november 16-30, 2012 tells the facts and names the names vol. 19, no. 20 Vanishing Point of increased or stable carbon emissions, of rising average global temperatures and of rising sea levels is now clear: nothing Canaries in the South Pacific short of a global compact to reduce and cut-back on carbon can possibly help By Vijay Prashad turn back the tide. en years ago, the islands of under. The Gilbertese lost two islands But the situation seems hopeless. The Abanuea and Tebua Tarawa in that year. Others have since followed. Durban deal of 2011 saved the Kyoto the state of Kiribati vanished The fate of the small island is to protocols, but certainly not Kiribati: Tunder the waters. The island of Tepuka disappear. Abanuea, the island with once more there will be deliberations Savilivili lost its coconut trees due to beaches that were fated for forever, was on how to act, and once more there salination. Kiribati, located in the center the canary. will be chatter about a Global Climate of the Pacific Ocean, takes its name for Kiribati’s president Anote Tong has Fund for mitigation and technology a certain pronunciation of the last name become an important spokesperson for development. All this is at the expense of of Captain Thomas Gilbert. On the islands and island cultures that totter the attempt to make sure that the global way to China after having dropped off on the edge of extinction. “Already temperature increase will remain below a boatload of convicts at Botany Bay in we have whole villages being washed 2 degrees Celsius (most expect that the 1788, Gilbert chanced on these islands. away. There’s no running away from feeble Durban deal, which postpones They took his name. One of them had the reality that the sea levels are rising. action until 2020, will allow average an earlier name, Abanuea, which means There is no running away from that temperatures to rise to about 3.5 degrees the beach which is long-lasting. It lasted reality.” From Kyoto to Durban, from Celsius by 2020 – the death sentence for a long time, but could not withstand the one Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Kiribati). rising ocean in 1999. That’s when it went Change report to another, the certainty prashad continued on Page 2

Pakistan and America Caught in a still matters very much. As Governor Romney explained: the Bad Romance “just can’t walk away” from Pakistan because its more than 100 nuclear weapons may fall into the hands of By Charles Pierson jihadists. Never mind that Pakistan’s nukes are tightly controlled by the Is it time to divorce Pakistan? huge loads of resentment toward the Pakistan army, the most efficient, most – Bob Schieffer, moderating the third United States following the effort to disciplined institution in the country. Obama-Romney dislodge the Soviets from Afghanistan in Forget, too, that Pakistan is already Presidential Debate, October 22, 2012 the 1980s. As Pakistanis see it, the United paranoid that the United States will try States used Pakistan, then dumped to seize its nuclear arsenal. “Loose nukes” e can’t just walk away from Pakistan as soon as the war was over. In will be the go-to pretext for any future Pakistan,” Republican October 1990, Uncle Sam, that ingrate, US intervention in Pakistan. Presidential nominee Mitt reimposed sanctions it had placed on Shortly after 9/11, Pakistan again Romney told Bob Schieffer at the third Pakistan before the war in order to halt W entered an alliance with the United and final Romney-Obama debate. Pakistan’s drive for a nuclear bomb. States. Pakistan was less than enthusiastic President agreed. Neither The United States hadn’t cared about about the courtship. However, this was candidate gave any indication that he Pakistan’s nuclear program so long as the period in which President George cared what Pakistan thought in the Pakistan was of use in Afghanistan. (The W. Bush warned other countries: matter. Does Pakistan want a divorce American sanctions failed. Pakistan “You’re either with us or you’re with from the United States? exploded two nuclear devices on May 28, the terrorists.” This shotgun wedding Every Pakistani I know would answer: 1998.) solved a problem for Pakistan’s military “Yes.” As we learned during the third dictator General Pervez Musharraf who Pakistan never wanted the match to presidential debate, the United States has had seized power two years before. The begin with. To this day, Pakistanis carry decided that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal alliance with the US lent the Musharraf pierson continued Page 3 CoLumn 1 november 16-30, 2012

No wonder that Sarah Jayne Clifton developing country but rather a large and financial assistance to facilitate of Friends of the Earth International ocean developing economy.” “leap frogging” over a carbon modernity bemoaned the situation. “Ordinary Tuvalu’s Minister of Trade Lotoala towards a non-carbon civilization. people have once again been let down Metia said that his country is trying to No such program has been accepted by our governments. Led by the US, move from fossil fuels, on which the by the North. It would rather try to developed nations have reneged on their island is totally dependent, to renewable use its minuscule foreign aid program promises, weakened the rules on climate energy by 2020. There is something to break the coalitions of the Global action and strengthened those that allow obscene about these pledges, coming South. In 2010, the Danish Ambassador their corporations to profit from the from countries that barely contribute to Bolivia told the US chargé in La Paz, climate