Nobel Peace Prize in anti-Islamic world

by Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

(October 23, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) This year's Nobel Peace Prize has been won by Finland's ex-president and a prominent peace negotiator Martti Ahtisaari. The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced in Norway's capital, Oslo that he was being awarded the prize "for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts". The 71-year-old's name had been mentioned in speculation leading up to the prize for his efforts in Europe and Asia. Ahtisaari was reported to be "very pleased and grateful" at receiving the prize. Ahtisaari will receive the prize in Oslo on 10 December, the anniversary of the death in 1896 of the awards' founder, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel.

Bush Dream

US president Bush, who is lavishly critical of Iran's nuclear ambitions, cherishes a pretty long desire: to be a Nobel Laureate. Since he can't claim one on chemistry, physics or nuclear biology or not even on literature, though he is good orator in English and has used his terror forces to invade and bomb a few Islamic nations like Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, Bush expects it from his “peace” efforts in Mideast. . Since the Nobel committees do not consider people for terrorist invasions or imperialist illegal occupation of alien nations, Bush would not have got any. His nuclearism flirting with India would not have impressed the Nobel committee. However, Bush did nourish, perhaps still does so, the desire to be known as a Nobel laureate. But his Neocon comrades cheated him by offering wrong counsels on US role in the new world. He was hoping to clinch the issue on Mideast peace when he announced a peace plan last year, but against his wishes, Jewish compatriots deceived him by coercing him to slam the Palestinians when he was attending the 60th anniversary of Israel. Poor Bush!

It shows, unlike the IMF, WB, WTO, UN and UNSC, the Nobel committees are less vulnerable to external pressures of the only super power. Especially in choosing the panel for final selection the Nobel has been pursuing rigorous screening procedures. When Soviet leader Michael Gorbachev was selected along with US president Ronald Reagan for Nobel Peace award for 1989, the committee was in fact honoring the peacemakers of the world who tries to halt the "cold war" at least for the time being. But this fact unnecessarily permitted Bush to dream about receiving the same for his contribution to world peace! But he failed to realize that US terror forces are still in occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and exploding Pakistan. He could have got a prize for any thing except for peace.

Fin Seed

Finland's ex-president Martti Ahtisaari has been the UN special envoy for talks on the final status of Kosovo, and mediated a 2005 accord in Indonesia's Aceh province. Ahtisaari told Norwegian broadcaster NRK he was "very pleased and grateful" to receive the award. The laureate wins a gold medal, diploma and 10m Swedish kronor ($1.42m). The winners were chosen by a secretive five-member Norwegian awards committee from 197 nominations this year.

The most notable achievement of Martti Ahtisaari was overseeing the 2005 reconciliation of the Indonesian government and Free Aceh Movement rebels, bringing an end to a three-decade conflict that had killed some 15,000 people. The two sides described Ahtisaari as tough during the talks, but with a sense of humour and warmth on the sidelines. The five-member committee praised his work in conflicts in Namibia, Aceh, Kosovo and Iraq. It said: "For the past 20 years, he has figured prominently in endeavours to resolve several serious and long-lasting conflicts. “He has also made constructive contributions to the resolution of conflicts in Northern Ireland, in Central Asia, and on the Horn of Africa."

Originally a teacher, he entered the diplomatic service in the late 1960s and was appointed ambassador to Tanzania in 1973 at the age of 36. As the UN secretary general's special envoy to Namibia, Mr Ahtisaari helped lead the country down the path towards independence in 1990. In 1994 Finland's Social Democratic Party nominated him to run for the presidency and he became the first directly elected Finnish president. Finland joined the European Union a year later.

The Nobel committee commended Ahtisaari for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts. The citation said: "He has figured prominently in endeavors to resolve several serious and long-lasting conflicts," mentioning his roles in Namibia, Aceh, Kosovo and Iraq. "He has also made constructive contributions to the resolution of conflicts in Northern Ireland, in Central Asia and on the Horn of Africa," it said.

Role in Namibia

Thrilled by the award, Ahtisaari said he thought his biggest achievement was in Namibia. "It was absolutely the most important because it took such a long time," he said. In keeping with tradition, no candidates were named ahead of Oct 11 Friday's announcement. But those said to be in the frame included Zimbabwean politician Morgan Tsvangirai and freed French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt. Chinese dissidents Hu Jia and Gao Zhisheng were also leading contenders, prompting Beijing to issue a veiled warning that the prize should go to the "right person".

Some of the key peace roles by Ahtisaari:

2007: Secret meetings in Finland on roadmap to peace between Iraqi Sunni and Shia’ groups; 2005: Helps end 30 years of fighting between Aceh rebels and the Indonesian government; 2005: Appointed UN special envoy for talks on the final status of Serbian province of Kosovo; 2002 onwards: UN special envoy for the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa; 2001: Arms inspector in Northern Ireland conflict; 1990: Heads UN operation that brings independence to Namibia)

Post-Script

Today no Muslim is officially "eligible" for the Nobel peace prize under the prevailing anti-Islamic conditions for the so-called "fundamental reasons" and there is no point in talking about that now. Former Soviet Leader M. Gorbachev got the Nobel Peace Prize for his positive contribution towards ending the so-called Cold War’ and help herald a tension free international environment. President bush desires the same for his destructive policies in Islamic world. True, US president (Bush) can do many wonders for the USA and its allies in terms of securing medals and prizes, but it looks difficult for him to get a Nobel Prize for himself, not withstanding the global clout the USA has. But then USA could pressurize the Nobel Council to include state terrorism as one of the subjects for awarding a prize annually in future, after all Alfred Nobel who instituted the Awards had got the amount for destroying a part of humanity by trading in dynamites, killing thousands of innocent people. . But then Bush may have many competitors across the globe for the "coveted' prize, especially leaders from USA, UK, Israel and India would vie for the prize for their contribution to state terrorism. India could even openly bribe “the concerned” officials to see that one of its "patriotic" leaders, civilian or military, gets it at any cost least once. Of course, as Olympics, India could have a prize easily if it were for terrorism acts like shooting, thrashing or killing Kashmiris and other Muslims etc. Now as a strategic nuclearism partner, India uses Pakistan card and expects USA, the global terrorist state, to make necessary “adjustments” with India, a prominent terrorist state at regional level. Whether a regional hegemon India could outsmart the most powerful global imperialist, then, remains to be seen. - Sri Lanka Guardian