[sacw] Working-groups PPC Conference 2

[Harsh Kapoor]

The following texts were drawn up in the 9 different working groups that
met at the Pakistan Peace Coalition (PPC) Conference, 27-28 February 1999,
Karachi. They are posted being in two parts. This message contains Part 2.
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// South Asia Citizens Web & South Asians Against Nukes//
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Group-5 : (Gender and Militarisation)
Facilitator : Ayesha Khan, Saba Gul Khattak
Resource Persons: Rasheeda Patel and Kalpana Sharma

* Our group split into two parts.
* Two areas within the subjects were discussed by our team

i. Resources, meagre and precious, being funnelled into militancy.
ii. Impact on Gender.

- We felt that militarization is being flushed with resources (e.g.
Defence Budget in India was increased by 11% yesterday) at the
expense of Health, Education and all social development programmes.

- We felt that people on both sides were initially jubilant about the
nuclear explosion - but very soon the euphoria disappeared when the
reality dawned upon them. Representatives of NGOs in our group gave
examples of working in remote areas where, during the initial days
of the explosion, they had no hope of finding a sympathetic ear,
but in a few days found. 70% of the people responding to their
viewpoint.

Similarly women's groups from interior villages wrote letters asking
about the expenditure on militancy.

- There was a view expressed that since Military Budgets are linked
to the security of a country, it is important that the effort for
denuclearization be a coordinated effort. The fact of nuclear
deterrence was also highlighted. But it was also felt that tactics
such as "who disarms first" may not be the answer.

- It was felt that the allocation of resources to military has the
worst impact on the youth who are deprived of education, employment
etc. Influence of Maulvis in juxtaposing Kufr and Islam was rampant
at the beginning, but later grew less pervasive. In this context it
was also stated that mutual tensions had titte to do with the people
of both countries - rather with the military and political elite.

Impact on Gender
----------------
- With militarization - fundamentalism on both sides of the divide
has a fertile breeding ground. And the rise of fundamentalism hits
hardest on the women who immediately become the targets of a male-
dominated code and in one manner or another sent back into their
enclosures.

- Militarisation of society engenders a certain mentality which seeps
into the psyche of women as well. Hence there are highly strident
women's wings of political groups on both sides who in implementing
the agenda of fundamentalism outdo the males.

- Areas of militancy on both sides have seen women being caught in
the crossfire - whether it is Kashmir, or North East or Karachi, it
is the woman who is raped both by militants and security forces; it
is the woman who has to make sure that the kitchen fire is lit, even
when she loses the breadwinner.

- Militancy has the worst effect on education of the girl child - who
is pulled out of school for fear of abduction - so a generation in
militancy-prone arra is left out of the education stream.

- Pakistan having a long history of military regime has a special
concern, in that military personnel (over the years) made a lateral
entry (along with their ideologies) into the state structure. The
laws became patriarchal. The mentality of depending on the army
became the norm. This stifles the thought process and is anathema to
gender issues.

- We felt that NGOs (especially in Pakistan) needed support of the
group to face upto the fact that their voices were being stifled and
they were being crushed.

- We felt that we needed to build upon the informal linkages forged
during this conference. We needed to share each other's good
practices and ensure that we remain linked. In general, there is a
loss of confidence in the state on both sides; therefore, it is only
peoples' initiatives, mobilization and networking which can act as
bulwark against the nuclear threat.

Main Points.
-----------
* Movements and struggles to counter the state predominantly reflect
its militarist ideology. Women do join these groups in large numbers
in South Asia, e.g. Jamaat-e-Islami in Pakistan, LTTE in Sri Lanka,
where they become powerful symbols of the struggle.

* Progressive movements and organizations have also internalized the
multi-layered ideology of militarization, as manifest in their
dependence on chauvinistic, communal, religious and national
identities, resorted to unquestioningly when under threat.

* Media and progressives have never adequately critiqued mainstream
national security thinking or ideology, or taken a stand on the
consequences of militarization. Liberals, including women, have yet
to undermine the language of militarization that is male, macho and
violent.