crisis.” to the climatic shifts. Out of the 186 “Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen President Tong lives with his countries that reported figures for spent an unpleasant 30 minutes with nightmares. “For some time I did not greenhouse gas emissions, Kiribati Morales, during which Morales thanked sleep because I didn’t have a solution to came in at 185. The three biggest him for [$30m a year in] bilateral a problem that there wasn’t a solution to. emitters are the USA, European Union aid, but refused to engage on climate What happens to us in the future? Do we and China. It is worth recollecting change issues. The Danes said they disappear as a culture?” that at the 2011 Durban meeting, the were ‘fed up’ with Bolivia and the ALBA In May this year, at the UN’s Economic major environmental NGOs wrote to countries, who continue to mount legal and Social Commission of Asia and the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and propaganda arguments against the Pacific (ESCAP), Pacific Island nations pointing out that the US was the “major Copenhagen Accord, but that they would came to talk about climate change and obstacle” to any progress in global continue to consult with their European their cruel fate. Kiribati’s Finance and talks. Even the European Union openly Union partners on ways to influence the Economic Development Minister Tom criticized the US for “overlooking the [Bolivian Government’s] position.” No Murdoch announced that his small facts” of climate disturbances. such luck. Morales remained obdurate. island state established the largest Behind the scenes, as the Wikileaks Unfortunately, the imperatives of rapid marine protected area in the Ocean – tranche demonstrates, the US colluded economic growth has dented Morales the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, with the Europeans to scuttle any attempt own commitment to people-centered, which is more than 400,000 sq. kms, by the UN and by the BASIC (Brazil, non-carbon development. Pablo Solón, or 11% of Kiribati’s Exclusive Economic South Africa, , and China) countries Bolivia’s former ambassador to the Zone. “The Ocean is fundamental to to create an effective treaty. Despite the UN and the coordinator of the World our cultural identity,” Murdoch said, public declarations on behalf of climate People’s Conference on Climate Change “Our green economy is very ‘blue.’ It has legislation by President Obama, his and The Rights of Mother Earth, resigned been said that we are not a small island administration used every dirty trick, his positions and wrote an open letter to including withholding aid, to secure Morales in 2011 protesting the road being votes against effective climate legislation built through the Indigenous Territory at Copenhagen and Durban. Michael and National Park of Isibore Secure, Froman, US deputy national security “One cannot speak of defending Mother EDITOR-IN-CHIEF advisor, wanted to deny the BASIC Earth and at the same time promoting Jeffrey St. Clair states a victory not only for climate the construction of a road that will harm negotiations but also to break their Mother Earth, doesn’t respect indigenous MANAGING EDITOR political momentum. “It is remarkable rights and violates human rights in an Joshua Frank how closely co-ordinated the BASIC ‘unforgiveable’ way.” group has become in international fora,” SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Dr. Kosi Latu, a leader of the small Froman wrote from Brussels, “taking Nat St. Clair island states, complains about the turns to impede US/EU initiatives and direction of the climate debate, and joins BUSINESS playing the US and EU off against each President Tong in his despondency. “For Becky Grant other. BASIC countries have widely us in the Pacific, it’s more than [ Deva Wheeler differing interests, but have subordinated reduction and green technology]. I’m DESIGN these to their common short-term talking about the survival of our peoples goals. The US and EU need to learn Tiffany Wardle in the sense that due to climate change from this co-ordination and work much impacts, we stand to lose our land, our more closely and effectively together histories and cultures, our nationalities.” 1941- 2012 ourselves, to better handle third country When the island vanishes, the material obstructionism and avoid future train basis of the culture of its people will P.O. Box 228 - Petrolia, CA 95558 wrecks on climate, Doha or financial also go. Those who survive will become regulatory reform.” 1-800-840-3683 “climate refugees,” a term that the UN The newly confident Global South [email protected] is trying to establish. They will move to did not roll over. The largest states, the New Zealand or even Zambia (whose www.counterpunch.org BASIC countries, stood by their view late president welcomed the I-Kiribati) All rights reserved. that any cut back on carbon would have – it will become impossible to live in to come with technological transfers New Zealand as if they are still on their

