Blog

Moral Education for Sustainable Future

By Margaret Gangte

Director, Government of India

24 October 2011

Is every problem related to poverty? My homeland in northeast India in the midst of the mystic beauty is a land infested with insurgencies. This sort of terrorism caused by impoverishment and unemployment arising would fade away with improved living condition under effective policy implementation accompanied with equality of treatment. These days, the deep worry is on the kind of terrorism fed by radical ideology sanctified under the divine power. Whilst secular and enlightened brethren detest radicalism in all its forms; others bonded under a common sanctified ideology could used the ideology as a means to avenge and achieve victory.

The popular theory is that poverty, as a recognized curse, causes terrorism; the ideology gives the courage to do things unimaginable and the ideology fed by religious sanctity makes it very lethal and highly potent. Radicalism borne from this type of ideology cannot exist alone; it is bound to threaten others who would then polarize into another radical group to counter the threat. In this chain of one action leading to a reaction, conditions become worse for the innocents and the impact of conflict on civil society aggravates more intense radicalism on both sides. The dilemma of the world today lies in finding a solution to stop this chain reaction and that is possible only by removing the conditions and circumstances responsible for causing terrorism fed by radicalism.

The hard fact is that neither capitalism nor socialism or a mix of the two can ever help remove conditions and circumstances causing injustice and inequality that led to radicalism spurring terrorism lethally; because the universal political and economic system, no matter how humanely they are intended to be, innately thrives on human greed, self interest and exploitation. This means that, injustice and inequality will continue and thus anger, vengeance and violence will continue in the same measure; and it further means that terrorism and counter terrorism with its ill effects such as the radical forces will bloom and grow. Ultimately, the inability to remove the conditions and circumstances affirms the presence of the perennial threat from terrorism and radicalism. In other words, the terrorist may die but the ideology he upheld lives on. In this dark tunnel of no clue, this article discourse finds a ray of hope on how to control the lethal effect of radicalism on terrorism.

Is higher learning contributing to problem than solving it? : It is believed that terrorism is caused by poverty, illiteracy and in-exposure. This theory is now questioned by the occurrences of the recent attacks organized by terrorists who belonged to the rich, affluent and educated class of society. It is not the act of bombing but the operation of the mind guiding the action to bomb that now leads some to believe in the vulnerability of highly reputed world class institutes in becoming potent points for future terror operations. This assumption cannot be overlooked on circumstantial evidences of recent bombing in various parts of the world. The terrorists having a background of rich affluent educated class from reputed centers of learning also belong to countries beset with economic and political crisis. In these countries, the local leaders terrorized their own citizens under dictatorial regime; and the capitalist forces terrorized the dictator with the help of disgruntled elements for freedom of operation for both the capitalists and the rebellions. The terrorists from rich educated background confront the capitalist forces for the turmoil, evidenced in 11/09. The perspective revealed that all participants in conflict situation become terrorists in the end under infringement on civil liberty rights: the dictator, the capitalists, the terrorist and the radical forces (the Middle East situation) the democratic governments facing terrorism and the radical forces (Israel, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan). The participants are not the victims, the victims are the citizens.

Is higher learning helping to listen better? The participation of the knowledge community in terrorism is an intriguing but interesting development, which led some research to link terrorism with high education instead of poverty as the cause. I beg to differ on this rationality as I think, the mass of people as bearers of injustice and inequality and who could be influenced by the ideology may not be armed for violence, but their desperate woes under dictatorship and aggravated by the capitalists are heard by the educated savvy from high reputed world class institutes. The intelligentsia has been prompted to act on the signal received from the bottom level condition of life. The present fear is that the successful terror operations led by the intelligentsia could lead to a quest for more terror strikes under the belief of a divine sanctity.

Besides terror operation, the intelligentsia is expected to contribute in the future, a significant role in spurring mass movement already started by the bourgeoisie in several countries of Middle East and expected soon to be joined by the proletariat with the help of the intelligentsia. The intelligentsia as facilitator for mass movement has a constructive role while their participation as terrorists is a destructive one and this particular point calls for a careful thought on how to plan a strategy to deal with the negative role of the intelligentsia.