* Feminists have to a certain extent challenged militarization but
have yet to develop alternative strategies for understanding national
security issues and ending militarization.

* There are concrete examples from the field that highlight people's
struggles for peace and their understanding of the lopsided national
budgets' impact upon their lives.

* The repeated experience of Martial law in Pakistan has contributed
significantly to the militarization of civil society. The rise of
intolerant fundamentalist ideologies and violence whether sectarian,
ethnic or communal, coupled with the trend of settling disputes and
differences with guns, has impacted women both directly and
indirectly. The loss of family members, and consequent increased
responsibilities in the home, decreased mobility are some
manifestations of this impact.
==========================

Group-6 : (Advocacy for peace)
Facilitator : M. Tehseen and Omar Asghar Khan
Resource Persons: Dominic, Irfan Mufti and Shirkat Gah

The discussion opened with briefing by Dr. Yunas Samad, Mr. Smitu
Kothari and Omar Asghar Khan. Peace is not an issue of disarmament
but about deep historical disparities, and also relates both to
changes in people's peception and changes in policy making.

Advocacy for peace is a multidimensional effort. It entails:

i). Advocacy by negotiation
ii). Advocacy by social mobilization
iii). Advocacy by resistance
iv). Advocacy by truthful conduct.

In Pakistan, people's resistance to governmental policies is seen in
many forms e.g. - people don't pay heavy taxes, the scenario presents
enough room for inducing independent thinking and discussing the
conventional and authoritative role of the Government.

An action plan sorted out by the group is as follows:

Action Plan
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1. The movement for peace should be strengthened. The members of the
Pakistan Peace Coalition in Pakistan should attend meetings of peace
groups in India.

2. Pak-India Forum's next meeting shall be held in Bangalore. All of
the present suggestions should be conveyed over there.

3. Smitu Kothari has offered audio/video cassettes relating to the
issue. These should be made available to people.

4. Delegates should join the Peace March from Pokhran to Sarna. It is
a three months march and shall commence from June, 1999.

5. Already existing movements should be injected with the idea of
peace and accelerated. Uptill now, we have very little knowledge of
the socio-psychological dynamics of the movements in India. Smitu
shall convey information about them so that we can design our
strategy in better ways.

6. A newspaper/khabarnama relating to peace in the country should be
brought out. Newspapers give more coverage to war issues.

7. Pak-India relations need a change of atmosphere as the spirit of
challenging each other is very much present on both sides, the mutual
contests may be shifted to cultural activities rather than
concentrating upon the arms race. Contests of poetry, dance etc
should be arranged and given the titles of 'peace contests'.

8. Functions in this regard should time and again be arranged by
individual organisations as well, so that an atmosphere of
propagation of peace is sustained.

9. This conference must be followed up by a series of
meetings/seminars/ conferences on issues related to peace and
community representatives should join them.

10. Common people must be approached and given some responsibility in
this regard. They must be made to feel like important actors of the
peace movement. This would give them greater participation in the
movement. As a strategy, peace campaign needs to be diversified and
decentralized into communities.

11. Partnerships from the Government should also be sought. Two
Indian Parliamentarians' involvement in peace conference is very
encouraging in this regard.

12. Working class/labourers/farmers should be involved. They make up
a large portion of our population. They should be communicated that
nuclear superiority would not provide them better salaries and better
living standards; rather a peace movement promises them a proper
share in the budget. It should be declared that peace movement
addresses to their needs, and carries their interests.

13. The role of youth and children is compulsory. Peace studies must
be made a part of syllabi from primary to University levels. An
example is 'National Peace Plan Formula' in Afghanistan (confirm with
Arshad Khattak). Also, the feasibility of an Institute of Peace
Studies at University level, should be explored.

14. Citizens do not believe in the nuclear bomb in itself, but for
the fact that it stands for a symbol of patriotism for them. It is
high time that peace movement makes clear the idea of patriotism -
i.e. it relates to progress of all Pakistanis rather than putting
money in effective bombs only.

