ACHA PEACE BULLETIN http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/ACHAPeaceBulletin
A publication of Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA) www.asiapeace.org
Editor: Pritam K. Rohila, Ph. D.
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ACHA PEACE BULLETIN (Volume IV, No. 8, August 07, 2002 (Next issue, September 04, 2002)
CONTENTS
Greetings From ACHA
Something To Think About
Prayer: With Hearts
United In Prayer, We Bless The World With Love And Understanding
Editorial: What’s Right
With South Asia, By Pritam K. Rohila, Ph.D.
Jammu & Kashmir News
Ayodhya Issue
Gujarat Carnage – Relief
Work
Peace & Harmony News
Peace & Harmony
Organizations
South Asian Network for
Secularism and Democracy (SANSAD), Vancouver, B.C.
Friends of South Asia (FOSA), Bay area, California, USA
EKTA, California, USA
Indian
Social Institute, Benson town,
Bangalore
Peace & Harmony
Resources
The
NewDeal Foundation
National
Youth Dialogue On Peace And
Feature
Public
Apology - From Pakistanis To Bangladeshis
Propagating
Peace? By Maisoon Hussein, Dawn, The
Internet Edition, July 28, 2002
When
A Town In Gujarat Refused To Burn,
By Sheela Bhatt, Rediff.Com July 31, 2002
Indo-Pak
Kashmiri Children Find Friendship,
By Seth Mydans, KRRC, July 5, 2002
Letters
A
Minimum Agenda, Naeem Sadiq,
Pakistan, July 21, 2002
Books & Videos
Dialogue
Of Civilizations: Civilization, Terror, And Dialogue, By Tehranian & Chappell
Ethnic
Conflict & Civic Life: Hindus & Muslims In India, By A. Varshney, 2002
Sowing
Hate & Reaping Violence-The Case Of Gujarat Communal Carnage, By Engineer
Speaking
Peace: Women's Voices From Kashmir, Edited
By Urvashi Butalia 2002
The
Pranami Faith: Beyond Hindu And Muslim,
By Dominique Sila-Khan
Hey
Ram: Genocide In The Land Of Gandhi
(Video)
Indian Journal Of Secularism, Volume 6, No. 2, July -
September, 2002
Conferences
Berkeley,
California, Usa: 18th Annual South
Asia Conference
August
10-11, New Delhi, India: Earth
Democracy (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
August 12, New Delhi, India: Azadi-Community Rights: The Foundation Of
Real Freedom
August
12-14, San Juan, Puerto Rico: Inter.
Conference On Peace & Development
August
18, Mumbai, India: People's
Alternative To Liberalization-Privatization-
Globalization, Communal And Fascist Violence And War
September
12-15, New York, Ny, Usa: Third
Global Indian Entrepreneurs Conference
Events
Till
September 29, Washington, D. C., Usa:
The Adventures Of Hamza
Environment
Websites
REPORTS & ANALYSES
(For a copy send a blank
email to pritamr@open.org
with its subject as the UPPERCASE word in the article title. Please limit your
request to 3 articles)
Agriculture
Seeding HOPE in Anantapur, By Shankar Srinivas, sulekha.com, Jul 18,
2002
Culture
India's 'miracle RIVER (Saraswati), on BBC Radio 4 , 29
June, 2002
India
KALAM rockets into Presidential orbit, By , July 18, 2002
NAGAS
are looking for a solution within the Indian Union, By S. Bhatt,
07.31. 02
Islam
Sociological APPROACH To Islam, By Asghar Ali Engineer, Islam and Modern Age, July
Kashmir
Is
Kashmir GAME? By Seema Mustafa,
Asian Age, July 5, 2002
Kashmiri STRUGGLE and Pakistan’s
‘principled stand,’ By Shabir
Choudhry, 07.05.02
Murder
of LONE Sahib--who is next? By Shabir
Choudhry, July 5, 2002
Kashmir: A GUN to India's head, By S. Ramachandran, Asia Times Online, July 6, 2002
Kashmir:
on PATROL, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Channel
4, July 21, 2002
No
TRUCE till India withdraws troops from Valley...? By Mubashir Zaidi, Indian Express,
Kashmiri
Impelled to LEAD by His Father's Death,
By Raymond Bonner, June 1, 2002
Not
All Terrorists Are ALIKE, Time
Magazine, June 3, 2002
Hurriyat
looking for SHEIKH Abdullah, By
Showkat A Motta, July 31, 2002
Collin
POWELL visit and situation on ground,
By Hamid Bashani, July 26, 2002
Freedom
struggle enters a crucial STAGE, By
Shabir Choudhry, London, July 29, 2002
THANK
you Jagmohan and Vajpayee, By Shabir
Choudhry, London, July 29, 2002
A
limited war is still on CARDS, By
Shabir Choudhry, London, July 29, 2002
Kashmir
RETHINK, Editorial, Times of India,
Times News Network, August 043 2002
A
SKI Resort Perseveres In Kashmir Battle Zone, By John Lancaster, July 5, 2002
Politics
And now are we moving towards CASTE
States? By P Radakrishnan,
July 28, 2002
Terrorism
The Dishonorable
British BOY, By Shyam
Bhatia, Rediff.com July 15, 2002
Women
Gang RAPE outrage sparks payout, CNN, CNN July 4, 2002
____________________________________________________________________________
GREETINGS FROM ACHA
To all Indian & Pakistani friends:
Happy Independence Day!
