MUSHARRAF DECLARES MARTIAL LAW, SUSPENDS CONSTITUTION
OPPONENTS PREDICT 'LAST DAYS' OF HIS RULE AS HUNDREDS ARE DETAINED BY SECURITY FORCES
5 November 2007

Pakistan pres. Pervez Musharraf, a general who came to power by 'bloodless' military coup in 1999, has been facing opposition from a national lawyers organization that says he has delayed too long in restoring the democratic process, and was facing a Supreme Court ruling that might invalidate his recent re-election. Musharraf claims he had no choice but to suspend the constitution, because Pakistan's "sovereignty" was under threat from "paralysis of government by judicial interference".

The imposition of martial law, 8 years after taking power with the promise to restore democracy, is a shocking move for the general, who has been under pressure from all quarters to relinquish his role as head of the military and rule as a civilian president, elected by the people in free elections. The Supreme Court was to vote on the validity of his recent re-election to the presidency, given his refusal to relinquish control of the military. Early statements suggested Musharraf intends to rule by military decree until the elections are over: observers warn the election could not be considered legitimate if the constitution that governs it and which those elected must serve, is not in effect at the time of the vote.

Reports emerging from Islamabad say hundreds of people have been detained for expressing opposition to the embattled general's rule. Dismissal of the Supreme Court's chief justice risks exacerbating political unrest across the nation. His suspension of the judge earlier this year sparked mass protests, provoked an attorney strike and calls for his ouster. Since then, militant attacks have been on the rise and two exiled former leaders, and opponents of Musharraf's regime, have returned to Pakistan to run for office.

After declaring the declaration of martial law unconstitutional, then being removed from office, Iftikhar Chaudry and 8 other justices have reportedly been taken into custody by government forces. The newly appointed top judge, Abdul Hameed Dogar, designated by Musharraf after the constution was suspended, has ruled Chaudry's judgement invalid and has said no judges who have not sworn a new oath to Musharraf may continue exercising their jurisdiction.

Musharraf has declared "a new temporary constitutional order" and says democratic freedoms —not necessarily the 1973 constitution under which he was recently re-elected in an election boycotted by opposition parties— should be restored after parliamentary elections early in 2008. He did, however, hint that any return to democracy is now a question of whether radical Islamist elements can be marginalized or crushed.

Aitzaz Ahsan, lawyer to Chief Justice Muhammad Iftikhar Chaudhry, and head of the Supreme Court Bar Association, says lawyers plan to stage mass protests across Pakistan, and has said "Musharraf is acting like a spoiled child, holding the whole country hostage", adding "These are the last days of Pervez Musharraf". Fmr. PM Benazir Bhutto, whose convoy was bombed upon her return to Pakistan last month, says that Musharraf's martial law decree is tantamount to dictatorship and will prevent the nation holding free and fair elections.

Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister, overthrown and exiled by Musharraf's military takeover, has said the general should resign immediately, appoint an interim successor, along constitutional lines, and call elections for 2008. Sharif also called on the people of Pakistan to rise up against Musharraf, saying if they don't revolt now against his rule, "it will be too late" to restore the rule of law to Pakistani society.

Pakistan is a nuclear-armed state whose porous northwestern border with Afghanistan is a hot-bed of tribal violence and suspected stronghold for fugitive Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders. The region has never been fully brought under control of the central government, and a recent stepping up of military incursions there, with the aim of uprooting the militia movement and ensuring Pakistan's nuclear weapons do not fall into the hands of radical clerics or Taliban-style guerrilla leaders, has provoked increased terrorist activity across Pakistan.

While hardliners in Musharraf's own party have been pushing him to declare martial law for several months, others in the party have said the move is "a disaster" and will likely bring about the end of his political reign. The prime minister has said over 500 people have been arrested, and there are reported to be human rights activists as well as civilian political leaders among those arrested. One woman interviewed by Voice of America reportedly said "Whatever is being done it is actually destroying our country. Just for one man's rule", expressing the opinion that Musharraf's claims of good will and devotion to secular democracy have been replaced by an irrational zeal to prolong his military rule.

Spontaneous protests have reportedly sprung up across Pakistan, and security forces have begun arresting even ordinary citizens who criticize the declaration of martial law. For now, it seems the regime intends to eliminate any dissent and arrest all possible demonstrators. Anecdotal reports suggest, as expected, a climate of fear brewing among ordinary Pakistanis. Benazir Bhutto —whose return to Pakistan had been touted as the chance for a coalition government, allowing Musharraf to remain in power but to cede control of many functions to a demcratically chosen parliament and PM— has said the constitutiona must be re-instated if elections are going to be fair and legitimate.

The United States and the United Kingdom have both condemned the return to military rule and have urged Musharraf to restore democracy without delay. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has told the press she has not communicated personally with Musharraf, but that she is closely monitoring the situation. Musharraf reportedly assured Rice and UK prime minister Gordon Brown both that he would honor the election calendar and step down as military chief.

Reports late Sunday and early Monday cite prime minister's comments that elections could be suspended for up to 1 year. Opposition groups, including human rights activists, professional lawyers and judges, Islamist groups and political leaders, say they will take to the streets to challenge Musharraf's authoritarian rule. [s]

BEIJING SECURITY CAMERAS TREAT KISSES AS MUGGINGS
COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM NOT 'INTELLIGENT' ENOUGH, SOME FEAR TECHNOLOGY MAY FURTHER ERODE BASIC RIGHTS
1 August 2007

A system of security cameras set up throughout the Chinese capital is overseen by computers that cannot distinguish between affectionate embraces and muggings. The government is seeking to ensure that violence is not a problem in the intensely crowded city, in order to step up commerce, tourism and public image, ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games, to be hosted there. [Full Story]