Financed by the iconoclastic emir of Qatar, the Gulf state where
Financed by the iconoclastic emir of Qatar, the Gulf state where
U.S. war operations are based, Al Jazeera is the only independent
broadcasting voice in the Arab world, watched by 35 million
people. That is why the decision by the New York Stock Exchange
and Nasdaq to bar the station's reporters is so repugnant.
It is the only Arabic television station that regularly
interviews Israeli officials. It is also an important forum for
American officials. Last week alone, it interviewed three senior
members of the American government, including Gen. Richard Myers,
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Al Jazeera has also been a vital source of information about
al-Qaeda. Its reporters have had access to Qaeda leaders, and
tapes of Osama bin Laden have found their way to the station's
offices. This has been a useful window on a world that for too
long has been utterly alien to us.
The ban on Al Jazeera by the princes of the free market puts
them in impressive company. Libya and Tunisia have both
complained that Al Jazeera gives too much air time to opposition
leaders. Jordan has thrown it out. Kuwait refused visas to its
correspondents who were to be placed with American forces based
there.
If a free, uncensored press ever arrives in the Arab world,
many Americans will be shocked by what it says. Then, the
energetic if somewhat tendentious broadcasts of Al Jazeera will
seem, in comparison, like the nuanced objectivity of the BBC. For
right now, Al Jazeera deserves all the help and support it can
get.
-- The New York Times
Indonesians' discipline
Can Indonesians hold orderly street demonstrations? The answer is
yes. That is what happened on Sunday when about one million
people marched to protest against U.S. aggression against Iraq.
It was labeled as the biggest street demonstration ever in the
history of the Republic.
What was amazing was that women felt safe enough to bring
their babies and children along to participate.
Demonstrations, part of democracy, is a legal form of
expressing opinions. But, in Indonesia, demonstrations have meant
chaos, anarchy and vandalism. Demonstrations have also meant
death.
Therefore, demonstrations have always been terrible until the
Justice Party (PK) showed us how to hold street demonstrations,
involving a large number of people, in a proper manner. PK has
initiated several street protests and all have been orderly. The
point is that Indonesian people can be disciplined and well
behaved.
Indonesians living in Singapore also abide by local laws,
which prohibit people from littering, smoking and spitting in
public places.
But, as soon as they return to Indonesia, they change
drastically. Why? The answer is that laws are respected and
enforced in Singapore. The other factor is leadership. A
community with leaders with vision and discipline will produce
people who respect the law.
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta
Bush and Blair,
Hitler and Genghis
The people of Indonesia have clearly conveyed their message:
Stop the war now!
Sunday's massive demonstration in Jakarta involving hundreds
of thousands of people from various religions and social
backgrounds who spoke out against the violence.
A conscience is beautiful. Unfortunately U.S. President George
W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair no longer seem to
possess theirs. They are filled with greed and a desire to rule
the sovereign country, which has oil deposits that are second
only in size to Saudi Arabia.
Both Bush and Blair have thrown their consciences away and
replaced them with a desire to kill. The question is what is the
difference between Bush and Blair or Hitler and Genghis Khan?
The death of hundreds of innocent civilians in Iraq shows the
clear objectives of the U.S.'s ambitions. What the U.S. and its
allies are doing now is not releasing Iraqis from the tyrant by
unseating Saddam Hussein as they (the U.S. and its allies) claim.
They just want to rule Iraq the violent way: Killing.
What logic could explain that what the U.S. is doing in Iraq
is acceptable? They have ignored international aspirations and
laws. They have destroyed and ruined the world order and
civilization.
Bush and Blair have played down antiwar protests, which could
someday boomerang on them. Now, Asia and Africa no longer believe
that the U.S. is a country which respects democracy and human
rights.
The war must stop. The UN, established to manage world peace
after World War II, has failed to function properly, but this
does not mean that there is no way out.
The world moral power, boosted by France, Russia and China as
well as Germany, together with other civilized countries, could
take the initiative to stop the war.
-- Republika, Jakarta