The Abu Salem repatriation case has been another study in misreporting by a section of the media. They created such misplaced hype that many thought that the CBI team would just fly to Portugal, walk into a prison in Lisbon, catch hold of Salem and take the next flight back home. They didn’t realise that bringing the don back involved sustained efforts—both diplomatic and legal—and that extradition is only possible after Portuguese authorities complete investigations as per their laws by next February. The CBI team has done excellent work in Lisbon and if everything goes right, we can expect to see Salem repatriated by March 2003. The CBI team led by Additional Director Vijay Shankar did well to prepare ground in Lisbon to strengthen India’s case. They also convinced Jose Soute de Moura, the Attorney General of Portugal, that the magnitude of Salem’s crime merits repatriation as his trial in India would provide vital leads to solve many other cases of organised crimes—national and international. Significantly, the US has been strongly backing India in getting Salem back. John Palmer, the US Ambassador to Portugal, met the Indian team twice and also spoke to Portuguese authorities regarding Salem’s repatriation. Colin Powell and Yashwant Sinha had a discussion on the issue. National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra and his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice have been exchanging notes on the Indian efforts and Portugal’s response. The FBI office in Madrid actively helped the CBI team to get their case right. President Bush too has been taking personal interest in the case.But these cannot silence a few uneasy questions. Despite having a five-century-old relation with Portugal, it is unfortunate that our diplomats still haven’t signed an extradition treaty with Lisbon. This is not an exception: out of the 143 countries we have diplomatic ties with, we have extradition treaties with only 13. India still hasn’t signed the UN Convention on Trans-national Organised Crime. At the same time, we have left certain gray areas in our laws unattended, which don’t help us in such international dealings. On paper, life imprisonment in India is a longer punishment than Portugal’s 20-year life term. But in practice, the life imprisonment term in India never exceeds 16 years and is usually just 14 years. Repatriation is always easier to a country where laws are ‘‘softer’’. India has already offered Salem immunity against death sentence. Had we made changes in our laws, our comparatively shorter life imprisonment term would also help the repatriation cause.Mahathir UnlimitedThe Malaysian PM surprised many in FICCI when he spoke for a good 40 minutes with no written speech visible before him. Mahathir Bin Mohammad was moving his head freely, gesticulating towards the audience as the words kept flowing. But those in the first couple of rows managed to learn the secret behind the gift of his gab. There were small teleprompters before him on both sides and a computer under the board to control the speed of the text on screen. One wonders why our top executives can’t get similar technological support. Mahathir was in his element when someone asked him how he could talk about development when there was no real democracy in his country. ‘‘What do you mean by democracy?’’ he shot back. ‘‘If my people want stability and if my country doesn’t have new governments every two years, one can’t call Malaysia any less democratic. I am there because people want me.’’ The 74-year-old again showed his flair when a MNC CEO asked him if he could sack any minister any time. ‘‘Forget ministers. I’ve sacked my deputy prime minister who, I was told, enjoyed international popularity.’’
