The family members who organised the event, they lodged a police report against the Negri Sembilan religious authorities for the raid, because it happened on their private property,” said Nisha.
“They were angry, because all those who were detained were known to them.”
Nisha claimed, however, that the police did not act on the report as they said the event was held in a public space instead of private, contrary to the family’s claim.
The wedding and the dance party, Nisha said, was held on the street in front of their family house.
When queried by The Malay Mail Online, JHEAINS’ operations chief Ahmad Zaki Hamzah said he was ordered to not comment on the raid.
But the Jempol Islamic Religious Office confirmed that the raid was conducted on Sunday, although it was not authorised to divulge more details.
Jempol police chief Supt Hamzah Alias could not be reached for comments at the time of writing.
Laws such as Section 66 have been allegedly used by state religious authorities to repeatedly arrest and harass transgenders solely because they don clothes deemed as “feminine”.
In May, three transgenders contended in Court of Appeal that Section 66 violates constitutional articles governing freedom of expression and gender discrimination. The case will continue on July 17.
The case also exemplifies the ongoing tussle between conservative Malaysia and its progressive side that is increasingly tolerant of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities (LGBT).
Muslim-majority Malaysia continues to reject the perceived rise in LGBT activity, which together with growing calls for greater civil liberties, they deem to be an assault against Islam.
“Transwomen” or “transgender” are terms used to refer to those who were born male but associate themselves with the female identity, and has nothing to do with sexual preferences.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/negri-sembilan-islamic-department-crashes-wedding-for-transgender-hunt#sthash.WBducdFc.dpuf
Sex assault victim angry with authorities
The New Zealand woman in the alleged sexual assault case involving a Malaysian diplomat is angry the system did not listen to her and has been trying to deny her justice.
WELLINGTON: The woman allegedly sexually assaulted by a Malaysian diplomat is angry that the authorities have forgotten her plight in the confusion that arose over which country should bring the man to justice.
The New Zealand Herald reported that the 21-year-old was unhappy at the focus of the case, and that her role in the matter had been reduced to just the phrase “the victim”.
The woman told New Zealand lawmaker Jan Logie that she was even, at one point, told by the Kiwi police that she might have to fly to Malaysia to testify against Muhammad Rizalman, the military attache who allegedly attempted to sexually assault her.
“The victim is angry at how the matter has been handled, having watched the televised debates in the New Zealand Parliament.
“The system didn’t listen to her, and has effectively been trying to deny her justice,” Logie, a Green MP, was quoted as saying.
Yesterday, New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade chief executive John Allen apologised to the woman “for the turmoil that she has had to suffer”.
“The woman involved has been through a great deal and the way this matter has been handled has only added to her suffering.
“I hope she, and her family, will welcome news that the accused will return to New Zealand so the matter can be fully investigated as was always the Government’s intention,” McCully was quoted saying by the New Zealand Herald.
Muhammad Rizalman, 38, was arrested by Kiwi police on May 9 and charged in a New Zealand court a day later for burglary and assault with intent to commit rape, with both charges carrying the maximum penalty of a 10-year jail term.
The New Zealand Herald reported that the 21-year-old was unhappy at the focus of the case, and that her role in the matter had been reduced to just the phrase “the victim”.
The woman told New Zealand lawmaker Jan Logie that she was even, at one point, told by the Kiwi police that she might have to fly to Malaysia to testify against Muhammad Rizalman, the military attache who allegedly attempted to sexually assault her.
“The victim is angry at how the matter has been handled, having watched the televised debates in the New Zealand Parliament.
“The system didn’t listen to her, and has effectively been trying to deny her justice,” Logie, a Green MP, was quoted as saying.
Yesterday, New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade chief executive John Allen apologised to the woman “for the turmoil that she has had to suffer”.
“The woman involved has been through a great deal and the way this matter has been handled has only added to her suffering.
“I hope she, and her family, will welcome news that the accused will return to New Zealand so the matter can be fully investigated as was always the Government’s intention,” McCully was quoted saying by the New Zealand Herald.
Muhammad Rizalman, 38, was arrested by Kiwi police on May 9 and charged in a New Zealand court a day later for burglary and assault with intent to commit rape, with both charges carrying the maximum penalty of a 10-year jail term.
Animal Farm: Malaysian Edition
Welcome to a land where pigs, chickens and cows are the true messengers of the human word.
By Jasmine Wong
George Orwell wrote the satirical, dystopian Animal Farm in 1945. Through the use of allegory, Orwell tells the tale of an oppressed and suffering society (made up of animals in a farm), who after toppling their cruel government (made up of humans), elected new leaders among themselves, only to find these new leaders inflicting the same forms of oppression on them.
