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JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7

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Money as God
A journey from salvation to depression
God is a creator of human beings and human beings are creator of money. In fact both God and human beings are creators. But there is difference between these two creators; Gods creation is perishable whereas humans creation may be subject to appreciation or depreciation but not perishable. That is why money is more important than human beings. It seems that money is better creation ...
JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No. 07
CHIEF EDITOR Vivek S Raj ASSOCIATE EDITOR Vinita S Raj EDITOR AND BUREAU CHIEF R K Singh, Ex-civil Servant EXECUTIVE EDITORS Abhinav Mathur, Nitesh Khabrani EDITOR (HON.) Dr. Apporva ASSISTANT EDITOR Vishi S Raj EDITORIAL BOARD Manish Singh, Prof. R K Singh, Saurabh Agrawal M.S. Yadav, Rohini Sarkar, Aditya Bhardwaj, Sneha Subscription Queries: 09871220001
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BRICS: Towards redefining new global order

What emerged as the brainchild of a Goldman Sach economist is now turning out to be the possible future of the world economy. International organizations are usually the products of the vision of world leaders or statesmen; seldom do they originate as an afterthought of a research study by a private investment bank. But such is the birth story of what can be described as the BRIC of the world economy in the near and medium ...
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End of Osama Bin Laden

September, 11, 2001 was the most significant date of the present century that shaped the global geo-political relations. It was on this date that the world saw with disbelief and shock, the footage of the planes-turned missiles destroying the WTC and damaging the Pentagon. It was the worst terrorist attack the world had witnessed and was totally inexcusable and is condemned till date.
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Population Theory of demographic transition National Population Policy Evolution of population policy in India Population density Sex Ratio Literacy Government efforts at improving literacy Lokpal Bill PACs Report on 2G Scandal PEAIS 2011 Nagpur to be countrys tiger capital Committee on Zonal Cultural Centres
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Education in Budget 2011-12 Social impacts of literacy improvement Health National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Languages Religion Census of India The way forward India Water Forum 2011 National Rural Livelihoods Mission Lalitgiris Buddhist relics Mendha-Lekha Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP)
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Money as God
A journey from salvation to depression
God rides on rituals, money rides on technology; God gives salvation, money gives depression. od is a creator of human beings and human beings are creator of mon ey. In fact both God and human beings are creators. But there is differ ence between these two creators; Gods creation is perishable whereas humans creation may be subject to appreciation or depreciation but not perishable. That is why money is more important than human beings. It seems that money is better creation in terms of duration and permanence than the human beings. This untenable but convincing logic has dominated the world history and it has started ruling outrightly. The rise and further rise of money in the lives of people has created a sense of havoc and swept all the foundations of social relations and has laid down a strong ground for mental pervasion and a bewilderment of behavioural pattern. The money has managed to maintain its existence by dislodging the character of human being. It has eaten the wisdom,
intelligence, sensitivity and rationality of human being. The continued rise and further rise of the relevance of money is a manifestation of growing material world where material possession decides the status and existence of human being. The money has the spontaneous power to purchase anything which is material in nature and this gives great pleasure to hedonists. The growing influence of money in the lives of people has the support of a number of factors. Firstly, after the decline of agriculture and fragmentation of land holdings in India, the joint family declined and in its place created an undefined family unit. In other words, the Indian family system is neither nuclear nor joint one and even cannot be regarded as extended nuclear family, I think it is a micro-family and now this micro family is disappearing and Individual has replaced it as such. Now Individual has sold oneself to money and become its slave, he/she thinks mainly in terms of money, i.e.; and forgets to think of its devastating effects on his/her progeny, the society, the nation and the state. This has made the social relations in jeopardy and individuals are confused over their expected role-relationships. In the absence of proper role-expectations, the individual feels that only making money will save him from all odds and in this regard nothing else will help to get rid of torrid times. In a social system, relations are built to sustain emotional, physical and mental stress of life but when these relations JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7
are not defined money becomes the most defined and palpable orientation of life. Secondly, there is another closely related issue of uncertainty in human life that has a huge bearing on how a person chooses to live. It is not uncommon to find even the rich living austerely. Man has accustomed to lead a life which is full of accidents or turning points at different times in their lives. Compare this with the earlier lifestyle where a common person had to only take care of what little he had or what little he wished. It was a simple life and maintaining the simplicity was not tough. But now, the complications are much more. Continuity is only the prize for a few, let alone prolonged progress. What one earns today may be lost tomorrow. So where is the security? Here again money accumulation gains relevance as a necessary asset for the vagaries of future. Wisdom is scanty as to what one perceives as enough to survive the future. As a result people give undue importance to money. For example, one of my relative visited to my place after a heart attack. We approached the premier institution AIIMS, where only 2-3 persons can go for heart MRI per day. My relative got one month advanced date for MRI. When he came back from his native place, the machine went out of service. When third time he came, after 15 days, the MRI was not completed and again a date of 20 days was given. Later, due to accidental cases his date was deferred for another month. This relative shared his feelings with me that if I had the money, then I could have had the services of big private hospitals at my convenience and my entire ailment could have been cured. His statement made me to rethink about the relevance of money. If such messages are being sent to common people, then the value of money has to be understood as equal to God. Thirdly, money has very strong properties and it is the most amenable form of maya (illusion). Once the lakshman rekha (limit of transgression) is crossed money absorbs the individual and annihilates ones existence and then a man becomes without existence thereCivil Services
