The New Nation - Internet Edition

From the Foreign Press: Rebranding America

Nicholas D. Kristof

The other day I had a conversation with a Beijing friend and I mentioned that Barack Obama was leading in the presidential race:

She: Obama? But he's the black man, isn't he?

Me: Yes, exactly.

She: But surely a black man couldn't become president of the United States?

Me: It looks as if he'll be elected.

She: But president? That's such an important job! In America, I thought blacks were janitors and labourers.

Me: No, blacks have all kinds of jobs.

She: What do white people think about that, about getting a black president? Are they upset? Are they angry?

Me: No, of course not! If Obama is elected, it'll be because white people voted for him.

[Long pause.]

She: Really? Unbelievable! What an amazing country!

We're beginning to get a sense of how Barack Obama's political success could change global perceptions of the United States, redefining the American "brand" to be less about Guantánamo and more about equality. This change in perceptions would help rebuild American political capital in the way that the Marshall Plan did in the 1950s or that John Kennedy's presidency did in the early 1960s.

In his endorsement of Obama, Colin Powell noted that "the new president is going to have to fix the reputation that we've left with the rest of the world." That's not because we Americans crave admiration, but because cooperation is essential to address 21st-century challenges; you can't fire cruise missiles at the global financial crisis.

In his endorsement, Powell added that an Obama election "will also not only electrify our country, I think it'll electrify the world." You can already see that. A 22-nation survey by the BBC found that voters abroad preferred Obama to McCain in every single country - by four to one overall. Nearly half of those in the BBC poll said that the election of Obama, an African-American, would "fundamentally change" their perceptions of the United States.

Europe is particularly intoxicated by the possibility of restoring amity with America in an Obama presidency. As The Economist put it: "Across the Continent, Bush hatred has been replaced by Obama-mania."

Steven Kull, director of the Programme on International Policy Attitudes, which conducted the BBC poll, said that at a recent international conference he attended in Malaysia, many Muslims voiced astonishment at Obama's rise because it was so much at odds with their assumptions about the United States. Remember that the one thing countless millions of people around the world "know" about the United States is that it is controlled by a cabal of white bankers and Jews who use police with fire hoses to repress Blacks. To them, Obama's rise triggers severe cognitive dissonance.

"It's an anomaly, so contrary to their expectation that it makes them receptive to a new paradigm for the U.S.," Kull said.

Europeans like to mock the vapidity of American politics, but they also acknowledge that it would be difficult to imagine a brown or black person leading France or Germany.

As for Africa, Obama's Kenyan father was of the Luo tribe, a minority that has long suffered brutal discrimination in both Kenya and in Uganda (where it is known as the Acholi). The bitter joke in East Africa is that a Luo has more of a chance of becoming president in the United States than in Kenya.

Yet before we get too far with the self-congratulations, it's worth remembering something else.

In the Western industrialised world, full of university graduates and marinated in principles of egalitarianism, the idea of electing a member of a racial minority to the highest office seems an astonishing breakthrough. But Jamaica's 95 percent black population elected a white man as its prime minister in 1980, and kept him in office throughout that decade.

Likewise, the African nation of Mauritius has elected a white prime minister of French origin. And don't forget that India is overwhelmingly Hindu but now has a Sikh prime minister and a white Christian as president of its ruling party, and until last year it had a Muslim in the largely ceremonial position of president.

Look, Obama's skin colour is a bad reason to vote for him or against him. Substance should always trump symbolism.

Yet, if this election goes as the polls suggest, we may find a path to restore America's global influence - and thus to achieve some of our international objectives - in part because the world is concluding that Americans can, after all, see beyond a person's epidermis. My hunch is that that is right, and that we're every bit as open-minded about racial minorities as Jamaicans already were a quarter-century ago. -The Economist

Bali bombers’ execution date set

Imam Samudra, Amrozi and Mukhlas, also known as Ali
Ghufron: They are known as the 'smiling bombers'.
Internet

BBC Online

Three men convicted over the 2002 Bali bombings will be executed in early November, the Indonesian attorney general's office says.

The three - Imam Samudra, Amrozi and Mukhlas, also known as Ali Ghufron - were sentenced to death for their roles in the attacks which killed 202 people.

They were found guilty of planning the attacks, which targeted nighclubs at Bali's tourist resort of Kuta.

The bombings were blamed on the militant group Jemaah Islamiah.

Friday's announcement comes after several appeals made on behalf of the three men.

