------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACHA PEACE
BULLETIN
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/ACHAPeaceBulletin
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A publication of
Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA)
www.asiapeace.org & www.indiapakistanpeace.org
Editor: Pritam K. Rohila, PhD pritam@open.org
Subscription is free.
To SUBSCRIBE, email a request to ACHAPeaceBulletin-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To UNSUBSCRIBE, email the request to ACHAPeaceBulletin-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Volume XI, No. 3, April 15, 2007, Next Issue May 15, 2007
______________________________________________________________________________
CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
*South Asia Comes
of Age, Pritam K. Rohila, Ph. D.
PEACE & HARMONY NEWS
BOOKS
*Questioning
Globalised Militarism
PEACE &
HARMONY CONFERENCES
*August
12-15, Pune, India: S. ASIAN YOUTH & DEMOCRACY
PEACE & HARMONY EDUCATION & RESOURCES
*Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program
PEACE & HARMONY CONTESTS & PRIZES
*Peace
Around the World
*Guru
Nanak Interfaith Prize
SRI LANKA UPDATE
*Appeal for Humanitarian Ceasefire for Sinhala and Tamil New Year
______________________________________________________________________________
HAPPY BAISAKHI, VISHU
HAPPY BANGLA & TAMI: NEW YEAR
EDITORIAL
*South Asia Comes
of Age, Pritam K. Rohila, Ph. D.
The recently concluded
14th summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in New
Delhi marks an important development in the region’s
diplomatic circles.
The meeting marks a
significant change in the way SAARC members are dealing with problems facing
them. Dialog and debate are replacing war and violence as instruments of
diplomacy in South Asia.
It was remarkable that
some of the contentious issues, like India’s
SAFTA dispute with Pakistan, and
Bhutanese refugees in Nepal, were
not allowed to spoil the work of the summit.
Instead, the leaders decided to deal with them at the bilateral level.
The leaders reached
agreements, which when implemented will speed up South
Asia’s progress toward enduring peace, and
prosperity.
They decided to set up a
university, food bank, development fund, and arbitration council for the
benefit of the member countries. They agreed to improve intra-regional
connectivity so that there is smooth flow of goods, services, technology,
knowledge, capital, culture and ideas in the region. They resolved to cooperate
with each other to combat terrorism. Also India
offered to unilaterally open its markets to SAARC countries and to liberalize
its visa regime for some of their people.
The whole world is
interested in what is happening in South
Asia. The fact that the world’s all major
powers, namely the United States, the European Union, Japan, China, and South
Korea, have sought observer status in SAARC is its clear evidence.
It seems like South
Asia is finally coming to age. Bravo!
PEACE & HARMONY NEWS
Indian
Sikh pilgrims arrive at Wagah railway station by three special trains to
celebrate the Baisakhi festival, April 9, 2007
*India, Pak discuss Sir Creek next month THE NEWS |
Saturday,
April 14,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=379494&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*Pakistan: Ceasefire agreed in Kurram Agency DAILY
TIMES |, April 13,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=379238&category=Frontend&Country=PAKISTAN
*Pakistan facilitating Sikh Yatrees DAILY
TIMES | Thursday, April 12,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=379003&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India offers talks for on N-doctrines DAILY
TIMES | Thursday, April 12,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=378897&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*Indian, Pak
traders set up joint groups DAILY
TIMES | Wednesday, April 11,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=378604&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India: Now, a
'secular' answer to BJP's hate CD, Sharat
Pradhan in Lucknow | April 11, 2007 http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/11uppoll3.htm
*India, Pakistan renew Samjhota pact DAILY
TIMES |Tuesday, April 10,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=378270&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*3rd Kashmir roundtable in a month: Azad INDIA eNEWS.COM | April 10,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=378452&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India: PM chairs meet on troop withdrawal from J & K,
April
10, 2007 09:08 IST
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/10troop.htm
*India fans for Bangladesh in semi-finals
LANKA
BUSINESS | April 10,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=378463&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India,
Pak ready to demilitarise J&K, PoK: Mirwaiz, April 09,
2007 14:26 IST http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/09jk.htm
*Golden Jubilee of
SL–Nepal ties DAILY MIRROR |
Monday,
April 09,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=378065&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Kashmir bus service completes two years THE NEWS |Sunday,
April
08,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=377898&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Hindu trust helps Mughal emperor's kin March 30,
2007
http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=20938
*Pak, India to continue Siachen talks THE
HINDU | Sunday, April 08,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=377709&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*India plans rail link to 5 Nepal cities THE
HIMALYAN TIMES | April 08,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=377695&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Mufti for turning Kashmir into
free economic zone, PTI, April 07, 2007 00:03 IST
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/07jk.htm
*Pak
soccer squad off to Kerala, India DAILY
TIMES | Saturday, April 07,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=377507&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Aziz, Karzai agree to cooperate DAILY
TIMES |Friday, April 06,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=377203&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*14th SAARC summit concludes DAILY
TIMES | Thursday, April 05,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376977&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India: TN to
provide separate reservation for Muslims, Christians, April 05,
