By Javaid Baig, Anaheim Hills, CA
I read Dr. Mansoor Shah’s letter to Congressman Ed Royce in the Pakistan Link (November 18, 2001). I attended the Forum on Terrorism organized by the Congressman’s office on October 21, 2001. Clearly, the Forum was tilted against Pakistan as Ambassador John Mallot, Ms. Ana Prasad, and Mr. Hasan Nouri chose to speak ill of Pakistan through their narrowly guided depiction of events. Their statements obviated an agenda, which clearly violates their position on the Congressman’s Advisory Council. The Bangladeshi member of the Council, was articulate and remained focused on the topic. Mr.Karim Raza, the Pakistani member of the Congressman’s Advisory Council, made totally irrelevant remarks and was ineffective in answering the three questions posed to him. He might as well not have been there.
Two observations are in order here. First, Congressman Ed Royce organized and chaired the Forum to address the issue of ‘Terrorism.’ The entire two-hour session never really addressed the topic. Second, Congressman Royce moderated the Forum and in that capacity he allowed the Forum to take an entirely different course without any effort to steer it back to the topic of the day. It is unclear whether the Congressman was deliberate in his actions or whether he is inexperienced in conducting such fora. In either case his own Forum was hijacked from him.
Ambassador John Mallot colored Pakistan’s role in Kashmir as state-sponsored terrorism while ignoring the state terrorism by Indian government and its armed forces against an indigenous movement. He mentioned India and the United State being the two oldest democracies in the world. However, he conveniently chose to ignore India’s treatment of its Christian, Muslim and Sikh minorities; suppression of Naga people, her sponsorship of Tamil terrorists in Sri Lanka; and downright human rights violations of the ‘untouchable’ class. In its totality, his speech was tilted against Pakistan providing cheerful moments to Indians present in the audience. The Pakistani presence was scant, as is usually the case. The crux of the matter is that it is not about right or wrong; indigenous struggle or terrorism; UN resolutions or denial of legitimate rights - it is about effective public relations campaign. Pakistan and Pakistani Americans have underestimated the value of a well articulated and financed PR campaign whereas India and Indian Americans have effectively used this tool in the US halls of government and in public forums.
Finally, the role of Pakistani Americans. COPAA is an organization, which claims to look after the interests of Pakistan in Southern California - at least that is its stated goal. The happenings at Congressman Royce’s Forum was a clear failure of COPAA and its leadership. It was represented there by its President, at least two Board Members, and its past President. They walked away without any protest or even discussion with the Congressman to whose campaign they have contributed during each election and in the interim. It is COPAA’s failure that such a thing could happen in its own constituency and that it could not arrange to put its best representative on the Congressman’s Advisory Council. As of the date of this article, COPAA has not met the Congressman to discuss the Forum. An opportunity has presented itself where the Congressman’s Council could be reshaped and COPAA could play a significant role there. Then again it takes vision, leadership and commitment, which seems to be devoid in the political activism of Pakistani Americans.