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by having no difference of attitude and approach of 18 year-old or 80-year-old. The concept ashramadharma is dissipated and the entire span of life is spent in grihasta ashrama (the stage of a householder) and rest three i.e., Brahmacharya (student life); Vanaprastha (retired life); and Sannyasa (renounced life) are either totally underlived or undermined. In real life, the basis of grihasta ashrama very much depends on the material expansion and consolidation to fulfill the commitments towards the education of their children, obligation towards the welfare of relatives and the society and even future of the family. In this case, money has extreme relevance because it helps to build lives of the people and fulfills the commitment of an individual towards oneself and ones family. Even at this stage, the accumulation should not be too much and the limit or the lakshman rekha should not be transgressed. The lakshman rekha is most cogently defined by Sant Kabir Dasji when he says, Sai itna dijiye ja mein kutumb samaye, main bhi bhokha na rahoon sadhoo bhi na bhookha jaye (Give so much Almighty, so as to envelop my family, I should not suffer cravings, nor the visitor goes unfed). But unfortunately the conscience of people believes in Sai itna dijiye kabhi khatam na ho paaye, mera pet bhara rahe, duniya bhad mein jaaye. But one has to always remind the fact that if the whole life is spent in grihasta ashrama then the moksha (salvation) becomes a distant dream and the life ends with frustration and ultimately in depression. In this process the mission of money completes and at the moment of death the human created money laughs at the character, future and sordid vision of its creator like bhasmasura. Fourthly, the need for money becomes unending when there is huge misunderstanding between the difference of cravings and requirements. Initially the requirements drives the desire but very soon the desire takes over the requirement and ultimately desire drives recklessly leading to negligence driving and casualties. In other words, in the name of expanding the infrastructure we heavily invest in ostentatious (pretentious display), superficial and unwarranted things. As a result of this, the cost rises which is very difficult to be sustained by genuine means. This JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7
becomes the stretching point when a social human being starts behaving like asocial and uncivil. In this case money starts sucking the blood of humanity and social relations. The global depression of 2008-09 was a sheer manifestation of such approach when the MNCs relying more on their buildings, ACs, vehicles and advertisements, failed to sustain their employees even for a period of six months. This indicates the hollowness of development based on only giving importance to money. Fifthly, everybody wants to succeed in life and never wants to fail. The desire for success is unlimited and lust for gain is limitless. But journey of life does not see only these dimensions. Other dimensions also do exist. And one has to lose a number of times in this journey. In most of the cases money has been used as a permanent symbol of success in terms of material possessions and assets. It has been generally believed that richness is the essential qualification of success. Therefore, richness (accumulation of money) has a direct link with the success. Further, money gives instant identification and helps in getting rid of identity crisis. Those people who wants to be identified in social
l i f e without much prolific contributions, then money becomes invaluable means for them mark their presence in society like Mercedeswala, panch floor wala, etc. But the problems are not over as money brings only a temporary respite and very soon either so many people purchases vehicle or build houses and in this process, the temporary identity is lost and this compels the person to earn more and more at whatever cost moral or immoral and this makes no difference. Sixthly, when money is being regarded as God (panacea of all problems), 8
then the money as God reincarnates in the form of corruption, money laundering, dowry, black money, etc. and reinforces its existence through the rotten laws in terms of flaws. Under these conditions, money transmutes the character of a rational human being and plunges the person into mental, moral and spiritual chaos. The kindness, humility, clairvoyance and straightforwardness vanquish and in its place crude, arrogant, myopic and narcist tendencies tend to emanate and the whole creation of God transforms into a victim of its own creation. The link between birth and death is delinked; the purpose and objectivity of life is lost and moving spirit of humanism gets converted into stereotyped machines. I have been writing extensively and intermittently on social issues. Sometimes the points and dimensions are repeated, common and therefore even reading becomes boring. But considering the level of thinking and behaving of most of the people, it has become the duty of every person to point out the growing fallacies in the fundamentals of life which is entrenched by contradictions and conscious ignorance (knowing at t h e time of thinking but forgetting while doing). Today, corruption and black money is on agenda of every political party and headlines of newspaper or the electronic media. Most of the people believe that corruption is the cause of all the political manipulations and stagnation of the economy of our country. At this point, I want to highlight that corruption is not a cause but an effect of the approach of making money as God. When the treatment of a cause as an effect is done the situation further worsens like if the treatment of cancer is not properly done then it is better not to treat because the result remains the same while making the process painful. Even globalization is the direct outCivil Services
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come of this sort of thinking. All international relations and diplomacy have become economic in their conduct, scope and nature. I have not denied the relevance of money. Money aids to prosperity which builds a nation. But money at the cost of compromising with the basic instincts of humanity is disgusting. Any prosperity without consolidation of character makes the life unpredictable. Money at this cost is bound to create pessimism in life and when pessimism becomes realism then optimism becomes abortion. Let me clarify at this juncture since there is no end to the accumulation of money and introduction of technology (Nokia N9, N10, etc.; BMW X1, X2, etc.; Pentium III, IV, V, etc and so on). It is interesting that God rides on rituals while money rides on technology. Every gain becomes a failure at a higher level and in this battle the whole life is perished and here God must be worried that why he has created a creature like this who creates seeds of its own destruction. In nutshell, poor wants to be rich and rich wants to be richer and in doing this they dont want to see the cost which they are paying. The entire basis of my argument is that corruption is a consequence of a bent of mind and not merely a product of political system and in fact inept political systems sustains corruption but are not responsible for the corruption. Therefore, without changing the mind set a person, which regards money as God, nothing significant can be achieved in combating the corruption. Man eats cereals; beyond a limit it starts eating man Man drinks liquor; beyond a limit it starts drinking man Man uses money for comfort; beyond a limit perverts human minds and makes life tumultous. To me Bhaiya utne khayiea jo saste pach jaye; munh-pet bhi na chale aur jaan bach jaye i.e, brother you are advised to take only that much which can be comfortably be digested and indigestion could be avoided and your life remain to continue safe.
(Vivek S. Raj) JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7