2 november 16-30, 2012 beautiful set of islands. Lives will alter. Taliban as engaged in a justifiable fight forces.) The basis of the I-Kiribati will shift. There against a hostile occupier. Pakistanis view India’s activities in Afghanistan make is nothing wrong with that in essence. the American war in Afghanistan as just the Pakistan army even less willing to Culture is not eternal – social forms the latest in a long string of “Crusader” take troops from the Pakistan-India from elsewhere transact into our lives, attacks on Muslims. border in order to send them to the tribal and if these enrich our cultural world in There is another reason Pakistan regions. When the Pakistan army does some way they stick. But what is to take has no enthusiasm for the fight in venture into the tribal regions—after place to the I-Kiribatis and their fellows Afghanistan. Pakistan has always much goading by the United States— is not the essence of normal cultural regarded India as its real enemy. This it does its best to avoid targeting the interchange. What is at issue is the hatred dates back to the 1947 Partition of Afghan Taliban and Taliban allies such as forewarned but cataclysmic annihilation India when Hindus and Muslims killed the Haqqani network. The army reserves of the social basis of I-Kiribati cultural each other to the tune of two million its fire for the homegrown Pakistan life – an annihilation that is comparable people in all. The two countries have Taliban which launch suicide bombings to the cultural genocide visited upon gone to war several times since then. It and other attacks within Pakistan. It the Native Americans by the Colombian is an open secret that Pakistan has for was the Pakistan Taliban which killed crossing. years supported militant Islamist groups former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Is there a future of the “sea of islands”? in Afghanistan, including the Taliban. Bhutto in December 2007. And it was Not if the carbon civilization continues The reason? To counter Indian influence the Pakistan Taliban who last month its pace onward. The rising seas will in Afghanistan. Pakistani planners are attempted to murder a 14 year old girl, reclaim our ground, sings the I-Kiribati committed to the notion of “strategic Malala Yousafzai, whose work on behalf poet Jane Resture in 1999 as Abanuea depth” which means maintaining of girls’ education the Pakistan Taliban sinks under the sea, while far away Afghanistan as a friendly neighbor. deemed “obscene.” they pour their fumes into the clear The Taliban will inevitably form part If Pakistan will not clean out the tribal blue sky not knowing and never caring of any future Afghan government. By areas, who will? America’s answer: send why the world is beginning to die. CP supporting Afghan militants Pakistan in the drones. Drones may be Pakistan’s hopes to ensure a friendly government in biggest grievance against the United Vijay Prashad’s latest books are Arab Kabul after the US withdrawal. States. Attacks by unmanned aerial Spring, Libyan Winter (AK Press) and India, too, seeks a friendly Kabul. India drones in Pakistan’s tribal areas were Uncle Swami: South Asians in America sees Afghanistan as a gateway to the oil- initiated by President George W. Bush Today (New Press). rich regions of Central Asia. There is and have escalated dramatically under also wealth inside Afghanistan itself and pierson continued from bottom p. 1 Delhi has inked a mining deal with Kabul for access to the country’s minerals. Subscription Information regime international legitimacy. And the Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai Subscription information can be found billions of dollars in US aid were certainly and India’s Prime Minister Manmohan at www.counterpunch.org or call welcome. Singh met again on November 10-11 to toll-free inside the U.S. Still, the relationship was marred from discuss further collaboration between 1-800-840-3683 the start by fundamental incompatibility their two countries. Published twice monthly between the parties. The two countries Reinforcing Indian interest in except July and August, want different—in fact, conflicting— Afghanistan is India’s strategic doctrine. 22 issues a year. things from the relationship. America’s Indian defense planners follow the central concern is Al-Qaeda and the ancient Hindu Arthashastra, the world’s 1 - year hardcopy edition $55 Taliban. After the 2001 invasion of oldest manual of realpolitik. The 1 - year email edition $35 Afghanistan which followed 9/11, Arthashastra lays out a “checkerboard” 1 - year email & hardcopy edition $65 many Taliban and Al-Qaeda fled to theory of international relations. The 1 - year institutions/supporters $100 Pakistan’s tribal areas on the border occupant of the next square is your 1 - year hardcopy/low income $45 with Afghanistan. From the tribal areas, enemy. The wise country will make 1 - year email only low income $30 militants launch attacks against NATO in friends with the country one square Renew by telephone, mail, or on our Afghanistan. The US wants these attacks beyond. This is what India is attempting website. For mailed orders please stopped and demands that Pakistan clean to do in Afghanistan. This strategy include name, address and email out the militant safe havens. explains the proliferating number of address with payment, or call 1-800- This Pakistan has been reluctant to Indian consulates in Afghanistan and 840-3683 or 1-707-629 3683. Add do. Here’s a riddle: what’s the difference the $1.2 billion in reconstruction and between the American military in development money India has earmarked $17.50 per year for subscriptions mailed Afghanistan today and the Soviets in for Afghanistan since 2001. It also outside the U.S. the 1980s? “Nothing,” Pakistanis answer. explains the role India has accepted Make checks or money orders payable to: Most Pakistanis are not fans of the in helping train Afghanistan’s security CounterPunch Taliban. The Taliban’s harsh brand of forces. (Meanwhile, American troops are Business Office Islam is not the religion of most Pakistani being killed in a mounting series of so- PO Box 228, Petrolia, CA 95558 Muslims. Yet Pakistanis regard the called “green-on-blue” attacks by Afghan

