from the horizon

Maybe I shouldn’t be putting this on my blog, there are much more interesting things I haven’t had the chance to write about yet, but I think that this is pretty interesting. I really don’t want to worry anyone, but I think that it adds a bit of insight into some opinions here.

Below is a translation from a local newspaper, which is fairly opposed to international NGOs. Before launching into it I would like to say a couple of things:

• I have not heard any confirmation of any of this.
• I have never felt that my security has ever been in danger here.
• There were similar sentiments in Banda Aceh, especially towards World Vision.
• Any organization which is preaching another religion has no business doing humanitarian work. They are missionaries and colonialist, not humanitarians. Faith based organizations can be ok, but they must respect the local religion/culture/traditions. Those who don’t are patronizing, destructive, and ultimately put my security in danger.

I hope that I don’t get in trouble for posting this. At the end of the day I think that security is tied very closely to information. The more information I have, the more secure I am. I think that this applies on a global, as well as a personal scale. I’m not talking about the CIA bugging your phone to catch terrorists, but I’m talking about people getting to know and understand people from all over the world. An ignorant person is a dangerous person. Although I was a little apprehensive about coming here, after meeting the people here, I feel safe.

Anyway … On with the show:

Translation of news articles in the daily Shemal Abbottabad

A: Daily Shemal, 11th July 2006:

Statement No 1: Musical Night celebrated by World Vision in a front of the mosque: The worst event of the century on the corpses of hundreds of thousands (who died in the earth quake)

• Open dance party of men and women in front of a mosque.
• The Khateeb (Speaker of a sermon) of the mosque watched the scene silently.
• A writ filled against those who encouraged the event.
• One week ultimatum for expelling NGOs women from Mansehra.

Details: on the 8th of October, World Vision, an international NGO, celebrated a special musical night in front of a mosque in Kohsar mill (ware house of WVI), Mansehra. More than sixty individuals participated in the concert. There was dance and music. Late in the night, they came in front of the mosque to an open place and increased the volume of the music. At this, one Pir Muazam Shah who was busy in his worship at the mosque, came out with his disciples from the mosque and wanted to stop the concert. The participants of the concert behaved rudely with the Pir (saint) and said that it was their personal matter. “Who are you to stop it?’. During this time, some body informed the police and filed a writ against one Azam of Dhab (Contractor of WVI). Against this action of the said NGO, a delegation of religious leaders from the district comprising Mufti Waqarul Haq Usmani, Maulana Saeedur Rehman, Maulana saeed Abdullah and others, met with the district Nazim , who assured the delegate that proper action will be taken in this regard. The DCO Mansehra also called a meeting of NGOs in his office and directed them to respect the local values and to ban the “exhibition” of women.

Statement#2. World Vision has crippled all the moral and Islamic values in Kohsar (A flour mills which is now the ware house of WVI)

( The dance of drunk men and women is something causing anxiety. There should be a ban on the hiring of women by NGOs.)

Details: (Mansehra Staff reporter) In Mansehra, some NGOs are busy to mar the people’s beliefs with the excuse of giving relief to people. In the mountainous areas, these people, in the guise of the well wishers of the affected people, are inviting people to Christianity, Judaism and Mirzaism. On Sunday night, the World Vision staff violated all the values of morality and Islam and drunk men and women danced to the western music. The district government should control these things of the NGOs, otherwise, the religious leaders themselves would take steps to control them. This statement was given by a delegation of the religious leaders.

Statement#3 A delegation of the religious leaders had a meeting with the district nazim Mansehra and demanded for restricting the foreign NGOs to the aid of the affected people only.

Statement#4 The charge of dancing in drunk condition in Kohsar is wrong.

The concert was arranged to celebrate the engagement of our colleague. Participants danced to Pashto music: Says the Communication Officer of World Vision.

Details: World Vision’s communication officer for Mansehra met with the DCO Mansehra, saying that the charge of drunk dance on them is not true and that the concert was arranged on the joy over the engagement of one of their staff members in which there was a dance to Pashto music. The communication officer said that celebration of such concerts on joyful things is a local tradition and they have committed no crime.

