Should Pakistan, too, Dump the Commonwealth?

#14 by Naqshbandi on December 9, 2003 6:43pm PT
``I agree Pakistan should leave the Commonwealth. It has no real benefits at all and has been aptly described as a `former slaves club`. ``

What are your views on OIC?

re:#13 by kaurasach
Man, you need to educate yourself as to how Commonwealth came into being. Initially, there were only countries like Canada, Australia, NZ. All became Dominions but continued to swear allegiance to the Crown of England. Initial Commonwealth charter talked about the memeber states owing allegiance to the Queen of England. Nehru objected to this in 1947 and refused to join the commonwealth if this clause was not dropped. Reluctant to see India turn away from the Commonwealth, this clause was eventually dropped. This paved way for a number of other Asian and African nations to join the commonwealth, making this a truly multicultural organization that it is today.

http://www.dfat.gov.au/intorgs/commonwealth/aus_comm_8.html
Excerpts:

``In 1947 India and Pakistan took on Dominion status and set the stage for the emergence of the modern Commonwealth. India`s Constituent Assembly decided to adopt a republican constitution and yet expressed the desire to remain within the Commonwealth. The precedent so established in 1949 under the London Declaration made possible today`s Commonwealth of diverse independent nations, whether republics, national monarchies or monarchies under the British Crown.``

The following continues to be controversial (from the same website):
``HM Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the Commonwealth; a role which carries no constitutional responsibilities. She is the Head of State for 16 of the Commonwealth countries. The rest of the Commonwealth countries are republics with a President as Head of State, sultanates or monarchies``
Sridhar

Beachwear ??

LOL That was rich!! I don`t see chix in bikinis except on the ramp or on screen. Those are projections of what we`d like to do, not what we are already doing! Kayko phekta hai!!

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Ref Pakistani-Butt-Licker #11

[arjun_m, pakistan is of course democratic. Even the white house seems to think so. Bush wants democracy in egypt and saudi, but he left out pakistan.]

According to you, Pakistan is democratic despite all the new rules put in place by Musharraf to prevent meaningful opposition and the purchasing of MNAs to cobble together a rickety coalition government subservient to the Army.

But an election that returns Narendra Modi to Chief Ministership in Gujarat is a travesty of democracy.

I am merely reminded of a statement by Lyndon Johnson about some US politician: ``He will kiss your butt in a Macy`s window on Thanksgiving Day to gain a favor.``

PS. I am going off to take a shower to get the slime off. Ugh!

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````The only convincing case for Pakistan still being part of the Commonwealth can be made in the context of—who else?—its arch-rival India. Leaving the Commonwealth arena all to India by walking out from it would be a big blunder. Why give India a walk-over? That seems to be the lodestar guiding Islamabad’s decision makers on the issue. ````

+++

Here are a few more walk-overs that Pakistan has given India . . . so what difference will one more make?

a) Religious equality.
b) Full emancipation for women.
c) Permitting alcohol.
d) Democracy.
e) Land reforms.
f) Railways.
g) Beachwear.
h) Rural micro banking.
i) Tourism.
j) Free movement of agricultural produce.
k) Abolition of bonded labour.

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So what`s special about the Commonwealth, then?

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jay,

``...a little more than the lonely bronz in 100 years of olymics participation.``

Your hometown girl (Anju George) will hopefully remedy that situation in 2004

:)

I agree Pakistan should leave the Commonwealth. It has no real benefits at all and has been aptly described as a `former slaves club`.

**

The rationale,

Pakistan has declared publically that every international fora, the K word will be the main issue from pakistan. Then they accuse india of keeping pakistan out of common wealth, ASEAN, the gulf cooperation dialoge etc etc. At some stage pakistan has to become a nation, not a single idea coalescence group.
Common wealth is nothing especially as a trade block since UK joined the european union and denied all special previlages to its earlier colonies. Then of course, High commissioner is defenitely more regal than mere ambassador, which are cheaper by the dozen.
There is ofcourse the common wealth games, where at least india can win at least some medals, a little more than the lonely bronz in 100 years of olymics participation.

“what, exactly, is the value of Commonwealth membership? What benefits, if any, do really accrue from the ‘club’?”

Indeed, “what”? Very pertinent questions to ask. Commonwealth does not do a squat for its members. Its mission of “promoting democracy and human rights” is a farce. We all know how dear it holds the value of “democracy” and “human rights”. This club is nothing but a picture of the sun that set long ago for the British. This club is a constant reminder for the Brits of their “mastery” over their former “colonies”. India and Pakistan are both complete idiots to be members of this constant reminder. This club is good only for one thing: satisfy the British ego. Instead of satisfying the Brits’ ego and dancing on their tune, Pakistan should get the hell out of this rat hole.

I absolutely agree with Kaurasuch post #5. And, Arjun, we post in English not because of our “slave mentality” but because English has become the language of the world by default and not by design; and the Brits should thank America for that (which, incidentally, however a former colony, is NOT a member of CW). If America’s language were Spanish or French, we all be posting in Spanish/French and English rightfully will be relegated to a third-rate status just like Britain.

``with the help of a number of inconsequential countries of Africa and the Caribbean``

The actual membership of the CMAG is as follows.

Botswana (Chairperson), Australia (ViceChairperson), The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Malta, India, Nigeria and Samoa.

Only one country is from the Caribbean. Of the two that are from Africa, one is the second biggest African country (by population) and the other the longest continuous democracy in Africa. Obviously, in his haste to be earn kudos of the GHQ elite, the author did not want to encumbered by facts.

C`wealth is still useful for coutries due to 2 reasons, so Pakistan should not bail-out.

1. It gives a platform to air views in international diplomacy..kind of like a trade show. How you use the platform may not be easy, but its useful nonethless.
2. C`wealth games are kinda useful.