Special Investigative Report

Benazir hires Zionist From

political

operator Washington

to represent Pakistan W H A T may be among Be­nazir Bhutlo's greatest (lolitieal mistakes since

taking Dlliee a few months ago lias taken place here in Washington rather than In Pakistan Itsell

Shortly tilter beeoming piiiiie minister. Benazir Bhutto personally directed that the firm the lotiner Pakistan government had just re­newed its contract with iti Washington to lobby the American t'ongtess be distnissed Insleiid she ordered that a small new firm, one hetided by a Irienil and strongly supported by another close American friend be given the Pakistani porilolio.

Whether Bhutto knew at the lime that she was hiring a long-time active Zionist supporter whom many here consider to be part of what can be termed the extended Jewish-Israeli lobby cannot be ascertained. But in a not-foi-quotation and extremely guarded discussion about this matter with the Pakistani ambassador here — Amba;isador Marker — 1 got the very clear impression that if she didn l know before she certainly does know now.

The ambassador and Ins stall -— though nervously refusing to say very nvueh about ihis whole mailer — nevertheless give all signs of being qiiile troubled and einkarrassed by the situation.

Others in fact have told me that Amb.issador Marker has been very u|)set ibotit Siegel's appointment liul has simply been unable to stop Be­nazir in view of his own connection to the Zi i i governniiMit and concerns for his own longevity.

The man in question in the centre of this Mark Siegel, a long time Demoerutit Party operative who

Furthermore, it's possible Ga l -brailh's efforts are being coordinated with others Who are attempting to penetrate new political circles in con­junction, one way or another, with the Israeli-Jewish lobby here.

riiere's nothing new, aclually, with Jewish persons being employed to work on behalf of various govern-menls — even Arab and Islamic state governments. Indeed, a number of Jewish lawyers have been involved specifically wilh Pakistani affairs in this country for many years.

I he real controversy is not Siegel's religious heritage at al l ; though he does what he can to try to make it seem ihis way every time he can.

What makes it so extraordinary that Mark Siegel is working on Capitol Hill for Pakistan is speeifically his long-titne association wilh the Zionist and Jewish lobbies — an affiliation he Luntimies to cling lo at the same time itiat he is now representing a major Islamic government.

Indeed, when asked about his poli­tical allilialions over the years, Siegel lx;catne extremely defensive in a re-a'lit phone conversation, insisting that all Ihose who questioned his uninection with the Pakistanis were [ilain and siinply anti-.Setnitic. He refused in fact to discuss either his past or his political outlooks in regard to Israel, dodging all attempts to deal with the political ramifications of his oew lehitionslnp wilh the new govern­ment of Pakistan.

However, a bit of research reveals some rather startling facts. Though never a high-ranking official of the Jewish lobby, Siegel resigned from the Carter While House in protest over Carter's "anti-Israeli" policies. I le did so as part of a coordinated T i M w l nil tinlh Zhiiiniew Brzezinski

fighter planes and other weapons lo Saudi Arabia and Fgypl. Th i s , it was said, particularly troubled Siegel who believed, and apparently still be­lieves, that the US should provide major armaments only lo Israel.

Siegel didn't leave quietly as mo.st are expected to do in Washington. Instead later in ii 'Iarth he published an Op E d in The New York Times harshly challenging Ihe administralioa he had served in regard to arms sales to Arab states and general attitudes toward Israel.

" A n d as an American I am dis­mayed and saddened that my govern­ment now wishes to sell the most lethal offensive instruments of the American arsenal to Saudi Arabia , the country whose radio. . .labelleil the recent Palestine Liberation Organisa­tion attack in Israel 'a courageous and noble operation.'"

Many people change, of course. But in Siegel's case the little evidence that exists suggests that he remains today as much a part of the extended Israeli-Jewish lobby as ever Indeed his basic attitude when questioned about these matters was exactly the accusalions of anti-Semitism against the questioner that the Jewsih lobby is famous lor.

What has happened in this case is but a part of a new and disturbing political phenomenon in Washington that ironically has some friendly Mus­lim governments hiring persons who are known lo be hostile lo general Muslim concerns. Kemaikably I'lir-key, foi iiislance, Inis actually l ined former employees of the Auieriean Israeli Public Afhii is Cumunltee ( A l P A C ) — the primary group ihat lobbies for Israel and against the Arabs — and paid one of its former executive directors. Morris Ain i lay ,

nul-lor-quolutioii ana ( . 'Xl icn ia lv guarded discussion ahoul ihis mailer will) the Pakistani ambassador here — Amba;>sador Marker — I got the very clear impression that il she didn't know before she certainly does know now.

The ambassador and his stall — though nervously refusing to say very much about this whole matter -nevertheless give all signs of being quite troubled and embarrassed by the situation.

Others in fact have told me that Ambassador Marker lias been very upset about Siegel's appointment but has simply been unalile to stop Be­nazir in view of his own connection to the Z ia government and eoneeins loi his own longevity.

The man in question in the centre of this Mark Siegel, a long-time Democratic Party operative who served as President Carter's liaison to the Jewish community when he lirst took offiee.

How could such a thing happen? How could an active supporter of Israel, a man closely connected for years with the extended Jewish lobby in Washington, become the highly paid foreign agent of the government of a major Islamte country?