2007
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/05quota.htm
*Sri Lanka,
Nepal FTA on anvil DAILY MIRROR | Thursday,
April 05,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=377029&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Nepal, Bhutan to solve refugee crisis THE
HIMALAYAN TIMES | April 05,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376878&category=Frontend&Country=NEPAL
*Pak PM for
promoting mutual trust THE NEWS |
Wednesday,
April 04,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376673&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India to open markets unilaterally ASIA TRIBUNE |Wednesday,
April
04,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376670&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*'Sea change' in
Indo-Pak ties: Kasuri NDTV |Monday,
April
02,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376241&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India: Communities
strike harmony chord on Ram Navami, The Telegraph, Mar 28, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070328/asp/jamshedpur/story_7574743.asp
*India: Salafi conference calls for religious harmony, The Hindu, Mar
29, 2007 http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/29/stories/2007032919520500.htm
*SAFMA meet: India for scribes' free flow INDIAN
PRESS.ORG | April 02,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376259&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*SAFMA forms regional
commission Monday,
April 02,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376328&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Nepal: Maoists sworn into new interim govt KANTIPUR Monday, April 02,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376300&category=Frontend&Country=NEPAL
*Life smiles on
Thar Express passenger THE NEWS |
Sunday,
April 01,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=376132&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Pakistan: CII
asks govt to leash extremism DAILY
TIMES | March 31,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375819&category=Frontend&Country=PAKISTAN
*Indo-Pak trade may touch $9bn THE NEWS |
Saturday,
March 31,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375832&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Pak
SC asks police to trace Hindu family DAILY
TIMES | Saturday, March 31,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375754&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*‘SAARC
a big success’ NEWINDPRESS.COM
| Saturday, March 31,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375858&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*SAFTA can help
solve Kashmir issue? Daily Times
Friday,
March 30,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375551&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*NSCN says
substantial progress in talks Indian Express |
Friday,
March 30,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375618&category=Frontend&Country=INDIA
*Indo-Bangla
train gets go-ahead signal DAILY
TIMES | Friday, March 30,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375605&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India grants Rs 2610 cr to Bhutan ASSAM
TRIBUNE |Friday, March 30,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375692&category=Frontend&Cou
ntry=BHUTAN
*SAARC car rally enters
Pakistan INDIA NEWS |Thursday,
March
29,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375299&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*5th SAARC
peoples' forum begins DAILY STAR |Thursday,
March
29,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375239&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Transmitter:
Pak gift to Afghanistan DAILY
TIMES | Thursday, March 29,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375331&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Bhutan: Mock
elections dates set KUENSEL
ONLINE | Thursday, March 29,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375284&category=Frontend&Country=BHUTAN
*Maldives: Limited private broadcasting allowed MINIVAN NEWS |
March
29,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=375296&category=Frontend&Country=MALDIVES
*Pak team named
for Indo-Pak Golf DAILY
TIMES | Wednesday, March 28,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374878&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Asia and India Region’s CPA ends DAILY TIMES |
Wednesday,
March 28,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374886&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Birds
return to Kashmir valley
as violence ebbs, Sheikh Mushtaq, Reuters, 26 Mar
kashmir_news@yahoo.com
*Kabul Uses
Madrasahs to Counter Taliban, IslamOnline.net, March 25, 2007 http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1173695371173&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout
*'Musharraf's J&K proposals have brought
hope', PTI, March 27,
2007 15:38 IST
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/mar/27indpak.htm
*India wants cross-border national parks THE
TIMES OF INDIA | March 27,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374707&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Pakistan: Tribes pledge not to shelter terrorists DAWN |
Tuesday,
March 27,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374621&category=Frontend&Country=PAKISTAN
*SAAPE
for arms sale control in S. Asia THE
HIMALYAN TIMES | March 27,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374508&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*SAARC
Summit: India to allay Pak fears FINANCIAL
EXPRESS March
26,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374204&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*People’s SAARC
summit ends TRIBUNE INDIA |Monday,
March
26,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374234&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Build exploitation-free Bangladesh THE NEWS TODAY |
Monday,
March 26,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374202&category=Frontend&Country=BANGLADESH
*India's good gesture on petrol debt KANTIPUR |
Monday,
March 26,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374370&category=Frontend&Country=NEPAL
*India: 3
convicted for lynching family in 1984 anti-Sikh riots, PTI, March 26,
2007 http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/mar/26riot.htm
*Bhutto for
ending terror for Indo-Pak peace DAILY TIMES |
March
25,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374058&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India moves towards troops cut in Kashmir THE
