1 00:00:04,050 --> 00:00:07,200 [Music] 2 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,480 I 3 00:00:35,399 --> 00:00:39,360 welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 4 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:42,120 with me George Galloway and only me 5 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:44,120 today Joseph is on honeymoon and gatri 6 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:46,600 will be back from maternity leave next 7 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:49,120 week God willing I have a long history 8 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:51,920 with Pakistan I hold the country's two 9 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:53,600 highest civil Awards the halali kaasm 10 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:56,440 for my work on the restoration of 11 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:58,680 democracy in the country in the 1980s 12 00:00:56,440 --> 00:01:01,160 and the halali Pakistan for my work on 13 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:03,519 the issue of Kashmir over more than 30 14 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:05,600 years I have the closest possible 15 00:01:03,519 --> 00:01:08,400 relationship with pakistanis in Britain 16 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:10,360 too and so events unfolding there now 17 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:14,119 are of the greatest possible interest to 18 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:17,000 me but also should be to you the old war 19 00:01:14,119 --> 00:01:19,880 horse now Sharif is back in office if 20 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:22,280 not in power as prime minister again the 21 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:24,880 last time he was prime minister the Army 22 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:28,439 overthrew him and they just might be 23 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:30,720 about to do so again the proximate cause 24 00:01:28,439 --> 00:01:32,680 is a mass Uprising in involving hundreds 25 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:35,079 of thousands of people on the streets of 26 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:38,040 the capital Islamabad alleging 27 00:01:35,079 --> 00:01:41,000 corruption cronyism and incompetence 28 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:43,600 most pakistanis think the protesters may 29 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,719 have a point this street power though 30 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:48,200 doesn't have the international support 31 00:01:45,719 --> 00:01:50,719 of some other recent examples but that 32 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:52,759 doesn't mean it's doomed to fail joining 33 00:01:50,719 --> 00:01:55,920 us to try to make sense of it all is 34 00:01:52,759 --> 00:01:58,960 moraza Ali sha a famous uk-based 35 00:01:55,920 --> 00:02:01,479 Pakistani journalist and broadcaster 36 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:03,479 moraza thanks for joining us let's deal 37 00:02:01,479 --> 00:02:05,439 with the numbers first is it a mass 38 00:02:03,479 --> 00:02:07,240 Uprising are there hundreds of thousands 39 00:02:05,439 --> 00:02:09,879 of people there are actually thousands 40 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:11,280 of people um uh it's a very significant 41 00:02:09,879 --> 00:02:13,080 number of people who have come out on 42 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,000 the streets of Islamabad and the fact 43 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:17,280 that these people have come to the 44 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:19,560 capital of Pakistan really you know 45 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:21,959 makes it quite significant and there's 46 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:24,120 live 24/7 coverage in the whole world 47 00:02:21,959 --> 00:02:26,640 actually you know watching Pakistan 48 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:28,920 is taking a keen interest in what is 49 00:02:26,640 --> 00:02:30,640 unfolding in Islamabad there are two 50 00:02:28,920 --> 00:02:33,319 parties which have brought their 51 00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:35,760 followers to Islam Abad to uh seeking 52 00:02:33,319 --> 00:02:39,000 resignation of prime minister Nas Sharif 53 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:42,400 uh religious leader Dr T kadri's party 54 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:44,800 who has with him about 30,000 plus 55 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:46,640 followers and then Imran Khan's Pakistan 56 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:49,959 tarq insaf who traveled all the way from 57 00:02:46,640 --> 00:02:52,280 lore to Islamabad uh he had his like 58 00:02:49,959 --> 00:02:56,040 initially camp with about 25 to 30,000 59 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:59,000 people but uh his uh sitting is kind of 60 00:02:56,040 --> 00:03:01,000 different from Dr tul Kadri sitting 61 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:03,480 because Imran Khan's followers uh you 62 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:05,280 know in the morning time late at night 63 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:07,599 they go home and they assemble again in 64 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,560 the evening while Dr T kadri's followers 65 00:03:07,599 --> 00:03:12,159 are sitting there living there and they 66 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:13,760 are constantly staying there but yes 67 00:03:12,159 --> 00:03:16,080 there are very significant numbers just 68 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:18,280 a few 100 meters away from prime 69 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:21,040 minister's house which is called the Red 70 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:22,400 Zone area and uh that presence there 71 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:24,720 makes it all the more important is he 72 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:26,760 nervous the Prime Minister na Sharif 73 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:30,080 perhaps not nervous about the numbers 74 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:33,120 being able to force him out but being 75 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:36,439 able to as it were precipitate yet 76 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:38,080 another military Jun intervening you are 77 00:03:36,439 --> 00:03:40,400 absolutely