China’s 'Torch Heroine' Is Now A Traitor!

Jin Jing holds on tightly to the torch to keep it away from attackers during the Paris leg of the relay April 7, 2008. [Xinhua]
A week, it’s often said, is a long time in politics. In China today, it’s long enough for the tide of public opinion to turn viciously against someone who was celebrated not long ago as a ‘national heroine’.

Barely a week ago, Jin Jing, a disabled Chinese woman fencer who was one of the Olympic torchbearers in Paris, was being hailed in China as a “saviour of national honour” for defending the torch from pro-Tibet demonstrators who attempted to seize it from her.

Images of the pretty, one-legged Chinese woman rising from her wheelchair to valiantly hold on to the torch were plastered all over Chinese newspapers. Jin, who was christened “the smiling angel on a wheelchair”, was interviewed by all the official media.

In a nation seething with wounded pride over the protests against the torch relay in London and Paris, Jin was instantly embraced as a symbol of Chinese resolve to make the Olympics a success despite the effort of “anti-China forces” to “disrupt” the Games later this year.

But all that has changed today. Jin is now being targeted for abuse as a “race traitor”, and in the colourful language that characterises contemporary Chinese political discourse, as “an utterly brainless, evil-eyed wolf.”

What has changed since last week? It turns out that in one of the many interviews she gave during the short time she was savoured as a celebrity, Jin cautioned against the virulent mobilisation of Chinese citizens for a boycott of French supermarket chain Carrefour.

The campaign began initially as a call to boycott Carrefour on May 1, Labour Day, on the charge (since denied by the supermarket chain) that its parent company had donated funds to the Dalai Lama, who is reviled in China as a “splittist”.

But in recent days, the boycott call has gained momentum, and thousands of protesters have been gathering at Carrefour outlets to protest against Tibetan independence and alleged Western media bias in the coverage of developments in the troubled region in China’s west.

Jin said that the call to boycott Carrefour was unwise because the company employs many Chinese people, who would be hurt economically by a widespread boycott. For speaking out against the boycott call, which has proved hugely popular in China, Jin became the target of China’s army of “cybernationalists”, who have branded her a “traitor”.

“Jin Jing must have been paid off by the French,” posted one Netizen. “First she lost her leg; now, she’s lost her mind,” said another. “Are you capable of representing the Great Han Race?” asked a third. (DNA)

***** For such are the dangers of blind nationalism.
Interesting Read: Latest propagandic episode from start to (just about) finish

'Sikh Bengali Row' Called A Trivial Matter

A senior Malaysian Indian leader has urged the country's Sikh community not to get annoyed at being called Bengalis, calling it "a trivial matter".

Opposition lawmaker Karpal Singh, who has roots in Punjab, has sought to play down Sunday's gaffe by Perak state's Mentri Besar (chief executive) Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, who he said, had referred to Sikhs as Bengalis "in ignorance".

Urging the Sikh community "not to get upset", Karpal Singh said although Sikhs and Bengalis were different, it was a very "trivial" matter.

"In Malaysia, both are commonly referred to as the same, so there is no need to be offended. After all, a rose would smell as sweet by any other name," he said after attending Baisakhi prayers at a gurudwara Monday.

Some Sikhs in the audience walked out after Jamaluddin greeted the Tamils on the New Year and then the Sikhs, calling them Bengalis, a common misnomer in Malaysia.

Karpal Singh, who heads the opposition Democratic Action party (DAP), was elected to parliament in last month's general elections where he sits alongside his son, Govind Singh Deo.

While he has sought to take a lenient view, some in the Sikh community of an estimated 100,000 do not agree.

Khalsa Dharmic Jatha Gurudwara vice-president Baljit Singh said: "That very utterance has made the Sikhs a laughing stock of other communities. How can we expect society to know the difference between the two communities when the leaders themselves cannot?" he said, adding that Jamaluddin owed Sikhs an apology.

