|
Amanda Roraback's World in a Nutshell |
|
|
|
|
|
Articles Documents
GO TO NEWS IN
THE CLASSROOM Resources News-related Activities: Middle and High Schools Using News in Elementary School (Example: Iraq) Benefits of using news in the classroom Articles Pakistan's president declares state of emergency Israel's premier has prostrate cancer (Oct. 30, 2007) Iran's president visits New York
|
Musharraf Declares Emergency Rule |
Pakistan in a Nutshell |
|
California Standards
ARTICLE BREAKDOWN
1) Headline: Arrests mount in Pakistan turmoil a. (Dek) Musharraf rounds up lawyers and other foes amid global outcry over his emergency rule b. (Own words). World upset over Musharraf’s emergency rule. Musharraf gathers lawyers and other enemies. 2) Questions? a. Why is there a global outcry? Why is Musharraf rounding up lawyers? Why are they among Musharraf’s foes? Why did Musharraf declare emergency rule. 3) Who’s who? a. Pervez Musharraf – Pakistan’s president b. Benazir Bhutto -- former prime minister who returned from exile last month c. Nawaz Sharif -- former prime minister d. Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry – chief justice dismissed by Musharraf 4) Where is it? a. Islamabad – Pakistan’s capital. b. Karachi – the coutnry’s largest city c. Peshawar – the capital of the restive North-West Frontier Province. 5) Back Story a. In imposing emergency rule, Musharraf cited the country’s deteriorating security situation i. Amid a rising Islamic insurgency. b. By Monday he was shifting blame to the judiciary. i. Charged that courts that “paralyzed various organs of the state and created impediments in the fight against terrorism. c. Real aim? i. Opponents say his actions show his aim is to quash dissent ii. And derail legal challenges to his rule. d. Why lawyers? i. The methodical targeting of lawyers and judges, opponents say, appears to be a response to months of court cases that questioned Musharraf’s fitness to lead ii. And of massive lawyer-led street protests in spring 1. That grew into a nationwide democracy movement. e. Since declaring a state of emergency i. Musharraf has suspended the constitution ii. Cut off broadcasts by private television channels iii. And ordered the roundup of political foes. iv. Also dismissed the country’s chief justice 1. Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry 2. Who remained confined to his residence – which was surrounded by paramilitary troops. v. And began replacing senior jurists with handpicked loyalists. f. Who did it anger? i. Moves that caused consternation among lawyers g. Why? i. Who saw them as the death knell of the independent judiciary ii. Chaudhry described the emergency declaration as a “naked attack on the rule of law.” h. Jurists across the country reported heavy pressure to declare allegiance to the govt. if they wanted to keep their jobs. i. Those who refused, like Chaudhry ii. Were already being replaced. i. Before the crisis erupted i. Musharraf’s opponents had repeatedly demanded he steop down as army chief 1. A position from which he derives most of his authority ii. ON Monday, Musharraf’s aides responded to rumors that rebellious army generals had decided to push him aside as military chief. 6) Details a. Police battled protesting lawyers in Pakistan’s cities. b. Number of opposition politicians, attorneys and human rights activists arrested in a nationwide sweep climbed into the 1000s. c. Most serious clash in Lahore i. Where about 2,000 lawyers in suits gathered at the provincial Supreme Court ii. Preparing to march through the city 1. To protest the crackdown unleashed Saturday by Musharraf d. Police used batons and tear gas, lawyers hurled stones. e. Area around Supreme Court sealed off to prevent lawyers and other protesters from gathering there. f. Police gave chase to the few who managed to slip through the cordon g. How many people rounded up? i. 100s of other Musharraf opponents 1. Opposition party workers, human rights activists, lawyers and judges 2. Official count of detainees was 1,800 3. But activists said the real number was 2-3 times that much. h. Who? i. Arrests included nearly 200 members of the party of Benazir Bhutto. 1. The former prime minister who returned from exile last month. ii. Up to 700 members of the main Islamist political bloc iii. And more than 2,000 belonging to the party of former Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif i. Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice Resumed tried to urge Musharraf to restore constitutional rule i. And follow through on plans to hold parliamentary elections in January. 