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August     Last updated: August 12  5:00 p.m.

World Window

Cry of Jehad in Philippines

Atul Rawat

KIDNAPPING of innocent and vulnerable people seems to be the favourable propaganda tool for the Islamic terrorists worldwide. The Islamic terrorists of Philippines are no exception. Recently, they had kidnapped a group of twenty-one people which included foreigners, and women. Now these terrorists have declared a jehad against the Philippine Government. The gang led by Abul Sayyaf declared that they also supported the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's call for jehad. The Muslims are demanding that Philippines be divided and a Muslim state be created in Southern Philippines.

The declaration for jehad was made by the MILF two weeks ago claiming it to be a struggle against oppression. Out of the twenty-one people kidnapped these terrorists are still holding two Germans, three French nationals, two Finnes, two South Africans, two Filipinos and three Malaysians after releasing a German woman, six Malaysians and three Filipinos. They released recently a German reporter also but are still holding five reporters who were kidnapped while covering the hostage saga. The authorities in the Philippine government which are engaged in negotiating with these terrorists have started to appeal to various journalists to voluntarily leave the Jolo island so that they are not exposed to kidnapping. Now only about a dozen journalists most of them Filipino remain in Jolo island.

 The Government negotiators are trying their level best to keep the terrorists in good humour. They are maintaining as low profile as possible. They are not even condemning the call for jehad. Robert Aventajado the top negotiator even said that the call for jehad would not affect his talk with the rebels. He said grimly keeping a low profile that, “We cannot dictate to them. But from my point of view it will not affect the negotiations”. Aventajado is so much worried about further abductions that he has appealed to media people to shift to nearby Zamboanga.

These terrorists who are abducting people in the name of Islam are also accepting large ransoms upto one million dollars per person for those who have already been released and are asking for more money. Though officially Philippine government has denied paying money, local officials have testified to the payments. Military capabilities of Philippines are not sufficient to handle the Islamic terrorists. The US has recently supplied them with military hardware. But the main need remains training of the Philippine forces, without which the very existence of Philippines as one state is at stake.

Bhutan worried over proselytising

It is not only in India that there is a growing awareness against the Christian designs of proselytising Asia in the third millennium. Even the smaller countries are realising the danger. Even a pacifist and Buddhist nation as small as Bhutan is equally worried about the implications of conversions. They have also begun to understand that conversion to Christianity does not only change one's way of worshipping, but it changes one's perception of his national identity and tradition.

The issue has become so serious in Bhutan that it had to be taken up by none less than the Bhutanese national assembly itself. The national assembly expressed its concern at “increasing attempts” at proselytism by the Christians. The assembly also felt that this kind of development could “create resentment within the close knit society” in Bhutan. During the discussion on the subject one after another, speakers clearly stated that unchecked conversion could undermine Bhutan's identity and even its security.

The correctness of this argument can easily be understood as Bhutan is situated so much near the Indian North-East and what has happened in its neighbourhood has certainly opened the eyes of these representatives of Bhutan. Participating in the debate the home minister of Bhutan Thinley Gyamtsho made it clear that though the law in Bhutan did not stop anyone from practicing Christianity within his home, but it did not allow proselytism. It is to be noted that seventy-five per cent of the Bhutanese believe in Buddhism while the rest are Hindus. Only a few are Christians but of late they have tried to multiply their numbers. Giving the reason for not allowing the conversion the home minister said that it involved “condemning and criticising of the Buddhist and Hindu religions”.

At the completion of the debate the assembly resolved to strictly enforce the existing law on religious conversions. The speaker of the assembly Kinzang Borji noted the concern of the members. Meanwhile, the home minister has explicitly said that Bhutan cannot afford too many divisive forces. If one sees the developments in Indonesia, Fiji and other parts of Asia Pacific and the role of Christianity and conversions, the fears of Bhutanese home Minister and National Assembly look absolutely justified.

Confusion unlimited Inc.

 In an interesting development in Great Britain—the mother of industrial revolution and thus also that of the western paradigm of development—is herself being threatened by its own progeny. The top MNCs have warned Britain that she should join the Euro trade zone. It is to be noted that Britain was maintaining an ambivalent attitude towards joining the Euro trade zone. On the other hand, a US Senator urged England to cut itself free from the European Union and join the US and its other partners in NAFTA—the North American Free Trade Agreement.

 The British decision-makers on economy are thus torn apart by these two opposing forces. The British Prime Minister Tony Blair is trying to avoid the single currency issue which will eventually clear the way for joining the Euro trade zone at least until next elections. Some observers feel that he might call the next elections as soon as next year itself. Sir Richar Veedham, the Vice-Chairman of NEC, Europe, said “The future inward investment will soon dry up unless the government commits us to Euro”. Mitsubishi, Toyota and Nestle executives agree.

 On the other hand, the labour government is trying to pose the whole issue as a simple question of whether the Euro is good for jobs, industry and finance. While those opposed to common currency claimed that the very identity of a nation depends on currency and if the common currency is accepted the British identity including the political and economic philosophy will melt. But MNCs differ. They are warning of serious consequences of Britain remaining out, as this would leave investors vulnerable to the savings of value of pound. The Conservatives are presently opposing the issue of Britain joining the Euro most seriously.

In the US, Senator Phil Gramm of Texas has appealed to his Anglo-Saxon siblings across Atlantic that the NAFTA was more compatible with the British tradition of free trade and Parliamentary democracy than the protectionist European Union. He has warned the British that entering Euro will mean a major loss of sovereignty for Great Britain. It will be interesting to see as the time unfolds what decision does the nation of shopkeepers takes about the international trade. It will be sooner rather than later that Britain will have to decide whether or not to join Euro or for that matter NAFTA or to remain conservative bearing the fluctuations of pound and threatenings of MNCs.