The answer is quite simple actually. In the years Benazir Bhutto spent in the U S , she made various friends both at Harvard where she went to school and later in Washington. At Harvard she was befriended by Peter Gal-braith. Indeed she mentioned Gal -braith some 15 times in her book Diuightcr of Destiny even including personal letter that were exchanged between her and Galbraith.

Today Sa lbra i th is an influential staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee working for tlu very pro-Israeli Senator Clairborne Pell of Connecticut

A n d though he denies it there is much evidence to suggest that it wijs Peter Galbraith who orchestrated the dropping of the pro-Arab lobbying firm, Neill & C o . , in favour of Mark Siegel's firm.

Galbraith denies having been the one who planted the idea in Bhutto's head. But when pressed whether or not he discussed this subject with the new prime minister during his fre­quent visits to Islamabad late last year he refuses to discuss the matter.

continues to cling to at the same time that he is now representing a major Islamic government.

Indeed, when asked about his poli­tical affiliations over the years, Siegel txrcame extremely defensive in a re-amt phone conversation, insisting that all those who questioned his uinneetion with the Pakistanis were plain and siiirply anti-Semitic. He refused in fact to discuss either his past or his political outlooks in regard to Israel, dodging all attempts to deal with the political ramifications of his new relationship with the new govern­ment of Pakistan.

However, a bit of research reveals some rather startling facts. Though ncvc'i a high-ranking official of the Jewish lobby, Siegel resigned from the Carter White House in protest over Carter's "anti-Israeli" policies. He did so as part of a coordinated attack on both Zbigniew Brzezinski and Jimmy Carter tor their attempts to seek a "Palestinian homeland, " "eompreficnsive peace," and "an in­ternational peace conference."

Among the immediate prepitent of Siegel's resignation on March 7, 1978 was the heckling and booing he re­ceived a week before when he spoke to young leaders of the United Jewish Appeal. This writer was at that affair and was himself struck by Siegel's emotional reaction.

During that speech Siegel told the more-than-a-thousand young Jewish leaders that he wanted "to take off my White House hat and tell you what I feci as an American, a Jew and a committed Zionist." But even that didn't stop the audience from its vocal attacks on Siegel, surrogate as he was for Jimmy Carter.

The other important precipitent of Siegel's resignation was his opposition to the sale of advanced American

Many people change, of course. But in Siegel's case the little evidence that exists suggests that he remains today as much a part of the extended Israeli-Jewish lobby as ever. Indeed his basic attitude when questioned about these matters was exactly the accusations of anti-Semitism against the questioner that the Jewslh lobby is famous for.

What has happened in this case is but a part of a new and disturbing political phenomenon in Washington that ironically has some friendly Mus­lim governments hiring persons who are known to be hostile to general Muslim concerns. Remarkably T u r ­key, lot instance, has actually hired former employees of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee ( A l P A C ) — the primary group that lobbies for Israel and against the Arabs — and paid one of its former executive directors, Morris Amitay ,

'considerable consultant Ices . The theory seems to be that since

the Zionist lobby is so strong one should get them on your side if you want to get things from the American Congress.

In a sense it's the Egyptian strategy played out so sadly here for the past few years. The Egyptians have even taken things further, attending major gatherings of various groups associ­ated with the Israel lobby — the only Arabs to do so — in hopes that the next time Egypt is having a tough time getting what it wants from Congress Egypt's new Zionist lobby friends wil l help.

In 1986 before Benazir returned to Pakistan her new acquaintance, Mark Siegel, bought her a bullet-proof vest. Now Siegel may have got Ms Bhutto into a situation where she is going to need some kind of newfangled politic­al-proof garment.

Advised, apparently, by her Zionist friend, Peter Galbraith, Benazir Bhut­to, right, Tirst dropped the pro-Arab lobbying nrm appointed by the Zia government, in favour of Mark Siegel's pro-Israel firm. Siegel, a committed Zionist, quit the Carter White House in protest over the decision to sell US arms to Saudi Arahia

SAUDI GAZETTE

Wednesday May 3, 1909 / sAUDI GAZETTE

JE?4̂ k signs Zionists to lobby Congress By Mark Bruzonaky WASHINGTON. lues.

PAKIS1 AN Prime Minister Be­nazir Bhutto has replaced a pro-Arab lobby Tlrin with a lung-time active Zionist supporter in a bid to influence the American Con­gress.

the pro-Arab Neill and Com­pany, whicb had been hired by the previous Pakistan govern­ment, was dismissed soon after its contract was renewed, on the personal direction of Bhutto. Its job was given to the firm of Mark Siegel, who resigned from furincr president Jimmy Carter's admi-nlslratiun in 1978 in protest over Carter's "anti-Israeli" policies.

Another important cause of Siegel's resignation was his opposition to the sale of advanced American Tighter planes and other weapons to .Saudi Arabia and Pgypt. This, it was said, particularly troubled Siegel, who believed, and apparently still lie-lieves, that the US should provide m^jor armaments only to Israel.

Meanwhile, Turkey has also hired former employees of the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AlPAC)—the prim­ary group that lobbies for Israel and against the Arabs and paid one of its former executive direc­tors, Morris Amitay, consider­able consultancy fees.