I conclude from this discourse that the two theorems attempting to link terrorism either to poverty or to the educated are not exclusive to one another as propounded by theorists, they are complimentary to each other in practical situation. The condition of poverty, inequality and in-exposure has been an excellent breeding ground for terrorism. May be poor condition do not always turned into terrorism as in Africa, all terrorism borne from poverty are not always guided by ideology as in northeast India, and that radical ideology differs among communities (Jihad, Zionism, Hindu radical force).

The point to note is the voices of victims heard by the knowledge community in the absence of benevolent state leadership, which is not only pointing towards ruthless dictatorship but even towards chaotic democratic governance. The persons with knowledge and skills touched by the pain of suffering may enthused themselves with divinity sanction or political dogma. They inspire themselves to terrorize the perceived exploiter; who may be a local leadership or a western imperialist soon to be replaced by eastern imperialists like China and India. Given this development, it speculates a future with growing radical terrorism versus the Chinese Kungfu or the Indian Kabadi game.

It is not possible to delete injustice and inequality completely on earth and it is impossible to retrieve past events for corrective action on past mishaps. On this basic premise of knowledge, the unwanted vicious circle of anger and vengeance expressed through the notorious outlet of terrorism will continue to haunt the world. And in this world of terrorism, the most potent of all is the one fed by ideology under divine sanctity.

What needs to be done to secure a safer world? I am prompted to suggest an immediate and long-term strategy to deal with this undying unconquerable ideology for the safety and security of the future for all. The most immediate requirement is to remove the conditions producing injustice. It practically demands for the willingness on the part of the aggressor/ oppressor to grant the wishes of the people for liberty and to give them their core needs in life. Kashmir and Tibet represent key examples on this perspective.

Alongside the effort to alleviate the hard condition, the other strategy involves a visionary long term preventive measure against future scourge of radicalism. This calls for participation of all families as members of world community to prevent radical forces to cause destruction. One may consider introducing an innovative social home program to help families inculcate good values and ethics under state surveillance. School education may introduce social themes as part of curriculum for citizens' character building from young age. The emotive theme of forgiveness could help strike the emotional chord of human love and the marketing strategy of the virtue of forgiveness could help reduce hatred along-with all the related negative emotions.

The objective of moral education project will be ultimately to improve personal development of individual citizens. It will be a project that urges the practice of the principle of forgiveness, not for the benefit of the wrong doers but in the self-interest of the person engaged in the act of forgiveness that nourishes the giver by the act of giving forgiveness. Nurturing children at learning stage in this way and helping to heal the wounds among the adults will help achieve the goal of safety, security and well being of the community free from fear of radicalism and terrorism.

I wish to advocate for an effective and efficient resource planning with vision on world safety and security. If resources can be added to the component of moral science in education program instead of enlarging the defence budget to produce and purchase war weapons, the world would certainly earn a higher rate of investment return with much richer dividend on security of the world. This soft approach to nurture each human being from babyhood to adulthood seems to be most lasting solution for the world community and its sustainability for the future.....till the gates of heaven open.

About the author:

Ms. Margaret Gangte is actively engaged in various international forums on global issues and is currently a Director in Government of India. She is an author of Journal Articles and a writer on policy issues. Her articles on international development, Polity, Economy, Human Resource and Defence are also published in ezinearticles.com and news journals in Northeast India. Some of her published articles are Sustainable Community Development Alternative: Unlocking the Lock (Journal of Sustainable Development by Canada Center of Science), Right Man for the Right Job: Motivate to Deliver (Indian Journal of Dynamic Public Administration) and Farewell Gift to Afghanistan Before the Final Adieu, Why Africa Likes China, The Heart Says  Yes, The Mind Says No for Palestine Statehood Bid (Publication of the American Society for Public Administration PA Times), Search from Within Than Without (Eastern Regional for Public Administration (EROPA).

*Questions or comments may be sent to the author's email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

**The arguments and points raised in this article are solely of the author. EROPA is not liable for the information presented in the article.

Readers can post comments here.

A matter of Honor

By Orlando S. Mercado
Secretary General, EROPA
Former Senator of the Republic of the Philippines

16 September 2011

(Speech read on the occasion of the 20^th Anniversary of the Philippine Senate’s rejection of the Philippines-United States Military Bases Agreement on September 16, 1991)

**On September 16, 1991, after a 15-month negotiation with the United States, the Philippine Senate rejected the extension of US Military bases in the Philippines. For the Agreement to hold, it requires 2/3 votes of the 24 members of the Senate. Twelve senators voted against the extension of the US bases in the country.

