Bangladesh's Elite Paramiltary Unit Is Under Fire for Human Rights Violations. This Blogger Asks: What About Israel's IDF?

An activist is picked up by an RAB agent in Dhaka, Bangladesh,
during a strike in June 2011. Photo by Rahat Khan. Copyright Demotix.

Brad Adams, the executive director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division, has recently written a letter to Bangladesh's prime minister suggesting that the Bangladesh government should disband the paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Quoting news sources, he accused the RAB of being responsible for more than 800 extrajudicial killings in the past 10 years.

Human rights organizations have long accused the elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit, which was created in 2004, of human rights violations. A number of its members are under investigation in Bangladesh in connection to the abduction and killing of seven men (see Global Voices report).

Some netizens were Irked by the tone of Adam's letter to a sovereign country. Blogger Himu wrote for Bangla blog Sachalayatan a response to Adams, suggesting he be consistent and write to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

Brad Adams wrote, "We do not believe that RAB can be reformed. It has developed a culture of operating above the law without civilian accountability. It must be disbanded so that the killings come to an end."

With respect to human rights activist Mr. Brad Adams, I would request him to tear another page from his pad, take a pen and to write a similar letter to the Israeli prime minister urging him to disband the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). You will have the accounts of killings by IDF available here. A lot of these victims are innocent civilians and a large portion of them are children, and the number is a lot more than 800.

I am sure you will agree with me that the IDF cannot be reformed. So can we hope that you will also suggest the Israeli prime minister that IDF should be disbanded?

We are eagerly waiting to see when you will write this letter.

One commenter wondered cynically:

Perhaps human rights is defined differently in regions of the world.

The post was first published in Global Voices Online.

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How To Protect Bangladeshis From Cyberstalking

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Time and again we have heard stories about how women and kids and even men are being stalked online in Bangladesh. As internet is new to the Bangladeshi societies and most of the users are young and in their teens they do not take any precaution in their engagement.

Just today I was reading an article about how e-stalking is thriving in Bangladesh. Examples include:

• Faking a Facebook account and posting obscene pictures
• Threats on Cell phones

Cyber bullies use text messages on cell phones, or email, instant messages, social networking blogs, or Web pages to harass, embarrass, and intimidate other kids. The bullying takes many forms, from spreading false rumors and posting embarrassing pictures of others to sending offensive messages, repeated harassment (sometimes sexual), stalking, threats, and even extortion. (Cyber Bullying - anti social behaviors online)

The problems multiply when the victims hide the fact from their parents and are subjected to stress and depression.

And the media is only talking about the threats and not the naivety of the users in not talking the proper precautions while interacting online.

But these problems can be avoided if the online users be a lot more cautious in their approach. If they can maintain these precautions then I think they can escape a lot of trouble down the line.

Protecting yourself online:

1. Protect your identity: When opening a facebook or blog account, do not use your full name - Use nick name or a fabricated stylish name - your friends will know you - so no need to give stalkers a head start.
2. Protect your account in Facebook: There are privacy controls - you can fix what type of friends can see what - for example - make some friend profiles - allow everything for best friends and family members- allow limited contents for class and coursemates - allow the minimum possible for new friends.
3. Register your birthdate - but do not put the actual year. For example if your birthdate is 3rd April 1986, you register as 3rd April 1975. You will still get birthday wishes from your friend - but the stalker will not be able to assess your age.
4. Use photos cautiously: I do not usually upload my or my family photos in Facebook or blog. If I ever do it I do it cautiously - limiting access to family members and close friends only. So use minimum photos and try to use photos without face - side view, blurred images etc.
5. And more importantly don't put friends photos and tag them without their consent. If you find your photo is tagged - go and untag it if you feel you friend is not using privacy control and its not safe.
6. Do not and I repeat do not put your address or telephone numbers online - in Facebook, in forum emails or other sites. You can write about your location like this - Dhaka, Bangladesh. But not like Dhanmondi, Dhaka. In Facebook if you are an advanced users you can limit who can access your telephone numbers - if you require this.
7. Be careful before opening emails. Do not open attachments until you realize that the mail is from a friend and is important for you.
8. Here are information on how to set privacy control in your Facebook site

