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| Malaysia to call for NAM meeting over Iraq |
| 2003-04-15 |
| Malaysia will call for a meeting with Cuba and South Africa, the other members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) troika, soon to discuss latest developments in Iraq. "Yes, by God! That's it! We'll have a meeting!" Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said on Tuesday that this was being done in its capacity as NAM chairman. He said the troika members — the past and present chairmen of NAM — will discuss the position of Iraq as a NAM member and the role that can be played by the United Nations in the reconstruction of the nation. He said Malaysia proposed that the meeting take place soon in the light of the latest developments in the Middle East which were "very worrying." "I'm so worried! Oh, hold me, Fatimah!" Syed Hamid said besides the urgent need to rebuild Iraq, the talk of Syria being the next target of the US and its allies had brought about more uncertainty. "It is very worrying...it is like all problems can be easily settled through military means," he told newsmen after receiving donations totalling almost RM500,000 (US$131,578) from various organisations to the Iraqi Humanitarian Fund at his office here. Well, not all problems, but lots of them... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #2 Malysia is deeply worried because it is only a semi-legitimate state. In most of its territory (Eastern Malaysia) ethnic Malays are a minority as are muslims. Since independance it has a policy of creeping islamicisation. Laws against apostatsy and forcing non-muslims who marry moslems to become moslems themselves. As well showering money and services on the malays and moslems, while non-malay and and non-moslem, indigenous people live in poverty without running water and other basic services. The message has been clear - If you want a better live learn Malay and become a muslim! They have presented this as a fait acommpli (sp?) and through draconian security laws and control of the press have stiffled dissent. Mandatory education in malay has limited access to (generally english) sources of information. The Malaysian government is afraid that increasing freedom and access to information will result in result in resistance to Malay dominance and islamicisation. NAM is just a front for illegitimate states and makes the UN look like a paragon legitimcy. |
| Posted by: Phil B 2003-04-15 22:03:03 |
| #1 Yes, yes, a meeting! And soon! (Good call, Fred!) Prolly in a 5-star in Paris or Geneva. Wanna guess how much of that $$$ ever even gets to Iraq, much less actually HELPS someone there who needs it? Iraq is no longer "non-aligned" folks. Get over it. |
| Posted by: PD 2003-04-15 16:50:28 |