In 1995, barely four years after our historic vote rejecting the RP-US Bases Treaty, I had to revisit the issue while writing my doctoral dissertation on the dynamics of the bases negotiations.  I was still a senator, and was fortunate to have been given access to both American and Filipino officials involved in the negotiations. Most of the American negotiators were still in Washington but I had to go Haiti to talk to Stanley Schrager, the spokesman for the American panel. I remember the interview not so much for where it was done but for what Schrager said.

"There was that disconnect. I mean we lost it, none on economic grounds, although we were very cheap on it, but we lost to sovereign nationalistic grounds. What we should have perceived, and what we were beginning to perceive once the Senate debate began, was that this thing was not going to be resolved on economic grounds as we have thought, it was not going to be resolved in terms of ideals of democracy around the world, but was going to be resolved in terms of whether the Filipinos were ready yet to break with the United States on these bases. And all of a sudden we should have seen this coming."

Since the Philippines would be celebrating its 100th year of independence in 1998, most of us Senators believed that the celebration would be less meaningful with the continuing presence up to year 2001 of the US military bases which have long been regarded as an infringement on Philippine sovereignty.

We also viewed the compensation package of $203 million as insufficient to have any effect on the economy of the country.

President George H.W. Bush’s letter to President Cory Aquino dated August 23, 1991 indicated twice that all areas of compensation requiring funding would be subject to the approval of the US Congress. In other words, it was on a best efforts basis.

Antagonism and mistrust characterized the exchanges between the Philippines and the United States throughout the 15-month long negotiations. Thus, when the Senate rejected the Treaty, the leadership of the US government reacted negatively. In the negotiations for the phase out of Subic Naval Base in the latter part of 1991, it was only the US Navy that was reticent in giving up Subic. However, the White House had grown tired of the Philippine bases issue and in December 1991, President Bush directed the State Department and Defense Department to commence withdrawal procedures. The Americans took everything that could be removed from the bases. These included the floating dry docks which President Aquino herself had requested be left behind. It may also have been easier for the Americans to leave the Philippines because of the diminished importance of fixed overseas military bases for forward deployment. US defense strategy was moving toward a sea-and-air posture from land-based deployments that characterized the Cold War decades. However, Subic Naval Base would still have been an important supply depot and repair facility. In addition, the Soviets had already withdrawn from Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam.

It was a time when one part of the national psyche wanted to assert independence, and the other part felt it needed more time to be weaned from dependence on US assistance. It was a time when the bases issue was the only foreign policy issue that the Philippines had to resolve. We tried to funnel the entire Philippine-American relations through the bases issue which was a security issue. There were only two bases on which almost all policy was dependent. The negotiations, Senate rejection and withdrawal of the Americans were like bitter divorce proceedings. (I used to liken it to the much publicized divorce proceedings of film director Woody Allen and actress Mia Farrow at the time). The Americans did not expect the Philippine Senate to end the basing relationship on a matter of honor.

With the rejection of the bases, the dependence of the Philippines on the US for aid ended. The absence of the prospect of aid has spurred economic reform. Even economic losses from the withdrawal of the bases are now fairly contained. We have proven the doomsday Sayers wrong about how we would handle these former military facilities.

For the first time, without the American security protective umbrella, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had to think through its own national defense strategy and shift to an external defense mode. In the past, the arrangement was that the US took care of our external defense and the AFP concentrated on the insurgency problem.

We blamed the Americans for everything that went wrong and praised them for everything that went right because of their presence. Today, we have only ourselves to praise or blame for our mistakes. By ending the basing relationship, we have regained our capacity to believe in ourselves, to redeem ourselves and yes, to allow ourselves honor when it is deserved. We chose a path that changed the history of our nation. The Philippines has more vigor now as an active member of ASEAN, the Non-Aligned Movement, the United Nations and other international organizations where Filipinos are given a greater degree of respect as compared to when the Philippines was regarded as staunchly aligned with the US on many issues by default. The Philippines relationship with the Arab states has also improved. It is hoped that this will bring us finally to a negotiated peace agreement for Mindanao.