Suffice to say that such a profound representation of political tyranny and the dangerous promptings of the ego is lost on most Malaysians, who have instead preferred to assume a more literal interpretation of Orwell’s classic.
“The distinguishing mark of man is the hand, the instrument with which he does all his mischief,” so wrote Orwell and he couldn’t have been more right.
Animal Farm: Malaysian Edition involves humans of the most questionable intellect who think cow heads, pig heads and bloodied, dead chickens send a far clearer message than calm and fair discourse. Also, the more sacrilegious the better.
Cows are revered by Hindus, pigs are “haram” to Muslims and chickens… well chickens are simply cheaper and easier to slaughter and fling whole at the Chinese.
Falling short on the gift of rational speech, “concerned” citizens who have felt their very existence threatened by Rayer’s “celaka Umno” remark and Teresa Kok’s comedy sketch have reasoned that the head of a dead animal or two sums up their outrage better than words can. Much like the numerous pig heads thrown in front of mosques at the height of the Allah issue in 2010.
One does wonder how our multi-racial, multi-religious and for the most part peaceful society degenerated so fast into a carcass-wielding band of hooligans every time somebody took issue with what they saw or heard.
Having our own Home Minister punctuate these unruly acts with his “big mouth” remark clearly explains why we as a society are spiralling out of all control. When the top brass can do it, surely we can too.
And speaking of top brass, where’s our Prime Minister? His complete and utter silence has got many wondering if the cat has got his tongue.
When all the cackling and squawking with wings flapping goes on unabated by the likes of Isma, Perkasa and other like-minded radical, religious groups, it does seem that Malaysia has lost all semblance of a democratic and civil society and is sounding more like it is run by a brutish bunch of baboons having it out in the thick of a jungle.
Was Rayer right in shooting his mouth off? Was Teresa Kok’s video childish and totally uncalled for? Is the Allah issue wearing us down?
Our political leaders must fight a more dignified fight, regardless of which side of the political divide they’re on. Some leaders must really learn to speak up. Others who are too vocal should leave their arrogance at the door before opening their mouths.
Did the rakyat not elect you so you could make a difference with your wisdom? With your forward-thinking ideas? With your ideals of a better, more civilised and harmonious, progressive nation?
Today, religious extremists encircle us like ravenous hyenas, while we the rakyat are sitting ducks in the line of fire of vicious oppressors and impotent politicians who do not have an inkling of how to fight back and make things right, the right way.
Parliament is turned into a veritable circus by our MPs every time it’s in session. Our judiciary’s independence—or even wisdom—is suspect. And when a judge does make a wise ruling, it is happily ignored, even by those who are supposed to enforce it. Meanwhile the villains play a cat and mouse game with their ex-wives and hold on to children they have lost custody of.
Yes, the animal farm that is Malaysian society is a sad and disabled one. We lack respect for each other. We have a foolish and selfish sense of superiority over others. And race and religion have taken precedence over hard work, civility and honesty.
It is time we ditched the overemphasis on all things superficial and relearned the true meaning of tolerance in all its forms.
When our politicians act so immaturely for all and sundry to see, it sends out a dangerous message to our kids, who in turn feel it is acceptable to act out aggressively and immaturely every time they dislike something.
Mind you, Malaysia has on more than one occasion become the laughing stock of the world—for our tussle over the word Allah and the way we handled (or rather mishandled) the disappearance of MH370.
Instead of fighting about what words we can or cannot use in our religious texts, how about sending all our ministers and top corporate figures to brush up on their English? To speak more persuasively. To be more knowledgeable of issues at hand. And to carry themselves with more dignity so that when meeting the foreign press, they do not choke over their words, their hands and body trembling as their eyes dart to every corner of the room, and their voices, all but lost despite a microphone right in front of them.
If we are to achieve developed nation status by 2020—and that’s a measly six short years away—it’s about time our politicians got their act together.
As for those numerous religious based NGOs, they should not be given free rein to tear our nation apart, for theirs is the dangerous agenda of destroying, not uniting the people.
We should heed these words of Orwell: “There, comrades, is the answer to all our problems. It is summed up in a single word—Man.”
Jasmine Wong is a FMT columnist.
George Orwell wrote the satirical, dystopian Animal Farm in 1945. Through the use of allegory, Orwell tells the tale of an oppressed and suffering society (made up of animals in a farm), who after toppling their cruel government (made up of humans), elected new leaders among themselves, only to find these new leaders inflicting the same forms of oppression on them.
Suffice to say that such a profound representation of political tyranny and the dangerous promptings of the ego is lost on most Malaysians, who have instead preferred to assume a more literal interpretation of Orwell’s classic.
“The distinguishing mark of man is the hand, the instrument with which he does all his mischief,” so wrote Orwell and he couldn’t have been more right.