right I mean there is lot of 78 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:42,959 not only nervousness but uh there is 79 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:45,080 fear within you know uh the government 80 00:03:42,959 --> 00:03:47,400 and opposition Circle that there may be 81 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:49,680 a bigger conspiracy at play because what 82 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:51,840 has happened here is that Imran Khan and 83 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:53,599 Kadri you know they initially said that 84 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:56,280 they are two very different actors you 85 00:03:53,599 --> 00:03:59,439 know not acting in unison or anything 86 00:03:56,280 --> 00:04:01,879 like that but they left lore on the same 87 00:03:59,439 --> 00:04:03,840 day they arrived at the same time and 88 00:04:01,879 --> 00:04:06,280 then they started their March from 89 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:08,200 Islamabad to breach the Red Zone which 90 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:10,760 was prohibited by the Supreme Court and 91 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:13,799 by the Pakistani government they have so 92 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:16,120 far almost acted in junan and that is 93 00:04:13,799 --> 00:04:18,199 what makes prime minister Nas Sharif and 94 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:20,079 including the main opposition parties 95 00:04:18,199 --> 00:04:22,240 kind of nervous they believe that there 96 00:04:20,079 --> 00:04:24,240 are probably some forces you know though 97 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:26,639 one of those hidden hands who maybe you 98 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:28,880 know pulling their strings so far it 99 00:04:26,639 --> 00:04:30,680 looks that there is certain section 100 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:33,039 within the Pakistan establishment which 101 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:35,080 is supporting these elements but NAD 102 00:04:33,039 --> 00:04:37,840 Sharif has met the chief of Army staff 103 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:40,280 General rahil Sharif his brother shabas 104 00:04:37,840 --> 00:04:42,280 shif has met him today Nas sh appeared 105 00:04:40,280 --> 00:04:44,680 before Pakistan National Assembly he had 106 00:04:42,280 --> 00:04:46,680 grin on grin on his face he looked 107 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:48,240 confident and the National Assembly 108 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:50,600 unanimously today has passed a 109 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:52,880 resolution rejecting the 110 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:56,160 unconstitutional illegal demands made by 111 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:58,360 Imran Khan and Dr tul Kadri now viewers 112 00:04:56,160 --> 00:05:01,080 will be familiar with Imran Khan 113 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:04,120 formerly a great uh International 114 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:08,919 cricketer uh reformed his life became a 115 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:11,400 kind of islamist uh leader has several 116 00:05:08,919 --> 00:05:14,240 times now promised to break through into 117 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:17,360 power in Pakistan but not managed to do 118 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:19,880 so but probably most people will not 119 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:21,880 have heard of the second fellow he's a 120 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:24,160 Canadian citizen tell us about him 121 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,880 what's his religious political agenda 122 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,560 well Dr Kadri actually he comes from 123 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:29,720 very humble beginnings he used to work 124 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:32,039 for a religious school which was run by 125 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:34,680 sh's family Nas sh and shabas sharif's 126 00:05:32,039 --> 00:05:36,840 family and then he set up he is from 127 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:39,639 moderate Sunni section of Islam he's not 128 00:05:36,840 --> 00:05:41,319 one of those extremist he's one of those 129 00:05:39,639 --> 00:05:43,479 peers and you know holy spiritual 130 00:05:41,319 --> 00:05:45,319 figures uh but the difference between 131 00:05:43,479 --> 00:05:47,960 him and other you know spiritual figures 132 00:05:45,319 --> 00:05:49,800 is that now Dr Kadri you know he wants 133 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:52,160 to get into power but what does he want 134 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:54,440 to do with it has he got an agenda well 135 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:56,000 he only he probably has an agenda but he 136 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,280 does not know how to get into Power 137 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,240 because the last time he stood in 138 00:05:57,280 --> 00:06:01,360 elections he won only one seat and he 139 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:02,800 later on on he you know submitted 140 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:05,360 resignation and he left Pakistan he 141 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:07,479 sought asylum in Canada so Dr Kadri 142 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:08,960 wants to get into power but he knows 143 00:06:07,479 --> 00:06:11,400 that if he goes to the elections he 144 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:14,120 cannot win but again he wants into power 145 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:16,000 so he wants some sort of military CP he 146 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:18,240 wants some sort of intervention from 147 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:21,240 Divine forces or from military 148 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:23,199 establishment for from so who whosoever 149 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:25,639 whichever power who could actually put 150 00:06:23,199 --> 00:06:27,199 him into power now that is where he gets 151 00:06:25,639 --> 00:06:28,440 very confused and the people like you 152 00:06:27,199 --> 00:06:30,280 know his followers are there but the 153 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:32,639 rest of the