15. Specific personalities - poets, celebrities, army officials and
businessmen must be engaged in networking of this movement. A pro-
peace public address by an ex-army official would have more impact
than the one by an actor/artist etc. People don't understand heavy
political language.

16. The message conveyed should be people's language, e.g. the
statement that
Rs. 300 are spent on one person's health and 3 lakhs are consumed by
one soldier only, is strong, definite and easy to comprehend.

17. Religious arguments in this regard should be adhered to. The
Sufism's message would prove to be equally popular in both Pakistan
and India.

18. Policies relating to budget should be brought to public knowledge
in advance of budget making. This would result in questions about
people's share in budget.

19. The proliferation effects should be communicated to people. In
Baluchistan, people do not know anything about the biological, social
and economic effects of the explosion in Chaghi.

20. People's relatives in Pakistan and India, who had to part in
1947, should arrange meetings and join hands in peace movement.

21. There is a need to establish peace committees in different parts
of the country. Some of the members of the group, i.e. Activists from
southern NWFP sense that they will do so and spread the message from
this Conference in Southern region.
==========================

Group-7 : (Peace Education)
Facilitator : Jennifer Bennett
Resource Persons: Tariq Rahman, Zakia Sarwar and Hasan Jaffery

Overall Objective: To disseminate knowledge and create awareness for
words mobilization on Peace Education.

Strategy - approach: will be two-pronged.
1). Macro-level
2). Micro-level

Macro-Level: To form pressure groups to advocate at the state
level the inclusion of peace education component
at the national level. Teachers involved in
curriculum formation and materials produced.

Micro-Level: Target the grass-root through NGOs, CBOs, Private
Schools and teacher unions to disseminate peace
message.

For this: All peace coalition partners and other such
platforms will be used for consultations,
collective decision-making, strategy
formulation and related activities.

Broadly speaking: The existing networks will be strengthened and
expanded.

Activities: i). Identify changes in the curriculum to promote
peace at all educational levels.
ii). Win the support of the teachers
iii). Create website on peace education
iv). Use local recreation through sufi
kalam/poetry/theatre/media
v). Educate parents/mothers on peace through
parent/teachers association.
vi). Annual peace mela for general awareness at
the national and regional levels.
vii). To teach unity and tolerance at the
grassroots level and at other
institution by developing 52 virtual (short-
spanned) to be target in the 'Modal Classes'
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Group-8 : (Regional conflicts - including Kashmir)
Facilitator : I. A. Rehman
Resource Persons: Shafqat Mehmud, JKLF, Muslim Conference and Khalid
Ibrahim

1. Before the group took up regional issues it was vigorously argued
by delegates from Balochistan, Sindh and Seraiki areas that states
such as Pakistan could not adopt a rational posture on inter state
issues because of festering issues within. The foremost issue was non-
recognition of the rights of the constituents of multi national
states. It was therefore necessary to resolve these issues, respect
the pluralist reality, and establish institutions of participatory
and transparent democracy. This was essential for promotion of peace.

2. The group considered the strife in Afghanistan as a threat not
only to the Afghan people's interest but also to all the countries of
the region. The group agreed that Afghanistan should be allowed
freely to establish its national identity, all foreign interference
in that country should cease, and Afghanistan enabled to resume its
democratic journey. The model of governance being developed in
Afghanistan was firmly rejected and the threat posed by it to
neighbouring countries was highlighted. Concern was expressed
especially at the oppression of women. The group recommended
establishment of contacts with Afghan peace groups and lobbying with
policy-makers in all SAARC states with a view to their adopting
policies that are friendly to the Afghan people.

3. The group agreed that the absurd conflict and confrontation on
Siachin must be quickly brought to an end. Pakistan and India should
forthwith the implement the accord they had reached 10 years ago, the
troops should be disengaged and withdrawn, and peaceful working
relations established.