Animal Farm: Malaysian Edition involves humans of the most questionable intellect who think cow heads, pig heads and bloodied, dead chickens send a far clearer message than calm and fair discourse. Also, the more sacrilegious the better.
Cows are revered by Hindus, pigs are “haram” to Muslims and chickens… well chickens are simply cheaper and easier to slaughter and fling whole at the Chinese.
Falling short on the gift of rational speech, “concerned” citizens who have felt their very existence threatened by Rayer’s “celaka Umno” remark and Teresa Kok’s comedy sketch have reasoned that the head of a dead animal or two sums up their outrage better than words can. Much like the numerous pig heads thrown in front of mosques at the height of the Allah issue in 2010.
One does wonder how our multi-racial, multi-religious and for the most part peaceful society degenerated so fast into a carcass-wielding band of hooligans every time somebody took issue with what they saw or heard.
Having our own Home Minister punctuate these unruly acts with his “big mouth” remark clearly explains why we as a society are spiralling out of all control. When the top brass can do it, surely we can too.
And speaking of top brass, where’s our Prime Minister? His complete and utter silence has got many wondering if the cat has got his tongue.
When all the cackling and squawking with wings flapping goes on unabated by the likes of Isma, Perkasa and other like-minded radical, religious groups, it does seem that Malaysia has lost all semblance of a democratic and civil society and is sounding more like it is run by a brutish bunch of baboons having it out in the thick of a jungle.
Was Rayer right in shooting his mouth off? Was Teresa Kok’s video childish and totally uncalled for? Is the Allah issue wearing us down?
Our political leaders must fight a more dignified fight, regardless of which side of the political divide they’re on. Some leaders must really learn to speak up. Others who are too vocal should leave their arrogance at the door before opening their mouths.
Did the rakyat not elect you so you could make a difference with your wisdom? With your forward-thinking ideas? With your ideals of a better, more civilised and harmonious, progressive nation?
Today, religious extremists encircle us like ravenous hyenas, while we the rakyat are sitting ducks in the line of fire of vicious oppressors and impotent politicians who do not have an inkling of how to fight back and make things right, the right way.
Parliament is turned into a veritable circus by our MPs every time it’s in session. Our judiciary’s independence—or even wisdom—is suspect. And when a judge does make a wise ruling, it is happily ignored, even by those who are supposed to enforce it. Meanwhile the villains play a cat and mouse game with their ex-wives and hold on to children they have lost custody of.
Yes, the animal farm that is Malaysian society is a sad and disabled one. We lack respect for each other. We have a foolish and selfish sense of superiority over others. And race and religion have taken precedence over hard work, civility and honesty.
It is time we ditched the overemphasis on all things superficial and relearned the true meaning of tolerance in all its forms.
When our politicians act so immaturely for all and sundry to see, it sends out a dangerous message to our kids, who in turn feel it is acceptable to act out aggressively and immaturely every time they dislike something.
Mind you, Malaysia has on more than one occasion become the laughing stock of the world—for our tussle over the word Allah and the way we handled (or rather mishandled) the disappearance of MH370.
Instead of fighting about what words we can or cannot use in our religious texts, how about sending all our ministers and top corporate figures to brush up on their English? To speak more persuasively. To be more knowledgeable of issues at hand. And to carry themselves with more dignity so that when meeting the foreign press, they do not choke over their words, their hands and body trembling as their eyes dart to every corner of the room, and their voices, all but lost despite a microphone right in front of them.
If we are to achieve developed nation status by 2020—and that’s a measly six short years away—it’s about time our politicians got their act together.
As for those numerous religious based NGOs, they should not be given free rein to tear our nation apart, for theirs is the dangerous agenda of destroying, not uniting the people.
We should heed these words of Orwell: “There, comrades, is the answer to all our problems. It is summed up in a single word—Man.”
Jasmine Wong is a FMT columnist.
Arab Spring, Jihad Summer
By Pepe Escobar
Welcome to IS. No typo; the final goal may be (indiscriminate) regime change, but for the moment name change will do. With PR flair, at the start of Ramadan, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS, or ISIL - the Islamic State of the Levant - to some) solemnly declared, from now on, it will be known as Islamic State (IS).
"To be or not to be" is so … metaphysically outdated. IS is - and here it is - in full audio glory. And we're talking about the full package - Caliph included: "the slave of Allah, Ibrahim Ibn 'Awwad Ibn Ibrahim Ibn 'Ali Ibn Muhammad al-Badrial-Hashimi al-Husayni al-Qurashi by lineage, as-Samurra'i by birth and upbringing, al-Baghdadi by residence and scholarship". Or, to put it more simply, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
IS has virtually ordered "historic" al-Qaeda - yes, that 9/11-related (or not) plaything of one Osama bin Laden - as well as every other
jihadi outfit on the planet, to pledge allegiance to the new imam, in theological theory the new lord over every Muslim. There's no evidence Osama's former sidekick, Ayman "the doctor" al-Zawahiri will obey, not to mention 1.5 billion Muslims across the world. Most probably al-Qaeda will say "we are the real deal" and a major theological catfight will be on.
