Friday, October 30, 2009

CRIMINALISING WAR.

30.10.2009.

I attended the 2-day conference organized by the Perdana Global Peace Organization called the Kuala Lumpur International Conference & Exhibition to Criminalise War at the PWTC on Wedesday and Thursday 28th. & 29th. October. I had to miss the first day of the War Crimes Commission Hearings to-day, Friday because of an association meeting, but intends to go to the second and final day of the Hearings to-morrow morning. 

I think it's incredible that this effort at organizing the call for the civilised world to sit up, take note, and do something to stop wars being waged by powerful nations, is being spearheaded here in Kuala Lumpur by an old ex-PM. Incredible because he no longer holds the reins of power in his own country and faces all the logistics problems faced by such a person doing such a thing. Incredible because Malaysia is hardly the country that looks like having the voice and reach to shake up the global village,  And  incredible that at his age he is bothered and has found another noble cause to champion. 

Listening to all the speakers who came from several countries , and the narrations of two actual ex-prisoners of Guantanamo, I was struck by the eloquence of all, except the Malaysian retired General. It was not the eloquence of strident language, but the chilling phrasing of simple diction describing human cruelty over its own kind.  There wasn't any shrieking diatribe nor abusive expletive being hurled at the absent enemies. The almost subdued adverbs were nevertheless striking and more than telling in the message being offered. The conviction comes out because of the currency of the condition and the reality of the experience possessed by the speakers.

The Malaysian retired General should learn from all this. It's never enough to raise your voice to make people hear you out. Making jokes in a public speech is an aquired art. It would have been better if he was to relate some real experience by Malaysian troops in Congo, Somalia and Bosnia. The Malaysian version of "Black Hawk Down" could have been at least informative. 

There was a large enough crowd that came for the conference, but the giant hall made it look small. Certainly more students could have been invited, because they are the future that needs to be told. I could have called a few friends to come, even if for the one day only, but didn't. 

Even after many say "no more" after two World Wars, wars are still being waged. Modern weapons mean the new wars are more cruel, more gory, more devastating.  It's insane to say you "fight for peace". You don't rape for virginity. 


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1 comment:

norzah said...

I missed this posting. Yes, Tun M is certainly making waves here. I hope they reach the US Whitehouse.