WHAT makes them think changing form instead of substance can turn the OIC into a vibrant, supranational forum that could be of service to the world`s one billion-plus Muslims? Founded in Rabat in 1969 in the aftermath of the burning of the Al Aqsa mosque, the body was named the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. Having stayed that way for over four decades, it suggested a new name for itself, the Organisation of Islamic Countries. The move was withdrawn, and now they have settled for the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation. Nobody ever expected the OIC to help solve such emotive and long-standing problems as Palestine or Kashmir, or help stop the genocide in Bosnia or the bloodletting that has continued in Afghanistan since the Soviet withdrawal in 1989. Given the absence of those elements of power that enable a state or a group of states to make a difference in the harsh world of geopolitics, OIC countries are in no position to assert themselves and see to it that justice is done in places where Muslims are victims of tyranny and oppression. No OIC member has a worthwhile military-industrial complex, and all of them depend on arms purchases or aid for their defence.
What has, however, shocked the Muslim peoples is the enigmatic silence maintained by the OIC on what is termed the `Arab spring`. In countries like Libya, Yemen, Bahrain and Syria, the `spring` has turned into an autumn of slaughter. While Nato has swung into action again now in Syria, the OIC is a mute spectator to this meddling. Syria is different than say Libya, Tunisia or even Egypt. This Arab state has stood like a rock against Zionist state of Israel so far and has been host to the Palestinian resistance which was driven out by Pro-West Arab states like Jordon on the orders of their foreign backers.
OIC has even failed to clear the misconception spread by the Western media that the war in Syria is a sectarian conflict. Infact the war has been imposed on Damascus one to help Israel secure its borders from the invincible Hezbollah and second to secure energy supply route to Europe from Persian Gulf.
OIC`s inaction also stems from clashing national interests among its members. All of them do not see eye to eye on global issues. For instance, it would be unrealistic to expect countries in, say, south-east Asia to have the same perception of international developments as OIC member countries in the Maghreb or Central Asia do. The lack of geographical contiguity also inhibits the development of the kind of successful regional groupings the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have become. Yet, one still fails to understand why the OIC states cannot develop effective cooperation on such `soft` issues as education, science and technology, news dissemination, and tourism. OIC member states possess considerable natural and manpower resources. What is obviously missing is the political will among OIC governments to make a determined effort to create a success of the 57-member organisation for mutual benefit.
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