HINDU |Sunday, March 25,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=374149&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*Pak-Afghan traders to
be peace envoys THE NEWS |Saturday,
March
24,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=373921&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*UNDP sets out vision for Maldives MINIVAN |Saturday,
March
24,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=373816&category=Frontend&Country=MALDIVES
*Pakistan's most senior judge Justice Rana Bhagwandas, March 22,
2007 http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/mar/23look.htm
*SAARC car
rally to boost Indo-Pak ties PAKTRIBUNE |Friday, March 23,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=373747&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN007
*SAARC set to
go the EU way TRIBUNE INDIA |Friday,
March
23,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=373613&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Rs 106.5-cr package for Gujarat victims The
Telegraph | Friday, March 23,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=373658&category=Frontend&Country=INDIA
*Ceasefire
brokered in Waziristan DAILY TIMES |
Friday,
March 23,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=373583&category=Frontend&Country=PAKISTAN
Nepal
okays US offer on Bhutan refugees ZEE
NEWS | Friday, March 23,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=373579&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Indo-Pak
Jamiat to celebrate 1857 war INDIA EXPRESS |
March
21,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=372958&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Commonwealth parliamentary moot in Pak DAILY
TIMES | March 21,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=372955&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India ready for co-op mechanism on J-K TRIBUNE INDIA March 21,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=372922&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*Indo-Pak talks on Wuller Barrage today DAILY TIMES |Tuesday, March 20,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=372593&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Demand up for Samjhota Express travel DAILY TIMES |Monday, March 19,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=372387&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*Sharing
the best of Asian stocks THE ECONOMIC TIMES |Monday, March 19,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=372452&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India funding
power projects in Nepal TELEGRAPH |Monday, March 19,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=372366&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India intellectual for
sharing of rivers DAILY
TIMES |Sunday, March 18,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=372052&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Plan to establish SAARC food bank THE
NATION |Sunday, March 18,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=372127&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Pak Jirga pledges
Afghan border security THE NEWS |Sunday,
March
18,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=372079&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Pak committed to peace with India NATION |Saturday,
March
17,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=371780&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
*India to continue aid for Nepal NEPAL
NEWS |Saturday, March 17,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=371851&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*India raises Nepal students' freeship HIMALAYAN
TIMES |Friday, March 16,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=371629&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Singh for cooperative solutions to India-Pak problems DAILY
TIMES | March 15,07 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=371247&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN
*Pakistan, India to sign visa accord ZEE
NEWES |Thursday, March 15,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=371232&category=frontend&Country=main&pro=0
BOOKS
*Questioning Globalised
Militarism: Nuclear and Military Production and Marxist Economic Theory, Peter Custers, Tulika Books, New Delhi, 2007, 431 pages, Rs. 695
Review: A daring attempt, by C.
T. Kurien, Frontline
Volume 24 - Issue 06: March 24 - April 06, 2007
The book attempts to
interweave the empirical problem of globalised militarism with the economic
theory of Marxist tradition.
PETER CUSTERS was an activist in the Dutch peace
movement in the 1980s and was subsequently associated with studies relating to
women's labour in Asia. He was an activist with a
theoretical bent of mind, and this book, therefore, is the product of all three
-
activism, empirical studies and theoretical excursions. In the Foreword, Samir
Amin describes the book as "audacious and important" but adds that
"it is not always easy to read". It is also rather difficult to
review, mainly because the author makes a brave - `audacious' - attempt to
interweave the empirical problem of globalised militarism with the economic
theory of Marxist tradition.
PEACE & HARMONY CONFERENCES
*August 12-15, Pune, India: SOUTH ASIAN CONFERENCE ON YOUTH &
DEMOCRACY. As India and Pakistan completes the celebration of sixty years of
independence on 15th August, Centre for Youth Development and Activities (CYDA)
in association with like-minded organisations intend to organize a 3-day
international conference on Youth & Democracy in South Asia. The
objective of this program is to bring together, young people, youth activists
and academicians from different walks of life and deliberate on concerns and
issues of democracy in the context of young people. More info from: www.cydaindia.org , cyda@vsnl.com
, or CYDA
#4, Vasanttara, Above
Udhyam Vikas Sahkari Bank, Next to Surya Hotel, Off Ghole Road, Pune 411004, Phone 020 - 25533168
PEACE & HARMONY EDUCATION & RESOURCES
*July 1, 2007 is the deadline for application for admission to the January
2008 session of Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program – Strengthening
Today’s Leaders to Build Peace to be held in Bangkok, Thailand.
This is a professional
development program through which up to 30 participants embark on three months
of intensive study. More info from Jenn
Weidman, Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program Specialist, at jenn.weidman@rotary.org or
847-866-3374 and http://www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/rpcsp/index.html.
