The Importance of Indo-Israeli Trade and Bridging the Barriers

Some of the greatest barriers toward achieving positive results in any international effort for the betterment of the world is the interference of concrete efforts by governments and their leaders.   Israel and India share many strategic and economical relationships that are of a mutual benefit to both countries and for humanity.  However, government interests loom large in preventing the success of what can be the greatest alliance between Hindus and Jews, two of the most ancient, spiritually gifted and intelligent peoples in the world.  Three countries play a large role in contributing to these barriers and forcing a bi-lateral partnership between Israel and India, namely Pakistan, Iran and USA.  Pakistan is a major threat to India while Iran poses a major threat to Israel.  India does not want Pakistan to have too much influence in the Arab world. A nuclear rich Iran poses a threat to the entire world. The USA is an obstacle that forces all players spiraling downward by cutting necessary funding for joint military weaponry.  For the current Indian government which is historically pro-Arab since 1947, petrol and jobs are a key factor in maintaining a positive flow of life.  It makes no difference that a nuclear Iran could destroy the entire world.  The USA holds the keys as to how much funding will be provided to encourage continued success between Israel and India’s military cooperation.   For Israel and India the issue of combating terrorism is paramount in addition to preserving human rights and the health of humanity.  Despite all the challenges, however, it is remarkable that Israel and India have been able to come together on a range of issues.

India is the largest customer of Israeli military equipment and Israel is the second largest military partner of India after the Russian Federation.  As of 2009, the military business between Israel and India was worth US $9 billion.  Military and strategic ties between the two nations extend to joint military training and space technology.  India is Israel’s largest defense market, accounting for almost 50% of Israeli sales.

India is the second largest economic partner of Israel.  In 2010, bilateral trade excluding military sales stood at US $4.7 billion.  Currently the two nations share an extensive bi-lateral trade pact, focusing on areas such as information technology, which is at its highest level in Israel, biotechnology, and agriculture.  This is only a scratch on the surface as to what the two nations are able to achieve jointly.

It is important to note that when something in the way of mutual understanding and cooperation is good, people and governments frequently attempt to destroy it.  A question to ask the USA is what is so frightening about a HinJew alliance?  Why is it wrong for us to be successful in achieving peace and security for the entire world? Our enemies and our own governments are equally responsible for delaying true progress.  The way to meet these challenges is to keep leaders in our governments that are willing to move beyond furthering their own interests and working toward the preservation of humanity.  Often those of us faced with these challenges are told that this is the ideal but it can never manifest in today’s world.  I say it can manifest in today’s world through continued diligence to meet our goals, mutual respect and understanding and the ability to work toward enlightening our leaders to the point that they understand how much political agendas thwart any real progress. Our voices alone can bring about a positive change.  If we remain silent and complacent we can expect only more of the same threats to our safety, security and peace.   In the end, this will leave a result that will render us unable to defend ourselves from a fate that would lead only to our own destruction of our values, our hopes and our dreams for a brighter future and even our very lives.

Sriram Shalom

Zemira Eli Natan

Chief Editor and Co-Founder

Unity For Equality

           

           

           

Citizen of the World- An Exclusive Interview with Veerji Kohli Part 2

“Cowardice asks the question:  Is it Safe?

Expediency asks the question:  Is it Politic?

Vanity asks the question:  Is it Popular?

But Conscience asks the question:  Is it Right?

And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular-  But one must take it simply because it is Right.”

--Martin Luther King--

Zemira:  What are your reactions about the case of Rinkle Kumari & the attack took place against the four doctors recently in Pakistan?

