By Albert Thyrniang
The warfare in Ukraine is a developing story. 227 are said to have been killed and 525 injured, including children. 1.5 million people have fled ensuing Europe’s fastest growing refugee crisis since World War II. Stories of human suffering are told in real time. Sports too have become a notable casualty. The full-scale military operation has resulted in shifting of the Champions League final from St Petersburg, the expulsion of Russia form the FIFA World Cup, withdrawal of F1 in Russia and the possible ban of Russian athletes from all international competitions. ‘My’ football club, Chelsea has been put on sale by its billionaire owner, Roman Abramovich. In the Russian oligarch’s 19 years era the premier side won every single trophy on offer, including the Premier League and the Champion League. The West London club may never be the same under a new buyer.
The parting of ways with the $3.2 billion club came two days after Labour MP Chris Bryant claimed the 55-year-old oil baron is close to Putin and does his business the dubious way. Now, Bryant is against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, the Rhondda MP voted for the infamous Iraq war. The former Anglican priest has generally voted for the use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas. The MP from 2001 brands Abramovich of engaging in “corrupt activities and practices” but he forgot about his own role in the 2009 expenses’ scandal.
NATO’s hypocrisy too is on the fore. USA’s Joe Biden questioned Putin’s brutal assault on the people of Ukraine without provocation, justification and necessity. Putin’s justification of the presence of neo Nazism in Ukraine is no excuse. But his predecessor, George W Bush went to war against Iraq in 2003 under the pretext of Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD). It was a lie. He misled the world. Other NATO countries have also decried Russia’s destruction, killing of civilians and destabilising Ukraine, but they themselves were responsible for massive devastation in Iraq and Afghanistan killing thousands of people and leaving the countries in the hands of rogues. The very same people who flouted international norms at will have accused Russia of the guilt. No one is a saint in war. Putin is the aggressor. He could be a villain post conflict. But Russia has its own concerns. NATO is preoccupied with its own safety at the possible expense of Russia. Surely NATO is a threat to Russia. If Russia is silent, Ukraine will certainly join NATO. That the West promised Moscow in 1990 that NATO would not expand an inch might be a myth but with NATO already at its borders (Poland and Georgia) Russia faces dangers.
If Putin is condemned his counterpart, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is hailed a hero. But Ukraine has been brutal against Moscow-backed Donetsk and Luhansk, called Donbas regions where more than 14,000 people have perished since 2014. The West ignores this cruelty. The West overlooks the suffering of Palestinians. The west discounts millions of victims of war in Africa and the Middle East. The West focuses its lenses where is convenient. The West has imposed stringent economic sanctions against Russia. Did anyone enforce these embargos when the US and its allies pounced on hapless nations?
Russian has sided with the Donbas separatists and recognised their declaration of independence. However, the leader of the Soviet Union has cracked hard on rebellion in Chechnya. China supports Russia because the communist country is also inhumanly suppressing Xinjiang province. India claims to be the largest democracy in the world but has not taken a firm stand against the dictatorial Russian leadership. India too does not take dissent kindly. The brutal crackdown on CAA and other protesters bear testimonies. Geopolitics is playing of one’s card based on a position suited to him or her and not for the right thing.
One of the headlines is the western media’s racist reportage. On air the CBS reporter, Charlie D’Agata declares that the Ukrainians are relatively “civilized” and “European” and not people from war torn countries like Iraq & Afghanistan. Al Jazeera English’s news presenter Peter Dobbie points, “…looking at them, the way they’re dressed. These are prosperous, middle class people, these are not obviously refugees trying to get away from areas in the Middle East… (and) …areas in North Africa. They look like any European family that you would live next door to.”
Equally horrific is the The Telegraph journalist Daniel Hannan who writes, “They (Ukrainians) seem so like us…War is no longer something visited upon impoverished and remote populations. It can happen to anyone”. A reporter on French 24-hour news channel BFM TV made known the prejudices, “We’re not talking here about Syrians fleeing the bombing of the Syrian regime backed by Putin, we’re talking about Europeans leaving in cars that look like ours…” Racism apart, these journalists forgot that the West has been the master of wars and conflicts. World War I and II were primarily their making.
Though racism, discrimination and prejudices is common in the Whites’ world one does not expect this level of racist coverage. Videos are still surfacing of Africans, Asians, Arabs, Indians who face racism in the Ukraine borders. Non-whites have alleged they were not allowed to escape the war. They were pushed back by the military. They were not permitted to cross to Poland for their respective countries. Ukrainians and Whites were given preference. The skin colour decides even in time of war.
This is a reaffirmation of white privilege. Whites consciously and unconsciously believe they are superior. They see nothing wrong in it. This privileged attitude is apparent in America and Europe. It is obvious in politics, education, health care, in general living condition and even in religious settings. In 2005 when Pope John Paul II passed away Asian and African names were doing the rounds as the possible successor. A television reporter asked, “But will an Asian or an African be acceptable?”
Are we to fault the Whites? There is racism in our midst too. We often hear of discrimination against North Easterners in ‘mainland’ India. They are called ‘Chinky’ (Chinese) for their looks. Students from the region are also ridiculed for their dress, hairstyle, earrings and tattoos. We vehemently protest these incidents. But are we racist ourselves? In many tribal languages we have a word for ‘outsiders.’ These words have condescending connotations. Xenophobia and chauvinism too often find expression.
In Meghalaya too we are hurt when racism comes to light outside the state. But are we innocent? Are we credible to call out others? Last year a lady from Lumsohriew under Mawphlang C.D. Block of East Khasi Hills insulted the people from West and South West Khasi Hills by her ‘Maram poi ei’ (refugees) utterance. The video went viral. Last February a young lady, in a live video, called the same people, “Maram jaituh bad thiah sngi” (People from Maharam are lazy and late risers). In her clarification she said it was a joke with her friends not knowing that she was already live. She further explained that she and her friends have fun by calling each other ‘Bhoi thiah sngi, Pnar and Maram jaituh”. Her explanation could be genuine but there is something in these jokes. Maram, Bhoi, Lyngngam folks are looked down upon by a section in the Khasi community.
Russian oligarchs are linked to Putin. This is not unique to Russia. We too are home to it. The likes of Ambani and Adani yield enormous political patronage. The once Chief Minister of Gujarat was promoted by business barons to the office of the Prime Minister. India has a billionaire problem. Does Meghalaya have the same curse too? Money has greatly influenced politics here. Only rich candidates are given tickets by all political parties. Crorepatis buy votes. Once elected they get hold of government contracts. The other day’s article elucidates the nexus between money power and politics. A former MLA and owner of a Construction Company has groomed his son to his throne. The 29 year old is the MLA of Mawhati and North East’s first proud owner of Lamborghini, a car starting at Rs 3.10 Crore. His father’s company is engaged in constructing bulk of roads and highways in Meghalaya. Dasakhiatbha Lamare is only a case study. Besides wealth, politics is inherited We have the two political Sangma families in Garo Hills. Political and financial powers are in the hands of a few.
The illegal coal business is being carried out due to the nexus with politicians. Weigh bridges are owned by politicians. We pray that Meghalaya exposes the whole dark reality. The 2023 elections too should be alive to the same. The ‘Voice of the People Party (VPP) claims to offer a better alternative. But will it find takers? The NPP may have already planned to ensure that money power triumphs over clean politics. Dasakhiatbha may hit where it hurts most – ‘destroy’ the launching pad of VPP!
Unpleasant but we too can relate to the double standards, contractions and hidden motives. on display in Ukraine.
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