After all, in Syria, ISIL as well as Jabhat al-Nusra were initially fighting under the banner of al-Qaeda, until the brand - in spectacular fashion - decided to dump al-Baghdadi. He and ISIL went too far - with all those videos of decapitations and crucifixions and serial profanation of Shi'ite, Sufi and Christian sanctuaries.
Al-Baghdadi, born Ibrahim al-Badri in Samarra, is an average Sunni Iraqi cleric with a degree in pedagogy from the University of Baghdad. His alter ago was born after Shock and Awe in 2003, and soon metamorphosed into a de facto serial killer - blowing up Shi'ite kids at ice-cream shops or scores of women at Shi'ite weddings.
ISIL's track record in Syria includes banning every flag apart from its own; the destruction of any "polytheist" temple or sanctuary (except if it is Sunni); and strict imposition of Islamically correct women wear. Most of all, it is a track record of terror. This is not an army, rather a well-trained militia of professional mujahid, European passport holders included, with battlefield experience in Iraq, Afghanistan and, to a lesser degree, Chechnya. Heavy weaponizing is petrodollar-financed - the usual, wealthy "Gulf donors", which does not exclude official connections.
Sources of income diversified mightily when ISIL captured the oilfields surrounding Deir Ezzor in Syria; and after the recent offensive across Niniveh province in Iraq, they were able to lay their hands on vast arsenals of heavy artillery, lots of cash and gold bullion and, why not, US Humvees left behind. Their trademark, of course, are those columns of brand new white Toyota Land cruisers - free off road advertising Toyota HQ in Japan may not find particularly welcome.
Loaded with oil and profiting from tax revenue, IS is now firmly on its way to provide (minimal) services and support a (mighty) Jihadi Army - much like the Taliban from 1996 to 2001. One may be sure IS will continue its massive "social engagement" strategy; talk about a chatty Caliphate which loves YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. No wonder they are a hit among Google generation recruits - as well as becoming fund-raising aces via gruesome videos. In thesis, indoctrination progresses hand in hand with "charity work"; residents of Aleppo, for instance, can dwell on how ISIL (gruesomely) looks and feels on the ground.
Mission forever unaccomplished
It's unclear how the new IS reality will play on the ground. The new Caliph has in fact declared a jihad on all that basket of corrupt and/or incompetent Middle East "leaders" - so some fierce "battle for survival" reaction from the Houses of Saud and Thani, for instance, is expected. It's not far-fetched to picture al-Baghdadi dreaming of lording over Saudi oilfields - after decapitating all Shi'ite workers, of course.
And that's just a start; in one of their Tweeter accounts IS has published a map of all the domains they intend to conquer within the span of five years; Spain, Northern Africa, the Balkans, the whole Middle East and large swathes of Asia. Well, they are certainly more ambitious than NATO.
Being such a courageous bunch, the House of Saud is now tempted to accept that imposing regime change on Nouri al-Maliki in Iraq is a bad idea. That puts them in direct conflict with the Obama administration, whose plan A, B and C is regime change.
Turkey - the former seat of the Caliphate, by the way - remains mute. No wonder; Ankara - crucially - is the top logistical base of IS. Caliph Erdogan's got to be musing about his own future, now that he's facing competition. In theory, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Jordan are all saying they're ready to fight what would be a "larger-scale war" than that gift that keeps on giving, the original, Cheney junta-coined GWOT (global war on terror).
And then there's the future of the new $500 million Obama fund to "appropriately vetted" rebels in Syria, which in fact means the expansion of covert CIA "training facilities" in Jordan and Turkey heavily infiltrated/profited from by IS. Think of hordes of new IS recruits posing as "moderate rebels" getting ready for a piece of the action.
It's easier for Brazil to win the World Cup with a team of crybabies with no tactical nous than having US Secretary of State John Kerry and his State Department ciphers understand that the Syrian "opposition" is controlled by jihadis. But then again, they do know - and that perfectly fits into the Empire of Chaos's not so hidden Global War on Terror (GWOT) agenda of an ever-expanding proxy war in both Syria and Iraq fueled by terror financing.
So 13 years ago Washington crushed both al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Then the Taliban were reborn. Then came Shock and Awe. Then came "Mission Accomplished". Then al-Qaeda was introduced in Iraq. Then al-Qaeda was dead because Osama bin Laden was dead. Then came ISIL. And now there's IS. And we start all over again, not in the Hindu Kush, but in the Levant. With a new Osama.