hat emerged as the brainchild of a Goldman Sach economist is now turning out to be the possible future of the world economy. International organizations are usually the products of the vision of world leaders or statesmen; seldom do they originate as an afterthought of a research study by a private investment bank. But such is the birth story of what can be described as the BRIC of the world economy in the near and medium future. Goldman Sach had predicted at the turn of the new millennium that Brazil, Russia, India and China all of them fast emerging economies would soon surpass the G8 economies and come up as the new center of gravity of the global economy. In its study, the bank had even set a time period by which it expected the four BRIC economies; an acronym for the four countries mentioned above would achieve the feats forecasted by it. The study had attracted some attention and it was left to the policy makers of the four BRIC nations to convert the idea into reality. This they soon did and now the BRIC nations hold regular summit level meetings, the latest being held in Sanya, Hainan, China on 14th April 2011. The present summit saw BRIC turning into BRICS with the formal joining of another upcoming economic powerhouse, namely South Africa. With this the BRICS is now home to nearly 3 billion people that is almost half the population of the globe spanning over four continents. The statistics in favor of this grouping is simply mind- boggling. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), by 2015, BRICS will satisfy half the global demand for capital and technology and will account for over 60 per cent of the global economic growth. At present the sum of the GDPs of the five nations is over 25 per cent of the world GDP. It is not surprising that a magazine of the stature of Forbes has declared this grouping as a new engine of global economy. Being predominantly if not so far wholly an economic alliance, BRICS primary agenda is economic in nature. In times of global economic uncertainty as faced in the last two years, BRICS was expected to focus on ways and means of pulling the world economy out of choppy financial waters and thus prove to the entire international community that it had come of age and was ready to bear a sizeable part of the burden of facilitating the global economic recovery. The members of BRICS have time and again highlighted the unsustainable fiscal deficits in many developed countries as a prime reason behind the economic meltdown of 2008. It has also been felt in many economic circles that with the dollar likely to face depreciation in the near future, an over reliance on the dollar may be harmful for the developing economies. Hence in the recent BRICS summit, one of the main agendas was to pull away the global economy from relying too heavily on the dollar and to find a viable substitute for the same. The need to reform the world financial system which had failed the world economy in times of its worst crisis was also a focus point of the summit. Doing away with excessive reliance on the dollar and global financial reforms, both of which are inter- related, are also the means to 10 Civil Services
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create a turbulence- free space within the global economy, to borrow a term from Professor Andrei Volodin of the Moscow Institute of International Relations. Overall the BRICS summit 2011 with the theme of Broad Vision, Shared Prosperity can be categorized into four main agenda items, namely 1) the international situation, 2) the international economic, financial and trade issues, 3) the challenges of sustainable development and 4) cooperation amongst BRICS nations. Of these the discussions on financial and economic matters were the ones which are likely to be most substantial and with far- reaching implications not only for the individual nations of the group but also for the world economy in the years to come. All five nations agreed unanimously that major economies of the world must continue to enhance coordination of macro- economic policies with the aim of achieving a strong, sustainable and balanced growth. It was macro- economic policy coordination which to a great extent helped in subsiding the economic depression that not so long back swept large swathe of the globe. The timely and coordinated injection of economic stimulus by major economies, including the BRICS economies have helped in pulling the world economy out of depression and this is a fact acknowledged by most analysts and economists. But the fears of persisting too long with the stimulus package and the exact timing and the manner of its withdrawal are presently being debated. Concerns have been aired that if the stimulus is not withdrawn soon, there could be economic overheating and the possibility of creating asset bubbles. This would hike inflation which in turn would reduce demand and result in pushing the economy back into depression. On the other hand there is the viewpoint that the depression- affected nations are yet to regain their normal economic health and a hurried pull back of the stimulus package would adversely affect them. The BRICS nations considering the arguments of both sides concluded that while the stimulus packages given for economic recovery have to be withdrawn, that has to be done very carefully. It was mentioned in the Sanya Declaration that by cooperating in JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7
economic, financial and trade matters the BRICS countries will ensure that they enjoy strong and sustained economic growth, unaffected by the uncertain weather in the global economic atmosphere. The countries expressed hope that economic growth experienced by them will lead to steady, sound and balanced growth of the world economy. Indeed if economies of the size of the BRICS countries can maintain sustained growth then eventually they will propel the global economy on the path of balanced and sustained growth. The G8 grouping which comprised of the eight most developed economies of the world has now made way for the G20 grouping as the fulcrum of the world economy. The transition from G8 to G20 has been quite spectacular. Most of the important economic and
nations. The merger between the G8 and the 12 emerging economies was finally brought about by the global economic recession of 2008. In the wake of the global depression, the emerging countries finally broke all barriers which differentiated them from the G8 and heralded a new episode in the worlds economic history- the birth of the G20. The coordinated macro- economic policies undertaken under the aegis of this new- born grouping helped stem and thereafter, to a great extent, overcome the recession. However given its relatively young age, the G20 needs all the support and nurturing that it can get. And who better to give that support than BRICS which can be considered to be a powerhouse within the G20. So, in Sanya the BRICS nations pledged their support to the G20 as the premier forum for interna-
financial decisions which required international cooperation and policy coordination was taken earlier by the G8, which comprised the most industrialized nations of the world. But with increasing globalization of the world economy, it was increasingly realized by the industrialized world that major economic decisions could not be implemented without taking major developing or emerging economies like the BRICS into confidence. More so, with their mammoth sizes, fast growth rates, growing demand, burgeoning foreign exchange reserves and expanding global trade, the decisions taken by the governments and central banks of these countries especially with regards to macro- economic policies could influence the economies of the industrialized countries. Hence the practice of inviting 12 major emerging economies to the G8 was started. The 5 BRICS nations were part of this group of 12 which participated in mostly informal discussions and were still left out of the core group of 8 most industrialized 12
tional economic cooperation. The Russian offer to host the 2013 G20 Summit was welcomed by the other members. The Sanya summit laid stress on the need for reforms and improvement of the international monetary and financial system. As the post- mortem of the financial recession was done by economists, it was felt that present international financial system represented by the twin Bretton Woods institutions; the World Bank and the International Monetary Forum had failed the world when it was needed the most. Part of the problem was inadequate representation of the emerging economies in the financial institutions. Also the monitoring by the financial institutions of the flow of credit was felt to be grossly inadequate leading to the downturn. The BRICS called for quick achievement of the reforms targets agreed at previous G20 summits. The most notable feature however of this BRICS summit is possibly the mooting of the idea of a viable broad- based reserve currency system as a possible alternative to the dolCivil Services
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lar. Much of the present global trade is done in dollars. Also, much of the foreign exchange reserves of the BRICS nations, which is a huge figure are held as dollar denominated assets. A potential depreciation of the dollar will result in the devaluation of these assets, something which the nations would want to avoid at any cost. Over reliance on the dollar being thus fraught with risks, there is need for finding an alternative to the dollar. Attempts at diversification of the forex assets from the dollar is not a very good alternative as it would automatically cause a depreciation of the dollar resulting in erosion of value of the assets. So the best possible alternative to the dollar thought out at the summit is the Special Drawing Rights (SDR). The exchange rate of SDR is the weighted average of a basket of convertible currencies. SDRs can be swapped with dollars at a pre- fixed rate. While the avowed objective of the BRICS in suggesting that the SDR gradually complement if not outright replace the dollar is for the purpose of providing stability and certainty in that the SDR would be more like a supranational currency, the proposal if put to practice is bound to alter global economic power equations for it would undoubtedly end the reign of the dollar the prime global currency. In other words, through this proposal, the BRICS has thrown up a tacit challenge to US economic might, which is slowly tiring with the burden of wars in different regions and with a fiscal deficit which may be unsustainable. Another important step taken towards ending the dominance of the dollar was a framework agreement on financial cooperation which provides for mutual payments and loans in national currencies rather than in dollars, which has been the practice so far. This agreement along with currency swap arrangements will protect trade of the BRICS countries from the vagaries of a fluctuating dollar. But once again it would have the effect of nullifying to a certain extent the importance of the dollar in the world economy. The risks of massive cross- border capital flows or the so- called hot money faced by emerging economies was identified as a problem as such capital flows result in foreign exchange reJULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7
