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PF/ 3463
RISE OF FUNDAMENTALISM AND ITS
IMPACT ON THE BALANCE OF POWER IN
THE REGION
Introduction
1. Almost all the conflicts amongst the member states of South Asia are
irectl! or inirectl! base on religious sentiments an leaing the gro"th an
#reser$ation of communalism% These le to the gro"th to an e&tremist tren in the
ethno'religious s#ectrum of this region mainl! centere in Inia( Pa)istan an
*anglaesh% Funamentalism is the outcome of such e&tremist gro"th% The +&for
ictionar! efines funamentalism as the strict maintenance of traitional
Protestant beliefs such as the ignorance of scri#ture an literal acce#tance of the
crees as funamentals of Christianit!% In the American conte&t( the term
funamentalism came into common usage in the secon ecae of the centur!(
"ith the #ublication of series of #am#hlets calle the ,Funamentals-
.
% These
#am#hlets "ere mostl! #ublishe bet"een ./.0 to ./.1% These "ere a set of
conferences of the "orl2s Christian funamentals association in ././%
3
4istorians
of American religious agree that funamentalism classic #erio follo"e( in the
./30s but the! ha$e use ifferent criteria to ientif! an account for it%
3
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5ohn Stratton 4a"le!( 6 Funamentalism 7 8ener6( +9F+RD :;I<ERSIT=( .//4( P'..%
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2. ;e$ertheless( it is im#ortant to bear in min that funamentalism is not
sim#l! the hallmar) of fanatic or a traitionalist%
4
Contrar! to common belief( it is
an arent enea$our that is imbue "ith an acti$ist stance an an earnest
etermination to gra##le "ith o$er"helming os% 4o"e$er( in the South Asia( the
term funamentalism bears a little ifferent meaning% It enotes the tenenc! of the
socio'religious grou#s to attem#t to ma&imi>e its economic( social an #olitical
strength at the e&#ense of others% As such( an! ecision or an! action b! an! of
such grou#s to match "ith other grou#s certainl! contributes to the balance of
#o"er bet"een the grou#s% Such tenenc! of balancing the #o"er bet"een the
countries of ifferent funamentalist grou#s generates internal #ressure an #ulls%
These also affect inter'state relations "ithin the region%
1
%
3. The com#le&ities of religion( belief( culture an also the conflicts among the
communities ga$e rise to funamentalism in this region% The e&isting socio'
#olitical conition of this region "ith #olitici>ation of religion turning the situation
too more com#le& issues% As such the funamentalist grou#s of this region ha$e
emerge "ith a ne" energetic force% This rises to funamentalism an its
!namism bears certain im#act on the balance of #o"er in the region% This #a#er is
an attem#t to e&#lain the factors contributing to the rise of funamentalism an to
anal!se the im#act of funamentalism in the balance of #o"er in the region% In
oing so( the #a#er also aresses funamentalism in earl! a!s an
funamentalism in the region% 4o"e$er( the #a#er "ill limit the anal!sis bet"een
4inu an ?uslim funamentalism of Inia an Pa)istan%
4
=usuf ? Choueiri( 6 Ismamic Funamentalism6 Printer Publishers( @onon P'..