Veerji: According the report from the different newspapers and organizations 47 Hindu girls were kidnapped in last six months.  They have two superior Pirs; one is Ayubjan Sarhandhi   from the district Umarjkot, and the second main Mithu from District Ghodki who is a member of the National Assembly of the Pakistan People Party.  These people many times go in front of the media and say we converted thousands of Hindu girls to Islam.  Rinkle Kumari’s is one of thousands of cases they highlight in Supreme Court but the court judgment caused me to be disappointed.  When the Supreme Court took action I hoped for the Justice of the Higher Court, but I was disappointed.  Basically I was prepared for this judgment because I know from the police station to higher authority everyone favors the extremists.  This is not new for me because of another case which occurred in 1986.  In Mirpurkhas City, thousands of people protested against the kidnapping of one Hindu  Seeta Kolhi  when the protest reached in front of the police commissioner’s office the police  shot at the protestors and to this date there was no investigation conducted as to why  the police were killing these people.  Recently on 18 April 2012 when we protested against the kidnapping of Rinkle Kumari extremist organization political party attacked some members at the rally to prevent it from extending to Hyderabad.  The attack took place when I crossed the rally office of Hyderabad.  They attacked and 50% of our people were injured and they registered this case against us.  Police arrested 50 people.  Our daughters are kidnapped but I have no rights but only to raise the voice. Recently from different factories in Hyderabad City , Sindh Pakistan 26  Hindu girls were kidnapped.  No report was registered for this incident.  More than 2,000 women are working in the factories in Hyderabad.  The majority of these women are in bonded labor in these factories according to a report in a local Sindhi Newspaper, Daily Ibrat.  The incident of the kidnapping   was not reported in any newspapers no legal action taken by police or any registration of the incident.

Zemira:  Has the minority population of Pakistan including Sikhs, Hindus, and Christians declined tremendously?

Veerji:  Yes   I notice less people from the minorities the influence is majority yet the minority is the indigenous people of Pakistan. I remember the comments of the Constitutional Committee of USA when they started this constitution I was impressed because they came from England. They said, “I don’t like Democracy” because majority of influence came from the Minority.

   

Zemira:  Presently Pakistan has a sizeable minority population which is more than 10 million, who are the big faces from the minority community in Pakistan?

Veerji:  In minority groups every person tries to lead their community.  If they are Christian they are agent of America, if Hindu community they are agent of India. We are true Pakistani and land of Pakistan is our Motherland and we are the owners of the Civilization of Pakistan and our great leaders and heroes of this land they bled for this land so we love our mother land.

Zemira:  Why in Pakistan are non- Muslims accused for false charges?

Veerji:    In Pakistan the person who wants to raise the voice and lead, or discuss or highlight their issue in international forum they are accused.

Zemira:  Why is Pakistan so worried about Free Speech lastly they killed Shabaz Bhatti & Salman Tasir, who is next then?

Veerji:  In our society there is no concept of free speech.  They had no legal help they just passed statements  to the media and they were killed.  So now they try to work for minority and they become targets.

Zemira:  When a non-Muslim like Veerji Kholi or Farrukh Harrison raises voice for the security of non- Muslims , why do the Pakistani administration biasedly support Islamic cause ?

Veerji:   Because they support the tradition of Pakistan which is Islamic.  In the name of Muslims they are supporting.

Zemira:   Whenever Pakistan face some adverse situations in their soil either they accuse the minority of Pakistan  or India as the conspirator without having any strong proofs , why do they play so cheap politics ?

Veerji:    Dialogue with any other religious group  in Pakistan,  feudals and religious leaders are allies.  When I work against bonded labor also when I work for land reform the landlords use the religion as tool for their own purpose. For example,  in Pakistan there is a feudal system.  When the famous leader of Pakistan Zulfquar Ali Bhutto wants land reform; the feudals use the Islamic leaders and force judgment from the Sharia court of Pakistan that says land reform is un-Islamic.  As a landlord you do not have the right to divide the land.  In Pakistan when I work against any abuser they use religious leader and register the cases against minority leaders by misusing Blasphemy laws in the name of Islam.

Zemira:  :   Does the minority of Pakistan has any future anymore or they have to suffer torture & oppression  like the innocent Jews had faced in Germany , Europe and North Africa?

Veerji:  In Pakistan the next generation, the government wrote the fake history, fake culture and fake national heroes  through our curriculum.  Through this curriculum, the future is against minorities because the rulers of Pakistan they are not indigenous to the land they are outsiders.  They don’t own the civilization of Pakistan or the culture. The minorities are the true owners of the land..   Today, the minorities are in slavery. Today we are living in 21^st century and today, our youth and the humanist of global system do not accept extremism and slavery. I hope they abolish this system and I believe all the Human Rights Activists and Humanists of the world they stand with us and help our cause.