Jamaluddin, who made the reference at a function in Ipoh, later admitted his mistake.

In Malaysia, Sikhs have been mistakenly referred to as Bengalis for decades, The Star newspaper said.(Times Of India)

***** It is time for the Sikh community to listen to Mr Karpal Singh, drop the matter and move on. The Mentri Besar has admitted he had made a mistake and that should be sufficient. To stubbornly demand an apology is to prolong the issue unnecessarily and risk losing all the goodwill they have painstakingly earned through the years.

The other Malaysians frankly couldn't care less what the Sikhs are called or not called. That's the reality in Malaysia. By demanding an apology it doesn't mean that the Sikhs would not be called Banggali/Bengali by the other communities in the future. No amount of coercion, public display of anger or threats is going to change what has been deeply ingrained in the minds and vocabulary of some Malaysians.

To say that the Sikhs have become a 'laughing stock' is pretty misleading. On the contrary they are a respected lot in the country, well known for their diligence and talent. If at all anyone is to be blamed at this point in time, it is those Sikhs who are now publicly highlighting and giving free advertisement for the misnomer.
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French President Walks Out Of U.S. TV Interview

French President Nicolas Sarkozy walked out of an interview with US CBS television news show 60 Minutes , according to a clip of the show released Sunday in advance of the interview's airing.

A clearly disturbed Sarkozy stood up muttering in French about the question, which was not heard, in a short publicity clip put on the Internet ahead of the 60 Minutes broadcast Sunday night.

"You asked me that question," Sarkozy seems to say as he pulls off the microphone, stands up and walks away from the interviewer, who appears confused.

Sarkozy, whose office announced October 18 that he had divorced his wife Cecilia, is known to be particularly prickly about questions on his personal life.

He is also shown in the clip for the segment entitled "Sarko L'Americain" saying, "What an idiot," in apparent reference to his own press secretary.

"He's smart, energetic and tempestuous," the 60 Minutes clip said in promoting the show.

The segment will be broadcast Sunday evening during the show, which begins at 7:00 pm (2300 GMT).

It was not clear when the CBS interview was conducted.
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Malaysian Diplomat Apologizes For Mistaking Iraqi Pickles As Anthrax

A Malaysian diplomat has apologized to the Iraqi Embassy for mistaking a gift parcel of sweet pickles as anthrax powder, a news report said Saturday.

Zakaria Sulong, the newly appointed ambassador to Germany, sent a fax to the Iraqi mission offering his "sincere and deepest apologies" for the misunderstanding which he "deeply regretted," the New Straits Times said.

The Iraqi Embassy sent the parcel to Zakaria as a gift on Sept. 13 to mark the Islamic holiday of Ramadan. He only saw white powder when he opened it and fearing it might be anthrax, placed the box in a barrel outside his house and called the police, the newspaper said.

Police discovered the powder was sugar sprinkled on top of the pickles to preserve them, it said.

Iraq's envoy lodged a complaint with Malaysia's foreign ministry over Zakaria's "panic-stricken behavior," the report said.

Iraq's charge d'affaires Hoshiar Dazayi was quoted as saying the fruit pickles were an Iraqi delicacy and were also sent to the offices of the Malaysian king, prime minister and foreign minister as Ramadan gifts. "It is such a special sweet and this year I wanted to show my appreciation to the Malaysian government, the ministry and my friends," he said.

Zakaria's apology was personal and fell short of an official apology from the Malaysian government, he added. Zakaria and Iraqi Embassy officials could not be reached for comment. (International Herald Tribune)

***** Given the circumstances I really can't blame En Zakaria for reacting the way he did. In fact he should be applauded for being circumspect. After all it's always better to err on the side of caution.

The Iraqi Embassy could have given advance intimation to the Malaysian diplomat to expect a parcel from them. That would have avoided unnecessary problems to both sides. In any event it is a very small misunderstanding and should not affect the very friendly and brotherly relations between the Iraqi diplomats and Wisma Putra officials.
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