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Shelton : Aoi)ara( ,South Asian Strategic Stuies- SA8E Publications2 ;e" Delhi( P'34
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Aim
4. The aim of this #a#er is to stu! the causes to the rise of funamentalism
an to anal!se its im#act on the balance of #o"er in the region%
Fundamentalism in Early Days
5. Funamentalism is not a ne" terminolog!% It is as ol as the religion itself% If
"e loo) bac) to Islamic histor!( "e fin the funamentalist attitue of #re$alent
race an time% The Pro#het 4a>rat Ibrahim Ahalillullah B A%S C "as thro"n into the
fire b! his race as a #unishment for #reaching the religion% 4a>rat ?ussa BA%SC ha
to esca#e "ith his follo"er for their #rotection against the anger of the )ing
;amru2s force through the i$inel! built tunnel on the ;ile% The ol religious
custom of ,sati'ah- B"io" burningC in the 4inu religion is also a
funamentalist act% 8autam *uha the founer of the *uhism coul not #reach
*uhism an sta! in Inia% 4e ha to esca#e to the 4imala!an region for his
safet! against the 4inu funamentalist of those a!s%
6. In the earl! a!s of histor!( the state la"s "ere go$erne b! the religious
binings% In most cases( such la"s "ere constitute suiting to the moti$ate
reDuirements of the ruler% Thus traitions an beliefs of $arious races are generate%
The e$elo#ment of science through the ages has not onl! gi$en the "orl
ci$ili>ation but also "ien the sco#e of abilit! to thin) realit! an originalit! "ith
logic% The beliefs an customs ten to ha$e conflict "ith the sacre lessons% This
conflict is strengthening "ith the e&isting of the arguments an logics of science%
As such the funamentalism got its motion strongl! "ith ci$ili>ation% Eith the
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#assage of time this region has also become a com#le& societ! of $arious religions
an man! conflicts arouse grauall!%
Fundamentalism in the Region
7. India. The #artition of Inia an Pa)istan in ./4F "as base on religious
line% *ut the ?uslim minorities in Inia remaine a ominant factor in Inian
#olitics amongst the minorities% The Congress "ante to )ee# the ?uslims at their
arm#it "hile #olitical #art! li)e *harati!a 5anata Part! B*5PC o$ertl! claime for
4inu ;ationalism% The #resent *5P le coalition go$ernment belie$es that the
Inia2s religious minorities o not ha$e an ine#enent ientit!%
6
The *5P is
committe to the conce#t of +ne ;ation( +ne Peo#le( an +ne Culture%
F
The!
belie$e that cultural heritage is the central to all regions( religions an languages
an constitutes the cultural nationalism of Inia%
G
The cultural nationalism is the
core of 4inut$a%
/
The election manifesto of *5P feature the builing of a 4inu
tem#le on the site of *abri ?osDue%
.0
The *5P le coalition go$ernment launche a
massi$e militar! o#eration Hust three months bac) to retain strategic mountains in
Aargil an the sectors sei>e b! ?uslim guerrillas re#orte b! Inia%
..
The
estruction of ;a$al aircraft b! Inian ?ig'3. on .0 August // on the issue of
crossing the air s#ace is also the funamentalist e&#ression of *5P go$ernment%
Accoring to the anal!sts( the #resent *5P le coalition go$ernment intens to get
strategic gain out of this incient before the election of Inia%
. !a"istan. Islam is a ominant factor in the state #olic! of Pa)istan%
Perha#s( the Ino'Pa)istan historic #ers#ecti$e influences Pa)istan to"ars
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;e"s#a#er( The Eashington Times( Suna!( ?arch 3/ .//G( #age' *4
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;e"s#a#er( The Dail! Star( 5une 31( .///
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Islami>ation% The influential #osition of religious #olitical #art! 5amat'I'Islami of
Pa)istan inherite a significant #osition in Pa)istan2s #olitics ue to its maHor
theoretician of funamentalism in the region% 5amat belie$es the Islamic re$olution
as a goal of #ious ?uslim% The nuclear test b! Pa)istan in the res#onse of Inia
#ortra!s the funamentalist attitue of the #resent go$ernment% The continuing
is#ute o$er Aashmir issue incluing the recent Aargil fight is the biggest thorn in
Ino'Pa)istan relations% The Aashmir issue also #la!s a great role in the omestic
#olitics of Pa)istan% Pa)istan2s firing of surface to air missile on .3 August //
aiming three helico#ters of Inia carr!ing the Hournalists in the res#onse of Inia is
not onl! the go$ernment2s ecision but also ue to internal #ressure an omestic
#olitics%
#. $angladesh. The use of religion in *anglaesh #olitics is as common as
other countries of the region% In fact( the G
th
amenment ha little im#act on
Islami>ation( but it significantl! o#ene the ne"l! ine#enent countr! to the
Islamic "orl% Religion in the #olitics "as absent in the initial a!s as a result of
the #eo#les hatre to the 5amat'I'Islami #art! as regar to their collaboration "ith
the Pa)istani militar! Hunta uring our "ar of liberation in ./F.% In ./FG( the ban
on the #olitico'religious #arties "as lifte% Since then( there has been rise of the
religious funamentalism in *anglaesh%
.3
This "as further accelerate b! the G
th
amenment to the constitution "hen Islam "as eclare as the state religion%
4o"e$er( the #eo#le reHecte the 5amat'I'Islami in the election of .//6 in "hich
the 5amat'I'Islami "on onl! 03 seats "ith G%1F #ercent of $otes%
.3
Factors %ontri&uting to the Rise o' Fundamentalism
.3
4ossain S!e An"ar( KReligion an Ethnicit! in *anglaesh Politics22( *IISS 5ournal( <olume .3( ;umber 4(
+ctober .//.