7) Controversy? a. He said/she said i. Musharraf said courts/lawyers impeding the government’s fight on terrorism ii. Opponents say he declared state of emergency because courts/lawyers questioned his ability to rule. b. International condemnation i. US envoy said measures against human rights activists and the media had been “heavy-handed. c. US dilemma i. Musharraf is US ally in fight on terrorism ii. But Musharraf is flouting democracy by declaring state of emergency and suspending the constitution. 1. How should U.S. handle the situation? 8) Why it matters a. In an interview with CNN, Bhutto said “the attention of our country has been diverted from the real problem, which is the fight against terrorism. b. Loss of democracy in Pakistan? i. TV signals jammed ii. Editors at Pakistani newspapers which have protested emergency-rule fear they would be restricted. c. An upcoming decision on the legitimacy of Musharraf’s presidency by the Supreme Court could destabilize the country. 9) Why it matters to the U.S. a. Pakistan’s imposition of military rule has pitted the US president’s war on terrorism against his campaign to promote democracy. i. Own words: US has to choose between supporting Musharraf and not promoting democracy or fighting the war on terrorism 1. Beyond the story: Musharraf is a US ally, but also a military leader – what’s more important, fighting war on terror or supporting democracy? b. President’ strategy i. War on terror in the short run 1. Fight against terrorists. ii. Same time 1. True stability over the long term requires democracy and freedom and letting people have a say in their own future. c. The US has provided nearly $10 billion in aid to Pakistan since 2001 i. Considering how much aid they could rescind without jeopardizing US security. d. As long as the US wants to fight the Al Qaeda terrorist network i. It will be hard-pressed to cut off aid completely. e. The US wants democracy in Pakistan i. But at the same time, we want to continue working with Musharraf to fight these terrorists and extremists. 10) Future (what to look for) a. Elections in question i. Musharraf said he still supported a transition to democracy 1. And that parliamentary elections would be held – but didn’t say when. ii. Some say voting could be delayed by a year. iii. Or scheduled date of mid-January still stood. 11) Vocabulary 12) Summary a. Who? Musharraf, president of Pakistan b. What? Declared state of emergency and suspended Pakistan’s constitution c. Why? Said courts had paralyzed govt. and hurt war on terrorism. d. When? November 3, 2007 e. Where? Pakistan f. How? Arrested lawyers and others who protested against his rule. 13) Questions answered? a. Why is there a global outcry? i. Unanimous view that Musharraf should restore democracy and constitutional rule. b. Why is Musharraf rounding up lawyers? i. Response to months of court cases that questioned Musharraf’s fitness to lead. ii. And lawyer-led street protests in spring that grew into a nationwide democracy movement. iii. Charged that courts that “paralyzed various organs of the state and created impediments in the fight against terrorism. c. Why are they among Musharraf’s foes? i. Opponents say his actions show his aim is to quash dissent ii. And derail legal challenges to his rule. d. Why did Musharraf declare emergency rule. i. In imposing emergency rule, Musharraf cited the country’s deteriorating security situation amid a rising Islamic insurgency. BEYOND THE STORY 1) Back story a. Musharraf won votes in presidential election in Oct. 2007 b. But Supreme Court said he wasn’t winner until the court decided whether he was eligible to stand election while still army chief.
2) Article Nov. 5 “Pakistan fails to aim billions in US military aid at Al Qaeda.” a. Despite billions of $ in US military payments to Pakistan over last 6 years, the paramilitary force leading the pursuit of Al Qaeda militants remains underfunded, poorly trained and outgunned. b. Musharraf cited the rising militant threat in declaring a state of emergency and suspending the constitution c. Pakistan spent bulk of money on heavy arms and equipment that is more suited for warfare with India. i. Left fighters under-equipped to face Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters, who have assault rifles and grenade launchers. 1. Contributing to Al Qaeda’s ability to regroup in the border region. d. Two countries who are allies in the “war on terrorism: i. But have divergent national security interests.
|
||
|
All Rights Reserved Copyright 2006. World in a Nutshell. This site designed by www.fmgwebdesigns.com |
||