3 november 16-30, 2012

President Barack Obama. There have Pakistani government was unaware of The Path to Change been more drone strikes during Obama’s Bin Laden’s presence this would mark an four years in office than during all eight intelligence failure of heroic proportions. in Ethiopia years of the Bush Administration. Earlier, Pakistanis had become enraged Pakistanis hate the drones because at America over the Raymond Davis spy By Graham Peebles they violate Pakistani sovereignty and scandal. Davis thrust himself into the kill innocent bystanders as well as world spotlight on January 27, 2011 when t is a new-year in Ethiopia, (belated) terrorists. The well-respected New he killed two men on a street in Lahore. happy 2005 one and all. With American Foundation think tank which Davis claimed that the men had been it comes a new prime minister, closely monitors drone attacks estimates following him and tried to kill him. Davis, HailemariamI Desalegn, deputy PM that 16% of those killed by drones are a graduate of the Maxwell Smart School under Meles Zenawi who died some noncombatants. Estimates from within of Espionage, was found by police to be time in August or was it July. A fog Pakistan are considerably higher: as toting a curious collection of objects of misinformation and uncertainty high as 90% in 2007, according to the suggesting covert work: a flashlight surrounds the final months of Mele’s life, Pakistani government. The Pakistani attached to a headband, a pocket ingrained secrecy being both a political NGO Pakistan Body Count has claimed telescope, a long-range wireless set, and and national characteristic that works that civilian casualties have run from a Glock pistol. The United States claimed against social and ethnic cohesion, 75% to 80% since the drone strikes began. that Davis was a consular employee strengthening mistrust and division. Anti-American sentiment in Pakistan entitled to immunity but Pakistanis It is unclear what route the deputy PM, runs high. Asked why, Pakistani Foreign believed he was CIA. (Davis’ self-defense a Protestant from humble beginnings Minister Rabbani Khar’d answered with claim may have been the only true part in the small, desperately poor Wolayta one word: “Drones.” of his story. The two men Davis killed community, took to step into the prime Pakistan and the United States have There have been ministerial shoes. Some believe the US more grievances against each other than administration through its powerful will fit in a short article. We close with more drone strikes military machine Africom, engineered just a few more: d u ri n g O b a m a ’ s the sympathetic replacement. The US A major US grievance is Pakistan’s is Ethiopia’s main donor, giving around closing of NATO supply routes. More four years in office $3 billion a year. Ethiopia for its part than 80% of supplies for the war in than during all eight and in exchange for such generosity Afghanistan travel through Pakistan. The perhaps, allows the US military to station alternate northern routes which begin years of the Bush and launch drones from its sacred soil in Europe or Russia and run through Administration. into Somalia, or indeed anywhere the Central Asia are longer and cost more— Pentagon hacks choose and the deadly two or three times as much as bringing may have been militants. Found in their drones can reach. materiel into Pakistan’s port of Karachi possession were two bags of prepaid cell The new Prime Minister has and then through Pakistan by truck to phones. Militants use a cell phone once worryingly vowed, the BBC reports, to Afghanistan. So it was a serious setback and then discard it to prevent their calls continue Meles’ “legacy without any to NATO when Pakistan closed the from being traced.) Davis’ killings caused change,” a legacy littered with human supply routes late last year. The Pakistan outrage throughout Pakistan. Pakistanis rights violations and injustices, which move was in response to a US helicopter demanded that Davis be tried in Pakistan has little to recommend it. Meles ruled assault on a Pakistan army outpost on for murder. Davis was returned to the over a single party state in all but name, November 26, 2011 which took the lives United States only after the United States for, as the International Crisis Group of 24 Pakistani troops. (The United States paid diyya (blood money) to the families (ICG) make clear, “Meles engineered has claimed that it mistook the Pakistan of his victims, a practice allowed under one-party rule in effect for the Tigray army outpost for militants. On its side, Pakistani law. People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and his the United States has charged Pakistan This is the brief for divorce. The United Tigrayan inner circle, with the complicity with cross-border shelling of NATO States has never had the full cooperation of other ethnic elites that were co-opted positions in Afghanistan.) Pakistan did of Pakistan and never will. The alliance into the ruling alliance, the Ethiopian not reopen the supply routes until June. only exists because of American arm- People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front This was not the first time Pakistan twisting. American involvement in (EPRDF).” A dictatorship in fact and form closed the supply routes. Don’t expect it Afghanistan is nearing an end with and as is consistent with such regimes, to be the last. American troops scheduled to withdraw brutal, controlling and intolerant. No Another US grievance arose last in 2014. It is time to admit that the matter the accolades expressed on Meles’ year when the United States discovered relationship is over. But the US shouldn’t death by senior politicians and diplomats Pakistan shacking up with someone be sad. I hear Yemen isn’t seeing anyone. around the world, who like nothing more else: Osama Bin Laden. Did Pakistan CP it seems than a friendly tyrant. know that Bin Laden was living next to Hailemariam was chosen, it is alleged, their largest military academy? Maybe Charles Pierson, a lawyer in Pittsburgh, simply to give the appearance of an not, but Bin Laden did go next door Pennsylvania, is a Board member of the ethnically balanced leadership, that every Wednesday to use the pool. If the Pakistan Reconstruction Project. he will have little independence, and

