This was written by MORGAN WRIGHT, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR 05/05/19
almost 5 years ago but it remains relevant for background information on where we are today
Sunday, March 31, 2024
Sunday, December 12, 2021
Sunday, September 22, 2019
America Is Losing the Second Space Race to China
I noted this sentence in particular:
China’s impending dominance will neutralize U.S. geopolitical power by allowing Beijing to control global information flows from the high ground of space.
Here's the link to the Foreign Policy article:
America Is Losing the Second Space Race to China
China’s impending dominance will neutralize U.S. geopolitical power by allowing Beijing to control global information flows from the high ground of space.
Here's the link to the Foreign Policy article:
America Is Losing the Second Space Race to China
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Australia May Well Be the World’s Most Secretive Democracy - New York Times
This article mustn't be ignored at any cost:
Australia May Well Be the World’s Most Secretive Democracy
Australia May Well Be the World’s Most Secretive Democracy
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Sunday, September 16, 2018
China thinks Islam is a disease, and Muslim leaders don’t care
Please find the direct link to the article here..
This was written by Azad Essa and is a great leap forward in the introspective journey of the Muslim World.
I had been thinking about this very issue for the past few years and had even done some research on it. I didn't think any mainstream media would pick up on it and was mildly surprised to read about it here.
Without bringing my firm stance of a neutral Jammu and Kashmir into disrepute, in my personal capacity I am increasingly worried about China's hegemonic intent, which is not too dis-similar to other expansionist empires throughout history.
The writer of this article has also had to pay for his bold journalism by losing his regular column.
This was written by Azad Essa and is a great leap forward in the introspective journey of the Muslim World.
I had been thinking about this very issue for the past few years and had even done some research on it. I didn't think any mainstream media would pick up on it and was mildly surprised to read about it here.
Without bringing my firm stance of a neutral Jammu and Kashmir into disrepute, in my personal capacity I am increasingly worried about China's hegemonic intent, which is not too dis-similar to other expansionist empires throughout history.
The writer of this article has also had to pay for his bold journalism by losing his regular column.
Monday, July 31, 2017
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Friday, July 22, 2016
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Kashmir’s Great Supporter Lord Avebury Prepares for his Final Destination
Written by QUAYUM RAJA
Fame and
popularity are two different things in my opinion. One can become famous even by committing a
senseless act, while the popularity requires special qualities and
characteristics. Lord Avebury is a
unique personality with an enormous sense of humanity and political commitment
and skills.
Lord
Avebury is a distinguished British politician. He was born on 29 September
1928. He was qualified in Upper Canada and Balliol
College Oxford
Lord Avebury chaired a Parliamentary Group on
Human Rights for many years. He is now
ill and old, but still active on human rights. Lady Avebury is a significant
support to Lord Avebury. He can hardly
walk now, but he still attended a meting on the Muslims of Burma Independence
I
first heard of Lord Avebury back in 1981 when I set up a campaign in Europe
with the help of my European fellow students to persuade the European
governments to stop India from hanging the Kashmiri leader Muhammad Maqbool
Butt, whose only crime was that he wanted his homeland reunited. I sent a letter to the London-based Amnesty
International from Germany UK
Although
my all activities were peaceful, there was a turning point in my life when a
group of young British Kashmiri kidnapped an Indian diplomat in Britain London
Lord
Avebury played an imperative role, not just to secure our release, but in our day
to day welfare in prison. For instance, when the British government classified
me as a “Top Security” prisoner, the authorities prevented me from having a
normal visits and receiving letters. I contacted Lord Avebury, which was my
first every letter to him. He replied to
me in three days enclosing a copy of a letter to the Home Secretary to which
the latter replied that I was getting too many letters and Lord Avebury should
advise me to reduce my written communication. Without consulting me, Lord
Avebury retorted the Home Secretary that Mr. Raja had no family in the UK and
telephone access and now you (the Home Secretary) is suggesting that he should
not have a sufficient communication of mail with his family either. The Home Secretary kept me High Risk until I
challenged him in the High Court 13 years later to remove this category, but I
was allowed to write as many letters as I wanted to my family and friends as a
result of Lord Avebury’s logical argument.
The ground on which I petitioned to the High Court against the Home
Secretary was annual reports by the prison authorities in which I had been
consistently described as “ a MODEL PRISONER” , while I was not treated
accordingly.