Pakistan is not take him 154 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:35,039 seriously he has very good words to say 155 00:06:32,639 --> 00:06:36,639 he talks you know a lot of makes a lot 156 00:06:35,039 --> 00:06:39,280 of sense about a lot of things that he 157 00:06:36,639 --> 00:06:41,599 says but everybody understand that he 158 00:06:39,280 --> 00:06:43,199 does not have the power or you know the 159 00:06:41,599 --> 00:06:45,160 number of people that are required to 160 00:06:43,199 --> 00:06:47,560 put him in through a legitimate 161 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:50,240 Democratic process so he wants some kind 162 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:52,000 of you know a new Pakistan where through 163 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:54,880 a miracle he could get into power that 164 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:57,160 is not going to happen as long as 165 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:59,680 Pakistan is a functioning Democratic 166 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:03,000 country if there is a coup if there is 167 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:04,960 you know kind of an you know a massive 168 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,759 Uprising or a situation where the whole 169 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:09,080 system is put upside down that is the 170 00:07:06,759 --> 00:07:11,240 only chance kri has on the other hand 171 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,759 Imran Khan has a large number of you 172 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:16,080 know genuine followers he has been 173 00:07:12,759 --> 00:07:17,960 through political process now he has a 174 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:20,319 lot of presence in Pakistan National 175 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:22,199 Assembly he won elections in in one of 176 00:07:20,319 --> 00:07:24,759 the most crucial provinces of Pakistan 177 00:07:22,199 --> 00:07:27,240 kabar pakun which borders Afghanistan he 178 00:07:24,759 --> 00:07:29,160 has a government there now the very you 179 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:31,800 know interesting thing here is that 180 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:33,599 Imran has power in one Province he is 181 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:35,680 crying that there has been Mass skill 182 00:07:33,599 --> 00:07:38,319 rigging in elections he's not talking 183 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:39,840 about the province which he rules but he 184 00:07:38,319 --> 00:07:42,400 believes that there has been rigging in 185 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:44,879 Punjab believes he was cheated in laor 186 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:47,840 and cheated also in Karachi the whole 187 00:07:44,879 --> 00:07:49,639 struggle is actually about Punjab and 188 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:51,560 that's where he's focusing on because 189 00:07:49,639 --> 00:07:53,759 you know the power base in Pakistan is 190 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:57,440 Punjab he Imran Khan Frankly Speaking 191 00:07:53,759 --> 00:07:59,159 did not want to rule Pon he won it and 192 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:01,080 he's in a state of dilemma I mean you 193 00:07:59,159 --> 00:08:03,080 know he has to now do something it's 194 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:06,560 quite a hot potato 195 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:09,720 ruling now we both know uh sadly that 196 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:13,280 for almost exactly half of its existence 197 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:16,400 Pakistan has lived under military rule 198 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:18,759 yeah uh so governments come to power and 199 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:20,400 habitually they're then overturned and 200 00:08:18,759 --> 00:08:22,599 there's a period of military rule 201 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:25,159 followed by return to democracy and so 202 00:08:22,599 --> 00:08:28,639 on as regular as 203 00:08:25,159 --> 00:08:31,560 Clockwork that uh process by which you 204 00:08:28,639 --> 00:08:33,800 said Sharif met the chief of Army staff 205 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:35,360 and had a smile on his face there have 206 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:37,680 been other Pakistani leaders who have 207 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:41,399 met Chiefs of Staff and emerged with 208 00:08:37,680 --> 00:08:44,120 smile on their face only later to be 209 00:08:41,399 --> 00:08:47,279 overthrown uh tell us about the chief of 210 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:49,560 Army staff is he the kind of fellow that 211 00:08:47,279 --> 00:08:51,440 might do as his predecessors have done 212 00:08:49,560 --> 00:08:53,959 it looks difficult at this stage I mean 213 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:56,640 although it's a fact that Pakistan Army 214 00:08:53,959 --> 00:08:58,920 is upset with Naas on a lot of issues 215 00:08:56,640 --> 00:09:01,680 especially on the issue of Peres mashar 216 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:04,440 this is the former military Chief became 217 00:09:01,680 --> 00:09:06,560 a dictator president absolutely and now 218 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:08,160 Naas sh actually is trying him through 219 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:10,240 courts and wants to indict him on 220 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:12,680 treason charges and a lot of you know 221 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:15,640 other charges that has hugely upset 222 00:09:12,680 --> 00:09:17,800 Pakistan Army and uh many commentators 223 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:19,760 actually say that a lot of you know the 224 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:22,480 the movement that is going on right now 225 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:25,440 has its links with Pakistan Army's anger 226 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:28,040 with Nas's policies but the difficulty 227 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:29,839 with Pakistan Army would be that it was 228 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:32,560 you can see only recently that mashar 229 00:09:29,839 --> 00:09:34,720 has been there in power and his you 230 00:09:32,560 --> 00:09:36,440 know if the fact that he was in the 231 