serves volatility. To overcome this problem, the BRICS suggested the creation of an international financial regulatory mechanism for necessary oversight of sudden and unprecedented capital flows. The need to strengthen policy coordination, financial regulation and cooperation with respect to supervision were aired. It was also agreed that there could be no alternative to the sound development of the global financial markets and banking system so as to ensure availability of suitable financial instruments even in times of credit crunch. A sound financial and banking system is a basic precursor to healthy economic development which in the times of liberalization and globalization is heavily dependant on private business activity. Concerns regarding the volatility in
Nothing can damage economic activity more than spiraling energy prices. To curb price volatility, a tighter monetary policy can be adopted. However that may result in slowing down economic activity with respect to the manufacturing sector. Recession in this crucial sector undoubtedly has adverse effects on the overall economy. The manipulation of monetary policies can only be a short term solution for checking commodity price volatility. In the long run, what is needed is an increase in production capacity, a strengthening of producer- consumer dialogue to balance demand and supply and also to do away as much as possible the need for middlemen who take commissions thereby increasing the selling price to the consumer, and providing more support to developing countries
commodity prices were raised. This volatility with strong upwards inflationary tendencies has partly got to do with the expansionary monetary policies adopted by the economies to pull out the world economy from recession. High prices for commodities like food and energy can hamper the global economic recovery and growth. If people have to pay more for purchasing food grains then they will have little purchasing power left after paying up for two square meals. Low purchasing power means less demand, which in turn leads to recession. Similarly, energy is the very basis upon which stand modern civilizations and economies. 14
in terms of funding and technology by international financial institutes for which greater representation in them is necessary. Closer cooperation with respect to food security was needed which would in turn check high food prices and ward off the problems of hunger and malnutrition which can stifle the human resource potential of a nation. Also proper regulation of the derivatives market for commodities was required for strengthening the same so as to prevent market destabilizing activities. Lack of proper information systems regarding demand for commodities at the international, regional and national levels is another Civil Services
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problem according to BRICS which needs to be addressed. Regarding the present international scenario, there was an overall convergence of views. Countries like India, Brazil and South Africa have often highlighted in different international forum that the present United Nations (UN) dispensation reflects the realities of the immediate post World War II scenario and is not reflective of the changes that have taken place another 60 years since 1945. The BRICS summit document also pointed out that there was need for comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council. In previous summits, need for reform of the UN was mentioned but there was no mention of reforms in the Security Council. The reference to the Security Council is a positive addition to the overall agenda of reforms in the UN. While China and Russia are permanent members of the Security Council, India and Brazil are aspirants to the permanent membership of the UNSC. These two countries along with Germany and Japan have lobbied hard to book a berth in the SC as a permanent member. Though such efforts have so far failed to bear fruit they have now reverted to the more realistic attempt of achieving their objective through sustained diplomatic efforts including furthering their claims in forums like the BRICS. China and Russia, already part of the P5 while not directly supporting the claims of India and Brazil provided indirect support by reiterating the importance they attach to the status of India, Brazil and indeed even South Africa in international affairs and by understanding and backing their aspiration to play a greater role in the UN. It was noted by the BRICS countries that 2011 is a unique year in that all five of them will be present in the UNSC, two as permanent members and the remaining three as nonpermanent members. The leaders of the member- states agreed that this was a rare opportunity of working together under the UNSC aegis in times of strife in different parts of the world. The manner in which the nations can work together in dealing with various international issues may well pave the way for the emergence of BRICS as a political grouping as much as it is an economic grouping. JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7
Though dreams of BRICS as a political grouping may seem premature given the political differences that some of its members have, nonetheless a start can well be made within the UNSC. The members expressed concern regarding the turbulence in the Middle East, Northern Africa and Western Africa regions. They reiterated that in principle, the use of force should be avoided and diplomacy should be used, thereby gently snubbing the NATO airstrikes in Libya. More specifically on Libya the summit declared that all parties should resolve their differences through peaceful means and dialogue in which the UN and regional organizations should play their appropriate role. The appropriate regional organization in this case is the African Union (AU) and the BRICS gave its wholehearted support to the AU High- Level Panel Initiative on Libya which is headed by South Africa. South Africa has been BRICS link with the AU on Libya. The AU has been trying to get Gaddafi and the rebels on the talking table and work out a powersharing arrangement which does not necessitate the exile of Gaddafi. On the other hand the rebels have so far steadfastly refuted any arrangement which allows Gaddafi to stay on in Libya and have continued their civil war. Members of the AU were almost attacked by the rebels when they met in Libya to work out a viable solution. The NATO has been supporting the rebels and has been conducted airstrikes against Gaddafis forces and in support of the rebels thus tacitly strengthening the rebels demand for Gaddafis ouster. Thus there is a subtle and yet significant difference in the stands taken by NATO and the BRICS. No wonder the summit maintained that independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of each nation should be respected. Terrorism is a global threat which knows no borders. India, Russia and China have faced terror in their soil and know how ugly it can be. Brazil and South Africa too have had brushes with terrorism. To combat terrorism within 16
the framework of the UN, the BRICS called for an early conclusion of negotiations in the UN General Assembly of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. A new emerging form of terrorism is cyber- terrorism whose damage potential is enormous. Hence the five member countries committed themselves to strengthening the international information security and also agreed to pay special attention in combating the menace of cyber- crime. Sustainable development has turned out to an important challenge confronting the globe. The BRICS nations are playing their parts individually in helping foster sustainable development. South Africa will host the UN Conference on Climate Change in 2011; Brazil will play host to the Conference on Sustainable Development, 2012; and in the same year the Conference of Parties on the Convention of Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety will be held in India. The BRICS welcomed the fact that its mem-
bers will be hosting all these global events related to sustainable development. With respect to global warming and climate change, the BRICS emphasized the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities. They also agreed to intensify cooperation on the Durban Conference in which negotiations are already underway. The need for practical cooperation in adapting the societies and economies of the five nations to climate change was also discussed. One way of adapting the economy to climate change would be to slowly make the transition from non- renewable energy to renewable energy. The BRICS nations decided to exchange information amongst each other with respect to renewable energy. An important source of renewable energy is nuclear energy. However the recent nuclear disaster in Japan and the huge human loss in its aftermath have cast a cloud over its use. Safe use of nuclear energy Civil Services
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is of paramount importance and the BRICS called for international cooperation in ensuring the same. It also called for the strict observance of safety standards with regards to the design, construction and operation of nuclear power plants. The UN has pledged the achievement of the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015. The BRICS nations felt that economic growth and development were central to the realization of the MDGs. In particular, the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger were earmarked as development goals which have moral, social, political and economic connotations especially in the least developed countries in Africa and other places in the world. The upliftment of Africa also has its utilitarian value in that its vastness of size will provide a huge market for BRICS and other fast emerging and emerged countries. To stimulate economic growth in Africa which will not only benefit that continent but will also provide a lucrative market in the future for BRICS, which in turn would help in the development of the latter, what is needed most is infrastructure. The BRICS accordingly discussed infrastructure development in Africa and industrialization within the framework of the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD). Skeptics might wish away the BRICS as a group of nations having vastly divergent political cultures that will never see eye to eye on important global issues. They may insist that the BRICS is unlikely to be another NATO and that the member states may mostly be bogged down by their own disputes. However what they miss out is the fact that the BRICS never aspired to be like a NATO. Its predominant focus is economic cooperation and it is so far purely an economic grouping. What may appear today to be extremely innocuous decisions taken by the BRICS in the economic domain might well cause a paradigm shift in the global economy tomorrow. All said and done when five economies of the sizes of the BRICS countries meet on a regular basis, the world does take note lest the balance of global economic power be challenged. And there is no reason to believe that the BRICS will not do that in the future. JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7
End of Osama Bin Laden