        Zemira’s Opinion:  We can never be silent about any of these issues and we must continue to fight against these kinds of politics and ideologies.  We must never stop raising our voices and continuing to fight for justice and peace for all humanity.

This concludes our exclusive interview with Mr. Veerji Kohli. I was very fortunate to learn about his experiences in Pakistan and learn from him the importance of breaking down the barriers toward having a more peaceful and just society that promotes Equal Rights for all people.   Thank you so much Veerji Kohli. I will never forget your hospitality, generosity and wisdom.  May we all continue this work for the cause of the betterment, peace and equal rights for all religions and all people of the entire world.

Sriram Shalom

Zemira Eli Natan

Chief Editor and Co-Founder

Unity For Equality

Citizen of the World- An Exclusive Interview with Veerji Kohli Part 1

                                                 

Rarely does one have the opportunity to meet with an internationally respected Human Rights Activist from Nangarparkar District Mithi, Pakistan hand selected by an American Ambassador to make a tour of the United States as an International Visitor for the Equal Rights of all Citizens. Mr. Veerji Kohli promotes the rights of the Hindu population as well as other minority communities in Sindh.  He started community projects on bonded labor issues assisting in the release of several families from bondage by their landlords.   In addition to his other professional roles, Mr. Kohli is currently working as President of All Kohli Association Sindh and Convener of Progressive Hindu Alliance.  He plans to expand his network and outreach to reach more minority groups in order to provide equal rights and opportunities to minorities in Pakistan and is interested in policies and practices that promote equal rights among citizens. He belongs to many organizations that promote Human Rights at an International level. I am grateful for the opportunity in meeting with Veerji Kohli and the ability to share his commitment with everyone.

Zemira:  What is your mission and vision?

Veerji:  I am a Human Rights Activist and Peace Activist.  I am not against any religion or any country, but Free Speech and to identify the issues honestly and struggle for the rights of all people.  This is my belief.  The people of the world, they are silent when they know things are wrong, but they are supporters of the oppressors.  This is my commitment anyhow.   I speak truly and identify the issues honestly, and I will never stop the struggle for Human Rights as this is my life commitment.  Whatever the risk I take for my activities, I will accept the result.

Zemira:  What made you interested to start work as a Social Activist?   

               Pakistan?

Veerji:  In 1987 when I was 11 or 12 years old I came from a desert area called Tharparkar.  There was a drought and thousands of people with their families came from Beraji area where there are water systems.  My family in 1987 came from Tharparkar in Beraji area to a landlord’s property and started work.   Other workers came and the landlords gave false loans in the amount of 65,000 Pakistani Rupees to my family who were bonded laborers.  I was in bonded labor from 1982-1987.  The violation of Human Rights and the rape of women I saw very closely.  In 1992 when we were released from the landlord to the High Court, I took the decision that we would work for life to release the bonded laborers. 

   

Zemira:  Do you face any kinds of problems when you go to help the poor people in 

               Pakistan?  Those who are fighting for the basics of life?

Veerji:   In Pakistan, it is a feudal system.  Discrimination starts from the Constitution of Pakistan.  Article 1- Name of Country is Islamic Republic of Pakistan.Article 2- Islam is the religion of the District. According to the Constitution only Muslims can select the President, and at that Point, discrimination is started.  There is a 95% Muslim population, so why are Hindus and Christians persecuted?  I don’t understand why there is a problem as Muslims are the rulers.  I think terrorism is not the name of bombs blasting.  Terrorism starts from curriculum and ideology.  When we start our education From first class we are bound to read Islamic education compulsory.  If we stand Up for our rights we say, “We don’t want to read this.”  Politics and curriculum They make their name by Islam.  When I talk about these issues, they say this is Hindu, this is speech against Islam, and they make threats.       

Zemira:  Do you think the Minority community of Pakistan is safe and treated equally like the majority Muslims?

