(This article was written and published in August of 2005 on the unfairness and unequality which riddles the spectrum of international relations. It is ironic how these self same mis-treatments being pursued today under differant guises and headlines.)
Why is it that there are two separate systems of justice, separate realities existing in the world today? One for America and its allies, another for the rest of us. The most ironical and irritating thing about this endorsement of dual standards is the fact that this version of reality is being promoted with a straight face. Let me illustrate from just a few examples from leading news events from just a 48 hr. period all taken from the BBC website.
1. Chinese oil producer CNOOC has withdrawn its $18.5bn (£10.4bn) bid for US firm Unocal, leaving the way clear for Chevron to acquire the business. CNOOC cited “unprecedented political opposition” in the US as a reason for ditching its offer. Some US lawmakers have claimed that the deal posed a potential threat to US national security. Unocal’s board recommended Chevron’s $17.3bn offer, even though it was substantially lower than CNOOC’s bid. BBC Website, 2nd August, 2005.
The US and its allies have made much of the inaccessibility of Chinese economy to their companies and business concerns. Terms like “Global Village” and “Borderless Economy” were the principles that were touted.
In June of this year (just about 45 days ago) Bank of America acquired a healthy stake in China’s second largest bank, which move was not hindered by Chinese Authorities.
However, when Chinese Oil company CNOOC wanted to buy US oil company Unocal, it is suddenly a national security issue. Meanwhile US Oil companies has invested all over the world and is adamant that oil producing nations should keep their doors open for US oil firms. While the oil wealth of the Middle East certainly belong to the people of the Middle East, it is Western Oil companies who actually make money from the wealth.
Yet, when a Chinese Company wanted to buy a US oil firm; a straight business deal, all precedence is out the window and norms of international trade and commerce are conveniently ignored.
Guess what? The Board of Unocal recommended a competing offer by Chevron which was in fact 17.1 billion $ (that is right 17 billion) less than the offer from the Chinese company.
2. Two Yemeni men claim they were held in secret, underground US jails for more than 18 months without being charged, Amnesty International has said. The human rights group has called on the US to reveal details of the alleged secret detention of suspects abroad. Amnesty fears the case is part of a “much broader picture” in which the US holds prisoners at secret locations. BBC News, 4th August, 2005.
The right of the accused for access to legal representation. The right to a speedy trial. Magna Carta. The Bill of Rights. These and more become mere phrases when it comes to issues relating US.
Yet, this “Kafkaesque” nightmare scenario is not a one-off incident. They continue to kidnap, imprison and illegally detain foreigners, wherever and whenever they please. Any body at any place and at any time.
And we do not even want to discuss the issue of more than 500 prisoners at Guantanmoa, “the gulag of our times’ as defined by Amnesty International, who have now been incarcerated for more than 3 years now, without being charged.
3. Iran’s top nuclear negotiator has accused EU foreign ministers of making factual errors and unacceptable threats over Iran’s nuclear programme. Hassan Rowhani said that since Iran’s suspension of some of its nuclear activities was voluntary, there would be nothing illegal about resuming them. Britain, France, Germany and the EU warned Iran against re-starting the enrichment of uranium. BBC News, 4th August, 2005.
Apparently there are some technologies that can be developed and used exclusively by the so called developed world. Peaceful development of nuclear technology by “dangerous countries” are discouraged, prohibited and declared illegal.
The argument goes that if “other more dangerous countries” develop nuclear weapons there is no telling what they might do with it. This argument is especially ironic in this the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by the Americans at the close of the World II.
The above are samples of the duality that pervades the world of today. Different rules for different people.
Now only if the developed world state clearly that there are different rules for different countries, than at least there would no ambiguity.
Some of us, “the tired, poor huddled masses” might not like it. So what? The world is theirs. The rules are made by them. We are just the poor cousins who are invited, occasionally for the big family dinner.
However, instead of stating this duality clearly and up front, they profess egalitarian values and pay lip service to democratic principles. Instead of inviting us as poor relations to a family gatherings, they send engraved invitations and allow us a seat near the head table every once in a while. They laugh at our jokes and cry at our funerals.
And we, unsophisticated and unworldly, believe in their statements and attempt to deal with them on their own level. Make offers to buy their companies and attempt to develop nuclear technology so that our citizens could also benefit from them. Only to find out that is was actually a sham. A game that was played. A charade.
The result is confusion, dismay and despair. If only we more astute. Goerge Orwell was right; some animals are more equal than others.
August 2005