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:38,399 power there was riseing militancy in 232 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:40,800 Pakistan Pakistan went into Coalition 233 00:09:38,399 --> 00:09:43,360 with America and it did not bring any 234 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:46,120 good name to Pakistan Army it looks like 235 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:47,880 that Pakistan Army will not do any 236 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:50,040 direct intervention it can be you know 237 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:53,079 soft kind of intervent intervention 238 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:55,320 through Dr Kadri and Imran Khan but uh 239 00:09:53,079 --> 00:09:57,279 it will be very difficult for Pakistan 240 00:09:55,320 --> 00:10:00,279 Army to actually just literally go for 241 00:09:57,279 --> 00:10:02,000 an allout coup uh because that will 242 00:10:00,279 --> 00:10:04,560 definitely not be accepted by the people 243 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:07,480 of Pakistan and then that makes Naas 244 00:10:04,560 --> 00:10:10,200 Sharif look like a victim now the 245 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:13,160 elections were uh clear enough by 246 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:16,720 Pakistani standards Naas Sharif won them 247 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:20,160 quite handsomely yeah one of the claims 248 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:22,920 by these twin Columns of oppositionists 249 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:25,760 is that these elections were rigged were 250 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:28,120 they yes elections were not perfect uh 251 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:29,760 they were rigged in some parts but uh 252 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:32,200 they were not rigged in the the manner 253 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:34,040 that Imran Khan Imran Khan's allegation 254 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:36,920 is that elections were rigged because he 255 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:38,720 did not win if Imran Khan had won he 256 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:41,440 would not have cried you know any kind 257 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:43,480 of rigging now Imran Khan you know the 258 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:45,399 way it happened Imran Khan may have 259 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:47,680 actually I mean he does not talk I mean 260 00:10:45,399 --> 00:10:49,680 pakun he won really you know a handsome 261 00:10:47,680 --> 00:10:51,800 majority so he thinks that is fine 262 00:10:49,680 --> 00:10:53,920 rigging took place all over Pakistan but 263 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:57,040 that was because of the flaws in 264 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:58,760 Pakistan's electoral system it's not it 265 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:01,120 does not mean that Imran Khan was 266 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:03,200 actually there was a conspiracy to rig 267 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:05,079 elections against Imran because the 268 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:07,639 rigging took place against many other 269 00:11:05,079 --> 00:11:10,560 moderate parties including you know well 270 00:11:07,639 --> 00:11:12,800 the muta Kumi movement and aami National 271 00:11:10,560 --> 00:11:14,560 Party and Pakistan People's Party benir 272 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:16,240 bto's Party they were literally in some 273 00:11:14,560 --> 00:11:19,000 areas not allowed to run election 274 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:20,560 campaign because Taliban were you know 275 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:23,079 attacking them murdering them killing 276 00:11:20,560 --> 00:11:25,079 them all so there was I mean these are 277 00:11:23,079 --> 00:11:27,079 like elections were really rigged in 278 00:11:25,079 --> 00:11:29,480 many many ways but it does not mean that 279 00:11:27,079 --> 00:11:32,480 they were rigged particularly against 280 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:35,839 Imran Khan or in favor of Shar just uh 281 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:37,920 quickly moraza is the Pakistani media 282 00:11:35,839 --> 00:11:41,480 covering all that's happening in Islam 283 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:43,440 Abad are they allowed to are TV stations 284 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:45,800 being closed down and so on George 285 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:47,639 Pakistani media has not covered anything 286 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:49,639 else since this whole uh you know 287 00:11:47,639 --> 00:11:52,079 movement started that is the only new 288 00:11:49,639 --> 00:11:54,079 story in Pakistan nothing else matters 289 00:11:52,079 --> 00:11:56,000 now many people are saying that if only 290 00:11:54,079 --> 00:11:58,120 Pakistani TV channels are Switched Off 291 00:11:56,000 --> 00:12:00,880 the revolution will die down but because 292 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:03,279 there is coverage 2 2 47 on two camps 293 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:06,320 and just Pakistan is really hooked to 294 00:12:03,279 --> 00:12:08,880 what is happening and Imran Khan and Dr 295 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:11,079 T Kadri are aware of this fact and to 296 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:13,240 keep the people entertaining they have 297 00:12:11,079 --> 00:12:16,000 introduced many live music acts you know 298 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:18,440 Bangla pop rock lot of Acts into their 299 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:20,160 uh respective crowds you know uh keep 300 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:22,160 the people and themselves entertained so 301 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:24,440 yes uh and is the weather good enough to 302 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:26,440 keep them there or it's quite hot yes 303 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:28,639 but uh it's fine it's it's better than 304 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:31,639 before well we'll watch it with interest 305 00:12:28,639 --> 00:12:34,199 M do I thanks for uh enlightening us on 306 00:12:31,639 --> 00:12:36,000 what's happening in