What's not to like? If anyone thinks this whole racket is part of a new live Monty Python sketch ahead of their reunion gig this month in London, that's because it is.
Pepe Escobar is the author of Globalistan: How the Globalized World is Dissolving into Liquid War (Nimble Books, 2007), Red Zone Blues: a snapshot of Baghdad during the surge (Nimble Books, 2007), and Obama does Globalistan (Nimble Books, 2009).
He may be reached at pepeasia@yahoo.com.
(Copyright 2014 Asia Times Online (Holdings) Ltd. All rights reserved. Please contact us about sales, syndication and republishing.)
Welcome to IS. No typo; the final goal may be (indiscriminate) regime change, but for the moment name change will do. With PR flair, at the start of Ramadan, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS, or ISIL - the Islamic State of the Levant - to some) solemnly declared, from now on, it will be known as Islamic State (IS).
"To be or not to be" is so … metaphysically outdated. IS is - and here it is - in full audio glory. And we're talking about the full package - Caliph included: "the slave of Allah, Ibrahim Ibn 'Awwad Ibn Ibrahim Ibn 'Ali Ibn Muhammad al-Badrial-Hashimi al-Husayni al-Qurashi by lineage, as-Samurra'i by birth and upbringing, al-Baghdadi by residence and scholarship". Or, to put it more simply, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
IS has virtually ordered "historic" al-Qaeda - yes, that 9/11-related (or not) plaything of one Osama bin Laden - as well as every other
jihadi outfit on the planet, to pledge allegiance to the new imam, in theological theory the new lord over every Muslim. There's no evidence Osama's former sidekick, Ayman "the doctor" al-Zawahiri will obey, not to mention 1.5 billion Muslims across the world. Most probably al-Qaeda will say "we are the real deal" and a major theological catfight will be on.
After all, in Syria, ISIL as well as Jabhat al-Nusra were initially fighting under the banner of al-Qaeda, until the brand - in spectacular fashion - decided to dump al-Baghdadi. He and ISIL went too far - with all those videos of decapitations and crucifixions and serial profanation of Shi'ite, Sufi and Christian sanctuaries.
Al-Baghdadi, born Ibrahim al-Badri in Samarra, is an average Sunni Iraqi cleric with a degree in pedagogy from the University of Baghdad. His alter ago was born after Shock and Awe in 2003, and soon metamorphosed into a de facto serial killer - blowing up Shi'ite kids at ice-cream shops or scores of women at Shi'ite weddings.
ISIL's track record in Syria includes banning every flag apart from its own; the destruction of any "polytheist" temple or sanctuary (except if it is Sunni); and strict imposition of Islamically correct women wear. Most of all, it is a track record of terror. This is not an army, rather a well-trained militia of professional mujahid, European passport holders included, with battlefield experience in Iraq, Afghanistan and, to a lesser degree, Chechnya. Heavy weaponizing is petrodollar-financed - the usual, wealthy "Gulf donors", which does not exclude official connections.
Sources of income diversified mightily when ISIL captured the oilfields surrounding Deir Ezzor in Syria; and after the recent offensive across Niniveh province in Iraq, they were able to lay their hands on vast arsenals of heavy artillery, lots of cash and gold bullion and, why not, US Humvees left behind. Their trademark, of course, are those columns of brand new white Toyota Land cruisers - free off road advertising Toyota HQ in Japan may not find particularly welcome.
Loaded with oil and profiting from tax revenue, IS is now firmly on its way to provide (minimal) services and support a (mighty) Jihadi Army - much like the Taliban from 1996 to 2001. One may be sure IS will continue its massive "social engagement" strategy; talk about a chatty Caliphate which loves YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. No wonder they are a hit among Google generation recruits - as well as becoming fund-raising aces via gruesome videos. In thesis, indoctrination progresses hand in hand with "charity work"; residents of Aleppo, for instance, can dwell on how ISIL (gruesomely) looks and feels on the ground.
Mission forever unaccomplished
It's unclear how the new IS reality will play on the ground. The new Caliph has in fact declared a jihad on all that basket of corrupt and/or incompetent Middle East "leaders" - so some fierce "battle for survival" reaction from the Houses of Saud and Thani, for instance, is expected. It's not far-fetched to picture al-Baghdadi dreaming of lording over Saudi oilfields - after decapitating all Shi'ite workers, of course.
And that's just a start; in one of their Tweeter accounts IS has published a map of all the domains they intend to conquer within the span of five years; Spain, Northern Africa, the Balkans, the whole Middle East and large swathes of Asia. Well, they are certainly more ambitious than NATO.