Another positive result of the American withdrawal is that ASEAN is now openly discussing regional security in military terms. ASEAN has been too self-conscious in discussing security issues in the past. With a vibrant ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) strategic security concerns are being addressed.

Whatever honor and pride we have gained in the post-bases era needs to be tempered by humility and hard work. We pride ourselves with being a democratic nation, where there is tolerance for the plurality of beliefs and ideas. But, we need to excel, we need to confront inequity in society, and we need to keep moving forward.

What Stanley Schrager told me is correct. The Americans lost the bases to our sense of nationalism. Twenty years after our collective decision, and in the midst of a rapidly globalizing world, we can ask ourselves: Is it still relevant to commemorate this event? Baylis and Smith, the authors of The Globalization of World Politics, say that nationalism is both an idea of a history, a tradition, and one of obligation. There are those who would insist that nationalism is a thing of the past. However the invocation of history is at the heart of how we view ourselves as a people. It provides us the basis of our legitimacy as a nation. We voted no, when we were actually saying yes to a sense of common identity and of national purpose. It was a matter of honor, a matter that would extract no price. I thank our people for giving me the opportunity to be part of that process.

**The views in this article are solely of Dr. Mercado. He does not necessarily represent the views of the organization.

A search from within than without

By Margaret Gangte
Director, Government of India

04 August 2011

What is the logic of terrorism? Terrorism is a puzzle to solve. A terrorist is seen as a devil of destruction. He is not visualized as human who suffered the agony of ill-treatment and had been in pain.  His chosen path is repulsive, inhumane and creepy; therefore he must be hunted and blasted. Few acknowledged that terrorism springs from deep resentment towards prolonged unequal treatment that exploits. The exploited rebelled when his spirit is crushed; the exploited will then use arms and gain motivation from ideology to boost courage to fight back the treachery done to him. Terrorism and insurgency guided by ideology and deep resentment towards wrong doings cannot be contained by arm retaliation.  The root cause of the resentment and unhappiness has to be diagnosed and healed through administrative policies or resolved through political decision. When neither of the two is provided, explosive situations occur like in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Middle East.

Is brute force the solution to counter terrorism? Eye for an eye; tooth for tooth is an ancient principle of justice under lawlessness. Modern legal and judicial system rationalizes reaction to an action and finds a solution to deter a repeat of violence giving core consideration to human value and life. Retaliation by brute force from state agencies in the so-called democratic nations is a reminder of policy and administrative failure that failed to care its people. The  arrogance of the Indian armed forces under the  special power vested in them  to arrest arbitrarily  any suspect  under the draconian Indian Law  of Armed Forces Special  Power Act  led to gruesome murder of young men  and rape of young  women  in the name of security of the nation . The use of super power armed forces in conflict states, state coercion on individual freedom as in China, Burma or even Pakistan, subordinated individual rights and freedom to the mighty rule of the state. Victims and sympathizers often question as to who actually should deservedly be termed as terrorist when state agencies and terrorists are violent, destructive and revengeful. What is the solution to end this circus of violence? From public policy perspectives, use of force and coercion implies complete failure of the state machinery to fulfill needs of people. The unfortunate part is the non-admission of failure by the state that only end up in bitterness and hatred. It leads to bloody violence and the counter measures drained manpower, money and material resources leading to derailed development that in turn leads to more violence from poverty. This is another form of debt trap for conflict states in developing economy. State coercion is seen as an act of terrorism by civil society victimized under the brutal force and is considered by the Human Rights Groups as an illegitimate action legitimatized by the state. Brute force makes no sense in the end.

Is Democracy the solution to counter terrorism? Capitalist democracy emerged as the legitimate form of governance because it allows participation of everyone in decision making. It is regarded as governance for equity, fairness and justice. For protection of this precious democratic ideology, Afghanistan was used as a chessboard to counter the spread of communism with the help trained terrorists from the Middle East. The ill effects of this adventure put the globe under deep insecurity. So much blood has been shed to protect this precious ideology and in return it gave back nothing much. Instead the trusted democratic institution encouraged nepotism, corruption, favoritism under the rule of oligarchs and power brokers. It was not surprising that wise men of India like Mahatma Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose even dubbed it as a fascist instrument of exploitation under the garb of equal representation. The contradiction in democracy is an interesting dilemma. The principle: for the people, of the people and by the people is smashed by the reality. The virtue of equal representation through arithmetic representation is seriously flawed when decision is by the majority number. The system ensures the so-called minorities to be continuously marginalized and to be discriminated/harassed/victimized in the system. The system favors men with money or gun and promotes dynastic rule in place of meritocracy.