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
*Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget. Don't let the past hold you back, you're missing the good stuff. - Anonymous
PRAYER
*With hearts united in prayer, we bless the world with love and understanding, Daily Word, June 18, 2002
The beliefs and customs of the people of the world differ. Yet despite any differences, we can unite our hearts in prayers for understanding, peace, and acceptance of one another.
The divine love that is within each of us transcends barriers of race, belief, and language. Love is a bond that unites all God’s children. I know that as I pray, the love that flows from my heart to the next person’s and then the next continues moving until it comes full circle and returns to me.
Uniting my heart with others in prayer, I join the people of the world in raising the consciousness of love and understanding to new heights.
EDITORIAL
*What’s right with South Asia, By Pritam K. Rohila, Ph.D.
Every progressive Pakistani can be justifiably proud of the way the media, the police, courts and religious and civil leaders came together to do what was right, proper and lawful to deal with the brutal but the tribal-council-authorized gang rape of the 28-year-old Mukhtaran Bibi, on June 22, in the Southern Punjab town of Meerwala.
Good things are happening not only in Pakistan but also in other South Asian countries. That other parts of the country were not engulfed by the flames of hatred and violence which recently devastated Muslims in some parts of Gujarat points to the inherent strength, not weakness of secularism and civil society in India. Also, in Sri Lanka, things are returning to normalcy as Tamil rebels and the government are get ready to overcome their differences.
South Asia bashing is a popular sport not only among foreigners, but also among South Asians. Yes, there is much wrong with South Asia. But there is also some right with this part of the world.
We must do our level best to overcome what is wrong with us. It would be nice for us also to notice what is right in South Asia and to help it nourish, so that it grows faster and stronger.
Nations are like people. They go through the stages of development as people do - from infancy through adolescence and adulthood to old-age and senescence. Looking at where some of the ‘developed’ nations were in the first 50- odd years of the birth of their nationhood can help provide us a better perspective of how things are in South Asia.
JAMMU & KASHMIR NEWS
*EC going all out to ensure free, fair J&K poll
The commission has also decided to set up polling booths in Delhi, Jammu, and Udhampur to enable Kashmiri Pandits and other migrants from the valley to cast their votes.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/aug/02jk8.htm
*Assembly Elections
J&K (India) poll on Sep 16, 24, Oct 1, 8 Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh said that while adequate security would be provided, it would take some courage on the part of the voters too to exercise their franchise. http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/aug/02jk.htm
*Gun cannot solve the Kashmir issue: Hashim Qureshi
“Gun has highlighted the Kashmir issue but it cannot solve
it, so somewhere a democratic process has to start and this blood shed needs to
be stopped," Chairman of Democratic
Liberation Party (DLP) Hashim Qureshi qureshi@chello.nl
said July 31 in Srinagar. Referring to Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PAK) he
said "in PAK also elections are held and whoever contests the elections
has to swear by the Pakistani constitution and its accession to Pakistan but
that doesn't mean that PAK is an integral part of Pakistan. As Indian occupied
Kashmir is disputed similarly PAK is also disputed." “I stand for
independent Kashmir from Gilgit to
Lakhanpur. India and Pakistan both have forcibly occupied two sides of
Kashmir. It is not only India which needs to evacuate the Kashmir under
its control, Pakistan also needs to do the same,” he added. (Monitor News Bureau Via KASHNET kashmir-global-network-owner@yahoogroups.com)
*492 British MP’s urge India and Pakistan to resolve issue peacefully
A record number of MPs have by July 30 signed a petition calling on the governments of India and Pakistan to resolve peacefully the dispute over Kashmir and prevent an outbreak of nuclear war. A total of 492 MPs from all parties have expressed their concern over the tensions, which after a brief period of calm were heightened again last weekend by a gun and grenade attack which killed 28 Hindus. (Via KASHNET kashmir-global-network-owner@yahoogroups.com)
*New Delhi discusses autonomy for Indian Kashmir (AFP)
New Delhi July 25 opened talks with a representative of
the restive Indian state of Kashmir on granting autonomy to the
insurgency-wracked state, government sources said. The sources said the first
round of talks took place in New Delhi between Arun Jaitly, a former Indian law
minister and spokesman for the ruling BJP party, and Kashmir minister Ghulam
Mohiudin Shah. (Via Tariq Siraj <tmsiraj@yahoo.com)
*Separatist leader conditionally willing to contest Kashmir polls (AFP)
"I will take part in the polls to establish my representative character if the Indian government opens a dialogue for discussing the core issue of Kashmir with all separatist groups," leading Kashmiri political separatist leader Shabir Shah told AFP July 25 in Kashmir's winter capital, Jammu. He said Thursday talks should also include Kashmiri leaders from Pakistan-administered Kashmir. (Via Tariq Siraj <tmsiraj@yahoo.com)