All legal recourse for the convicts has been finalised, and all requirements met

Indonesian attorney general

The three are held in Nusakambangan maximum security prison, where officials said the executions would take place.

A pledge by the attorney general to see them die by Ramadan - which fell in early September - was not met.

However in its latest statement, his office said: "All legal recourse for the convicts has been finalised, and all requirements met.

"The execution of Amrozi, Ali Ghufron and Imam Samudra will be carried out at the beginning of November."

Earlier this month, Indonesia's Constitutional Court rejected defence arguments that the three should be beheaded, instead of being executed by firing squad, which, they argued, did not guarantee instant death and would amount to torture.

The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Jakarta says few Indonesians support the bombers, but the execution of men who say they were defending Islamic values is likely to spark some reaction even so.

DAE officials asked to combat pest attack

Shamim Jahangir

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has directed its district and upazila level officials to find out the places where standing Aman crop has been attacked by disease and pests and suggest steps to combat them.

The district and upazila level officials have been asked to visit the pest and disease affected Aman fields in the wake of the press report that the Aman production target might fall short by at least 20 percent this season due to disease and pest attack.

The officials have been directed to take all necessary steps including application of pesticides and removal of contaminated water from the affected fields.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Adviser Dr CS Karim, Director General of DAE M Samsul Islam and Director of Field Service Wing at DAE Abdul Mazid Biswas continued their follow up visit to the pest affected areas to see for themselves the intensity of the problems and the measures to address them.

Dr CS Karim along with the high officials of DAE visited Gaibandha, Dinajpur, Rangpur and Jessore during last couple of days. During their visit, they found several lakh hectares of Aman land affected by 'sheath light disease' due to less use of TSP and MOP, sources said.

Besides, Aman on several thousands hectares of land across the country have been damaged following major attack by brown plant hopper, pamri and leaf-folder pests.

A total of 56.54 lakh hectares of land across the country have been brought under Aman cultivation this season with a target to produce 136.97 lakh tonnes of paddy, DAE sources said.

Greater Mymensingh, greater Rangpur and greater Barisal districts are the worst affected areas which account for the 40 percent of the total Aman production.

Nizami demands lifting of emergency

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Moulana Motiur Rahman Nizami yesterday said the prime task of the caretaker government is to hand over power to an elected civilian government by holding all-party participatory elections on December 18.

"The constitutional responsibility of the caretaker government is to hold an credible election and the state of emergency must be withdrawn soon for its acceptability," he was speaking as chief guest at a meeting at Moheskhali upazila in Cox's Bazar.

Jaker Hossain, Ameer, Maheskhali upazila (south) Jamaat presided over the meeting.

It was also, attended among, others by Moulana Md Abu Taher, assistant secretary general, Hamidur Rahman Azad, secretary of city unit , Md Shahajan, president and GM Rahimullah, assistant secretary of district Jammat, Moulana Abdur Rashid, Advocate Hamidul Huq, Moulana Nurul Alam Al Mamun, Shariar Chowdhury, Advocate Ibrahim Khalil, Shamim Iqbal, Rezaul Karim Ahmad Jahedul Anwar, Dr Fakruddin Khan Manikk, Arif Mainuddin and Darbesh Ali Mohammad Arman.

Moulana Nizami laid emphasis on the strong unity among the four party alliance.

"Leaders and activists of the party alliance must play their due role to make success in the forthcoming parliamentary elections," he added.

The Ameer of Jammat also held meetings with district party leaders and activists of the party and took dinner with leaders and activists of the four party alliance at Circuit house in Cox's Bazar.

Qualitative change in political culture necessary

Staff Reporter

President of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) ASM Rob has said a qualitative change should be brought about in our political culture to frustrate those trying to identify the country as a failed state.

He was speaking as chief guest on the occasion of the 16th death anniversary of Mohammad Shajahan, the founder president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Sramik Jote, at the party's central office in the city yesterday.

Sramik Jote president Abul Khaer Sajjad chaired the meeting.

Abdul Malek Ratan, JSD General Secretary, said this government has failed to prove its impartiality. People do not trust it anymore.

Speakers demanded immediate restarting of the closed and sick industries and declaration of the Wage Commission.

Prof Mohammad Shafique, Executive President of JSD, Mohammad Siraj Mia Executive President of Sramik Jote, Abdul Khaleq and Mohammad Tauhid, among others, were present.

The leaders of JSD-Sramik Jote-Bangladesh Chhatra League and family members of Shajahan visited his grave at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard in the morning.

