black day for human rights

"We got him," said American administrator Paul Bremer when the Iraqi dictator was captured in 2003.


Today marks a dark and significant day in history. Saddam Hussein was executed on the eve of Aidiladha. A day when Muslims around the world commemorate prophet Abraham's offering of a sacrificial scapegoat to God (in lieu of his willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishamel). Hussein's execution does not resolve the conflict in Iraq nor will it cease any sectarian violence - it has the potential to exacerbate the insurgencies in fact.

His death might symbolise closure and justice for the many Kurds & Shia' Iraqis who were murdered under his tyrannical regime but it also represents a very, very, very flawed idea of human rights and justice. Who benefits from all this? Isn't it suspect that his execution coincides with the US political timetable? If he could be put on trial for his war-crimes then shouldn't Bush and Blair be tried for the deaths of all those people during the Iraq Occupation? Why are members of the Coalition of the Willing so quick to condemn this punishment when they sanctioned the so-called war in the first place? Too little, too late, bye-bye Hussein.

The trial was a sham. The rushed judgement was passed onto a 69 year old man who would do far worse rotting in prison for the rest of his life. Saddam Hussein was an evil man but his life was not for the state to take. USA's supposed intervention has served no purpose other than their twisted politics. What justice? What's this "he has been held to account"? Pretty words to mask those hypocritical, oil-crazy megalomaniacs disguised in politician's garb. They're as bad, perhaps even worse than the former Iraqi dictator.

Brunei Times Blogspeak

by Alamak!Wani!
Recently a local blogger's thoughts were published in The Brunei Times. It's really great to know that alternative media (i.e. blogs) have crossed into mainstream media (i.e. BT). But my main concern about Maurina's article was that it seemed to portray an almost naive sense of patriotism. Not that it is such a bad thing but look towards the end of her article and note her surprise "With all this, I couldn't help but wonder, is Brunei really that small? Are we really that insignificant that people don't even know which region in Asia we're actually in?" and let's not forget her proposal of introducing more Bruneian content and a Bruneian Wikipedia done in Brunei Malay about Brunei? I'm sceptical about the merits of such a site but hey, who knows, it might take off.

I'd hate to be the one to burst that bubble but yup, sad to say, Brunei is really that tiny and almost-but-not-quite inconsequential outside matters of economy and sordid bits of gossip. Never mind the patriotism, it isn't all so bad but the katak di bawah tempurong attitude of many locals who have never been truly exposed internationally really galls me when they insist that Brunei is all that. On many levels, this tiny country is truly blessed. We have escaped potentially catastrophic natural disasters with nary a scratch, our currency is fairly stable, the political climate is not volatile like countries in the region e.g. Indonesia and Thailand, the citizens are taken care of etcetc. But really, try speaking to permanent citizens (surprisingly, there IS a vast difference between citizens and PRs) or other foreign nationals who have had encountered Brunei in all its glory. I'm fairly certain the perception of locals versus non-Bruneians differ greatly. This is not to say I am anti-Brunei, on the contrary, I am all for this teeny-weeny nation to progress and prosper. This is home, after all. But it would do to keep a more realistic view on things.


by updatedversion
I'll make it short and simple lar. We yellow IC people live in a very comfortable and small place. You gotta admit la, we are secluded and tiny and almost insignificant. Can't really blame others for not knowing who we are or where we are. We don't even know where Czech Republic is. Cmon laaaaa, even though got internet doesn't mean we have an obligation to look up everyone else's blogs. So self-titled one. Kambang or proud or just patriotic or a bit sot i dunno la.

Who friggin cares. = ="

My point is, we ain't all that great. Sure we're trying to keep up n progress etc etc but we gotta know our limits. Open your eyes big BIG. Go outside and study, travel a bit, then you say if we're insignificant or not. No big deal if people don't know Brunei what. So what? So what? We're happy where we are, people also happy don't know us. Apa machiam?

K lah. After you've laughed your balls off, just think a little. Think o the big picture. [and not just the grand delusions you've painted for yourself]

Thenkyeww veli much for your attensyen. I don wan waste your time anymore. I don wan waste MY time anymore.

Happy new yearrrrrrrrr avelibodiiii =)

It's good to know-

that there are still people out there who wouldn't mind helping strangers in need.