Complete article — Page S

PAGE ONE

MAY 17, 1989

Lobbying firm Clarification by Pakistan

By Smidi Qantt* tiatt JEOOAH, TwM A B D U L Hayce Oureshi. Press Cuunsellor, «i the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyudh, said today that his govcmtncni is in the proccu of selecting a lobbying firm to represent it in the US.

Qureshi, reacting to an article by well known col­umnist Mark A Bruzonsky published in the Ooteiie on May 3, said in a written statement that the article "is not based on facts."

Bruzonsky had said that Pakistan Prime Mittister Be­nazir Bhutto has replaced a pro-Arab lolrbying firm with that of a lung lime active Zionist supporter, Mark Siegel, to influence the American Congress.

Qureshi said, "pending the final selection, the work is being looked after by the liiicrnaiional Public Strategics, a Wasbingion-based firm headed by Paul Thatcher. The principal offi­cial of thia firm dealing with international affairs is Grayson Fowler. The gov­ernment deals with the firm as such and not with indi­vidual employees, of whom Mark Siegel is one,"

Oureshi went on to add that, "it is Uiially incorrect that the Pakistan Embassy in Washington has ever given any signs of embarrassment at the situation. The Ambas­sador of Pakistan in Washington has never discus­sed the subject with the au­thor of the article."

>

~Q57 2G~ VBTAS SfiUDI GAZETTE JEDDAH S.A. = 0000 = R04

0 K R Z ORGANIZATION '̂ ^̂ f̂̂

To : Mark A*Bruzonsky I-ax : ( 2 0 ? ) 562-b965,Washington,D.C. »U.S.A.

I'rom : l y a d A.Madani Pax : 6727621,Jeddah,Saudi Ar a b i a .

Date : May 25,1989 Time : 19.00 h r s . Length: S i x pages ( i n c l u d i n g t h i s ) .

Thank you f o r your l a t e s t f a x message.

I am sending you co p i e s of your a r t i c l e "Hound Two goes to Shamir publi s h e d i n A p r i l 19 Gazette, we w e l l as l e t t e r s to the e d i t o r f o l l o w i n g the p u b l i c a t i o n of your a r t i c l e on B e n a z i r Bhutto, t h e i r h e a d l i n e s being,

- R e v o l t i n g c o n s c i e n c e - Stunning exposure - Charge r e v i v e d May 13 - N a t i o n a l c o n f u s i o n — May 14 - F a l l e n on deaf e a r s — May 16

We do l i k e the approach and expect t o r e c e i v e your next a i ' t i c l e on the i s s u e . Your r e p l y to the d e n i a l of the P a k i s t a n embassy could be i n the form of a l e t t e r to the e d i t o r , t o be foll o w e d by an a r t i c l e g i v i n g new and/or f u r t h e r d e t a i l s .

We w i l l f a x you l a t e r on other matter.

ORGANIZATION F O R PRiSS * PUlLICATION

StiadlXiGAzette

Attn

From

Date Time Length

Mark A.Bruzoneky Fax : (202) 562-69b5, Washington,D.G.»U.S.A. lyad A.Madani Fax : b727621, Jeddah,Saudi Arabia May 24,1989 15.00 hrs. 2 pages

Thank you for your fax of May 23,1989. Here l a the l a t e s t info on Benazir Bhutto and Mark Siegel from our sources i n Pakistan: 1. Mark Siegel i s heading the PR team for Bhutto's v i s i t to the

US schedule i n June. - His plan i s to project Bhutto as representative of "oppressed women". The point being made by the PR team i s that Benazir Bhutto i s an enlightened and educated lady while her nation, Pakistan i s a society against progress. This society i s controlled by the "forces of darkness and Bhutto i s f i g h t i n g against these forces of darkness and she deserves US support i n her struggle against these forces i n order to make Pakistan a c i v i l i s e d , modern country. Such projection, Siegel team believes, would help her gain f u l l backing of the White House and Congress i n her struggle,

- The campaign i s going on for the l a s t four months since Bhutto came to power. The media have been fed with s t o r i e s showing that Bhutto i s a highly educated lady from a country which i s controlled by people against progress and enlightenment.

2. Several Zionist groups have been touring Pakistan since Bhutto came to power i n December 1988.

3. Siegel was also involved i n the Camp David accords, and President Carter admitted that Siegel made several "mistakes" i n h i s outright support for Begin.

4. Sen Stephen Solarz also played a role i n getting Siegel as a US adviser to the Pakistan government of Bhutto,

5. Benazir Bhutto government has plans to decorate, one way or another, Solarz, I n i t i a l l y the plan was to do i t during Bhutto's US v i s i t (according to a Pakistani newspaper). Now i t has been postponed u n t i l September (according to diplomatic sources i n Jeddah). Reasons for postponement aren't c l e a r ;

,.2.