*PPP will reject jihadis fighting in Kashmir: Benazir (PTI)
"If my party is voted to power, I will have a more pro-active policy towards India and I will totally reject the idea of jihadis fighting in Kashmir," former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto July 24 told Pakistani journalists at a luncheon meeting in London http://www.hindustantimes.com/on/img/0.gif (Via Kashmir Record & Research Council news@krrc.org)
*Sardar Qayyum wants APHC to take part in Jammu & Kashmir (India) elections
In a surprise development, Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan, head of the Kashmir Committee set up by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, in a phone call appealed to Hurriyat Chairman Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat to participate in the coming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Mohammed Faiz Naqshbandi, member of the Pakistani chapter of the Hurriyat told July 24 reporters in Islamabad. (Via Kashmir Record & Research Council news@krrc.org)
*Kashmir: A Way Forward
On Wednesday, July 24, the Kashmir Forum hosted a briefing for Members of U. S. Congress and staff with M. Farooq Kathwari, Chairman, President and CEO of Ethan Allen. Mr. Kathwari, a Kashmiri, founded the Kashmir Study Group http://www.kashmirstudygroup.net/. , and developed the Livingston Proposal, Kashmir: A Way Forward. This proposal recommended that a portion of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir be reconstituted as a sovereign entity (but without an international personality). Mr. Kathwari shared his thoughts on Kashmir and lead a discussion on the Kashmir Study Group's proposal. (Via tariqmir9@hotmail.com)
*Shabir Shah may fight J&K election
The democratic process should be used to put forth effectively the need of a purposeful dialogue to resolve the Kashmir problem, he said. http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/08jk.htm
*Shifting sands in Kashmir
'Unlike in the past, the major segments of the separatist conglomerate like the Hurriyat Conference and Jammat-e-Islami have been labouring hard to avoid giving a boycott call,' says Mohammad Sayeed Malik. http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/july/06.htm
*Ex-CM of Jammu & Kashmir (India) Shah revives plan for 'intra-Kashmir' dialogue
Ghulam Mohammed Shah, former chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir and chairman of the J&K Awami National Conference, has convened an "intra-Kashmir conference" in "search of peace and solutions" in the third week of August in Srinagar. Politicians, intellectuals, lawyers and journalists from both sides of the Line of Control are expected to take part in the two-day convention. (Via Kashmir Record & Research Council news@krrc.org July 5, 2002)
*Only political solution to Kashmir: Muslim outfit
The All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat called for Indo-Pak talks, which might lead to freedom of 'peaceful intercourse between the people divided' by the LoC.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/03jk3.htm
*Sajjad Lone urges Hurriyat to initiate talks
'Hurriyat has been bestowed with public trust and faith. It is time for them to take effective measures to end the sufferings of people,' the son of slain separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone said. http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/02jk.htm
*Student peace-rally at Srinagar
As part of a rare peace rally, organized by Human Watch, a local non-governmental organization, to denounce war and nuclear weapons, over 500 school children marched June 29 from Sher-I-Kashmir Park to Lal Chowk. “Save Humanity from Horrors of Nuclear War,” Liquidate War Mongering from Power and Politics,” and “No Wat, Yes to Talks,” read some of the placards the children carried. (Press Trust of India, Via India west July 5, 2002).
AYODHYA ISSUE
*Court favours excavation of disputed Ayodhya site, By Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow, Rediff.com, August 2, 2002 http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/aug/02sharat.htm
The special bench of the Allahabad high court hearing the proceedings in the Ayodhya dispute has favoured an extensive excavation in and around the disputed site in the temple town to determine whether an ancient temple ever existed there before the construction of the 16th century Babri Masjid.
GUJARAT CARNAGE –
RELIEF WORK
For the past few months, Ajay Raina and Leya Mathew have been working on the relief/rehabilitation/regeneration of employment opportunities in Kasai Ki Chali and Gasi Ram Ki Chali, in Ahmedabad. It is a locality of 100 odd families.
In Kasai Ki Chali things are gathering momentum. The people are coming back. More and more houses are being cleaned up. There are clothes hanging out to dry. There are children playing cricket and grown ups are shouting at the children playing cricket. But the entrance to the Gasi Ram Ki Chali is still blocked and the residents (about 46 families) are still in the Behrampura camp.
Most of the families work in the patang (kite) making, un-organized sector. A family makes at least 2000 per day, and they get 30 rupees for 1000 kites. Therefore, as part of the regeneration of employment they are planning to get the residents make about 10,000 kites, which they hope to sell at Rs. 5 each, to some organizations or people in bundles of 100 to 1000, to fly on August 15, India’s Independence Day.