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;e"s#a#er( The Dail! *horer AagoH( 5une 3G .//6
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1(. Religious Di)ersity % The ifferent )in of religions in the region is a maHor
contributor! factor for funamentalism% Such religions ha$e their o"n beliefs an
ieologies% The ientical ifferences of beliefs an ieologies bet"een the religions
ha$e influence the man)in to be funamentalists o$er the time%

11. *arious +ocial Ideologies. Different )in of ethnic grou#s an races in an
area abie b! certain traitions an beliefs% As such it generates $arious social
ieologies in the area% There are number of ethnic grou#s an races in this region
ha$ing ifferent traitions an beliefs% As such the $arious social ieologies
bet"een the grou#s an races act as catal!st to influence one o$er another an
thereb! contributing to"ars the gro"th of funamentalism%
12. !olitical. Certain grou#s of #eo#le from $arious countries of the region
al"a!s ten to use the #olitical instabilit! as a tool for fulfilling their esires%
Religion has been al"a!s a tool in the hans of the #olitical leaers to legitimi>e
their authorit! o$er illiterate masses an minorities( as the! are more rece#ti$e to
religious ogma% This has al"a!s le the minorities to act as funamentalist% The
failure of the go$ernment #olitics also contributes to the rise of funamentalism%
13. Foreign ,egemony. Foreign #atronage o$er the maHor or minor religions
hel#s in gro"ing funamentalism for achie$ing their aim% Continuing tensions an
gro"ing conflicts in our region ha$e gi$en foreign forces an o##ortunit! to e&#loit
these tensions to their a$antages% The great #o"ers of the "orl ha$e e&#loite
such tensions either through a grou# of #eo#le or through the go$ernment
machiner!% Such acti$ities of the great #o"ers of the "orl contribute to"ars the
rise of funamentalism%
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14. !artition o' the +u&continent. Though the se#aration of the subcontinent
in ./4F "as base on religion( !et large'scale communal $iolence an a massi$e
e&change of #o#ulation accom#anie it% As such the minorities in each state ha$e
create another facult! for the rise of funamentalism% Pa)istan2s claims on
Aashmir is base on communal groun% Such claiming becomes the basis for long
term tension an conflict%
15. $a&ri-.os/ue %risis in India. The *abri' ?osDue crisis in Inia is an
historical factor for 4inu'?uslim ri$alr! in the subcontinent% This has also
strengthene the rise of funamentalism in the subcontinent as a "hole% The
4inus began to construct Ram Tem#le on the site of the *abri' ?osDue follo"e
b! its emolition on 06 December .//3% This incient has not onl! generate the
clash bet"een 4inu'?uslim in Inia but also in *anglaesh an Pa)istan% Certain
grou#s of #eo#le of *anglaesh then tene to emolish the tem#les of
*anglaesh% This #articular incient has influence o$er a grou# of #eo#le to be
funamentalist an also acte to strengthen the funamentalist grou#s%
16. !oor 0iteracy. The #oor eucation rate of the region is one of the
im#ortant factors for the rise of the funamentalism% The illiterate #eo#le generall!