4 november 16-30, 2012 dutifully tow the ideologically driven line firmly under government control and the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme of Revolutionary Democracy. Whatever with literacy resting at around 48% of Council, which is simply a mouthpiece the method, Hailemariam and deputy the adult population is the arm with the for the ruling party. There have, as Demeke Mekonnen, are now enthroned, greatest reach and influence. Control Crescent International reports, “been let us wish them well for there is much of the Web is also in the hands of the no election in the council for the last 13 work to be done within Ethiopia. EPRDF, the sole telecommunications years. The council has remained against Human rights issues cry out to be company being listed in the extensive the rights of Muslims including wearing dealt with, starting with the immediate business portfolio of the government, hijab and congregational prayer in unconditional release of all so called who control and restrict both Internet universities.” Muslims have been calling ‘political prisoners’, tried and imprisoned expansion and use. Over 80% live in with increasing intensity for the removal under the internationally condemned rural areas and currently a mere 0.5% of the unelected council and the State Anti-Terrorist Proclamation, for the (400,000) of the population have sponsored imposition of Al-Ahbash heinous crime of publicly disagreeing Internet access, the second lowest in (The Abyssinian) Islam, a movement with the TPLF dominated government. Sub-Saharan Africa. that blends elements of Sunni Islam with The Ethiopian government should, With between 70 and 80 tribal sets Sufism. Protests against government Human Rights Watch demand, “amend within the seven major ethnic groups meddling are now a regular extension the law’s most pernicious provisions, and a 45/35% Christian, Muslim split, to Friday prayers in Addis Ababa. The which are being used to criminalize cooperation tolerance and unity are Washington Post reports the new PM free expression and peaceful dissent.” essential factors in the country’s well- speaking to parliament on October 16, Journalists, mainly working outside of being and strength, as well as its internal stating, surprisingly given the EPRDF’s Ethiopia and supporters of opposition security. As imperial nations have long involvement in all things religious, that political parties are the common known, a united civilian population is “the government fully respects freedom targets, tried in absentia in Ethiopian a threat; divide the factions, separate of religion” and “would not interfere courts by a judiciary that functions as the ethnic groups, fragment the people, in the affairs of religion just as religion little more than a sentencing body for make them compete, even fight among would not interfere in matters of politics.” the government and thinks nothing of themselves and maintain dominion. This, It does indeed seem he is determined to handing down life sentences to dissenting contrary to the EPRDF’s policy of Ethnic follow in word and deed in the dictatorial voices, based on fabricated charges. Federalism devised in 1991 when they duplicitous footsteps of his predecessor. HRW make this illegal pattern clear, took power, has consistently been the The Government with predictable stating “the use of draconian laws and regime’s approach. All political authority consistency has labeled these legitimate trumped-up charges to crack down on rests firmly within the party controlled demands the actions of ‘religious free speech and peaceful dissent makes a by the TPLF, as the ICG report makes extremists’ and in July this year resorted mockery of the rule of law,” both Federal clear, “behind the façade of devolution, to violent means in an attempt to and International. [the EPRDF] adopted a highly centralized settle the issue, killing four Muslims at The government, immersed in system that has exacerbated identity- prayer and arresting scores more. HRW paranoia and determined to control based conflicts.” reported “Ethiopian police and security all forms of debate and platforms Self-determination and rule for the services have harassed, assaulted, of expression, fire off accusations of major regional groups was, on paper, a and arbitrarily arrested hundreds of terrorist activity to anyone seen to central component of Ethnic Federalism. Muslims at Addis Ababa’s Awalia and disagree with their disagreeable policies. However, as the international human Anwar mosques who were protesting The ambiguous provision of ‘conspiracy rights group Advocates for Human Rights government interference in religious to commit terrorist acts’ is usually cited (AHR) in its report on ethnic groups in affairs.