They have already have distributed to clothes, footware, notebooks, pens, pencils, color pencils, compass boxes, tiffin boxes, water bottles, school bags, bedsheets, towels kitchen utensils, stoves, and pressure cookers. They have Thela/Rehris to some of those who had lost them in the riots. Ten more people need Thela/Rehris. They have 10 sewing machines, which will be distributed soon. For more information please contact Ajay Raina ajayraina@vsnl.com
PEACE & HARMONY NEWS
*50 Pak societies apologise to Dhaka for 'atrocities'
The apology comes days after Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf expressed his regrets for the events of 1971 in Dhaka. http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/aug/05bangla.htm
*Pak revises history textbooks to remove biases
"We should not hide the truth from our children, whether it is good or bad," Education Minister Zubaida Jalal told The News daily. http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/aug/05pak3.htm
* Indian and Pakistani children at a workshop in Singapore
"Adults call us the 'future of the world' - why do we have to wait till we grow up and then decide what to do?" Lalita Ramdas records the experiences of Indian and Pakistani children at the workshop. http://www.indiatogether.org/peace/kashmir/articles/ramdas-uwc.htm
*Operation Sadbhavana in Ladakh
"The strongest force in our country is inertia", says the man who took all of seventeen months to make a success of Operation Sadbhavana in Ladakh. Lieutenant General Arjun Ray, VSM, does not mince words. "Sadbhavana was existing before. I only reinvented it".
http://www.indiatogether.org/peace/kashmir/articles/ls0702.htm
Bangladesh welcomes Musharraf's 'apology'
The Pakistani president on Monday had described the events of 1971 (Bangladesh liberation war) 'unfortunate' and the excesses 'regrettable'. http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/30bang.htm
Musharraf regrets Pak 'excesses' in '71
An estimated three million people were killed and nearly 300,000 women were raped by the Pakistani Army during the nine-month liberation war of Bangladesh.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/29bang1.htm
'Sri Lanka-LTTE ceasefire being implemented'
The monitoring mission, comprising observers from the Nordic countries, said both parties were 'preparing for lasting peace through gradual implementation of the ceasefire'.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/29sri.htm
*Indians and Pakistanis join hands
Under the developmental work, furniture worth over Rs. 368,000 was given to Kolar schools under a program sponsored jointly by the Mid-town Rotary Club of Kolar and Rotary Mid-town Karachi. (TNN via India West July 26, 2002)
*Soldiers of Anti-communalism
With the veteran actor-turned Member of Parliament Sunil Dutt as its head, the Congress Party last weekend launched what it called Sadbhavna-ke-Sipahi, a rapid action force to fight communalism in India. Joining him are actress Sharmila Tagore, social activist Mallika Sarabhai,
and party leaders Manmohan Singh, Pritaranjan Deshmunshi, Salman Khursheed, Praveen Rashtrapal, and Jairam Ramesh. (Press Trust of India, Via India West July 26, 2002).
Sri Lankan peace moves 'courageous': Bush
The American president offered US 'support for Sri Lanka's pursuit of peace and in developing its economy'. http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/25lanka.htm
*Lanka-LTTE talks likely to start in August
The Norwegian government is trying to get LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran to participate, a minister said. http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/15lanka.htm
*Pact renewed: Nagaland
India and the northeastern rebel grou, the Nationalist Socialist Council of Ngaland –Isaac Muviah, agreed to extend their five-year old cease-fire for another year, a government statement said July 12. (Reuters Via India West, July 19, 2002).
*Sangh Parivar, Muslim leaders to meet in Delhi
'The idea is to make them sit across the table and at least get them talking on their point of view on various issues.,' a National Commission for Minorities official said.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/11ncm.htm
*Seeds of Peace
A team of 20 Indian students joined June 25 a similar team from Pakistan and 150 youth from other nations (including Afghanistan, Israel and Palestine) at the three-week seminar organized by Seeds of Peace, a non-profit group, at Otisfield, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The program is designed to support the teen-agers in building relationships based on honesty, understanding, respect, and shared experiences. (India West June 28, 2002)
*Peace vigils against hate crimes
Over 300 community members and volunteers participated in a candlelight vigil June 19 in Seattle, Washington (USA), to show solidarity against the spate of hate crimes in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The Vigils was cosponsored by many organizations including Chaya, Gurudwara Singh Sabha of Washington, Indian American Political Advocacy Council (India West, July 12, 2002)
*Indo-Pak community signs peace communique’ in Houston, Texas (USA)
With Houston Mayor Lee Brown and members of the city council serving as witnesses, and a crowd of more than 100 waving flags of India, Pakistan and Texas state, prominent leaders from the local Indian and Pakistani communities signed an 11-point communique’ June 18 appealing to the heads of their respective countries to resolve peacefully the issues that have brought them to the brink of war. The communique’ condemned all forms of terrorism, urged the two nations to establish trade and bilateral relations similar those between the USA and Canada and appealed members of both communities “ not to participate in any activity to intentionaly hurt the feelings of either community.” (India west June 28, 2002)
PEACE & HARMONY ORGANIZATIONS
*South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy
(SANSAD), Vancouver, B.C. Canada
At the end of a 3-hour long public forum organized by SANSAD July, over one hundred people in attendance unanimously approved a resolution demanding that the perpetrators of the genocidal massacres in Gujarat on Feb. 28, 2002 and after, including the functionaries of the State who colluded in these crimes, be brought to justice within the legal framework of India.
*Friends of South Asia (FOSA), Bay area, California, USA FOSA_US@yahoo.com 408-265-2795
Under the banner of People for Peace Between Pakistan and India, a rally was organized by FOSA at Lytton Plaza, in Palo Alto, CA. on July 27. Like in other parts of the world, FOSA has organized several Peace Vigils in the Bay Area.