e$elo# a tren of blin su##ort to e&isting or #ro#agating beliefs% Due of the lac)
of tolerance( emotional attitue an illiterac!( the beneficiar! grou#s coul e&#loit
such communities easil!% This ultimatel! le to the $iolence an terrorist acti$ities%
17. $alance o' !o1er% The attitue of $arious socio'religious grou#s of #eo#le
is to ma)e all out enea$our to ma&imi>e their economic( social an #olitical
strength at the e&#ense of others% As such( an! ham#ering on the interest of one
grou# certaint! contributes to ma&imi>e the strength of ri$alr! grou# for going to
irect or inirect conflict bet"een them% Ehile going for such irect or inirect
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conflict( both the grou#s ten to become su#erior b! economicall!( sociall!(
#oliticall! an also in strength% This attem#ting an ma)ing all out enea$our of
being su#erior in the res#onse of an! ecision or action b! one grou# contributes to
the eDuation of #o"er "ith other grou#s% Thus balancing of the #o"er eDuation
bet"een the funamentalist grou#s certainl! contribute sociall!( #oliticall!(
economicall! an militaril! in the region% 4o"e$er( in the region( this attem#ting
of balancing the #o"er eDuation is mostl! bet"een the 4inu an ?uslim
funamentalism%
Im2act o' Fundamentalism on the $alance o' !o1er

1% +2reading o' Arms Race% Rise of religious funamentalism efinitel!
estabili>es the communal #eace an harmon! in the region% Such #henomenon
"oul li)el! to s#rea u# more arms race in the region in the search of local #eace%
The arms race bet"een Inia an Pa)istan certainl! reflects that the region has no"
entere into the $orte& of a missile an nuclear race%
a. .issile Race &et1een India and !a"istan% Inia has e$elo#e
missile such Prith$i Brange 310)mC an Agni Brange 3100 )mC% +n the other
han Pa)istan has e$elo#e 4alf missile% The test of 8ahuri missile b!
Pa)istan on 06 A#ril // is at the res#onse of Inian Agni%
&. 3uclear Race. The fi$e nuclear tests b! Inia on .. an .3 ?a!
.//G at Po)hra esert "as again in the res#onse to the Pa)istan 8hauri
missile% Again the res#onse b! Pa)istan "ith its eDual number of tests on 3G
an 30 ?a! .//G ha$e left no oubt that the region has no" entere in the
most $orte& of a nuclear race% Inia an Pa)istan ha$e name the test as
4inu an Islamic bomb res#ecti$el!% So both the countries are in a state of
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balancing the #o"er eDuation% The nuclear "ea#ons #otentials of Inia an
Pa)istan has sho"n in a gra#h as Anne& A to this #a#er%
.4
1#. 4hreat.
a. +ecurity o' the Region. Attem#ting to"ars the balance of #o"er
b! the $arious funamental grou#s affect the o$er all securit! of the region%
The nuclear tests b! Inia an in res#onse b! Pa)istan name as 4inu an
Islamic bomb res#ecti$el! ma! be terme as funamental attitue of the
countries% This has bal! sha)en the securit! en$ironment of the region%
&. Regional !eace. The interstate relationshi# eteriorates either ue to
the emerging of the state as a funamentalist nation or ue to the
funamentalist acti$ities b! an! grou# of a state% The recent estruction of
;a$al aircraft b! Inia an Pa)istan2s res#onse b! firing surface to air
missile aiming the helico#ters of Inia is the funamentalist acti$ities of
both the countries% Pa)istan2s res#onse is certainl! to balance the #o"er "ith
Inia% Such acti$ities for balancing the #o"er bet"een the states an "ithin
a state bet"een t"o funamentalist grou#s affect the regional as "ell as state
#eace as a "hole% The Aargil fight bet"een Inia an Pa)istan on Aashmir
issue efinitel! ham#ers the regional #eace%
c. Economical +ta&ility. The funamentalist acti$ities for balancing
the #o"er in a state ma! cause #olitical instabilit! an communal $iolence%
As such it creates an unfa$ourable situation for foreign in$estment an also
threatens the trae an commerce of countr! a$ersel!% The funamentalist
acti$ities for balancing the #o"er b! the state such as nuclear test ha$e the
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;e"s#a#er( The *anglaesh +bser$er( .3 ?a! .//G
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a$erse affect on the econom! for the thir "orl countries li)e Inia an
Pa)istan% This also restricts the flo" of foreign ais an also the foreign
in$estment in the region% The tenenc! of these t"o states is the allocation
of more efence buget for balancing the #o"er% Such increase efence
buget for the thir "orl countries #ut an a$erse affect on the econom! of
their countries as "ell as in the region%
d. !olitical +ta&ility. The use of religion as a tool of #olitics is the
threat to the #olitical stabilit! of a countr!% Such t!#e of #olitical grou#s ma!