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H(AO OFFICE JEDDAH. r P.BoA I B M . $AUOI ARABIA. TEL »MA4Dt.MM)»l. TELEA A O I M O %) 0KA2. BRANCHES : MECCA. TEL S74B«6a-474U13 MADINA TEL 4R23II27. OAMMAM. TEL 3U3216]. ABHA TEL 7:24I2«. OAJIM T«i M r U Y M

TAIf TEL 27320002, BiSHA. TEL 7822511B HAIL, n i B6321S45. TABDK. TEL 442I5S*, JI2AJI, ICL 73221270. NlJRAN. TEL 7522IS62. BIIEIHSH. TEL 722i7M0. TAMBU. TEL 43223717. RIYADH. TEL 4Q?S»J3^3M520

6, S i e g e l and h i s company a r e t r y i n g t o get P e t e r G a l h r a i t h i n v i t e d to the luncheon P r e s i d e n t Bush w i l l host f o r Bhutto. I n h i s pr e s e n t p o s i t i o n G a l h r a i t h does not q u a l i f y f o r such i n v i t a t i o n .

7. According to the l a t e s t P a k i s t a n i p r e s s r e p o r t s and other s o u r c e s , S i e g e l has "been a u t h o r i s e d to tak e important d e c i s i o n s ahout Bhutto US v i s i t p l a n s and i t i n i r a r y :

- who she should see - who she should not meet - f o r how long - what p l a c e s to v i s i t - what statements t o give - t o what newspapers/media organs — e t c .

There i s no independent c o n f i r m a t i o n of the r e p o r t t h a t Bhutto's Novemher e l e c t i o n s t r a t e g y was planned "by a Z i o n i s t f i r m , whether S i e g e l was i n v o l v e d , was i t h i s f i r m or some other f i r m . T h i s i n f o was g i v e n p r i v a t e "by Punja"b C h i e f M i n i s t e r Nawaz S h a r i f , the main r i v a l of Bhutto. P r o f e s s i o n a l l y t h i s statement cannot be taken at i t s f a c e v a l u e f o r the simple reason t h a t S h a r i f i s a p o l i t i c a l opponent and he may say anything a g a i n s t h i s r i v a l . You may t r y to f i n d the t r u t h . I n the meantime, i f we r e c e i v e any confirmation, we w i l l immediately pass i t on t o Mark.

Regards.

l y a d A.Madani

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C ) K ( ; A M / . / V T I ( ) N

F O B PRtSS & PUBLICATION

Saudi JLioaz£tte

From

Date Time Length

Hark A.Bruzonsky Fax : (202) 562-6965, Washington,D.C.,U.S.A. ly a d A.Madani Fax : 6727621,Jeddah,Saudi Arabia May 17,1989 20.00 h r s . T o t a l Four Pages, i n c l u d i n g t h i s .

The P a k i s t a n embassy here has denied your report on Benazir Bhutto government's h i r i n g of a Z i o n i s t lobby f i r m , though the d e n i a l confirms that Mark S i e g e l i s employed by t h a t f i r m . T h i s d e n i a l appeared i n today's Saudi Gazette, page one, a c l i p p i n g of which i s here f o r you.

Tomorrow's Gazette w i l l c a r r y a l e t t e r to the e d i t o r by the P a k i s t a n i Counsellor ( P r e s s ) which a l s o has a r e f e r e n c e to your a r t i c l e . A copy of the o r i g i n a l l e t t e r i s a l s o being sent to you.

Your a r t i c l e has created tremendous i n t e r e s t , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n the P a k i s t a n i community here as w e l l as i n P a k i s t a n . "Nawa-i-Waqt" Urdu d a i l y has reproduced i t i n f u l l l a s t F r i d a y , and photocopies were d i s t r i b u t e d here.

According to our i n f o , B e n a z i r Bhutto h i r e d another (or the same?) Z i o n i s t f i r m during Oct/Nov. to p l a n her p a r t y ' s e l e c t i o n s t r a t e g y . So f a r no concrete i n f o , but we are t r y i n g t o get d e t a i l s . You can check at your end, us i n g your own sources i f the i n f o i s c o r r e c t .

The Gazette proposes t h a t you w r i t e another piece on t h i s i s s u e , p r i m a r i l y as a r e j o i n d e r to the embassy d e n i a l , and i f p o s s i b l e , w i t h i n f o on e l e c t i o n strategy-maker. T h i s a r t i c l e can be c a r r i e d t h i s Wednesday, May 24, provided the a r t i c l e i s r e c e i v e d by Monday, May 22, together w i t h "Massacre at Nahalin". I f you need more time, the proposed s t o r y can go on May 5 1 . Confirm your p l a n s .

Your a r t i c l e on Arafat-Shamir Second Round was published on A p r i l 19, w i t h the cartoon you proposed.

E i d Holidays are j u s t over, you soon on the Cairo t r i p .

Regards.

I ' l l be g e t t i n g i n touch w i t h

l y a d A.Madani

1 . r , . , v A « , - l , , , , . v r . A y _ ^ v , . . . , T , ul^i » r , A V , , . c'>- 1 1 < V . . 1 T « " w . . j-V » T T • 1 1 1 Li* T V r A . • . , ..AIlU 1 „ r r A r A f-lll » , , 1 , , , I,! r Ar A t M , , U J I JtOUAB P 0 BOX 15M. SAUDI AflABI*. TEL S69AWB.6eM020. TELEx 401310 S J 0KA2. BRANCHES : MECCA. TEL 574B660-5743313, MADINA TEE. 48231127. D A M M A M . TEL. 36322162 ABHA T E L 7224128 QASIM T.l 63233139

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S A U D I G A Z E T T E

P A G E QUE

HAY -17, 19B9

Lobbying firm

Clarif ication by Pakistan

By Saudi Gazette staff JEDDAH, Tues A B D U L Hayce Oureshi. Press Counsellor, al (he Embassy of Pakistan in Riyi idh, said today that his government is in the process of selecting a lobbying firm to represent it in the U S ,

Oureshi, reacting to an article by well known col­umnist Mark A Bruzonsky published in the Gazelle on May 3, said in a written statement that the article "is not based on fads . "

Bruzonsky had said that Pakistan Prime Minister Be­nazir Bhutto has replaced a pro-Arab lobbying firm with that of a long time active Zionist supporter, Mark Siegel, to influence the American Congress.

