In Memory of Benazir Bhutto

THe lack of critical acumen in this article is rather standard when it comes to treatment of Bhutto in some quarters. The author seems to ignore the fact that not only does the US support Musharraf but it also supported Bhutto and brokered a deal between her and Musharraf that allowed her to return to Pakistan! The article also seems blind to the lack of internal democracy within the Pakistan People's Party. Compare this piece of emotional fluff to Tariq Ali's article and the difference is certainly striking. Benjamin ignores the annointing of Bhutto's son as titular leader and the role of Bhutto's husband. The entire article is not here so perhaps some of these issues are addressed elsewhere.
Benjamin is certainly correct that for democracy to advance there must be an independent judiciary. The fired judges should be re-instated. However, it is unlikely that this will happen or that the electoral commission will be reformed very much. Probably the best that can be expected for now is some sort of deal rigged up by the main parties and that they will urge their members to remain calm so that violence does not return to the streets. A more democratic Pakistan may be a while in coming and too much Western pressure may actually be counter-productive.


In Memory of Benazir Bhutto

Cut US Ties to Musharraf.

Dateline: Sunday, December 30, 2007

by Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK: Women for Peace

Our hearts and thoughts are with the Pakistani people as they mourn the death of Benazir Bhutto. We extend our deep sorrow to her family and the millions of supporters who for decades have seen the Bhutto family as a source of inspiration. We also extend our condolences to the families of the other Pakistanis who were killed in this heinous crime.

We at CODEPINK were in touch with the former Prime Minister when we were writing our book Stop the Next War Now. In fact, Bhutto graciously contributed an essay that was a plea to counter extremism and "a clash of civilizations that can lead to Armageddon, where there will be no winners on earth."

Bhutto's assassination is a blow to people all over Pakistan, and the world, who hold life sacred and believe in the basics precepts of democracy. It is also a blow to women worldwide who took strength from seeing such a courageous, articulate and charismatic woman playing a leadership role in a powerful Muslim country. Inside Pakistan, even her most bitter critics wept at the news of her death, understanding that it is indeed a dark day when assassination becomes a tool for eliminating opposing viewpoints.

There is much speculation about who committed this odious act. It could certainly be religious militants opposed to a leader like Bhutto who repeatedly expressed her determination to combat violent extremists. Bhutto was perceived by many Pakistanis as too "pro-Western," especially after remarks that if elected Prime Minister, she might allow US military strikes inside Pakistan to eliminate al-Qaeda.

But it is not too far-fetched to think that the assassination could have been orchestrated by Pervez Musharraf or members of the military. Many in Pakistan speculated that the government was responsible for the bomb blasts that killed 140 Pakistanis when Bhutto first returned home on October 18, citing the fact that the street lights were turned off just before the attack and questioning the lack of a serious investigation afterwards. In fact, Musharraf had refused Bhutto's request that an independent foreign team be brought in to help with the investigation. This time, there must be a serious investigation conducted by a body independent of the government and those responsible must be found and held accountable.

Elections scheduled for January 8 must be postponed. Even before this tragedy, there were no conditions for free and fair elections. The Musharraf regime had fired independent judges, censored the press and stacked the Election Commission. It is absolutely key that an independent judiciary and free press be restored, and that elections then be scheduled under the aegis of an independent electoral commission.

The international community must put pressure on Musharraf not to use this tragedy to impose another round of emergency rule like the one he imposed on November 3, which led to the crackdown on lawyers, students, journalists and other members of Pakistan's vibrant civil society. Bhutto's death will be doubly tragic if it becomes an excuse for Musharraf to stifle the very civil society that is the true bulwark against extremism.

If Bhutto's death proves anything, it is the utter failure of Musharraf's regime and the utter failure of the Bush administration's policy of supporting Musharraf. Pakistani civil society has long been calling for Musharraf to resign. Now leaders like former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have added their voice to that call, publicly holding Musharraf responsible for Bhutto's death and demanding he step down....

For the whole story, please go to the related site below.

Medea Benjamin is a cofounder of both CODEPINK and the international human rights organization Global Exchange. A former economist and nutritionist with the United Nations and World Health Organization, Benjamin is the author/editor of eight books, and lives in San Francisco with her husband and two daughters.


Related addresses:

URL 1: www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=3704
URL 2: www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?list=type&type=335