September, 11, 2001 was the most significant date of the present century that shaped the global geo-political relations. It was on this date that the world saw with disbelief and shock, the footage of the planes-turned missiles destroying the WTC and damaging the Pentagon. It was the worst terrorist attack the world had witnessed and was totally inexcusable and is condemned till date. Resulting War on Terror: The terrible events of September 11 saw the considerable quieting of what was until then growing domestic and international criticism of the Bush Administration. The September 11 events resulted in a "war on terror" which saw support for Bush and his popularity soar at the time. The subsequent bombing of Afghanistan to attack Osama Bin Laden's Al Qaeda terrorist network and Taliban for harbouring them, had led to a mixture of political, social and economic reaction around the world. The inhumane act performed by the Arab extremists/terrorist on September, 11, 2001 generated a feeling of hatred and anti-Islam, without distinguishing the despotic militants from ordinary Muslims. Death of Osama Bin Laden- Is This the End of War on Terrorism??? The death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of the U.S. military is not is not going to end the "war on terror"-a phrase that has fallen out of fashion since Barack Obama entered the White House (his administration uses the term "Overseas Contingency Operation"). The victims of the September, 11 attack are viewing his end as a sense of justice and a much needed closure of emotional trauma. But we need to keep in mind that even without bin Laden to lead it, Al Qaeda will continue. This means that the ugly war of terrorism against the humanity is not ended as of now. This long struggle has not been about one man vs. another; it has been about ideas, about faith, and, most of all, about freedom. Those who have elected to be combatants on the side of the forces of darkness that Al Qaeda represents will likely now seek to avenge the death of their leader rather than go gently into the night. Terror is real and is not the product of the effort of one man alone. The contest between freedom and tyranny is real, and cannot be won because one man passes from the scene. There will always be another tyrant to take his or her place. Osama's death may lead to a new breed of terrorists: Osama's name had become synonymous to terror and brutal massacre of thousands affecting millions across the world in the pretext of terrorism. But does his death mean the end of such brutality? With the terrorism network spread far and wide, terrorist groups are rampant with cluster units functioning exclusively to broaden Osama's ideology of mass destruction across the world. Osama had converted Al-Qaeda into an organization that undertook terrorist activities to a propaganda hub and that is capable of mobilizing youth into a movement against liberal ideologies. 18 Civil Services
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With many members in the Osama core group either captured or killed, there are many other recruits who still have the capacity to take over the reins of terror from Osama. The death of Osama Bin Laden is worth cheering but we need to remember that, his organization al-Qaida is a hydra with many heads and unfortunately there are many other operational and symbolic leaders in al-Qaeda. In spite of the death of Osama Bin Laden, that is no doubt historic in nature, will mean the end of terrorism remains to be seen and in fact, the world must be ready to face fresh terrorist attacks in retaliation. The arms of terrorism have spread out and have got into the psyche of youth across the world for whom terrorism has been uttered in the same sentence as jihad. Bin Laden's Death Will Have a Greater Impact on Pakistan: Policy wise there is not going to be a much difference on war in Afghanistan and undeclared war in Pakistan. But Laden's death and that too in Pakistan is definitely going to impact the nation in a big way. Pakistan had consistently maintained that Laden was not sheltering on Pakistani soil and he be searched in Afghanistan. The Pakistani stance was part of a wider policy of denial, dating back to the 9/11 attacks, premised on the argument that Pakistan was not the source and springboard for Islamist-inspired terrorism but rather its principal victim. Pakistan is thus caught in an awkward and highly embarrassing position, as the government has always denied that bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan. The death of Laden also highlights the failure of Pakistan to deal forcefully with its own violent Islamists forces, the so called Pakistani Taliban. Another notable fact is that the US did not tell the Pakistan about the final mission against Laden, fearing that the information would not be secure, clearly indicates the breach of faith in Pakistan of the USA. Pakistan is also in the danger of facing retaliation for the killing of Laden because the extremist in the country are suspicious of involvement of the national government in harbouring Laden's death. Thus, Pakistan naturally faces potential internal national security threat. Another major fear factor for Pakistan now would be to enJULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7
sure completely safety of its security establishments and the tribal populations, as they might come in line of attack of the next generation of Al-Qaeda fighters. Balancing the relations with the US would be the top most priority of Pakistan. America's relationship with Pakistan would become central in determining the heightened threat of a terrorist attack following the death of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Pakistan's role in the killing - either by collaborating with the US or by helping to hide the world's most wanted man - would be heavily scrutinised in the coming days. The fact that Laden was killed in a town where Pakistan gives training to its military cadets clearly highlights that Pakistan commitment on the War on Terror and insurgency was very qualified. The question clearly arises in our mind that can we really trust Pakistan? On the second probability that the Pakistani government was aware of and co-operated with Americans to kill Laden on Pakistani soil, would feed into the anti-Americanism that's been coming up in Pakistan in the last 10 years or even before that. In all probabilities Laden's death will definitely rupture the AmericanPakistan relations. Thus it's very important for Americans at the moment to constantly point out that killing Osama doesn't mean Pakistan is losing its significance and doesn't also mean the end of the American and West, including Australian, support of Pakistan." What can be the repercussions for India: Strategic Implications: - The death of Osama alarms India to tread cautiously because his death would impact the psychology of the terror groups within the country. The suspected terror groups in India like Lashkar-e-Tayiba and others still looked up to Osama as their hero and worshipped him and it was the 9/11 attack which drew them to take up the cause of so called jihad. Osama had a lot of sympathiz20
ers within India too. Certain strong pockets in Kerala and Uttar Pradesh saw him as a hero and they termed him as Sheikh Osama. For them Osama was no ordinary man, but he was viewed as the man who took on America single handedly. This kind of bravado is what they looked for in their leader and this prompted them to easily take to terrorism. This death may unleash a new series of revengeful terror attacks globally and India may straight away come in the spotlight of the terror groups. Internal Security of India Needs to be put on High Alert: In spite of welcoming the news of Bin Laden's death as a "victorious milestone" in the war
against terrorism, India cannot afford to show a lax behaviour regarding its internal security scenario. We should not forget that Pakistan still provides safe heavens and sanctuaries to terrorist, which can anytime be used against us for possible reprisal attacks following bin Laden's death. Our intelligence network and security forces must be kept on high alert to deal with all kinds of unforeseen circumstances. We need to continue our united effort to overcome terrorism and eliminate the safer heavens and sanctuaries that have been provided to terrorist in our neighbourhood. Our struggle against terrorism must continue unabated. Though our distrust for Pakistan continues, we should continue the recent attempts at boosting diplomatic dialogue with our nuclear-armed neighbour. Civil Services
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WORLD SURVEY
COVERED UPTO 5TH MAY, 2011 CHRONOLOGY-WISE DEVELOPMENT
African Survey