Oureshi said, "pending the final selection, the work is being looked after by the International Public Strategies, a Washington-based firm headed by Paul Thatcher. The principal offi­cial of this firm dealing with international affairs is Grayson Fowler. The gov­ernment deals with the firm as such and not with indi­vidual employees, of whom Mark Siegel is one."

Oureshi went on to add that, "it is tbtally incorrect that the Pakistan Embassy in Washington has ever given any signs of embarrassment at the situation. T h e Ambas­sador of Pakistan in Washington has never discus­sed the subject with the au­thor of the article."

COUNSELLOR(PRESS)

EMBASSY O F P A K I S T A N P. O. B O X 6891 R I Y A D H 11452

May 15, 19 89

/

My dear E d i t o r - i n - C h i e f ,

The a r t i c l e by Mr. Mark A, Bruzonsky published i n your

esteemed newspaper on 3 May, 1989, i s not based on f a c t s . The

c o r r e c t p o s i t i o n i s that the Government of P a k i s t a n i s i n the

process of s e l e c t i n g a lobbying firm to represent i t i n the United

S t a t e s . Pending the f i n a l s e l e c t i o n , the work i s being looked

a f t e r by the I n t e r n a t i o n a l P u b l i c S t r a t e g i e s , a Washington based

firm headed by Mr. Paul Thatcher. The p r i n c i p a l o f f i c i a l of t h i s

firm d e a l i n g with i n t e r n a t i o n a l a f f a i r s i s Mr. Grayson Fowler. The

Government deals with the firm as such and not with i n d i v i d u a l

employees, of whom Mr. Mark S i e g e l i s one.

2. Th i s a l s o t o t a l l y i n c o r r e c t t h a t the P a k i s t a n Embassy

i n Washington has ever given any signs of embarrassment a t the

s i t u a t i o n . The Ambassador of P a k i s t a n i n Washington has never

\ d i s u c s s e d the s u b j e c t with the author of the a r t i c l e .

/ 3. Your esteemed d a i l y has a l s o published l e t t e r s i n the

e d i t o r ' s column on May 13 and 14, p l a y i n g on the mischievous and

malicious f a b r i c a t i o n s contained i n the s a i d a r t i c l e . These l e t t e r s

are r e f l e c t i v e of a d e l i b e r a t e e f f o r t to drag Pakistan's domestic

p o l i c i e s abroad and are a p a r t of the d i s i n f o r m a t i o n campaign l e t

loose by defeated elements who want to take t h e i r l o s i n g b a t t l e on

a foreign s o i l . You would appreciate t h a t v i l i f i c a t i o n campaign

i s being s y s t e m a t i c a l l y launched by them a g a i n s t a democratically

e l e c t e d government i n P a k i s t a n .

4. I t i s hoped that a newspaper from a very b r o t h e r l y

country would look i n t o these nefarious designs of defeated elements

\K contd 2/

- 2 -

i n order to avoid d i s t o r t e d portray l i of a f r i e n d l y and de m o c r a t i c a l l y e l e c t e d government i n P a k i s t a n .

S With r e s p e c t f u l regards,

Yours - s i n c e r e l y , /O'

( ABDUL HAYEE QURESHI ) \

Mr. Ridah M. L a r r y , E d i t o r - i n - C h i e f , Saudi Gazette, P.O. BOX NO.5576, JEDDAH - 21432.

•

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LETTERS TO THE^EDlTpCWg) 'point charge sheet

.I—Once ii gcnuiiii' suppoiui of Cory Cojuiinpto Aquino, now, iillcr closely wulching more Ihuii three yeiiis of her I urn in Mjlaciimiiig I came to grips with reality:

First, there is no chainje for the belter in the life of the Filipinos except lor the few hkHiilsuckers in her domain,

, Second, Ihe eeonomic condi­tions have even agftravuied as a result of the failed policies of ihe Cory regime and partly dnc to the continuation of the sanie bankrupt and corrupt practices and laws of the traitor Marcos.

Third, as the saying goes, only the rich get richer and the poor poorer, where the growth in the GNP is only the growth in the "Gross National Pockets" of the liureaucrais, the landlords, the foreign multinationals, big businessmen and the military

Fourth, instead of lessening (lie debt burden of the country wc see a ri&c in our loans with no end to our mendicancy and over-reliance on these atrocious fore-Igii aid packages.