Statement #5 We were dancing to Pakistani music, which is not a crime: Says Rabika.

Details: The representative of World Vision, Rabika, said during a meeting that last day in Kohsar mill, we danced to Pakistani music and it is not a crime. Anyhow, the district administration, warning her, said that they should abstain from violating the traditions of the people of Mansehra and marring the law and order situation.

B: Daily Shemal, 12th July 2006:

Statement#1: Movement for Reformation launched by religious leaders in Mansehra. Holy war declared against NGOs.

The movement has formed a youth force. “We will not wait for red storms from the skies. We will not rest until we take out the enemies of Islam.”

Details: Movement for reformation has formed a youth force in Mansehra for checking the negative activities of NGOs. Its members comprise representatives from various schools of thought and various areas in the district who have assured every possible support to the movement. Many people from the district contacted the district nazim (head) of the movement for the district, Maulana Rafiqur Rehman, the head of tehsil Mansehra Maulana Mufti Waqarul haq Usmani and the district militants head (Salar) Mr. Syed Muazzam Shah in this regard and said that they tolerated the NGOs for the sack of giving relief to the affectees and along with it we intimated the district, provincial and federal governments about their activities against Islam and Pakistan, of which they have the supporting documents. But the govt. didn’t take any step and so they have declared holy war against the NGOs. On this occasion, Maulana rafiqur Rehman said that they will not wait for the advent of red storms from the skies and will rest only after they succeed in getting the NGOs out of the district.

Statement#2. The NGOs have come not give us relief but to put our honour on stake.

We don’t need this worst charity. The muslims should be prepared for the holy war. Says Arsala Khan, the leader of PQM. The protest of PQM against ERRA, government and NGOs continued on the third day as well. The PQM leader addressed a huge gathering in Kulharey and said that our wives were going in veiled condition, then the blankets and now without putting anything over their heads. He said that we curse on such relief. He criticized the government for this as well as for discrimination in cheques distribution with the affectees of Mansehra. He warned that NGOs get out of the district and not compel them to get them out through protests and processions on roads. He said, as is proved from our past, we act upon what we declare to do.

Statement# 3. Movement for Reformation to hold protest rally and gathering in Gazi Kot on 15th July 2006.

The gathering will be addressed by religious scholars and the members of religious party, Jamaat e Islami.

Details: Against the anti religious behaviour of World Vision, the Movement for Reformation in Mansehra will hold a protest gathering in Ghazi Kot township mon Saturday, the 15th of July. The religious leaders and common people in Mansehra are angry and upset over the concert of WVI and they have decided to hold the protest gathering in Ghazi Kot township, where the offices of most of the NGOs are situated.

Statement# 4. The open dance by men and women in Kohsar is the worst action. NGOs should get out of the district, otherwise their vehicles will be set on fire, says Nazir Ahmad Hazarwi, a religious leader here. He criticized the concert in front of the mosque and then the statement of the communication officer of WVI that they have danced to Pashto music, which is again something to censure. He said that the NGOs people should go out, otherwise they will be burnt alive in their vehicles. He said that a stick bearers force of 200 youth has been prepared in Baffa area and they have been trained to deal with the NGOs. He said that if these so called enlightened people are not sent back, any thing may happen, the responsibility of which will be on the district government.

Statement#5. World Vision has opened the secret of the plans of Christians and Jews. The emotions of muslims have been hit by dancing in front of the house of God. Say various groups of people in Mansehra. They said that the greatest tragedy upon the people after the quake is the advent of the NGOs. They have also criticized the government officials for corruption in the funds for the affected people.

Statement# 6. Shabab e Milli Mansehrahas declared to go shoulder to shoulder with the religious leader.

An advertisement on the front page inviting people to the gathering against NGOs on 15th July 2006. There it is said that a procession of the people will start from the central mosque at 9.00 on the 15th July towards Ghazi Kot. The advertisement commences with an Urdu verse, showing the determination to sacrifice lives for the sack of the religion sent by God.