When I won the case in the European Court of
Human Rights after about 22 years, I chose to come back home, because had I
accepted the conditional stay in Britain, I could not have possibly seen my
people and country for many years to come. I love my people and romantically
beautiful country, which has been described by many European writers as “A
HEAVEN ON EARTH!” but I continue to disagree and challenge certain political
values and customs in my homeland. When
I challenged certain prison rules in the beginning of my arrest, the prison
authorities which tried to mould me remarked that: “don’t worry young man, you
will be forced to adopt gradually.” I retorted the governor that I would never
accept those rules which I see as disgraceful. The same thing happened when I
returned home. When I challenged the undemocratic values in my native culture,
certain serving politicians and their followers remarked that this political
culture would gradually force me to change myself. Now, they say “Raja sahib is not going to
give up the values he has brought with him from Britain” and when I was in
Britain, the British authorities mentioned in a report that had been conducted
after 15 years that there was no point trying to change Mr Raja, because he was
not going to give up his Islamic values.”
These are some of my experiences, which make me laugh at the wisdom and
lovers of the status quo, who exist in every culture!
When Lord Avebury heard that I received a
“HERO WELCOME” on my arrival back home, Lord Avebury and Dr Brian Iddon MP were
the first two serving British politicians, who congratulated me and wished me
good luck for the future. They predicted
how difficult it might be for me to re-adjust myself in my native culture,
which I left as a teenager 26 years earlier of which 22 were spent in
prison. Although I have not forgotten
and will never forget those compassionate people, who supported me during what
then appeared to be as the most difficult time of my life (the deaths of my son
born after my release and previously the
death of my mother and brother were even more difficult) in prison, I was
sorting out my files a few weeks back when Lord Avebury’s above mentioned
letter caught my eyes. I read it again
and felt guilty for not keeping in touch with such a compassionate political
believer. I emailed him immediately to find out of his well-being. I was still
not happy and I rang him. Lady Avebury answered the phone, who advised me to
ring a half an hour later. When I did that, Lord Avebury attended the phone
himself. I apologized for not remaining
in contact and he said he was delighted to hear again from me. I was shocked to hear when he said that his
life was going to end by July 2016 because of a blood cancer!
However,
the brave Lord Avebury seems to have reacted to the sad news very well. His
morals are still very high and he still participates in social and political
activities as much as he can. He
considers death not as something to worry or mourn about, but as a natural
process. He has always supported the
Natural Justice and therefore he will remains in the hearts and minds of the
millions around the world. He also
visited Jammu Kashmir
during the 1990s uprising. On his return
from the Valley of Kashmir , he concluded that certain Kashmiri leaders
were themselves a big problem in solution to Kashmir
question. We can not disagree. We pray
that this great human being enjoys every moment of his remaining life in this
world!
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Monday, February 10, 2014
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
A SUMMARY OF QUAYYUM RAJA’S PROFİLE
Abdul Quayyum Raja was born into a Rajput clan famous for resistance against invaders throughout the ages. He was born on the 15th of September 1956 in the forcibly divided land of Kashmir. He matriculated from his home town Khuıratta before moving to Europe in 1979. He continued his education and obtained a Master's Degree ın Social Sciences and a degree in Psychology, including certificates in International History, English Language and Literature as well as in the German and Dutch languages. He has authored six books and hundreds of articles on various issues of public concern. His current column is 'Speaking the Truth'.
While studying in
Paris in the mid 1980s, an interview by the 16 year old daughter of the Father
of Movement for the Reunification of Kashmir: Maqbool Butt - caught hıs eye -
in which she cried for help in a plea to save her father whose hanging by India
was nigh. Raja launched a political and diplomatic campaign to save the
Kashmırı hero. As he was well-known in
political circles in Europe, he was ınvıted to a meetıng ın London, where the issue
of the prospective hangıng of Maqbool Butt had been dıscussed. Quayyum Raja,
who had joined Maqbool Butt’s political party: the Jammu Kashmir National Liberation
Front (JKNLF) a few months earlier, had been ınvıted to the meeting. He urged
an intensification of the political and diplomatic efforts to save Maqbool
Butt. However, a few days later, some young British Kashmiris captured an Indian
diplomat in England and demanded the release of Maqbool Butt. The Indian
Government promptly hanged Maqbool Butt and the Indıan diplomat was killed in
revenge by his captors. As the killers escaped to Pakistan, Quayyum Raja who had
been previously asked by the British Police and pressurized to co-operate. He
refused. He condemned both the hanging of Maqbool Butt and the killing of the Indian
diplomat. The situation deteriorated further when the Pakistani government told
it's British counterpart that it would not hand over the escaped Kashmiris
unless the British handed over the former Governor of the Punjab, who had
escaped to London following a military coup.
As a result,
Quayyum Raja and his friend Rıaz were charged with murder but sentenced
secretly in 1985. Ten years later, the London High Court ruled that the secret
sentence was unlawful. The documents also revealed a secret plan between the Indian
and the British governments to keep Raja and Riaz in prison for the rest of their
lives. They took the British government to the European Court of Human Rights.
