Dear Editor,
In a letter to the Stabroek News, dated January 24, under the title, ‘Disappointed in President Jagdeo’s criticism of US while in Iran,’ Mr Leon J Suseran criticized President Bharrat Jagdeo’s foreign policy and specifically his alleged criticism of the US handling of the Haitian aid effort while on a state visit to Iran. In that same letter, Mr Suseran claimed that the “oil rich nations of the Middle East” had contributed nothing to the Haitian earthquake tragedy. Suseran is not alone. Other letter writers, newspaper and television hosts have made such broad generalizations.
Guyana is a sovereign republic and it is that nation’s prerogative how it chooses to conduct its foreign relations. I leave the critics of Iran to ponder the following:
How can one compare Shah Reza Khan to Nelson Mandela? Who ordered the burning of the Rex Cinema in Abadan, Iran, killing 430 people in 1978? Who branded Iran a rogue state and a member of the “axis of evil”? Was it the UN like one letter-writer suggested? How many countries in the region are ruled by cruel dictators who have killed, murdered, conducted rigged elections and have their opponents languishing in jails? Did Iran have a vibrant democracy during the rule of Dr Mohammed Mossadegh? Who used chemical weapons against the Iranians and the Kurds while the world stood silent?
I will focus on Mr Suseran’s letter and in particular his attack on the “oil rich Middle East” for being heartless in regard to the Haitian tragedy. These lies are part of a demonizing process. When people think of the Middle East, Kuwait, Iran or the United Arab Emirates, they think of Arabs or Persians, and above all, Muslims and terrorism come to mind. Thus, readers will see Muslims as “heartless” in respect of the Haitian tragedy because according to Mr Suseran, Kuwait, Iran, UAE, Qatar or Saudi Arabia have donated $0 to Haiti. This propagandas hurts the 1.5 billion Muslim people worldwide.
Our students are selling food and washing cars to raise money for Haiti here in the Arab Gulf. The private sector and citizens at large in the Arab/Islamic world are mobilizing funds for Haiti. They are not looking to make news. Muslims are supposed to be modest and not advertise their generosity. This is part of the Islamic culture.
Mr Suseran asks, “Can someone tell me when and if Iran, Kuwait and the UAE, among others, intend to help ease the suffering of those poor people?” If Mr Suseran had taken some time to do his homework, he would have found the following facts:
Saudi Arabia contributed $50M to Haiti. This money will be channelled through the United Nations. In addition, the Saudi based Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND) has become one of the first organizations in the kingdom to donate to Haiti, with a contribution of $100,000.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sent 77 tons of basic relief to Haiti and Dubai Cares has commenced relief work there. “We will provide immediate assistance to 200,000 children in Haiti through our international partners Care International, Save the Children, Plan International and UNICEF, currently on the ground in Haiti,” Dubai Cares CEO Tariq Al Gurg said.
Qatar has donated money, food and basic relief to Haiti. Qatar Airways flew special cargo flights to the Dominican Republic. A team of Qatari doctors are in Haiti. The Government of Kuwait has also donated money and besides that the private sector and citizens at large in Kuwait have donated generously to Haiti through the Red Crescent. These same oil producing Arab/Islamic countries that Mr Suseran condemned will channel funds for the reconstruction of Haiti through multilateral organizations such as UNDP.
Iran, a country under sanctions, dispatched a plane to Haiti with 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid – including food, tents and medicine.
Morocco, a poor North African nation, has pledged $1M for Haiti relief funds. On January 16 two planeloads of supplies left Morocco for Haiti.
The largest refugee camps in and out of Palestine are donating to Haiti through the Red Crescent. Many other Middle East countries have come to the aid of Haiti. The list is long.
Yours faithfully,
R Chickerie