It is also significant to note that the democratic governance does not serve the wishes of the majority either. The Indian caste based politics with majority of lower caste and tribal vote bank still failed to represent the wishes and dreams of the underdogs in the face of money and power politics. The biggest states in India with highest density of population like   Bihar and UP that was India's first historical kingdom (The Mauryan- Gupta Empire) which later produced the first Indian Prime Minister of Independent India and astute leaders of opposition, that constitutes majority of MPs to form the national government at the centre for decades and contributes around 70% bureaucrats of this country still remain in abject poverty.

Surely, the above two situations have not concluded the success of democracy. Democracy is a western thought of governance that grew from historical circumstances, indigenous to western condition. Democratic institutions have brought prosperity and expansion of glory to the west; it nonetheless seemed to dwindled governance where it is transplanted. It means that democratic institution thrives in suitable condition and can be adapted well only under similar suitable condition.

Is Democratic governance the worst under transplanted condition? The slogan for the people, of the people by the people in democracy seemed to trap the demagogues (people) in perpetual exploitation. I elect you; therefore, I am responsible for your misdeeds... Every time, accountability is sought, the people will be held responsible for electing that selfish rogue. The people are held responsible for making such a bad choice whereas in reality the votes were manipulated and purchased through the ringmasters/power brokers/gun holders. The elected leader owes his accountability only to these goons. It means that the elected leader will respond only when one of his supporters speaks on your behalf and for that his palm is to be greased. A refusal to be in the palm greasing team ensures an eternal forbidden status unless another godfather extends his helping hand. How is a common man to survive in this condition? It is not surprising that democracy has not improved condition, it rather worsened life as in the case of UP/ Bihar or Kashmir and, central part of India, northeast region of India and several parts of the world.

Democracy works in educated, well informed and responsible society. It works well under high standards of moral responsibility that ultimately mirrors the character of the nation. The renaissance and revolutions experienced in the west have moulded the society under framework of principles and ethics of administration. Transitional and developing countries have not experienced such intellectual or technological revolutions like the west. Third world countries are still grappling to understand and absorbed the concept, principle and value of democratic institution and the expectation to produce efficient and effective delivery at this stage of transition is a huge burden. In the absence of strong principles and ethical framework; democratic government in developing countries often becomes a dared devil under control of thugs and thieves producing malfunction and dysfunctional institutions. Recent example is Afghanistan and older version is India; the largest democracy that strangely thrives on family dynasties supported by self conceited feudal administrative machinery recruited on merit. India’s lopsided economic growth and the conflicts arising from this unequal growth evidenced the sharp inequality in its modern structure. Similarly, democratic institution in Pakistan acting subordinated to its military agency has reduced this rich Punjab land into abject poverty.

The lesson to note is that the tool of governance found in democratic institutions cannot serve its purpose if planted in uncongenial ground. Democracy may not be the best option but oligarchy and dictatorship are not a better option. It is better to make democratic governance works under ethical framework to realized full freedom and equality than to surrender the freedom under dictatorship. Make sure that dictatorship does not reemerge from democracy.

How can democracy become effective to counter conflicts? The failed democratic institutions often resorted to indoctrinating  intellectualism with bitterness on the past history and overlooks inherent internal weaknesses. The principle of inequity and the spirit of disunity characterized India even before arrivals of the Mughals and Britishers. But it is made to appear that India was politically united, socially harmonious and secure before arrival of these rulers and it seemingly looked for reasons to hold its neighbor responsible for the conflicts within. It is a wonder how   Pakistan or China can be held responsible for movement by backward caste and tribal as Maoists and Naxalites or Northeast India insurgencies? The premise of thought is, one’s own house must be in order lest relatives, friends and neighbors take advantage and meddle it. It is a lesson that taught us to look within deep inside.