Consequently, Riaz was released after 19 years but Raja was kept in detention until
the European Court ordered his release in 2005. By then, Raja had served 22
long painful years in prison. Raja, who was denied the right to stand for
election from British jail, fielded a candidate on his behalf, who wrested away
a seat held by the then British ruling Labour party for 35 years.
Quayyum Raja, received a hero's welcome in Kashmir, but almost half of his family members had already passed away, including his mother and eldest brother. He married a teacher after his release and has three daughters and one son whose ages range between 1-7 years. Raja found Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) or Pakistani-administered Kashmir as a most comatose and powerless system. Terming the education system as vandalism, he took the AJK government to court for not including their national history in the national curriculum. Raja won the case. He was offered political adjustment but he refused to accept it at the expense of his dream for the re-unıfıcatıon of Kashmır. That implies the re-unification of hundreds of thousands of forcibly divided families. As a result, hıs personal life became much harder than ever before. He is currently chairman of the Diplomatic and Political Committee of Jammu Kashmir National Liberation Conference, whose president Arıf Shahid was assassinated on 13.05.2013.
Finally, in
living memory Raja is perhaps second only to Nelson Mandela in terms of
enduring the longest political sentence for a national cause.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Quayyum Raja's Interview of Turkey's ruling AK Party's Head of Foreign Affairs
EROL ADAYILMAZ IS Head of Foreign Affairs in Turkey’s ruling AK or Justice & Development Party. He speaks English fluently and distinctly apart from being well-versed with national and international history. Like most Turks, he is proud of Ottoman history and the vision of his leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
As Turkey has always been very close to my heart, I already knew of the Erdogan Administration’s political, economic and diplomatic achievements to some extent, however what I witnessed during my recent visit to Turkey was far more substantial than originally thought. As I raised some questions about the Ottoman victory over the Roman Empire and recent achievements, I was invited by Erol Adayilmaz to his office in Istanbul, where the following conversation took place.
Q.
Historical research indicates that when the Ottoman Empire took over Istanbul, the local people of Greek background happily accepted the authority of the Ottomans. What was the reason?
A.
The Sultan declared that locals were safe. That nobody would be expelled. The conflict was between the Roman and Ottoman empires, not against the local people of Greek background. The Turks were famous for good administration and justice. They delivered justice and established an effective administration and therefore, people responded positively.
(In separate interviews with Professor Fethi of Istanbul University and Seven Turan - Foreign Desk Editor - of the daily Hurriyet, they concurred with the above statement.)
Q.
Did any section of Istanbul's population oppose Kemal Ataturk's 'Movement of Independence'?
A.
Over all, there was unity. The respect for multiculturalism played an important role.
Q.
How will the AK Party balance it's membership with the EU and Muslims at large?
A.
Turkey is a bridge. Turkey is the only Muslim country applying for EU membership. Our country is in a unique position, geographically and historically. Turkey understands its role and will Inshallah play it effectively.
Q.
Who deserves the credit for Turkey's economic achievements thus far?
A.
The Prime Minister Erdogan, of course. He was the Mayor of Istanbul before he became prime minister. He started an economic development campaign whilst Mayor. PM Erdogan is a sincere, visionary and charismatic leader with great management skills.
Q.
Do you have or envisage a full welfare state with free medical treatment, free education, housing, child benefit, social security and a pension for all citizens?
A.
Yes, Inshallah. We are working for this task and we call it vision 2023, the year when we will mark the anniversary of a hundred years of independence of our Republic.
Q.
Does everybody have a job? If not, how do the unemployed survive?
A.
We have only 8 percent unemployment, which is yet less than developed EU members. The unemployed people do get some social help.
Q.
How do you define your Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's 'Diplomatic Vision'?
A.
Good relationship with everyone for peace and humanity.
Q.
Is his "Zero Conflict" policy with neighbours working?
A.
Yes, despite the Syrian conflict - which is directly affecting Turkey - the relationship continues.
Q.
How do you describe his diplomatic style?
A.
Sincere, active and simple. He involves himself with people in need.
Q.
The AK Party's government has done very well on Palestine, Myanmar and the Kashmiri victims of the earthquake in 2005. The people of Kashmir are very thankful to you for that but can you be specific on the resolution to the Kashmir problem? Do you think Kashmir is a territorial problem between India and Pakistan or is it rather a matter of birth right of the people of kashmir?
A.
I have to study the Kashmir Issue more carefully and specifically before answering this question.
Q.
What rights do Syrian or any other refugees obtain here in Turkey in terms of residence, education, health and social security benefits?
A.
We set up camps for them where they get rations, health facilities and education.
Q.
What are the AK Party's future national goals?
A.
Vision 2023: further improving our legal, educational and health systems whilst targeting full employment and a comprehensive welfare system.
Q.
Finally, any message to Pakistanis and Kashmiris at home and abroad?
A.
Our future is common. We should all work together for a world with a better future.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
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