ANGOLA New Constitution 2010: The new constitution, adopted in 2010 has further sharpened the authoritarian character of the regime. In the future, there will be no presidential elections: the president and the vice-president of the political party which comes out strongest in the parliamentary elections become automatically president and vice-president of Angola. Through a variety of mechanisms, the state president controls all the other organs of the state, so that the principle of the division of power is not maintained. As a consequence, Angola has no longer a presidential system in true sense. Along with Nigeria, Angola is the continents largest producer of crude oil but the majorities of its 18 million people continue living beneath the poverty line and also ranked 44 out of 48 sub-Saharan countries. BENIN Yayi re-elected: More than four million voters are to elect the West African nations national assembly after a March 13 presidential poll won by Boni Yayi with a 53 percent majority in the first round. Yayis main rival in the presidential vote, Adrien Houngbedji, rejected the results, claimed massive fraud and declared victory for himself. He did not attend the presidents swearing in. The results showed Houngbedji with 36 percent in the former French colony of some 9.3 million people. BURKINA FASO 2010 Sahel Famine: The 2010 Sahel famine is a large-scale famine that occurred in Africas Sahel region and many parts of the neighboring Sngal River Area and Horn of Africa from FebruaryAugust, 2010 due to a drought. It is one of many famines to have hit the region in recent times. The Sahel is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic zone of transition JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7
between the Sahara desert in the north of Africa and the Sudanian savannas in the south. Famine and food shortages were present in the following countries during 2010 after heavy rains hit the region in late 2009, followed by a heat wave: Eritrea, the Sudan, the Niger, northern Nigeria, northern Cameroon, Chad, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Mali, Ethiopia, northern Kenya and Djibouti, as well as in parts of the neighboring Sngal River Area. Political crisis in Burkina Faso: Burkina Fasos president, Blaise Compaore recently dismissed the countrys cabinet and the army chief. This followed when disgruntled soldiers went on a rampage in Ouagadougou and fired their weapons, apparently in a mutiny. The
head of the countrys security regiment was also fired by the President. Members of the presidential security regiment stationed near Presidents palace fired into the air in protest against the fact that promised benefits had not been paid to them. They demanded housing and food subsidies. Burkina Faso has been under the tight rule of Compaore since he took power in a 1987 coup and has so far never involved in any conflicts and upheavals seen in many of its neighbours. BURUNDI Burundi on the brink of another civil war: Burundi risks reversing the decade of progress it has enjoyed since its civil war ended unless the government resumes political
ALGERIA In January 2011, Algeria was the first in a string of countries to see street protests, as people rallied against high food prices and unemployment. Protesters demanded for democratic reforms and clashed with baton-wielding police, demanding for President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika to step down. Under Algerias long-standing state of emergency in place since 1992, protests are banned in Algiers, but repeated government warnings for people to stay away fell on deaf ears. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has announced that he would lift the state of emergency in an attempt to head off a revolt similar in proportions to one in Tunisia or Egypt. The President has asked the head of the upper house of parliament, Abdelkader Bensalah, to lead consultations with political parties and civil society about the planned reforms. Bouteflika said the proposed political changes should be ready for submission to parliament later this year, but the constitutional changes would not be submitted until after the next parliamentary election, which is scheduled for May 2012. An Algerian court has announced former Sonatrach Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Meziane was sentenced to two years - one suspended - in prison and fined around $7,000 for contract issues that followed his firing in 2010. 22 Civil Services
dialogue with the opposition. The serious problems have developed in the wake of 2010 elections that ended in a landslide victory for the ruling party, including marginalization of the opposition and the emergence of violent political banditry. Against a backdrop of weak governance, this combination threatens a major setback for democracy in the still fragile state. CAMEROON The dispute over Bakassi: Bakassi is the peninsular extension of the African territory of Calabar into the Atlantic Ocean. It is currently ruled by Cameroon following the transfer of sovereignty from neighbouring Nigeria as a result of a judgment by the International Court of Justice. On 22 November 2007, the Nigerian Senate had rejected the transfer, since the Green Tree Agreement ceding the area to Cameroon was contrary to Section 12(1) of the 1999 Constitution. Regardless, the territory was formally transferred to Cameroon on August 14, 2008. The island is oil rich. In January 2011, Cameroon secures Chinese loan to build deep sea port at Kribi, terminal of an oil pipeline from Chad. CAPE VERDE Elections 2011: A new government took over in Cape Verde with the swearing in of Prime Minister Jose Maria Neves, whose Partido Africano da Independencia de Cabo Verde (PAICV) won parliamentary elections in January 2011. The government of Cape Verde has launched the tenders for construction of three dams, which will be located on the islands Santiago, Santo Anto and So Nicolau, the Cape Verdean. The project, which is funded by a credit line provided by the Portuguese government, includes the dams at Figueira Coreia, in Santa Cruz (Santiago), Canto Cagarra, in Ribeira Grande (Santo Anto) and Banca I/ Tirada, in Ribeira Brava (S. Nicolau). CHAD Recent Problems: More than 12,000 Sudanese refugees have been living in desperate conditions since February 10, when they fled West Darfur after attacks by Sudanese government military aircraft and Janjaweed militias. Recently arrived Sudanese refugees are concentrated in the JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7
border village of Birak, a remote location where the Chadian government presence is minimal and numerous armed groups are active, including some that have attacked civilians in the past. In addition to those who have recently fled Darfur for Birak, refugees are also at risk in two UN-supervised camps in the Gurda area, Kounoungo and Mile, with a combined population of 30,000. Elections 2011: President Idriss Debys party, the Patriotic Salvation Movement, and aligned parties captured at least 130 out of 188 seats. The election was Chads first legislative poll in nearly nine years. President Deby has ruled Chad since seizing power in a 1990 coup. Under his rule, the nation has become an oil producer but remains locked in poverty. COMOROS Recent elections: Ikililou Dhoinine won the December 26 poll in the coupprone Indian Ocean archipelago of the Comoros and will be sworn in as president on May 26 five months after the poll. The 48-year-old Dhoinine, who took 61 percent of the vote, is outgoing President Ahmed Abdallah Sambis deputy and heirdesignate. REPUBLIC OF CONGO On the 30th December 2010, the Congo parliament adopted a law for the promotion and protection of the rights
of indigenous peoples. This law is the first of its kind in Africa, and its adoption is a historic development for indigenous peoples on the continent. D R CONGO (ZAIRE) AFRICOM Agricultural Initiative: The goal of this agriculture initiative, led by the United States African Command of the U.S. Department of Defense and the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture, is to support a battalion of U.S.-trained Congolese soldiers on how to become self-sufficient in food production. The site for this unique initiative is a Camp Base in Kisangani, the capital of the Tshopo province of DR Congo. The program began in October 2009 after receiving an initial year of funding, and key activities are anticipated to continue through October 2011. Increasing economic and social stability through food security is the first priority of this initiative EGYPT 2011 revolution: On 11 February 2011, Mubarak resigned and fled Cairo. Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak had stepped down and that the Egyptian military would assume control of the nations affairs in the short term. Jubilant celebrations broke out in Tahrir Square. On 13 February 2011 the Supreme Council of Egyptian Armed Forces dissolved Egypts parliament and suspended the Constitution. The council also
DJIBOUTI In February 2011 protesters in Djibouti joined the Arab world protests, demanding that President Guelleh step down. Ismail Omar Guelleh wins Ismail Omar Guelleh won the Presidential Elections in Djibouti according to the election results declared on 9 April 2011. Guelleh of the ruling Peoples Rally for Progress (RPP) Party got 79.26 percent of the vote while the only opposition candidate Mohamed Warsama Ragueh could manage 20.74 percent votes only. Ismail Guelleh has served two Presidential terms already. This would be his third Presidential term for the next five years. The constitution of Djibouti was amended in 2010 that removed a two-term limit for the post of President. Djibouti is a nation located in the eastern part of Africa and it was a former French Colony. Djibouti hosts the largest overseas French military base as well as the only US military base named Camp Lemonnier in Africa. 23 Civil Services