*EKTA, California, USA http://www.ektaonline.org, info@ektaonline.org
Sponsored by EKTA, India Relief and Education Fund, Association for India's Development (Bay Area Chapter), Coalition Against Communalism, Friends of South Asia, Global Exchange, Indian Muslim Relief Committee, Narika, 3rd I and Trikone, events were organized July 13 in San Francisco and July 14 in Milpitas, California, for the benefit for the survivors of the recent communal violence In Gujarat. All net proceeds were to be donated to the Citizen's Initiative, a coalition of social organizations operating relief efforts in Gujarat.
*Indian Social Institute, Benson town, Bangalore
About 40 young men and women participated in a program, 'Role of Youth in the Struggle for Peace and Justice - A Workshop on Communal Harmony' which had been organized by activists from different social action groups and concerned individuals on July 6 and 7 at Indian Social Institute.
PEACE & HARMONY RESOURCES
*The NewDeal Foundation donates computer hardware and
software to promote computer literacy and provide Internet access to nonprofit
organizations. The Foundation's support entails the installation of its
Discovery Media Labs, which are computer networks for organizations with
limited access to high technology, and donations of software from NewDeal, Inc.
and other vendors that offer educational and office-based programs. The
Foundation restricts the operation of its Discovery Media Labs to the
continental United States, but applications for software are accepted from any
country. Organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the
Internal Revenue Code or their international equivalents are invited to apply.
More info from
the NewDeal Foundation, 20 Holland Street, Fourth Floor, Somerville, MA 02144,
USA.
1-800-310 9122, www.newdeal.org , info@newdeal.org
*National Youth Dialogue on Peace and Violence is an internet-based conversation between youth of all ages on the role of peace and violence in their lives. The discussion topics for the dialogue - which have been developed by focus groups of young people across the US - have generated reflection and sharing. The dialogue is intended to be as inclusive as possible. The organization expects to have peace teams based in schools, community organizations, religious groups, organizations working with incarcerated youth, as well as other areas where young people are ready to discuss these issues. More info from Louise Diamond, Ph.D., President, Peace Tech., PO Box 253, Bristol, VT 05443, USA, 802-453-7191, www.peacebook.com , Email: info@peace-tech.com
FEATURE
*Public Apology - From Pakistanis to Bangladeshis (Via A.H. Nayyar ahnayyar@sat.net.pk )
A statement released by a number of organizations in Pakistan
We the citizens of Pakistan welcome the statement of regret by President Pervez Musharraf in Bangladesh on the atrocities of 1971 and would take this opportunity to make a public apology to the sisters and brothers of Bangladesh, for all the excesses and atrocities that were committed upon civilians. We feel sad and burdened by what we know was a violation of people’s human rights.
Though this apology should have come a long time ago, and some citizen groups did make attempts to do so, we deeply feel that a message from us is necessary to acknowledge historic wrongs, to express our sincere apology and to build a bond based on honest sentiments.
We hope that we can build solidarity in future and move towards a peaceful South Asia, where people can find solutions to poverty and social injustice through a healthy political process and an empowered civil society rather than military force.
Endorsed by: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP); Sungi Development Foundation (SUNGI); ActionAid Pakistan (AAPK), Lawyers for Human Rights & Legal Aid (LHRLA), Damaan Development Organization (DAMAAN); Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI); Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO); South Asia Partnership Pakistan (SAP-PK); Democratic Commission for Human Development (DCHD); Bedari, Anjuman Jamhuriat Pasand Khawateen (Democratic Women Association; Gidan, Quetta – Balochistan, Haari Rabta Council Sindh; Human Resource Management & Development Centre (HRMDC), Inter Press Communication, Interactive Resource Centre (IRC); Joint Action Committee for Peoples Rights (JAC); Kachho Bachayo Tehrik, Kachho Social Development Forum Wahi Pandhi; Lok Rehas, Lahore; Mengal Trust, Aranji – Balochistan; Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF); SIMORG; Conscience Promoters, Sindh Devlopment Society, Hyderabad; Sindh NGO Forum (SINGOF); The Network for Consumer Protection; Village Shad Abad Welfare Organization, Johi; Working Women Organization (WWO); Bhandar Haari Sungat Hyderabad; Bhit Shah Coordination Council; Child Development Organization, Johi; Insaan Foundation, Lahore; Youth Commission for Human Rights, Lahore; Labor Party Pakistan; Pak Christian National Party; Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement, Lahore; Association for Human & Education Devlopment (AHED Pakistan); Sindh Graduate Association; Johi Organization for Rural Development & Natural Disaster; Kachho Foundation; Young Samaji Tanzeem; Abadgar Association; Gorakh Development Organization; Progressive Women’s Association; RISE, Peshawar.
*PROPAGATING peace? By Maisoon Hussein, Dawn, the Internet Edition http:DAWN.com, July 28, 2002 (REVIEW of Weapons of war or purveyors of peace? By Ilmas Futehally and Fauzia Shaheen, 48pp ,International Centre for Peace Initiatives, C-306 Montana, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West, Mumbai 400 053, India www.peaceinitiative.org)
Journalists can, through their writings, help to modify perceptions and so bring about a process of change in countries locked in a conflict situation. For instance, the improvement in Franco-German relations after the Second World War is attributed in part to creative journalism. But what about the role of the print media in India and Pakistan? Are mainstream newspapers "weapons of war or purveyors of peace"? This is what Ilmas Futehally and Fauzia Shaheen examine in their insightful and thought provoking paper.