Fifth, foreign domination icp-fcscmed by American monopol­ists over the economy lias gone unchecked and cupilal flight re­mains a big obstacle towards our r' celopment, industriuli.saiion

• a.id economic self-sufficiency. Sixth, taxes have greatly in-

' creased and overburdening the 1 people whereas work and in­

come opportunities have dimi­nished.

Seventh, that prices of basic commodities have instead shot up beyond the people's ufforda-bility whereas wages have re­mained siagnam and cheap.

Eighth, government services, social welfare and security have also dropped dead rallicr lhan invigorated, the consequence of which perpetrates, the illiieiacy and miscducaiiun of the youih, the hunger and nialnoiinshmcnt in the rural und urban poor areas, Ihc poverty und diseuse

prevalent throughout the land. Ninth, instead of curbing ram-

punt crimes, we arc almost daily stark witnesses to the random participittiuit in these sociul curse by the same people in the-governmeni particularly the military,and the police

Tenth we no lunger feel safe these days to travel, not even to slay home on account of the ihrcitts and dangers posed on our daily lives in the Philippines.

Eleventh, human rights abuses have grown worse and has been surpassed Marcos' re­cords in terms of victims of the daily massacres, torture, salvag-ings and oilier fascist methods employed by the regime against the Filipinos who dare voice their just demands against an unjust system.

Twelve, grave injustices arc siill being committed against the people in general when no per­son in authority, especially among ihc military, is brought in answer for their crimes, indeed a common knowledge.

Thirteen, freedom these days have no real meaning save the freedom of the rulers to oppress and exploit (he ruled, a Marcos legacy. ,

Fourteen, unfair and . unjust laws are still enacted to.^py the workers their rights,, and v the farmers their land and worse of -all, many of the notorious Mar­cos decrees huve not been ^tsr s solved, leading us to think that Cory and Marcos—or perhaps for a better comparison, Im-elda—arc unequivocally the same, skin and bones.

Fifteen, the insurgency is on the rise and I fear that the escalation of this fratricidal war Is going to bring more death and misery to Ihe country because this stupid and insensitive gov­ernment of Aquino is making more rebels than supporters of Ihe people on account of the points made above.

As a IIXI percent Cory diehard before, foolishly adoring a

media creation, now 1 am a 200 percent Cory opponent. The facts speak for themselves,

Lakay Ninoy Talf

Fallen on deaf esr«i Sir—Mr Munawar Chi«. I's advise to Sindhis to dcfco, the conspiracies of Sindhi nationalist O.M, Sycd and his followers, and promote the message of Muslim .brotherhood {Saudi ClazeiK, May 14) 'might have fallen on deaf cars,

The, mpst'.beleaguered and violent proviit'ce m Pakistan to­day Is Slnd which has become a centre of all ethnic conflicts. During the la t̂ two and half years more than VX) people have been killed. The violence is largely attributed to Sind's two main militant ethnic parties, the Jiye Slnd and the MOM, and to a lesser extent unruly Pashluns.

Jiye Sind is waging a ruthless war for a separate nation "Sin-dhu Dcsh" for native Sindhis. It was a creation of Sindhi stalwart G.M. Sycd in l%7 and is one of the most barbarous political par-tics of Pakislai), Ms Benazir Bhutto's ruling PPP had a coati-lioii with Jiye Sind and swept November polls in Sind, unpara­lleled-in,th«,-history of Pakistan, on this Jiyei Sind note of Sindhi nationalism; r-'ii-- ' I ' - i ' oW

- The Leftdeaning MOM was formed'by^Altaf JJuswIn in J978

^witl\tlle blj^in'jj^of hisone-^me lidcoIogicaKgurui-G.M, Syed for

"championing" the cause of the Mohajirs ..with catchy slogans such as "Hights or Death" and "Mohajir . iPpwer—Superpow­er", Syed blessed the MOM only to isolate, the .Mohajirs from other ethnic • minorities and throw thcns into bloody rivalries and crush them. It was a success­ful strategy. Since then the Mohajirs have been fighting with everyone while courting Sindhis and chanting for "Sindhi-Moha-jir brotherhood" in.Mead of "Muslim brotherhood." i

As the Mohajirs weakened

with the continued fighting with other minorities, they have be­come easy prey for the Jiye Sind nationalists in the recent times, resulting in mass killing and ex­odus of Mohajirs from Ihc in­terior Sind. The MQM shares power with the PPP in the cciilre.

In response to above two par­lies, so far splintered groiips of Punj.ibis, Pushtuns and Haluchis ^united under the PPI in 1987 and stood up against ihcm. Poliiicat analysts say the ruling PPP is • 'using it OS a pressure device to control the babyish MQM.

Here are their views on Mr Chandio's advise, i Sind Ubcraiion Army's dec­laration states as follows ".. .1 do not bclipvc in the ideology of Muslim unity or ' Pakistani nationality..,. Pakistan was ctc-Btetl for the betterment of the Punjabis and Mohajiis, which is detrimental for the progress and prosperity of Sind,,.therefore I vow to sacrifice my life and wealth for the total liberation of Sind from Pakistan,"

Jiye Sind founder G.M, Sycd says "they talk about Islam, whereas wc have rescinded Islam long back," Hi^ passport llustrates. "Tassawuf^' his reli- -

''•'.gion. , ^ / ! { MQM leader Altaf< Hussain >;tledarcs " . . J f anyone wants to '

Implement Islam, start it from Punjab...no one can fool Moha­jirs in the name of Islam,"

MQM chairman Azccm Tariq Explains, the MOM ideology irhilc praising Stalin's theory of pationalism and justifying their

' chorus wttit Sindhi natidnalists ;'lslam was used to unite the people of Pakistan, but it is a weak basis. .. It is a modern era, only common economic interests can before the foundation of a nation."