Being such a courageous bunch, the House of Saud is now tempted to accept that imposing regime change on Nouri al-Maliki in Iraq is a bad idea. That puts them in direct conflict with the Obama administration, whose plan A, B and C is regime change.
Turkey - the former seat of the Caliphate, by the way - remains mute. No wonder; Ankara - crucially - is the top logistical base of IS. Caliph Erdogan's got to be musing about his own future, now that he's facing competition. In theory, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Jordan are all saying they're ready to fight what would be a "larger-scale war" than that gift that keeps on giving, the original, Cheney junta-coined GWOT (global war on terror).
And then there's the future of the new $500 million Obama fund to "appropriately vetted" rebels in Syria, which in fact means the expansion of covert CIA "training facilities" in Jordan and Turkey heavily infiltrated/profited from by IS. Think of hordes of new IS recruits posing as "moderate rebels" getting ready for a piece of the action.
It's easier for Brazil to win the World Cup with a team of crybabies with no tactical nous than having US Secretary of State John Kerry and his State Department ciphers understand that the Syrian "opposition" is controlled by jihadis. But then again, they do know - and that perfectly fits into the Empire of Chaos's not so hidden Global War on Terror (GWOT) agenda of an ever-expanding proxy war in both Syria and Iraq fueled by terror financing.
So 13 years ago Washington crushed both al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Then the Taliban were reborn. Then came Shock and Awe. Then came "Mission Accomplished". Then al-Qaeda was introduced in Iraq. Then al-Qaeda was dead because Osama bin Laden was dead. Then came ISIL. And now there's IS. And we start all over again, not in the Hindu Kush, but in the Levant. With a new Osama.
What's not to like? If anyone thinks this whole racket is part of a new live Monty Python sketch ahead of their reunion gig this month in London, that's because it is.
Pepe Escobar is the author of Globalistan: How the Globalized World is Dissolving into Liquid War (Nimble Books, 2007), Red Zone Blues: a snapshot of Baghdad during the surge (Nimble Books, 2007), and Obama does Globalistan (Nimble Books, 2009).
He may be reached at pepeasia@yahoo.com.
(Copyright 2014 Asia Times Online (Holdings) Ltd. All rights reserved. Please contact us about sales, syndication and republishing.)
‘Harmony bill not finalised yet’
The New Straits Times
by SHARANPAL SINGH RANDHAWA
by SHARANPAL SINGH RANDHAWA
KUALA
LUMPUR: THE perception that the National Harmony Act draft bill has been
prepared and will be presented by the government in Parliament is not
true.
Minister
in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri said the bill had yet
to be finalised as it was still going through the process of
consultation with stakeholders.
The government would not do anything in a hurry or enact a law that could disrupt national harmony, she said.
“As
I mentioned during the Parliament session in Dewan Rakyat recently, I,
again, would like to clarify that I understand there were three working
draft bills on national harmony, which were recommended by the
Legislative and Policies to Promote National Harmony under the National
Unity Consultative Council (NUCC).
“However, all these remain as recommendations rather than something that has been finalised by the government.”
Nancy
said the bill must go through a rigorous process of drafting and its
contents shall not conflict with the Federal Constitution.
It
will then be reviewed and examined by the Attorney-General to ensure
conformity with the principles of law and in accordance with the
Constitution and other related laws.
“Only
upon completion of all negotiations and engagement process, the final
draft bill proposed by NUCC will be forwarded to the Attorney-General
for review and further refined as the process of drafting laws that
apply in this country. Only then it can be brought for approval to the
cabinet before being tabled in Parliament.”
On
July 11, 2012, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had indicated the
government’s intention to repeal the Sedition Act 1948 and replace it
with a new act, known as the National Harmony Act.
The
objective of the National Harmony Act is not only to strengthen the law
but also to find a mechanism to determine the best balance between the
need to guarantee the right to freedom of expression contained in the
constitution and allow legal actions taken against those who use
sensitive issues to undermine national solidarity.
NUCC,
which is under the purview of the National Unity and Integration
Department (NUID), an agency under the supervision of Tan Sri Joseph
Kurup, had consulted stakeholders, including non-governmental
organisations, for their input.
NUCC
is an independent body set up by the government on Sept 11 last year in
an effort to reduce the national unity and racial polarisation to build
a united Malaysian nation.
It
is intended to discuss complex issues in Malaysian society to pave the
way for a solution and close the gap that prevents unity.
Nancy said the Sedition Act 1948 remained in force until its repeal was announced at a later date.
“The input of the proposed drafts are being researched and studied.”
She
said the submission of the drafts did not mean the suggestions given
had been agreed to, adding that elements such as the diversity of
religions and races in the country, including Islam as the official
religion of the Federation and the rulers as enshrined in the
constitution, would be taken into consideration for each proposal.