Retired armed forces members could serve the nation : BKP

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Kallyan Party chairman Major General (Retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim yesterday called upon the retired armed forces officials to serve the nation by involving themselves in politics as they stand with the people during war and natural disasters.

"The members of the armed forces could utilise their merits and knowledge's for the welfare of the nation after their retirement from service," he said while exchanging views with the retired army officials at Tamanna Complex at Kachukhet in Dhaka Cantonment.

Defence Ex-Soldiers Welfare Association (DESWA) organised the programme, which was presided over by honorary Captain (Retd) Afazul Huq.

It was also, attended among, others, by Colonel (Retd) Engineer Mustaq Hossain, Vice Chairman of the party, senior Warrant Office (Retd) Sirajul Islam Patwary, secretary general, DESWA, senior Warrant Officer Mojibul Huq and Corporal (Retd) Qazi Sirajul Huq.

BKP chairman said, people of the country did not support the politics of violence, hartal and anarchy.

Explaining the party's philosophy of politics ' Politics for Change', the BKP chairman said," Our party is committed to build a prosperous Bangladesh by uniting the people of the country".

AL election campaign from Nov 4

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) presidium member Abdur Razzak yesterday said that AL was prepared to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections on December 18 and called on the people to be alert to fight against the conspiracy of foiling the polls.

He also informed that the party will start poll campaign from November 4, as the advisers during the dialogue on Thursday hinted that relaxation some provisions of the state of emergency by 2/3 November to ease the polls campaign for the political parties.

Razzak was addressing the leaders and activists as chief guest at a discussion meeting organised by the Rickshaw Workers League at the party's head quarter.

"The national election must be held on December 18. AL is fully ready for the polls, although some ill-motivated quarters are trying to defer the national election on the excuse of reforms," Razzak said.

Demanding the unconditional release of party chief Skeikh Hasina he said, "There cannot be any elections in the country without Sheikh Hasina."

He said, "There should be a reasonable time gap of at least 45 days between the national election and upazila election."

Meanwhile another AL presidium member Suranjit Sen Gupata at a press briefing at his residence demanded lifting of state of emergency and unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina.

"Sheikh Hasina will participate in the forthcoming national polls after being freed through legal procedure. I hope that she will lead the party to participate in the poll campaign and in formation of next government after winning the parliamentary polls," he noted.

Winter vegetables arrive, price high

Staff Reporter

The price of some essential commodities are still showing an upward trend in the city's kitchen markets.

Though different varieties of winter vegetables have started arriving in the markets, the price of those are a little bit high.

Except for coarse variety of rice, the price of other fine qualities remained high despite sufficient supply and stock, market sources said.

Even after constant supply of rice in the markets and open market sale of rice (OMS) the price of the staple is not coming down to a tolerable level," said Abul Kasem, a private service holder.

Market experts said people belonging to the low-income group are the worst sufferers. They urged the concerned authority to contain the price of essential commodities.

Rice sellers in the city markets claimed that the price of different varieties of rice was gradually decreasing. They hoped that the price of rice would come down to a tolerable level once the new Aman harvest starts arriving in the next couples of weeks.

As per market survey yesterday coarse rice was sold at Tk 30 to Tk 31 per kg, Nazirshail was selling at Tk 40 to Tk 44, Minicate at Tk 40 to Tk 42 and BR-28 at Tk 36 and Paijam at Tk 36 to Tk 37.

Soyabean oil was selling at Tk 104 to Tk 105 per kg, while the super Soyabean at Tk 68 to Tk 70 and palm oil at Tk 60 to Tk 62 per kg.

One small size of cauliflower or cabbage was sold at Tk 20 to Tk 25, radish at Tk 20 to Tk 24 per kg, beans Tk 65 to Tk 70, long beans at Tk 34 to Tk 36, potato at Tk 14 to Tk 16, papaya at Tk 10 to Tk 12 and tomato at Tk 65 to Tk 70. Local variety of Masur dal was sold at Tk 106 to Tk 108.

JP asks nomination seekers to collect forms from Sunday

BSS, Dhaka

Jatiya Party (Ershad) candidates, who are interested to contest in the upcoming general election, have been asked to collect their nomination forms between October 26 and 30.

The intending candidates for all constituencies of the country can collect nomination forms from Major (retd) Mohammad Khaled Akhter, Treasurer of the party, from the party Chairman's Banani office.

Successful trial of vaccine to prevent TB

BSS, Dhaka

The Union announced the successful results of a TB candidate-vaccine trial for people living with HIV (PLHIV) across the globe, according to message received here on Friday.

