A Smoke Screen
Pakistani President Musharraf is pretty damn good at diversionary tactics.
Declaring that he wants to ensure Mukhtaran Mai finds justice, he has invited women from around the world to come and tell of their abuse and recommend solutions at an international conference supposedly to be held in Pakistan. "The government would ensure that such a conference will be representative of the different types of women victimization occurring all over the world rather then single out any one country."
Musharraf claims that he is a fervent supporter of women's rights, and that he wants to make a contribution to highlighting injustices against women with his conference. What a magnificent smoke screen that would be. By the time the women had finished detailing injustices from all the other countries they come from, Pakistan could slink away, unobserved and safe to continue on its way. Significant in all of this directing away of attention is Musharraf's failure to set a date for the big get-together.
Even more significant is his failure to ensure that justice was indeed served in Mai's case. Why haven't the maximum sentences already been served against those men, and every other pariah of their ilk? Why was Mai's passport revoked when she was invited to the States to talk about her ordeal? Musharraf claimed he made the decision to prevent her from going because he believed her attendance at the conference would have "tarnished Pakistan's image" rather than improved the lot of women.
What a load of bullshit. This man has been throwing around enough manure for Pakistan to be knee-deep in mushrooms. Shining the light of international awareness on a problem is an incredibly important step toward correcting it. Witness the protest from the American government against Mai's being forbidden to travel. Voila! Her passport has been returned.
Musharraf doesn't want to admit that he and his country did not need Mai to do any tarnishing. The backward, misogynistic system that holds sway there has done it all by itself, by condoning, and even encouraging violence against women. "I have always condemned in the strongest possible terms the actions of powerful groups to seek revenge on those who are weak by humiliating their women," Musharraf said in a statement posted on his Web site (www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk). More bullshit flying around ... Duck!
The president wants to project Pakistan as a moderate and progressive Muslim nation. If that is truly his desire, then he can get a good start by having the death sentences served against the men who victimized Mai, and doing it right now. His next step could be to provide Mukhtaran with an all-expenses-paid, first-class trip to America. Such actions would go a long way toward providing Pakistan with some tarnish remover.
Declaring that he wants to ensure Mukhtaran Mai finds justice, he has invited women from around the world to come and tell of their abuse and recommend solutions at an international conference supposedly to be held in Pakistan. "The government would ensure that such a conference will be representative of the different types of women victimization occurring all over the world rather then single out any one country."
Musharraf claims that he is a fervent supporter of women's rights, and that he wants to make a contribution to highlighting injustices against women with his conference. What a magnificent smoke screen that would be. By the time the women had finished detailing injustices from all the other countries they come from, Pakistan could slink away, unobserved and safe to continue on its way. Significant in all of this directing away of attention is Musharraf's failure to set a date for the big get-together.
Even more significant is his failure to ensure that justice was indeed served in Mai's case. Why haven't the maximum sentences already been served against those men, and every other pariah of their ilk? Why was Mai's passport revoked when she was invited to the States to talk about her ordeal? Musharraf claimed he made the decision to prevent her from going because he believed her attendance at the conference would have "tarnished Pakistan's image" rather than improved the lot of women.
What a load of bullshit. This man has been throwing around enough manure for Pakistan to be knee-deep in mushrooms. Shining the light of international awareness on a problem is an incredibly important step toward correcting it. Witness the protest from the American government against Mai's being forbidden to travel. Voila! Her passport has been returned.
Musharraf doesn't want to admit that he and his country did not need Mai to do any tarnishing. The backward, misogynistic system that holds sway there has done it all by itself, by condoning, and even encouraging violence against women. "I have always condemned in the strongest possible terms the actions of powerful groups to seek revenge on those who are weak by humiliating their women," Musharraf said in a statement posted on his Web site (www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk). More bullshit flying around ... Duck!
The president wants to project Pakistan as a moderate and progressive Muslim nation. If that is truly his desire, then he can get a good start by having the death sentences served against the men who victimized Mai, and doing it right now. His next step could be to provide Mukhtaran with an all-expenses-paid, first-class trip to America. Such actions would go a long way toward providing Pakistan with some tarnish remover.
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