tr! to e&#loit the minorities for their interest% As such the go$ernment ma!
ha$e to face the sub$ersi$e an sabotage acti$ities from such grou#% This
ma! turn into the #olitical instabilit! of a countr! in the region%
2(. 4rends o' .ilitant 5rou2. Almost all the funamentalist grou#s are
ha$ing militant grou#s uner them% Attem#ting to"ars the balance of #o"er cause
the militant grou#s of being more #o"erful an strong% Such tren of ma)ing the
militant grou#s stronger cause $iolence an terrorism in the region%
21. .igration Fashion. The minorities in a state al"a!s suffer from securit!
tension ue to the funamentalist acti$ities of a state in the region% As such( the!
ten to migrate themsel$es to the close religiousl! affiliate countries% *eing
migrate( the! ma! form alliances "ith the funamental grou#s for balancing the
#o"er an to retaliate the o##onents%
22. 6nderground Acti)ities. The strong funamentalist grou# ma! su##ress
the minorities of a state% This su##ression ma! cause the minorities for retaliation
in a state of the region% As such( the minorities ma! ao#t clanestine acti$ities
against the funamentalist grou# for balancing the #o"er eDuation "ith the
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o##onents% The s!m#athi>e countr! ma! act as #atron to"ars such acti$ities in the
from of moral an financial assistance% Such #atronage( acts as unseen ais for
balancing the #o"er bet"een the minorities an the funamentalist grou# of a
state%
23. 6nity amongst .inority 5rou2s. All the minorit! grou#s ten to eDuali>e
their strength "ith the o##onent for sur$i$al% As such the minorit! grou#s ma! go
for alliances against an! funamental grou# or acti$ities in a state% Such unit! or
alliances #ro$ie the minorities of the countr! "ith moral( strength an #o"er to
react Duic)l! against their o##onents%
24. E''ect on +outh Asia Association 'or Regional %oo2eration 7+AAR%8.
SAARC is the onl! regional forum has the charter of #romoting #eace an
e$elo#ment for South Asian #eo#le% The nuclear test of Inia an in res#onse b!
Pa)istan a$ersel! affects the ieolog! of SAARC% ?ore so Inia an Pa)istan are
the maHor countries of SAARC% The arms race bet"een theses t"o countries oes
not commensurate "ith their integration in SAARC for #romoting #eace% The
Aashmir issue also hiners the #rogress of SAARC for #romoting #eace an
securit! in the region% So the attem#t of both the countries to"ars balancing the
#o"er has the a$erse effect on the SAARC as a "hole%
25. Di)ersion 'rom $uilding the 3ation. The funamentalist attitue of the
go$ernment for both Inia an Pa)istan #la!s a $ital role for omestic #olitics%
Such attitue gets into motion from internal #ressure generate from the rall!ing
cr!% As such( an! of both the go$ernment2s acting is in the res#onse of other% The
attention of acting in res#onse of other i$erts the #eo#le2s min from the nation
builing an also hel#s the go$ernment to gain su##ort from the general mass%
..