While my family and I were at a busy intersection in Bandar the other day, we saw an old Chinese man (known as Ah-pek from now onwards) coming out of a station wagon that broke down right in the middle of the road. The station wagon looked like it had seen better days, judging from the faded white paint and that tell-tale silver-grey plume of smoke coming out of the engine. It was a typical Bruneian afternoon - humid as ever and the sun beating down did not help the situation considering the fact that the old ah-pek looked too old to even drive around town. No disrespect. Ah-pek was already puttering with the car engine by then. I was about to ask my dad to stop the car so we could at least lend one of our cellphones to the Ah-pek so he could make a call to the workshop. At that moment, a minivan pulled up right beside our car and three strapping local youths jumped out and ran over to help the ah-pek (presumably to fix his car).

Nana and I had an "Awwwwww!" moment as my dad drove away from the scene.

That incident was really quite mundane and breakdowns happen all the time. But the point is, I didn't realize how much faith I have lost in my fellow citizens till that day. It is so easy to insulate oneself in a bubble of jaded cynicism and suspicion. Granted, I might be overreacting to a couple of good samaritans helping out a total stranger on the road. How can I be sure they're even strangers? It doesn't matter really. They stopped and helped when everyone else (myself included, I'm ashamed to admit) was too self-absorbed to notice someone in trouble. It took a simple act of kindness to wake me up to the fact that there are genuinely decent people out there. They may be few and far in between but it takes more courage to maintain that optimism and positive attitude towards our fellow brothers and sisters than revert to said bubble of jaded cynicism.

I'm in a good mood today. Maybe that accounts for this entry's uncharacteristic benevolent tone. Who knows?







~Selamat Menyambut Hari Raya Aidiladha!!!~

update

Merry Xmas & Happy New Year!

Promise: Lots of quirky posts in 2007.

By your two beloved,
updatedversion & Alamak!Wani!

hmph

Well, life has been quite quirky these days. A little dull, routine, expected, and enriching.

The boring stuff: I got called up for the Shell assessment centre. I didn't get it, but I don't mind. They're still going to monitor our A level results when they get out. So, yeah. Then I went for the MinDef visit yesterday. Was very informative. Had my first helicopter ride too. In a Blackhawk. ahem. The only bitch is that females can't be pilots. Damned ancient policy. Then, I'm expecting a college's acceptance reply tomorrow. O dear. I doubt I'll get accepted. And I still have 3 more applications to finish.

I've been watching loads of Japanese anime and series. I'm very immersed in their culture. wakakaka. Easiest was to pick up the language too. Don't you just love torrents? I'm only bugged by the slow net speed. yick.

I'm bored. Out of my mind. No real intellectual stimulation. Need a change in scenery. Desperately. =(

I passed my driving written test by the way. Going for lessons soon. Whee~ Was so nervous whether I passed or not. Even more so than uni or scholarship results. I think its because its a bigger indicator of my common sense. I really think I would've crumbled if I failed. Now that's a real IQ test.

New year soon. Don't know what to expect. Lots of hope and wishes. But lots of uncertainty as well. And its so damned frustrating having nothing to do in this place. I don't believe in their policies. I scoff at their abilities. Bloody hell.

mumble mumble. This has got to be the longest wait ever.

PROMISE

i have been neglecting my blogging privileges for quite a while and i'd just like to say i will be updating this abandoned cyber-spot soon.

keep the faith, i'll be back!

-alamak!wani!-

up-side-down smile

confusion.
retardation.
exhalation.

sometimes i think its a bother to be given so many options, even thought they come in the form of opportunities. but what's the use if you can only choose one and be forever scorned by the others? its dreadful.
painful.
because you wonder if you'll have regrets.
if others will have regrets.

true self-dom is seldom achieved.
i made that word up.

if. only if. and so many if questions.
get me nowhere.
i'm in the land of nowhere.
stuck in a rut.
i see it that way because i don't belong here anymore.
and i see no fault in that view.
dropping thoughts behind me now.
can you see that trail?
its getting longer and longer.
heavier too.
its giving me a hunchback.
a crooked posture.
before long its going to kill me.
its already eating away my mind.
dust to dust, ashes to ashes.

its a beautiful day here. bright and sunny. family is well and happy. everyone's excited for the day. but i'm dwelling in my little dark hole, morbid and melancholic like the bloody typhoon Durian. what kinda idiot names a typhoon after a fruit. a durian no less.

go away go away.
i'll hide away.