When an ailing state is unwilling to acknowledge its weaknesses, it will point fingers outside to blame friends and foes. To conceal its weaknesses, it may resort to bashing up its own citizens to be obedient and discipline. The ailing state is refusing to believe the growing disease inside its system and continues to waste time in blaming others rather than taking a diagnostic treatment. In an interesting  piece   written by an Indian writer  in New York times recently,  the ailment in India   is aptly described with disdainful truth; The “us” is the ordinary people of India, the “man on the street,” as they too-literally call him here — hard-working, diligent, scrupulous; the “them” are the bums in politics and the bureaucracy — lazy, deceitful, imperious scoundrels. If the “them” at the very top are unacceptably corrupt, it may be because the “us” taught them everything they know. In effect, every Indian is a defaulter in the system. This piece is a lesson for neighbors as well to look within than the without.

Corruption is a product of two exchanges engaged in cheating. It is unfair to say that only the bribe taker is at fault, the bribe giver is equally responsible. It is also incorrect to say that only position holders are defaulters, the bottom level persons are equally responsible in derailing the system. Corruption knows no bar or distinction, it occurs at all levels and everywhere.  The current movement exposes the thieving and cheating character of a nation. The least expected from responsible leaders, public servants and citizen is to own up for the default and look within to find the internal weaknesses than explore the outside to justify the wrong action. Democratic governance is inclusive, equal, fair and just.

In the Indian context, real democracy would challenge inequality on which India’s social structure was founded centuries ago. Removal of the principle of inequality so deeply entrenched in the Indian traditional belief and social structure that still shapes the economy and polity of modern century India is the hardest challenge for India. Marriages between similar castes, dominance of upper caste in political leadership, administration, professions as also the widened gap between rich and poor are all products of traditional belief and structure despite its banned under the constitution. The principle of equity in democracy has not yet sunk into the Indian psyche despite the profess policy of inclusiveness, constitutional protection of minorities and thus discrimination, victimization, harassment and brutalization of still exist happily. In the Indian context, corruption is one of the symptoms amongst other vices and looking inside in this local context would mean, looking at the inequality that supports the entire framework of this nation. This is indeed a universal dilemma and is closely linked to the rise of terrorism.

Build the house on rocks and not on sand: The ability to look 'within' inside will 'help' and constant desire to look ‘without’ ‘will not help’. The current Indian mass movement against corruption is a step in the right direction, though unfortunately stalled by vested groups in power for transparent process of implementation. Nonetheless, it signifies a search for solution to the problem from within. The movement does not blame British colonialists who left India 64 years ago or Pakistanis or Chinese for the pervasive corruption in India. Seeking solution from within will reason out the various causes of corruption in local context, its impact on poverty and consequential effects such as inequality, exploitation, victimization, harassment and brutalization. Search from within will make everyone busy with no time available to interfere in others affairs. Healing the inside with favorable administrative policy decisions without corruption and coercion is the prescription to address social tension, political dilemma and economic crisis that has engulfed our planet in this blissful universal orbit. The aliens from outer space will not solve our problem; we earthlings are the solution to the problem. Minus unfair dealings and corruption, the puzzle will be solved.

_____________________

Acknowledgement: I thank the Afghanistan National Reconciliation forum for the platform that gave me the opportunity to enlarge this concept of my earlier published article. I thank Saba Hussain of London School of Economics for the additional information and Kingsley Sheteh Newuh of Birmingham University, U.K for the critical comments in my earlier forums with them.

About the author:

Ms. Margaret Gangte is actively engaged in various international forums on global issues and is currently a Director in the Ministry of Defense, Government of India. She is an author of Journal Articles and a writer on policy issues. Some of her published articles are Sustainable Community Development Alternative: Unlocking the Lock (Journal of Sustainable Development by Canada Center of Science), Right Man for the Right Job: Motivate to Deliver (Indian Journal of Dynamic Public Administration) and Farewell Gift to Afghanistan Before the Final Adieu (Public Administration Times, USA). Her articles on public policy are also published in ezinearticles.com and news journals in Northeast India.

*Questions or comments may be sent to the author's email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
**The arguments and points raised in this article are solely of the author. EROPA is not liable for the information presented in the article.

Readers can post comments here.

BACK TO THE BLOG FRONT PAGE