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%onclusion
26% The tenenc! of socio'religious grou#s for attem#ting to ma&imi>e or to
ma&imi>e its economic( social( #olitical strength at the e&#ense of others ma! be
terme as funamentalism% Funamentalism is as ol as the religion% In the earl!
a!s also certain grou#s of #eo#le in all religions emonstrate their
funamentalist attitue through $arious acti$ities% De$elo#ment of funamentalism
in this region can be foun out from histor!% During *ritish colonial rule( ?uslim
"ere sta!e behin "hereas the 4inus too) the full a$antage of *ritish rule an
"ent ahea of ?uslims% Thereb! conflicts arouse bet"een these grou#s% Creation
of congress an subseDuentl! the ?uslim @eague are the result of this% *oth of
these organi>ations ga$e lea in the freeom mo$ement uner their o"n banner%
After the Ine#enence in ./4F this conflict became more e$ient in Inia an
com#arati$el! less in Pa)istan% E&am#les are Aashmir issue( *abri ?osDue crisis(
;uclear test( recent Aargil fight an estruction of Pa)istan aircraft b! Inia% In
*anglaesh( intensit! of this #roblem is lo" but "ith some amenments of its
constitution( this has ta)en a ne" course% Some religion base #olitical #arties ha$e
been rehabilitate an got their lost #o"er% =et( this is not $er! gra$e in nature(
"hich "as #ro$e uring the last national election in .//6%

27. Religious i$ersit!( $arious social ieologies( foreign influence( an man!
other factors ha$e contribute to"ars the birth of funamentalism% Poor literac!
an *abri ?osDue crisis in the region cause the funamentalist to be acti$ate
more% The religion acting as a tool for #olitics is another region for its gro"th% The
attem#ting of being strong b! funamentalist grou# al"a!s #ro$es that the! ten to
become stronger than other such grou#% This $er! tenenc! of being su#erior has
contribute to"ars the balance of #o"er eDuation%
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2. The #resent arms race an nuclear test is ue to the funamentalist attitue
of both the go$ernments for balancing the #o"er bet"een Inia an Pa)istan% As
such a threat to the securit!( economical stabilit!( #olitical stabilit! of the region is
still e&isting% The regional #eace is not $er! much health!% This also contributes to
the rise of militant grou#s for becoming stronger% The funamentalist acti$ities of
these countries cause the migration of minorities% This ma! also cause unergroun
acti$ities of minorities for the attainment of their goal% A strong communit!
bet"een all minorit! grou#s ma! be forme to react against the funamentalist
grou#s of the countr!% The funamentalist attitue of Inia Pa)istan also hel#s their
res#ecti$e go$ernment to get the #o#ular su##ort an also to i$ert the attention of
general mass from nation builing acti$ities% The Aashmir conflict an the nuclear
test certainl! against the SAARC charter% SAARC2s obHecti$e to #romote #eace in
the region is less li)el! to e&ist% The future effecti$eness of SAARC certainl!
e#ens on the attitue an lo!alt! to"ars the SAARC b! her member states for
the a!s to come%
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*I*@I+8RAP4=
$oo"s
.% 5ohn Stratton 4a"le!( ,Funamentalism 7 8ener(- +9F+RD
:;I<ERSIT= PRESS( .//4%
3% =oussef ? Choueiri( ,Islamic Funamentalism(- Printer Publishers( @onon%
3% Shelton : Aoi)ara( ,South Asian Strategic Stuies(- SA8E Publications(
;e" Delhi%
9ournals:!a2ers
4% ,Frontline-( Inian ;ational ?aga>ineI <ol .1( ;o 34( ;o$ember 3.'
December 04 .//G%
1% ,The Eashington Times-( Suna!( ?arch 3/ .//G%
6% ,The Dail! Star-( 5une 31( .///%
F% 4ossain S!e An"ar( ,Religion an Ethnicit! in *anglaesh Politics-(
*IISS 5ournal( <ol .3( ;o 4( +ctober .//.%
G% ,The Dail! *horer AagoH-( 5une 3G( .//6%
/% ,The *anglaesh +bser$er-( .3 ?a!( .//G%
.4
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