PEACE & HARMONY CONTESTS & PRIZES
*Peace
Around the World is the theme of Lions Club International’s peace poster
contest for students who will be age 11, 12, or 13 on November 15. More information available from your nearest
Lions Club.
The
winner artist will receive an engraved plaque and a cash prize of $2,500 at a
special award ceremony on Lions Day at the United Nations headquarters. The
international grand prize winner, along with the sponsoring club president and
two family members, will receive a trip to New York for the award ceremony.
Each
of the 23 merit award winners will receive a cash award of $500 and a
certificate of achievement.
*Guru
Nanak Interfaith Prize New York’s Hofstra University invites nominations for the $50,000 Guru Nanak
Interfaith Prize to be awarded, in 2008, to a person or organization for
promoting constructive dialogue between communities of different faiths.
Nominations
should provide a two-page letter describing the nominee and nominee’s
interfaith work and should be submitted before July 1 electronically at
www.hofstra.edu/gurunanak, by email at GuruNanakPrize@hofstra.edu or in writing
to Dean Bernard J. Firestone, Hofstra College of liberal Arts and Sciences,
200A Heger Hall, 115 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549-1115..
SRI LANKA UPDATE
*Appeal
for Humanitarian Ceasefire for Sinhala and Tamil New Year, March
30, 2007
The air attack by the LTTE on the
Katunayake air force base, which adjoins the country's sole international
airport, and the government's response through air bombardment of LTTE held
areas, are ominous indications of the path of military escalation that lies
ahead. The developments in the military theatre of conflict, and the response
to them by the combatant parties are also serving to take public attention away
from the human tragedies in the war-affected parts of the country.
However, the three decade-long history of armed Tamil militancy in the country,
and efforts to militarily suppress it, show that victories and defeats are
ephemeral and illusory. The overwhelming difficulty of returning people to
their normal lives after catastrophe has been amply demonstrated by the past
displacements of people by war and by tsunami. Despite massive international
and national efforts to restore normalcy to the lives of the victims of past
catastrophes, the process has been difficult and slow.
Batticaloa in the east of the country has tragically become an area of
internally displaced persons. Recent military operations to liberate
LTTE-controlled areas in the Batticaloa District have inflicted terrible
destruction on civilian areas and have led to a massive increase in the number
of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The number of new IDPs in the
Batticaloa District alone has reportedly increased to over 160,000 persons.
According to latest figures supplied by officials at Batticaloa district
secretariat more than one - third of Batticaloa's population of 422,674 is now
displaced.
The shelling from populated areas in Batticaloa is having a terrible impact on
the whole population of the district, whether displaced or not. The environment
is increasingly like a war zone, with consequent psychological impacts.
Children are particularly victimized by the displacement, suffering from
malnutrition and bad health. Many displaced children do not attend schools, and
the conversion of schools into welfare centres affects the education of even
the non-displaced children. Displacement also creates an avenue for violence
against women which is exacerbated by a lack of privacy and disruption of
family life.
The rapid increase in displacement has stretched the capacity of the
international and domestic agencies to provide an adequate response. Currently
there are 80 IDP sites in the Batticaloa Districts out of which 30 are located
in schools. Unfortunately, the conditions in these camps are poor and there
have been shortages reported of food, water, non-food relief items, and
sanitation facilities. The current hostile environment for local and
international NGOs and agencies providing humanitarian assistance places
further impediments on their mobility and accessibility with regard to
provision of humanitarian relief. The World Food Programme reported that food
stocks are only sufficient for a few weeks and is calling for increased
contributions from donors. It is unfortunate that while the conflict escalates
and enormous amounts are spent on keeping the war machinery going, we have to
depend on international assistance to feed our own citizens.
The National Peace Council calls on the Government and the LTTE to respect
International Humanitarian Law and the UN Guiding Principles on Internal
Displacement with regard to the safety and wellbeing of civilians. It is
important that any practice of forced resettlement of IDPs, where conditions of
instability continue to prevail, should be discontinued. Our preparation to
celebrate Easter and the Sinhala and Tamil New year would be more appropriate
and meaningful only if steps are taken to enable those who are displaced to
live in safety and dignity
The coming Easter season and the Sinhala and Tamil New Year present a time for
affirmation in both words and deeds that new life and new beginnings are possible.
Before a mutually destructive total war takes place throughout the country, we
call on the government and LTTE to declare a humanitarian ceasefire and to
return to the obligations of the Ceasefire Agreement that would be the
cornerstone of a just and lasting political settlement based upon an
irrevocable sharing and devolution of power.
National Peace Council of Sri Lanka,
12/14 Purana Vihara Road, Colombo
6 Tel: 2818344, 2854127, Tel/Fax:2819064, peace2@sri.lanka.net,
www.peace-srilanka.org