The period studied is from October 1999 to July 2001, which includes the Agra
summit, a great "media event", where the media was not just an
observer but also a "player". The study reviewed a few prominent
newspapers from the 3000 publications in India and 1100 newspapers in Pakistan
to see what the dominant trends are, if any. (For complete text send a blank
email to pritamr@open.org with
PROPAGATING as its subject).
*When a town in Gujarat refused to BURN, By Sheela Bhatt, Rediff.com
July 31, 2002
http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/31spec.htm
Dholka, a medium-sized town located 40 kilometres southwest of Ahmedabad, surprised Gujarat when it refused to become part of the communal conflagration that ripped the state a few months ago.
Dholka is, incidentally, on the list of the communally sensitive towns, and was the town where organized killings and looting took place during communal riots in 1981, 1985, and 1992. And it is the town where Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi started his career in the early 1980s as a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh pracharak (preacher) to propagate Hindutva [Hindu nationalism] amongst people with high communal tempers. (For complete text send a blank email to pritamr@open.org with BURN as its subject).
*Indo-Pak Kashmiri children FIND friendship, By Seth Mydans, Kashmir Record & Research Council news@krrc.org, July 5, 2002
Singapore, July 3: A standoff between an Indian soldier and a Pakistani Muslim fundamentalist ends in laughter and applause when a Microsoft investor threatens to pull funding for a documentary about their dispute over Jammu and Kashmir.
This unlikely scene was acted out by high school students from India and Pakistan participating in a conflict resolution conference at the United World College of Southeast Asia, which recently hosted a programme called "Initiative for Peace". (For complete text send a blank email to pritamr@open.org with FIND as its subject.
LETTERS
*A minimum agenda, Naeem Sadiq ns@super.net.pk, July 21, 2002
PPP after doing nothing while in power for two terms is now seeking UN support to have the draconian blasphemy law abolished in Pakistan. The PML did nothing and plans to do nothing on this subject. The military government despite having had absolute power for past three years failed to get rid of this barbaric instrument meant exclusively to appease the clergy, while it managed to successfully get rid of many other laws that suited its own purpose. With elections just around the bend and the recycled crooks of various forms and shades once again getting ready to fool the gullible masses with yet newer antics, slogans and promises, are we realistic in looking forward to a change for better?
It is good to know that the new elected representatives would be a slight shade better, in the sense that they will at least be able to read a newspaper, and sign their name at the indicated cross. That is about the best one can do after a BA degree in Pakistan. But Pakistan needs far more from its chosen men and women if it has to make even minor incremental improvements in its profile of social, political and economic development.
The responsibility for choosing the right people lies squarely with the electorate. It is therefore essential that the ever ready to be taken for a ride electorate should come up with a minimum agenda, which should be declared by each candidate prior to elections irrespective of his or her political affiliation.
Here is a proposed minimum agenda, that one would like every politician
to publicly announce before standing for elections. You may add to
this list and agree on a common minimum agenda that the citizens must
demand from every candidate.
1. I publicly declare that I consider the Blasphemy law a violation of human rights and repugnant to civil society. I will take all steps to have them abolished within 3 months of being elected.
2. I declare Hudood ordinance as a blemish on the civil society of Pakistan and promise to take all actions to repeal this ordinance within 3 months of being elected.
3. I declare that I am against all political, religious and ethnic groups engaged in any form of militancy or military training from all locations in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, and work to have them completely abolished.
4. I declare that I consider all Panchayats, Jirgas and other private, tribal, religious or feudal law making bodies as unlawful legislating instruments and take steps to have them abolished.
5. I declare that I consider all loans from any foreign governments or financial institutions as harmful to the interests of Pakistan. I will actively work to dissuade the government from taking any further loans, and resign from my MNA / MPA seat if the government still goes ahead on this suicidal path.
6. I declare that it is not for the state to decide the religion of its citizens or to discriminate them on its basis. I will work to introduce legislation that requires no Pakistani citizen to declare his or her religion or sect at any stage for any purpose on any official document.
BOOKS & VIDEOS
*Dialogue of Civilizations: Civilization, Terror, and Dialogue, By Majid Tehranian and David W. Chappell (Editors), I. B. Tauris Publishers.
This volume brings together comments on all the major issues ranging from the
nature of religious conflict and peace, how non-violent economies might work,
indigenous rights, the principles of peace pedagogy, to addressing the dynamics
of the US-China-Russia diplomacy triangle. More info from Majid Tehranian
majid@hawaii.edu
*Ethnic conflict & CIVIC life: Hindus & Muslims in India, By Ashutosh Varshney, Yale University Press, 2002. Review “Timely and substantive look at India's Hindu-Muslim conflict,” By Kenneth J. Cooper, Boston Globe July 4, 2002.