“ Religious extremists as we all as criminal activity, or the even more Ethiopia found, the government, “actively know means terrorists, the US Army foggy crime of offering ‘moral support’, impedes the rights of disadvantaged definition of terrorism is worth relating which has little or no specific meaning ethnic groups to self determination.” at this point. It is, they say “the calculated and as HRW assert, “is contrary to the Far from building partnerships and use of violence or threat of violence to principle of legality.” Such ill-defined cultivating cooperation and tolerance, attain goals that are political, religious, terms are employed to criminalize policies flowing from the TPLF/EPRDF’s or ideological in nature...through dissent and justify the unjust. desire to maximize control in all areas of intimidation, coercion, or instilling fear.” Each urgently required reform flows society, including the powerful religious Accordingly if name-calling is the name into and out of the other, connected, groups work to encourage fragmentation, of the game, the EPRDF’s policies qualify as they are by the fundamental need create religious dissonance, strengthen them unconditionally for the terrorist to observe basic human rights, at the ethnic divisions and deny much needed label, prefixed with the title, ‘State’ heart of which sits freedom and justice. social unity. Regional divisions are being Constitutional law provides for the Ethiopia has the third largest strengthened as ethnic groups are forced statutory observation of all freedoms of population of Muslims in Africa and is to compete for life-saving handouts expression that are nevertheless denied thought to be the birthplace of Islam administered by the EPRDF through in practice or at best grossly restricted. in the continent as well as the cradle of their network of regional councils. The The press, TV and radio are almost African Christianity. The government Kebeles and Woreda’s reach into every exclusively State owned, television is has for long controlled Muslim affairs via village and household, stomach and mind

5 november 16-30, 2012 in the country, distributing a range of action adding further, to the catalogue of Panthers in Sweden development support from international State criminality or to give it its US army donors, including emergency food relief title, State terrorism. By Gabriel Kuhn determined by allegiance to the ruling It is projected that if the herding hen speaking of “suburbs” party. Along with this illegal immoral of indigenous people continues at the in Sweden, one must think act that needs the urgent attention present rate, all rural dwellers – that’s of the French “banlieues”: of donors, whose silence and apathy 80% of the population – will be living in concrete settlements on the big cities’ makes them complicit in the regime’s one or other of these government created W outskirts, characterized by everything criminality, AHR found the EPRDF villagization centers by the next decade, that the intersections of a class society use discriminatory tactics to “interfere without any consultation with those and racism imply in contemporary with the rights of disadvantaged ethnic affected, no matter the party line on Europe: a weak infrastructure, cuts in groups” in all areas of civil society. participation and voluntary movement. social spending, high unemployment, Employment is all too often It’s hard to discuss social engineering and omnipresent police units, and a conditional on party affiliation; teachers ancestral land rights with armed soldiers population that largely consists of recent thought to be supporters of opposition whilst your home is demolished. Violent immigrants. In Sweden, these account parties are harassed, trade unions, coercion is widespread, HRW again for 90% of the population in some supported within the liberal constitution, ‘security forces enforcing the population suburbs, which makes the country one if not affiliated with the regime party face transfers have been implicated in at of Europe’s most segregated. Among dismantling, the members and leaders least 20 rapes in the past year. Fear and the most notorious Swedish suburbs intimidated and threatened. And Oromo intimidation are widespread among are Rinkeby in Stockholm (namesake of business people, AHR discovered, affected populations.” the so-called Rinkebysvenska, a kind of “are denied business licenses without Divide and rule extends into the very Swedish Ebonics), Rosengård in Malmö explanation and face police harassment heart of ethnic communities, families (home to the famous soccer player Zlatan targeted at customers, suppliers, and are routinely broken up when driven Ibrahimović: “You can take a boy out of employees.” into the villagization settlements, Rosengård, but you can’t take Rosengård In schools and colleges both teachers making women and children particularly out of a boy”) – and Biskopsgården in and students are exposed to political vulnerable, as AHR found “in rural areas Gothenburg. indoctrination and ‘encouraged’ typically populated by disadvantaged In Biskopsgården, an organization to join the ruling party; continued ethnic groups are often victims of human was founded in early 2011 that claims employment and studies being a carrot, trafficking. The Government has taken an unexpected heritage: the “Panthers”, unemployment and expulsion the stick, no meaningful measures to prevent such Pantrarna in Swedish, see themselves as membership of the Oromo Liberation trafficking or to provide assistance or direct descendants of the Black Panther Front a guarantee of both. In areas support to victims.” Trafficking of women Party. As