Transparency and accountability are associated with clean
\ngovernment. Without transparency, it would be difficult to
\neliminate irregularities.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives has a monitoring function.
\nWithout monitoring, we could not expect to have a clean
\ngovernment. However, the function must be done transparently to
\nsee both the good work as well as the bad.<\/p>\n
The House has again humiliated itself. Its working committee
\non the purchase of the Sukhoi jet fighters aims to investigate
\nalleged irregularities in the deal. However, the investigation
\nwas done behind closed doors ... in secret. Unfortunately, this
\nis occurring in the era of reform.<\/p>\n
The Sukhoi working committee could inflict losses on President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, because the closed investigation would
\nstrengthen the people's perception that the purchase of the
\nfighter planes has violated rules.<\/p>\n
The image of the House is getting worse. It would be better if
\nthe working committee is abolished because the public is already
\ndizzy with all kinds of political play and masks.
\n-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>\n
No model figures<\/p>\n
It seems that Jakarta is the only city in the world where its
\nresidents continue to brawl. We cannot understand and accept the
\nfact that such nonsense continually repeats itself.<\/p>\n
Reports of brawls in Cakung, East Jakarta; Manggarai, South
\nJakarta and Matraman, Central Jakarta, are common. The recent
\nfracas took place in Cipinang, East Jakarta, and Petojo Selatan,
\nCentral Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Surprisingly, most of the clashes are sparked by trivial
\ndisputes between two people.<\/p>\n
Jakarta is far from an ideal place to live. It is a place
\nwhere conflicts can happen at anytime and anyplace due to
\neconomic reasons. In such a city where gaps between the rich and
\nthe poor and the educated and the uneducated are very steep,
\njealousy can trigger clashes.<\/p>\n
The demographic map encourages the spirit of solidarity among
\nthose of the same backgrounds. Unfortunately, the solidarity has
\nfrequently resulted in negative action. The residents can easily
\nbecome enraged, even when a member of the group has an encounter
\nwith other people.<\/p>\n
What we really need is credible leaders who can mediate in
\ndisputes. We are lacking credible leaders, including the
\nneighborhood unit heads.<\/p>\n
-- Warta Kota, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Violence against women<\/p>\n
A Rawalpindi-based NGO's revelations about women victims of
\nviolence are horrifying. According to the data collected by it,
\nsome 5,000 women were burnt to death in the last five years by
\ntheir husbands or in-laws in Rawalpindi-Islamabad and the
\nadjoining areas alone. Revealing the gory details, the rights
\ngroup's spokeswoman noted with shock and horror the latest method
\nof torturing women to death by electrocution.<\/p>\n
The situation in many other parts of the country is no better
\neither. Considering the alarming number of women becoming victims
\nof violence -- harassment, physical abuse, selling of girls in
\nmarriages or offering them to adversaries as compensation to
\nsettle tribal disputes, rape, imprisonment under false charges of
\nfornication, mutilation, acid throwing, burning, electrocution,
\nhonor killing -- not enough is being done at any level -- legal,
\nsocial or political -- to fight these evils and to safeguard
\nwomen's rights, interests and, above all, their physical safety
\nand well-being. The fact that their tormentors are seldom, if
\never, brought to justice, makes it only more alarming.<\/p>\n
Regressive social practices, rooted in tribal and feudal
\ncustoms and traditions, coupled with an obscurantist
\ninterpretation of religious edicts, are the main hurdles in way
\nof according women their due rights, status and protection.
\nChanging social attitudes towards women in a society in
\ntransition such as ours requires sustained legal and social
\nefforts and nation-wide legal aid services for women.<\/p>\n
The discriminatory Hudood, Qisas and Diyat Ordinances and the
\nLaw of Evidence are repressive in spirit and application and
\ndeserve to be repealed or suitably modified. Increased
\nrepresentation of women in our legislatures now provides the
\nright conditions and opportunity to get things moving on this
\nvery important front.<\/p>\n
Pakistan cannot become a moderate, progressive and a
\nprosperous Muslim country without strengthening civil society and
\nabiding by its norms. This requires, first and foremost, giving
\nmen and women equal access to opportunities in life, with
\nparticular emphasis on the protection of the rights, interests,
\nsafety and well-being of women. -- The Dawn, Karachi<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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