declared that it would hold power for six months or until elections could be held, whichever came first. Major protests subsided but uncertainty still remains. New Prime Minister: Egypts new Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has assumed his position at the toughest time as the country is facing numerous challenges in the transitional period and struggling with the remnants of the regime ousted by the recent revolution. The new Prime Minister, Essam Sharaf, was picked by Egypts military rulers to replace Ahmad Shafiq. Shafiq was the last premier to be named by Mubarak, and his resignation was among the major opposition demands. ETHIOPIA Anti-piracy drive: Operation Atalanta: The European Union has decided to extend the mandate of its piracy mission off the coast of Somalia until the end of 2010. The European Union - through the naval Operation Atalanta - continues to contribute to maritime security in the area. The EU anti-piracy operation, dubbed Atalanta, has been patrolling shipping routes off the Horn of Africa from Somali pirates since December 2009. Naval warships and aircraft from the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Greece have been involved in actively escorting commercial ships through the Gulf of Aden. The operation is under the command of the British Navy. GABON The small West African country of Gabon with just 1.4 million people experienced a tide of protests in January and February when allegations of fraud regarding the October 2009 elections resurfaced. The opposition party has accused President Ondimba of electoral fraud in the 2009 elections. Opposition supporters organised rallies against President Ali Bhongo Ondimba, accusing him of claiming a victory that was laced with fraud. Opposition leaders formed a breakaway government on January 26, and Anre Mba Obame, an opposition candidate, declared himself President. In the meantime, Bhongo amended the constitution in late 2010 that allowed him to extend his presidential term JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7
indefinitely in times of emergency rule. GUINEA The presidential election of 2010 was held as the first free and fair election since independence in 1958. The first round took place normally on the 27 June 2010 with ex Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo and his rival Alpha Cond emerging as the two runners-up for the second round. However, due to allegations of electoral fraud, the second round of the election was postponed until 19 September 2010. A delay until October 10 was announced by the electoral commission (CENI), subject to approval by Sekouba Konat. Elections were finally held on November 7. Voter turnout was high, and the elections went relatively smoothly. November 16, 2010 Alpha Cond, the leader of the opposition RPG (Rally of the Guinean People), was declared officially the victor in a November 7 run-off in Guineas presidential election. He has promised to reform the security sector and review mining contracts if elected. KENYA Ethnic Riots: An ethnic riot has broken out in Kenya after the declaration of the results of Presidential elections. President Mwai Kibaki got re-elected. It has been alleged that fair amount of irregularities have been committed. Out of reaction, massive riot took place and more than 300 killed. In this riot Indian Gujaratis
have been immensely damaged. More than one lakh Indians reside in Kenya. President Mwai Kibaki belongs to the Kikuyu tribe which constitutes 22 per cent of the population. He was challenged by Raila Odinga, who is a Luo, which constitutes 13 per cent of the total population. He has accused Kibaki of fraud involving some 300,000 votes. Ethnic flare-ups are common in Kenya and the worst incidents came in 1992 in which 1,500 people died. Banana Group: President Mwai Kibaki led the Yes campaign under the symbol of a banana. Orange Group: The No camp claim the orange as their symbol. It brings together seven cabinet ministers and the official opposition party, Kanu. LIBERIA Constructing the nation It is one of the few countries in Africa, and the only country in West Africa, without roots in the European Scramble for Africa. As Africas first elected female head of state, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has taken on corruption, gotten some of Liberias debt canceled and rebuilt the army with the help of the U.S. The next presidential elections are to be conducted in October 2011. The Grassroots Democratic Party of presidential candidate is likely to be Gladys Beyan who has support of 15 parties. Most corrupt nation: In their 2010 report, non-governmental organization Transparency
IVORY COAST Political crisis: The Presidential elections held in Ivory Coast last year, the first since the disputed elections of 2000, was meant to bring an amicable end to the political and military feud that had polarized the nation over more than a decade and half. Instead, Gbagbo refused to cede power after a November election that he lost to Ouattara, sparking open conflict that killed more than 3,000 people and displaced a million reopening the wounds of a 2002-03 civil war. Gbagbo was arrested on 11 April 2011 at the presidential residence in Abidjan. President Alassane Ouattara confronts the challenge of convincing skeptical opponents, including the 46 per cent of the electorate who voted last fall for his rival, that hes not a stooge of France or the West and is strong enough to unite his African nations disparate political forces. 24 Civil Services
International called Liberia the worlds most corrupt country. MADAGASCAR Political rivalry: Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world, is visually splendid, with mountains and deserts and ribbons of rain forests. Political tensions on the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar between President Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina, the former mayor of the capital city, escalated in early 2009, culminating in the Presidents forced removal from office. Marc Ravalomanana, although twice elected president, handed over power to the armed forces March 16, 2009. From August to December 2009, Andry Rajoelina headed an interim government formed under a shaky power-sharing agreement with supporters of Marc Ravalomanana. In December 2009, Rajoelina announced that he was abandoning it and calling a parliamentary election for 20 March 2010. The World Bank has estimated that 70 per cent of Malagasy live on less than $1 per day. Ousted President Ravalomanana owns the Malagasy Broadcasting System, which operates MBS TV and Radio MBS. Many private radio stations in the capital are owned by pro-Ravalomanana politicians. MOROCCO Moroccan protests, 2011: Thousands of Moroccans are expected to join nationwide protests on 20 February to demand that King Mohammed hand over some of his powers to a newly elected government and make the justice system more independent. Morocco has been facing severe economic problems. It has announced an increase in state subsidies to try to counter commodity price rises. Earlier this year, the countrys reputation was damaged after Wikileaks revealed allegations corruption involving the royal family and the people close to King Mohammed. The king says the fight against poverty is a priority, earning him the name guardian of the poor. Economic liberalisation has attracted foreign investment, and officials point to better basic services in shanty towns and rural areas. But little has changed, with poverty still widespread and unemployment remaining high. Morocco is dogged by JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7
