From: bond@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca (Girish)
Subject: AYODHYA, BOSNIA AND SOMALIA
Keywords: Ayodhya, Bosnia, Somalia, Muslim
Organization: University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 23:27:38 GMT
Expires: Tue, 30 Mar 1993 04:00:00 GMT


                         _A_Y_O_D_H_Y_A, _B_O_S_N_I_A _A_N_D _S_O_M_A_L_I_A

                              By Manvendra Singh
             (Taken from the "Indian Express", December 13, 1992)
   _________________________________________________________________________

        The Serbs, of what was formerly Yugoslavia, are making matters  most
   difficult  for  India.  Preposterous as that may seem, it is they who are
   responsible for the world-wide condemnation since the December 6  demoli-
   tion  in Ayodhya. With their unqualified bullishness, the Serbs have pro-
   ceeded along unmindful of all international sensibilities. In the process
   of removing Bosnian Muslims from various sectors, Serbs have also exposed
   the utter helplessness of the Islamic bloc, as  well  as  the  West.  The
   Serbs are now on the verge of taking Sarajevo, ignoring UN appeals, sanc-
   tions and Islamic threats.

        Inability of the Muslim countries to  influence  events  in  Bosnia-
   Herzegovina,  as  also prevent Somali clans from murdering each other has
   been causing a great deal of frustration  amongst  them.  The  community,
   'ummah', has been seeing the Serbs continue with complete absence of con-
   cern for the consequences of their actions. In the face of  international
   isolation,  Serbs have remained unmoved, and this irks the Muslim bloc to
   its core, exposing all threats to be mere hot air. It  also  bothers  the
   West,  frightened  by  the  single-minded  determination  of the Serbs to
   achieve goals deemed critical for their  nation.   The  ability  to  take
   heavy  casualties,  and  still  persevere, has scared the western nations
   from contemplating any military initiative.

        For the past many months the West has been  desperate  to  clear  an
   impression  that it is only Muslim oil that concerns them, and not Muslim
   lives. Eager to  change  this  feeling,  they  launched  into  "Operation
   Restore Hope", i.e., ensure food supplies to starving Somalis. The opera-
   tion also seeks to provide an outlet to Western guilt over the continuing
   hardships  confronting  Bosnian  Muslims.  The Islamic bloc was even more
   incapable of any engagement in Somalia, an Arab  and  Islamic  nation  at
   that.  All  talk of alliance and brotherhood is continually proving to be
   hollow. Bulkily clad US marines and perplexed looking French paratroopers
   are  now  deployed  to  ease  their guilt as well. But it the events that
   emanate from Ayodhya, December 6, which have  come  as  god-send  to  all
   these parties suffering from guilt.

        Ayodhya, and the resultant violence, has provided the best opportun-
   ity  for  the Islamic block to appear concerned, troubled and united. The
   'ummah' has at last been given an opening, from which it can convince its
   vast constituency of good intentions, and other such niceties. The polit-
   ical leadership in India, of all colours, would have to keep in mind  the
   frustrations  of these blocs, before they react to 'foreign hand', et al.
   It is not surprising that Pakistan would take the issue to  higher  fora,
   for  after  all  it has found a stick to beat India with. Come January 1,
   1993, Pakistan becomes a member  of  the  Security  Council,  ironically,
   replacing  India. Ayodhya will then become further internationalised, and
   any activity in Kashmir is also likely to find  India  on  the  receiving
   end.

        There could be a sharp rise in infiltration,  possibly  even  before
   the  snow  melt.  Encounters  could get more serious, and India might not
   find the West as understanding as it appeared to have been thus far. Some
   critical  remarks must be expected, because India is after all considered
   to be a soft target. It is a harmless enough  country,  which  takes  all
   sorts of external prodding as though it were a routine. Which, of course,
   can not be said for the Serbs. They just don't pay heed to any  comments,
   and  the more they reach goals, greater is the chance of India facing the
   fire.  International guilt needs an outlet, to display potency in face of
   the Serb onslaught; and this India seems to be providing.

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