Headless horror
The Khaleej Times, that epitomy of non-journalism, surpasses even its own nadir-level standards with the bizarre tale of Santokh Lal:
ABU DHABI — Santokh Lal, the decapitated carpenter from Punjab finally flew back home last night, richer by Dh50,000. And thus the curtains came down on his three years of legal struggle and misery in the UAE.
“Thank you, Khaleej Times,” Santokh Lal said in a choked voice as he clutched the draft drawn in his favour. The draft was handed over to him at the Sharjah airport just before boarding the Indian Airlines flight to Amritsar.
Unsurprising, perhaps, that ones voice would be somewhat "choked" if ones head had been chopped off. However reading on, it turns out that Santokh had actually lost a leg in 2001, not his head.
ABU DHABI — Santokh Lal, the decapitated carpenter from Punjab finally flew back home last night, richer by Dh50,000. And thus the curtains came down on his three years of legal struggle and misery in the UAE.
“Thank you, Khaleej Times,” Santokh Lal said in a choked voice as he clutched the draft drawn in his favour. The draft was handed over to him at the Sharjah airport just before boarding the Indian Airlines flight to Amritsar.
Unsurprising, perhaps, that ones voice would be somewhat "choked" if ones head had been chopped off. However reading on, it turns out that Santokh had actually lost a leg in 2001, not his head.
Labels: media
11 Comments:
Ha! That's an excellent example of what you'd said in a previous post.
: D
Old KT surpasses itself.
Dear SecretDubai,
I just returned from five months in Dubai. You and I have never met, but we have an aquaintance in common, and that person pointed me to your blog. I love your blog. It is just what Dubai needs. Life for everyone (except the dacoit indentured laborers) can be so easy in Dubai, and can feel so free, that people don't even notice that they are forbidden from participating in politics or articulating any meaning ful critisism. Unfortunately, if your blog ever grows enough in influence and readership to make a difference, then Etisalat will block it. I don't know how you'll deal with that day when it comes, but in the meantime keep posting.
-An American
Dear SecretDubai,
I just returned from five months in Dubai. You and I have never met, but we have an aquaintance in common, and that person pointed me to your blog. I love your blog. It is just what Dubai needs. Life for everyone (except the dacoit indentured laborers) can be so easy in Dubai, and can feel so free, that people don't even notice that they are forbidden from participating in politics or articulating any meaning ful critisism. Unfortunately, if your blog ever grows enough in influence and readership to make a difference, then Etisalat will block it. I don't know how you'll deal with that day when it comes, but in the meantime keep posting.
-An American
Dear Secret Dubai, how the hell did you manage this - you've been going for a few years and still have a Google PageRank of 0, Anyway, I've messed that up for you (linked u 2 mi sight). Who are ya though (I have a suspicion)?
Thank you for your supportive words! I am curious who our mutual acquaintance is (you can gmail me at my username here if you like).
I realise the risks involved in blogging, which is why I try to include positive coverage, as well as avoiding direct criticism of the rulers. That last is not too hard, because Sheikh Zayed was such an amazing ruler it is impossible to over-praise him.
There are a lot of areas I avoid covering as well. Anything seemingly controversial but already published in the papers I feel more safe about mentioning.
Blocking is no issue - I could still update from DMC and I could easily mirror. My main fear is imprisonment/deportation, but I hope nothing on here is really that seriously likely to cause offence. Plus given how tame this blog really is in an international media sense (eg compared to any western political or social blog) the furore to be imprisoned over it would be negative publicity beyond compare. Deportation would also free me up to cover all the things I don't cover here, out of (a) respect (b) caution.
This blog hasn't been here for two years - it was and is somewhere else. It was probably an error in judgement putting it here, because of not being able to hide it from search engines.
Oh how entertaining are the brainless.
BTW keep working that blog. You are on the right side...and when you feel restrained, come on over to my blog for 'controversial' talk about the need for Middle East reform.
Same here. I think you're doing a great job, and if you ever feel like writing something you don't feel free to discuss on your blog, my blog and/or e-mail is always available! I'm interested in Middle East, and there's nothing better than a first-hand account!
Sure. And any questions you have about this place just email me. If I can't answer them, I probably people who can!
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