Pakistan coming up 307 00:12:34,199 --> 00:12:38,800 after the break we're remembering the 308 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:41,160 slave trade Britain's role in it and the 309 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:43,519 total failure to make reparation for one 310 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:46,880 of the greatest crimes of modern history 311 00:12:43,519 --> 00:12:46,880 don't miss it I'll be right 312 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:54,680 back welcome back to Sputnik thousands 313 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:57,079 of African-Americans are protesting on 314 00:12:54,680 --> 00:12:59,160 the streets of Ferguson Missouri and 315 00:12:57,079 --> 00:13:01,720 some of them are being metaphorically 316 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:04,920 lynched by white overseers otherwise 317 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:07,880 known as the police but how did so many 318 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:09,839 Africans end up in America just like the 319 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:12,279 black people in Britain mainly from the 320 00:13:09,839 --> 00:13:14,880 Caribbean they are the descendants of 321 00:13:12,279 --> 00:13:17,240 slaves men and women who were Chained 322 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:19,279 and Shackled thrown into the holds of 323 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:22,560 leaking vessels sailed across the 324 00:13:19,279 --> 00:13:25,320 Atlantic and sold as beasts of burden to 325 00:13:22,560 --> 00:13:27,760 White plantation owners all concerned 326 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:30,639 made an unhealthy profit except for the 327 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:34,079 slaves whose lives were nasty brutish 328 00:13:30,639 --> 00:13:37,399 and short on board the Sputnik today we 329 00:13:34,079 --> 00:13:40,600 have historian writer and broadcaster SI 330 00:13:37,399 --> 00:13:43,000 Martin who wanted to talk about unesco's 331 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:45,560 International Day for the remembrance of 332 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:48,399 the slave trade and its abolition which 333 00:13:45,560 --> 00:13:51,480 is today the reason slavery Remembrance 334 00:13:48,399 --> 00:13:53,880 Day is on the 23rd of August is to Mark 335 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:56,839 the anniversary of the first successful 336 00:13:53,880 --> 00:14:00,800 slave Uprising it took place in 337 00:13:56,839 --> 00:14:02,839 1791 in Santo Domingo now Haiti I 338 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:05,639 thought Ferguson Missouri was the 339 00:14:02,839 --> 00:14:09,079 perfect backdrop in front of which to do 340 00:14:05,639 --> 00:14:12,959 so tell us please if I'm right about 341 00:14:09,079 --> 00:14:15,720 that are we seeing in Ferguson a part of 342 00:14:12,959 --> 00:14:18,440 the legacy of the slave trade the 343 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:21,079 abolition of which we are commemorating 344 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:23,880 today yes this is a definite and very 345 00:14:21,079 --> 00:14:27,560 very clear uh continuity behind the 346 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:30,040 attitudes which resulted in the rioting 347 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:32,240 in uh Ferguson and the legacy of the 348 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:34,040 slave trade and the move the buying and 349 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:36,279 selling of human beings especially in 350 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:40,040 North America we have to remember even 351 00:14:36,279 --> 00:14:42,759 after being um uh even after uh partial 352 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:46,320 abolition the life of a black person was 353 00:14:42,759 --> 00:14:50,639 inlaw less um a white man a white person 354 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:53,079 usually a white man had no uh need to 355 00:14:50,639 --> 00:14:55,480 respect any of the rights that a black 356 00:14:53,079 --> 00:14:59,560 person had and this is manifested in the 357 00:14:55,480 --> 00:15:01,680 treatment of an alleged uh um 358 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:04,279 criminal or lower class uh person of 359 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:06,560 African origin like Michael Brown and in 360 00:15:04,279 --> 00:15:09,160 the treatment up to including Barack 361 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:11,759 Obama who as president is just held to 362 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:14,040 much stricter laws much stricter uh 363 00:15:11,759 --> 00:15:16,320 tighter focus on his behavior and his 364 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:18,120 responses than um any of his white 365 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:20,360 predecessors so we are still living with 366 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:22,880 this Legacy it's not gone yet and it's 367 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:25,680 not ancient history because Barack 368 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:28,079 Obama's father would not have been 369 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:31,800 allowed to take his lunch at the same 370 00:15:28,079 --> 00:15:34,959 counter as a white person yeah in the 19 371 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:36,480 early 1960s in the late 1950s yeah I 372 00:15:34,959 --> 00:15:39,160 mean this is the thing that we do forget 373 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:41,959 that it is within the lifetimes of many 374 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:44,240 of us and there's always an urge just to 375 00:15:41,959 --> 00:15:47,680 try and forget to say well 376 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:49,839 1964 um um all of the civil rights 377 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:52,680 legislation which passed after that um 378 00:15:49,839 --> 00:15:56,040 has drawn a curtain over it and it's 379 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:57,480 like an it's like a live rail um when 380 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:59,519 you're talking about any sorts of 381 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:02,000 histories all sorts of atoc can be 382 00:15:59,519 --> 00:16:03,720 discussed freely relatively openly but 383 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,959 when you talk about enslavement 384 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:08,319 