[sacw] sacw dispatch (9 Oct. 1999)

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Web Dispatch
(In association with South Asians against Nukes)
9 October 1999
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#1. [Pak. Citizens] Statement on Pakistan's Refusal to sign CTBT
#2. Communalisation of the Armed Force by B.J.P.
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#1
STATEMENT ON PAKISTAN'S REFUSAL TO SIGN CTBT
[Date: 9 Oct 1999]

We the Chairpersons of Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and
Democracy [Pakistan Chapter], Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and
Pakistan Peace
Coalition (PPC) regret Pakistan's refusal to sign CTBT and urge upon the
people and government of this country to get out of the cold war
thinking that involves unending arms races of all kinds. We should
instead evolve constructive ideas for improving the living conditions of
the impoverished people and their sense of security. Pursuit of national
security through military means alone without reference to the economic,
social and political empowerment of the people is a mirage that results
in an utter waste of scarce resources.

Irrespective of India's stand, Pakistan must opt out of nuclear weapons
and missiles race and freeze forthwith the development, manufacture and
deployment of all nuclear weapons and their delivery vehicles. Instead
Islamabad should immediately sign CTBT, cooperate in writing FMCT in
good faith and accede to NPT without reservations. Hypocrisy and double
standards of P5 and Israel or India in keeping big nuclear arsenals and
preaching abstinence to others obviously need no gainsaying. But these
are a matter to be pursued separately and effectively. They certainly
should not be made an excuse for one's own proliferation. Once Pakistan
acts the way South Africa has done on this matter, it will enable
Pakistan to stand on high moral ground and its demands will find greater
resonance.

As for its impact on Pakistanis=92 security, it can only be positive.
They will be joining the rest of humanity, except P5 plus Israel and
India, and shall be no better and no worse. Militarily, there will still
be conventional weapons and the position will again become what it was
prior to May 1998. The only difference will be that the moral stock of
Pakistan will be high. Threatening it militarily will not be easy for
anyone. Pakistan could confidently turn to more intensive efforts for
faster economic, social and political improvement. That should make us
far more secure.

That nuclear weapons do not make Pakistan secure was confirmed by its
withdrawal from Kargil outposts virtually on Indian terms because India
refused to be deterred by our Bomb. Similarly India's Pokhran tests did
not prevent the Kargil operation. The fact is both India and Pakistan
are less secure today than they were before May 1998.

Opting out of all nuclear and missile races has become inescapable
because Kashmir and other disputes are sure to lead to continuously
escalating arms races of all kinds. It is unrealistic for Islamabad to
seek a deterrent to India=92s expanding arsenals that can also remain
minimal in size or cost because the instinct to rush into a tit for each
Indian tat will lead nowhere and during the journey the people will lose
all hope of improving their economic and social conditions.

It is necessary to define security clearly. Whose security is desired?
Is it for the sake of the elite that has so misgoverned Pakistan as to
have made it bankrupt and politically divided? The people seem despaired
of good governance while the US feels no hesitation in delivering
homilies to the government and the Army to behave. This pitiable state
is due to nonstop confirmation, cold war, arms race, wars or high
tensions with India over Kashmir, conceived as a territorial dispute to
be resolved through military means. Obviously Islamabad undertook takes
it couldn't sustain economically. Putting huge new burden of nuclear and
missile races will be suicidal. The only practical option left is what
good sense and morality anyhow demand.

Released by,
Sarah Siddiqui
Secretary Pakistan Peace Coalition (PPC)
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#2.
=46rom: Dasverma@a...
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999

COMMUNALISATION OF THE ARMED FORCE BY B.J.P =92 [Says] ADMIRAL VISHNU BHAGWA=
T
By Special Correspondent

During his visit in the State of West Bengal from 29th September to 1st
October 1999, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, the former Chief of Naval Staff of
India delivered talk on "Indian State Policy and National Security" in eight
different programmes at places like Calcutta University, Ashutosh College,
Uttarpara, Howrah, Dumdum, The Institution of Engineers (India).The
programmes were organised by the forums of professionals, social scientists,
engineers, writers and science, literacy and cultural activists.

Admiral Bhagwat severely criticised the B.J.P. led government in the Centre
for inculcating communal ideas and for systematically implanting communal
elements in the armed forces, in the manner similar to that of the infamous
fascist ruler Hitler. B.J.P led by R.S.S. and Viswa Hindu Parishad has an
agenda of converting India as a Hindu State. The fascists in Germany in the
plea of Nationalism either brutally murdered or extradited the Jews. He aske=
d
B.J.P what they will do with 125 million of Muslims, a few million Christian=
s
and other non-Hindus whom they feel as infiltrators. Even they do not show
any concern to the sorry state of the women folks and other oppressed
communities.

He alleged that the defence minister of the country George Fernandes has a
direct link with the imperialists and he is a regular recipient of foreign
fund from secret organisations of USA, Germany and other countries. It was
also stated that Sri Fernandes works in close liaison with the insurgency
groups of North East India, Khalistanis, LTTE and other terrorist
organisations.

India is, by constitution, a sovereign, secular, socialist and democratic
republic. It is of utter disgrace that the Minister in charge of Home Affair=
s
Sri L.K. Advani has been charge sheeted in the case of forceful demolition
of Babri Mosque at Ayodhya on 6th December,1992, thus defeating the basic
spirit of the constitution.

The height of adamancy was expressed when Sri Advani in Gandhinagar during
his election Campaign described the Kargil War as more glorious than the
=46reedom Movement of the Country. But what is the actual story behind the
Kargil Conflict? The Prime Minister Sri A.B.Vajpayee went to Lahore for a
bilateral discussion with Pakistan without paying heed to the briefing of
Army over possible intrusion in the Kargil Sector. On his return he advised
the Army "to relax" as he envisaged no threat from Pakistan. Admiral Bhagwat
explained that this type of direction is not in conformity of the code of
conduct of the armed forces. Rather the army is kept alert all the time
irrespective of any diplomatic discussion or whatsoever. It is therefore
regarded as misleading of the armed forces by no other than the Prime
Minister himself which has cost the Nation dearly =92=C4=EC both in terms of=
loss of
manpower and property.

Admiral Bhagwat stated that only the armed forces could not provide National
Security. Rather National Security comprises of many other factors like Food
Security, Health Care and Self Reliance in Science and Technology. The
bankruptcy of the B.J.P. government was exposed in diplomatic level, in the
administration, in the economic sector and in the overall performance with
respect to the development of the country. The Admiral told that Gorbachev
betrayed his country Soviet Union and allowed to disintegrate it at the
behest of USA, in return he received the Nobel Peace Prize. If this Vajpayee
government continues to be at the helm of affairs possibly India will have
the same fate as happened to Yugoslavia or Soviet Union. The way the B.J.P.
government was selling out the country the national economy and unity is at
stake.

=46or the first time in the history of India any Chief of the Military
Institution ( Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat) was sacked without any formal process
of enquiry. Admiral Bhagwat also explained that if there was any threat to
the national security from him, punishment should have been given through
Court Marshal as per the Military Rules. In fact 13 former Chief of the Army
led a deputation to the President of India against this arbitrary dismissal.
The B.J.P. government has not only violated the code of conduct of the Army
by this process but also deliberately avoided any discussion in the
parliament.

The sooner this type of undemocratic, communal, fascist and anti-national
forces are removed from the government, it is better for the Nation =92 Admi=
ral
Bhagwat concluded.
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