So the election is rumoured to be after the rugby world cup. Our PM, John Howard is a massive sports freak, and the cynical would say he gets a last photo opportunity and free seats for our beloved Wallabies before he is voted out. Secondly, APEC is being held here so he wouldn't want to miss that and he also has two visitors, in the Japanese PM and Canadian PM in the next couple months. Parliament has been rather spirited, if you like that sort of thing. The Labour party drew first blood when they tried to expose the long standing rift between John Howard and his right hand man, Treasurer, Peter Costello, in sitting period, where they are trying to sell the notion there is so much infighting amongst the "Libs" they don't have time to run the country. It was interesting to note, the Sunday Telegraph, posting the headline, in which Kevin Rudd, leader of the opposition, was caught in a strip club while attending a conference in New York two years ago. Accusations were that the Liberals were behind the public smear. In a slight twist of fate, it appears that Rudd's lead in the polls has grown since this was exposed. The slogan, Kevin in oh seven and its party have a monstrous lead according to the official poll but like the last two elections, I am sure they are wary that Howard will once again pull the rabbit out of the hat and streak to victory. It should be a good race.
India, the village of Sariya, anti terrorist classes for the ladies in an effort to train women to fight should they be attacked. It makes for an interesting photo which you can see above. ( look at the smiles ) Local defence groups which were set up in Kashmir, and Jammu, under the VDC or Village Defence Committee programs were given direction by the army. The article could end here, we would be slightly amused by the picture and move back into our happy little lives. However, who supplied the guns? Why does the army train civilians? The AK-47 is the most widely used weapon used on the globe. It is one of the weapons of choice for terrorists. It is easy to fire and readily available to over one third of the world's population. Does the Indian government condone a violent and potentially fatal training for these weapons? In theory is this not an appalling practice?
Not really. It is actually necessary. For over 15 years the Kashmir and Jammu regions, sitting in the world's second most populous country, has had lawless and terrorist activity in a disputed region between Pakistan and India. I know the connotation of terrorism seems to be stolen and replaced by images of Iraq, but in fact has been a blot on civilization since the early ages. In pre 2001 days, India, then and now has been ravaged by bands of outlaws. At the front of the firing line are the women. They are terrorized, intimidated, raped, beaten and subjected to many abuses. The Village Defence Committee was borne out of tragedy. June 26, 2004, terrorists killed 12 women, including 5 children, further galvanizing these defence communities. Women banded together, acquiring weapons, organizing, and forming a motley crew of resistance, with some effect. I am not telling the entire story because I don't know it. I would bet, if prompted gently with a big stick, that Pakistan lists a number of terrible acts committed by their enemy, India. However, I applaud the courage and strength of these women who will fight back, often I am sure while giving their own life, in trying to save those who are being victimized by an uncaring and violent enemy. Now when you glance at the above picture, do the smiles look like happy masks, which in fact disguise the pain they have witnessed? Despite the smile it is a shame.