With statistical research supplemented by surveys and interviews, Varshney corrects a popular misconception that such (communal) violence has been omnipresent in independent India. He documents that communal violence has afflicted some parts of India but not others, and offers an insightful explanation that just might apply to other nations that have experienced intergroup conflicts, including ours, though he is too careful a scholar to leap to that conclusion. But that possibility makes a book written mostly for Indians possibly of wider interest. (For complete text of the review, send a blank email to pritamr@open.org with CIVIC as its subject).
*Sowing Hate and Reaping Violence-The Case of Gujarat Communal Carnage, By Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, Shama Dalwai and Sandhya Mhatre, Published by the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Rs.75/- in India, and for US$10/- outside India (Except Bangladesh and Nepal) Postage Extra. More info from The Circulation Manager, CSSS, 9B Himalaya Apts., 1st Floor, 6th Road, Santacruz (E), Mumbai 400 055, India, csss@vsnl.com
*Speaking Peace: Women's VOICES from Kashmir, Edited by Urvashi Butalia; Kali for Women, 2002; Pp 316, Rs.350. Amazon.com, $32, Vedams Books $18. Review by Kalpana Sharma, India Together, July 2002 http://www.indiatogether.org/reviews/books/vok.htm
Urvashi Butalia spells out why this book was compiled and her words best
communicate its relevance. She says that the book "aims to mark a moment
in the history of the conflict in Kashmir and the involvement of the State and
militants in it, a moment when the presence of women, whether as victims,
agents, or perpetrators, can no longer be ignored, a moment which makes it
clear that any initiative for peace and resolution of the conflict must take
women into account and involve them centrally, a moment at which the women's
movement must rethink its involvement with such questions." (For complete
text of the review, send a blank email to pritamr@open.org
with VOICES as its subject).
*The Pranami Faith: Beyond Hindu and Muslim, By Dominique Sila-Khan [pp.80], Rs. 10 each, (plus Rs. 2 per booklet postage within India) Payment by MO, cheque or in the form of unused postage stamps. More info from Yoginder Sikand at ysikand@yahoo.com
This booklet
provides an overview of the life and teachings of Mahamati Prannath [Meher Raj
Thakur], the seventeenth century founder of the Pranami religion, who claimed
to be the Kalki Avatar of the Hindus and the Imam Mahdi of the Muslims. It
focuses, in particular, on his role in promoting inter-communal amity.
*Hey Ram: Genocide In The Land Of Gandhi. Produced by Other Media communications, this 25 minute human documentary by Gopal Menon about the recent communal is based on his interviews with 80-90 victims, 15 of whom have been featured in the documentary. The brunt of criticism of those interviewed is not against any particular community but the police, states a social activist. There is an instance of a Muslim family finding refuge in a Hindu household and shots of peace marches for communal harmony and an end to violence. The documentary is now available in North America from the Association for India's Development (AID) at US $25 for individuals and US $50 for institutions. More info from Priya priya@glue.umd.edu and www.aidindia.org/hq/heyram.shtml
*Indian Journal of Secularism, Volume 6, No. 2, July - September, 2002,
published by the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, csss@bom2.vsnl.net.in
The issue includes articles (Communalism And The Partition Of India, by Shabbir Hussain Madraswala,
Role of Police in Gujrat Carnage, by Asghar Ali Engineer, Terrorism, War and
Islam by Ram Puniyani), Book Review
(European Context by Yoginder Sikand) and Special Reports (Godhra &
After: Report of Violence in Gujrat by Shama Dalwai and Sandhya Mhatre, and
Kalyan Riots: A Case of Containment of a Communal Spark, by CPDR, Mumbai,
Fact-finding report.
CONFERENCES
*Berkeley, California, USA: 18TH ANNUAL SOUTH ASIA
CONFERENCE. Panel proposals are invited by September 6 from scholars in any
field related to South Asia. Panels may be on contemporary or historical topics
in fields such as anthropology, political science, history, economics and
development studies, literature and language, history of art and architecture,
geography, environmental management and health, film and communications and
religious and cultural studies. More
info from the Center for South Asia Studies, 10 Stephens Hall #2310, University
of California, Berkeley, CA, USA 94720-2310,
http://ias.berkeley.edu/SouthAsia/callforproposals.html or csasasst@uclink.berkeley.edu
*August 10-11, New Delhi, India: EARTH DEMOCRACY (VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM) - National Convention on Community Rights to Natural Resources and the Constitution, being organized by The Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology, together with Navdanya and Diverse Women for Diversity, 9 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., at Indian Social Institute, 10, Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, Behind Sai Baba Mandir, New Delhi from 9 am to 5 pm. The Convention will focus on the violations of Community Rights to land, water and biodiversity and to strategize on how to strengthen these rights and rejuvenate real democracy. More info from Dr. Vandana Shiva, rfste@vsnl.com , 0091-11-6561868, Fax 0091-11-6562093
*August 12, New Delhi, India: ASLI AZADI-COMMUNITY RIGHTS: THE
FOUNDATION OF REAL FREEDOM, a celebration of the Movement for Real Freedom
through the defence of Community Rights and Fundamental Rights, 9: a.m. – 5
p.m., at the Constitution Club, Vithalbai Patel House, Rafi Marg. More info
from Dr. Vandana Shiva, rfste@vsnl.com ,
0091-11-6561868, Fax 0091-11-6562093
*August 12-14, San Juan, Puerto Rico: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PEACE
AND DEVELOPMENT, a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural gathering that will bring
together people who share concerns regarding the future of the world.