Muhammad Joraimee Deemed To Be Cold And Reclusive
KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Bernama) -- One of the five individuals being
hunted by police for being allegedly involved in militant activities,
Muhammad Joraimee Awang Raimee, is deemed to be cold and does not
socialise with his neighbours.
Joraimee Muhammad, better known as Abu Nur who lives at his mother's house with his wife and child in Taman Selayang Baru, Batu Caves here, is often seen by his neighbours coming home late at night.
Zalikha M. Hassan, 44, said Joraimee and his family members never came out to mingle with the surrounding community.
"They just stayed at home and even if they go out it is only to work and for prayers. The windows and doors of their house is always closed as if there is no one at home. Only certain people are allowed into the house," he said here, today.
Zalikha said Muhammad Joraimee's cold attitude came to the fore when he had a tiff with a neighbour who held a feast in the neighbourhood.
"Parking was restricted so guests were forced to park in front of Muhammad Joraimee's house. But he and his family were not happy and ordered the vehicle to be removed."
He said it was almost four months since Muhammad Joraimee was last seen returning home.
Ali Arsyad, 49, a neighbour for the past 30 years, said although they knew each other since childhood, Muhammad Joraimee was somewhat quiet.
"After SPM he worked with me for a while before he went to Egypt to continue his studies. During work he was his normal self but he was not one to hang out after working hours," he said.
A survey by Bernama found Muhammad Joraimee's home empty, a dusty Toyota Avanza was parked in front of his house.
Meanwhile, a security guard of the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) identified only as Zulkifli, 46, said he knew Muhammad Joraimee, a MPS secretariat department staff, as a strong religious person, but they rarely talked to each other.
"Since the last three to four months I have not seen him entering the MPS premises," he said.
Meanwhile, efforts to meet Dr Mahmud Ahmad's mother failed after almost an hour of waiting in front of her house in Taman Selayang Baru. But two men believed to be the suspect's siblings were seen entering the house but refused to meet anyone.
Dr Mahmud is among the five suspects whom the police are looking for with regard to militant activities.
At 12.45pm, a team of policemen came out of the suspect's house after conducting an investigation.
In Tawau, efforts to meet the family members of another suspect, Mohd Amin Baco, 31, failed when the residents of Kampung Titingan claimed not to know or to have heard the name of the suspect.
The village head of Kampung Titingan, Ismail Amoo, 65, said he had never heard the name Mohd Amin and never knew that the suspect lived in the village. But he said he was not sure if the suspect used a different name because most people here used nicknames, he said when met at his house today.
Efforts to trace the family members of another suspect known as Jeknal Adil, 30, also failed because the suspect's last address in Kampung Kurnia Jaya Batu Empat Jalan Apas, Tawau, is currently empty as the village has no occupants anymore.
Most of the residents have moved to other places after a fire destroyed more than 80 squatter houses in the village on Dec 17 last year.
Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar released a list of names of five individuals sought by police to facilitate investigations into the activities of militants in the country.
They are Mahmud or Abu Hanzalah, Muhammad Joraimee or Abu Nur, photostat shop and UM stationery shop owner Mohd Najib Husen or Abraham, 36, who lives at the Tainia Apartments, Kota Damansara, Mohd Amin and a labourer, Jeknal Adil or Jek.
Joraimee Muhammad, better known as Abu Nur who lives at his mother's house with his wife and child in Taman Selayang Baru, Batu Caves here, is often seen by his neighbours coming home late at night.
Zalikha M. Hassan, 44, said Joraimee and his family members never came out to mingle with the surrounding community.
"They just stayed at home and even if they go out it is only to work and for prayers. The windows and doors of their house is always closed as if there is no one at home. Only certain people are allowed into the house," he said here, today.
Zalikha said Muhammad Joraimee's cold attitude came to the fore when he had a tiff with a neighbour who held a feast in the neighbourhood.
"Parking was restricted so guests were forced to park in front of Muhammad Joraimee's house. But he and his family were not happy and ordered the vehicle to be removed."
He said it was almost four months since Muhammad Joraimee was last seen returning home.
Ali Arsyad, 49, a neighbour for the past 30 years, said although they knew each other since childhood, Muhammad Joraimee was somewhat quiet.
"After SPM he worked with me for a while before he went to Egypt to continue his studies. During work he was his normal self but he was not one to hang out after working hours," he said.
A survey by Bernama found Muhammad Joraimee's home empty, a dusty Toyota Avanza was parked in front of his house.
Meanwhile, a security guard of the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) identified only as Zulkifli, 46, said he knew Muhammad Joraimee, a MPS secretariat department staff, as a strong religious person, but they rarely talked to each other.