Veerji:  Minority means Hindu and Hindu are indigenous of Pakistan.  They own    the land, they own the civilization, and they protect the culture.  Only Hindus are keeping their culture in Pakistan.  But this time, they are living in slavery like bonded laborers.   After the partition, the Hindus are thought by the establishment that they are the enemies of Pakistan.  The majority of Hindus are in the District of Tharparkar, the border of India.  In the history Hindus are thousands of years  living among outsiders and visitors and they protect their land, but now they are slaves in their own land.

Zemira:  We know every person has an idol in his/her daydream, which person has inspired you the most in your career?

Veerji:   Amar Roploo Kohli.  When the British government attacked Tharparkar,Amar Roploo Kohli and 5,000 people fought the British government and for 16 years they fought them.  In 21^st August 1859 Amar Roploo Kohli was a Shahid, a martyr for a special cause for the British Army and they controlled the Entire areas.  So, I am inspired by Amarropiloo Kohli.  Another I admire is Sufi Shah Inayat Shaheed. He fought for the farmer’s rights and for land reform.  Finally, one last person I admire is Mukhdom Shah Bilwal who fought against Extremism.

           

Zemira:  We all know that you are from the Pakistani Hindu community.  What kinds of problems do you face being a minority Hindu of Pakistan?  

Veerji:    In Pakistan  there is feudal system, Sardari system, and also religious extremist, and I am working for Humanity and Human Rights  so when I  talk about against the bonded labor and extremism then from the unknown person I receive threats and attacks on my home and attacks on me and fake cases are registered against me.

Zemira:   As a social activist what are your objectives to be reached in the future?

Veerji:     We are working for social change and social justice.  I want that every person is equal and all religions respected and all belief systems respected.  I don’t accept any one person to dominate, any one religion to dominate or any thought to dominate   because our society is diverse and there is diversity of culture and religion, so this I will protect. We are living in 21 centenary. In this era when world is a global village, today’s youth will not accept feudal system and today’s human being is rightly aware with the changes happing internationally. Do not believe to follow the uniform thinking or ideology. And we hope that change will happen and all international human community can bring about the change by working together.

Zemira:  How long you will be in the USA, and what are your experiences from this international tour?

Veerji:    First of all, I am very impressed by the USA that they accept the reality and save their history.  40 yrs ago Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks,  their thinking was against the American Government but this time they are the national heroes.  This is big change.  In our society, I learned very fake history. I didn’t learn real history.  In American there is real history and real culture in their curriculum.

* Zemira’s Note:  Mr. Kohli toured the USA  from April  23-May 11.  During his tour Mr. Kohli visted four states where he concentrated on various themes for the protection Human Rights and Civil Rights.  Here is an overview of Mr. Kohli’s American Tour:

Washington DC

 The US Government approach to addressing Human and Civil Rights concerns

• Curtailing violence against women
• Creating an effective Human Rights network
• Equal Rights as a foreign policy concern

Huntsville, Montgomery Alabama

History  of the US Civil Rights Movement

• Raising public awareness of Human and Civil Rights violations
• Mechanisms of the US legal system to protect Human and Civil Rights
• Establishing a representational Democracy

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Providing educational opportunities for girls and migrant children

•  Promoting religious freedom through interfaith dialogue
• Culturally sensitive methods to address violence against Native American Women

San Francisco, California

State-wide protection of Civil Rights

• Advancing women in Political positions
• Managing diversity through educational programs
• Insuring rights for the gay and immigrant communities

                                                         

Why Do Muslims Falsely Accuse Non-Muslims?