LIBYA The 2011 Libyan civil war is an ongoing armed conflict in the North African state of Libya being fought between those seeking to depose the countrys de facto ruler Muammar Gaddafi and hold democratic elections, and proGaddafi forces. The situation began as a series of peaceful protests which Gaddafis security services attempted to repress, beginning on 15 February 2011. Within a week, this uprising had spread across the country and Gaddafi was struggling to retain control. Gaddafi responded with military force and other such measures as censorship and blocking of communications. The situation then escalated into armed conflict, with rebels establishing a coalition named the Transitional National Council based in Benghazi. The International Criminal Court warned Gaddafi that he and members of his government may have committed crimes against humanity. The United Nations Security Council passed an initial resolution freezing the assets of Gaddafi and ten members of his inner circle, and restricting their travel. The resolution also referred the actions of the government to the International Criminal Court for investigation. In early March, Gaddafis forces rallied, pushed eastwards and re-took several coastal cities before attacking Benghazi. A further U.N. resolution authorized member states to establish and enforce a no-fly zone over Libya. The Gaddafi government then announced a ceasefire, but failed to uphold it. India abstains from voting: Following the war like situations in Libya the UN Security Council has recently approved imposing a no-fly zone over battle-torn Libya and authorized all necessary measures to protect civilians, voting for a resolution in which India and four other countries abstained (UN Resolution number 1970). Ten of the 15-members of UNs policy-making body voted in favour of the resolution which also calls for an immediate ceasefire in Libya where forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi inched closer to the rebel-stronghold of Benghazi amid fierce battle for the last major town of Ajdabiya. Five nations - China, Russia (which have veto power) and nonpermanent members India, Germany and Brazil - abstained from voting on the resolution which cleared the way for air strikes over the oil-rich north African country. China and Russia however did not exercise its veto power. The resolution also widens previous sanctions by imposing asset freezes for seven more of Gaddafis supporters and five more entities including stateowned Libyan companies. The sanctions included an arms embargo, an asset freeze and travel ban on Gaddafi and his loyalists, and a referral to the Haguebased International Criminal Court. The resolution, however, excludes a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory, at it rules out deploying troops on the ground. Indias deputy envoy to the UN, Manjeev Singh Puri has said that the vote was being taken without any credible information about the ground situation in Libya, where government forces are trying to crush an uprising against long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi. strikes by both private and public. NIGERIA 14th Head of State: YarAdua died on 5 May 2010. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was sworn in as YarAduas 25 replacement on 6 May 2010, becoming Nigerias 14th Head of State. A presidential election was held in Nigeria on 16 April 2011, postponed from 9 April 2011. The just-concluded Civil Services
Nigerian elections are being hailed as the most credible since the restoration of civilian governance in 1999. SOMALIA Power sharing deal: In January 2009 the Ethiopian troops finally withdrew from Somalia after facing the brunt of the insurgency which resulted in loss of territory and credibility for the TFG. A power sharing deal was struck between the Islamist splinter group led by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmeds Alliance for Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) and the TFG Prime Minister Nur Hassan in Djibouti. The deal was aimed at ending the orgy of violence that had engulfed the country. It was however rejected by the hard-line Islamist militia, the al Shabaab which continued to wrest out territory from the TFG, including Baidoa through violent means. The al Shabaab accused the ARS, whose leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed became the President of the TFG of agreeing to share power with a secular government. The hardline group opposes the supposedly secular ways of the TFG. Killing of Security Minister: Security Minister Omar Hashi Aden was killed by the hardline islamist insurgents. He was a key player in the government offensive against Islamist rebels who control much of southern Somalia and want to topple the government and impose a strict version of Islamic law in the Horn of Africa nation. Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the suicide attack. Problems with Kenya and Ethiopia: 1. Both the countries have indicated that they are not in a position to afford a big military offensive. Both have large Somali minorities. The Shabab has threatened Kenya for suicide attack tall glass buildings in Nairobi and has insisted to Kenya to pull back its troops back from the border. 2. On the other hand, Ethiopia has already withdrawn most of its troops from Somalia earlier this year, after losing perhaps 800 of its men. Ethiopia has clearly indicated it can send the army only under an international mandate and in smaller numbers. Al Shabaab militants, which claims links with al Qaeda in Somalia, is likely to be behind the killings of 74 soccer fans watching the World Cup final on television. Ethiopian troops JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7
SUDAN Sudan-Darfur crisis: International pressure had played its part in bringing the long elusive peace, which was further consolidated by the signing of the Nairobi Comprehensive Peace Agreement on 9th January 2005. The agreement granted autonomy to Southern Sudan for a period of 6 years following which it was agreed that a referendum would take place in that part of the country to decide on the question of its future independence. The period of 6 years will be over in 2011 whence the referendum will take place. The Baggaras, a nomadic Afro- Arab tribe whose members form the core of the Janjaweed, a term used to define armed gunmen in Darfur, in search of water and grazing grounds for their livestock began to push southwards till they started encroaching the farmlands of the Black African farming communities. A clash erupted and soon the Arab Janjaweed militia began to indulge in ethnic cleansing of the sedentary population of Darfur. The government of Omar al- Bashir was accused of having complicity with the Janjaweed, which was fighting anti- government rebels in Darfur like the Sudanese Liberation Movement/ Army (SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). It was believed that Bashir was tacitly supporting the Janjaweed because it was his job for him i.e. waging war against the rebels. In any case the President took very few measures to stop the horrific killings, whose toll was believed to have touched astronomical figures and was put between 2, 00,000 to 4,00,000 by independent sources. Bashir however denied such a high death toll and insisted that the figure was less than 10,000. The Sudanese government was further believed to have suppressed information about the Darfur killings by jailing and killing witnesses, tampering with evidence like mass graves, curtailing the media by obstructing and arresting journalists etc. Some Facts on South Sudan: - (a) the city of Juba is serving as the regional capital of South Sudan. (b) Dinka Tribe is largest in South Sudan (c) other major tribes of South Sudan are-Nuer, Misseriya (d) Abyei is the main oil production site in Sudan. President Bashir officially endorses South Sudan independence: Sudanese President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir has officially accepted the final results of Southern Sudan referendum paving the way for the region to become an independent state. President Al-Bashir issued a Republican Decree accepting final result of the referendum which supports the separation of the South. The final result was formally submitted Sudan President Omer Hassan AlBashir by the chairperson of Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC), Mohamed Ibrahim Khalil. The SSRC maintained that no legal challenges had been lodged against the result and that the referendum was conducted in a fair and transparent manner. The nation-in-waiting will officially come to being in July 2011 when the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended more than two decades of north-south civil war and granted the referendum, expires. International Recognition- The announcement received acceptance and generate pledges of recognition from a number of countries and international organizations. U.S president Barack Obama said he was pleased to announce the intention of the United States to formally recognize Southern Sudan as a sovereign, independent state in July 2011. Similarly the representative of the EU in Sudan, Carlo de Filippi, said that the EU looks forward to further developing a close and long term partnership with Southern Sudan which is set to become a new state in July 2011. Salva Kiir is the President-designate of South Sudan. 26 Civil Services

July 2011

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JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7

Civil Services TIMES

Top Features Inside

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(INSTITUTE OF MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES)

INSTITUTE FOR IAS / IFoS / CSIR / GATE EXAMINATIONS

IMS announces fresh batches for Summer Session 2011-2012

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* CSAT (Civil Services Aptitude Test)

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Shambhu Kumar Maths IFoS-2008

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JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7

JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7

(Vivek S. Raj) JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7

JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7

JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7

JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7

JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7

End of Osama Bin Laden

JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7

JULY 2011, XVII Year, Issue No.7

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