"Since the last three to four months I have not seen him entering the MPS premises," he said.
Meanwhile, efforts to meet Dr Mahmud Ahmad's mother failed after almost an hour of waiting in front of her house in Taman Selayang Baru. But two men believed to be the suspect's siblings were seen entering the house but refused to meet anyone.
Dr Mahmud is among the five suspects whom the police are looking for with regard to militant activities.
At 12.45pm, a team of policemen came out of the suspect's house after conducting an investigation.
In Tawau, efforts to meet the family members of another suspect, Mohd Amin Baco, 31, failed when the residents of Kampung Titingan claimed not to know or to have heard the name of the suspect.
The village head of Kampung Titingan, Ismail Amoo, 65, said he had never heard the name Mohd Amin and never knew that the suspect lived in the village. But he said he was not sure if the suspect used a different name because most people here used nicknames, he said when met at his house today.
Efforts to trace the family members of another suspect known as Jeknal Adil, 30, also failed because the suspect's last address in Kampung Kurnia Jaya Batu Empat Jalan Apas, Tawau, is currently empty as the village has no occupants anymore.
Most of the residents have moved to other places after a fire destroyed more than 80 squatter houses in the village on Dec 17 last year.
Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar released a list of names of five individuals sought by police to facilitate investigations into the activities of militants in the country.
They are Mahmud or Abu Hanzalah, Muhammad Joraimee or Abu Nur, photostat shop and UM stationery shop owner Mohd Najib Husen or Abraham, 36, who lives at the Tainia Apartments, Kota Damansara, Mohd Amin and a labourer, Jeknal Adil or Jek.
IGP: Have we ever shielded errant cops?
Khalid was commenting on the slew of exposes by MyWatch chairperson R Sri Sanjeevan (right).Khalid told reporters that the whistleblower has refused to cooperate with the police on investigations concerning his allegations.
"If we have enough evidence, we will not protect our men. Have we ever protected our men in criminal cases? If there is evidence, bring it," he said.
"The same with Sanjeevan, he exposes this and that. But when I send my senior officers (to obtain information), he refuses to give.
"I don't know who he wants to give the evidence to. We will probe all complaints and take action," Khalid added.
Recently, Sanjeevan claimed that he has evidence regarding a sex scandal involving a top police officer.
However, he wanted an assurance from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that action would be taken before revealing the evidence.
On another matter, Khalid said the police were tracking down the five Malaysians, who are believed to have fled abroad, wanted in connection with militant activities.
"They are very dangerous. I wish to stress that this is related to terrorism. God willing, we are on top (of the matter). We are also working closely with other security forces," he said.
Yesterday, the police said that among those sought was a lecturer at Universiti Malaya's Academy of Islamic Studies.
Dr Mahmud Ahmad, 36, is a senior lecturer at the Department of Akidah and Islamic Thought.
'Biggest joker' IGP lying, says whistleblower
"He is the biggest joker of all," the whistleblower told Malaysiakini.
Sanjeevan was responding to Khalid's claim that the MyWatch chairperson did not cooperate with the police in their investigations regarding errant cops.
The police chief also said that Sanjeevan refused to hand over the so-called evidence when he sent a senior officer to meet him.
However, Sanjeevan (right) claimed that no such police officer had met him over his allegations that ranged from corruption to sex scandals."That's a blatant lie," he said. "It is the IGP who refused to meet me."
Sanjeevan said that he sent numerous letters to the police regarding this matter, but the police chief "did not bother" to respond.
Earlier today, Khalid said the police never protected errant cops and called for investigations of such wrongdoings to be made public.
Recently, Sanjeevan claimed that he has information regarding the sex scandal involving a top cop but refused to divulge details without assurance from the Home Ministry and the police.
Sanjeevan was shot by two unknown gunmen in July last year in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan following months of exposes that he had made against police officers.
Cow head attack not Umno's work, says sec-gen
Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Mansor has stressed that the party has nothing to do with the skinned cow head that was placed at DAP assemblyperson RSN Rayer's home last Sunday.
"That is unbecoming. You shouldn't do it."I am answering as a secretary-general of my party (and) I don't think my party would do it.
"I don’t know who did it, but everytime something like this happens, Umno is to blame. Umno is not that evil," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.
"As Umno secretary-general, I am confident that this is not Umno's work."
He
added that as a Muslim, he, too, would not like it if someone placed a
pig's head at his doorstep and urged all against such actions.A motorcyclist wearing a full-face helmet was recorded on CCTV throwing the cow head at the Seri Delima assemblyperson’s house gate before speeding off.
Rayer had sparked Umno’s ire when he called the party ‘celaka’ (damned) in the Penang state assembly.
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