Investigators from Dartmouth Medical School (DMS) in the United States and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) in Tanzania reported on the successful trial of a new vaccine against TB on Tuesday at the 39th World Conference on Lung Health in Paris.

The researchers described a placebo-controlled seven-year efficacy trial among 2,000 PLHIV showing that those who received the vaccine had a reduced rate of tuberculosis.

The research called "DarDar" study was conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania under the supervision of Dr Lillian Mtei and Dr Kisali Pallangyo of MUHAS.

2 top terrors held in Narsingdi after gunfight

UNB, Narsingdi

Two top terrors were arrested amid a violent gunfight with police in West Kandapara area of the district town yesterday.

The arrested were identified as Alam alias Nangta Alam, 26, and Momen Mughal, 23, of the area.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of DB police surrounded the house of Alam at about 3pm.

Sensing the presence of law-enforcers, Alam and his accomplice Momen, who was also in the house at that time, opened fire on them, forcing police to fire back that triggered a gun-battle, said a spot account.

During the gunfight, the law-enforcers arrested Alam, who received bullets in his both legs, and Momen from the spot.

Police rushed Alam to Sadar hospital. Later, he was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated while Momen taken in police custody.

BNP’s no to JS polls minus Khaleda

Staff Reporter

BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday said his party would not take part in the forthcoming parliamentary elections without Begum Khaleda Zia.

" BNP will not participate in any polls without party chairperson Begum Zia," he told journalist at his NAM flat.

When asked if BNP went to polls under any pressure and without Begum Zia, Delwar said, "we would not only boycott the polls but also resist it".

He also demanded of the government to materialise their seven-point charter of demands that include withdrawal of the state of emergency and deferment of upazila elections.

On the issue of lifting the emergency, the BNP secretary general said they want to see the emergency to be lifted soon.

Asked if the government was lifting the state of emergency in phases he said, "We want emergency to be lifted once and for all not in phases".

Reaffirming their seven-point demand to the government, Delwar said, "BNP will participate in the polls if the government accepts our demands pressed during the dialogue ".

He said that many candidates would be facing various hurdles in electioneering unless the emergency laws were revoked.

It is mentioned that the first-round of government-BNP dialogue was held on October 14, when the party had raised its seven-point demands including dropping all charges against all political leaders and cancellation of the Representation of Peoples Order (RPO).

In the second-round of dialogue held on Thursday, the Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said the issue of Khaleda Zia's presence in the country's politics was ' decided'.

No headway yet to lift emergency: Syed Ashraful

Netrokona Correspondent

Awami League (AL) Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday categorically said that it will be impossible for the voters to exercise their franchise fearlessly in a congenial atmosphere under the emergency rule.

He also expressed his dissatisfaction over the government's dilly-dallying move to withdraw the emergency rule saying, " The government is yet to make any headway to lift the state of emergency which is the main barrier on the way to hold a free, fair and credible national election."

Ashraful Islam was addressing the leaders and activists at a condolence meeting of former MP and president of Netrokona district AL Fazlur Rahman Khan at local Mahua auditorium.

He also apprehended that the government would not be able to create a level playing field for the poll participants noting that the candidates would have to face problems to conduct their polls campaign under emergency rule.

Referring to the last Thursday's dialogue with the advisers, he said, " We talked about a number of crucial issues including unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina, lifting of state of emergency and deferment of upazila polls."

Ashraful called upon the leaders and activists to remain united and alert so that none could foil the December polls. There was no alterative to holding the polls for establishing democracy.

MD Samsuzzuha, president of Netrokona district AL, presided over the meeting. Ali Khan Khasru, general secretary of Netrokona district AL, Zilllur Rahman Numan, publicity secretary of Netrokona district AL, among others, also spoke on the occasion.

Dhaka ranks 2nd among UN peacekeeping nations

UNB, Dhaka

Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury Friday said Bangladesh remains unswervingly committed to the goals of the United Nations and hoped that the UN will stand by the country's efforts to realize its dream.

He made the remarks at a function commemorating the UN Day marking the 63rd anniversary of the organization at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

Prof. Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmood and UN Country Coordinator Renata Lok Dessallien also spoke at the function.

Describing the present day UN as the 'Parliament of Mankind', Iftekhar said Bangladesh, and the world, sees the UN as "a protector of sovereignty and territorial integrity, as keeper and builder of peace, as partner in development, and as ally in the fight against poverty, hunger and disease."