NOT JUST ANOTHER WAR
MYTH AND REALITY IN OCCUPIED PALESTINE
The death of hundreds of people in Gaza brought into limelight once again the happenings in the Occupied Territories. But the final solution to the conflict evades analysts and political observers particularly those working within the Western media whose portrayal of the issue has always been on this assumption: that it is a result of competing national aspirations of the Jews and Muslims for their own state. In order to understand any issue, a knowledge of its origin and background is vital. The Palestinian conflict has been given the utmost coverage, only to cover the truths and give recognition to the myths surrounding its very nature.
So what is the nature of the conflict? Who are the interested parties in the Palestinian question? What are the pitfalls of the countless solutions coming out from Arab and Western capitals? Why have the continued killings of Palestinians generated so much passion among the Arab masses but only statements of regret from their governments? How does it differ from other contemporary wars between nations?
This forum aims not only to dispel the myths and false premises which have together created a flood of analyses on the so-called 'Israel-Palestine' conflict, but also aims to give an overview, historical and current perspective, on the issue.
DATE
(FRIDAY) 9 JANUARY 2009
TIME
8:00PM-10:00PM
VENUE
BAR COUNCIL AUDITORIUM, BAR COUNCIL BUILDING, JALAN LEBUH PASAR, KUALA LUMPUR
Speakers:
Dr Rosli Omar
Hishamuddin Rais
Dr Farish A Noor
Professor Gurdial Singh Nijar
Jointly Organised By
The Malaysian Bar
&
The Malaysian Social Research Institute (MSRI)
Cakap-Rakyat Group
Who are the speakers?
Dr Rosli Omar - was trained for his Phd at Imperial College London and is now an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Malaya's engineering faculty. His areas of research are mainly on Artifical intelligence, global warming and environment etc. Even though not formally trained politically he has always been interested in humanitarian issues, especially those concerning imperialism and oppression. Due to his deep understanding and extensive reading, he had regularly contributed in various discussions and debates among fellow academicians and youth circles on issues such as globalization, global warming and the middleast conflict.
Hishamuddin Rais - He is still best known for his stewardship of the student movement in the tumultuous 1973-4 demonstrations on subjects like American imperialism and Israeli expansionism, plus the more local concerns of Kedah peasants and Johore squatters – "Baling incident". Throughout his 20 years in self-imposed exile, he remained the Malaysian rebel with a series of adventures in Iraq, Palestine, India, Australia, Moscow, Belgium and finally England. Since his release from 2-year ISA detention during the reformasi era, Hisham is now busy writing, teaching and directing plays, films etc.
Dr. Farish Ahmad-Noor is a Senior Fellow at the Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technical University (NTU), Singapore where he is Director of Research for the Research Cluster on Transnational Religion in Southeast Asia. He is also guest affiliated Professor at both Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) and Sunan Kalijaga Islamic University, Jogjakarta. He is the author of 'Writings on the War on Terror' (2006), 'From Majapahit to Putrajaya' (2005) and 'Islam Embedded: The Historical Development of PAS' (2004).
Professor Gurdial Singh Nijar – (to be confirmed) obtained tertiary qualification in law in King College, London and the University of Malaya. He is Barrister-at-Law, Middle Temple and a registered Advocate and Solicitor in Victoria New South Wales, Australia. He specializes in professional proactive and his current research interest includes many aspects of biodiversity law. He is professor at the Law faculty and the director of the Centre for Biodiversity Law. He has represented Malaysia and the legal profession at numerous international forums and meetings. He has published several books covering civil trial advocacy, indigenous peoples knowledge systems and drafting for lawyers.
Together with the Malaysian Bar, the 2 other co-organisers are:-
The Malaysian Social Research Institute (MSRI), a non profit organisation was inaugurated on 27 November 1959. The purpose of the institute was to produce and publish world-class academic scholarship.
Currently, MSRI continues in its efforts of humanitarian support for the downtrodden, especially for the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. With the help of caring Malaysians, MSRI's programmes will continue to make a difference in the lives of some of the most unfortunate people in the world.
Among its key objectives is to promote an understanding and appreciation of Muslim and other communities in various parts of the world in pursuance of humanitarian rights and to conscientise the public and mobilize support for people struggling for self-determination and/or suffer from war or other forms of dispossession. Website: www.msri.org.my
CAKAP RAKYAT GROUP - is created on 1 December 2008 by a group of young Malaysians whose main objectives are to organize live discussions, debates and public forums in order to deepen understanding of various issues affecting societies, both at global and local level. Their main target audience are the youths of Malaysia - to promote and strengthen the intellectual capacity of young activists in dealing with various human rights and social issues.
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