Perhaps supporters of the Jiye Sind and the MQM have better reasons than Mr Chandio! < Muhammad Abdul Razzak

' Al-Khobar

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u i^ tu lUAi i io i icga DC reuevtro Kcagan tiasi year. — Ktr. i jjonc.' — Renter

LETTERS TO THE EtttTOR Revolting conscience Sir — Prime Minister Hcne/nlr Bhutto and her Pukisitin Peo­ple's Parly had iiot been elected to turn Pakistan into a pro-Zionist eouniry. However. Mark Bruzonsky's special investigative report {Smuli Cu:tW. May 3) suggests thill she hits done it,

I protest against making Pakistan u Zionist country. In the November IWK elections, I h id voted for the People's Party. Today I withdraw " my vote, although effectively it means no­thing u> Mrs Dliuiio. Hut tliis is to calm down my revolting eoii-scienee because I dim't wani to be a party to a |Kiliey of stabbing Arab brothers in the hack.

Khun (iulrez Khun JeUduh

Stunning exposure Sir — I was Hiufsned to read that the governiiienl of Pakistan hus "hired u Zionist political oper­ator to pcpreseni Pakistan " in the Unlieil Slides {Suiuli (iiiwi-it\ Muy 3).

As a Pakisluni. it never occur­red even in my wildest thoughts thill of all eoniries Pakistan would one day stoop so low its 10 Idrgei its fonndiiig princi|ile and its Istamie duty.

True thill i'uikey still main­tains "low-key" diplomatic rela­tions with the Zionisi entity and when the Shah ruled i l . Iran was the only other Muslim eouniry having relalions with Israel. For

l urkey. it wus in of the hapi'icii-irtgs of early this century, wliile Iran's Shah had other dreams. U U I one never ihoiighi that one

day Pakistan will also have con-liicis with Zionists for some pal­try gains like an IMF loan or a liltle more American aid.

Your speeial investigative re­port was all the more shucking alter Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto received Palestiite Presi­dent Yasser Arafat in Pakistan. The report indicates that when Arafat was heing greeted in Pakistan, the People's Party gov­ernment hud already developed contacts with the enemies of Palestine,

One can understand the hate Mrs Benazir Bhutto hus been rearing for the former president Ziu-ul-l liiq all along these years. Even if she had decided to act more courageously in personal mutters like this, she had the fight to alter any or all policies of Zia. But Piikistati's support for the Palestinian and Arab causes has been there even before that eouniry came into existence. The pre-1947 All-India Muslim League of the Quaid-i-Azum Moliuiiinnid All Jinnah had hecn the author of this pro-Arab and pro-Puiestine policy. If Zia wus pursuing this polity more vigor­ously ihiin any other Pakistani letidcr. it is no excuse for the PPP govcrnnicni to alter it. and uller in favour nt" (he Zionists.

The people of Pakistan gave Mrs Bhutto the mandate to gov-crn the country and supervise the polices, but that mandate does not include a right to devi­ate from what is very dear to every Pakistani

Pakistan is a leading Muslim country, one of the slrongcst^itlld

most respected. If its present government docs not make i amends in the country's Arab ! policy, Pakistan will suffer irre- ' purahle dumuge to its position.

The country is being taken on . to a wrong path and every Pukis- ! tani must see that no Pakistani leader is allowed to damage > Pakislun's reputation among its Arab brethren.

; MiiJiaU Zubcri kiyadh

Charge, revived sir — When Jawaharlal Nehru ' wus India's prime minister, lie . had convinced Egyptian leader Gumul Abdul Nasser that both Israel and Pa\istan were created at almost the same lime on the . basis of what he called "one and same racist principle".

In those days, Pakistan's standing among the Arabs wus never very high. However, the • laic King Faisal of Saudi Arabia . was the fitvi Arab leader to , realise that it was merely a eon- : spiruey lo iiiolule Pakistan from ' the Arab WorU. Gradually Pukistan found the place in the ' hearts of the Arabs i l deserved.

Now. it seems. Prime Minister . Benazir Bhutto has revived the ' Nehru charge with just one \ stroke of pen by firing the pro-Arab lobltying firm in Washing­ton and hiring a pro-Zionist firm. {Saudi Cazeiu, May 3). ;

l am sure the ultimate benefit . of this decision will go only to ; Israel and India. Pakistan stands . hut to lose,

. Sarfisru Baloch Talf

Yen culture Sir — Veteran Japunesc leader of the ruling Lilterul Democratic Party, Masayoshi Ito, is reluc­tant to accept the country's high­est elected office, a position ev­ery faction leader of the l.DP dreams of.

Party general secretary Shin-taro Abe has already rejected a propositi made hy Socialist Party leader, Pakako Doi lo allow the opposition parties to form a coalition. Prime Minister Noboru Takcshila may one day convince Ito to step- into his soiled shoes. But all this would not clean the Japanese adminis­tration.