especially in Great Britain and in the 385 00:16:05,959 --> 00:16:10,759 United States to a less degree it's 386 00:16:08,319 --> 00:16:14,519 something that people Flinch away from 387 00:16:10,759 --> 00:16:17,000 and um it's you know the Remembrance Day 388 00:16:14,519 --> 00:16:18,440 is part of adjusting the focus on that 389 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:21,240 well uh we'll talk about Britain that's 390 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:24,920 an interesting point um but let's pause 391 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:28,000 to remember that great slave Uprising in 392 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:31,079 Haiti what is now Haiti which uh 393 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:34,360 overthrew slavery I mean there is a 394 00:16:31,079 --> 00:16:36,720 tendency in the West in Britain and 395 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:40,399 elsewhere to think that slavery was 396 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:43,480 ended by benevolent old white men who 397 00:16:40,399 --> 00:16:45,519 couldn't countenance such cruelty uh but 398 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:49,800 in part of course it was the threat of 399 00:16:45,519 --> 00:16:51,240 Revolution abut in the slave slave areas 400 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:52,880 uh that terrified them tell us about 401 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:54,240 that Uprising oh I'd say George it's 402 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:55,759 more than the threat of Revolution it's 403 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:58,399 was the reality of it we have to 404 00:16:55,759 --> 00:17:00,040 remember that every 10 to 15 years um 405 00:16:58,399 --> 00:17:03,199 actually every 10 years there'd be a 406 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:07,280 major Uprising throughout the Caribbean 407 00:17:03,199 --> 00:17:09,640 um or Latin America and large numbers of 408 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:12,160 white British lives were lost um so this 409 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:14,520 was a constant danger tell me about this 410 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:17,079 country because it's easy for us to 411 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:19,600 cluck cluck about the American police 412 00:17:17,079 --> 00:17:22,480 shooting down black people in Ferguson 413 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:25,640 Missouri but there's a temptation to 414 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:27,839 forget that uh policemen have shot down 415 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:29,559 black people here in London and 416 00:17:27,839 --> 00:17:33,480 elsewhere in brit 417 00:17:29,559 --> 00:17:36,160 to what extent is the United States only 418 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:39,160 as in many things a bigger and more 419 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:41,640 Brash expression of the kind of racism 420 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:43,799 that underpin slavery than we have here 421 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:46,000 in Britain but actually not that much 422 00:17:43,799 --> 00:17:47,480 different yeah this is an interesting 423 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,960 one because although it is different 424 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:51,080 there are very clear differences due to 425 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:53,400 the fact that there wasn't Plantation 426 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:55,760 slavery in these islands you did have 427 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:57,679 people who were enslaved but you also 428 00:17:55,760 --> 00:18:00,039 had people of African origin living here 429 00:17:57,679 --> 00:18:02,960 for centuries who were free and this has 430 00:18:00,039 --> 00:18:05,400 sort of blurred the interpretation of um 431 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:07,520 enslavement and how African population 432 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:09,679 origin people are treated here because 433 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:12,000 slavery and slav was something that the 434 00:18:09,679 --> 00:18:14,200 majority of people happened out of sight 435 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:17,240 out of mind and compounded to that you 436 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:19,600 have the reality that with the abolition 437 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:21,640 movement you have the first genuine Mass 438 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:24,320 popular movement in this country went 439 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:25,400 across classes and even reluctantly for 440 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:28,520 men of the great many of the Great and 441 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:30,000 good included women so it's a little bit 442 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:32,120 more Nuance in the United States but the 443 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:33,559 fundamental deal is still there the 444 00:18:32,120 --> 00:18:36,080 fundamental elements are still in 445 00:18:33,559 --> 00:18:40,640 position um who are these populations of 446 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:43,960 African origin now that um they have um 447 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:45,640 been given um a a small part of Freedom 448 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:47,640 what do we do with them how do we treat 449 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:49,280 them um what are their civil rights so 450 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:51,880 the same story does play out on both 451 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:55,240 sides of the Atlantic but one of the 452 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:59,240 major things is that in these islands we 453 00:18:55,240 --> 00:19:01,960 tend to um compare ourselves constantly 454 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:06,559 with um America America seems the super 455 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:10,080 reality and um there's a very overly 456 00:19:06,559 --> 00:19:14,480 favorable attitude to um the fact that 457 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:17,520 the British um uh emancipated um many of 458 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:19,679 their insl