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THIRD WORLD RESURGENCE #188 (April 2006) This issue’s contents:
From resistance to government: the unstoppable rise of Hamas by Khaled Hroub The unexpected victory of Hamas in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in January has had a seismic impact on the turbulent politics of the Middle East. While it has been branded by Israel and the West as a 'terrorist' organisation, Dr Khaled Hroub, in the following analysis of the rise of Hamas and the implications of its victory, explains why Palestinians take a different view. Warning that the current move to isolate Hamas is short-sighted and dangerous, he calls instead for a nuanced policy of engagement. Israel and the US take aim at Palestinian democracy by Rachelle Marshall There is nothing to be gained by shunning Hamas and punishing the Palestinians who voted for it. The way to bring an end to violence is to engage Hamas leaders in serious peace talks, says Rachelle Marshall. UN Secretariat keeps distance from Hamas by Haider Rizvi While those running the affairs of the United Nations seem ready to embrace US and Israeli moves to boycott the Palestinian leadership, independent analysts and observers wonder if such an approach will produce anything but another cycle of violence and bloodshed. The ambiguities of democratic legitimacy by Jeremy Seabrook The Palestinians give the lie to the doctrine that everything can be bought and sold, including acquiescence in an unjust global order. The withdrawal of funding by the West only intensifies historical injustices which, rather than being addressed, are being aggravated, says Jeremy Seabrook. Zionism and terrorism: An unwelcome reminder by T Rajamoorthy Recently declassified British intelligence documents on a plot by Jewish terrorist groups in 1946-47 to assassinate the then Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin and bomb London are an embarrassing reminder of the prominent role that terrorism played in the establishment of the state of Israel. Israeli violations of human rights continue, says UN report by Kanaga Raja A new report by a UN Special Rapporteur has highlighted Israel's continuing human rights violations and the growing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories.
India: Dangers of full convertibility by CP Chandrasekhar Ignoring the painful and costly experience of the Latin American and East Asian countries when they removed regulations and restrictions on the inflow and outflow of capital, the Indian government now appears to be taking steps towards the full convertibility of the rupee. CP Chandrasekhar argues that this move towards 'capital account convertibility', which has drawn protests from leading Indian economists, could be motivated by considerations other than the declared aim of attracting more foreign capital.
Clinical trials: the end of science, the abuse of ethics and the rise of commerce Dr T Jayabalan The recent case of a drug trial in England which went badly wrong highlights the risks to which unscrupulous drug companies subject the participants in such trials. As the following survey shows, it is Third World countries that are in greatest danger in this regard as they are only too eager to supply a ready pool of volunteers for such clinical trials. Temporary migrants and HIV vulnerability in China by Xiushi Yang, Valerian Derlega & Huasong Luo The millions of temporary rural migrants in China's main cities are more vulnerable to the HIV epidemic which is threatening the country, say three researchers who conducted a survey on this issue.
Washington's 'Israel Lobby' beats drums of war against Iran by Jim Lobe More than any other domestic constituency, it is the ‘Israel Lobby’ that is pushing the US into a confrontation with Iran. Remembering Chornobyl April 2006 was the 20th anniversary of the world's worst nuclear disaster. To commemorate the Chornobyl catastrophe, a conference entitled 'Chornobyl + 20: Remembrance for the Future' was held in Kiev, Ukraine from 23-25 April. Participants included NGO and think-tank representatives, scientists, politicians, and the general public from within and outside Ukraine. The following is an extract from the resolution adopted by the conference. (Chornobyl is the Ukrainian spelling of Chernobyl.) Stories from the river by Theresa Wolfwood The village of El Mozote in El Salvador was the site of a terrible massacre in 1981 of its inhabitants by the US-backed and trained Salvadoran military. A recent visit to the village convinced Theresa Wolfwood that developments there are a microcosm of what is happening in the rest of El Salvador and the world at large.
Thai media heroine speaks – freely by Dan Smith After a landmark court victory against the Thaksin family's Shin Corp, Thai media activist Supinya Klangnarong describes her feelings following the three-year ordeal, and outlines her hopes for the future.
South African trial brings rape into public view by Carolyn Dempster A disturbing phenomenon plaguing South Africa is the high incidence of sexual violence. While he was found not guilty of rape, the recent trial of Jacob Zuma, the country's former deputy president, served only to highlight the travails which other women who are genuine victims face when they have recourse to the law.
Wooden batons and FM radio by Brad Miller Indigenous resistance in Colombia has gone 'live' to create a more powerful voice for native communities. For subscription and enquiries: THIRD WORLD NETWORK Tel: 60-4-2266728/2266159; Fax: 60-4-2264505; Email: twnet@po.jaring.my
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