• Controlling How to Share
• Recommended Facebook settings
• 10 Solid Tips to Safeguard Your Facebook Privacy

Protecting your identity on Mobile phones:

1. Do not give your phone number indiscreetly
2. If you receive any unsolicited call then first tell that person that you are going to tell your parents that you are being harassed.
3. If the person still calls you - first keep your phone off to show that you are not interested. If the problem persists use the phone operators complaint service (I think GrameenPhone has that). If the service is not available tell your parents - they will guide you by talking with the caller or changing the SIM.
4. Alternatively tell your friends that you are being stalked from a specific phone. They will call that number to give piece of their minds to the stalker.

What the parents and authorities can do:

1. Many US states have anti-cyberstalking laws - the authorities can consider implementing one.
2. Its the parents' responsibility to make sure that their children are neither victims or bullies. The parents need to be supportive of their kids. They must know that identity falsification and theft is a reality in the cyber world and keeping offline cannot guarantee their kids from being stalked in the roads. They need to tell their kids to inform such incidents and they should help them with open minds and not accusing them.
3. NGOs and other organizations can implement a phone in help/consultation center which can guide the young people if they feel scared to tell the family.
4. The police should have a specialized cell to deal with this - so they can provide guidance and help.

I think with some precautions most of these cases can be avoided. As being online is and will be an important feature of our lives we need to sort out these anomalies and let the stalkers know that they cannot get away.

Image by Flickr user Terry Freedman. Used under a Creative Commons license - BY-NC-ND.

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Flashmob Iftar

If you don't know what a flashmob is, its a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual action for a brief time, then quickly disperse. The word is spread via social networking sites, including Facebook, Myspace, Wikipedia, private blogs, public forums, and personal websites. (Wikipedia)

All around the world this trend has grown in recent years and even in Pakistan it was used to protest during the state of emergency and the protesters disappeared before the police could reach to them.

Fugstar is reporting that a recent flashmob in Lincolns Inn Fields (Chancery Lane/Holborn) in London was arranged to have Iftar (evening meal breaking the fast during Ramadan) with the homeless. The instruction was to spread love, "just bring food, friends and share them around." Isn't that exemplary and if you are religious isn't that your religion tells you to do?

Now are you ready to flashmob your social cause in your locality?

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Which nation is more Anti-Islamic?

World Economic Forum recently held a meeting with over 30 leaders of business, politics, religion, media and civil society in London to discuss a new report by the World Economic Forum entitled “Islam and the West: Annual Report on the State of Dialogue”. From a chart it is evident...

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New year's eve in a police state

Once again the Bangladesh Government will be trying to subdue the new year celebrations that occur in the Gulshan-Banani area and the Dhaka University area. From the Daily Star:

Around 6,000 law enforcers will be deployed in the city including the diplomatic zone and the posh areas of Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Dhanmondi, Uttara and on the Dhaka University Campus.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) authorities made a number of city roads off limits to traffic for 10 hours from 8:00pm on New Year's Eve.

A Bangladeshi Blogger responds:

Why do I suddenly feel like I live in a military state? Maybe its got something to do with the six thousand policemen stationed around the capitol to maintain safety as New Years celebrations go ahead. It’s sad that the first few hours of a fresh year have to be a nerve racking time for the people ensuring our safety. The government seems to frown on parties tonight. Lol. With reason, I’m sure. Still, there’s no stopping the young - and there shouldn’t be.

Facts

* People who complain about New Year celebrations are just jealous no one invites them. They would go if someone did.
* The rioters are not really people who are celebrating. They’re criminals using the event as an excuse to burn cars or rape (harass)women. Problems like these are not caused by our decision to make something of this night but because of the 364 other days of the year when crime goes unpunished.
* If you’re looking for a party, you’ll find it ;)
* A lot of losers are out on the streets tonight.
* As a nation with people of different religions, backgrounds, etc some have a right to party tonight.
* You can party and get high without drugs, drinks or a smoke.
* Some people who are well within the law get harassed tonight.
* People need to chill.

The truth is that if your only tool is hammer all your problem looks like nails. Lack of common sense are the roots of these problems.

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