their spokesperson Murat relating to culture, AHR found ”Oromo’s within Ethiopia and overseas, often to Solmaz explains, they see similarities e.g. do not feel free to speak Oromiffa the Gulf States, almost always equates to the goals and methods of the Black in public or to use distinctively Oromo to prostitution or forced domestic Panthers and feel inspired by their names,” leading Oromo cultural figures labor, where sexual abuse, violence and struggle. Solmaz rejects the argument have been persecuted and the Charities degrading treatment is the common that it is inappropriate to transfer a and Societies Proclamation – another experience. political concept from the USA of the poisonous piece of legislation that needs The EPRDF has divided, inhibited late 1960s to contemporary Sweden: “If revising or scrapping, restricts the and controlled the people of Ethiopia. the ideas and methods make sense, why development of cultural relationships Fear and intimidation their weapons of not? We can identify with people who with members of the diaspora. choice, wielded without recrimination, fight against social injustice and racism.” Ethnic groups forced into villagization compassion or regret, the ‘international The Pantrarna consist mainly of youth programs by the government as they community’, who supply a third of the living in Biskopsgården. Panthers in sell off large tracts of land to foreign national budget seem uninterested their early twenties are already veterans. corporations, make easy targets for a in their brutality. The opportunity According to Solmaz, the core of the regime pursuing the fragmentation of presented to and by the change of Prime organization consists of about forty society and the exploitation of the people. Minister has (to date) proven to be activists. Total membership stands at Large numbers have been forcibly re- nothing more than a hollow hope. The about 150, and there are well over a located, in Gambella alone HRW report, cry of the people ignored once more, thousand sympathizers. The immediate “approximately 70,000 people were their voices cast into the darkness and reason for the Panthers’ foundation slated to be moved by the end of 2011,” dismissed. was the fight for a local youth center. into settlements that provide no health To date, the political opposition, This fight has been won: the city of services or clean water and often lack fragmented and dysfunctional, offers no Gothenburg decided to provide an office schools. Quick to capitalize on the child’s vision of change. CP building and three million Swedish plight Government officials, AHR report crowns (about half a million US dollars) “force schoolchildren in these villages to Graham Peebles is director of the Create in order to open Pantergården, the abandon their studies to provide labor Trust. He lives in London. “Panther Center”, in 2013. The Panthers for constructing shelters.” An illegal are directly involved in the planning

6 november 16-30, 2012 and will play a central role in the services in Sweden already in the 1990s, administration. This is the result of not wanting to miss the neoliberal boat CounterPunch occupying city council offices, tireless that apparently was the only way forward. petitioning, and broad local mobilizing. Since a center-right coalition took over Books The youth center was but a catalyst for the government offices in 2006, this a broader struggle for social justice and process has only been accelerated. Most This Offer for self-determination. Since the Pantrarna’s strongly affected by the undermining of founding, they have organized lectures, public services are the suburbs. This also Subscribers Only! study circles, and summer camps as well has significant economic consequences. Do you need to do some as campaigns against police violence, Ruiz Jönsson does not have much time security cameras, and a media coverage for organizing with the Panthers right holiday shopping? Give them of the suburbs that focuses almost now. “If you go to school and need to something that will shake, exclusively on crime, car arson, and hold a job at the same time, well, there is street battles with the police. not much left.” not stuff their stockings! Support of former Black Panthers for Once I arrive in Biskopsgården, I the Pantrarna is assured. Bobby Seale go to Idénpunkten, an austere citizens 3 books for $36.00 came to visit Biskopsgården in the spring advise bureau, where the Panthers were of 2012. On May 1, he spoke to a young founded a year and a half ago. A meeting (includes shipping) and admiring crowd on a Biskopsgården has just ended. Representatives of the square. Before returning to the US, he city council were looking for solutions declared his steadfast support for the to the “suburban problem”. Two Panthers Titles Available: Pantrarna on Swedish radio: “We are also assisted. One of them, Yassin Ben talking about progressive social change. Salah, says that Pantrarna get invited to Guillotined! We are talking about dealing with all two such meetings a week. He explains – the social problems, whether they are in that the organization’s approach was Fear of Sweden or in America. That’s what they purely pragmatic and had nothing to An Animal Planet are about, and that’s what we in the Black do with being co-opted by the system. – Panther Party were about.” “We know that the politicians don’t talk Wasting Libby The Pantrarna have hit one of Sweden’s to us because they want to, but because – most sensitive spots: the old Social they feel forced to. We turn this to our Democratic dream of the folkhemmet, advantage. We do