4. On Kashmir the group affirmed that Kashmir is not merely a
territorial issue, that the matter involves the lives and rights of
the Kashmiri people, and that they - the Kashmiri people, are the
principal party to the issue. No outside party has the right to
impose its will on them. Peace activists in both India and Pakistan
should make efforts to enable the people from both sides of the
divided territory to come together and decide their future.
Meanwhile, the state of Jammu and Kashmir must be demilitarised,
troops should be withdrawn, all forms of violence should end, foreign-
inspired militancy should stop, and the people's human rights
respected. It was agreed that while meaningful talks should continue,
this issue should not be allowed to hold back Indo-Pak cooperation in
all possible fields, especially trade and culture.
The group recommended actions such as: organising all parties moots
in both India and Pakistan, lobbying with government and political
leaders, and intensive national dialogues at the grass-roots level.

5. The group welcomed the recent Nawaz-Vajpayee meeting and called
for lifting of barriers to people-to-people contacts. Visa
restrictions should be reduced to the minimum, more rail/road travel
points should be opened, the condition of police reporting should be
abolished. Special efforts should be made to encourage exchange of
youth delegations between India and Pakistan. The groups joined in
the Pakistan Peace Coalition were requested to encourage group
activity at the grass-roots level.
===============================

Group-9 : (Peace politics in the labour movement)
Chairperson : Santosh Kumar, All India Trade Unions Congress
Presentation : Muhammad Ali Shah, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum
Facilitator : Riffat Husain, Pakistan Institute of Labour
Education & Research (PILER)

The India Pakistan subcontinent went nuclear last year. Considering
the political and moral background and mental structure of the
leaderships on both sides. It is obvious that the leaderships of the
levels that are here would opt for war and this war will certainly be
a nuclear war. Therefore, no region in the world needs a peace
movement more than this subcontinent.

Working for peace and opposition to wars is recognized as civilized
behaviour. The subcontinent has seen the opposition to war by Labour.
The history of the Labour movement has a shining feather in its cap
in the form of the huge demonstration by the Bombay Labour community
against the war in October 1939.

Peace is synonymous to progress, prosperity and justice. The
hardships faced by the labouring masses during the great war of 1939-
45 has probably vanished from the minds. But all those hardships are
still fresh in memories of the time, in the form of news records,
newsreels, movies, papers and articles written on the effects of the
Great War. Resistance against high prices, false shortage of
commodities, curbs on activities such as restriction on right of
association, assembly and expression and other recognized forms of
struggle are well known features of the war period. Air attacks on
the jetties of Rangoon and Calcutta affected the Labour the most.
Thousands had to leave their places of livelihood and very clear
majority among them was that of the Labour. The wars in Korea,
Vietnam and Iraq are enough to learn on the miseries of war and as
anti theses the need for peace movement to avert the devastation and
enjoy the right to progress, prosperity and justice is the wise
option.

Rhetoric by the rulers on defence of motherland, national security
and of patriotism has been aimed at mesmerizing the masses of which
Labour is the great part. They consider these masses "raiyat" and
every great sacrifice is termed as their prime duty. No other time
seems more appropriate than the present to educate the Labour the
difference between war and peace, miseries of war and blessings of
peace.

The group on Peace politics in the Labour movement has a task to
mobilize the Labour movement around peace politics. There is lot of
material on the effects of war on the Labour. Only activity in this
connection should be to make the Labouring masses to know about the
effects of war. Incidentally the rulers retained the politics of war
in the form of retaining the mechanism of curbing the Labour e.g.
Essential Services Act, restricting right of association to a large
number in the name of security. Therefore, it is more necessary today
to rally the Labour around peace. The education on peace politics
involves:

= Unconditional right to work, rest and recreation
= Unconditional right of association and collective bargaining
= Unconditional right of assembly, expression and faith.
= Unconditional right to protection against victimization and
= Right to life.

It is a fact that all the recognized rights of human being including
those of Labour are completely eclipsed and overshadowed in the event
of war. War and warmongering has proved useful for the rulers.
Incidentally they are able to perpetuate the strategies of war during
the period when there is no war, in order to hoodwink the people and
suppress their rights. Very recently we have seen the deadly effect
of the gulf war on Iraqi people. It is only by peace politics that
the Labour may be enabled to act as conscious citizens rather than as
mere followers or "raiyat".
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