Political bribery is the name of the game in dc-mocraiic system, though Japan may have excelled oilier. If the people still prefer this system it's because it gives them a sense of belonging to the country as well us to the govern­ment. In order to maintain that popular Confidence, the best the L D P government could do was call a mid-tcrm clection lo he supervised by a national coali­tion government of all parties reprcscnlcd in (he Diet.

Takeshita did not go for that open ended option because the people of Japan have failed to pressc for reform. That is a symptom of yen-dollar culture. An overflow of wealth may — sometime it muy not —- lead to a civilisation, hut more often than not it corrupts. This is something to be studied by sociologists.

Zakir All - . . Jeddah

Q ^ ^ I Q I l i ivp«tiaativp Rpnort

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National confusion Sir—A seclion t)f Sindhix—(ho people of my provinoo of Siiid in PakisMiv—heavih' influenced by ihc Hindus, but. .ueul us well us innitruiurs, now openly declare tliul ihey are the deeendanis of the Hindu Kaja Oahir and that Muhammad Bin Qasim was an invader who robbed them of their culture.

Kor those who do not know, Dahir was a despotic ruler of Sind und his pirates would ultuck Arab-Muslim trading fleets in the Arabiun Sea. Severwl Mus­lims, men and women, were taken hostuge und thrown into jails by him. Then the IJmuyyad governor of Basra, fiujjaj Bin Yusuf sent ,i small army leil by the youthful Oenerul Muhum-mad Din Qusim in 711 CE. Din Qasim freed the Sindbis from Ihc despotic rule of Dahir and spread the message of Islam in Sind,

Now I wonder if Prime Minis­ter Bhutto's decision to hire a Zionist lobby firm In Washing­ton (.VKUI/I Caztllc. May ,1) is indicative of the thinking that the Arabs were the usurpers" and "invaders" and they cannot be the friends of Pakistan'.'

Nut uiily Pakistan Inil Sind also cannot exist without iden­tifying itself with Isluin and with­out an express gratitude for the Arabs who saved them in this

world US well as in the Hereafter with the help of our religion of peace und humanity,

I would like to remind the Sindhis Ihut Bangladesh has gained nothing by seceding irom Pakistan. We must remember that 'Zulfikur AM Bhutto was as much responsible for the parti­tion of Pakistan as Shaikh Mu-jeebur Rahman. Now the same foreign furees are working again (0 further divide and weaken Pakistan und remove u powerful country from between them. One part of the game is to mislead the Sindhis into believ­ing Ihut their "hero" was Raja Dahir; and Muhammad bin Qasim, a Muslim and an Arab, Was a "villain", an inv.idcr, a usurper, und a destroyer of the Sindhi culture which has, in­cidentally, flourished more vigorously in Pakistan than in India where the Sindhis, though Hindus, have lust their identity.

Another part of the scheme is to polititally alienate the Sin­dhis, us well as Pakistanis from the Arab World. The outcome Is anybody's guess. Thi>se who do not want to guess can look at the political position of the East Bengalis todtty. What political imd/or economic weight do they carry in the Muslim World is for anybody to see.

Here I would like the Pakista­ni Sindhis to recall what Allir

Din Suhail had told the people of Mukkuh when some tribes of Arabia had revolted against Islam soon after the Prophet. Muhammad had breathed his lust in « 2 C E .

I'his Amr was the same person who had represented the infidals of Makkah at the signing of the Hudaiblya Treaty with the Mus­lims, When he found that the revolt against religion was throwing the Makkans into a confusion .about whether they should rtfntaln Muslims or turn back to the Juhiliyah, he gathered them in the Holy Ilaram and told them; '"You were the last to accept Islam; now don't be the first to reject it after you've entered Its folds."

There's a clear message fnr the Sindhi '.'nationalists" in this wise declaration of Amr Bin : Suhail. The Sindhis are Muslims and in the pre-partition days their condition was worse than that of the Hindu untouchables. That led their wise and intelli­gent leadership to join the Pakis­tan Movement. Over the past

iour decades they have made femendous progress in every '

bphere of life and as any civilised jseople they must now thank Allah and then Pakistan for all lliut they have achieved since 1947. They may still have some ' "grievances", but then there is always room for more progress,

However, ingratitude invites the wrath of fate.

The Sindhis must note that Bihar und Orissa states of India are two of the most neglected areas, yet no one has over lieard

: of any secessionist movement in those states. In the United States, southern states ure ptnir-er than New England or the northwest coast bui they don't nurac their real or imaginary grievances. Then why should the Sindhis not opt to giving and receiving strength from a unified entity called Pakistan which they have won after making great sacrifices.

It is the Sindhis who have to defeat such conspiracies as to alienate and isolate them from the . rest of the Muslim World, particularly the Arabs who are their neighbours separated only

,by the Arabian Sea. It is their responsibility and duty to say

' "no" to G.M. Syed—who is not worthy of his high line of descent from the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) for damaging the fortress called Islam—and Hamida Khuro ai)d Rasool Bux Palcjo; and seek' an explanation from Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto for favouring the Zionists against the Arabs. If they do that whole Pakistan will he on (heir

' side. Munawar Chandio

Abba