It is the same old story: democracy is not suitable for SA (so goes the elite thinking). The middle class is generally quite envious of Chicoms and how efficiently things are done over there (pragmatic behavior as Kutra points out). The way to counter this line of thinking is to propose that the enthusiasts volunteer their own family for “re-education camp” and have their babies raised by other parents (if they are allowed to be born at all).
For a democracy to be effective, inbuilt safe-guards are required to protect minorities otherwise you have tyranny of the majority. In the Indian context this will usually mean Hindus vs Muslims but as seen from Shiv Sena antics against (non Maharashtrian) Hindus, minorities can have diverse origins. There is a strange twist to that particular story, the BJP would like the Hindu vote to coalesce, while its partner would like to cause fissions for political gain.
Lately a worrisome development has occurred, whereby a lot of hatred is being directed at Muslims in India in active connivance with the Govt and a helpless Supreme court watching passively. Probably an RSS scheme in Gujarat, right? No, these are Shias (also Ahmedis) and the fire is coming from Sunnis (or sects within them). While the “issues” are (ref. Sahar) 1400 years young, the ferocity and expansion of the fire is new and disturbing.
Unlike the BJP/SS combination in Maha, it is now the turn of the secular socialist Samajwadi Party led by “Mullah” Mulayam Singh Yadav which rules Uttar Pradesh (UP) to fish in the troubled waters of the Ganges. They have a clear goal, beat up a minority (within a minority) to protect vote banks (majority of the minority). The Supreme Court made it clear that it was helpless in the matter, the judge can pass orders but the govt refuses to implement them.
The Supreme Court was shocked by the UP government’s method in using police to bring Shia leaders to the table for talks with majority Sunni community leaders for a negotiated settlement of 150 year-old dispute on ownership of graveyard in Doshipura, Varanasi.
During the hearing on the issue last week, counsel for Shia community Kamini Jaiswal protested loudly before a bench of Justices RM Lodha and AR Dave. “On October 31, six police officers came and took the leaders of Shia community for talks. The District magistrate pressurized them to surrender the land,” she alleged.
UP government’s counsel denied the allegation but the court was furious. “When talks for negotiated settlement are on, they cannot be pressurized or forced to surrender land. If the district magistrate has done it, then it is serious,” the bench said.
Shias alleged that the Sunnis were violating the court verdict with impunity and the administration was siding with the violators who are in majority. “Courts have consistently declared since 1878 that the eight plots belonged to Shias, but it remains unenforced. That is because our community is hopelessly in minority and the whole bureaucracy is siding with Sunnis. Prohibitory orders are being clamped in the area from time to time, not to restrain the Sunnis, but to prevent Shias from enjoying their Wakf property,” they alleged.
Maybe Indians will enjoy the re-education camps when the Maoists take over after all. In that event “self-immolations” can be re-branded as “Sati-pratha” of the 21st century. When people want to go back to the golden ages, they may get what they wish for (or not).
regards
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/UP-govt-uses-police-to-bring-Shia-leaders-for-talks/articleshow/17235734.cms
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/sc-asks-up-to-implement-its-30yrold-order-on-shifting-graves/993674
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/tibet/9684351/Briton-becomes-first-Western-Tibetan-Buddhist-monk-to-die-from-self-immolation.html
