By Raffique Shah
November 01, 2025

As I watched and listened to television news focused on the unfolding story about the massacre of hundreds of Brazilians in the slum city of Rio de Janeiro in a war against gangs and drug dealers and traffickers. I recoiled in horror when I realised this was happening in real time.

Here was I, veteran campaigner against cruel and unusual punishment and harsh actions against a people, almost enjoying these savage images of hundreds of mainly young suspected criminals/gang members and drug traffickers, and sundry crooks caught in the cross-fire. I alerted my friends to the report which we paid attention to diligently until someone asked: Is this in Sudan or the Congo?
Continue reading Greedy Colonisers →

By Raffique Shah
October 18, 2025

At first, I thought I had completed a full circle. You see, I was just about ten years old when I got a notion of what a full circle was: you just go around, and around. In my 80th year I am seeing a full circle with the “make-work programme” that had started out as the Prime Minister’s “special works” programme with much fanfare. I had learnt of it in the newspaper which my father bought ritually every Sunday morning.
Continue reading The first circle →