aved people in 1833 the 459 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:21,480 Americans had well they take another 33 460 00:19:19,679 --> 00:19:23,840 years to do the same so there's a lot of 461 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:26,000 um self- congratulatory back patting 462 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:28,720 which goes on which really obscures the 463 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:30,840 reality that no uh enslavement did 464 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:32,919 didn't really end right there and right 465 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:34,880 then it was an ongoing long drawn out 466 00:19:32,919 --> 00:19:37,320 process which was still taking Parts in 467 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:39,880 other parts of the uh British Empire and 468 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:41,480 the mentality that justified it because 469 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:43,520 clearly you could only enslave another 470 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:45,240 human being if your underlying 471 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:49,559 assumption was that he was in your 472 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:52,120 inferior you were his Superior hasn't uh 473 00:19:49,559 --> 00:19:54,799 died even a century later in the United 474 00:19:52,120 --> 00:19:57,400 States in Ferguson it's clear and you 475 00:19:54,799 --> 00:19:59,640 could say that in uh some recent 476 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:02,720 incidents uh here in London and 477 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:05,280 elsewhere in the United Kingdom the same 478 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:07,880 mentality that black people are a 479 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:11,159 problem that has to be contained 480 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:13,200 absolutely and if necessary with gunfire 481 00:20:11,159 --> 00:20:15,880 yeah I mean this couldn't be more clear 482 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:17,320 than um with your um in the incident 483 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:20,600 Illustrated in your opening remarks I 484 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:23,280 mean we've just seen um all sorts of 485 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:26,320 exotic weaponry and Firearms being used 486 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:28,720 against um the citizenry of Ferguson 487 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:30,840 Missouri but compare and contrast that 488 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:33,640 to the response at the Bundy Ranch in 489 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:35,840 Nevada where you had hundreds of white 490 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:38,159 men who were armed many of them with 491 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:40,679 automatic weapons trained on local 492 00:20:38,159 --> 00:20:42,840 National and federal officials who 493 00:20:40,679 --> 00:20:45,679 agreed to just reason with them 494 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:47,919 peacefully and ultimately back down and 495 00:20:45,679 --> 00:20:51,080 um take the back seat in front of this 496 00:20:47,919 --> 00:20:55,360 awesome display of Firepower had those 497 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:56,960 um individuals um um in Nevada been of 498 00:20:55,360 --> 00:20:58,880 African origin I think we know what the 499 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:01,720 outcome would have been yeah yeah no 500 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:05,400 doubt about that and Barack Obama hasn't 501 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:09,280 made much of a difference it's a pitiful 502 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:12,080 Epitaph to a pitiful presidency that 503 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:14,960 he's looking towards the end of his term 504 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:17,200 now he's on Martha's Vineyard having a 505 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:19,200 whe of a Time whilst black people in 506 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:21,880 America are being gunned down in 507 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:23,520 Missouri yes but that's inevitable I 508 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:26,320 mean we've seen this play out time and 509 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:28,600 again during his presidency um he's does 510 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:31,679 not and he cannot feel in a position to 511 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:35,520 come out um literally all guns blazing 512 00:21:31,679 --> 00:21:37,840 on the part of um his uh uh black fellow 513 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:40,760 citizens because he will be branded as a 514 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:43,600 fire brand here is someone for whom a 515 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:46,440 large portion of the American uh voting 516 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:48,880 public has enormous resentment they call 517 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:51,799 him all sorts of names he's a fascist as 518 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:53,720 well as being a socialist um he's a 519 00:21:51,799 --> 00:21:56,600 Godless atheist as well as being a 520 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:59,440 Muslim um he's an elitist as well as 521 00:21:56,600 --> 00:22:02,080 being a thug he is cont AED and 522 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:03,960 controlled um by public opinion and 523 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:06,000 public responses majority population 524 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:08,720 that is in the same way as the 525 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:11,400 populations on Ferguson are controlled 526 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:13,200 um by now National Guardsmen and local 527 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:15,240 police but he doesn't have to face can't 528 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:17,880 face any more elections this is true we 529 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:20,720 could be seeing now if he wanted us to 530 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:23,559 the real Barack Obama I presume I 