not negotiate, we How the Irish the “people’s home”, has lost much of demand.” Invented Slang its promise due to the plight of the This tactic has lead to some surprising – immigrant communities. For many years, results. Göteborgs-Posten is Sweden’s End Times the Swedish suburbs have been serving as second biggest daily. After the Panther – a symbol for “failed integration policies”. Diren Öz was shot dead outside his home Dime’s Worth of It doesn’t help that most politicians on July 5, the Göteborgs-Posten articles avoid the issue in embarrassment. It only focused on little more than the unnamed Difference allows the extreme right to exploit it. victim being “known by the police”. The – Representatives of the anti-immigration Panthers got to work. They used social Serpents in the Garden Sweden Democrats, who entered media to mobilize against the paper, – parliament in 2010, regularly speak of the covered the suburbs in posters, and Imperial Crusades suburbs as “no-go zones”, in which even called for a big demonstration outside medics and firefighters are attacked by the Göteborgs-Posten offices. After a few Send check or money order for out-of-control youth. A self-confident meetings with the editors, the paper $36.00 and your list of three political organization formed precisely accepted all of the Panthers’ demands: 1. choices to: by these youth shakes up the picture A public apology. 2. An explanation in the significantly. paper. 3. Concrete steps to ensure more CounterPunch The Panther’s presence in balanced reporting about the suburbs. P.O. Box 228 Biskopsgården cannot be missed. A first such step was Göteborgs-Posten When, during a visit to Gothenburg in financing the production of the journal Petrolia, CA 95558 late October, I step into a streetcar to Wazzup Biskop by Biskopsgården youth. Biskopsgården, I run into Amanda Ruiz In an article from October 16, the paper or call to order: Jönsson, a former Swedish national youth explained the project thus: “It began with 1(800) 840-3683 soccer player. Since a doctor messed up a the Pantrarna, a group of younger people knee surgery, her soccer career has been from Biskopsgården, criticizing the mass or (707) 629-3683 put on ice. “That’s what happens if you media coverage of the suburbs, especially This offer only available can’t afford private health insurance,” she by Göteborgs-Posten, as ignorant, one- says with a shrug. The Social Democrats sided, and negative.” Sometimes, politics to current subscribers introduced the privatization of social can be this simple. by phone or mail!

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Close to Idénpunkten, in the midst Solmaz sees the Panthers as a based on principles that echo those of of street vendors selling produce, contemporary form of political the Panthers. Both groups emerged at children playing soccer, and pensioners organizing that is replacing the around the same time without knowing looking for refundables, I meet two traditional left. Apart from overcoming of one another. “It was like Darwin and more Panthers, Muhammed Hällgren ideological barriers and more openness, Wallace,” Solmaz states. Basar Gerecci, Abdulrahman and Homa Badpa. Badpa he particularly emphasizes the role of one of the founders of Megafonen, wears a T-shirt with the picture of the the youth: “Normally, one tries to change confirms the common origins of the murdered Darin Öz. For her, the success the youth through parents and teachers. groups: “We were frustrated with the of the Göteborgs-Posten campaign proved We look at it the other way: we want to situation in the suburbs, with social that “we can sometimes achieve more conditions in general, but also with the than we believe possible”. That parts of For many years the established left. We wanted to focus the Swedish left accused the Panthers on our own neighborhood and on of “collaborating with the bourgeois Swedish suburbs have organizing with the people we share our media” reflects the Panthers’ complicated been serving as a everyday life with.” relationship with the traditional left. Given temperatures near freezing While the Panthers name social justice symbol for “failed in- point, I spend the rest of the day in one as their number one political priority and tegration policies”. of the Panther’s apartments with börek, often use anti-capitalist rhetoric, they are nuts, and cola. When it is time to head not impressed by what they conceive as change the adults through the youth.” In for the last train back to Stockholm, self-righteousness, romantic projection, this context, Solmaz doesn’t hesitate to the Panthers’ upcoming journey to and ideological bickering among the speak of vanguardism: “We are clearly a Malmö is mentioned. Locals want to left. Ben Salah evokes, once again, a vanguard. We set examples that others found a Panther chapter there. Solmaz pragmatic approach: “If you’re not can follow.” considers the expansion of the suburban prejudiced in the way that most people The Panthers are no isolated movement inevitable: “This is the future. on the left are, you are ready to work with phenomenon. In Stockholm, they have We breathe new life into radical politics.” all sorts of people. I don’t care where a sister organization called Megafonen. people come from or what they do; if Megafonen was founded in the suburb Gabriel Kuhn is an Austrian-born writer they want to work for positive change, I of Husby, but has now also groups in and translator living in Stockholm, will work with them.” Rinkeby and Hässelby-Vällingby. It is Sweden.

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