Nobel Peace Prize winners, religious leaders, political leaders, athletes,
scientists, performers, and young people will jointly explore the links between
peace and development and reaffirm the basic principles needed to leave
subsequent generations with a world free of terrorism, environmental
deterioration, and poverty. The conference will make an appeal that will
serve as a point of departure for a process that will spread and have an impact
on civil society and governments. Cost: USD 300 (students); USD 550
(others). More info from The Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress,
Apartado 8-6410-1000, San José, Costa Rica, Telephone 1-506-255 2955, Fax
1-506-255 2244
www.fiatpax.org/english/index-eng.html, or Lina@arias.or.cr
*August 18, Mumbai, India: PEOPLE'S ALTERNATIVE TO
LIBERALIZATION-PRIVATIZATION-
GLOBALIZATION, COMMUNAL AND FASCIST VIOLENCE AND WAR, a conference being
organized by Lok Raj Sangathan, in the context of unemployment, rising prices,
and
insecurity of life and limb in India, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., at D'Mello Bhavan, P.
D'Mello Marg,
Near Dreamland Hotel, Masjid (E). More info from Prakash Rao, Convener, Lok Raj
Sangathan, natconfaugust18@yahoo.com , (022)
5822895 or 5825235
*September 12-15, New York, NY, USA: THIRD GLOBAL INDIAN ENTREPRENEURS CONFERENCE, including a one-day conference on September 12 on “People of Indian Origin-Technology, Investment, Business and Networking Opportunities, will be organized by the Global Organization of the People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) at the LaGuardia Airport Crowne Plaza Hotel. More info from Dr. Thomas Abraham 203.329.8010, gopio@optonline.net
EVENTS
*Till September 29, Washington, D. C., USA: THE ADVENTURES OF HAMZA, an exhibition of 61 folios from Hamzanama, an unusual and important manuscript that had been commissioned by the teenage Mughal emperor Akbar (1556-1605) at the Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Galleryt. The work is based on the exploits of Hamza, the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad. More info from www.asia.si.edu
ENVIRONMENT
*Rain Centre, Chennai (India)
Rain Centre is a model house located in the Santhome beach
area of Chennai to demonstrate different working models of Rain Water
Harvesting (RWH) to the residents of Chennai. Rain Centre is open to the
public, and there are no entrance or admission charges.
http://www.indiatogether.org/environment/water/model.htm
*Asbestos
Asbestos, widely used in making roofings, cement pipes,
and conduits for electrical cables, has ruined the health of many a worker
either mining it or making things out of it. A Toxics Link report.
http://www.indiatogether.org/environment/articles/asbtos1.htm
*Autos to run only on liquefied petroleum gas from November 1: Bangalore
*Pesticide Politics (India)
As the endosulfan controversy erupts afresh, the Kerala
government finds itself in a tight spot.
Ever since the lid was blown off the machinations of the pesticide lobby
in conniving
with the government in lifting the ban on the deadly pesticide in March 2002,
resentment has been brewing in Kerala over the government's surreptitious move.
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover_nl.asp?mode=1
*Particulate Emissions From Trucks And Goods Vehicles (India)
A CSE study shows that the Supreme Court ruling that
prohibits the entry of polluting trucks into Delhi and mandates Euro II
compliance for the city's trucks and goods vehicles will
dramatically reduce particulate pollution levels by 55 per cent in the capital.
http://www.cseindia.org/html/cmp/air/press_20020716.htm
*Double Indemnity: Death By DDT (India)
Despite the ban on Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) by most developed countries in the 1970s, India sprayed 7,000 tonnes of DDT in 2001-2002. Ignoring the widely accepted fact that DDT induces alarmingly high levels of toxicity and possible carcinogenicity, India has continued to consume 3,50,000 tonnes of DDT since 1985, mainly for agricultural and public health purposes. Studies reveal Indians have one of the highest body DDT concentrations. Now, intensive use of DDT has made mosquitoes resistant to the insecticide.
www.cseindia.org/html/eyou/healtnews/2002may_june/lead_story.htm
*This Month's Eco Queez
How well do you know your environment? Try this month's
Eco- Queez to find out. All correct entries get a surprise gift along with a
mention of their name on the CSE website next month. Get
into the quizzing zone! http://www.cseindia.org/html/eyou/envedu/ecoquiz.htm
WEBSITES
*www.satp.org is the website of South Asian Intelligence Review, a new weekly news service by the Institute of Conflict Management and the South Asian Terrorism Portal, that brings regular data, assessments, and news briefs on terrorism, insurgencies, sub-conventional warfare, counter-terrorism responses and policies, as well as related economic, political, and social issues in the South Asian region. More info from South Asian Intelligence Review, 840 Melton Road, Thurmaston, Leicester, LE 48BN, UK, Telephone 44-116-264 0083, Fax 44-116-264 0141, Email: satporg@satp.org
*www.islaminterfaith.org is the website of the monthly web-magazine Qalandar, devoted to a discussion of issues related to Islam and inter-faith relations in South Asia
