No looking back, keep moving

THE members elected to the Punjab Assembly were sworn in on Wednesday, and that completed the long drawn process of transfer of power from a junta-guided entity to the genuine representatives of the people. The transition was painful as uncertainty dogged it all the way. That the change was overdue was forcefully demonstrated by the overwhelming vote against the ruling clique that had perpetuated a dictatorial system in the name of ‘real’ democracy. That the people’s struggle against the system enjoyed popular support was confirmed by the degree of unanimity expressed by the members in electing the presiding officers of their respective legislatures and the new prime minister and chief ministers. The spirit of national reconciliation that seems to be permeating the ongoing process of government formation brings into sharp relief the people’s desire to shun the bitter past and to move forward. But for the general will to fully prevail some additional distance has to be travelled on the road booby-trapped by the remnants of ousted regime. Of late, efforts seem to having been made to derail the process of national reconciliation. In Karachi, ex-Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim was manhandled within the precincts of the provincial assembly, not once but twice. In Lahore, a former federal minister and a committed votary of President Musharraf was thrashed by a mob comprising lawyers and some unidentified elements. Intriguingly, while the PPP is being accused of the Arbab Rahim episode, the Sher Afgan manhandling is being blamed on the PML (N). Both the PPP and the PML (N) are the emerging political power centres with large parliamentary support at the Centre and in the provinces.
Without the two joining hands against the Musharraf regime such a massive electoral victory that they scored would not have been possible. Maybe, the two became victims of the public anger as they were perceived to have played the role of Musharraf’s henchmen to the hilt. Or, maybe their humiliation was part of a sinister plot to defame the new democratic leadership. One would not know the truth of the matter very soon although some accusatory fingers have been raised in the direction of the Presidency. There is however, another aspect worthy of mention that may have influenced such behaviour in Lahore and that is the proclivity of the lawyers’ leaders to keep their movement for restoration of the deposed judges in a state of frenzy despite the fact that they have agreed to wait for the time announced for the parliament to come up with a modus operandi for their restoration. Whatever the teething troubles, the new order is beset with and howsoever menacing be the spanner being thrown into the works of transition to democracy, there should be no looking back. The new leadership should not only conserve the gains achieved so far, but should work to widen the scope of their achievement by deepening public awareness for which the parliament and provincial assemblies are the appropriate forums.



Anticipating the Big Event

GOVERNMENT leaders around the world have voiced their support for the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games with less than six months to go before the widely anticipated event. According to initial arrangements, leaders of more than 60 countries, including representatives of royal families, will attend the Olympics, according to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Despite calls by various organizations, individuals and nongovernmental groups to boycott the Olympics because they disagree with some of China’s internal and international policies, no government leaders have agreed to do so.U.S. President George W. Bush, who accepted the Chinese Government’s invitation to attend the games in August, said he would not use the Olympics to highlight political issues. “I’m going to the Olympics,” Bush said in an interview with the BBC on February 14. “I view the Olympics as a sporting event.” Bush also said he would not use the Olympics as an opportunity to express his opinions to Chinese citizens in a public way. Instead, he could always address hotly contested issues, such as the Darfur conflict in Sudan, with Chinese leaders, he added. China attaches great importance to the Darfur issue and has played a positive and constructive role in properly resolving the issue, said Liu Jianchao, Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, at a regular press conference on February 14. “We have noticed recent discussions and acts on China’s stance on the Darfur issue. According to my knowledge, some are out of the concerns over the situation there, but others tried to link the issue with China’s policy on Sudan and the Beijing Olympic Games,” Liu said. “It is understandable if they do not understand the Chinese Government’s policy on Darfur. But if they have political objectives, we will not accept that.”
While wishing the Beijing Olympics a success, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told a reception for foreign correspondents in Germany on February 18 that the Beijing Olympic Games would offer a significant opportunity for China, because more people will be able to get to know and understand the country through the event. In a telephone conversation with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on February 19, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown expressed his appreciation for China’s positive efforts aimed at resolving the Darfur issue. Britain stands against boycotting the Olympics, he said. Prince Charles of Britain said the Beijing Olympics are an important event while meeting visiting Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan on February 19. He said he looked forward to exchanges between Britain and China in the field of Olympics. London will host the 30th Olympiad in 2012. China is firmly opposed to any attempts to politicize the Olympic Games. It believes that the Olympics are a sports gala for people around the world and that it is their common aspiration to see a successful Olympics in Beijing. Some organizations’ attempts to play up topics such as Darfur and human rights and link them with the Olympic Games to bespatter China’s image and exert pressure on China “violate the Olympic spirit and principles and are doomed to failure,” said the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

—Beijing Review