Over the Years we have stood and watched Muslims for the purpose of stealth Jihad slander Non-Muslims. Israel is accused of being an Apratheid State that oppresses Palestinians. Israel is slandered in the media daily for every action it takes to defend itself. But perhaps the worst form of slander against non-Muslims comes in the form of false accusations. Currently a very distinguished and well known Human Rights Activist in Pakistan stands accused of murder! Are Muslims so weak that in order to silence those who cross the line to fight for the rights of their own people they resort to this form of attack? Why can Muslims not face the facts of the actions they commit so wrongfully against others? Why is it wrong for Muslims to allow others in their countries to live with respect, dignity and equal rights? Consider the following case of Veerji Kolhi, a Human Rights Activist, a leader in his own right. Veerji has thousands who love him and seek him out for advice. He activitely fights for the equal rights of his countrymen. Muslims find him to be a nuisance because he achieves results. It becomes easy for them to place a charge of murder on a person who does so much for his people so their problem will go away. Do Muslims in their right minds really think that their problem will go away after they accuse Veerji and remove him from the public? The truth is that they will have many more problems after this action. Many more leaders will join Veerji in his fight! Many new leaders will follow him! Please visit the link below for more on this story: ">http://tribune.com.pk/story/189672/power-and-money-in-a-murder-case-rape-clay-and-sweet-water-all-play-a-part/ I can tell you I know Veerji personally. I know he is not a murderer! Thousands of others know Veerji and they also know he is not guilty! I ask any and all who read this to look at the reality of the threat of the spread of Islam. I ask you to join Veerji Kolhi in his cause to stop the evil that is in this world. His cause is our cause! Support him and give him your prayers and respect for an outcome in his favor! Thousands of people have been murdered! Many Hindus and many Jews have had their lives taken and their history erased for the sake of Islamic expansionism. The false accusations have a purpose to increase the Islamic Umma! Women are abducted, basic human rights are violated, offenses such as serving meat in a Hindu region, desocrating Jewish burial sites, destroying the holiest Jewish and Hindu shrines! Again the question remains, why do Muslims falsely accuse non-Muslims? The answer to that is found in the Muslim desire to rule under one doctrine that is Islam. We are here to tell them that we will never stand for that! We with fight until the end until the lies stop! We will never leave our lands! We will never abandon our countrymen! Jai Hindu Rashtra Am Yisrael Chai!

Posted By Unity For Equality  Team

Endurance of Hinduism and Judaism Over the Centuries

Why have Hinduism and Judaism endured despite many challenges over the centuries?   The best answer to this question lies in the ability of both religions to spread light and peace into the world despite aggressive enemies.  Hinduism endures by its great sciences that many of the greatest Hindu warriors sacrificed their lives in order to protect.  The endurance of Hindus is the understanding that one must fight to the death to remove the evils of the world.  Hindus never backed down to the occupying British.  Hindu warriors fought until their last breath to preserve their precious Bharat.  They continued to practice their religion despite pain of death.  They preserved their language and their culture despite a foreign influence at great sacrifice of themselves for their land.

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Jewish experience was very similar.  British shot Jews as they came into Israel after experiencing the horrors of the Holocaust.  The  Israelis already living in Israel  settled them in secret despite British orders of harsh punishments for all who carried on such activities.  Jews refused to stop practicing their religion, refused to speak English and spoke Hebrew instead in Prayer and in the sharing of language with one another.  They took down the signs that were written in English and replaced them with Hebrew ones.  They refused to give up their fight to establish their country officially despite the British preference of Arab claims to the land.  Jews, like Hindus were willing to sacrifice mind, body and spirit for the sake of preservation their precious Israel and the religion of Israel that is Judaism.

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Hindus and Jews are peoples of Light and of enduring Peace.  Both refuse to fight battles that are unnecessary. Both refuse to give up their language and their culture for any foreign nation. Hindus and Jews both fight battles for Justice and for the destruction of the evils that currently plague our societies.  A common factor is that Jews and Hindus when faced with these kinds of struggles realize that the preservation of the Nations to which they both belong is first and not last.

Both nations, Bharat and Israel, face challenges of losing their rights in their own lands to an occupying enemy that uses every tactic to strip the natural landholders of their history and their right to live peacefully in their nations free of oppression and aggression which were created by them with their own labor, their own faith, their own hopes and their own dreams for a brighter future.  Light always overcomes darkness in the face of war.  We Hindus and Jews currently fight a war for our very existence.  We will fight to the end until Light and Peace endure in our lands and we will make every sacrifice to win that fight.  Over the centuries Hindus and Jews successfully defeated enemies who continually assault them to claim land and property.  In our joint struggle against our current enemy the outcome will be no different.

 Posted By Unity For Equality Team