531 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:26,000 presume that's what we are seeing uh 532 00:22:23,559 --> 00:22:27,600 tell us about the UNESCO day how is it 533 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,120 marked what's the point of it what 534 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:31,400 should people do about it 535 00:22:29,120 --> 00:22:33,320 okay um the UNESCO day for the 536 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:36,240 international um day for the remembrance 537 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:37,360 of the slave trade and its abolition is 538 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:39,679 basically a way of keeping the 539 00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:42,480 conversation going it's a way of talking 540 00:22:39,679 --> 00:22:45,880 about the largest forced uh mass 541 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:49,360 movement of uh people in human history 542 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:51,960 and its ongoing Legacy and impacts and 543 00:22:49,360 --> 00:22:53,360 um by way of marking it um various 544 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:54,960 points around the world particularly 545 00:22:53,360 --> 00:22:58,880 here in London at the national Maritime 546 00:22:54,960 --> 00:23:03,640 Museum in uh Liverpool um there are a 547 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:05,480 day worth of events to just focus on the 548 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:07,919 lives that were lost and the cost that 549 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:10,120 was paid uh it's just a way of keeping 550 00:23:07,919 --> 00:23:12,640 the conversation going and uh 551 00:23:10,120 --> 00:23:15,120 remembering that unbelievable loss of 552 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:19,120 human life what about reparation how 553 00:23:15,120 --> 00:23:21,640 stands the uh because I mean for example 554 00:23:19,120 --> 00:23:24,799 the the other Holocaust yeah yeah uh 555 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:26,400 with a capital age in which millions and 556 00:23:24,799 --> 00:23:28,640 millions of people 557 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:32,520 perished is subject to a lot of 558 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:35,440 reparations yeah uh Financial political 559 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:38,559 uh many other kinds of reparations the 560 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:42,799 slave trade equally a 561 00:23:38,559 --> 00:23:46,320 holocaust uh remains uh unrepaired no 562 00:23:42,799 --> 00:23:48,080 one has paid anything to the people who 563 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:50,279 are the descendants of those who 564 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:53,200 suffered that yes because again 565 00:23:50,279 --> 00:23:56,080 underlying that difference in response 566 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:58,520 is the perceived and enforced different 567 00:23:56,080 --> 00:24:02,320 in difference in value between various 568 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:04,039 populations groups and clearly you even 569 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:06,520 talking about this as I said before it's 570 00:24:04,039 --> 00:24:09,440 a live wire talking and broing the 571 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:11,600 subject of this crime which is what it 572 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:13,600 was these series of crimes is 573 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:15,840 extraordinarily difficult and the 574 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:18,240 subject of reparations it comes up all 575 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:20,720 the time um CARICOM the CARICOM 576 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:23,799 countries Caribbean uh economic 577 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:26,960 Community um they drafted a set of 578 00:24:23,799 --> 00:24:29,200 proposals to uh jumpstart dialogue with 579 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:33,240 European nations it was beautifully 580 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:36,360 crafted um uh full of elegant jurist 581 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:40,679 prudence and ethics and morality and all 582 00:24:36,360 --> 00:24:43,480 of the other elements which are which um 583 00:24:40,679 --> 00:24:46,640 entities like National governments and 584 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:49,320 um multinational companies would are 585 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:51,880 specifically formed to IGN ignore it's a 586 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:54,880 strange one this because though the 587 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:58,039 movement for reparations is growing um 588 00:24:54,880 --> 00:25:00,000 within populations of African origin um 589 00:24:58,039 --> 00:25:02,880 I think more tools are needed because 590 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:05,080 the tools that have been used before um 591 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:09,240 various forms of 592 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:11,679 um legal approaches the moral approach 593 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:13,679 kumb arism as I call it I'm not sure 594 00:25:11,679 --> 00:25:16,279 they're going to be working you don't 595 00:25:13,679 --> 00:25:18,320 think they'll ever be paying up not 596 00:25:16,279 --> 00:25:20,240 based on an appeal to reason or an 597 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:21,679 appeal to Common Humanity because when 598 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:22,919 we're talking about they we are talking 599 00:25:21,679 --> 00:25:25,399 about National governments and 600 00:25:22,919 --> 00:25:27,520 multinational corporations who do not 601 00:25:25,399 --> 00:25:29,480 respond to that who cannot well 602 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:31,480 unfortunately that's all we've got time 603 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:35,000 for remember you can follow us on 604 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:37,440 Twitter at rtor Sputnik or on Facebook 605 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:39,799 you can like us at Sputnik on Russia 606 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:43,000 today I've been George Galloway it's 607 00:25:39,799 --> 00:25:43,000 been marvelous 608 00:25:44,220 --> 00:25:47,329 [Music] 609 00:25:57,180 --> 00:26:04,189 [Music]